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File: 1607486417477.png (4.97 MB, 2710x2125, The Choristers -- Tartarus….png)

 No.750229[Last 50 Posts]

>Last time, on HolyQuest…

>Amy, Cloak, Pryce


Salt maintains her steady and judgmental glare, even as you respond. "Finally… it seems that you get it. In the end, one Will shall prevail above the others; it is those who do not conquer, who shall be subsumed. Know that all those who enter Tartarus must understand this. And if they do not, then rest assured that they will."

Ignoring Amy's other question, Salt nods. "See to it that you pass along my question to those other members of your small army. Not for my satisfaction, but for their hope of survival."

Like Sulfur before her, Salt is engulfed in a small and dense cloud of gaseous salt, and then vanishes.

>Shei

Gadds slowly turns his head your way as you make more suggestions. "…How about we take the 'expected' way down."
"Yeah," Busta says. "The Sons of God would have probably taken extra care to put up obstacles against demons that could just phase through walls and bypass all their more conventional traps and impediments. Whatever those things were, they won't be the last ones we face if we try that again."

>Flaming

Volkama jots down the entry onto his map, but then taps your head with his pen. As Spark gnaws on his hoof, he speaks. "Erm, young miss goddess, can't you simply bypass this lock with your dominion over physicality?"
"Or, failing that, bash it open, as your usual modus operandi," Deriva adds.

 No.750230

>>750229
"I could do EITHER of those, sure, but if there's one thing I think this whole dungeon is trying to teach me, is that these games have rules for a reason. I don't want to break the 'game' they have set up until I don't have another choice, we could get the whole place caving in on us like with the last one."

"I know we'll need to think outside the box once we get to Tartarus, but I figure I should know the limitations of that box first before I can think outside of it, right? So for now, I'm gonna play by the rules. And if there was a key for one door, they'd probably hide another key somewhere else, right?"

 No.750231

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]

>Snakeskin Cloak: 14 hits
>Homing Magic: 6 Spears [Fire]

>>750229
Pryce watches Sulfer vanish, then looks around the remaining doors.
"I wonder what the last dragon will ask of us…"
Following Amy's line of thought from the last dragon room, Pryce walks up to the carpet, pulling it aside to see if there is a trapdoor.

 No.750232

>>750231
>>750231
https://pastebin.com/jbpPAusX

"Mayhaps what what we are willing to sacrifice in order to achieve our goals. T'would be what I'd ask, if I was a cryptic dragon named after alchemical components." Leather notes, looking back, "If all routes will lead this way, perhaps we should wait for the others?"

 No.750233


 No.750234

>>750229
"Well it's not like I dragged us beneath the earth for no reason. Do we even know if we can back? Or will our desire to go back disrupt our wills. Or does the way back not even exist anymore sense the dungeon is constantly shifting. I figured going straight below would be the most direct way to follow one's will. But we can put that to the test."

Shei-Sher waves his hoof and opens a dark corridor.
[1d10] dark corridor back to where they first went underground from.

"There a corridor from whence we came. If it actually goes there, then I guess I'm overthinking things again."

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.750235

>>750230
Volkama and Deriva don't quite look convinced, but they both nod. "Lead on, then," Volkama says, placing Spark back onto your head.
"Or, I suppose there's always the chance they may wish for you to make a key… but we'd be here all day if we let ourselves ponder the endless possibilities," Deriva says.

>>750231
>>750232
There is nothing under the rug. River and Zjetya cast careful glances about the room's other doors, daring not to touch them until they are thoroughly inspected.

See: >>740047

 No.750236

>>750235
Correction: see >>750047

 No.750237


 No.750238

>>750235
"If we can't find one, I'll make one. But we still have a bit of dungeon we haven't explored yet, right? Might as well give it a good look over before we miss something important."

[1d10] Shorthorns leads on down the hall, noting the hidden, locked trap door on their path on Volkama's map, and proceeds to look for anything of note Eastward down this corridor

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.750239

>>750235
>>750232
"That would be wise, especially with Shei's location still unknown," Pryce says in agreement. "We can check which of these doors is unlocked at least. Maybe see if some of our group is on the other side."
Pryce looks to the Northeast door, examining it from a distance and giving it a dispel of magic.
>Unweaving [1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.750240

>>750234
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Dark Corridor does not manifest. A few figments of darkness, floating in the air like scraps of dark cloth, appear for brief moments, but soon vanish.
"Teleportation effects falter down here…" Gadriel says.
"Well, not quite," Busta says. "Only ours do, it seems. There's no way it could be that easy."
Gadriel pauses to think, then snaps his fingers. "…What if we tried to go down with it?"

 No.750241

>>750240
A grin incorrigibly stretches along Shei's face "Down? With the Subterranean whales you meam..? That could work. Did you want to ride inside it's mouth or ontop of it? Because if the latter I could fashion us a wicked saddle from my cape- seats for 3."

 No.750242

>>750229

Amy frowns at Salt's words. "I think agree but for different reasons," she says as he disappears, not entirely sure what she means herself.

Then, she lightens up and says, "I'll see you at dinner later!"

Amy looks around to see where she can go from here. In particular, she inspects the walls and floors for anything hidden.

[1d10] to find any hidden paths

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.750243

>>750235
Leather tries a door that Amy and Pryce haven't tried, readying up a shot with his rifle to take out the locking mechanism if it doesn't open.

>Just checking, will Shatter next turn if locked.

 No.750437

>>750238
After a time, you come to another cross-shaped intersection. A path extends to the North, but quickly bends to the Northeast. Another path extends to the East. A third path extends Southward.

>>750239
Like threads falling away from a fraying garment, magical tendrils peel away from the doorway, and Zjetya and River back away in caution, keeping KP and the pets shielded between them. However, it feels like the spell yet lingers.

>>750241
"If the purpose of this dungeon's defenses are to drag escapees down toward Tartarus, it would only make sense," Busta says, his voice tinged with trepidation.
"The biggest challenge will be keeping ourselves alive through the course of the trip. I doubt they really cared what condition the demon got sent back down in," Gadriel adds. "Whatever you think's going to be safer, I guess," he says by way of reply.

>>750242
>>750243
While Pryce examines the Northeast door, Amy sniffs about. She can discern that every door, except the Western one through which you just came, has some kind of enchantment imbued to it, but she cannot discern what. As Cloak tries the Southern door and finds it locked, Amy detects, at least, that the Southern door's enchantment is of the absolutely most potent.

 No.750438

>>750437

Amy bounces over to the southern door and bites on the doorknob.

>Hungry Like the Wolf: Recharge 2; Instant; Spell: Bite into a magical effect, such as an enemy's oncoming spell, or a natural magical effect in the surrounding area, and devour it. This both neutralizes the effect, and allows you to roll that spell once for your own purposes, using whatever bonuses and modifiers that the original caster would have used, PLUS any of yours that are applicable. Using this skill is an Instant action, but the captured spell is whatever kind of action the original spell was (standard / automatic / instant / etc)(Witchcraft)

>[1d10+2]

Roll #1 10 + 2 = 12

 No.750439

>>750437
Coming upon the next cross-shaped intersection to the west, Shorthorns turns her head towards all three directions as she considers her options.
"If I'm reading this place correctly, the North path may take it to where Pryce and the others already looked. Let's see what the South way has to offer." Shorthorns says resolutely as she charges on down the south corridor
[1d10] Searching

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.750440

>>750437
>>750438
Leather lowers the sniper rifle he was lining up when Amy bounces into his crosshairs, "Careful now, was aiming at that doorknob, don't want you dead as one."

 No.750441

>>750437
"None of this is going to be safe at all. But if you guys are ready I'll send a ping for a whale."

"Gadds? you want to put the cover of darkness over us?"
>Asking if he wants to use Darkness that Can be Felt.

 No.750442

>>750441

this is me

 No.750443

>>750440

"Thas a goo wun," Amy says as she slobbers all over the door knob, her mouth full.

 No.750444

>>750443
"They're all good ones."

 No.750445

>>750438
As you bite onto the knob, a sudden rush fills your mouth, and you can taste, for a moment, the scaled and cold skin of a long and coiling worm.

>Gained "Grunt of the Warp Worm"

>Grunt of the Warp Worm; Automatic; Spell; An enchantment for summoning a Warp Worm, an invisible and intangible Worm of variable size, which most often grows to fit whatever space it currently occupies. When the Worm devours an often unwitting subject, they are warped wherever it is the Worm, or its master, might be pleased to release them.

>>750439
Once you reach the end of the Southern corridor, you find another small room, and inside is a stairwell, leading downward.
"Further onward?" Volkama asks. "We'd risk losing whatever awaits behind that wall, however…"

>>750440
>>750443
>Pryce
River puts a hoof over KP's virgin eyes at this horrific display.

>>750441
Busta and Gadriel shrug, and Gadriel spreads his wings, exuding a thick darkness about you…
[1d10+3[ DTCBF

 No.750446

[1d10+3]

Roll #1 2 + 3 = 5

 No.750447

>>750445
Shei begins floating downward as he sends a pulse of his aura to feel out the whereabouts of another subterranean whale.

>ASTRAL PROJECTION: spell; you project your spirit, leaving your physical body behind as you send yourself to a distant location. While projecting, your body is unconscious and immobile, and you are unaware of anything that happens to it unless you are in its vicinity. Your spirit is intangible and invisible, but can still be detected by magic or other spirits, and it cannot manipulate or pass through physical objects. Wherever your spirit travels, you can hear and see everything around you in the physical world. Returning to your physical body is automatic.

[1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.750448

>>750447
You and Gadriel just sort of stand there like a pair of apprentice sorcerers, unfit of even the lowest of proper magus' titles, in oversized robes and mismatched wands, citing magic gibberish plucked haphazardly from four or five fake grimoires made specifically to deter novices such as yourself.
Busta shivers as he considers the imagery. "Say, that was a bit harsh…"

 No.750449

>>750445
>>750443
"So you want to taste the other ones or am I good to open some of the others? Figured we might as well do something while we wait for others to catch up." Leather says, watching Amy finish up.

 No.750450

>>750448
"I'm still new to godhood! Give me some leeway" Shei stammers in agitation for the anxiety inducing narrator's bias.


>phase-aura

[1d10] He tries again

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.750451

>>750445
>>750445
"It goes even deeper? So there's a whole other level besides this one and the one above. We could be the first ones to explore it!"

As Volkama points out the possibility of losing what's behind the wall, Shorthorns tilts her head, "Why? It's not going anywhere, is it? Maybe the key to get around the wall at the western-dead end is somewhere down here and we'll need to double back?"

 No.750452

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 6 Spears [Fire]

>>750437
>>750445
>>750443
Pryce looks over the doorknob, and playing it safe he attempts to untangle magic again on the Northeast door.
>Unweaving [1d10]

Pryce looks over to Amy as she bites down on one of the doorknobs, slobbering all over it.
"Amy, that isn't sanitary."

>"What's going on?"

KP asks as River covers his eyes from the sight.

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.750453

>>750445
>>750444
>>750439

"This door should be safe now," Amy says with a satisfied nod. She wipes the excess slobber from her lips.

She looks over at River covering Pryce's eyes. "What?" she asks in an annoyed tone as if she was accused of something.

"Also, just so everyone knows, at least THIS door was enchanted by some thing that teleports people wherever it wants. So, that's kinda scary."

Amy opens the southern door. "I might be able to just teleport us there, but I'm not sure where I can send us exactly."

 No.750454

>>750452
>>750445
>Pryce Dodge [1d10]
>KP Dodge [1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7 / Roll #2 1 = 1

 No.750455

[1d10+2] River
[1d10+2] Zjetya

Roll #1 3 + 2 = 5 / Roll #2 6 + 2 = 8

 No.750456

>>750452
>>750445
>Dodge due to Pryce failing us
[1d10]

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.750457

>>750445

[1d10] dodge

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.750458

>>750450
You project your subtle-body over your physical one, and draw out the same for both Busta and Gadriel via the Black Threads. They nod, sticking close as you descend as a trio.

>roll navigation.


>>750451
"You see before you but a simple stairwell, but we have no reason to believe it differs from anything else we have seen in this dungeon," Volkama says. "That is to say, crossing that threshold may bring us afoul of another devious curse or enchantment designed to keep outsiders out, and Tartarus' demonic inmates in."

>>750452
>>750453
>>750454
>>750456
>>750457
Before River can explain the heinous indecency of slobbering all over a doorknob to Amy, Pryce attempts to unravel the enchantment binding shut the Northeastern door – but the threads of magic that waver away from the door suddenly whip and leap with a sudden vitality, as if they were serpents, furious and ready to strike. They leap forth from the door, managing to bite at Amy, River, and KP – but Pryce too can feel the sting of hostile magic upon his chest, owing to his bond with KP. Each of those who have been struck start to shrink, their bodies twisting and curdling, limbs rearranging and skin transmogrifying…

When at last the horrific spectacle is done, Pryce, KP, River and Amy all find themselves turned into small birds, appropriately colored by what their original colors were.

River opens her beak to talk… but all that Cloak can hear is a pleasant tweeting.

As for Pryce, KP and Amy, they hear–

>"FUCK YOU, PRYCE! GODDAMNIT AMY, COULDN'T YOU HAVE DISPELLED THIS ONE!? I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL THE BOTH OF YOU!!!"


River's eyes widen, and her beak falls open, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.

"…Can we keep them?" Zjetya asks, scooping up KP's bird form.

 No.750459

>>750458
Shei-Sher continues explaining himself to the disembodied sensation of a peanut gallery as he descends.

"I guess it's also worthwhile to mention, that as an acolyte I never actually was inducted into the higher keys and initiation rituals. Life suddenly took over- And now I'm here! I kind of just stole all my power. But is that truly any different from what most high wizards of thee occult schools do anyway? If you ask me -eh -I -I don't know I think I came out fi-i-ine." He bleats the last word.

[1d10]
Navigation

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.750460

>>750458

Amy looks down at her new body and tweets.

>"I wonder how it feels to lay eggs…" she wonders out loud. "It's not like Shei's fucking me enough, could feel nice…"


Then, she looks up at River's tweeting and tweets some more.

>"Alright fine, geez. Drink some piss and shut up," she says as she gives River a potion.


>Natural Remedy: recharge 1, ranged; Use an unpredictable tincture to fully restore a target’s hits to full and restore one wound, or removes status effects. Crit on 9+ restores 2 wounds, but crit fail on 2- deals a wound of damage.

>[1d10+4] Let's see if this counts as a status effect

Roll #1 5 + 4 = 9

 No.750461

>>750458
KP scrambles back as the serpent trail of magic lunges for him, but isn't fast enough to avoid it. Pryce winces he feels the magic bite him as well, his horn glows to try and dispel it quickly but the shrinking and transmogrification break his focus entirely.

Pryce looks about as the room around them is far larger, momentarily panicking as he sees River and KP missing, until he sees his own new bird form, and then River's voice.
"HOW THE HELL WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IT'D DO THAT? GO DISPELL THEM YOURSELF AND DO SOMETHING FOR ONCE IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER BITCH!"
Pryce holds a wing over his beak in shock.

KP, as the two start cussing each other out, huddles back. When Zjetya scoops him up, he looks up at her with worry, then back to Pryce and River.

 No.750462

>>750458
"Oh, an enchantment most fowl. We're fortunate it wasn't deadly, though they may find it rather humiliating if the others come in to find them all befeathered. I am fortunate to have been taught a prayer of magic nullification, or things might've really went, ahem," Leather peaks over at the birdified party and clears his throat at the sin he's about to commit, "tits up, as they say."

He muses, listening to them sing, "I take it we can't understand them, they certainly seem to be deep in conversation. It's pleasant."

Leather peaks around to make sure nothing else happened due the spell's effect.
[1d10] percep

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.750463

>>750458
Shorthorns thinks about the decision for a moment as Volkama explains the risks, trying to weigh her options… however, she stops herself, realizing that uncertainty is in and of itself the enemy when they'll delve into Tartarus.

"If I stay here double-thinking it, it's just gonna come back to bite me just like the circular room we met the others in! There's no time for doubt, no room for second-guessing. My path was chosen the moment I saw it, I'm going down and seeing what we find."

[1d10] Shorthorns says resolutely as she takes the first step down the stair-well.

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.750464

>>750462

Amy makes a series of quick tweeting sounds which might be interpreted as laughter.

 No.750465

>>750459
"You know," Busta says. "Mudi mentioned something along those lines once. She always said that that was the point – the 'true path' of ascent was always found in deviating from the norm, contradicting the orthodoxy, slaying the old master. The traditional hierarchies were only ever there to deceive the unworthy into seeking after social status, while true mastery could be found by any old person stupid or intrepid enough to just go right for it."

As you descend with your companions, you can vaguely sense ripples in the astral interstice surrounding you, though whether they are engendered by beings far off or close, you can hardly tell. All you know is that they steadily increase in frequency as you descend.

>>750460
>>750461
River immediately flies up to where KP is, and gives him a big hug, keeping her beak shut for fear of traumatizing the little birdie.
You notice now that your clothing has turned into different colored plumage upon your bodies, while your equipment seems to have adopted a bird theme. River wields a twig instead of a spear, and Amy's bags have turned into bundles of sticks and leaves, and her potions are carried in hollowed-out acorns.

River desperately drinks the potion… but there is no effect. That can only mean that this change may very well be permanent, unless addressed through means that reach far deeper into the metaphysical and substantial realms.

>>750462
>>750461
>>750460
Zjetya snorts. "Tits up…? Nah, that comes later tonight. ANYWAY," she says, biting back further coarse commentary and laughter. "Looks like Amy just tried to heal River, but nothing's happened. Maybe we'll have to find Shorty or Shei, they might be able to do something about it… barring that, we could always try to find one of the other groups for aid."

>>750463
Volkama shrugs. "Well-said. Why, if we focus hard enough, we might even call the treasure to us."
"An option worth trying," Deriva says. "If you'll excuse me…"

[1d10+3]

As you reach the bottom of the stairwell, it is not an overlong one, and at its bottom, you arrive in the middle of another stone room, this one square in shape. A door awaits on each of its walls, in the cardinal directions.

Roll #1 7 + 3 = 10

 No.750466

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 6 Feathers [Fire]

>>750465
KP hugs River back, looking concerned over the shouting from before. Pryce flies up, joining the two and hugging them both as well. He hops back, looking up as Zjetya as she summarizes the situation, and trying to ignore the coarse comment. It got them into this mess, but he tries once again to unweave whatever this curse is, starting with himself in case it gets worse.
>Unweave [Self] [1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.750467

>>750465
"Well Nooow I feel like shit being compared to Mudi, but -I appreciate what you're saying"

"Busta?.. Have you met my old Master?" Shei asks now that Busta mentions it.

At the same time Shei unfurls a length of chain from within his cape and begins whirling it in vertical spin, as he feels out the growing presence.

>phase aura

[1d10] one more aura roll to locate what's around them.

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.750468

>>750465
"You think so? That sure would make everything so much easier for us if just willing our way to the end worked, but something tells me Tartarus isn't gonna be THAT straightforward either."

As they make it to the bottom room, she looks around the square room, rubbing her chin. "Four more doors… this place is pretty big. We'll go west first, maybe there will be a way up to the floor above this one on the other side of that dead-end that was blocking us."

[1d10]

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.750469

>>750465
"Either way, it is another challenge. If one was to get turned into vermin or something similar in Tartarus, would that mark the end? I would not allow being turned into a finch to stop my quest, I'd simply learn to peck demons eyes out. I imagine it is a test of perseverance."

 No.750470

>>750465

>"Shit. Didn't work. Sucks for you, cause I'm just fine," Amy tweets a laugh.


>Jhana of Uprooting Poison to turn Amy back to normal

>[1d10] if necessary
>+2 if it's a spell

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.750668

HolyQuest: The legends, as recorded in the ancient scriptures…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahqG2zhu7oA

The Holy Eastern Empire of Accorsia, in spite of internal disputes and divisions among its provinces, once stood as a testament of greatness to the world – a hub of wealth and magical and technological prowess, clearly beloved by its many gods. But, in the far western recesses of this shining empire, a council of fallen gods, cast out from that empire's pantheon long ago, fomented rebellion and ruin. Buiwong, weaver of spiders and fables, Cer'rog, keeper of birds and promises, Ba'drel, patron of cattle and wealth, and Vir-can, stampede of buffalo and might. Together, these fallen gods gathered dissidents and the oppressed from all corners of the empire, amassing an army that would usurp the old order and establish a new one. The Holy Union Church commissioned a band of adventurers – Sir Pryce, Leather Cloak, Glass Dagger, Shei-Sher, Gabriele, Sir Flow, and Evil's Punishment – to thwart, or at least slow, Buiwong's plans while the empire's many provinces could set aside their conflicts and mount a defense against this army of darkness.

Despite all efforts, the empire could not hold against Buiwong's schemes, as not only did he amass armies, he sabotaged the empire from within through conspiracy and corruption, goading the empire's eastern provinces into a civil war, thus dividing and crippling the empire's attempted defenses. His army broke through the empire's barricades on the western front, and even when the gods themselves sent their angels to stop him, they could not overcome Buiwong's newest recruits, five powerful adventurers of his own: the healer, River Spring, the archmage, Sardonyx Emblem, the dark paladin, Shining Light, the apostate monk, Tantra, and the strongest bounty hunter in the east, Septum Axis. Together with Gabriele and Evil's Punishment, who Buiwong had persuaded to join his side, they pushed to the heart of the empire, and destroyed the grand cathedral, Agape, the seat of the holy empire's power.

The destruction of Agape began what would later be identified as the end of the world.

As Agape was destroyed, so too was the Firmament: the great glass dome in the sky, separating the world of mortals from the world of demons. With its destruction, countless millions of demons flooded the world once more, free to scourge the earth as they had once done. Enraged, the pantheon of Accorsia, led by the Seven Holy Devas, initiated the Rapture, where they abducted great swathes of the world's population, taken from all nations and all peoples. These people would serve as the founding stock of the New Kingdom of the Living, that is, the new world that the gods would create; they were abandoning this one. Buiwong, who had craved his vengeance against the Devas since the moment of his exile, pursued the Devas, leaving his loyal followers to the chaos they had birthed. In that chaos, Evil's Punishment and Gabriele had perished, along with countless thousands upon thousands of others.

(1/many)

 No.750669

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyqNtJSQvZo

Over the course of the following moons, the remaining mortals of the world struggled for survival. Many perished for want of food and water, others fell prey to the untamed wilderness outside their kingdoms, or to the countless multitude of demons that made sport of hunting mortals. Still others were killed by their fellow mortals, often in disputes over supplies, or as a result of a blood libel against Accorsians, who were collectively blamed for the end of the world.

Yet in spite of these unbearable hardships, there were still those in the world willing to take in and protect those in need. Many of these lay on the western end of the continent; far away from the demonic invasion, they had had time to prepare. The western kingdoms were soon inundated with refugee caravans – those that managed to endure the trek through the continent's central badlands. In one of those kingdoms, the northwestern sheep kingdom of Zha Arlakane, Shei, Flow and Pryce found refuge, arriving six months after the fall of Accorsia.

In Zha, they met Amy Thest and Flaming Shorthorns, two souls who had not been hardened or embittered by the destruction of the world. Together, this small group of adventurers would spend the next several moons traversing the northwestern tip of the continent, helping those they could.

In Fantasia, the kingdom of the Fairies, they drove out the slave-driving Orcus, and found allies, one old and one new: River Spring and Blessings, acolyte of the demon-hunting Apostles of White. Blessings told them of her own personal hunt for the Witches of Gehenna: three powerful Witches who gathered demons and terrorized mortals for their own gain. As it turned out, Amy, bearing demonic powers of her own since before she could remember, had already killed one of these Witches – Azawakh the Cruel. Impressed, Blessings warned them of Vizsla the Kind, and Mudi the Young, against whom Blessings had a personal vendetta. Blessings would part ways with the party, going back to her own hunt, while they went north to help others whom Orcus had afflicted.

(2/many)

 No.750670

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmbcSdUnETQ

As they traveled north to Circadia, a kingdom enshrouded in eternal night, our heroes encountered Ecclesia, the Nation of the Penitent. Composed of Accorsian refugees and demon hunters from other fallen nations, this eclectic army was in the process of conquering all that they could, employing diplomacy, sabotage and holy violence in equal measures. It was headed by the Choir, a council of twelve judges, and their most powerful members. Amy and Flaming joined Ecclesia's ranks to get badly-needed medical assistance for free, and it was with Ecclesia's help that they explored Circadia. The kingdom was nearly abandoned, save for royal mad scientist Volkama and his wife, Deriva. The two had been made into half-demons by Vizsla, who was responsible for the kingdom's fall when she assailed it with her demons. After forcibly recruiting Volkama and his half-destroyed airship, our heroes spent a long and confusing night fighting through the dreadful abominations that now peopled Circadia's streets and castles.

During this time, they recruited many others: Spitshine and Onion, who had defected from the slave-trading gang headed by Banana Splitz; and the Voidlings, Observer and Yes Mare, two creatures from a dimension called the Void who had come to this world in search of knowledge and power.

At the end of the night, as the Ecclesian forces were overwhelmed by the city's endless demons, Ichimonji of the Choir sought to destroy the city with cleansing flames. But just before she could make the call, an unknown angel appeared, and razed the city while our heroes escaped.

After a brief stay at one of Ecclesia's strongholds, the town of Lilane, (where they recruited the mothpony songstress, Zjetya and bodybuilding bookworm minotaur, Rus Tea) our heroes went back to Zha Arlakane to report to King Lininas, only to find the mountain of Zha under attack by more angels. They learned that the angels had come from the ancient empire of Mariposa, which caused the King distress, as Zha and Mariposa had once been good allies. He commissioned our heroes to head west and see what had become of it.

Along the way to Mariposa's capital, Vitral, the polis of stained glass, there were many detours. First, they discovered the ancient Tower of the Traitors, a half-buried fortress belonging to the ancient demon hunting fraternity known as the Sons of God. It was there that they met once more with Blessings, as well as Wireframe, one of Buiwong's former servants. Amy battled with the fortress's petrified guardians, one of whom was the knight Hardspine, who entrusted Amy with the Garment of the Founder, a relic belonging to Princess Vinland, who had founded the Sons of God many millenia ago.

Before they left again, they also encountered Holy Hours of the Choir, who updated them on Ecclesia's progress in conquering the northwest. It progressed smoothly, despite many setbacks.

(3/many)

 No.750671

Next, in order for their airship to make it over the magical and magnetic fields that surrounded Mariposa (owing to a mineral in the earth called Witchbone), they needed to obtain sap from the Tree of Red Lacquer, prompting a journey through a jungle wilderness until they at last found the Tree at its center. It was there that Spitshine and Onion witnessed Banana Splitz's true cruelty, as he had subjugated a rival gang whom had conquered to the mercy of a zombie demon, turning them all into its undead thralls which it then used to try to destroy the tree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZoGlw3c6xQ

At last, they arrived in Vitral, finding the great, walled capital in a state of utter ruin, but far from abandoned. The city was a stark contrast of two extremes. On the ground, the many districts were filled to the brim with demonic settlements, led by the six Demon Lords who commanded them through cruelty and might. In the sky high above, metal clouds covered the entirety of the polis. Within those clouds resided the Seraph Mirarcle, an angel who sought the world's Dissolution, alongside the Abaddon Metatron. Disguising themselves as demons, our heroes explored Vitral for many days and nights. They learned that, despite Vitral's takeover by angels and demons both, there remained a sizable population of mortals in its midst, as a slave caste belonging to demonkind.

As they sought a way to free the mortal slaves from the Demon Lords' grasp, they met Tantra once more, and discovered that Buiwong had not fared so well in his attempt to pursue the Devas out of this World. The Devas escaped this World by means of a great interdimensional portal, and sealed the portal just as Buiwong attempted to give chase. Buiwong was caught between this World and the Interstice that separates all Worlds, and thus was far more limited now in how he could affect this World. To this end, he recruited several new adventurers to enact his will: the bold buffalo warrior Little Journey, the silent terrorist Vortigern, and the cursed Dragon stripped of a name, and his peppy granddaughter, the demi-demigoddess Mocha. But, unlike before, this group of adventurers sought to aid our heroes, as they were all in the same boat as Buiwong, who needed the mortals' belief to sustain his existence, and thus now sought to save them just as our heroes did.

As our heroes now had basically a small army at their disposal, they split many ways and accomplished many things. They saved the mechanical prodigy Prisca, who had been made into a half-demon by one of Mudi's rebellious demonic servants who had his own agenda. As a way of apology, Mudi's follower, the fashionista Desert Lamp, agreed to take Shei to meet with Mudi. At the same time, Flaming and Amy tracked down Mudi on their own, and in the process made friends with Bosta, Mudi's newest demonic recruit. Bosta was quickly renamed Busta as a result of Amy's inability to remember names.

(4/many)

 No.750672

With our heroes gathered before her, Mudi announced her intention to save the world.

Her plan was fundamentally simple. All demons were bound by The Devil's Instincts, a compulsion to fight, flee or submit when confronted with a power that far outstripped their own. This compulsion allowed certain powerful mortals to command demons… but there were limits on how powerful a mortal could become. For all their power, Mudi and her sister Vizsla could barely control low-level demons. Thus, using her art of Lifedrain, a spell enabling her to steal others' power and store it as she wished, Mudi sought to artificially raise her own power far beyond its natural maximum – a process that would normally result in a mortal's body and soul being torn asunder. But, at the same time as she elevated her power, she would bathe in the waters of the Momentary Lake, which had the power to preserve things as they were, granting immortality and near-indestructibility. However, the Momentary Lake had been sealed away in Tartarus long ago by the Sons of God. Only with the Garment of the Founder could the Great Seal of Tartarus be opened, and so Mudi needed Amy's cooperation… to which our heroes agreed, despite their misgivings about entrusting the future of the world to a Witch.

But Mudi would be unable to leave the city, so long as the angels guarding it were still alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtXTlriYaUQ

The battle against Miracle and her army of angles proved their greatest challenge thus far, requiring aid from the Demon Lords, and even another angel: Mirror Image, a paladin of the Union Church, now reborn and leading her own insurgency against demonkind. Mirror had been the very one to create Miracle – when she forced General Chorazin of Vitral, and her soldiers, to ascend using a piece of angel's flesh. Mirror had needed allies against the demonic invasion of Vitral, but Chorazin and her soldiers were unprepared, and had lost their minds in the process, turning against their creator. When it was apparent that she was on the verge of defeat, Miracle attempted to summon Metatron to her aid, but with the knowledge of her past, our heroes brought Chorazin's memories and personality back to the forefront of her mind. Witnessing the destruction she had caused in her mania, Chorazin willingly dislodged her own core from her body, which took her offline (without ending her life).

But, it was too late – Metatron had arrived.

Enough of the interrupted summoning had completed for Metatron to assume a physical form, but much of his outer armor had broken, as a result of it being incomplete. The armor rained from the sky into Vitral, carrying some kind of divine disease within. Metatron, believing that Miracle had perished, was surprisingly emotional, and nearly slaughtered our wounded heroes in his grief. Vizsla intervened with one of her spells, enabling our heroes to escape to the council chamber of the Demon Lords.

As they planned their next moves, explosions thundered throughout Vitral, as Metatron deliberately detonated the broken pieces of his armor in an attempt to destroy the entire city. Our heroes scrambled and began an evacuation effort, saving hundreds, if not thousands, of demons and mortals alike. For this, they would come to be known as The Saviors of Mariposa.

 No.750673

>>750672
This summary shall be concluded at another time.

 No.750674

Last time, on HolyQuest…

The Saviors were in the midst of exploring the dungeon known as God's Entombed, built in ancient days by the Sons of God. Just as its name held many meanings, so too did the dungeon hold many purposes. It kept any would-be escapees from Tartarus trapped within it, and kept out unworthy entrees, while also training those worthy of entry.

KP, Pryce, River, Zjetya, Cloak and Amy were in the middle of the dungeon's fourth layer, having just been questioned by the Salt Dragon as to what they would do to their foes – both those wrought within Tartarus, and those who would be accompanying them, from among Ecclesia, the Witches of Gehenna, Buiwong's spiders, and the Light Brigade. After giving their answers, the Salt Dragon vanished, leaving them to deal with the room's enchantments – one of which turned Pryce, River and Amy into birds.

Flaming explored with Volkama and Deriva, and had just reached the fifth layer.

Shei was with Busta and Gadriel as the three attempted to find a way around the dungeon itself by projecting their subtle bodies through the dungeon's physical form. Unsurprisingly, the dungeon's astral defenses were perhaps more dangerous than its physical ones, as unseen entities swam about in the astral plane…

 No.750675

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hsXBl2GsTs

>>750470
>>750466
>>750469
Amy and Pryce turn back to normal. Zjetya protectively hides both River and KP inside her neck-fluff, and the pair stay put. "Okay, I know we should probably put our healer back to normal, but can't we keep KP as he is?" Zjetya asks.

>>750468
As you push the door, you find that there is no handle, nor lock, but the door does not budge when you push against it, either. You search it all over, and find a glyph, much like the glyphs you found dotting the walls and obelisks inside the Temple of Slipper. By your reckoning, it resembles some kind of small bird.

As you discover this, an ancient-looking treasure chest warbles into existence before you, like a mirage of some kind becoming clearer as the viewer approaches. Volkama and Deriva start with surprise. "My… the powers of imagination worked!" she exlciams.
"We do not know that for certain," Volkama says, examining the chest all over. "Could as easily be another trap."

[1d10+3]

>>750467
"Not before the day that we found him in his Domain," Busta says. "Though, I had heard tell of him – only rumors – when I was in the Beyond, back before the Firmament gave out. You may not be surprised by this, but Western and Eastern demons had our own territorial disputes, and your Eastern demons had little love for us Westerners appearing before your sorcerers and channelers."

As you expand your Aura, Gadriel and Busta shudder. You are entirely surrounded, in the most literal sense of the word. Your subtle bodies are entirely covered, in every possible manner, by innumerable multitudes of tiny, peculiar entities, most of which are no bigger than small denominations of coin. They are so small and light that you can easily push through them, as one might push through water. The larger ones among them, large enough to see details in their bodies and faces, are grotesque and misshapen, like the most feverish nightmares of a dying soul. Only, like demons, which at least have some semblance of an aesthetic, these entities have no rhyme or reason about their forms, like half-baked discarded remnants of creation. This is made worse by the fact that they are not entirely visible, even inside your Aura. Each of them is wrought from visible vibrations, like ripples in water, only each of these ripples is some darkened neon color, mostly of hellish reds and rotted greens.

Busta and Gadriel panic, trying desperately to swim deeper and deeper to try to get away from these vibrational entities.

Roll #1 10 + 3 = 13

 No.750676

>>750675
Shorthorns approaches the door's glyph, looking at the little bird upon its frame before taking a look up at her forehead, remembering the bird tattoo that sits upon her own skull. She smirks, "Huh… wonder if they know each other." She jokingly suggests before taking another look at the door before the treasure appears before them suddenly.

Surprised, she stares at it, before rubbing her chin. "It probably is, but we'll never know unless we check. I can take whatever this dungeon has to throw at me, you two get back. If anything happens, I'll make sure nothing happens to you." She says as she approaches the chest, cautiously looking for a way to open it while keeping an eye out for tricks
[1d10] Perception check

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.750677

>>750675

Amy stares at Zjetya for a moment with her head cocked.

After a long pause, Amy straightens back up and asks, "So, is KP going to be like, your son, or something?"

 No.750678

>>750676
As you approach it, Volkama reaches out with his telekinesis, pulling back at your shoulders. "Hold! I sense much magical energy from the wood of the chest… but curiously, not from the iron that trims its edges, and the rim of the lid."

As you study the chest, you see that it should be possible to pick the chest's padlock without touching the wood, so long as one took care in how they opened it. Smashing it with your head would probably not be the safest method of opening.

 No.750679

>>750675
"As we wait here, I do wonder if all paths are to converge on Salt after all. Perhaps it best to continue forward knowing that we will reunite anyways, as that seems more in line with the nature of the maze than waiting. If we were to get separated in Tatarus, would we wait around for others to reconvene, or trust that they'd find their way and not compromise the mission?"

 No.750680

>>750678
Shorthorns looks at the chest angrily as Volkama points out how picking the lock will require finesse, and she looks up at her large frame and her bulky hooves/horns and gives a sad sigh. "Volkama, could your telekinesis do the trick? I hate to admit it but no way am I gonna be careful or steady enough to avoid touching the wood. I'm kind of… one of the missionaries from Hearthome had a term I liked… a 'Bull in a chineigh shop'?"

She focuses instead on her catalyst, and focuses on unweaving the chest's trap. "I'll focus on trying to make it less dangerous if you can pick it the lock."
[1d10] Unweaving

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.750681

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 6 Spears[Fire]

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>750675
KP huddles into Zjetya's fluff, sitting comfortably.
Pryce stands, looking himself over as he is back in his normal form.
"…Did it work?"
He says slowly and cautiously.
"Phew, good, I'm back to normal." He turns to the remaining pair of birds, looking down at River. "I know it was that curse, but I'm sorry for what I said."

He then nods to Zjetya, horn glowing as he focuses on River to return her to normal as well.
>Unweave [River] [1d10]
"It might be easier to keep watch over him like that, but this doesn't seem like the safest place for a bird."
KP looks up at Pryce from the nest of moth fluff, the elder mulling it over.
"He can stay as is, until it gets too dangerous to be that small."


>>750677
Pryce glances over at Amy's comment.
"No, let's not think about children yet."

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.750682

>>750675
However far they swim they should tug Shei with them by the dark thread their tied too. Shei attempts something in the meanwhile.

"Can't say I'm well versed in demon politics. At least not in Accorsia, I was a small kid way back when."

Shei raises his hooves out gently as if wading through a pond. He uses Qi working to collect the the tiny incomplete wills of the many unfinished demon morsels.
>qi working
[1d10] to collect the little demons wills into a single bunch

He then makes the motion of plunging a dagger into the imaginary pond.
>Qliphoth: automatic, recharge 3; Sacrifice one or all of the minions under your control to heal yourself 5/5 H/W per minion sacrificed. The minion must have over 20% of it's HP to be a proper sacrifice. Can heal beyond character's Natural H/W up to a maximum of double their Wounds+2W. For Shei 13/14 H/W. This ability may require a Control roll at the DM's discretion. Can be used to heal allies and H/W gained may be distributed to up to Five allies at a time. I.e 1/1 for each of Five allies, 2/3 and 3/2 for each of Two allies, etc. This skill can heal someone from 0/0HW but requires a roll and both their soul and body are still present.
[automatic] to sacrifice the little unfinished demons

[Not sure if this would work. I just thought they resembled actual qliphoth (broken shells) and thought it'd be appropriate. Up to DM interpretation obviously]

"Although that makes sense you have heard of him. Him and the Ring of Theon made regular violations of the firmament in their quest for the beyond. And it was a little more than occassional I would see fettered demons roaming Firewood Manor. I was just asking because of all these parallels to people doomed by their ambition that was being made. My thought, this guy has to meet Crow-ley. But I guess you were there for it. Didn't catch you."

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.750683

>>750679
>>750681
>>750677
"Yes," Zjetya says, scratching KP's head.

As Pryce attempts to unweave the spell about River, the spell's threads become tangled, and in a flash of spinning light, Zjetya stumbles, as River falls out of her fluff… and becomes a chicken.

River squawks and pecks at Pryce's leg, while Zjetya leans back and laughs at her plight.

[1d10]

>>750679
"That'd be my guess, after everything we've learned," Zjetya says, eventually calming down after the gaffe. "Getting hung up about others would probably disrupt your focus and resolution. Having faith that they'd be able to meet you at a common destination would be the better option."

>>750680
The spell is too difficult for you to undo without risking some kind of backfire. Volkama eyes the padlock, reaching out with his magic. "Stand aside, I shall give it a try. Iron is known for its unfriendliness to magical signatures, curses, and malevolent spirits alike, so perhaps it shall be my friend once more…"

[1d10+4]

>>750682
Indeed they are, good catch.

As you send forth your Qi in an attempt to tame the husks of Qliphoth, the ones surrounding you suddenly tense up, all pointing toward you, all those with eyes, or misshapen pustules of eyes, turn and focus toward you three. This lasts but a moment, before the terrible multitude scream and writhe, spasming in terror as they spin and rattle, turning a deep red as their smooth vibrations stab in every direction, becoming terrible spikes that stab into you at every angle.

https://youtu.be/kd6Q53jXBlU?t=2

>All lose 2 Wounds


As Gadriel and Busta spin and churn with mortal terror, your senses remain keen enough to notice a much larger vibration suddenly approaching. Faintly, a calming hum sounds from afar…

[1d10+5]

Roll #1 10 = 10 / Roll #2 6 + 4 = 10 / Roll #3 1 + 5 = 6

 No.750684

>>750683
>>750681
>>750680
"Mayhaps it best we moved on. Lingering to remove enchantments only puts us at more risk in Tartarus, I do not think these rooms will be kind enough to stay stagnate in their risks. We can attempt to undo these curses as we move on, otherwise I think we'll further separate from the rest of the party." Leather says, motioning onwards.

 No.750685

>>750683
Shorthorns grunts as the unweaving proves successful, but dares to take the risk of backfire as she moves forward to help Volkama however she can. She attempts to unweave the magic again, putting herself at risk if she needs to while still standing ready to safeguard the others.

>>750684
"We'll only be making this one attempt," Shorthorns says to Leather, "If we cannot get it open, we won't linger on it. But I'm not gonna be the one to shy away from a challenge, and I'm sure Tartarus will have plenty to taunt us with."

 No.750686

>>750684
>>750677
>meant to message Amy, not Shorthorns

 No.750687

>>750683
>>750684

"Keeping people as defenseless little birds is also kinda dangerous, though," Amy says as she turns KP back to normal.

>Jhana of Uprooting Poison

>[1d10+2]

Roll #1 3 + 2 = 5

 No.750688

>>750683

"Also, isn't it kinda creepy to have a 'son' that is a child version of your lover?"

 No.750689

>>750687
"Are we not defenses?" Cloak says behind his shield, "I'll put my life in front of them if need be."

 No.750690

>>750683
>>750684
>>750677
Pryce looks down in shock as River is turned into a chicken. KP gives a small chirp of concern.
"R-Right, you and Amy should lead the way this time while I fix this."
Pryce pulls back his leg when River pecks him, picking her up in his hoof.
"Don't worry, you'll be back to normal in a sec."
He says calmly, clearing his mind from all this backfiring. His horn glows, attempting to untangle the magic again.
>Unweave [River] [1d10]

"Be nice Zjetya, I doubt you'd like it if these roles were reversed."
He comments as she laughs at the situation.

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.750691

>>750690
>>750689

"Well we have to fix them eventually!"

 No.750692

>>750691
"Did I not also say we can attempt to undo these curses as we move?"

 No.750693

>>750691
"I can take care of fixing. Amy, since you can 'eat' these magic traps, you should clear out these doors so we can find the path forward. Besides, I trust Zjetya to keep KP out of harms way."

 No.750694

>>750685
Volkama takes his time fiddling with the inner machinations of the lock, clearly apprehensive of a potential backfire. At last it's undone, but as the lock clicks, Volkama leaps back, and he and Deriva pull you back as quick as they can. The lid of the chest practically flies off as a torrent of magical energy flashes forth from the chest, turning the ceiling dark as pitch. The bricks smell burnt once the magic blast is done.

"Well… that should be the last of it," Volkama says. "Thank goodness for iron. Any takers for the treasure?"

>>750688
>>750687
Zjetya clicks her tongue as KP goes back to normal. "Amy, don't make it weird. KP's his own colt, you know! Err, at least, he will be once we figure out how to sever their sympathetic connection."

>>750690
River scores several small hits into your hoof as you pick her up, though of course she doesn't peck so hard as to wound you. At last you turn her back to normal, and she sits atop your hoof, her hooves bunched up at her sides like the wings of a chicken. Clearing her throat, she hops back down to the ground and says nothing more of the matter.

>>750687
>>750689
>>750690
"Alright, alright," River grumbles. "Cloak has the right of it. Let us be off before we invoke more curses upon ourselves. If there's any path before us that requires no doorways, that automatically has my vote."

>Choose direction

 No.750695

>>750694
Shorthorns nods her head towards the chest. "This was your victory, Volkama, you picked the lock and open it where I would have just smashed it open and put myself at risk. Whatever's inside, it's yours. I think all the magic from the trap has used itself up by now, you should be safe to look inside."

 No.750696

>>750694
KP sits at Zjetya's hooves as the curse is lifted from him.
>"Aww, I liked sitting in the fluff…"
He says, hopping up to his hooves.
>"I don't know if it can. Mr., uh, Calque, seemed to make it sound like a hostage thing when he used it on the big guy."

Pryce shakes his hoof from the sting of the pecks after River hops off. Unsure of how to make this better, he gives her a quick wing hug.

>>750694
>>750692
>>750691
"Well, since the trap on that northeast door is gone," Pryce states, clearing his throat after all the trouble, "We should at least check what's in that direction."
He says, opening the door.

 No.750697

>>750694
>>750693

"There was a way Amy already cleared that I was about to fire at, it had some sort of worm magic within it. We should check to make sure the trap has not rearmed itself in the time it to remove the curses." Leather says, investigating the previously disarmed door.

[1d10] perception with Ecclesian training

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.750698

>>750697
>>750696
>>750694

Amy nods a follows.

"It's already weird, Zeta," Amy says with a little snicker.

 No.750699

>>750695
Volkama nods, and cauutiously approaches the chest. He reaches within after some deliberation, and pulls forth an old and thick leather belt with a prominent and ornate golden buckle. You can feel the magic upon it, and Volkama spends some time studying its magical signatures… eventually, he turns and hands it to you. "Bah! It is of no benefit to me. You or Grand Voyage, or perhaps even Cloak, will find more use for it."

>Fortifying Belt; Relic; The DC to hit you drops to 0, such that even Critfails will succeed against you, but all damage taken is Halved before other effects.

>Description: An old belt that held in place the robe of a very bulky Son of God, and through its fame and fortune, inherited a portion of his sturdiness and reliability.

"Incredible," Deriva says. "I conjured that chest with but a moment of sheer concentration on the idea of 'bringing out the treasure behind the false wall above us.' An imprecise target of focus to be sure, but still it worked. Do you think we could get more treasure in this way?"

>>750698
"YOU'RE WEIRD!" Zjetya protests.

>>750696
River shudders, but accepts your hug. "'Tis such an unnerving thing to feel teeth in my mouth once more after having a beak… I wonder how griffons are able to speak so eloquently without teeth."

>>750696
>>750697
>>750698
Having effectively dispelled the Northeastern door (by getting afflicted with its curse), you can safely proceed beyond it. You proceed for a short time down a corridor, before it bends East and continues onward… until it at last stops at a dead end.

River clicks her tongue. "I've no doubt this wall is a false one. The question is what it might hide."
"I wouldn't assume so," Zjetya says. "Could just be a means of frustrating would-be escapees, no?"

 No.750700

>>750683
"ga-a-ahrrr" Shei growls in pain from the disobedient qliphoth

"Gadriel, Busta, I know I'm not the authority on this but could you stop fucking about and do something useful please?"

"Sounds like something weird is coming up. Gadriel, Busta, pop a heal for us. I'm going to absorb these broken shells.. If anything incredible happens I can inure us from all harm for a short while."

Shei-Sher forces his dominion over bastards over the broken shells
>Control+1
[1d10+1] controlling them

Roll #1 9 + 1 = 10

 No.750701

>>750699
Shorthorn looks at the magic, feeling its strength as she holds it in her hooves. She smiles, lifting her head up high as she puts it on around her waist, smiling as she seems to slide into it quite snugly. "Thank you Volkama, I swear I'll return the favor as soon as I can. I think I definitely CAN make a good use out of this."

She turns to Deriva, nodding, "It would seem so, I didn't even know you could do that! Let's keep it in mind for the rest of the dungeon. For now," she looks at the locked/knobless door blocking their way forward, and turning her eye towards the bird glyph. "Have you noticed any similar markings to this bird anywhere else so far? I haven't been keeping very careful track of if we've seen it somewhere else, besides maybe the Temple of Slipper."

[1d10] Memory, is this glyph anywhere else we've seen?

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.750702

>>750699
"Well the curse would've turned those who enter into birds, are there any locations meant to by flown up to?"

Leather looks around.
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.750703

>>750699

"I'm also kinky," Amy says with a smirk. "Is that what you want o be?"

>>750699
>>750702

"Hmmmm," Amy says as she looks around. Specifically, she looks up.

[1d10] to find a hidden way to go

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.750704

>>750699
"I imagine they've had some time to learn it. The size difference has me more thrown off, small enough to fit on a pony's hoof is far more vulnerable than I'd like."
Pryce says to River.


As they gather together, Pryce gives Zjetya a quick wing hug as well, not to leave either out.
When they reach the end of the hall, Pryce looks around the wall for anything that could open or show a false wall. But he then gets an idea.
"I can check. Sir Estuary wasn't able to touch me when I used this technique, so I should set off anything if it is dangerous."
Pryce's horn glows black, passing it's dark light over his body in a soft glow as he steps into subspace, and then peeks his head through the wall.
>Subspace Walker [Self]
>2 times per combat; Automatic; Hide yourself, an ally, or a medium-sized object within a Subspace pocket for four turns, or until they dismiss the effect. During this time, the target cannot attack or be attacked. If used on a sentient target, that target can now move through solid objects, barriers, etc within a short distance at will.

 No.750705

>>750703
She leans in and whispers… "I already have you beat in that regard."

>>750704
While hidden in Subspace, the colors of the world around you invert, like a photonegative, through Pryce would not know what that is. You peer through the wall, but see nothing, confirming that the wall at the end of this corridor is quite thick.

>>750702
>>750703
>>750704
In front of the wall, you see a small narrow gap between some of the bricks in the hallway's ceiling. It's too small for anyone of your size to climb through, but it would not be too small for a tiny bird to fly up into. Zjetya and River look up into it. "Dang… wonder where that went," Zjetya says.
"Perhaps there may yet be time to revert that spell," River says. "Pryce, Fairy Castle entrusted you with her spellbook, no? Couldn't you skip forward some distance for a Weaving spell that could bring back that bird-curse?"

>>750701
There were such glyphs in the Temple of Slipper, but back then, they served merely as decorations for large scenes in the hieroglyphic tales of the Sons of God inscribed into the rock. You can see that each door has an icon of its own; the North door has a mouse icon, the East door has a snake icon, the South door has a dog icon.

"Mice, hrm…?" Volkama ponders.
"Forget the treasure," Deriva says. "Don't any of you think we might be able to call forth the answer to a puzzle that stumps us with our will and visualizations?"

>>750700
The mass of Qliphoth stop writhing and spasming as you manage to get them to calm down. Gadriel and Busta say nothing, but get to action.

Gadriel sprays himself with the healing mist from his wings' orbs.

[1d10+3] Heal

Busta looks downward at the oncoming vibrations, and flaps his fly-wings, sending forth counter-vibrations. You feel the approaching entity veer off-course, spinning away into the darkness.

"Let's go!" Busta commands, diving deeper as he sends wing-beats back toward the unseen enemy.

[1d10+3] Wind Element

Roll #1 7 + 3 = 10 / Roll #2 9 + 3 = 12

 No.750706

>>750705

"Shei is making me lose my game…" Amy mutters in complaint.

>>750705

"I got this!" Amy declares. Afterwords, she transforms into a roach/mouse hybrid and climbs up the wall and into small slit.

>>Obtain one quality of the target's body, along with any applicable Racial skill. You can then call upon any devoured quality freely, transforming your own body to reflect it.


I transformed into a roach/mouse hybrid before, but if you don't accept that as more than fluff, I'm sure I can climb the wall well enough as a mouse.

 No.750707

>>750705
With just a pinch of willpower Shei seems to have the broken shells at attention "That was easy, note to self violate everything."

Shei raise his hoof in champion pose and balled fist. The mass of Qliphoth tear into raw magatsuchi as they are absorbed completely into Shei-Sher. The effects being duplicated in his Gadds and Bustaa as they notice viral energies being consumed by their spirit.

>Qliphoth: automatic, recharge 3; Sacrifice one or all of the minions under your control to heal yourself 5/5 H/W per minion sacrificed. The minion must have over 20% of it's HP to be a proper sacrifice. Can heal beyond character's Natural H/W up to a maximum of double their Wounds+2W. For Shei 13/14 H/W. This ability may require a Control roll at the DM's discretion. Can be used to heal allies and H/W gained may be distributed to up to Five allies at a time. I.e 1/1 for each of Five allies, 2/3 and 3/2 for each of Two allies, etc. This skill can heal someone from 0/0HW but requires a roll and both their soul and body are still present.

[automatic]

"Whatever you say Busta." Shei-Sher follows suit

 No.750708

>>750705
>"Are you sure you want to be a chicken again?"
KP asks River as she suggests reweaving the curse.

Pryce pulls his head back from the wall as it appears to be a true dead end. He looks up as everypony else notices the gap, figuring that must be the path to take. Spreading his wings, he flies up, taking the subspace's ethereal trait to follow the path like he did following Sir Estuary through the debris before.

 No.750709

>>750705
"Mice… kind of like yours?" Shorthorns points out, looking at the mice door with a peculiar look. "I have a tattoo like a bird, and I think Amy's not too far off from a dog. What could a snake mean though, I wonder?"

She turns to Deriva, nodding her head. "Give it a try, but if you can't I think we'd best go back up to the level above this. Maybe we'll find another clue somewhere else, but I feel like the glyphs they have here aren't a coincidence. Maybe if we brought Amy and a 'snake' down here too we'd get some answers."

 No.750710

>>750705
>>750706
"Well that's one who can make it down the path, I have no way of reducing my stature myself." Leather notes, looking back, "We could still try the worm door, for those unable to follow."

 No.750711

>>750710
>>750706
>>750708
"Not a chicken, but – ah, Amy has it covered," River says as Amy turns into a freakish horror of a creature, though River and Zjetya are none too disturbed. "Let's see what she says, first," she adds for Cloak.

As Amy crawls up into the gap, she finds that there is a path before her now, which ends in a hole that one might drop down into. It appears there are no traps or impediments in this tiny pathway.

>>750709
"Let's save that for a last resort," Deriva says. "The dungeoneers seem to have thought of everything here… should we overuse an easy method of passage, I am sure we'd invite another punishment down upon us."

Volkama takes one of his mice from their protective, enchanted pocket within his armor, and sets him down upon the ground before the door marked with the mouse glyph. The door shudders, and a smaller door, this one just big enough for a mouse, opens at its base. Volkama's mouse peeks at the door's gap, then steps back, his fur standing up apprehensively.

"Danger awaits beyond," Volkama translates, putting the mouse back into his pocket. "And it can only be approached if we are the creature marked upon the door. Don't suppose transformations are within your godly domain?"

>>750707
With a terrible cry, the cloud of husks about you vanish – only for countless thousands more to flood the space about you, taking their place. Your absorption of their lingering vital essence brings you to 13/14 H/W

Busta sends a great current of astral wind back at the entity pursuing you, and you can feel its vibrations receding deeper and deeper away, until…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDqP7kcr-sc

A calming hum murmurs from further below. Many voices echo in slow, arhythmic patterns. Busta slows his descent, as does Gadriel, as the two ponder where to go next…

[3d10+5]

Roll #1 5, 7, 1 + 5 = 18

 No.750712

>>750711
Cloak nods, waiting patiently.

 No.750713

>>750711
>>750710
>>750708

"Hmm. There seems to be some kind of tiny path here. I'm going to try to see where it goes and hope it gives me a way to open this wall up."

Amy crawls down the hole and clings to whatever wall/ceiling she can with her bug legs.

She looks around wherever this leads for some kind of mechanism. [1d10]

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.750714

>>750711
As the mouse manages to open up the door, Shorthorns looks on in amazement, watching the brave mouse as he moves back from the door, smiling as she reaches down to nuzzle him with her nose. "You did great! Thank you for your bravery, little warrior."

She turns to look at Volkama, thinking about the question. "…I think so. I can make life spring from stone and brick, I should be able to arrange living things. Life is my primary sphere."

She takes a moment to collect herself, imagining her being that which she loathes most of all: even SMALLER than she already was. She pauses, turning to look at Volkama and Deriva sternly. "…don't bring this up to the others unless we have to, 'kay?"

[1d10] Life Sphere (Primary), turning myself into a mouse

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.750715

>>750708
>>750713
Amy reaches the end of the path, and crawls partway down the wall, but loses her grip partway through, and falls off the wall, landing upon the stone. Thankfully, owing to her roachy body, she is unharmed. Pryce flies to the other side, seeing her land. The two can see that the corridor before them continues until it reaches a juncture: One path leads Southeast, the other Southwest.

 No.750716

>>750715
>>750713
Pryce enters into the open hall, stepping out of subspace, and seeing Amy fall from the ceiling.
"So it wasn't entirely a fake wall at all…"
Seeing it split at the end, Pryce walks down the hall, looking down the southeast junction.
"You check the southwest Amy. We shouldn't get too far from the others if this does continue deeper into the labyrinth."

 No.750717

>>750715
>>750708

Amy groans as she hits the ground in her tiny form.

"Hmm…" she says as she looks around and spots Pryce. "So, wanna see if we can like knock down the wall or something?"

 No.750718

>>750711
The hum, it waxes over the static in his brain. And before it can become relaxing Shei understands.

"Ohhh… nooo…. We're in the feeding grounds and these things krill!"

Shei-Sher manifests a star of solar energy in one hoof. He shines it bright enough to avert the Qliphoth's direction.

LIGHT.IV
[1d10] manifest a blinding solar star to divert any dark creature from coming over here.

He holds the star out in the torrent of broken shell's direction.

"Make a diversion! Get them AWAY from us! Just any idea you got. There's no stupid answers."

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.750719

>>750717
"Unless you can take out a foot of stone, I don't think we can knock it down easily."

 No.750720

>>750714
You turn into a tiny mouse, your armor and clothing shrinking with you. You note that your colors are unchanged, and your fur still has the rough, fire-resistant texture that it normally does, instead of the fine fuzz of a mouse's fur.

"Hold!" Deriva commands after you shrink down. She approaches… and flips you onto your back, trying (somewhat successfully) to tickle you through your armor.

>>750712
>>750716
River and Zjetya keep up their guard as they wait, staying close to KP and Cloak. "How peculiar…" River murmurs, catching Zjetya's attention. "When was the last time we were properly attacked down here? Not since the Mercury Dragon's hands sought to disrupt us, no?"
"Expecting more guards?" Zjetya asks. "This place has been abandoned for centuries, hasn't it?"
"True…" River admits.

>>750718
>10, 12

As you make your declaration, you see Busta get flung into the darkness, as an unseen force but grazes him – you and Gadriel are dragged along for the ride, temporarily knocked senseless as you share in Busta's sudden pain.

>All take 36 Hits of damage


Light flashes from your hoof, even as your consciousness reels and vision swims, and the Qliphoth churn as they attempt to swim away from you, only to, in the process, push other Qliphoth away, into your direction.

"There," Busta says, pointing as he tries to right himself. "A gap, between their energies… move! Move!"

[2d10+2] the two try to get up

Roll #1 3, 1 + 2 = 6

 No.750721

>>750719

"Not with THAT attitude!"

 No.750722

>>750721
"No, that's what I'm asking. Do you have a way to take out that much stone? When I tried to peer through it it was very thick."
Pryce responds flatly.

>>750720
>>750712
>"We'll be fine, Cloak is here. Nothing can get past him!"

 No.750723

>>750720
Leather at River's point, "I believe the enchantment Amy disarmed would've thrust us into battle against an invisible enemy, meaning there are foes still guarding this ancient pathway. That being said, I most are tied to magical effects, or quite possibly could be constructs."

 No.750724

>>750720
Shorthorns looks down at her new, mousey form, giving herself a twirl and reaching behind to pull at her newly elongated tail. "Huh… well, that's interest- WOAH!"

She turns to look up at Deriva and Volkama, giving a slight gulp. "You're all so huge now. I'm not sure I like this… but we have no choice."

As Devira reaches down, Shorthorns looks up curiously, wondering why she was asked to halt… but as her tickling begins, Shorthorns blurts out in laughter and falls on her back, using her newly ineffectual arms to push the offending hoof away. "BHAAHAAHAHAHAH! S-stop it, this is serious! Hahaha… t-this is why I didn't want the others to know!" She grunts in an annoyed tone, stiffing her chuckles as she wiggles away from Devira towards the door. "I-I'll be right back as soon as I figure out how to unlock it from that side, I won't be long!"

 No.750725

>>750722
>>750720
Pryce also checks down the Southeast hall.

 No.750726

>>750722
>>750720

"Hmmmm. All I can think of is this…"

>Prayer of Enlightenment to learn Return to Earth


>Return to Earth: recharge 2, spell; Bring things back to their natural state. Can return spirits to the afterlife and send unnatural creatures (demons, elementals, undead etc) back to their home plane. Only weakens stronger spirits and creatures, giving you +1 to all your actions against them until the end of combat.

>[1d10+3]

Roll #1 2 + 3 = 5

 No.750727

>>750716
The southeast junction ends with another wall. Before it lies a locked trapdoor in the ground.

 No.750728

>>750726
>forgot fluff

Amy faces the stone wall and points a mouse paw at it, hoping the wall goes somewhere.

 No.750729

>>750728
Not much happens, but since you're in no immediate danger, you can give it another shot.

 No.750730

>>750720
Shei opens his cape and a chain shoots out in the direction Busta points. The chain flies between the gap in their energies and swings its to tie lasso onto something

>lasso

[1d10] to lasso something, anything

if I'd have to roll to get up from helpless then let it be my roll to get up

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.750731

>>750727
>>750720
>>750726
Seeing the wall end in another dead end, Pryce walks back, seeing Amy try her spell.
"If River got to this side, she could open a corridor for the others…"
Pryce comments.

 No.750732

>>750729

Amy makes a frustrated noise and gestures at the wall again.

>Return to Earth on wall

>[1d10+3]

Roll #1 8 + 3 = 11

 No.750733

>>750723
>>750722
"I only hope we'll get to be the ones to initiate the battle if it should happen," River says. "I'd hate to be caught unawares by whatever guards these deeper levels…"

>>750723
>>750732
>>750731
>>750723
The wall between the two groups grumbles, as the bricks and mortar which constitute the wall shudder, and dissolve back into their constituent reagants, falling back into a heap before you. River and Zjetya cross over the heap once they find a safe way to walk across it. "Nice," Zjetya says. "Find anything good?"

>>750724
The small door opens for you, as it did for the small mouse, and it brings you into a medium-sized room, one that surprisingly looks like it might have served some administrative purpose, rather than testing demon-hunters or keeping demons imprisoned. There are stone desks and chairs, and stone crates piled up high here and there.

As the small door shuts behind you, you hear the clicking of metal upon stone… and see a stone cat laying asleep atop a bookshelf. A key hangs about its neck.

>>750730
>Shei 0/12 from most recent attack

In the violent churning of the Qliphoth about you, you cast out the length of your chain – and find it surprisingly hooking onto something. But, with a horrid pop, you can feel your shoulder wrench free of its socket as an immense force starts to yank you, Gadriel and Busta through the darkness, pulled by the chain and your shared bond. It's all you can do to stay conscious as the force tugs you deeper and deeeper through the abyss.

>Shei 0/10 from 2 critfails to recover


Gadriel and Busta stir, trying to right themselves in the astral darkness…

[2d10+2]

>Paused


Roll #1 3, 5 + 2 = 10

 No.750803

>>750699
>>750701
>I just realized that, because of how I calculate damage, the only way that this item is even remotely worth using is if the damage reduction is improved from 1/2 to 1/4, all results rounded down as usual.

 No.750907

>>750733

"Wow! I did NOT think that would work," Amy deadpans as she stares at the heap on the ground. She transforms back into her usual wolf-pony form. Then, she giggles and shrugs. "Cool!"

"Just more cave," Amy answers Zjetya, pointing toward more caves.

 No.751000

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 6 Spears[Fire]

>>750733
Pryce steps back as the wall crumbles under Amy's spell, letting the others regroup with them.
"There's two more paths down this way. There's a trapdoor leading down to the southeast, and the other way I have not checked yet."

 No.751001

>>750733
As Shorthorned Rodent moves into the relatively large chamber, she looks around, stepping lightly as her small size does a number on her usual bravado. She turns suddenly as she hears the door slam shut behind her, eyes opening wide as her eyes turn up to see the massive stone cat sleeping atop the book shelf. She looks at the key hanging around its neck, and as its monstrous size nearly gives her pause, takes a moment to collect herself, and recall she's been up against far worse. She snorts, "Hrmm… I think I see what I'm supposed to do here dungeon but, stealth was never really my strong suit…"

She clears her throat, heading towards the book shelf as she tap as she balls up her tiny, mousey fist to tap on the side of the bookshelf. "Ahem. EXCUSE ME! Mr. Cat?"

 No.751002

>>750733
>>750907

Leather steps over the rubble on small platforms of light created through Tsiba, looking out towards the cave ahead, "I suppose this could've been a solution whether or not we had shrunken down. Regardless, progress is progress."

 No.751003

>>751002

"Yeah, who'da guessed that that spell would just knock the wall over? Kinda weird!"

 No.751004

>Last time, on HolyQuest…

>>751000
>>751002
>>750907
>>751003
"It looks like you reduced that wall to its constituent components, as they were prior to their construction," River remarks to Amy as she climbs over the rubble. "Brick and mortar have given way to stone, sand, mud and mason's chemicals."
"Hey, at least those Sons of God were good sports," Zjetya says. "Could've just as easily put up enchantments to prevent this sort of work-around for their weird puzzles."
River paws at the ground a bit. "I wonder how efficacious trying to go straight down with that spell might be…"

Zjetya and River look to the Southwest and Southeast. Just as Pryce said, at the end of the Southeast path, there is another wall, and a trapdoor in the floor. To the Southwest, the path continues for quite a while, so long that you cannot see the end of it.

"So…" Zjetya begins. "Which way, gents?"
"And ladies," River adds.
"Only lady I see here is you," Zjetya says.
"What…?" River deadpans. "What would that even make you?"

>>751001
The cat's eyes shoot open, and an impulse shoots up from your mousey spine, causing all your fur to stand on end. In a flash, the cat leaps from the bookshelf, and lands without a sound, even as it is made of stone. Tail flashing and twitching, it eyes you with amusement, as if it cannot believe such prey would announce itself so boldly.

 No.751005

>>751004

"Duh!" Amy says to River as if she's being dumb. "Zeta can't SEE herself!"

Then, Amy looks down at the ground, contemplating River's suggestion. Without saying another word, she gives it a try.

>Return to Earth on the ground!

>[1d10+3]

Roll #1 3 + 3 = 6

 No.751006

>>751004
As the chill goes up her spine, the primal instinct of prey fearing the sharped-eyed glare of a sharp-teethed predator permeates through every bit of Shorthorn's fiber: as a buffalo she is no stranger to the feeling of fearing a hunter. She backs up a moment, but her conscious nerve tries to collect herself: she is no mere mouse, and no stony house-cat is going to give her pause.

She steps back from where she shuddered before, trying to fight back the primal urge to huddle up with her herd for safety as she stares down the cat, lifting her mousey head high in the process as she activates her magical brooch, the Tikkun Olam, allowing her to communicate with beasts and animals…

"T-thank you! Sorry for waking you up from your nap, but I noticed you had a key around your neck that I think me and my friends need for getting through this maze. Could I ask you to give it to me?"
[1d10] Persuasion

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.751007

>>751004
>>751005

Cloak preemptively stands near a party member without wings, ready to use Tsiba to catch one should the floor give way.

 No.751008

>>751004
"Going straight down like that might not be the best, who knows how deep some rooms are."
Pryce comments on River's idea.

>"Why not check the other path? If ever path is going to the same spot, we could clear the way for the others!"

KP suggests as they mull over which way to go.
"It wouldn't hurt to check, at the very least."
Pryce adds, going too lead to the southwest.

Pryce looks back as Zjetya and River chitchat.
"Since she's a changeling, she must be a queen then."
Pryce comments.

 No.751009

>>751008
>Spiritual Perception [1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.751010

>>751006
"Prr-hrr-hrr-hrr-hrr," the stonecat laughs. "Tis been nearly a Kalpa since I've been awoken by a visitor, and what do I find, but one who should come right up to me and ask for this key I guard. I don't believe this has ever happened, in fact… usually they break through the door, or try to sneak up on me. But I digress, prr-hrr-hrr."

It straightens up, extending a paw to bat at the space before you, coming just shy of striking you with its playful swipes. "Make an offer to me, if you would demand an exchange of goods. What is this key worth to you… say, a mortal? Odd…"

>>751005
>>751007
>>751008
"I'm surprised you aren't more concerned about what that makes you in her eyes, Amy," River says. Zjetya fluffs up her fluff at Pryce's compliment.

Amy's spell carves out a rough-hewn stairway below you, about ten meters in depth, as mud, sand, and mason's chemicals flow down into the hole she creates. Still, there is more earth below you through which you will have to press.

>>751009
As you head down the corridor, River and Zjetya follow at a distance, so as to be a midpoint between you, and Amy and Cloak, should something go awry… and good thing, because as you get about halfway down the corridor, a certain rumbling, from up ahead, stays your steps. It is no physical rumbling, but one in the aether, accompanied by a vague shimmering in the air before you. You see the vague outline and shade of some manner of portal, but it's shaped curiously, almost like the outline of an open maw.

 No.751011

>>751010
Shorthorns tries a toothy grin, trying to maintain an air of confidence about her large prey. "Well, I'm not your usual adventurer, I guess. Trying to think of some ideas outside of the box. Besides, I'm terrible at sneaking, I would have never gotten close."

She thinks not to correct him on her being a 'mortal' rather than a god, keeping that ace up her tiny sleeve for now. "You want to make an exchange? Well, let's see…. what do cats like? Do you want a big scratching post, or maybe some milk? I'm guessing you don't get to leave here very often since the door is so small, if you want I could let you out!"
[1d10] Persuasion

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.751012

>>751010

"Wait… Yeah, what the heck, Zet-aaaaah" Amy starts to say as she processes River's, but as she does, her spell takes effect, and she slips down a few of the steps she just made.

However, she quickly stops herself. "Hey! It worked!" she exclaims excitedly. "Take that, maze!" she says, kicking the wall.

As she does so, she casts the spell again.

>Return to Earth to keep going!

>[1d10+3]

Roll #1 4 + 3 = 7

 No.751013

>>751010
Leather peers down the hole and sees if there's anythin to discern while he waits for information on the hallway from Pryce and progress from Amy.

[1d10] percep

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.751014

>>751012

If there's one thing Amy is, it's fancy!

[1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.751015

>>750733
Shei is a ragdoll for this undetermineable force that pulls them away from peril. Shie tries to pop his joint back in place as he holds on.

[1d10] get up from helpless.

"Everyone okay?" He asks busta and gadds through the rushing pressure

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.751016

>>751011
"I am a construct of stone and magic, engineered to annihilate the worst of what my creators banished into Tartarus's endless panoramas," the stonecat retorts. "What material goods could you possibly bribe me with?"

>>751012
"Obviously, a–" Zjetya begins, before pausing to think. "Well, I was going to address you by your demonic rank, but I don't think you've ever told us. What are you, exactly?"

>>751012
>>751013
>>751014
Ancient earth and stone shudder away as Amy digs through the earth like a dog. Much of it turns back into volcanic soot, bringing to mind Easy's words many months ago about the Ashfall Mountains surrounding this region. After about another ten meters of progress, a shudder in the earth causes Amy's ears to prick up, and she leaps backwards up the stone staircase, knocking Cloak back on his flanks. At the base of the stairs, the earth cracks, and falls away, plummeting for quite some time before hitting the bottom. You can see that you have broken through to the next floor down, but there's a drop of no less than fifty meters awaiting you and the ground level below you.
"Everything alright!?" River calls from the top of the staircase.

 No.751017

>>751010
Pryce pauses as he feels the disturbance in the corridor before him, taking a few steps back.
"Careful everypony, seems they had portals trapped in hallways down here too."
Pryce calls back to the others.
Cautiously, Pryce's horn glows in attempts to unweave the portal to open up the path beyond.
>Unweave [1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.751018

>>751015
Busta manages to turn himself upward, even as he's yanked along, and reaches out to help you and Gadriel orient yourselves even as you're yanked along by the unseen entity.

>All have recovered from Helplessness!


"Fine, but where are we going!?" Gadriel shouts over the rushing pressure all about you.
"Wherever this thing pleases!" Busta says. "And I doubt we'll like to see the end of its path. Can't either of you control it!?"
"Maybe… Shei!" Gadriel shouts. "Extend the threads up the chain, I have an idea!"

 No.751019

>>751016

"You mean like before I took a mortal body?" Amy asks conversationally as she continues to remove the ground. "Cause I'm pretty sure there's no rank for whatever the heck I am now."

"Yet."

>>751016
>>751013
>>751008

"I found something!" Amy announces triumphantly. "It's a bit… place! Really dark. And really far down… I don't think I've eaten anything that can fly…"

Her tail wags excitedly as she talks, slapping Cloak repeatedly in the face where he sits on the stairs after she accidentally bumped him. She remains totally oblivious to this.

 No.751020

>>751016
"…I guess that's a good question." Shorthorns asks aloud, tapping her mousey chin with her paw. "Well, if you don't eat and just sleep until there's an intruder for you to deal with, is there anything you'd want? Don't you ever get bored of just waiting around for something to pounce on? When was the last time you even left this place?"

[1d10] Persuasion to consider the thrill of adventure over sleeping all day

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.751021

>>751016
>>751019
>>751017

Leather sits patiently and tries to ignore the tail continuing to hit him in the face. "I can walk down and up and possibly ferry one of the wingless down on my back, should the path Pryce speaks of is trapped yet again."

He turns to Pryce, still being hit in the face with dog tail, "Any insight on the nature of the trap?"

 No.751022

>>751019
"Far down, I expected as much. I can send a flare down after I remove this portal."
Pryce calls back to Amy's announcement.

>>751021
"Only that it's an oddly shaped portal. Might be to make it harder to detect, but as long as we don't walk further than where I am it's harmless."

 No.751023

>>751018
Shei pulls more thread out from himself and allows it to crawl to the other end of the chains

[1d10] roll if needed

Shei then commands the chains to retract so that they are pulled up to the body of the whale. [I think this is an automatic action]

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.751024

>>751022
>Spiritual Perception [1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.751025

>>751024
>>751017
The portal appears to collapse, the top and the bottom disappearing in tandem until they meet in the center, but the shimmering that surrounded the portal yet remains, and is now concentrated at the center, where you last saw the portal.

You can hear an unusual grunting coming from ahead…

>>751019
"If I might bring forth my discussion with Blessings on demonology," River says. "She taught me the ranks: Wraith, Devil, Fiend, Helel, Heretic, Tormentor, Count, Marquis, Duke, Prince, and then, the Accuser, for there is only ever but one. Orcus was a Heretic, and it took all of us back then to defeat him. Now, after all we've been through… hrm. Where might you rank yourself?"

>>751021
>>751019
>>751022
"We can take the pets and KP," Zjetya says. "Hey, wait, Amy, I'm sure you've eaten a bug at some point. Just use that transformation!"

>>751023
You retract the chain, and send power up its length, but as it reaches its mark, you can feel something rattling the chain from further–

You barely catch but a glimpse of it, but a larger husk, some putrid facade of a hollowed corpse, hurtles past, and rakes its claws in your direction, shredding across – and through – your subtle body.

>Shei loses 6 Hits


Through the pain, you sense your connection to Busta and Gadriel shatter. Busta manages to grab ahold of you, but Gadriel, with a terrified cry, hurtles into the darkness.

Without a second thought, Busta lets go, launching himself after Gadriel. "I've got you!"

[1d10+3] Busta channels wind to encapsulate Gadriel.

[1d10+2] Gadriel reaches out to Busta's arm.

Roll #1 9 + 3 = 12 / Roll #2 4 + 2 = 6

 No.751026

>>751021

Amy jumps as she hears Cloak talk. She quickly turns to see Cloak sitting there. She blushes slightly. "Oh. Hehe, sorry."

She extends a hoofpaw to help him up. "If you could help me down, that'd be awesome! I can make myself small if that'd be easier!"

 No.751027

>>751020
"…Are you seriously trying to recruit me!?" the stonecat exclaims after a moment.

 No.751028

>>751027
"Well I can't think of what else to offer!" Shorthorns exclaims, "You don't need anything like food or toys or wealth, and the only thing you do, from the sounds of it, is just sleep for years until something comes and needs you to swat it. What better to offer you than a little adventure? I mean, you don't have to go all the way if you don't want, it's going to get pretty dangerous, but don't you ever wonder what it's like outside of this little room? Even for just a little while?"

[1d10]

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.751029

>>751025

Amy puts her hoof-paw to her chin in contemplation. "I don't know… I mean, I have to beat the accuser by the end of this. So, wouldn't that mean I'm a prince?"

"-ess," she adds after a moment.

 No.751030

>>751026
>>751025
Leather looks unconcerned, "Any lessened weight reduces the chances of imbalance should some other curse or trap try and knock us over on the way down."

Standing up, the cloth wrapped earth pony looks to Amy to see if she wants uppies.

 No.751031

>>751025
"No NOO!"

Shei lands his hooves standing upon the subterranean beast's body which his chain is lasso'd around. And pulls it from the shoulders, from the hips, with his mind. reeling in any force within his command. Growling bleating panick as he tries to steer the soul of the this thing to his command.

>Bohemian Purgatory: instant, Automatic: The chains produced by the God of Bastards and Kids are fabrications of the soul. As an Instant Auto action gabby's seal may be applied as an elemental attribute to Shei-Sher's manifested switch-cane for this combat. A successful Lasso with the switch-cane applies Gabby's Seal. Target's lasso'd with multiple chains receive psychic damage multiplied for each chain. Psydmgmulti=(damage*Chain#) Psydmg Multiplier for Targets with resistances instead downgrades the resistance for each chain lasso'd. 1 chain brings repel to Absorb, 2 chains brings Repel down to Null. With 2 chains required to revert Resist to Neutral. And a total of 5 chains to bring Repel down to Neutral. The number of chains increased after Neutral is reached does not effect the Attribute Relationship any further, Instead the Psydmg Multiplier begins after Neutral.


>CONTROL+1: Spell, attempts to take control of a hostile or neutral undead. More powerful undead may require a higher minimum roll. Also used to take control of a larger undead at recharge 2.

[1d10+1] control the whale

Roll #1 4 + 1 = 5

 No.751032

>>751025
Pryce pauses as he hears grunting, looking back as the others prepare to venture downward. He faces forward, looking down the hall, horn glowing lightly to illuminate the path.
"Hello? Who's down there?"
He calls down the hall, unsure if it's a beast or one of their allies.
>Gilded Tongue: Passive; The DC for persuasion, bartering and intimidation-related rolls is reduced by 1. Folks will naturally sense your charisma at a glance and be more willing to trust you the first time you interact.

>>751025
>>751026
>>751030
KP steps close to Zjetya as they all sort out how to descend.
>"Shouldn't we try to see first? What if it's like that last deep room with the big worms?"

 No.751033

>>751030

Amy smiles and shrinks down into the form of a cute, pink/purple rat. A combination of the color and the fact that she still has some of her wolf floof makes the rat look almost cartoonish. She looks up at the comparatively giant Cloak and extends her little rat arms upwards as if to indicate that she wants up.

>>751032

"That'd be cool!" little rat Amy squeaks excitedly in response.

 No.751034

>>751033
Leather lifts Amy in one hoof, looking to his back and then to his satchel, "Any preference in seating arrangement?"

>>751032
"I'm patient, go right ahead."

 No.751035

>>751029
"No offense, but that might be a bit lofty," River says. "If I could suggest an analogy? You had a role in defeating Miracle, who held the rank of Seraph, the eighth of the choirs of angels. The eighth rank of demonkind is the Marquis, so… perhaps you may be likened to a Count, if not even a Marquis, after these last few days."

>>751032
You bump into something as you approach, and through your spiritual senses, you can tell that it is cold and slimy, with bumpy, ridged skin. The grunting only grows louder, deeper and more of a threat, and you can feel it rumble your soul.

>>751033
>>751032
>>751030
Zjetya and River look up as Cloak and Amy make ready for their descent. "Pryce?" Zjetya calls. "You got anything down there, cause we're making ready to descend down this way."

>>751031
The last glimpse you manage to get of Busta and Gadriel is them grabbing ahold of one another, shielded by a swirling orb of razor-sharp winds, before the vast entity you've lassoed drags you further and further through this dark ocean. You yank and pull upon the chain to try to bend it to your will, but it obstinately pushes onward, with the lazy impertinence that only a monstrous predator can boast…

[3d10+4] mysterious rolls…

>>751028
"Tch! Damn me…" the stonecat hisses. "All these millennia… and who should I run into, but one just like them. But I will not waste my time for one bound to die. I shall pull back the curse placed upon this room, and you shall reveal to me your true form, and make a sign of your true power, mortal, before I make my decision. What say you?"

Roll #1 4, 8, 2 + 4 = 18

 No.751036

>>751034

Amy laughs. "I guess Shei would get jealous if you put me in a pocket."

"Just put me in your bag. I'm sure there's nothing TOO gross in there. And, if there is, I'll totally understand. You should see my own bag," she laughs.

Then, she looks down at her own rat body and realizes that she doesn't have a bag anymore. She thinks back. Her bag hasn't been on her for a while now. Come to think of it, her armor hasn't been visibly on her for a while now either.

"Am I absorbing things…?" she contemplates out loud. "COOL!" she concludes.

 No.751037

>>751035
Shorthorns turns her head in confusion, "Like them…? Do you mean the Sons of God?"

As he makes his offer, for her to reveal her true form and make a sign of her power, Shorthorns lets out a sigh of relief. "Phew! I say it's a deal. To be honest being this small is kinda crazy unsettling, I much prefer being my normal size, if not bigger."

She takes a breath, focusing on her divine powers as a white glow envelops her mousey form, and she uses the Sphere of Life to reshape her back into her full, white buffalo form.

[1d10] Primary Sphere of Life

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.751038

>>751035
Shei sends 3 more chains to wrap around the leviathan creature.
>Spell Bleed: passive; You may cast any spell you know at multiple targets, but doing so increases the crit fail range to the number of targets +1
>3 more lassos
[1d10]


Shei bleats bloody fury as he compounds his strengths over the whale. Wheening and growling in a way a goat shouldn't.
>Control
[1d10+1]

Roll #1 2 = 2 / Roll #2 10 + 1 = 11

 No.751039

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 6 Spears [Fire]

>>751035
Pryce takes a few steps back.
"We should make it quick, there's something behind where that portal was and I don't think it's friendly."
Pryce says in a calm voice to not anger whatever this creature is further, walking backwards to rejoin the others and not facing away from the grunting sound.
>"Can you send a light down there?"
"No problem, but we should follow right behind it."
Pryce, once at the staircase, turns, throwing one of his flaming spears down into the hole to illuminate it. He then spreads his wings, ready to descend down after the others to protect the rear.
>Homing Magic (For throwing the spear down) [1d10]
>Flight [1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5 / Roll #2 2 = 2

 No.751040

>>751036
"Dried rations, bottles of ink, quills, and parchment both blank and filled. Everything else I keep ammunition-wise on bandoliers. The writing's for recalling these journeys to my future kids. Nothing 'too gross' in there."

Leather gently sets her in the bag.

>>751039
>>751035
"Understood, let's journey downwards."

>Tsiba

>no roll needed unless it's a dodge i think

 No.751041

>>751040

"Wow!" Amy says, as she roots around in the bag. "It's waaaay more organized than my bag! And smells WAY better!"

"I always DID like the smell of paper. I never really had much use for it, though. Not much to do with it when you can't read."

 No.751042

>>751041
"It's a decent firestarter, but I would prefer it if you did not experiment with such in my bag." Leather muses, "Drawing too - pictures are much easier to interpret."

 No.751043

>>751042

"Don't worry, the only fire I'd start would be in your pants," Amy laughs.

"I'm not really good at drawing either…" Amy muses as she looks at a blank piece of paper and contemplates vandalizing it.

 No.751044

>>751037
Before you transform, the cat pronounces an unknown series of words, and you note a great weight leave the room, a weight you didn't even notice until confronted by its absence. With it gone, you easily revert back to your former radiance, power brimming in every muscle and bone. The stonecat steps back, pawing at the key at its neck, until the key comes off the loop on its collar, and falls to the ground.

"Prr-hrr-hrr-hrr, the very same. Quite like them, in all things except power," the stonecat says. "Fine, fine – I think I shall follow, even so, at least for a time. But I must ask – this is no place for the living. What compels you down here?"

>>751038
The colossal entity shudders, and the whole of the dark ocean about you shudders with it, as you tug at the chains, at last eking your will over its – but even now, you can sense that you are but nudging it. Still, you work the chains until it turns about… but you've lost sight of Busta and Gadriel.

>Unknown rolls…


[3d10+4]

[1d10+3]

>>751039
>>751040
>>751036
The fire spear practically dissipates as it falls down the steep, steep drop before you, vanishing into darkness. Zjetya and River hold KP and the pets securely as they make ready to descend.

You drop from the hole in the earth, and float downward as slowly as you can, fluttering through the darkness, until at last, you set hoof down onto the ground. You stand in a lightless space, able only to see your immediate surroundings due to Pryce's flame arm. Cool white marble stretches out at your hooves, but you see nothing in your immediate vicinity, neither beast nor sapient soul nor obstacle of any sort.

Roll #1 8, 3, 8 + 4 = 23 / Roll #2 8 + 3 = 11

 No.751045

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]

>>751044
As they touch down on the marble floor, KP keeps close with how dark it is, unable to see anything that may be lurking.
>"A-Are we supposed to be down here?"
Pryce turns in place, trying to listen for anything that may be lurking, like the unknown force above. With no sign of anything, Pryce takes a breath, focusing his magic into his horn as it glows a deep red, building up a large font of magic to create a flame to light the room.
>Telekinesis [Fire] [1d10]

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.751046

>>751043
"Almost anything can be learned with practice, you cannot expect to know everything from conception. I know Glass has improved a good deal since she started practicing sketching."

>>751044
Leather closes his eyes as vision is more of a distraction when surrounded by complete darkness, instead focusing his ears to listen for any movement or sounds identifying surrounding objects, such as dripping water or the like.
[1d10] more percep

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.751047

>>751044
"Listen to me great creature! I am the last lord of bastards. A paragon for your kind. Follow me and I shall grant you sight! A sense lost to beasts tailored toward darkness. Follow my command and you shall see as a equine sees. This is my oath to you."

Shei bares his soul to the creature and asks for an oath to be made.
>bargaining rolls
[1d10]
[1d10]

True as a god should, his visage appear immutable and consecrated.
>Princess Vinland's Opulence: Twice per combat; Automatic; Recharge 2 after effect ends; Sacrifice 1 Wound to negate all damage against you and your allies made this turn. Damage made next turn against you and all allies will be reduced by 3, minimum 1. Damage made the turn after that will be reduced by 2, minimum 1. Damage made after that turn will be reduced by 1, minimum 1. On the final turn, 1 Wound is restored to you and all allies.
[auto] preparing for whatever happens next

Roll #1 3 = 3 / Roll #2 7 = 7

 No.751048

>>751046

"I'd love to see her drawings some time! And… meet her too, of course!"

>>751044
>>751043

Amy hops out of Cloak's bag and then transforms back into a wolf pony. "Thanks! That was a comfy ride!"

"I'll scout ahead," she announces as she creeps forward quietly.

>Transparent racial to stealth in the dark

>[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.751049

>>751044
>>751044
Shorthorns lets out a breath as she returns to her full glory, shaking off the unseen shackles of the magical weight keeping her form locked as she looks around the room with curiosity. The great white buffalo eventually turns her head down, smiling as he mentions they're only lacking in power. "Give us time, we're quick learners."

As he comments on coming along, she smiles at the thought, but when he asks what they're doing down here, her face turns more serious. "…I don't know how aware you are of what's going on up on the surface, but the Firmament has fallen. Demons roam our world n massive number and are threatening the lives and homes of mortals everywhere. We have a plan to quell their rampage and maybe even bring peace among us all, but it requires us delving into the pits of Tartarus. There is no other way to save our world, and so we do what we must."

 No.751050

>>751047
making a note at 7/10 h/w now

 No.751051

>>751050
err correction, 7/9 H/W

 No.751052

>>751047
The entity offers no response. It is unlikely that a thing this far gone can even recognize anything beyond the most basic of stimuli, lesser even than the most base of animals.

As you send forth power to protect your allies, you sense it landing, and two dim lights, huddled closely together amid a sea of husks, mark the far horizon.

>>751049
The stonecat tilts its head at you. "I know nothing of a 'Firmament,' and even less of this state of the world that you describe. You say that demons roam your world as if that is not typically the case."

>>751048
>>751046
>>751045
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhVi7yU-UtI

As Pryce expands his flames, and Cloak his senses, you can see that you stand amidst the impossible: A garden. The marble path on which you stand is punctuated by vast swaths of rich soil, and flowering, fantastical bushes reach up out from them, their deep green leaves encrusted with soft, near-translucent bulbs of heavenly colors, glowing with a soft light as the light of the flame touches them.

Curiously – it is as the flame illuminates the scene about you that all of your senses can perceive it. Only now can you smell the soil in the earth, the greenery surrounding you. As you behold the soil, it happens to cross your minds that there must be some source of water – and it is as that thought passes that you can hear water running somewhere far off.

Zjetya and River set KP and the pets down, but keep them close all the same. "I can't see any walls," River notes. "And the spot from which we dropped seems so small as to be a planet in the expanse above us. Just how large is this chamber?"

 No.751053

>>751052
"tch.." Shei steers again one last time

>spell bleed

>3 chains lasso
[1d10]

>control

[1d10+1]

Roll #1 3 = 3 / Roll #2 2 + 1 = 3

 No.751054

>>751052
>>751053
failing again, Shei-Sher takes flight and follows toward the two lights.

 No.751055

>>751052
>>751046
>>751045

"Oooh," Amy marvels at the gardens as she stands up straight, no longer trying to sneak around.

"Is anyone here?" Amy calls out as she starts rooting through the foliage.

[1d10] to find a new friend

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.751056

>>751052
Pryce stand in awe as the room illuminates, reveal an unbelievable sight.
"I don't believe it… A garden? How?"
KP looks around, keeping a close hoof on Hopper as the garden almost seems too good to be true.
>"It's almost like Regina's place."

Pryce steps forward to one of the bushes, horn glowing as he attempts to unweave any magic that may be in it, to see if these are real plants before them, or if they are trapped.
>Unweave [1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.751057

>>751052
>>751052
Shorthorns lets out a huff. "…well, it isn't. Or at least it wasn't when this all started. I don't know how much you knew of the original Sons of Gods but the thing they set out to do in the first place was seal all the demons on Earth away, and they succeeded in that centuries ago. Now they've come back and they've created just a whole bunch of problems, either just causing havoc for the fun of it or just trying to reclaim old homes that haven't been theirs in thousands of years. Whatever the reason, mortals are suffering, and it's only going to get worse if we don't get down to Tartarus and do something about it."

 No.751058

>>751052
"I think it's dangerous to make assumptions that a maze like this should be expected to have clear rules, even that of the likes of walls. What matters to myself is pressing forward."

Cloak readies his rifle. "However, I could fire a shot out if you do not mind our position being more or less given away, if you would like elemental light to show where the boundaries, if any, are."

 No.751059

>>751053
Steering the entity is no small feat, and you strain every bit of your muscles to try to steer its momentum back toward the dwindling lights, until at last you come in sight of them.

The sight is abhorrent – Gadriel is wounded, his subtle body marred by slashes and gashes, but Busta is far worse, covered with deep wounds, bearing by far the uglier injuries. He covers Gadriel with his body, holding him tight in a protective embrace. Swirling currents of light and magical wind surround them, and outside of that, swim grotesque, hateful faces, if you can even call them that, misshapen, deformed, all made of resounding vibrations of corrupt energies. Hundreds of them, from the size of gnats, to that of giants, whirl around Busta and Gadriel, waiting their chance for when the protections fail…

"Shei!" Gadriel calls as he sees you. "Busta's not responding!"

[1d10+3] Heal

>>751057
"Know? I taught their recruits how to be small, how to be subtle, how to be as tricky as a mouse, and to cooperate like one," the stonecat retorts. "Though, I was a late comer. Soon after I was animated, the traitor, Lady Athena, emerged from Tartarus, coated in the blood of her fallen armies… soon after, Princess Wineberry dissolved what little remained of the Sons of God, and formed the Bene Elohim, seeking to remake her mother's ancient jihad. Prr-hrr-hrr, I got lost in my tangent. This Firmament must have been a later contrivance. You won't solve the issue just sealing it away, as the Sons learned the hard way."

>>751056
>>751055
>>751058
Amy gets no response, and Pryce's spell has no effect upon the twinkling, star-like bulbs, nor on their fractal, mandala-like vines and bushes.

Zjetya shakes her head. "Don't waste the ammo, and don't think we're alone down here. Amy had the right idea, so let's keep a low profile until we have our bearings."
"What a curious thought, KP," River says, as if thinking aloud. "The dungeon thus far has had at least some light, due to ever-burning torches. Yet now we've no light. I wonder if we are not truly meant to be here as you say…"

In any case, there are paths radiating in every direction from your position, as you can see. North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, and Northwest.

>Paused


Roll #1 4 + 3 = 7

 No.751060

>>751059

Amy heads north. "I wonder if this is like… Mercury's secret garden, or something. Hey, Mercury! We're in your garden!" Amy announces loudly.

She heads north, sniffing around for anything. [1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.751061

>>751059
Shei directs the subterranean whale to feed on the qlipphoth in one direction away from him and his two friends so they aren't harmed.

Shei-Sher then hops off the whale descending to Gadd's and Busta's level. Without sparring a moment to talk Shei-Sher exercises his domain over the qlipphoth.
>control
[1d10+1]

Roll #1 7 + 1 = 8

 No.751062

>>751059
Pryce hums in thought as his spell has no effect on the plants.
"I can't tell if if these are dangerous or not. If this was not meant to be in the labyrinth, or an intended path for any invaders, it's hard to tell what anything here could do. To be safe, let's not disturb any of the plant-life."
>"They all look so nice though, I wish we could bring one back."
"…We can examine more when we found a way out."

As Amy goes off towards the north, Pryce looks to Zjetya and River.
"River, Zjetya, lean in close."

 No.751063

>>751059
"Why didn't you teach them to be as tricky as a cat?" She asks the stone feline, snickering at the odd choice of words. As he explains the circumstances that came about after his creation, she nods as she takes in the new information.

As the subject turns to the Firmament, she sighs. "I agree. That's not what we're setting out to do, not unless it's a last resort. Sealing the demons away just made more problems when they inevitably came back, and honestly not all the demons are so bad I think I'd want them sealed away. But the ones that ARE that bad are going to keep destroying and killing innocent people and places unless we do something."

She smiles, "You know, if you taught a bunch of the Sons of God, we could really use your help. Have you ever been to Tartarus itself?"

 No.751431

>>751059
>>751060

"Mayhaps we best keep our voices down to keep the element of surprise- it's the best way to host a party after all."

Leather follows Amy North, similarlly tapping into his senses and paying attention to wherever light touches.

[1d10] percep

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.751432

>Last time, on HolyQuest…

>>751061
A great shuddering reverberates through the aether as the colossal entity drifts away, devouring a great and empty path through the husks surrounding you. The others trill and spike at your approach, but with a mere gesture, you freeze them in place. Wasting no time, Gadriel floats toward you, dragging the unconscious Busta with him.

Pulling another orb from his wings, he attempts to revive Busta with its sweet ambrosia.

[1d10+3] Heal

>>751063
"Then I'd be out of a job," the stonecat retorts.

As you ask your second question, it twitches its tail. "Time, and time again. Do you intend to have me lead you down there?"

>>751431
>>751060
>>751062
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhVi7yU-UtI

Zjetya tosses her mane. "River, you're playing your hoof with that thinking."
"By which, you mean…?"
"Even if you grew up on the streets, you must have grown up in an empire like Accorsia if you think that way. Tartarus is about the supremacy of the Will. Getting caught up on whether we're intended to be somewhere won't help us overcome it."
River scrunches up her nose. "Tch… no, you're right. But you must admit, it would align with the purpose of training for this area to give off the notion that one is not meant to be down here, so that trainees might strengthen their minds."
"Yup," Zjetya adds. "Ask forgiveness, not permission."

As you follow after Amy, what little light that emanates from the curious plantlife of the garden lights the way to the north. No traps impede your path, until you at last reach another circular area. Four rectangular marble pedestals arise from the center of the area, each one taller than the last. Embedded at the top of each pedestal is a wondrous mirror, polished beyond all defect, composed, seemingly of pure diamond. Black intersecting lines at the edges and running through the mirror give it an effect like stained glass. In each mirror, you see a knight in glorious armor, gilded like the sun, adorned in cloaks of deepest night. Weapons of crystal and moss hang at their hips.

At the edges of this circular space, there are only paths in the cardinal directions, but a strange, watery film covers them, preventing passage.

Roll #1 8 + 3 = 11

 No.751433

>>751432
"Fair enough!" Shorthorns says to his reply about being out of a job.

As he explains he's been in and out of Tartarus many times, Shorthorns' eyes open wide with excitement. "Really?! Then, would you be willing to tell us what you know about it, or how to navigate it? Any little bit would help."

As he offers to lead them down there, she pauses, before asking. "I think that'd be defeating the purpose of these trials, wouldn't it? This is meant to challenge it and prepare us for what lies ahead, having a guide take us through might be the opposite of doing ourselves a favor. I think we could really use you with us, as a teacher, but we will do our best to find the right way forward on our own."

 No.751434

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM
>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]

>>751432
"Making the atmosphere feel wrong to make them focus their minds and wills harder… They really thought of every little thing to strengthen down here."
Pryce comments and Zjetya and River's thoughts.

As they lean in, Pryce's horn glows white, and he taps the tip of it against each of their foreheads gently, creating a triangle of white between them that slowly fades from sight.
>White Threads [Auto]
>Spell; Ranged; Automatic; Create a telepathic link between you and up to two other characters. This link's radius is half a mile long, and can only be blocked by magical or other supernatural effects, not physical ones. Cannot establish a link without the target knowing and accepting the link.

Did this work, I wonder? Pryce thinks, his voice echoing in their heads. Feels like it did. Now, if this place isn't as stable, we'll always be connected to each other.


Pryce follows after Amy's lead, looking over the mirrors as they reach the new opening in the garden. He looks over them cautiously, glancing at the paths blocked off as well, while KP looks up at the knights in awe.
>"These guys look so cool. Do you think this was were they stored their armor?"
"I don't know. This might be a puzzle of some kind. Maybe we have to move them?"

 No.751435

>>751432
>>751434
"The knights do have weapons, so if it is a puzzle, I expect a battle if we do things incorrectly, or possibly as part of the challenge. Would you prefer I set up in an advantageous position with my rifle, or start sleuthing out solutions to what is in front of us?" Leather asks, eying the mirrors carefully.

 No.751436

>>751432

Amy wags her tail as she bounds up to the mirror on the shortest pedestal. She puts her front hoof-paws on it so that she can lean up to it and get a closer look. "Ooooh! Pretty!" she says with childlike wonder.

"I mean, it sucks as a mirror. I can't see myself at all. But, still pretty!"

 No.751437

[1d10] Amy always looks good!

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.751438

>>751437

Name fix.

 No.751439

>>751434
You made a mistake, Zjetya thinks, adapting to the telepathy without missing a beat. Now I can annoy you two whenever I want.
Hrrrrmm!? River thinks, startled at the telepathy. Oh, dear. Are all my thoughts going to be on display now?
Got something we shouldn't see? Zjetya prods.

>>751433
"That's what I hoped to hear," the stonecat says. "The Osmium in me would have me deny your first request altogether. But I can tell that you are not half the warriors the Sons of God were. Take no offense at this – over the millennia since the Bene Elohim fell, I have encountered many mortals seeking after the legendary treasures of Tartarus. From them, I have observed a strange decay of mortalkind. Across the board, regardless of race or sex, your kind seem to be getting weaker."

He blinks, realizing he went on another long tangent. "All of that is to say that I will answer your questions as I please."

>>751435
>>751436
>>751434
One of the knights reaches through the mirror. Zjetya and River leap back, weapons drawn… but the knight just pats Amy's head, and pulls his hoof back inside, resuming his gaze out into the mysterious garden.

 No.751440

>>751439

Amy flinches when the hoof comes out of the mirror. But, when he just pats her on the head, she closes her eyes happily and accepts the pat. Her tail wags even more vigorously than before.

She backs up from the mirror and says, "Thanks, friend!"

 No.751441

>>751439
Shorthorns shakes her head, "None taken. I've heard nothing but legendary achievements of the Sons of God, even after becoming a god myself I would not doubt we have some catching up to do."

"Thank you. I guess then, if you'll answer this first question: what should we call you?"

 No.751442

>>751439
>>751440
Leather raises an eyebrow, "Hm, well they're not wholly malevolent, then. I fear I do not make as good impressions with mirrors though. The wrappings help, but I think it best not to attempt to receive headpats as well."

 No.751443

>>751441
"I have had no need for a name, not then, and not now. Make one for yourself, if you must needs call me by something," the cat responds.

 No.751444

>>751442

Amy light pats Leather's head with a smile.

 No.751445

>>751444

*lightly

 No.751446

>>751444
"Thank you, Amy."

 No.751447

>>751442
>>751440
Zjetya and River glance about the area, relaxing slightly after the knight's friendly gesture. "A puzzle, hrm?" Zjetya says. "That's… eh, you'll have to take this one, River."

River rubs her hooves together as she examines the setup. "I see that all the diamond mirrors appear to be facing one another, but are also angled in our general direction, to the South. Perhaps you were right, Pryce, in that we might move them?"

 No.751448

>>751443
"Well, if I don't give you a name, then Amy sure will, and I'm guessing you won't like what she has in mind."

She takes a few moments to think on a name for the wise stonecat. "I will call you Patience Stone, for your perseverance through all these years in waiting for your next adventurer to challenge. Ready to head on out or, do you need to grab anything?"

 No.751449

>>751439
You would never annoy me, Zjetya. Pryce thinks. And, I don't know River. I haven't used this spell before, so I don't know what is and isn't shared.

>>751439
Pryce glances as the knight starts to move from the mirror, readying his bow to fire, until it only pets and doesn't nothing more.

>>751447
"It might be we'll need to make them face a certain path, though I feel that may be too easy. Then again, if this is an area to attain focus, it might be simple to teach us to not overthink."
Pryce comments. Following this thought, Pryce lifts the mirror of the knight who petted Amy, and moves it so it no longer faces it's opposing knight and instead faces the North path.

 No.751450

>>751447
>>751449
>>751446

"Hmmm," Amy ponders as she looks around from Zjetya to the mirrors.

"Do you guys want a new view?" Amy asks the knights.

[1d10] for asking what the new friends want!

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.751451

>>751447
Unsure of whether the knights will take kindly to being moved or not, Leather crouches low and sets up near where light meets shadow, attempting to blend in for a future kill.

>Assassinate: Recharge 4; On success, blends into a nearby crowd or suitable hiding spot. Once hidden, can take an Instant action to instantly kill one target. On a failure, your cover is blown. On a critical blending roll, the assassination autocrits. A critical assassination roll does the job so neatly nobody even realizes the target died.

[1d10+2] Blending

Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8

 No.751452

>>751448
The stonecat shakes his head. "As you can probably see, I tend to travel light, save for this," the stonecat replies, gesturing to the key at his neck. He gets up, stretches, then walks at your side. "Very well. This Patience Stone shall accompany you until I tire of answering your questions.

It seems that the door you entered through is the only door in and out of this room.

>>751449
Is that a challenge? Zjetya retorts.

>>751449
>>751450
>>751451
The knights do not respond to Amy, simply looking forward. When Pryce goes to move the diamond mirror of the friendly one, he realizes that the mirror is embedded in the pillar, and thus does not move. He instead pushes at the pillar itself, and finds that it slides as easily as a key in its proper slot. As it faces north, a watery film appears over the South path, leaving all four paths inaccessible.

 No.751453

>>751452
Shei swings his his axe to cause the qliphoth the bleed. Magasutchi swirls out from the crowd of little demon critters. Placing busta's inert body among the teeming bed of energy.

His guitar lands in place and he begins playing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAOhxJj0nIQ

>Qliphoth: automatic, recharge 3; Sacrifice one or all of the minions under your control to heal yourself 5/5 H/W per minion

sacrificed. The minion must have over 20% of it's HP to be a proper sacrifice. Can heal beyond character's Natural H/W up
to a maximum of double their Wounds+2W. For Shei 13/14 H/W. This ability may require a Control roll at the DM's discretion.
Can be used to heal allies and H/W gained may be distributed to up to Five allies at a time. I.e 1/1 for each of Five allies,
2/3 and 3/2 for each of Two allies, etc. This skill can heal someone from 0/0HW but requires a roll and both their soul and
body are still present.
[Revive Busta from Death]

At the end of the beginning phrase, one by one the Malekhim step out of Shei-Sher's cape adding their part to the song.

"little dead bird,"
"son of day"
"you- where there is no winter"
"..no spring…"
"but here there is blood"
"here there is bread.. I command yee."
li-v-vve.."

"Here is the blood"
"HERE IS THE BREAD!"

"I will eat the sins"
"I will swallow your hearts"
"And you will be the soul.."

"Litttle, little biird…"

He shutters deeply, from the gut to throat
"Li-iii-i-i-iivveee…."

 No.751454

>>751452
>>751451
>>751449

"Oooh! It looks like the weird barriers are being made by the mirrors!"

 No.751455

>>751452
Using her divine powers, Shorthorns returns her form to that of a mouse and makes for the door, opening it up to return to Volkama and Deriva waiting on the other side. As she does so, she turns towards Patience Stone, pointing to the key around his neck.

"This DID count as passing your challenge, correct? Did I earn the key you're keeping around your neck?"

 No.751456

>>751452
>>751454
"I will remain near the shadows should something happen. Facing the mirror away from a path seemingly makes it inaccessible, what happens if all face the same path?"

 No.751457

>>751452
A challenge should have a prize, shouldn't it? Pryce counters with confidence.

>>751452
>>751454
>>751456
"If they all work the same, that is," Pryce follows after Leather. "Now, if facing the shortest one away from the open barrier closed it, does it flip the path's status then?"
Pryce says as he grabs the mirror again, turning it around so it faces the South path.

 No.751458

>>751453
Busta doesn't respond to either of Gadriel's attempts to revive him, distressing him further and further, until at last you take Busta's form and make for it a garment of qliphoth.

At the song's conclusion, he gasps and rises, while all around him, a black and red storm wells, coursing through and around him along his body's leylines. He swings his head about, and upon seeing Gadriel, sighs and leans back – though his body twitches and spasms with bouts of minor pain.

"You…" Gadriel mutters, aghast. "You were dead?"

"I… I guess so. Apparently, these things hit harder against our subtle bodies than our physical ones," Busta says. "Armor would help littl–"

"Thank you," Gadriel says, bowing his head. "I'm… I'm sorry you had to endure that for my sake."

"Why be sorry?" Busta asks.

Gadriel stammers, evidently not expecting such a response.

"You guys are my friends," Busta says simply. "That's all there is to it."

>>751455
When you come out, you see Deriva drawing a picture of you as a mouse on a roll of papyrus. One of Volkama's mice poses atop his shoulder to serve as a reference. They both look unsurprised that you're back and healthy, though they do note that you have a new companion.

"You haven't earned the key until you've taken it from me," Patience Stone says.

"How much larger will our party grow before the end?" Volkama asks.

>>751457
What do I get if I win? Zjetya asks.

>>751457
>>751456
>>751454
Once that pillar faces South again, all four pillars do, and thus, the watery barrier covering the Southern path disappears once more.

"Perhaps the differences in size are an aesthetic choice," River says. "I see no connection between their height and their connection to the barriers."

 No.751459

>>751458
That depends. River, do you want to join in on this? He asks River.

>>751458
>>751456
>>751454
"You were right Leather. All we need to do then is to decide which path we want open."

 No.751460

>>751458
>>751457

"It's when they all face the same direction that the barrier goes away…" Amy muses.

"What happens if you point them all in different directions from each other?"

 No.751461

>>751459
>>751458
"I was right about one single pillar, as you said, we cannot make assumptions about all of them just from the one."

 No.751462

>>751460
>>751461
"That is true, we've only tested one for certain."
Pryce responds to Leather. He looks to Amy as she suggests separating them all.
"It would let us see if they have individual effects. I say we give it a try."

 No.751463

>>751458
Shei-Sher grimaces, constipated in his need to apologize.

"Busta.. Thank you."

Shei holds up his chain "Grab on. We need to go before I run out of length." The chain still tied to the whale

Shei waits for them to grab hold. He commands the chain to retract, pulling them toward the Whale.

 No.751464

>>751462

"Do it! Do it!" Amy chants excitedly. Apparently, she sees Pryce as the laborer in this, now.

 No.751465

>>751458
As she comes out to see Deriva drawing a picture of her as a mouse, she puffs out her cheeks, using her magic to restore herself to a full sized buffalo. "Devira, you better not show that pic to anyone!"

She turns to Volkama, "This was the guardian waiting for me inside. He's been around since the Sons of God were here before us, thousands of years ago, and even trained them! I asked him to come along and offer us whatever advice he may as we move on our way to Tartarus. I think we could really use his help."

As Patience mentions having not earned the key yet, Shorthorns turns her head, then puts out her hoof. "Give me the key. Please."

 No.751466

>>751464
>>751458
Pryce gives Amy a flat stare for a moment, then turns to the statues to move them. He moves the tallest so it faces East, the second tallest to face North, the third tallest to face West, and leaves the shortest one to face South.

 No.751467

>>751466

Amy returns the flat stare with a gentle smile and an expectant wag of her tail.

 No.751468

>>751459
I shall abstain until I am more confident in my capacity to control my telepathy, River thinks.
Sounds like she doesn't wanna distract you with any 'intrusive thoughts,' Zjetya thinks.
Correct. We've puzzles to solve.

>>751465
"Nonsense," Deriva says. "This etching will only bolster the legend of the White-Hot Flaming Buffalo, the Shorthorned Dragon, who overcame the largest and smallest of trials for her people's sake."

Volkama and Deriva slightly bow their heads to Patience Stone, who flicks his tail. "Greetings to you, mortals."

Volkama raises an eyebrow as his mouse scurries back into his enchanted pocket. "I… assume you've some method by which you understood him? All I heard was a meow."

Patience Stone tilts his head, then places his paw atop your hoof.

You'll probably have to just take it.

>>751464
>>751460
>>751461
>>751466
Together, your group moves all the pillars to face different directions. You notice something peculiar happen this time.

To the North, and to the West, bushes grow from the surrounding groves, crossing over one another to totally block off those paths. Then, to the East, an unusual symbol manifests, a floating sigil of dark blue light, in the water barrier. It seems to resemble a wand, coated partly with moss. You note that the knights in the diamond mirrors had wands such as that.

"So, it seems they do have different properties," River notes. "If the second and third tallest pillars blocked off the barriers with grove, wouldn't that suggest that the barriers are permeable?"
"Probably not by us," Zjetya says.

>>751463
"And thank you for reviving me," Busta says.

The two hold tight, silent as you reel them all in to the back of the colossal, drifting entity. You feel it moving upwards, and far away from where you were, though, it seems, without any particular destination. No husks come to assail you, leaving you peaceful travelers in the endless depths beneath the Earth.

 No.751469

>>751468

Amy cocks her head in confusion. "If those two block off their paths with plants, then why wasn't the path blocked when they were both pointing south?" she asks as if someone can answer for her.

 No.751470

>>751468
"I am no mage, so I wouldn't plan on heading that way. A shame none of large rifles." Leather notes,
>>751469
"Perhaps one route is dedicated as the entrance?"

 No.751471

>>751470

"Maybe they're like opposite-bushes!" Amy says excitedly as if that suggestion meant anything.

 No.751472

>>751468
Alright then. Pryce thinks with a nod to River.
Well, if it's just me then, I could give you a conjuring of your choice? Or would you like to decide your prize yourself? He proposes to Zjetya. And what would my prize be if you can't annoy me?

>>751468
>>751469
>>751470
Pryce notes the new effects from the individual statues.
"If the middle statues grow the bushes, then the tallest and shortest ones must interact with those in some way."
Pryce turns the tallest statue to face West, and turns the shortest statue to face North.

 No.751473

>>751468
Shei undoes his cape and with a flourish fashions it into a luxury class felt saddle fit for a creature a giant as the one they're riding.

DARK.III
[1d10] making a whale saddle

"When I came back for you both, I expected to find you trapped in the earth, suffocating, with the black threads shorn. But it seem's we've come deep enough to finally reach the Sheol's penumbra. So while we ride leisure, Gadriel? Could see into your crystal ball for a path leading us to our interview with the captain? Or the closest entry from the dungeon proper."

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.751474

>>751468
Shorthorns blows out of her nostrils, "I don't know if people will remember it the same way you're imagining, Devira!"

As the two of them share a confused look, Shorthorns looks confused at first, before looking down at her brooch. "OOOOH! Right, sorry, sorry, almost forgot he was a cat… my brooch I got from the Temple of Slipper lets me talk to animals, but he says he taught the Sons of God himself! I can translate for now."

As he puts his paw on hers, she looks disappointed, but nonetheless gives the stonecat a good shake with her hoof and, gently, attempts to reach for the key with her hoof and gently tug the necklace off of the cat
[1d10] If opposition is met

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.751475

>>751470
>>751469
>>751472
"Perhaps different combinations produce different results," River hazards.

With the third tallest and the tallest both facing West… nothing happens. The bushes remain where they are. The same applies when the shortest and the second tallest face North.

"Okay, so," Zjetya says. "The grove statues override the water barrier, and the sigil statue. But, when all four statues face the same way, that path opens, and the rest become water barriers."

>>751472
Yup. If I win, I get to wear the trousers for a day," Zjetya says.

>>751474
"Do not underestimate the mass appeal of cuteness," Deriva says.

>>751474
You successfully take the key, to the stonecat's apparent satisfaction, as he hops onto your back to enjoy the ride.

"Inform him of our gratitude then," Volkama says. "Now, let's be off."

>>751473
Busta and Gadriel firmly put their feet into the saddle's stirrups, and lean back against the luxurious leather and velvet cushioning. They glance with curiosity at the cupholders, having not seen such strange technology in their days.

Gadriel nods, withdrawing his crystal ball…

[1d10+2] divination

Roll #1 2 + 2 = 4

 No.751476

>>751473
>>751475
"I'm not seeing much nearby," Gadriel says. "We must be too far off to see without a sympathetic connection. Can you retrace our steps? We might get more that way."

 No.751477

>>751476
"Brace yourselves."

Shei-Sher tugs the chain, steering the Whale to dive toward where they were going before.

 No.751478

>>751475
Shorthorn does as Volkama requests, bowing her head graciously to Patience Stone as he hops up on her back. "Just a warning, I have a little baby dragon with me named Spark too. My head is his perch, so don't try and take it from him or he may get upset."

She looks at the key in her hoof, curious to what door it may unlock as she looks at the other, animal-symboled doors around her. "I was thinking of trying out all of these doors first, but I think I've had enough 'cute' transformations for one day, don't want to give Zevira more inspiration. Let's go back upstairs and see if this key works on the lock we found in the hallway above us, then if not we'll see if it fits anywhere on that dead-end hallway."

 No.751479

>>751475

Amy touches one of the walls of bush to see what happens.

[1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.751480

>>751475
That all? Alright then. And if I win, hmm… then you will lead the next game of Witches and Wargs so I can try out the player's side.

>>751475
"Hmm, maybe I was right the first time, they need to face proper paths…"
Pryce thinks aloud. He turns the tallest statue back to facing East to bring the symbol back. Then, he turns the second tallest to face West, and the third tallest to face North. Then, after that rearranging, he steps to the East barrier with the symbol and tries to put his hoof through the barrier.

 No.751481

>>751480
>>751475
"We also certainly could figure out what the wand symbol meant, and or the figures in the mirrors proper." Leather suggests.

 No.751482

>>751481
"If my guess is right, then the symbol means we have the statue facing the correct path. The south was already open to let us in here, so it closing could be from us being in the middle of the puzzle and not related to their positioning, aside from the way we found them."

 No.751483

>>751478
Upon hearing his name, Spark pokes his head out of the coinpurse you allotted for him to check out the scene. As he sees Patience Stone, his eyes widen, and he slinks out of the bag, clawing upward over your fur to get a closer look. Patience Stone waits there, until Spark approaches, and bats at his tail, which the cat obliges.

Deriva and Volkama nod at your direction, and follow you back as you proceed up the stairs, and find the locked trapdoor that you encountered earlier. "Take care for traps," Volkama cautions as you approach it.

>>751480
>>751481
>>751479
The walls of grove do not give way at Amy's touch. They seem pretty sturdy, for plantlife. Then, with the second tallest facing West, and the shortest and third tallest facing North, the North and West are sealed by a wall of grove. To the East, that symbol of a wand reappears once more. The South, which has no pillars facing it, defaults back to the water barrier.

When Pryce puts his hoof through the barrier with the symbol of a wand, he finds that he can easily pass through it, as if it were just thin smoke.

>>751480
>>751479
>>751481
Pryce… we're gonna have to expand that imagination. Clearly, River's the one to talk to!
"Hush!" River commands, pointing at Zjetya, accidentally speaking out loud in her annoyance. Amy and Cloak hear this plainly.
Zjetya grins.

>>751477
After some time of drifting through the depths, Gadriel speaks. "Wait, wait, level us out, don't go any higher. Straight ahead… it's faint, but I think I've got him. Careful, there's more of those things between us and him."

 No.751484

>>751483
Shei strains himself as he pulls the Whale to level out it's direction.

"If it gets too dangerous, go inside the saddle with the Malkhim. I'll take us where we need to go."

 No.751485

>>751483
I can't think of much you wouldn't already agree to help with. Pryce responds. He looks over to River as she speaks aloud for Zjetya to be quiet.
Did you have any ideas?

>>751483
>>751481
>>751479
As Pryce's hoof passes through the barrier, he nods with his idea confirmed.
"I was right, so we just need to match them to their right path," He says as he steps through the barrier entirely, just to confirm. "Though, those other two statues didn't work on the West or North path… so the short statue would apply to one of them then, leaving the last as a decoy?"
>"Maybe we gotta do each path in order!"
KP says, trotting over to follow behind his older self.

 No.751486

>>751483
As she makes her way back up to the previous level, Shorthorns looks at Spark as he crawls out to investigate their newest hitchhiker. She smiles as he plays with Patience's tail, snickering as he plays with the aptly named patient stonecat. "He plays nice… most of the time."

As they head towards the locked trapdoor, Shorthorn takes the key she got from Patience, and moves to try and unlock the hidden compartment. "Always…" she says in response to Volkama

[1d10] Perception

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.751487

>>751483
>>751485

"Are we going through the mysterious portal?" Amy asks excitedly. She follows Pryce if he does so.

 No.751488

>>751487
"It's an open path, technically. It doesn't hurt to check it."

 No.751489

>>751485
>>751483
"Are you requiring any assistance, or shall I remain on overwatch?" Leather asks Pryce, continuing to watch passively.

 No.751490

>>751489
"I passed through the barrier just fine, so I should be good."

 No.751491

>>751488

"I wanna go too!" Amy says dutifully.

 No.751492

>>751491
"Come along then. We shouldn't be splitting up here anyways."

 No.751493

>>751485
River regains her stoic composure, leers at Zjetya, then back at you. "We will discuss this later."

>>751486
As you turn the heavy key, rewarded with a heavy ker-CHUNK, you sense something amiss… and dart back on instinct. You see the key dissolve, turning into a smoldering mist, before vanishing altogether, destroyed by an unseen force that makes the air around you prickle like needles. Still, it dissipates after a few seconds, and the trapdoor opens slightly, signaling it's unlocked.

>>751484
Busta and Gadriel nod, making preparations for a potential attack.

Gadriel buffs himself and you.
[1d10+3] Vision of Grandeur

Busta conjures small swarms of flies about himself.
[1d10+3] Homing Magic, Wind Element

>roll Navigation


>>751485
>>751487
>>751489
As you step through the barrier, you see a path, just as you took to get to the last circular area. It is significantly longer than the one you took before, however, but still, nothing attacks or deters you along the way.

At last you reach the end of the path, entering another circular clearing in the garden. This one is far larger than the one you just left, however, and there are five exits this time: West, Northwest, North, Northeast, and East. The North path is significantly wider than the others, and in fact, has stairs leading upward.

So too, there are five pillars in the middle of the room, and all face toward you, toward the West. Because of this, you notice that one of the diamond mirrors in the pillars is missing a Knight. But that missing Knight does not seem to be lost. No, that Knight actually stands atop that empty pillar. They are a ram, and moss hangs from their horns, which, though wide, narrow toward the tips, until they resemble the moss-covered wands that the knights held at their belts. You note that this knight doesn't have a wand at his belt, but still has a curved, horn-like sword.

Roll #1 3 + 3 = 6 / Roll #2 9 + 3 = 12

 No.751494

>>751493
Shorthorns takes a steady breath, looking up to make sure Patience and Sparks weren't too rattled by the sudden movement, but lets out a sigh of relief. "THAT was close. Wonder what that spell would have done if it hit…" she shakes her head, "I'll use my unweaving magic next time, just to be sure. Come on," she says to Volkama and Deriva, heading through the trap-door to wherever it may lead below…

[1d10] Perception

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.751495

>>751493
Pryce looks between River and Zjetya a moment.
"Alright then."
So, how about until we reach the gate to Tartarus for the challenge?

>>751493
>>751491
>>751489
>"Whoa cool, there's more now!"
KP says as they reach the new circle. Pryce looks around the new set of pillars, and up to the ram free from it's own mirror.
"This is a good sign we've picked the right path then. I wonder then, if the tallest opens any path."
To test his theory, he turns pillar A to the wide North path, B to the East, C to the West, D to the Northeast, and E to the Northwest, if the others don't have their own suggestions.

 No.751496

>>751493
"Hmm… is there a way to get the Ram's reflection into the empty mirror. I feel like that is closer to the solution than picking him up and tossing him in." Leather rubs his chin.

 No.751497

>>751493
Shei plays a leisurely riff on his guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8EI6XDbVCY

>Background Music: instant, stackable; the entire party gains +1 to all rolls for 2 turns, this effect is stackable for a maximum of +2; upon critical failure cancels all stacks of the effect, this skill cannot critically succeed. Effect duration of each stack refreshes after a successful use.

[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.751498

>>751497
>>751493
>Navigation roll

[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.751499

>>751495
>>751493

"I wonder what would happen if one of us stayed behind?" Amy contemplates.

 No.751500

>>751494
You drop into the dark tunnel. It's devoid of light, but you can at least tell, through the bounce light from above, that it has two paths, leading west and east.

>>751495
Sure, Zjetya agrees. Filly and gentlecolt, begin when ready.

>>751497
As you ride onward, you sense great disruptions in the aether surrounding you, akin to being waist-deep in the sea, with waves rolling up upon you from both sides. Even without extending your aura, you can sense more of the colossal entities drawing dangerously near…

>>751495
>>751496
>>751499
The ram gazes down at you as you discuss the best course of action, perfectly still in his calm.

>Paused

 No.751765

>>751500
>>751499

Just want to reiterate what was previously said.

 No.751766

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]

>>751500
My defenses are all ready. Bring your worst.

>>751500
Pryce turns pillar A to the wide North path, B to the East, C to the West, D to the Northeast, and E to the Northwest.

 No.751767

>>751499
"Trapped at that spot at best, and I'd rather not think of the worst."

 No.751768

>>751500
>>751765
"Do you believe it would help us further on our past to linger behind? It does seem in the opposite intent of trying to progress forward."

 No.751769

>>751768
>>751767

"But, if we're going to the same place over and over, if someone stays behind, they can watch it change. Or, if they aren't there anymore, then that means it's not the same place over and over. Either way, that's good to know, right?"

 No.751770

>Last time, on HolyQuest…

>>751766
>>751765
>>751768
Pillar A, the tallest one, and the one atop which the Ram stands, does not move. B, C, D and E all move, however. The moment that B moves, even before Pryce finishes turning it to the East, the West path is covered over with a water barrier. Since C was already facing West, it doesn't have to be moved. When Pillar D faces the Northeast, that path is also covered with vines. The Northwest path, with E facing it, is instead covered with the water barrier. A and C are both facing West.

"Perhaps you have it backwards, Pryce," River says, though even she looks like she's still trying to think through it. "Perhaps matching the pillar to the corresponding path is not what we're after."

 No.751771

>>751500
The song on his guitar accelerates into a ballad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9DFCGH1viA

Roman architecture sprouts from darkness manifesting opulant forums and marble corridors to the backdrop of a starry night sky.
>>Shepherd's Tone: one effect per 6 turns, stackable, negates resistances; Divinity transposed through rock and roll. Play a song that invokes profoundly visceral effects upon all your enemies or allies on the field to either alter their behavior or status condition. When using this ability describe the effect and purpose and whether it is for allies or enemies. Based on the description of the effect and purpose the DM may attach any status conditions at his discretion. Player may describe environmental effects on planes where the environment is nebulous i.e. dreams, astral plane, chaotic planes, etc. This ability automatically succeeds upon feared targets and a successful roll will amplify the effect. As Psychic HP decreases in targets, effects of Sherpherd's Tone become more dramatic/severe. Can only be used for one effect every 6 turns. Any Status conditions remaining dispells after 6 turns. If the effected party surrenders due to this ability the behavioral condition is more permanent.
[1d10]

Shei dips a hoof into the aether stealing power from it.
>Can I Borrow This?: Instant; Recharge 3(minus 1); Ranged; On success, you steal 1 of the target's chances to act next turn, completely stunning them if they can only take 1 action per turn. Next turn, you can use this stolen action in addition to your normal ones.
[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7 / Roll #2 1 = 1

 No.751772

>>751500
Shorthorns looks around in the darkness of the tunnel, grunting as she tries to use her magic to produce a simple light source
>Dark Sphere, Secondary: conjure a little ball of flame that'll float besides her to cast illumination
[1d10]

After she prepares the light source, she looks down the west tunnel, stomping her hoof. "Let's check out this way first!"
>Going Left

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.751773

>>751769
"Then maybe it's something we can test if things repeat themselves. This is a different setting then the previous path, there are differences and the solutions do not appear to be the same."

>>751770
>>751766
"Opposites, then?"

 No.751774

>>751771
As you attempt to sap energy from the dark entities surrounding you, you succeed only in drawing their ire, as dark waves of negativity spew forth from them, evil vibrations seeking to dampen your mood – or dissolve your subtle bodies, whichever the case may be. An arena flows into existence beside you, continuously generating twin paths at either side.

Busta sends his clusters of flies out at either side to chase off the dark colossi.

[3d10+3] Left Entity
[3d10+3] Right Entity

Gadriel augments the starry background, bolstering it into a powerful cloak of darkness.

[1d10+3] Darkness that Can be Felt

The terrible entities begin to sing in deep, near-inaudible tones to drown out your singing.

[2d10+5]

>>751772
You conjure a floating torch-light, without the torch. Volkama and Deriva follow behind, with Volkama casting bubble shields over you and Deriva for safety. The underground tunnel winds somewhat here and there around support beams and the like, but at the end, you see another trapdoor, leading upward.

Roll #1 4, 1, 4 + 3 = 12 / Roll #2 7, 8, 10 + 3 = 28 / Roll #3 8 + 3 = 11 / Roll #4 3, 9 + 5 = 17

 No.751775

>>751769
"It would, but we don't have any reason to think we're revisiting the same place."

>>751770
>>751773
"Opposites, maybe… The Ram can't be moved, so maybe the puzzle works around him."
Pryce turns C to face Northwest, and moves E to face West with A, pairing the tallest and shortest together.

 No.751776

>>751774
Shorthorn looks up at the trap-door, raising her eyebrow as she is about to attempt to open it once more… but remembers the various magical traps they've experienced thus far, and pauses to try and cast an unweaving spell first. "Everyone stand back, this thing might be trapped too."

[1d10] Unweaving on the trap-door (then moving to try and push it open if successful)

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.751777

>>751775
>>751773

"It's like… totally the same, but with different statues! Don't you want to know why that is?"

 No.751778

>>751777
"Because it's a trial with harder versions of itself?"

 No.751779

>>751778

"Right!" Amy says as if you're agreeing with her.

 No.751780

>>751779
"So what is the issue then?"

 No.751781

>>751780

"Good, so who's staying behind this time?"

 No.751782

>>751777
>>751775
When Pryce moves C to face Northwest, there is no change; it is covered with the water barrier. But, the moment he moves E, even before E reaches the West, the water barrier vanishes, only to be instantly replaced with thick vines. With E and A facing the West, the water barrier on the West path remains.

"Ah!" River exclaims. "I think I'm seeing it… the paths seem to be irrelevant for this. It seems the tallest and shortest pillars control the appearances of the watery veils, while those in the middle control the vine coverings…"

"Wh-what about the sigil we saw earlier?" Zjetya asks.

"Too early to say, if we cannot move this pillar," River remarks, looking up at the ram atop the immovable pillar A.

>>751775
In your head, you begin to hear the yapping of a chihuahua. Roll for mental clarity.

>>751776
You feel an enchantment come loose, and once it has come loose, the magical threads pulled away like an old garment, you push open the trapdoor, and Volkama and Deriva help you climb back up.

To the east, you see the brick wall which gave you much trouble before… but then, to the West, is another brick wall.

"A dead end, perhaps…?" Deriva thinks aloud.

 No.751783

>>751781
"Wha… Nopony is staying behind, not until we see if we truly are repeating ourselves."

 No.751784

>>751783

"Wha-" Amy responds, equally confused. "But, you just said there was no problem!"

 No.751785

>>751782
As Shorthorns climbs up and sees the other side of the obnoxious brick wall from earlier, she grins triumphantly, only for it to fade when she turns to see the other brick wall opposite.

She frowns, but looks down to Deriva as she climbs to the top. "Why would they just make an empty section between two brick walls without putting anything in it? No way, there's GOT to be something in here. Help me look around…"

She says, looking about the room meticulously for anything strange like a loose brick or tile in the walls
[1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.751786

>>751782

"What if we just like… flew over…?" Amy asks, looking to see how high up the hedge walls go.

 No.751787

>>751782
Leather rubs his chin, "Do you respond to questioning, Sir Ram?" Cloak asks, considering no one's really attempted to converse with them yet.

 No.751788

>>751774
"Hah! Look at them try to out play me. Thee actual god of Rock'n roll."

Shei switches up the genre from shoegaze to schoolangst j-rock.

LIGHT.IV
[1d10] to know Jibyini

The song waxes over affection for past love in a time of innocence. Shei plays the song to charm the living aether.

>>Shepherd's Tone: one effect per 6 turns, stackable, negates resistances;

[1d10] to charm the living aether in assisting them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtjHuxdYdJ4

Roll #1 1 = 1 / Roll #2 3 = 3

 No.751789

>>751782
"Maybe the sigil isn't made by the statues, but is on the path itself. A simple marker to show the way, and nothing more." Pryce looks up at the Ram's mirror. "Maybe that's why this unmovable statue has no knight and is facing where we came in."
Pryce turns E to face North, up the stair path. He then moves B to face Northwest, and C to face Northeast, and B to face East.

>>751784
"I didn't say there was no problem. I asked what the issue was with your concern of this being another statue trial."

>>751782
Pryce holds a hoof to his head, feeling Amy is starting to wear thin on him if he's already hearing dog yapping.
>Mental Clarity [1d10]

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.751790

>>751789

"I just want to know if this is the same place we were just standing and we're going in a loop or not!"

 No.751791

>>751785
As you tap about on the wall, you manage to clear the dust off of a brick, whereupon you notice a hoof-sized subtle indentation in its face. You press it, and the wall, starting with that brick, dissipates into dust. On the other side of that dusty hill, you spy a large stone treasure chest.

>>751786
>>751787
>>751789
"…Shall milords and ladies request a hint?" the ram asks in a deep voice.

There is no change on the Northwest path once B and C both face it. The same goes for the Northeast Path, with both C and D facing it. When B moves to face East, the East path is covered over with vines.

With nothing facing the North path, there appears a water barrier to cover it.

>>751789
Annoyed yet? Zjetya asks, The yapping stops – you've found the culprit.

>>751788
You know with complete confidence that you are now fluent in Jibayini.

Although Gadriel fortifies your path against attacks, two waves of deep droning wash over you, and though Gadriel and Busta shout something, neither you nor they can hear any of the others. The entities shake as Busta's flies spread over them, but they seem intent on earning their kill.

The two entities lurch away, for a moment… then swing back, readying to slam into your ride from either side.

[2d10+5]

Gadriel shoots his crossbow to chase off the right one.

[1d10+2]

Busta sends a cloud of flies to pester the left one.

[1d10+3] Magic Bolt

Roll #1 6, 10 + 5 = 21 / Roll #2 1 + 2 = 3 / Roll #3 3 + 3 = 6

 No.751792

>>751791

"Ooooh! I like hints," Amy says to the ram.

 No.751793

>>751791
Leather looks mildly surprised he got a responce, "I'm moreso curious as to your nature as Sir Pryce continues his experimentations. Are you construct or come upon this task some point in your lifespan?"

 No.751794

>>751791
Shorthorns grins widely with delight as the stone wall falls away into dust, looking back excitedly at Zeriva and Volkama as she points at the chest, "HA! See, what did I tell you? One sec…" she says, slowly approaching the chest and preparing another unweaving spell, "Lemme make sure this one is safe too then we'll see what they were hiding in here…"

[1d10] Unweaving -> opening the chest if successful

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.751795

>>751791
Shei strungs his guitar hard, the vibration sends a command to the aether, to solidify into fortifications for their whale in the style befitting their surroundings.

DARK.III
[1d10] To transmute the aether into Roman armor for our whale

Shei continues playing and singing in jibyini… I think?
>>Shepherd's Tone: one effect per 6 turns, stackable, negates resistances;
[1d10] To charm the dark entities in the aether

Roll #1 6 = 6 / Roll #2 4 = 4

 No.751796

>>751790
"There's five statues now, and a staircase. Its safe to say we're not in the same area."

>>751791
Pryce looks up as the ram speaks out, surprised it does.
"I thought you were just a statue…"
He mutters in thought.
>"Whoa, cool! Can you tell us what's up those stairs?"
KP asks.

Pryce turns E to face Northwest.

>>751791
A little exhausted, but not annoyed. You'll need to do better than sounds with Amy around.

 No.751797

>>751796

"You really think those things couldn't just grow out of the ground? With that kind of thinking, it's a good thing you're not going in Tartarus."

 No.751798

>>751797
"We could mark them then, to see if they're the same ones in the next spot."

 No.751799

>>751796
>>751793
>>751792
The vines surrounding the Northwest path recede, and a water barrier appears over it, as Pryce turns E toward that way.

"Something of both," the ram-knight says. "Though, to be more precise, I am the former – an architect of this puzzle from times ancient. Now, a hint as I had offered. You will not clear the way forward – any of the four ways forward available from this point so long as you cannot move this pillar."

He merely shakes his head at KP's question.

>>751795
Busta and Gadriel gasp and brace for impact as the two colossi crash into the night sky barriers that you and Gadriel erected. The darkness comes crashing down around you, glimmers of stars and nebulae falling in great showers of light. The sides of the ornate stonework grind away, but you reinforce it, and your ride, with another great layer, in the form of a long tunnel through which your colossus may safely swim.

As you play, your cape flutters, and in a dramatic flash, fans out. Three shapes step out – unrecognizable, were it not for you knowing what was inside your cloak. The three malakhim have totally changed their looks. The triangle player wears flowing robes of dreamy sunset pink, while the violinist wears platemail of deep silver, adorned with mysterious, spike-like gems. The bassist is adorned simply, in a shawl of faded peach and blue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouXgy720k0s

They begin to jam.

[3d10+3] Inspire

Busta and Gadriel are stunned by the impact, and just try to cling on for dear life, as the entities come in for another strike.

[2d10+5]

Roll #1 1, 9, 8 + 3 = 21 / Roll #2 2, 8 + 5 = 15

 No.751800

>>751799
>rolling ruse

[1d10+3]

Roll #1 3 + 3 = 6

 No.751801

>>751799
>"Aw, worth a shot."

Pryce looks up to the Ram as he speaks.
"Four ways…"
He thinks a moment.
"Can you face North for us?"
He asks the Ram pillar.

 No.751802

>>751799

"Well then, could you move this pillar please?" Amy asks with a simple smile.

>Mantra of Equality

>[1d10+4] DC-4

Roll #1 4 + 4 = 8

 No.751803

>>751799
"So more held in stasis here - I presume not many visitors?" Leather makes small talk, given his party members are already asking more practical questions and considering the Ram likely doesn't get this chance too often, "Of course if the inquiries are of annoyance I can stop, I figure it's not often you get a chance to talk, unless those in the mirrors make for good conversation."

 No.751804

>>751794
Inside the chest, you find a strange-looking spiked helm, woven of fur, bone, and metal… but mostly grisly, dark-stained bones, curling from the sides and from the top, into a double-pronged spike at the very top.

Volkama and Deriva look leery of it, sitting there on a velvet cushion. "Hrm… give it a try? Should it prove harmful, my bubble should at least dampen the damage."

 No.751805

>>751801
>>751802
>>751803
"I cannot move it," the ram says, placing noticeable emphasis on the I. "For I am no challenger of this place, but a resident – no, not even that, no more than a wall, a switch, a trap, a brick in a wall. It will be you who must needs force me to move."

>>751803
"As but a construct, an echo of a soul, I am no victim of the boredom or dread that plagues you mortals," the ram says. "Besides, I may sleep, and I may dream, as I please. I am not quite a guide, but if you should want for tales, or even small talk, I can oblige."

>>751801
You hear a high-pitched buzzing in your ear this time. Roll for mental clarity.

 No.751806

>>751804
Shorthorns looks down at the spiked helm, looking sadly at the dark-stained bones surrounding it on the sides. She pauses a moment before leaning down to pick it up, saying a prayer for whomever these remains belonged to.

"To whomever fell here long before, I hope your soul is at rest, wherever it might be. I ask for your forgiveness as I disturb your remains and take what was once yours, as I do it for the good of all those above on the surface. Be at peace…" she says as she reaches down to grab the helm, and uses a bit of her flame torch to light the remains, cremating them as is her practice.

If no magical effect takes place, she attempts to put the helm on her horns, replacing her thorny crown. "Hopefully they won't think to enchant the same trap twice over."

 No.751807

>>751805

"So, wait, is it like, some kind of magic that makes the pillar not move?" Amy asks.

 No.751808

>>751805
"So it's the same as before then."
Pryce says, horn glowing as he grabs the statue in his telekinesis, using his magical might to turn it North.
>Telekinesis [1d10]

His ear flicks at the buzzing, giving him a bit of a distraction as he tries to keep his focus.
>Mental Clarity [1d10]

Roll #1 3 = 3 / Roll #2 6 = 6

 No.751809

>>751805

"Force you to move seems a misnomer, if you're the architect of a puzzle, or the echo of their mind rather, I imagine the last thing you would have as a solution is force - unless you mean by means other than physical?" Leather counters.

 No.751810

>>751799
Shei turns overhead in glee as his malechim make their appearance "Guys! You got your bodies back!"

Shei follows their lead and amplifies the playing. "We're going to break through that penumbra! And into the dungeon proper!"

His guitar strums further send vibrations to the aether, causing it to coalesce behind them and pump their whale forward with increasing velocity.

DARK.III
[1d10] using aether to go faster

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.751811

>>751806
>Amending to this post, she does NOT light anything on fire within the crate, merely speaking her prayer to the bones attached to the helm she weilds as she takes them from their resting place.

 No.751812

>>751806
Volkama takes a moment to examine the helmet, and appraise its properties.
>Helm of the Offertory
>Effect: Recharge 3; Spell; Free Action; Sacrifice 2 Wounds to reroll any failed action, including critfails.

The stonecat flicks its tail as you pray to the bones. "A very devout soul you are. What is the state of religion in this world you're from, separated from mine by so many centuries?"

>>751807
>>751808
>>751809
The ram does not move as Pryce tries to force him to. He shakes his head. "To put it simply, this pillar will not move so long as I stand outside it. If you wish to proceed, you will have to put me back inside by one means or another. What works for one situation may not work for another. And, one situation may have multiple solutions, some more efficacious, or clever, or brutish, than others. Use what you will – but keep in mind that I yet have a mind of my own, and my instructions were to not make it easy."

"Back inside?" Zjetya asks. "Are you normally not like this?"
"An echo I may be, but I am still a ram. We tend to find things – tall, narrow and peculiar things – to stand upon, rather than sit still."

>>751810
The malakhim look at one another, and so too do Busta and Gadriel, in total confusion.

"One of them's done something to Shei," Gadriel concludes. "I didn't understand a word of that nonsense."
"It must be this droning," Busta says. "Some kind of effect on the mind. Drown it out as best you can!"

You realize you said all of that in absolutely flawless Jibayini. Total fluency. To the point that Equish is starting to fade from your mind…

Another collision from both sides knocks you and the other passengers to your knees, but the malakhim rise, despite their shaky hoofing, and try to out-drone the droning. Much of the architectural tunnel falls away from the impact.

>All lose 2 Wounds from the collision


[2d10+7] Terrify, Left and Right
[1d10+7] Mimic Sound to simulate the chittering cries of the husks, throwing the sound elsewhere.

[1d10+7] Gadriel tries to heal your colossus to keep it going until the end.

[1d10+7] Busta uses a banishing spell to chase off the Left colossus.

Roll #1 8, 9 + 7 = 24 / Roll #2 7 + 7 = 14 / Roll #3 8 + 7 = 15 / Roll #4 5 + 7 = 12

 No.751813

>>751812
Pryce steps back after failing to move the pillar, scratching his ear from the buzzing.
"Back in…"
Pryce looks to Zjetya.
"Zjetya, can you shapeshift to look like the Ram and stand in front of his mirror?"

 No.751814

>>751813
"If I may make a counterpoint to that idea, I do think the last thing we desire is to trap an ally inside a mirror if they are captured within through some form of magic. I do like the line of thinking, but I think it may be risky."

>>751812
>>751813
"Were we to break the mirror and to surround the area with shards, would he not be within a part of the mirror no matter where he stood?" Leather says quietly to the party, not wishing to discuss solutions with the Ram as cordial as he is.

 No.751815

>>751812
Shei grimaces and says "Whoops, I'll fix that later…"

Shei breathes in deeply, and focuses. I'm not used to it he thinks. He thinks that he could consume himself if he brazenly exercises his power like he is. He strungs the guitar again.

DARK.III
[1d10+4] using the aether to go faster

>Go, Go, Go!: Once per combat; For the next 3 turns, you and all allies may take an extra action. On a natural crit, that's 2 extra actions.

[1d10+4]

Roll #1 6 + 4 = 10 / Roll #2 7 + 4 = 11

 No.751816

>>751814
>>751812
"He meant it literally?" Pryce says with concern. "Zjetya, hold off on that."

Pryce takes off his bracelet, attempting to conjure a small mirror.
"Let's try something a little safer."
He adds to Leather's plan.
>Hat Magic [Mirror] [1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.751817

>>751812

"So, is it like magic or engineering that makes the pillar not move, though?" Amy asks again.

 No.751818

>>751812
Shorthorn dons it upon her head, keeping wary of the bones that hang off it and keeping extra care to make sure they aren't tossed about carelessly. She looks to Spark, "Spark, I know it might be tempting, but please DON'T gnaw on any of these, okay?"

She turns around to look at stonecat, understanding him through her brooch as she responds, "There is one primary religion known pretty simply as the Union. Their faith was the dominant one in the country I came from, but there were other gods we worshiped. My tribe worshiped a buffalo god call Vir-can, and there were just as many like him. Old gods from the old world."

"Since the firmament fell, and the demons returned, a lot of the Union's been disbanded, but they still hold a strong enough presence. I don't expect you'd know who the Devas are, I think they only really came along after the Sons of God went into Tartarus and later broke apart."

 No.751819

>>751813
Zjetya shakes her head. "I can only transform my body, not physical objects, and this guy's all in armor. Besides, I can't significantly increase or decrease my size beyond a certain point, and he's easily two of me."

>>751816
>>751814
>>751817
The ram knight waits patiently as Pryce conjures a small mirror.

"Magical engineering," the ram answers Amy. "And less that it 'makes the pillar not move,' but more than the pillar cannot move without all the pieces in place. An inability, and not a restriction. 'Tis a key difference."

>>751818
Spark seems more content to play with the stonecat anyway. Patience Stone flicks at Spark gently a while as you talk. "Such peculiar names, indeed… no doubt they collected titles just as the gods of these western lands did as well… I should wonder if any of those gods we slew here slunk off to the far east, and found purchase in your pantheon."

>>751815
With terrible roars, the two entities harassing your ride are sent off into the interminable shadows, the aether rippling less and less as they disappear… though, you take no chances, and your colossus, still subservient to your will, hurtles along through the darkness to put as much distance between you and your would-be devourers as possible…

When at last a calm sets around you, the malakhim gradually relax, and Busta and Gadriel practically collapse with relief.

Hoof-bumps go all around.

 No.751820

>>751819
Shei shakes his head and slaps his cheeks

LIGHT.IV
[1d10] Learn to speak Equish

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.751821

>>751819
"Can you understand me now? How is this?"

 No.751822

>>751819

"Right, like a bunch of gears that can't move because one of them is missing," Amy nods.

>>751816

"So, what's your plan?" Amy asks Pryce.

 No.751823

>>751819
>>751814
Pryce steps in front of the mirror, levitating his own mirror to angle the Ram's reflection to appear inside his own pillar.
"Leather, try to move it now."

>>751822
"If he needs to be in the mirror, then we'll put him in the mirror with his reflection."

 No.751824

>>751820
>>751821
Gadriel breathes a sigh of relief. "You sound like you're twenty drinks deep, but that's worlds better than what you sounded like before. Everything alright? I can try to undo whatever curse they worked on you."

 No.751825

>>751823

Amy cocks her head and watches.

 No.751826

>>751824
"Uhh yeah, yeah you try. hehe." Shei scratches his head in embarrassment.

"This is my doing actually. I charmed myself to speak jibyini. I like how the words are easy to rhyme."

 No.751827

>>751819
"I imagine many of them did, besides us there are so many I could not even name them all…"

She pauses as he mentions having slew gods here before, curiosity biting at her as she makes her way back to the trap-door that led down to the dark tunnel below this one. "Hey, out of curiosity, does the name 'Buiwong' sound familiar to you at all?"

 No.751828

>>751823
>>751819
Leather attempts to move the pillar, but comments, "He may simply just move out of the way."

 No.751829

>>751822
>>751823
>>751828
With a speed that resembles teleportation, the ram side-steps each time that Pryce attempts to angle his reflection into the diamond mirror using the small lone. The ram hops from pillar to pillar, then to the flowering bushes, and then behind the pillars.

"Apologies, but I am a bit sheepish of my appearance," the ram lies. "You'll forgive me if I am not keen to ponder my reflection."

>>751826
"Rhyming? Is that what it's called…?" Gadriel asks.

"Enough of that," Busta says. He points forward. "I think we've found a port."

In the distance far ahead, you can see some kind of outline of a structure, deep within the darkness. It is constructed of many long and sprawling segments and clusters, a vast and decentralized labyrinth.

>>751827
The stonecat shakes his head as he and your small entourage follow you back to the trapdoor, and down the dark tunnel. "I would bet that I would know not a single god of your pantheon by their current names. Mayhap if you knew any of their ancient names or titles, I could remember. Over what does he or she hold dominion?"

 No.751830


 No.751831

>>751829
"Spiders and trickery, I think. DEFINITELY spiders, I could call his manner of 'trickery' a whole bunch of other, meaner words…" she says as she returns to the dark tunnel, seeking to continue to go to the west of this trap-door to see if she hits anything (and if not, to double back to the East)

 No.751832

>>751829

Amy gigglesnorts. "'Sheepish'…"

Amy looks around, trying to find some sort of pattern to where he stands. [1d10]

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.751833

>>751829
>>751823
"And now my idea? If that doesn't work, I'd like to try something that involves playing with one of the water barriers, or anything else that can get us wet." Leather says to Pryce, motioning for him to throw the duplicate mirror on the floor or shatter it in another way, "Are you superstitious as to the breaking of mirrors?"

 No.751834

>>751829
Shei furrows his brow at Gadd's quip. Before he can respond Busta speaks, but Shei gives Gadds a cheeky smile.

"Keh. Back to the labyrinths. At least there'll be a bit fewer deaths this time."

Shei pulls on his chain to decelerate the Whale as they close in on the port. Yielding gently as the Whale corresponds. He does the chain the moment they disembark.

 No.751835

>>751829
>>751833
Pryce turns back and forth, trying to get the Ram's reflection in the mirror, grumbling at his speed.
"Oh, I'm not superstitious. I'm more concerned with the glass scattered about with KP and the pets walking around.
Pryce hands Leather his mirror.
"All yours, I have another idea."

Leaving the mirror and reflections to Leather, Pryce takes out the Autonomous Chain, holding it out towards the Ram.
"Chain, bind that Ram to his perch."
>Autonomous Chain [1d10]
>An animated chain that can be given orders to chain up anything that it can wrap around, requiring a roll of 9 or higher to break free. Reassembles over a period of 24 hours if broken.

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.751836

>>751835
>>751829
"Actually, could we have simply trapped the Ram with perspective? Our eyes are not opaque, we simply could look at both at the mirror and the puzzlemaker at the same time and we will have trapped his reflection in the mirror through the reflection of the surfaces of our eyes." Leather muses, before chuckling, "I may be overthinking things though."

 No.751837

>>751834
The colossus approaches what appears to be a nexus of sorts, where you see a great many paths looping downward, in long and interlocking spirals, like some kind of gargantuan augur pointed straight for the heart of the earth.

Where all the paths meet is but a single room, inhabited by a lone figure. As you approach, the figure turns, leering through space itself, and the colossus you ride stops, nearly hurtling you and the other passengers off of its back. Even this unthinking thing will not approach that figure's gaze.

>>751831
You reach the junction once more.

"Spiders… trickery…" Patience Stone says. "Many gods and goddesses ruled both. It's not as if there can be only one god presiding over one thing, but if they draw too close, or become too alike, one will be forced to devour the other, lest they be subsumed. It is likely he is the sole survivor of many such conflicts… or perhaps, even, an amalgam of many. Just as demons can fuse, and produce others, so too, gods."

>>751835
>>751833
>>751832
As Amy tries to suss out a pattern to the ram knight's leaps, Pryce's chain lashes out, trying to bind around the ram. He's swift enough to leap away, but the chain is unrelenting, and the space you're in, ultimately limited. As the ram tries to leap over the pillars, the chain jukes him, wrapping around his hind leg and yanking him back to the ground. The ram manages to land on his side, drawing his sword with his free hoof, and holds it partly before his face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HtYYhq0gUA

"I wonder how well the mechanisms shall work with a substitute in my place," the ram says, less of a threat, and more of a genuine curiosity. "Let's find out."

>Paused

 No.751838

>>751834
>>751829
Perception roll
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.751839

File: 1611731171945.gif (1.4 MB, 540x280, Me and Da Bois.gif)


 No.752134

Last time, on HolyQuest…

Amy, Pryce and Cloak encountered a most peculiar puzzle in the dark garden, where each area of the garden (separated by high flowering bushes) held a number of rectangular pillars, each bearing a mirror, in its center. The number of pillars was the same as the number of paths leading out from each area. After some testing, they discerned that the key to the puzzle was the direction each mirror faced. It was not a matter of matching the correct pillar to the correct path, but rather, that different combinations of pillars produced different results.

It seemed that pointing every pillar toward one path would open it and close the others, while pointing the shortest and tallest pillars toward any path would cover it with a translucent, permeable barrier of water. Pointing the middlemost pillars toward any path would result in the path being covered over with dense bushes.

There was, however, one other key. Each mirror had to contain one of Vinland's knights inside. In their current area, one of said knights, a ram, stood outside his pillar. His pillar would not move unless they managed to get him back inside.

Shei, Gadriel and Busta continued through the dark spiritual trenches surrounding God's Entombed, with Shei bringing Busta back from the edge of oblivion after Busta sacrificed body and soul alike to protect Gadriel from a deadly attack. They were later beset by two gargantuan entities, which chased Shei's tamed colossus until at last, with the musical accompaniment of the transformed Malakhim, they were driven off.

Flaming, Volkama and Deriva went on a treasure hunt, at last able to get past the false wall that Flaming found earlier. They found a bone-encrusted helmet for their troubles.

 No.752135

>>752134
>>751837
"So he could be any number of old gods merged together as concepts came to overlap? Wow…" she shakes her head, "Gods are complicated. I 'really' hope I don't end up losing myself like that, I kinda wanted to just stay 'me'." She pauses to think about it, "Well, maybe I wouldn't mind fusing with a few but, that's a lot to think about."

As they reach the junction again, she looks north, noting it as the only direction they have not gone after finding treasures and trap doors to the west and east, decides to see what it may hold….
[1d10] PErception

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.752136

>>752135
Name fix

 No.752137

>>752135
As you head north, you feel a sudden shuddering, which nearly knocks you and your companions off your hooves. Several quick rumblings follow, both around and ahead of you. Following that come the machine-gun creakings and clatterings of ancient clockwork. Then, at last, all is still.

"Another rearrangement?" Deriva guesses. She looks back. "Indeed it must have been – behold."

It appears that the junction behind you is now gone, replaced by an L-shaped bend to the east. Deriva then gasps, and looks to Volkama, who just stares at his incomplete map with a scrunched snout. "…It was bound to happen sooner or later," Volkama says, folding up the map. "What interests me more is how quickly that passed. 'Twas hardly the dramatic affair the previous one was."

 No.752138

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]

>>751837
Pryce lowers his bow, a flaming arrow forming and ready to fire.
"I don't intend to let any of us fill that mirror."
He threatens.

Keep KP and stay away from his mirror, and out of it's line of sight. I don't know if he has control over it but I don't want to risk it.
He says to Zjetya and River through their mental link

 No.752139


 No.752140

>>751837
"You have waited here an indeterminate amount of years to figure out such hypotheses, you can be patient and wait longer." Cloak remarks, making prayers to Hypomone to slow the Ram down.

>Fossilization: Recharge 3; Instant; Apply the debilitating effects of old age to the target, severely weakening all their abilities, increasing the damage they take, and decreasing the damage they can do. Effect varies by roll and enemy strength.

[1d10]
>Slow Down!: Recharge 3 after effect ends; Ranged; You can slow down time in a small radius around the target. The target of this power will take 3 fewer points of damage (minimum 1) for the next 2+1 turns.
[1d10] self

Roll #1 2 = 2 / Roll #2 5 = 5

 No.752141

>>752137
Shorthorns looks around in shock as the place already shifts around, then looking at Volkama with a forlorn look as he mourns the loss of his now painfully outdated map. "Aw shucks, Volkama… I'm sorry. I know you worked really hard on that."

She looks around the new changed layout, tapping her hoof. "Less dramatic is one way to put it… last time it threatened to make us start all over again if we didn't hurry up! But here it looks like it's letting us keep our progress. Why did it move around so quickly this time?"

She decides to keep the pace going north, then turns to ask Patience, "Do you know anything about the floating hands outside of this place that move the dungeon around?"

 No.752142

>>752141
"Yes, Mercury's little creations, though all the dragons here make use of them to reorganize things," Patience answers.

"You mean, the other two we've met?" Volkama asks.

"Depends which ones you met," Patience continues. "Depending on how many there are of you, you might have run into only a small fraction of the dragons here."

"Well, we've met the Salt and Sulfur dragons so far," Deriva adds. "And a small army enters Tartarus now, including groups other than our own."

"You've probably stirred up a whole mountain of dragons, then," Patience adds. "Though, I imagine you'll probably be appraised by the same ones you've met thus far. They like to keep things nice and organized during the evaluations."

 No.752143

>>752142
>>752142
"There's more than just the two we've met so far?" Shorthorns asks surprised, keeping her pace going north up the L intersection. "It's hard to believe how huge this dungeon is, the Sons of God really didn't skip out on any details. So, the dragons are the ones controlling them then: out of curiosity, is there any way to take them out of the dungeon? Or are they stuck here? Something like them seem like they'd be really useful to have around."

 No.752144

>>751837
>>752134
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiRNs47U4kQ&list=PLjS2ZOuRnocRCZgMBfBNXe04yCWR0ZZJC
I thought this fit the mood

With a gentle procession their whale laps through the many turns, grooves and crannies within the watery nexus. The crew indulging in what sights it may have to offer.

Until their ride stops abruptly, upon approaching the lone figure with the odd gaze.

Shei-Sher sets aside the whale's reigns and slowly, motions to stand on top of the saddle. Careful not to fall.

He covers his right eye, allowing only the eye replaced by Pupil to meet the lone figure's gaze.
This way, Shei-Sher allows a two-way appraisal between the two. So they may size eachother up as some kind of formality.

DARK.III
[1d10] Two-way Appraisal

"Ahoy. We're here to seek passage into Tartarus."

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.752145

>>752144
>(RACIAL)Evil Eye: passive; You come from a culture that’s mysterious, quiet and perhaps even sinister. Few understand you and some may even be unnerved by your odd appearance. If you score a natural Crit against an enemy in combat, they are paralyzed with fear and cannot take any action in its next turn. When a target is paralyzed by Evil Eye, you cannot proc Evil Eye on them again.

Would like it to apply

 No.752146

>>752140
>>752134

"Yeah! Learn some patience!" Amy says, unhelpfully as she dances impatiently for a resolution to this conundrum.

 No.752147

>>752144
The figure, you recognize as Mercury. As you peer into him, you are suddenly beset with a deluge of information, as a sprawling diagram of the entire dungeon rushes through you. It is less a labyrinth, and more like a tangled, intricate nervous system, countless passageways and nexuses linking together, all to keep Tartarus entrapped. And this Mercury dragon, through he may appear a disparate entity, is but one neuron.

"Come then, dismount that miscreation, and answer my question," Mercury says, gesturing for you to approach.

Busta and Gadriel loosen their fastenings, making ready to disembark, as do your malakhim.

>>752143
"I doubt that any of them would even consider the thought," Patience says. "They are far too loyal to our lost masters to step away from this, their final duty. Are you trying to create a dragon zoo?"

As he asks this, he tickles Spark with his tail. Spark sputters and snorts, spewing little fires from his snout.

You head north, and at last reach another junction, this one T-shaped, and splitting west and east. To the west, it is not long before you see a large hole in the dungeon's floor, seemingly newly made. To the east, you see a sturdy stone door.

>>752140
>>752146
>>752138
Zjetya grabs KP, and River the pets, and zip around behind the pillars, as far from the ram as they can be.

"I've had my hypotheses, but I've need of a test subject," the ram says. "You'll do."

In an instant, he is upon you, a hairsbreadth away from Cloak, his head reeled back as far as it can…

[1d10+4] Blast: Intruders

And smashes his horns down onto Cloak.

Roll #1 4 + 4 = 8

 No.752148

>>752147
Pryce is nearly taken aback by how suddenly the ram appears before Leather, even while chained. If it wasn't for the earlier display of speed, he might have hesitated. Pryce turns in place, the flames forming his foreleg burning intently as his magic grows, drawing back an arrow to fire into the ram's back as it tries to ram Cloak.
>Sallus [1d10]
Sallus: Instant; Recharge 5; Self-Buff; For 3 turns, your physical attacks deal an additional 2d3 damage on success, rolled by you at the time of the attacks. If any of these attacks are natural critical hits, they will Blind the target, removing one of their chances to act next turn.

>Shoot (Basic Attack) [Flare, DC5, Ranged] [1d10+1]

>Flare [Fire]: Bright flashes and loud bangs disorient the target, adding one stack of Flare when hit. When a target reaches 4 stacks, they are stunned that turn.

Roll #1 7 = 7 / Roll #2 1 + 1 = 2

 No.752149

>>752147
"Hypostasus, you have me confused." Leather retorts, dodging up into the air on pillars of light.

>A Vision of Grandeur: Instant; Recharge 1 after effect ends; Choose 1 ally. For the next 4+1 turns, you and that ally gain +2 to all rolls made against all enemies that target you, either with a normal roll, or an Instant roll-to-dodge attack, regardless of whether or not that enemy's attack is successful.

[1d10] Amy

>Tsiba: Passive/Auto-Instant; As an Auto-Instant action, you are able to jump between any of the different ranges in combat, except for Burrowed (ie, can move from Far (player) to Far (enemy), from Melee to Aerial, etc). As a Passive, this ability also enables you to jump multiple times in the air by solidifying light beneath your hooves and kicking off of it. If you can already fly, you can use this to gain +2 to dodge and other movement-focused rolls while flying. If used to evade an attack, make a roll. The DC for success is (Attack Roll -1). On failure, critical or regular, you take half-damage

[1d10] dodge

Roll #1 1 = 1 / Roll #2 2 = 2

 No.752150

>>752147
Shorthorns snickers as she looks over to Spark, reaching up to scratch one of the dragon's frills atop his head. "I guess I can see how you might think that. Don't know how Spark would do if he had to share all the attention!"

"But, I was actually referring to the hands themselves, you said they can be controlled? Is there a way to take the hands outside of the dungeon to use in Tartarus or are they like, built into it?"

Eying the hole to the west with curiosity, Shorthorns determines to turn left at the junction, and peer down into the hole out of curiosity to see if she can see the bottom.
[1d10] Perception

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.752151

>>752147
"Oh. It's you again. Coming down." Shei announces congenially as he joins his brothers in disembarking and arriving before Mercury.

"Ask away." Shei asks as he leisurely strums from his guitar at a low volume.

 No.752152

>>752147
>>752149

Amy sees the attack coming for Leather and launches a potion at him ahead of time.

>Natural Remedy [1d10+4]


Roll #1 8 + 4 = 12

 No.752153

>>752149

"Are we fighting or is this a part of the plan?" Amy asks, sounding concerned.

 No.752154

>>752149
>>752152
>>752148
The ram's headbutt slams Cloak into the ground with such force that he bounces back up, narrowly saved from landing hard on his neck by the aerial platform created by Tsiba. A shockwave erupts from the impact, knocking Amy and Pryce back to the edges of the arena. Amy, though shaky on her paws, manages to toss Cloak a potion.

>Amy 1/7

>Cloak 28/7

>>752148
Sallus succeeds, but your arrow doesn't even leave the bow before the ram leaps your way, then spins and kicks you across the arena, where you land in thornbushes.

>Pryce 0/4


>>752152
>>752148
>>752149
>>752150
The ram lands atop his pillar once more after the initial volley, glancing at the carnage wrought in this brief moment. Then, unbeknownst to him…

As Shorthorned peers down, she can see the beginnings of a battle in a most unusual setting, some manner of underground hedge maze. At its center can be seen some gargantuan shrine, with a light illuming from its center, though it itself is shrouded in what appear to be floating, murky waters. As she leans in for a closer look, Volkama and Deriva gasp, and back away – as the stones beneath her, at the hole's edge, give way…

Back down in the garden…

The ram leaps from the pillar, boots primed to stamp down onto Cloak where he lies, only for a buffalo – your buffalo – to plummet straight out of the sky onto his back. With a surprised yelp, the ram is slammed down into the earth, flagstones and mortar flying everywhere from the impact.

>Shorthorned 0/6


Nearby, a cat made of stone, along with Spark, lands from above.

 No.752155

>>752151
"Tch, this was going to be a lot cooler with everyone here," Mercury gripes. "Who knew this batch of graverobbers would be so mobile?"

He clears his throat. "Anyway…"

His expression grows grave and dark. "If, in Tartarus, your situation were to be impossible, victory unachievable, and defeat absolutely certain, what then, would you do?"

 No.752156

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]
>Sallus: 3 turns

>>752154
Pryce slides back on his hooves from the shockwave as the ram slams Leather. From bracing himself, he doesn't even notice when the ram comes and kicks him until he his the thornbushes. He groans in pain, taking a few breaths as he rights himself and shakes the shock off, while prying himself out from the brambles.
>Recover [1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.752157

>>752153
>>752154

"I was not planning to begin with, only defending and dodging. Pryce seems to be our strategist." Leather replies to Amy, attempting the same prayers as before to slow down the Ram.

>Fossilization: Recharge 3; Instant; Apply the debilitating effects of old age to the target, severely weakening all their abilities, increasing the damage they take, and decreasing the damage they can do. Effect varies by roll and enemy strength.

[1d10]
>Slow Down!: Recharge 3 after effect ends; Ranged; You can slow down time in a small radius around the target. The target of this power will take 3 fewer points of damage (minimum 1) for the next 2+1 turns.
[1d10] self

Roll #1 2 = 2 / Roll #2 3 = 3

 No.752158

>>752155
"We would escape. And if we couldn't escape I would break the seal on my heart. A bit of a gamble but it would give everyone enough power to make a retreat. If that wouldn't work- well.. we haven't really talked much about our suicide pact but I would likely be the first to sacrifice myself." He pans back over to the malakhim behind him, in a beseeching gesture "Unless you guys would'a- you know-"

spoken with humor he doesn't actually mean to ask them to sacrifice themselves in tartarus for Shei.

 No.752159

>>752154
>>752150

Amy falls on her flanks from the force of the blast. Then, she gets up, wobbily and head shaking.

Then, Flaming falls from the sky.

"Heyyy! It's Shortyhorns!" Amy says like she's seeing a friend she hasn't seen in a while. "Welcome to the secret garden!"

>>752157
>>752156

Amy looks to Pryce for guidance.

 No.752160

>>752154
>>752159
"What the…" Shorthorns says aloud to herself as she looks down in the hole, trying to lean in as far as she dares without going over to see the battle stoking before her at the distant bottom in the hedge maze. "Who's fighting down there, do you two see this!?"

As the stone starts to tumble and give way, Shorthorns gasps, watching as the battle below soon starts to become much, much closer as she falls out from the ceiling to land on the back of a giant, ornery ram. The white buffalo gives a shout as she slams down hard onto the top of the ram, pile-driving it into the hard earth below as she clutches on tightly onto its neck. "AGGGGAAAAG!" She shouts out frantically, in a cry that could be mistaken for a battle-roar

[1d10] Huge attempt to get up at 1/7

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.752161


 No.752162

>>752158
"I don't know about you," the Trianglist Malak says. "But we're going on tour once the world is safe, so…"
The Violinist and the bassist Malakhim nod their agreement to leaving you out to dry.
"We'd… we'd have to escape, wouldn't we?" Gadriel asks, expression troubled as he considers the possibility. "But I'd find a way to get us out, without any more sacrifices," he adds with a pointed glare to Shei.

"And you?" Mercury asks, looking over to Busta.

"Your question…" Busta mumbles… "Something's off about it, isn't it?"

"Give me your answer," Mercury retorts.

Busta remains silent, and Mercury's frustration grows darker.

>>752156
>>752157
>>752159
>>752160
While Cloak is left on purgatorial hold, Pryce rises to his hooves, and River and Zjetya poke their heads out from amid the pillars.

"Flam– I mean, Shorthorned!" Zjetya says. "Don't move, you've got him right where we want him!"

Meanwhile, the ram, pinned to the ground, plants his hooves down, and struggles to rise…

[1d10+4]

Roll #1 2 + 4 = 6

 No.752163

>>752162
>>752159
After Shorthorns lands down hard on top of the Ram, the white buffalo looks around in confusion as she struggles to get her bearings straight, keeping a hold on the huge ram as she looks around at Amy and the others.

"Amy? Zjetya? What's going on here, weren't you on the floor abov-"

As the Ram struggles to get up, Shorthorns steels her determination, and tries to make it difficult as she shouts, "What's going on, who's this guy?!"

[1d10] Attempt to get up from Helpless

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.752164

>>752163

"He's just some silly guy who won't get in the mirror."

 No.752165

>>752162
"Busta died for Gadriel's sake not even a few hours ago." Shei complains to Mercury "We clearly know what his answer is. Busta is a strong noble soul. It's just a shame his body is not equipped to house such a good soul."

But then Shei turns a glance to Gadriel "Though Gadds, when I found his corpse you were hidden underneath it. Why didn't I find you fighting to the death. Why hadn't you found a way out without anymore sacrifices then?" Shei asks Gadriel not angry, but with a heavy tone of concern.

 No.752166

>>752164
"Won't get in WHAT mirror…?" Shorthorns asks as she keeps her hooves wrapped around the Ram's neck, "Is he part of the dungeon?"

 No.752167

>>752162
>>752164
>>752156

>>752166

"Realistically, we could all just try to carry him into the Mirror now that he's downed, even if he's twice as strong as one of us, there's four of us here." Leather notes, brushing himself off.

 No.752168

>>752167
>>752162

"Okey dokey!" Amy says before pouncing on the ram.

[1d10] to pounce

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.752169

>>752165
Gadriel grimaces as you recount his failure. "He… he grabbed me before I knew what was going on! I couldn't have fought back – I could have hit him!"

Busta disregards you, and instead fixes Mercury with a determined look. "I won't even acknowledge your question."

"Very well," Mercury says. A globule of mercury manifests at his side, and flies to the ground, taking the shape of a circle of ancient alchemical symbols upon the ground. "You two," he says to Gadriel and you. "Step here please."

The Malakhim band sidle on over to where Busta stands.

>>752167
>>752163
>>752164
>>752168
With a grunt, the ram manages to hook the tip of his horns under Shorhorned's back, and with a strained effort, he knocks her off of him. He spends a moment to catch his breath, before filling his lungs with air. Next, he bleats out an old chant of power. A moment passes, before you hear a rumbling far-off. Echoing through the darkness come sounds of hoofsteps coming your way, though it is hard to gauge their distance from the echoes off the underground walls.

River and Zjetya panic, holding their charges close. "Wh-what's the plan?" Zjetya asks.
"We can seal some of these paths with the pillars, can't we?" River says.

>>752168
After the ram's shout, you leap onto his back, and he bleats again in surprise – and probably from how much his back must hurt right now. He storms off in a circle, trying to toss you from his back with a well-timed buck. Roll to hold on, instant, alongside your other actions.

 No.752170

>>752169
Leather attempts to aide Amy, trying to jump on the ram.

>

>Fossilization: Recharge 3; Instant; Apply the debilitating effects of old age to the target, severely weakening all their abilities, increasing the damage they take, and decreasing the damage they can do. Effect varies by roll and enemy strength.
[1d10]

pin, earth pony's Tough
[1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5 / Roll #2 6 = 6

 No.752171

>>752169
Shei-Sher steps over to where Busta stands, just behind the Malakhim. "We are one brotherhood. We will all pass into Tartarus."

Shei-Sher's glare meets his again

>Evil Eye: passive;

[1d10] only works on nat crit

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.752172

>>752167
>>752168
"Again, WHAT mirror? If this is a challenge, I would do a lot better if someone told me the rules!"

>>752169
Shorthorns lets out a pained 'ooof' as the powerful ram flips her over with his large horns. Landing belly first on the nearby earth, Shorthorns shakes her head free of distraction as she prepares to rise up to meet this opponent, before she hears the hoof-steps coming from the other way. "I'm not entirely sure what game you're playing here, but if you need me to fight a big, tough brawler like him, THAT'S something I can do." She prepares to stand up, eying the Ram with an intense glare as she prepares to bash heads. "Where's the mirror you need to push him through?!"

[1d10] Rise from helpless

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.752173

>>752169

Amy drinks a potion as she tries to hang on.

>[1d10+4] Natural Remedy

>[1d10] to ride 'em cowboy

Roll #1 8 + 4 = 12 / Roll #2 4 = 4

 No.752174

>>752162
>>752169
>>752167
>>752163
Pryce climbs out of the thornbush, shaking off any bits still stuck to him.
"Flaming? What are you doing here?"
Pryce questions, seeing her on top of the ram. That is, before she is pushed off and it makes a call for help. As the sound of hoofsteps steadily grow louder, Pryce looks between their group, the pillars, and the ram.
"Quick, turn the middle pillars to block off the three northern paths! We came from the west so there should be nothing coming from there!"
He instructs, reaching into his robe to grab his lexicon.
"We'll deal with this one quick."
He flips through the pages, horn glowing a dark blue as he calls up it's illusionary magic, conjuring a shape of one of the knights, hoping a figure of authority will give it pause.
>Lexicon of the Moon's Dread [1d10]
>Contains illusory nightmares that can incapacitate a single target for Roll - 5 rounds. Can target up to ten targets as a Cleave roll, but increases Recharge by 1 with each additional target. Recharge 1 for 1 target. User determines the content of the Nightmare.

>>752169
>>752172
Pryce looks over to Flaming after she was flipped by the ram, horn glowing white as he attempts to freshen her up.
>Prayer for Deliverance [Flaming] [1d10+1]
>Instant; Recharge 2; Restore the target’s Hits to full, and give them +1 extra temporary Hit until the end of combat.

Roll #1 2 = 2 / Roll #2 7 + 1 = 8

 No.752175

>>752174
"I came from up there!" Shorthorns says as she tries to get up, the white light glowing around her as she points to the hole in the ceiling. "Your turn: who's this Ram and why are you fighting him? Is he part of the dungeon?!"

 No.752176

>>752169
perception roll
[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.752177

>>752174
>>752170
>>752172
>>752173
Amy gets tossed into the air, but heals herself on the way back down, numbing the pain of the shock of landing once more.

>Amy 15/7


Before the ram can get any respite, Cloak replaces Amy atop his back, and the ram nearly buckles, owing to Cloak's significantly greater weight. Grimacing but unwilling to give up, the ram knight swerves, trying to catch Cloak against the rows of thornbushes surrounding the arena.

[1d10+2]

At Pryce's orders, Zjetya and River turn pillars B and C to the Northwest and Northeast respectively, covering the paths over with vines. The hoofsteps continue to approach, and you can now hear the clanking of armor as well the closer and closer they get.

>>752171
Mercury holds your gaze, and Gadriel joins you in staring back at him as you both hold your ground. But… eventually, Mercury shrugs. "Well, then. Go on, if you are able. The path is before you, and you have but to walk it."

He gestures before him, to the path which spirals down deeper into the earth, into the darkness below.

Roll #1 5 + 2 = 7

 No.752178

>>752175
Pryce looks up, seeing the whole they flew down through earlier.
"Oh, I hope nopony else falls through that…"
Pryce comments before looking back to Flaming.
"This is part of the dungeon, though we are unsure if it's intended or not. We've been following paths that we unseal with those pillars as a puzzle, each one with a knight inside it. We need to get this ram back in his own pillar so we can continue on."

 No.752179

>>752177
Leather remains resolute in holding the ram down, trying to swipe a back leg under the ram's to cause it break bone or dislocate.

>Shatter: recharge 2, weapon; Breaks the target's defenses, opening them up for attack. Any attacks against a Shattered target crit on a 8+ for two+1 rounds. Can be used against inanimate objects or armor to break and damage them efficiently.

[1d10+1]

Roll #1 5 + 1 = 6

 No.752180

>>752177
Shei bursts out into chuckles "Oh god really!? Thank you so much! You know I was actually a tad scared there for a moment. We'll try not to make any trouble with your boss. Again, thank you, thank you so much." He pulls forward, brings a hoof to the back of his head, and makes more gestures of gratefulness and nervousness.

"Let's go boys." Shei hails them to follow as he walks down the path pointed out to him.

Shei-Sher lets out a ping of his aura to feel all around his surroundings just as he embarks on the path.

[1d10] phase aura detection of anything hidden

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.752181

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]
>Sallus: 1 turn

>>752177
The sound of armor drawing close gives Pryce concern, hoping that blocking the paths will lower the knights they'll need to fight. He turns, watching Leather jump upon the ram as well. Seeing it buckle, Pryce sets his bow on his back, drawing out his Memory-Pluck. He spreads his wings, dashing forward to the bushes, landing in the path he sees the ram take. He widens his stance, bracing himself like a bull-fighter as he waits for it to draw close before swinging his blade up, aiming intercept the charge and flip the ram onto it's back.
>Swing [DC5] [1d10]
>Sallus Damage on Success [2d3]
>Memory-Pluck; Steals an opponent's skill upon a hit, enabling the user to use it while the victim can't. Normal success = 1 use, Critical = 2 uses. Once you use the skill, the skill goes back to the victim. You can hold the skill indefinitely to simply deny its use by the victim. You can only steal 1 skill at a time.
>Guarded: Reduces critical failure damage by half.

>Radiance [1d10]

>Radiance: Free Action; Dazzle and shine with your prowess. Generate [Roll - 5] sparks towards Will of the King. This can only be used in combat and only alongside another skill.

Roll #1 1 = 1 / Roll #2 1, 1 = 2 / Roll #3 6 = 6

 No.752182

>>752177
>>752178
As Pryce explains the situation in full, Shorthorn shakes her head as she manages to recover. Taking her shield off of her back, she looks towards the pillars that have fallen to block the path of the oncoming hooves, and nods. "Got it! Let me take the brunt on this one now that I'm here, while I was going through the dungeon I found a few things that should help!"

Reaching down to give the belt that now surrounds her midsection a light squeeze, she nods, readying her shield in the direction of the hulking Ram as she tests its mettle against hers, ramming the 'Ram' at full speed with her shield in front of her horns to increase its battering power. "Come on, show me what you got!"
[1d10+5] Charge activated for +2 on Ram, +3 for All or Nothing
>All Or Nothing: Recharge 1; When all else fails, use your head. Autocrits. All failures count as critical. Can be used while helpless.
>Shield holds Magma, Fire, and Darkness elemental qualities
>Also contains 'Stunning': On a critical hit, causes the target to lose 1 action next round.

Roll #1 2 + 5 = 7

 No.752183

>>752182
>2 is a critfail on Charge
Activating her new helmet's ability
>Helm of the Offertory
>Effect: Recharge 3; Spell; Free Action; Sacrifice 2 Wounds to reroll any failed action, including critfails.
[1d10+5]

Roll #1 10 + 5 = 15

 No.752184

>>752177

As Amy falls off the ram, she contemplates her options. Might as well go with a tried and true tactic.

>Prayer of Enlightenment to gain Return to Earth

 No.752185

>>752184
>>752181
>>752179
>>752183
Pryce swings, but the ram ducks, then headbutts him aside, partly trampling over his legs in the process.

>Pryce 5/6

>5 Hits gained for Snakeskin Cloak

The ram manages to catch Cloak's bandages on the thorns of the foliage surrounding you, and Cloak is yanked from his back, caught in the thorns, his neck rocked back from the whiplash. Cloak manages to slip his leg under the ram's, throwing his balance off. In that moment, as the ram hurtles forward, Shorthorned barrels into him like a train into a wayward tumbleweed, knocking the ram into the air. When he at last comes back down, the ram bounces off the cobblestones, and lands again in a daze.

>Cloak 24/7


Zjetya manages to finish pushing Pillar C toward the North path, leaving Pillar A to point West, as it is immobile, and Pillar E to point east, leaving a water barrier over both pathways. You can hear the hoofsteps slow, and eventually pause… before they move again. They are close, and you can at last hear their directions – they're moving east and west. Zjetya and River group up near Amy, weapons drawn.

>>752180
"Here, I thought he was going to try to get rid of us," Gadriel mutters.

Busta is silent, still in thought…

The path you walk is long and winding, continuing eternally in its spiral shape. The Malakhim produce a small glowing effect around their instruments to light the path. At least, nothing attacks you as you walk, and walk, and walk…

And walk…

And walk…

And walk…

And walk…

 No.752186

>>752185

"Just stop!" Amy shouts at the ram as she casts her spell on him.

>Return to Earth: recharge 2, spell; Bring things back to their natural state. Can return spirits to the afterlife and send unnatural creatures (demons, elementals, undead etc) back to their home plane. Only weakens stronger spirits and creatures, giving you +1 to all your actions against them until the end of combat.

>[1d10+3]

Roll #1 10 + 3 = 13

 No.752187

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]
>Serpentskin Cloak: 5 Hits
>Sparks: 1

>>752185
Pryce grunts as the ram runs over his legs, thankful it wasn't worse in breaking them. Getting up, and seeing Flaming successfully topple the ram over, Pryce looks up to the mirror as the sound starts to shift.
"Quick, get him into the mirror!"
He shouts out, horn glowing as he attempts to lift the ram to face his mirror.
>Telekinesis [1d10]

With the sounds moving to the only two open paths, KP keeps huddled close to River and Zjetya.

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.752188

>>752185
>>752185
>>752186
After knocking into the Ram with all the force of a freight train to knock it up into the air, before watching it slam back down on the ground hard, Shorthorns affords herself the slightest of moments to feel pride at her accomplishment at having knocked down the noticeably bigger foe, but doesn't spend too long as she slams her hooves into the ground on her follow up, using her divine powers to summon for a growing wreath of vines to wrap themselves around the ram while also creating two long, thick tethers that slink off to the side.

"I'll wrap him up, use the vines to carry him up into the mirror up there!" She shouts to all available fliers (notably Pryce, River, and Zjetya) as she focuses on her divine spell to summon forth the green.
[1d10] Life Sphere Primary + Dark Sphere Secondary, making life grow from nothing to wrap up the Ram and create ropes to air-lift him up to the mirror

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.752189

>>752185
>>752188

Brushing himself off and readjusting his bandages, Leather walks up pillars of light to just slightly below the mirror.
>Tsiba

""I've got you, just get them up part of the way and I can toss them the rest of the way."

 No.752190

>>752189
[1d10] slam jam, Tough

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.752191

>>752189
>>752188
>>752187
>>752186
Amy weakens the ram with a well-timed blessing, slowing him enough that Shorthorned can hog-tie him with vines. Pryce passes him to Cloak, who goes for the dunk – but the ram twists at the last moment, causing his horns to bounce off the rim. In the moment of freedom, the ram hooks his horns around Cloak, and yanks him upward against the diamond mirror's face. A brilliant light flashes forth, surrounding Cloak. He can feel his movements slow as his body sinks, back half first, into the mirror, but his front half is still free, leaving him time to act.

Though weakened, the ram tries to wriggle free of his bindings.

[1d10+2]

At the east and west paths, though they are blocked by water barriers, you can see groups of light blue ghostly knights of various races. Though they do not approach the barrier, those in front draw their wands, and aim them at Amy and Shorthorned.

[2d10+2] vs Amy
[2d10+2] vs Shorthorned

Roll #1 9 + 2 = 11 / Roll #2 8, 5 + 2 = 15 / Roll #3 10, 6 + 2 = 18

 No.752192

>>752191
>activating Vanguard

"You have tried my patience, architect. Now kneel."

Pulling himself from the mirror effortlessly, Cloak's body sheds light as an pulse of energy fills the garden and slams into the ram and two of the ghostly knights.

>Phantasmagoria of Conquest: 3 times per Combat; Automatic; Sacrifice X hits to deal 4X damage and inflict a status condition (chosen when you learn this skill) on up to 3 targets.

>sacrificing 10 hits, (down to 14) dealing 40 to Ram,Ghost Mage Knight,Ghost Mage Knight

>(Status Condition) Delayed; For the next 2+1 turns, the results of any roll made by those affected by Delayed take place a turn after they would normally. Rolls to dodge or interrupt may be made at any point between this time.

 No.752193

>>752185
Shei-Sher stops in his tracks "Guys I think we got jipped. In fact, I've been thinking about it and Mercury asked Gadds and I to step in that circle he fashioned. Meaning there probably isn't a physical means to progess from here."

Shei gets out a vial of his own mercury "Although. I got a good look into Mercury during our stare down. And what laid bare to me was the nature of this dungeon and the nature of him. I'm thinking our only way out of here is if I can recreate that circle he made. But it'll have to be a complete mimicry to the T."

 No.752194

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]
>Serpentskin Cloak: 5 Hits
>Sparks: 1

>>752191
Pryce watches as the ram manages to twist at the last moment to just avoid getting sunk back into his mirror, and only to put Leather partially in instead. The other knights arriving as they raise their wands to fire in leaves Pryce conflicted. He reaches for the lexicon again, saving Leather is the first priority. Everything else can be healed. His horn glows blue as he conjures an illusion of the mirror to stun the ram to stop his struggling.
>Lexicon of the Moon's Dread [1d10]
>Contains illusory nightmares that can incapacitate a single target for Roll - 5 rounds. Can target up to ten targets as a Cleave roll, but increases Recharge by 1 with each additional target. Recharge 1 for 1 target. User determines the content of the Nightmare.

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.752195

>>752191
Shorthorns grunts as he manages to stick half-way out of the mirror, "Wow, he sure is a stubborn one. Shame he's not on our side, huh?"

As she sees the building magic glowing beyond the watery barriers, Shorthorns looks alarmed, moving to face their oncoming attackers as she lets out a shallow breath, feeling fire building up in her core reminiscent of her fight with Vortigern. "Looks like we have more company already. I'll keep them busy, hurry up and punt him the rest of the way!"

She moves towards the barriers, taking a heavy stance between them and Amy as she prepares to build up energy from their attacks.

>Ultimate Move: Stampede of the Inferno: Automatic. After activation, instantly create a flaming buffalo minion (ignoring minion cap) with 'Protect' equal to your Hit Total / 1 wound for each Wound lost since activation, up to a total of 3.


>Covalent Bonds: Auto Instant; Recharge 3; Ranged; Choose an ally. All damage they would normally take this turn will be applied to you instead. The most damage you can receive from using this ability is (Full Hits) + 2 Wounds.

>Targeting Amy to take her attacks for her

>Fortifying Belt; Relic; The DC to hit you drops to 0, such that even Critfails will succeed against you, but all damage taken is Halved before other effects.

 No.752196

>>752191

"Just STOP!" Amy shouts. As she does, her body lets loose a wave of holy flames.

>Wrath: recharge 2, spell, ranged; Damage all nearby foes with a powerful blast, ensuring they cannot attack you on the next round; renders targets helpless on 9+. On crit you can kill or incapacitate weakened/dying targets.

>[1d10+4] on the group attacking Amy and the ram

Roll #1 5 + 4 = 9

 No.752197

>>752196
>>752195
>>752194
>>752192
Cloak wrenches himself free of the mirror, and his prayers are at last answered, as temporal distortion follows in the wake of the light, engulfing the ram and his summoned underlings. streams of keen magical darts fly forth from their wands, but they are slowed, and more of a dazzling sight to behold rather than a deadly attack. Amy then sends her wrath westward, the holy fire incinerating the spectral minions, and burning the ram. Meanwhile, Shorthorned prepares to protect Amy from the oncoming attacks.

Zjetya and River nod to one another, then jump upward, spin about, and dropkick the ram into the mirror.

[2d10+2]

>>752193
"I think I heard something about the Capo when I was with Amy earlier," Busta says. "That he controls the final path forward, and that nobody enters without his permission… and, I wouldn't step in that circle without knowing what it was. Why didn't he ask me to step into it?"

"Yeah… either you gave him the exact right or exact wrong answer, I think," Gadriel says. "But, Mercury still holds dominion over most of this place. That circle still holds secrets, though we should decipher them before trying anything."

Roll #1 9, 2 + 2 = 13

 No.752198

>>752197
>>752192
>>752194
>>752195
>>752196
With their final kick, the semi-conscious ram is engulfed in the mirror's light, despite his struggles… and before long, the light diminishes, leaving him behind the mirror. The other spectral knights dissipate, and Shorthorned tanks their hits.

>Shorthorned 5/4


>Paused

 No.752527

>>752198
Shorthorn grunts as she feels the magical blows impact against her shield and her furry hide… but opens her eyes with surprise as she looks down and sees herself still standing, albeit with smoke coming off of her from the blows.
"W-wow… this belt really does its job." She says as she tugs on the magical belt Volkama found, then looking to see where the spectral knights who attacked earlier used to stand, watching them dissipate in to nothing. She lets out a sigh of relief, and suspends her charging ultimate, the flames of the stampede leaving her with no one to defend against.

She looks to River and Zjetya after they knock the Ram in, stomping her hooves, "Great job you two! Way to sink him in! So," she takes a moment to stretch, wincing as she does so. "What was all that about anyways? Why did that Ram attack you, did you guys touch that mirror or…?"

 No.752528

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]
>Serpentskin Cloak: 5 Hits

>>752197
>>752198
Pryce watches as Cloak and Amy's attacks burn away the entourage of knights and darts breaching the ring, and the ram finally placed into the mirror by River and Zjetya's kick.
"It's finally done."
He sighs in relief.

>"That was so cool! You two were all in synch like acrobats!"

KP cheers from behind the cluster of mirrors to Zjetya and River, giving a small stomp of applause at their display.

Pryce puts his sword away, and steps up to the pillars. With the ram back in place, he turns the tallest and shortest ones to face north.

>>752527
"It's part of this trial. We need to move the statues to open the paths, but one mirror was empty. When we attempted to force the ram in, he attempted to make one of us take his place instead."

 No.752529

>>752198
>>752527
Cloak walks down from his position near the mirror on pillars of light, offering a slight bow to Shorthorns. "It is good to see you again, it resisted upon Pryce casting a spell to put it in the mirror. I imagine there may have been a noncombative route, but the end result succeeded."

 No.752530

>>752528
>>752529
Shorthorns bows her head to Cloak, "Good to see you all again too, glad you're all alright. My journey through the dungeon's not been so bad so far, this is the first time I had to fight anything."

She turns to look at Pryce as he explains the situation, Shorthorns turns her head, a little lost on the explanation but seeming to take it in stride. "I think I get it. So he was trying to push one of you in there instead." She turns towards the mirror, "Well, with him in there, does this open up the path?"

 No.752531

>>752197
"Right then. It doesn't hurt to bother trying. We make the circle and with some effort Gadds' prognostication will tell us if it's a dead end or not."

Shei gets to work lining out with some chalk the exact shape of the circle he recalls Mercury summoned. All the while he scat sings a tune for busywork.
With the chalk laid out Shei pours vials of mercury to stick to the outline. "Careful not to touch any of this stuff. It's toxic. Actually- The lot of you are metallic.. well still don't touch it."

Shei then strikes his horn with a piece of metal. It vibrates and sounds like a tuning fork and the circle begins breathing magical energy. "Right-o Now I'm going to need a little help. Shei instructs Gadriel, Triangle, Bass, Violin on imbuing the circle with their specific energy. With a wave of his hooves he assigns a tempo as if conducting an orchestra and then stops them.

Shei slings his axe over his frontside and strums hard for the final touch.

LIGHT.IV DARK.III
>replicating Mercury's circle
[1d10] meticulous group effort.

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.752532

Last time, on HolyQuest…

While traversing the underground hedge maze of the dungeon, Amy, Pryce, Cloak and Pryce's entourage had to fight a ram knight in order to solve a puzzle. Shorthorned fell in partway through. They were victorious, and the ram was sealed inside his mirror atop the pillar they needed to turn.

Shei met at last the Mercury dragon, who guarded the final spiral path leading down to the lair of the Capo, but only the Capo themselves could open the door. Shei and his gang were caught in an infinite loop when they tried to proceed down the path, forcing them to consider a change of tactics.

>>752528
>>752529
>>752530
A water barrier manifests over the northern path.
River and Zjetya offer a small bow after all the applause, but their attention is quickly drawn to the northern path.

"Like before, it may require all the pillars to face that way," River says.
"Already on it," Zjetya says, as she moves to adjust the other pillars.

River helps her, and eventually they face all the pillars northward. The water barrier is replaced first by the vines as pillars B and C face north, but at last, once D faces north, all pillars do, and both water barriers and vines vanish, and a sigil appears over the path. Unlike the previous sigil, which seemed to resemble the moss-covered wands of the knights, this one is far more complex…

Upon closer inspection, it appears to be an ornate and intricate mandala of stars, constructed of innumerable augurs. Surrounding the mandala, an overlay of criss-crossed nails.

>>752531
At last, the circle manifests, charged with the wills and aether of those gathered. Gadriel withdraws his crystal ball, and holds it aloft.

>Speak With Stars; Spell; Twice per day; Automatic; You may ask a question to some force which is capable of providing an answer. You are guaranteed a correct answer, but the question must be answerable with a "Yes," a "No" or some small phrase.


"We wish to treat with the Capo so that we may enter Tartarus," Gadriel asks, as his aether trails sparks over the orb. "Will this magic circle before us take us there?"

Clouds of smoke and star-fire churn in the orb, until dark lines appear within. The lines shape into the letters – "NO."

"Figured as much," Gadriel says. "I can only do that spell so often, so I'd rather use it sparingly. Does anyone want to volunteer to step inside?"

 No.752533

>>752532
>>752530
"Looks like it," Pryce answers after River and Zjetya assist in moving the other pillars to open up the northern path.

Pryce gives a moment of pause at the new sigil, looking over the ornate design. Testing the path, Pryce puts his hoof through the barrier first to see if there is anything different this time.

 No.752534

>>752533
You can pass through it, and back, just fine.

 No.752535

>>752532
Shei smiles humorously as he thinks about the suggestion "For future reference, you should just say 'Does Shei want to volunteer.' "

Shei raises an arm as he flicks his wrist up and down. His dark corridor shuffles on and off next to Shei as he demonstrates his point. "Does anyone care to tie a cowbell around my neck incase I get lost?" Shei pauses for a response before entering the circle.

 No.752536

>>752532
To begin with, Cloak investigates the masonry, seeing if there is anything amiss or particularly interesting with the path or sigil.

[1d10] investimigate

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.752537

>>752532
As the newest water barrier rises up, Shorthorns stairs at it, trying to get a sense of the puzzle as she watches the others move the other pillars into position. As they successfully do so, and the water barrier vanishes, Shorthorns heads towards the sigil'd path to take a closer look at the symbol.

"This looks different than the other symbols earlier. Have you guys come across any more traps like we did in that central room with the locked doors?"

[1d10] Perception on the sigil, have I seen this anywhere else in the dungeon?

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.752538

>>752532
>>752536
>>752533
>>752537

"Wooo! Nice job, team!" Amy cheers.

Amy looks around. "Now what?"

 No.752539

Amy is Amy.

 No.752540

>>752532
>>752534
>>752538
"Now, we continue on."
Pryce says, passing through the barrier and leading up the path north.

 No.752541

>>752537
>>752536
Nothing seems amiss with the mark, nor the path, which leads up to a great set of stairs, leading upward to a space surrounded and hidden from view by walls of the hedge maze. You are sure you have not seen it elsewhere in this place.

>>752535
"I'd put a leash around you but that's more Amy's thing," Busta says.
The trianglist Malak does a rimshot.

You step into the mercury circle, and once you are completely within, the mercury rises up around you, forming a kind of tall cylinder – only to collapse in on you. But, rather than harm you, it simply leaves you in the dark for a moment, before the world fades in around you once more…

…When at last you can see clearly again, you seem to be in a small stone room, lightly furnished with floor-cushions, a wide and soft rug, and some incense burners. There is an exit before you, and behind you.

>>752538
>>752537
>>752536
>>752533
>>752540
Volkama and Deriva fly down from above with their demonic alicorn's wings, and land near you in time to head onward after Pryce's example.

(1/2)

 No.752542

>>752541

"Heyyyy! Where have you guys been?" Amy asks conversationally to Volkama and Deriva as she also goes through the portal.

 No.752543

>>752541
Shei pings his aura to see if the room is as mundane as it appears. He even expands his aura just a bit beyond the confines of the room to sense if theres anything dangerous waiting for them outside.

[1d10] phase aura

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.752544

>>752542
"Traveling with Shorthorned," Volkama says. "Oh, you missed it, she was a mouse for a time, and befriended a cat."

A cat perched atop Shorthorned's head looks your way. "Hello," he says in a deep voice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhVi7yU-UtI

As the sigil may have suggested, in time, the northern stairway begins to turn in a spiral path, and the higher and higher it goes, the stranger the hedge walls surrounding grow. The crystalline dew-drops adorning the hedges appear to grow larger the higher you go, and yet, if you look up, or down, each one appears to be of uniform size. Anyone who gazes at them for more than a second will see more than their reflection within, but an altered reflection – each one bearing some key difference from your real selves. Amy sees herself in armor, Pryce in hunter's leathers, Shorthorned in missionary's robes, Cloak in the humble garb of a farmer. Other permutations shine in the lights beyond.

At last the spiral stairs reach a plateau – a round marble platform, with the sigil seen before comprising its etched design. A basin lies in the center of the platform, and paths surround it, each one separated from the others by hedges. Water barriers cover each path's entryway, yet there seems no available mechanism for altering this.

 No.752545

>>752544
>>752542
"Did you run into any of the alchemical guardians in your travels? Much like Sulfur, we met with a dragon named Salt who bequeathed us a question to ask the rest of the party."

Leather clears his throat, "I do not remember the preamble, but we were told to ask What is it that you will do to those who shall uncompromisingly stand in your way?"

 No.752546

>>752543
You can sense powerful presences not far from you, both ahead and behind. The room does not seem to hold any traps nor other hidden mechanisms, but there is always the chance that the strong presences are overwhelming your aura.

 No.752547

>>752537
>>752541
"We found another room with trapped doors, and the Salt dragon.," Pryce answers. "Oh, that reminds me. It asked a question for us all."
Pryce turns to Flaming, then looking over to Volkama and Deriva as they fly down.
"When you go into Tartarus, you will be surrounded by countless friends and enemies, and even more enemies will come from the depths. What will you do when you are faced with one who stands in your way without compromise?"
He says, repeating the dragon's question.

>>752544
Pryce leads ahead up the stairs, KP trailing right behind, knowing its one of the safer spots. Pryce looks around cautiously as the walls grow around them, almost to keep them encaged. KP looks on with wonder, moreso as they spot alters versions of themselves.
"Are these… other possibilities, or just illusions?" Pryce mutters aloud in thought as he sees himself, making him glance down at KP for a moment before shaking it aside to continue on.

>"What do you see?"

KP asks River and Zjetya, curious to what alter selves of them would appear.

When they reach the basin, Pryce looks to each path around them.
"I wonder if those were other paths up here…"
Pryce looks down at the basin, stepping ahead to it.
"No statues to move, so this must be our method to move on."
Pryce comments, pulling off his bracelet as he attempts to conjure some water to fill it.
>Hat Magic [Water] [1d10]

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.752548

>>752537
>>752545
>meant to ping Shorthorns

 No.752549

>>752538
>>752540
Shorthorns nods in approval with Pryce's decision as she follows forward, wincing as she feels some of the aches and pains from the earlier fight building up. Curious if her divine power might grant her the ability to mend her own body, Shorthorns takes a breath and tries to use her power over the Sphere of Life to mend her injuries
>Primary Sphere: Life
[1d10] Healing

As Volkama tells Amy and her mouse-adventures, Shorthorns gaps, "VOLKAMA! I told you not to tell her about that part!"

>>752544
As they head up the stair-way into the spiraling path, Shorthorns takes a moment to look at her reflection. She blinks in surprise at seeing her in the garbs of a Hearthome missionary, turning her head and adjusting her movements to see if the Missinary Shorthorns performs the same actions. "Woah… are you all seeing this? The reflection has me in Union robes!"

As they reach the peak, Shorthorns takes a quick look to the water barriers blocking the path, but spends a second more looking on her reflection as a nun of the Union, curious what such a path for her might have been like if she'd taken the missionaries that came to visit her tribe more seriously…

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.752550

>>752544

"Hey! I can be a mouse too!" Amy says, transforming into a rat. "Aren't I adorable!" she asks excitedly as she lifts up her arms, gesturing for someone to pick her up.

>>752544

As they travel up the stairs, Amy looks at the reflection. Even as a rat, she still (presumably) looks like a wolf in armor. "Weird…" Amy mutters.

When they reach the top, Amy stares at the basin. "I hate puzzles…" she whines.

 No.752551

>>752544
Shei summons a dark corridor connecting from here to where his party is (malakhim, gadds, busta)

[1d10]

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.752552

>>752549

"There's nothing wrong with being a mouse!" Rat-Amy lectures Flaming as if she said something offensive. "I bet you were adorable!"

 No.752553

>>752550
>>752552
Shorthorns grumbles as Rat-Amy lectures her, rubbing her leg with her hoof as she mumbles to the side. "I'm a mighty and powerful god now, I'm not supposed to be 'adorable'."

 No.752554

>>752553

"There has to be a God of Cuteness!"

 No.752555

>>752554
"Well it sure as stampede isn't gonna be me!" She shouts back, "I'm too tough to be cute."

"I-it was purely for useful purposes! There was a door too small for me to fit through and I wanted to see if I could do it. Turns out I can, no big whup."

 No.752556

>>752545
>>752547
"Depending on who they are," Volkama begins. "Likely am I to merely push them aside. There is only one I truly seek to kill."
"I concur," Deriva adds.

>>752547
"Myself, still in rags, a pauper thin and emaciated," River notes grimly.
"…A knight of the Dragon Gods," Zjetya admits reluctantly.

>>752550
>>752549
>>752547
>>752548
"You should have bound me by a Contract!" Volkama warns. "Otherwise I am free to do as I please!"
As Amy transforms, Volkama produces one of his wizard mice from his pocket. "Close, Amy. This is a mouse, while you are a rat."
"And this is a frog," Deriva adds, pointing at Hopper.
Hopper croaks and leaps onto Pryce's head without warning. This throws off Pryce's concentration, and he instead conjures seltzer-water, which he splashes upon Shorthorned. This destroys her focus, and instead of healing herself, she turns into a mouse again.
Hopper then proceeds to his original objective, as he raises his staff of water. Water starts to pour from the orb atop it, filling the basin. When the basin is about halfway full, you can see sigils and murky figures beginning to arise within the water… but nothing more. Nothing changes, nothing develops, within the water.
"Hrm…" River says. "Well if this is a puzzle, we may be missing some piece."

>>752551
Only dark vapors manifest before you, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand, as a powerful presence approaches from behind–!

"How'd you get in here?"

You turn, and see a fish-like dragon, with the head of a shark, and a body like a great catfish. It's floating there, and a mug of tea floats nearby. "Who let you in?" it asks again. Its voice is vaguely female.

 No.752557

>>752555

"You can be cute and strong!" Amy objects. "Unless you think I'm not strong!"

Then, Amy lets out a huge gasp. "Or you think I'm not CUTE!?"

>>752556
>>752555
>>752547

Amy falls into a fit of laughter as all the comedy ensues in front of her. Consequently, she turns back into a wolf-pony in the process.

When the water does nothing. Amy contemplates out loud, "Hmmm. That ram guy said that we had to put him in the mirror in all the puzzles. Maybe this water counts as the mirror? Maybe we need to go back and get him and put him in the water?"

 No.752558

>>752556
Shei finds himself a tad nervous by the imposing presence. He tries to mind his manners.
"Mercury approved of me, but wouldn't allow my entourage so I forced my way in here. My name is Shei the late patron of Bastards and Kids. What do you call yourself?"

Shei looks like he isn't sure whether he should take a seat or not.

 No.752559

>>752556
"Maychance, I do not wish to peer into the water and place my reflection in it, for belief in something similar to to what Amy suggests. I would also not recommend the addition of blood to the basin yet, that also seems particularly dangerous."

Cloak rubs his chin, "I wonder if the crystals bearing our reflections have any use for this puzzle."

 No.752560

>>752557
"What? Oh no no, I think you're cute AND strong, but…" she pauses, realizing the hole she dug for herself. "*sigh*… okay you can be both, but just because you can doesn't mean you HAVE to."

>>752556
>>752557
Shorthorns concentrates on the divine powers she wields to mend her injuries, she suddenly spits out water when it's sprayed into her face. "Pghbhbhbtt!" She says through the spray as she surrounds herself with white light… and then shrinks down to the size of her mouse form again, blinking in surprise as she looks around at all of the sudden giants around her. She looks down and, recognizing her new mousey form, puffs out her cheeks, looking up at Amy as she laughs so brazenly at her.

"Grrrrrggggm…..!" She scurries along the ground behind the basin, hiding from Amy's sight. "You didn't see ANYTHING!" she shouts in her squeaky voice.

She looks up at the edge of the basin from its base, and asks aloud, "Well, that could be something… if the basin is reflective enough, maybe it DOES count as a mirror. But he's already stuck in that other one, right?"

 No.752561

>>752560

"Awwwwww!" Amy coos when she sees Flaming Mousehorns. She gets down on her front hoof-paws like a playful puppy. "You're even cuter than me!"

 No.752562

>>752560
>>752559
>>752557
"Put something into the–" River mulls, then gasps. "That's it!"

River flies over to one of the lights adorning the hedge walls, and experimentally tries to tug at it. The vine upon which it rests offers resistance, so Zjetya flies over and helps her pull, until at last they pull it off. The gem loses no luster as it's taken from the vine.

The two fly it over to you, where you can see the surface texture is more like a fruit than a gem; uneven, and squishy.
Zjetya transforms herself into a batpony as she examines the fruit-gem. "Hrm… Cloak's got a point. This whole idea is why some tribes think reflections are evil magic. Doppelgangers, and all that."
"But I don't think they're true reflections," River says. "When I behold the fruit, I only see myself, none others, and I am altered. What about you?"
"Well, same for me," Zjetya says.
"And the same here," Deriva says.
"So even if this basin is the 'mirror' of this section of the maze, then whatever this gem or fruit is – it's not us," River says. "…R-right?"

>>752558
"I would be the Water Dragon," she says. "Well, if he threw down the mark that took you here, he was obviously trying to get rid of you. I guess he succeeded. This is a place far from the section that he guards."

She sips her drink. "You – you want coffee? Tea?"

 No.752563

>>752561
Shorty keeps the bottom of the basin between her and Amy, going around it clockwise/counter as necessary to avoid her playful hoof-paws. "No I'm not! I'm… well even I'm not thick-headed enough to say I'm still terrifying, but I'm nowhere near cuter than you! I'm, at most… uh, endearing? Is that a word that means cute but not as much?"

 No.752564

>>752562
"I take it he doesn't like me."

"Coffee would be nice." Shei's face brightens "Could I invite my friends they could all use a break."

 No.752565

>>752562
"Us-es that could have been," Leather guesses, "If I am to guess, anyways. I will even wager more, ten bits if we will be able to see what our life could have been like when you place one in the bowl."

 No.752566

>>752562
Still in her mouseform, Shorthorns climbs the basin up to its edge ass he looks at the fruit that River and Zjetya pull down from the vine, or 'gem' as it would appear to be. She moves over to it, sniffing it curiously. "That's a gem? I've never seen a gem you can EAT before."

As the others ask what reflects they see, Shorthorns looks over towards the hedge-walls again, now (presumably) seeing her as a mouse missionary. "Just me as well. So," she nods, "I think your logic makes sense, River. It's not like we got much to lose, so I say let's put it in the basin and see what happens!"

 No.752567

>>752563

"I don't care what you call it, I just want to eat you up!" Amy coos as she playfully pounces around the basin repeatedly, trying to catch Flaming.

>>752562

"Sooooo we have to find something that reflects us as if we look like the ram?" Amy asks as she continues to prowl around the basin.

 No.752568

>>752567
"PLEASE do not put it that way!" Shorthorns shouts back as she continues to run circles around the basin, playing keep-away from Amy as she chases her
[1d10+1] >Speed roll

>>752567
>>752565
"By the way…" Shorthorns asks, "What do you two see in your reflections? I see myself as a nun or something for the Union, I looked just like the missionaries that used to come to the Climbing Fire lands to preach."

Roll #1 10 + 1 = 11

 No.752569

>>752568
"In one I was it appeared I was a farmer, which admittedly fit my fur pattern far more than my current career." Leather says, pulling back some bandage to show off some particularly unstealthy green fur.

 No.752570

>>752568
>>752562

As Flaming proves her mousey speed and makes a good point at the same time, Amy stands back up. "Really?" she asks, cocking her head. "I just looked like I was in armor. Hmm…."

Amy grabs the fruit and looks at her reflection in it.

 No.752571

>>752569

"Whaaaat? No way! You can like… hide in fields. And treetops… And… and… watermelons!"

 No.752572

>>752571
"Perhaps, but shades of green lend ineffective in the cities and towns I frequented the most. The bandages are multipurpose anyways, as was seen in the gold room."

 No.752573

>>752569
"Huh," Leather explains as he reveals his green fur, "I guess I could see that, though with only having met you recently I never would have guessed."

>>752570
>>752569
Seeing that Amy has, thankfully, stopped chasing her, Shorthorns takes a moment to catch her tiny breath as she looks up at her, "Armor? Hmmm…."

"Well, I think the other part of the reflections is, they show you's that could have been if you'd made different decisions. If I had accepted the Union and the Devas when I was younger I could see myself growing up to be a missionary. Was there an option for you to be a farmer instead of a warrior, Leather? And, Amy, can you think of any choices that would have led to you becoming a knight?"

 No.752574

>>752564
The Water Dragon nods. "I'll get it prepared. Follow me, and I'll put you back where you were so you can grab your companions."

She floats back down the south hall, gesturing for you to follow her. You seem to be in a small, yet cozy lounge, located in some hidden place of the dungeon. Other dragons mill about, representing different alchemical symbols and components. They seem to be on break, for they read scrolls, play board games, and sip calming drinks.

Water leads you to another small room which appears to belong to her, judging by the furnishings. Inside is a pool, which takes up most of the space in the room, and has a clear glass bottom.

"Swim to the bottom, and you'll be back before you know it," Water explains. "Anything you don't want getting wet, leave here."

>>752565
>>752566
>>752567
>>752570
Amy sees that she wears the armor of some of Ecclesia's highest-ranked champions, those who fight on the front lines of the war effort… a far cry from the mass-produced armored jackets worn by recruits, the Choristers and the Spooks.

Volkama produces a clean cooking knife from his travel bag. "Do you think the risks outweigh the rewards? Or shall I cut open this fruit and see what it may do?"
"Hrm… if we're trapped, we still have our small army," Zjetya proposes. "Someone would eventually go looking for us and get us out, I'm sure of it."

 No.752575

>>752573

"It looked kinda like the Ecclesian Armor," Amy contemplates. "But, like… I can't ever see myself joining them. I mean, I know I was technically a part of them. Or I am… But, not really…"

 No.752576

>>752574

"Maybe it's like… if I never got possessed."

Amy cocks her head at her own words. "If I never GOT possessed? Huh… I guess I really DO have Amy's perspective."

"Wait! The fruit is showing me things for what AMY could have been. I mean, there's no way a full on demon would have ever joined Ecclesia!"

"Could… could we use that somehow?"

 No.752577

>>752573
"I feel as if I'd have had to been born in a different place if it had been since childhood, my parents were clothier and clergy in a city, not rural. Perhaps it would like to suggest I settled down with Glass Dagger after the Firmament was broken. I very well could've never reconnected with what remained of the Morte Legionem and joined the Ecclesians."

>>752576
>>752576

"Stranger things have happened too, who knows what an alternate Ecclesia could have been. There could've been more like I that don't wish to make such hasty assumptions."

>>752574
"Perhaps we should cut open one of the less dangerous seeming fruits first, such as the one where I am a farmer. A workhorse doppelganger could prove less difficult to quell than a warrior or priest, should one be summoned."

 No.752578

>>752575
"Well I couldn't really see myself joining the Union when the missionaries came to my tribe, but, I could see how that path existed, I guess? Maybe that's what it's based on, is something so radical but still possible?"

>>752574
>>752574
As Volkama holds up the knife, Shorthorns takes a moment to think on the action, but thinks quickly remembering the rules of the dungeon punishing indecisiveness. She nods, "Cut it open, I can't imagine they'd make this 'gem' so squishy and fruit like if it wasn't meant to be cut or peeled like one. We'll be ready for whatever comes our way, so I say we go for it." She says resolutely, crossing her mousey arms and nodding her head.

 No.752579

>>752574
As the tone shifts to comfy Shei begins lightly strumming on his guitar as he follows Water through the lounge.

"Wow, there's a whole community in this dungeon isn't there. I can't imagine where you get things like coffee and tea so far down here."

>"Anything you don't want getting wet, leave here."

"That's fine. I've been in the water a lot as of late. If you can call it water. Well thank you for the coffee and showing me the lounge. Before I go I was wondering, just how far away is the lounge from Mercury's domain?"

Once Water answer's Shei he lets himself in the pool gently so he doesn't make a splash and starts swimming down, pushing water with his wings.

 No.752580

>>752556
Pryce frowns as he hears what River sees.
"That's a version of you you never have to worry about again," He says to help lighten her spirits.

KP looks up to Zjetya as she says her.
>"Oh…"
He mutters, remembering their conversation of her friend.
>"Well, it's just a vision. No need to dwell on it, right?"

>>752556
>>752560
Pryce stumbles as Hopper hops on his head suddenly, looking to Shorthorns as he spills the seltzer on her, and she transforms.
"Sorry, Flaming…"


>>752562
Pryce looks to Zjetya as she transforms into a batpony to examine the fruit.
"Does it feel strange being a bat after being a moth so long?"
He asks genuinely.


>>752562
>>752574
Pryce looks back as the others surmise the fruits hold the key.
"Now it comes to our reflections… Maybe this is a rejection of other paths to teach us to be focused?"
He muses as the decide to cut one open.

 No.752581

>>752576
"Right," River says. "The divergences keep piling up."
"Hrm…" Zjetya says. "Wonder why it's fixated on your mortal portion. You'd think it'd show you two visions – one for your mortal side, and one for your demonic side. Aren't you mostly the demon, now?"

>>752580
Zjetya shrugs. "We changelings wear a lot of disguises. If you get hung up on weird contrasts, it'll just throw off your transforming ability."

>>752576
>>752577
>>752578
>>752580
Volkama nods, and cuts the fruit. A sweet-smelling sap pours out, mingling with the water in the basin, thickening it. As the level of the mingling liquids rises, the colors within start to clear up. A ring of varying hieroglyphs surrounds the outer circle of the liquids, and they solidify into a gem-like texture and shape, suggesting they are to be pressed. In the waters, you can see more clearly that the dark and murky shapes were, in fact, the other members of your small army. You can see the other Saviors, even glimpses of the Ecclesians, and the Witches of Gehenna. However, no figure appears for more than a second in the rapidly-shifting liquids.

"Perhaps one of these can sharpen the image, focus it?" Zjetya asks. She munches on a piece of the fruit, now that enough has been poured into the basin.
"They… they appear to be in the dungeon. Is a scrying basin truly all that's up here?" River asks.

>>752579
"If we all manage to stop arguing and work together, we can transmute anything," Water says. "Tea and coffee are small potatoes in comparison to gold. Even gold gets boring after you have too much."

As for your second question – "Not too far, but both are far enough away from God's Entombed for safety purposes, and for maximum room for Mercury's reconstructions."

After you reach the bottom of the pool, the world darkens… when the light at last comes back, you find yourself with Gadriel, Busta and the Malakhim again. The five appear to have been discussing what to do about your absence, but when you reappear, it ends.

"Whoa, you're soaked," Gadriel says. "Did he banish you to an ocean or something?"

 No.752582

>>752581

"I guess… it depends on what you mean by 'mostly'… My perspective definitely feels more like the demon. But, I guess that's just because there's… more of it? But, I'd like to be Amy. I guess maybe this reflection is saying that I AM mostly Amy…"

Amy tears up a little bit before rubbing her eyes.

>>752581

"Oh! I wanna try some of that!" Amy says as she grabs a fruit from the vine for herself and munches on it.

[1d10] for yum! (And hey, maybe some more dumb luck solutions!)

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.752583

>>752581
Shei arrives with a tray of 5 cups of coffee. "The employee lounge. Also these are for you." He brings the tray closer so everyone can get a cup.

"When your done put the cups in my cape. I said I'd return them before we head into Tartarus. So as it turns out this is the right way. But at least now we know where the lounge is. Carry on!"

Shei leads the way down the path.. again. But this time with coffee.

 No.752584

>>752580
Shorthorns, still in mouse-form, grumbles as she looks up at Pryce. "Watch where you're spraying that stuff from now on! Of all the times for me to lose my focus…"

>>752581
As the fruit's pulp falls into the basin, and murks it into a sort of 'scrying' device that shows so many brief glimpses of the others through the dungeon, Shorthorns looks down with delight, giving a thumbs up (a new experience for her) with her paws up at Volkama and Pryce. "Good idea! I think it's trying to show the whole dungeon now."

She looks at the various flashing images, thinking. "Well, it's showing us a bunch of images, maybe it just needs us to focus on one?" She puts her paw into the water, thinking of one buffalo and one buffalo only.
"Voyage… Voyage… Voyage…"
[1d10] Thinking of Great Voyage

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.752585

>>752581
"Anyone got ten bits." Leather muses, "I know not more except the dangerous option of adding blood or the like to the basin. It's never a good idea to add blood to an alter though."

 No.752586

>>752581
"I suppose that's true, though I imagine some contrasts would be odd back to back like that."

Pryce looks into the basin as they pour in the sap, watching the murky shapes change through those that entered with them.
"A scrying pool? That can't be all, there has to be more."
He looks to the gems that formed along the edge, and to test, presses one when he sees a glimpse of one of the groups of their friends.

When Zjetya takes a bite of the fruit, Pryce looks up with worry.
"Zjetya, are you sure that's safe to eat?!"

 No.752587

>>752584
"I'll make sure to watch my aim, and my pets, in the future," Pryce apologizes. "If it makes you feel better, River, Amy, and I were turned into birds by a trap earlier, so you're not alone in the odd forms."

 No.752588

>>752583
The group take their mugs, offering their thanks as they sip it.
"Why'd he send you to a lounge?" Gadriel asks.
As you walk even further down the augur trail, you at last see light from below… but when you come within sight of it, you see Mercury floating in the final gateway before the lair of the Capo. You look back up, and see that you are on one of many spiraling pathways that lead to this liminal space from higher up in the dungeon.
"What-ho! Here, I had hoped to be the first to the end," a voice says.

You look ahead, and see Sir Gegenschein, of the Choir. Accompanying him is Doctor Galton, Living Saint Zoantharia, and their Spooks: Lion, Viper and Monkey. They are on the path opposite to you, floating there in the darkness.

>>752586
Zjetya swallows her bite, then smirks. "Only one way to find out. It tastes kinda like mango, or maybe that's the batpony talking."

>>752582
You leap from the platform onto the nearest fruit hanging from the garden walls, and bite right in. It's at first tasteless – until the very moment that a thought enters your head about what fruit 'should' taste like. Then, it tastes just like what you imagine. If, and should, your imagination shifts, then so too does the taste.

>>752584
>>752585
>>752586
As Shorthorned imagines Great Voyage, the scrying-pool clears, and you see Great Voyage, traveling with Mocha, the Dragon, Vortigern, Septum Axis, and Tantra. They walk along a steep downward path, moving in a spiral motion, across ancient stonework.

As Pryce pushes one of the buttons, Voyage hops with surprise, as a floating spiral of light appears beside him. You look up, your attention caught by a gleaming in your peripheral vision. One of the water barriers nearby is gone, and you can see a spiral of light at the end of the path it was obstructing.

"No mere scrying basin, but a master key of sorts!" Volkama exclaims. "We can catch up with any of our fellows with this."

 No.752589

>>752587
Shorthorns chuckles, looking up at Pryce. "R-really? You were all turned into birds?" She snorts, "Okay, I guess at least I'm not the only one then. How'd you all change back?"

>>752588
As the spiraling light appears in the pool in the basin, and then she sees it behind what used to be the aqua barrier, she smiles widely, "OR, they can catch up with us too!" She takes a moment, and shouts directly into the pool as loud as she can

"HEY, VOYAGE! This is Shorthorns, can you hear me?!" she shouts into the water, curious if it transfers sound as well as sight.

 No.752590

>>752588

"Hmm… I expected grapefruit," Amy says out loud. Then, it starts tasting like grapefruit!

"Ooooh! There it is!" Amy says, her tail wagging. She takes another bite, passively comparing it to other fruits, then realizing it tastes like those.

"Woah! It tastes like whatever you want it to!" she concludes far too easily.

Then, a terrible idea occurs to her… She thinks about indecent things and then takes another bite. She smiles and savors the flavor.

"Hmm," Amy thinks with a full mouth. She walks over to the basin and spits in it to see what happens.

[1d10] to see something new happen!

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.752591

>>752588
"Alright, pass some over then."
He says to Zjetya.

When the pool clears, and a portal opens, Pryce peers down.
"Could we regroup everypony with this? Or… should we regroup with this? This could be the only way out of here."
Pryce dwells on this, looking off the edge of their plateau, wondering if there's a door to venture deeper into the dungeon with this.
As Flaming calls out to Voyage, Pryce starts to think of Spitshine and Sugar, wondering how those two are faring in this dungeon.

>>752589
"I was able to use the Unweaving technique we learned to break it on myself and River. Not sure how Amy got out of hers."

 No.752592

>>752588
"Hmm, I have no good wordplay situation. We will go pun-less. Shall we tarry on?"

 No.752593

>>752592
wordplay for the situation*

 No.752594

>>752588
"The Other dragon there said He probably wanted to get rid of me. Mercury probably doesn't like me.. Okay, I was antagonizing him from our first encounter but all's fair in love and war. I hope we can at least get along as maybe cheeky and adversarial rivals." He responds to Gadriel

As Shei descends the spiral pathway he gawks all around him, seeing the Ecclessian group regard them from their respective path.

"Look at that! We out paced Ecclessia. Raise your cups boys!" Shei commands for everyone to raise their cups in victory. Shei raises a coffee cup and calls toward the Ecclessian group "Ho! We even had time to visit the lounge. Had we known you would be here we would have stopped by the giftshop too."

 No.752595

>>752591
Spitshine and Sugar accompany Sir Freischutz, Sir Ichimonji, and Sir Holy Hours, along with their Spooks: Anzu, Fox and Rooster. Rooster appears to have been shrunk by some spell, most likely his own, to avoid crushing the dungeon structures designed not for elephants.

Volkama cuts you some fruit, and indeed, it tastes like mango. Then, like any fruit which you imagine after the first bite. River tries herself some. "Mango? More like apple, by my estimation."
"Well aren't you just a traditional horse," Zjetya teases.

>>752590
Lightning strikes you from above.

>>752589
>>752592
>>752590
>>752591
Voyage and the others look into the spiral curiously, then Voyage peeks his head in. "Hey!" you hear suddenly, and you look up, in the direction of the spiral on your end. "I'm guessing you're the ones behind this?"

>>752594
"Don't you have enough of those?" Gadriel asks.

"Well, we had a shortcut," Busta admits.
"All is fair in a competition, regardless of what's at stake," Gegenschein says. "Though if you've any more… is that coffee I smell? Well! If you've any more, I'll drink to your honor."
"That sounds so good right now…" Doctor Galton says with a sigh. "I've been going without for the war effort for so long."
Zoantharia remains silent.
"Cream and one sugar," Lion says.
"Just sugar for mine," Viper adds. "Three sugars."
"I'll have a cuppa," Monkey says. "If you have it."

 No.752596

>>752591
Correction: Onion is also with Spitshine.

 No.752597

>>752595

Upon the tingly sensation of being strike by lightning, Amy looks around curiously. Her hair stands up, going all frizzy. "Alright, sheesh! Sorry, universe!"

Amy looks up in the direction of the voice. "No, I think we're in front of it, actually. Or… Around it, I guess? There's not really a way to be behind a circle, is there?"

 No.752598

>>752595
>>752596
Pryce chews on the fruit, tasting the mango as Zjetya described, "Huh, it is mango. Wonder if these were all just enchanted then." But then, as River mentions apple, he finds it changes to apple. His eyes widen in surprise. "It tastes like whatever you think it is, I think."
>"Oh, I wanna try! If this can taste like whatever we should grab a few to take with us!"
KP chimes in.

Seeing Spitshine, Sugar, and Onion travelling safe with the others, Pryce feels relieved. He pressed a different gem this time, looking to open another portal.

>>752595
Pryce looks to the spiral as Voyage calls in.
"Looks so. We found a scrying pool that can connect to whoever else we think of."

 No.752599

>>752591
"At least mine was technically by choice," she says looking down at herself, "It's part of my new powers I've found out, I can change how I look. I needed to fit through a small door earlier and, I tried this. I can change back whenever I want, with a little concentration…"

>>752595
As Voyage sticks his head in, Shorthorns looks up (still in mouse form), waving at him instinctively "Hey Voyage! Yeah, we found something REALLY good here!" She says, tapping the rim of the pulp-filled water gently to send a small ripple through it.

"This basin lets us see everyone in the dungeon just by thinking about them, and not just that but apparently," she motions towards the buttons, "Let's them come to us too! This is amazing, we can go anywhere in the dungeon now I bet." She turns her head, "How's your side been coming along? We found a few really useful items down here too!"

 No.752600

>>752595
Leather initially refrains from looking into the scrying pool as of concerns of over security of Ecclesian compounds, Leather thinks to ponder over the next location the party will be heading to head to Tartarus.

 No.752601

>>752595
>>752595
>"Don't you have enough of those?" Gadriel asks.
"I'll have you know he asked you to step in the circle too Gadds."

At the commotion of everyone asking for coffee Shei gestures frantically with his hooves "Whoa, whoa -slow down. You're making me feel bad. That was all the coffee but- hay! I have a fridge full of goodies in my cape -that's not sarcasm- How about before we finally open the Big Door we all pitch for a pot luck. It'll be like a last meal but less foreboding."

After more regards from the Ecclessians Shei turns to address Mercury "Is there any prelude to this before we meet your boss?"

 No.752602

>>752601
The Ecclesians nod their assent.

Mercury growls. "Look… just find a place to wait. I'm only going to ask this question of mine once more, so I'd like to have you all here as a group. First it was her, then this group, and now you're all just showing up in chunks."
"Terribly sorry for the inconvenience, chap," Gegenschein says. "We've no issue with having an intermission before the finale."

>>752599
Voyage stares at you. "When'd you guys meet a talking mouse? Where's Shorthorned?"

>>752598
"Great! I have a feeling we're almost out of here, so you think you can use it to round up any stragglers?" Voyage asks.

>>752598
>>752597
>>752599
>>752600
You see Anzu and Freischutz immediately draw their guns as the portal opens, but Holy Hours raises his hoof, and they back away. He takes a step toward the portal, then vanishes.

"How good to see you all again," Holy Hours says. He now stands adjacent to Cloak, with no indication of how he got there.
Volkama says nothing, but Deriva nods in greeting. River and Zjetya are a bit shocked by his sudden appearance, but Zjetya salutes smartly.

>>752600
The image in the basin changes, but the portals still remain open. As you try to see what lays before you next, you behold only darkness – but a darkness that moves, softly, quietly, in subtle ripples, like hair stirred by a soft comb, it moves.

>Pause

 No.753008

>>752602
As Voyage asks where they met a talking mouse, Shortyhorns gasps, looking down at her mousey form as she grumbles. "Oh, dangit, can'tbelieveIforgthfrmgmrrggg…."

She grumbles, before using her magic to try and transform back into her buffalo form
[1d10] Sphere of LIfe

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.753010

Last time, on HolyQuest…

Shei spent some time chilling in a lounge where all the alchemical dragons – including several the party had not yet met – rested whenever they were not on duty. He brought back coffee for Busta, Gadriel and the Malakhim. Once he was back, they met Sir Gegenschein's group, whereupon Mercury complained about you all appearing in groups. First, it was someone he only addressed as her, then Shei's group, and now, Sir Gegenschein's.

Shorthorned, Pryce, Cloak and Amy ascended the tower that lay beyond the northern path of the garden, where they encountered a large bowl, in the midst of several branching paths, all filled with water barriers. They filled the bowl with water, as well as juice from one of the many large fruits growing on the garden walls nearby, in whose reflections, they saw alternative versions of themselves. The fruits seemed to be filled with potentiality itself; this was corroborated when they ate the fruit, and tasted whatever it was that they wished to taste.

They used this to locate the Spiders, as well as the second of the Ecclesian groups, led by the Choristers, Sirs Freischutz, Holy Hours and Ichimonji. Sugar, Spitshine and Onion accompanied them. The bowl enabled them to create portals to where these groups were, allowing them to link up before reaching the end.

 No.753011

>>753008
You are, once more, a buffalo. Voyage steps forward through the portal in surprise, followed by the rest of the Spiders. "Oh, hey," Voyage says. "There you are! Why were you all mousey just now? That's hardly like you."
"What a terrible pun," the Dragon says.
"Can you turn others into mice, or just yourself?" Mocha asks. "I wanna try."

 No.753012

>>752597
>>752598
>>752602
>>753008
>>753010

"Be wary, darkness stirs with life from within the portal. I attempt to scry what our next challenge might be in this dungeon, and a moving shadow stirred to life." Leather says, backing away from the scrying pool and readying his rifle in case something leaves.

 No.753014

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]
>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>752602
"We should be able to. Looks like we can focus on anypony we want."
Pryce answers to Voyage.

When Anzu and Freischutz draw their guns, Pryce is concerned, getting ready and expecting a hail of bullets from the portal. When Holy Hours stops then, then suddenly appears by Cloak, Pryce turns, shocked at the appearance.
"And good to see you, so quickly," Pryce comments, looking back to the portal. "It's just us, you all can come on through!" Pryce shouts through the portal to Spitshine, Sugar, Onion, and the remaining two Ecclesians.

 No.753015

>>753011
As she manages to transform herself back into a white buffalo, she sighs, looking at Voyage with barely hidden annoyance as he makes his joke about her being mousey. "What? I'm allowed to have different moods. Maybe I felt like being a little mousey!" She snorts, "And, m-maybe I just happen to forget before transforming myself back."

As Mocha asks if she can turn others, she pauses to think. "Hmm… I'm pretty sure I can do it to anyone, I've only done it to myself so far but I can't really think of why I can't do it to another. You wanna try it?"

>>753012
"Shadows moving in the dungeon…?" Shorthorns asks, moving closer to the pool to get a better look. "May have something to do with the hands we saw moving stuff around, but they're not really a challenge so much as… well, builders I guess. It must be an enemy the Sons expect us to fight, can you see where they are relative to us?"

 No.753016

>>752602

Amy jumps and turns around when Holy Hours suddenly takes everyone by surprise. She gets down low to the ground and starts sniffing around him, trying to figure out where he came from.

[1d10] to discover his secrets!

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.753018

File: 1614134714866-0.png (337.93 KB, 761x805, Sir Freischutz.png)

File: 1614134714866-1.png (262.09 KB, 743x861, The Anzu.png)

File: 1614134714866-2.png (278.47 KB, 708x747, Sir Ichimonji.png)

File: 1614134714866-3.png (252.08 KB, 804x815, The Fox.png)

File: 1614134714866-4.png (288.97 KB, 665x815, Sir Holy Hours.png)

>>753016
He smells like very fine and rare cologne, but also, as though he's been messing about with old, dusty clockwork machinery; the combination of scents is a peculiar blend.

He takes a step away from you as you start to sniff the ground. "How charming."

>>753015
"Yeah, can you make me into a big ol' dog?" Mocha asks, clacking her spidery legs together with excitement.

Voyage smirks, then steps forward and bumps noses with you. "Have your fun while you can, because I doubt we could use mice more than powerful buffalo in Tartarus."

>>753014
>>753015
>>753016
>>753012
Freischutz, Anzu, Ichimonji, Fox and the shrunken Rooster step through the portal, keeping Onion, Spitshine and Sugar safely between them. They put away their weapons once it's you – apart from Rooster, who has no weapons to speak of.

Anzu and Freischutz look around the strange arena with awe, while Ichimonji is quick to approach, greeting both Shorthorned and Amy with a hug. "Never did I expect to see recruits like you come into such power. Seems not long ago that you entered our provisional base, with Amy all bloodied and beaten."
"Und I did not expect zhe hunters who slayed Orcus to now take on the powers of Hell itself," Freischutz remarks. "So vhat's zhis you've come across?"
Rooster eagerly looks at the darkness that stirs within the basin, but… nothing emerges, neither from the basin, nor from any portal. Eventually, the image turns back into that of murk.

 No.753019

File: 1614134742560-0.png (569.94 KB, 1358x1298, The Rooster.png)

Rooster's here too

 No.753021

>>753018
"How's your journey through the maze been?" Pryce asks the group, though mostly Spitshine, Sugar, and Onion, seeing if they're okay.
>"Did you guys find anything cool?"
KP adds in.

"We found a scrying pool that connects to others we focus on. This wasn't part of the maze proper, so we think it might've been a rest or training room of some kind," Pryce answers Freishutz.

When the pool doesn't react to Rooster, Pryce steps over. "Wonder if it's tied to the trial, or whoever came first." He looks around, seeing the group they have so far, and then thinks of Shei while looking into the pool, wondering where he gotten off after he split when they were venturing to find Amy through the orb trial.

 No.753022

>>753018

Amy wrinkles her nose at the aroma. Even without the machinery, the scent of the cologne would have been enough to set her off.

Then, when Holy Hours (obviously sincerely) calls her charming, she stands upright in a flash and smiles. "Thanks!" she says happily, her tail wagging. She follows that up with a simple declaration in a happy tone: "You smell weird!"

>>753018

When Ichimonji hugs Amy, she happily squeezes Ichimonji as hard as she can before letting go after a few seconds.

Then, she looks around at everyone. Worry comes across her face. "So many people showed up suddenly… But still no Shei… Has anyone seen him?"

 No.753023

>>753018
With all the Ecclesians here, Leather offers head bow to each, specifically greeting his two direct superiors. "Sir Holy Hours, Rooster. I am glad to see you all in good health. Have you interacted with any of the 'guardians' of these lower reaches of the maze? We have come across two or three now, all named after alchemical components. They appear to be in control the challenges we face to some degree."

 No.753025

>>753018
Shorty gives a confident laugh, "Well, not if that mouse is every bit as strong as the buffalo! Which it will be, because it's me!" She says, giving a triumphant stomp of her forehooves. She snickers, "Maybe I should turn you into a sparrow, and see if you're still so tough!"

She looks to Mocha, nodding her head. "Uh, sure! I can give it a try. Any particular reason why a dog?"

>>753018
As Ichimonji appears, Shorthorns is caught by surprise, having had a chance to see her briefly before entering the dungeon but not given much time to interact then. She looks at her for a moment, about ready to say something before she's enveloped in a hug, startling the divine buffalo. She quickly eases into it however, feeling a swelling sensation of pride as she hears Ichimonji's praise.

"I… I'm honored to do you proud, Ichimonji. I couldn't have gotten this far without the start you gave me with Ecclesia. I hope to make everyone who's helped us all get this far proud."

As she turns to look at the scrying pool again, she says, "Is this everyone who entered the dungeon? I figure we could all compare notes and see what we've all learned so far, if anything, about how it operates."

 No.753026

>>753021
"The Ecclesians let us keep a few things here and there," Sugar says. "But they confiscated all the good treasures."
"They'll trust us with guns, but not cursed artifacts?" Spitshine scoffs. "What a letdown."
Onion now possesses an ornate, and very old-looking harp, with his guitar slung over his back. "They at least let me sneak off with this."

Freischutz nods. "If ve veren't on a time limit, I'd love to give zome of zhese a vhirl. Too often did we brute force our vay through obstacles in seeking to get zhrough in a timely fashion."

>>753022
"And you smell… used," Holy Hours replies.

>>753023
"Yes, we have encountered the dragons of Water and Lead," Holy Hours responds. "I assume that you also had to contemplate their questions."

>>753025
"I had to leave behind my guard dog with my family when they went into hiding," Mocha says. "Plus, I wanna be fluffy."

"I bet I'd make a cooler animal than you, any day of the week!" GV boasts.

>>753025
"As do I, my dear," Ichimonji says. "As do I."

>>753025
"We're still missing the Witches of Gehenna, and the Light Brigade," Anzu says. "But I doubt the former would have anything to say to us. We can start our discussion anyhow – we'll update the Light Brigade at their reporting time."

>>753022
>>753023
>>753021
>>753025
>>753025
As Pryce concentrates on the pool, you see Shei, Busta and Gadriel in a wondrous strange place. They appear to be standing in darkness, with only the stone path beneath them as a reference for their position in space. The path is one of many, and each path curves upwards and downwards through the darkness in a spiral pattern, with all the paths meeting and merging into a single ramp, leading downward. On a path across from them is Sir Gegenschein, Doctor Galton and Living Saint Zoantharaia, along with their Spooks – Lion, Viper and Monkey.

"Hah," Anzu says. "Not a scratch on the lot of them."
"THAT'S OUR TEACH FOR YOU," Rooster bellows.
"And this can take us right there, can't it?" Fox asks.

 No.753027

>>753026
"FLuffy huh? Well, okay, but don't be surprised if Voyage gets jealous if you turn out even fluffier than him. OH, and, uh… Amy might get excited at having another dog in the group."
She uses her divine powers over life itself to transmorgrify Mocha…
[1d10] Transforming her into a dog using Life

She turns to look towards Voyage, grinning, "You really wanna bet on that? You can do this too, right?"

>>753026
>>753022
She nods towards Ichimonji, "I won't let you down. I won't let anyone out there down."

She turns Anzu, "Wait… Amy's right, there's no Shei here either! Oh no, I really hope he hasn't gotten himself into too much trouble on his own."

She turns to look towards the pool as Pryce concentrates on it, sighing in relief. "Well, that doesn't look so bad, they're just in another challenge." She takes a deep breath
"HEY SHEI! CAn you hear us?!"

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.753028

>>753026
"It's a good thing they aren't letting you have anything cursed. We've seen some terrible magic on our way down." Pryce comments.
>"Wow, lucky! So what'dya find?"
KP asks Sugar, then looks up to Onion.
>"Cool! Does it Sound good?"

"We've had to rush too, the dungeon nearly shifted apart a puzzle while we were still in it. They don't leave you much time to think down here."
Pryce comments to Freischutz.


>>753026
>>753012
Pryce looks into the pool, seeing Shei and the others in what looks like darkness.
"Where are they? Leather, is this the shadow you saw?"
He looks over to Fox, nodding.
"Us to them, or them to us. Hard to tell which is the better option."

 No.753030

>>753028
"All due respect, Sir Pryce, it is hard to distinguish one darkness from another."
>>753026
"Yes, though not those that you met. Salt and one other - I do not have Rooster's memory."

 No.753031

>>753026
>>752602
At mercury's snippy tone Shei shrugs and decides not to touch this one. He steps away to find a place to sit down. Crouching down to sit cross legged as he unpacks some things from his cape.

A pouch of praymore, white orchids from regina's garden, jinseng root, a stick of cinnamon, and a vial of dark matter. He shuffles the items into a pestle and mortar, grind away as they emit a clinking sound against the porcelain. He shreds ginseng with a grate and crumbles a morsel of cinnamon as he goes along.

 No.753032

>>753026

Amy's jaw drops when Holy Hours so blatantly insults her. The shocked expression is mixed with amusement. She giggles, but her mouth still hangs open.

"Holyyyyy shit!" she exclaims before bursting out into laughter. "That was SO mean!" she says, not sounding particularly insulted by it. She is, in fact, more impressed.

Then, she gets closer to Holy Hours and smiles. "I think you're just jealous," she says quietly.

>>753027
>>753026

"Shei!" Amy shouts excitedly when she sees him. Her tail wags as she hops around like a rambunctious puppy.

Without a second thought, she jumps into the basin.

[1d10] to blue skadoo

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.753033

>>753030
"Fair enough. It doesn't look like they're in danger, so it must not be it then."

 No.753037

>>753028
"Still needs a little fine-tuning," Onion says. "I don't rightly want to play too much until I can have Volkama appraise it."

Freischutz nods. "Mezhinks zhat's zhe idea. It's not as if Tartarus vill offer you any more time zhan this dungeon to ponder your choices. Act, razher zhan be lost in zhought."

>>753032
>>753027
Mocha turns into a tan husky, and excitedly runs about a bit, testing her movement on four, instead of eight legs. She turns to Amy, and barks repeatedly.

>>753027
Voyage clacks his horns against yours. "Anytime! Name your animals!"

>>753032
"Nothing in this world or another could arouse envy within me," Holy Hours says. "Not when I have my family."

>>753032
The Ecclesians flash-step back as water and fruity pulp splash everywhere, soaking the Saviors. However, Amy remains where she is.

Zjetya bows her head to the gathered Choristers. "Forgive my friend here. I'll get us moving again."

>>753032
>>753031
Zjetya reaches out and taps one of the crystallized sap buttons, and another portal manifests, this time between Sir Gegenschein's party and Shei's. The two groups look up with interest as the portal manifests, and Sir Gegenschein doesn't delay in sticking his head in, much to Zoantharia's annoyance.

>>753030
"Sulfur was the first one we faced," River says.
"The three fundamentals, then," Holy Hours notes. "I wonder what portents we may draw from whom the others saw…"

>>753032
>>753031
>>753030
>>753028
>>753027
Gegenschein pokes his head out through the portal, and smiles as he sees you. "Hoohoo! Hello there! Shei, come and get a look at this."
"Quit screwing around and get in here," Holy Hours says.
"You don't know if that thing could close at any moment," Ichimonji scolds.
"I trust you all to save me if something should go awry," Gegenschein says, muscling his way through the portal to enter. "Saviors, Spiders," he says in greeting.

 No.753038

>>753037
Pryce looks over as the new portal opens and Gegenschein pokes his head through.
"Looks like that's the last of us. How has your journey gone?"
He asks as he comes through the portal.

 No.753039

>>753037

"Hey! That was a pretty good bark!" Amy says, patting Mocha on the head.

"Kinda stereotypical and offensive, but still good!"

>>753037

"Is Shei there!?" Amy asks excitedly as she bounces up and down, waiting for the portal to either be clear or for Shei to come through.

 No.753041

>>753037
"Any interesting works of trapmaking on the way here? I do believe our highlight was sailing across a room filled with accursed gold that turned any that touched it into more of itself. Perhaps the designers playing on the typical alchemical pursuit of transmutation." Leather chuckles lightly.

 No.753043

>>753037
>>753038
>>753039
>>753027
>>753041
Shei-Sher looks up from his pestling, to Gengenschein admiring what looks like a portal. He stands up whilist still pestling away.

"huh.." Shei walks around the portal, leaning his head forward as he gets a good look at it and then sees his friends on the other. "Rightoooo. I was wondering by when your lot would finally catch up to us. How does it feel to know your better half got their bronze medal. Does it sting! Does it buuuurrnn." Shei makes an over pained gestured clenching his eyes as he fools around. "-Oh hi Holy Hours. Good to see you." He breaks the wild mannerisms to greet Holy Hours.

"Say- can I walk through this?" Shei attempts to walk through the portal

 No.753044

>>753037
Shorthorns opens her eyes after concentrating on her latest miracle, opening them to look at the tan spider-husky that she'd just created. As she barks at Shorthorns, she chuckles, reaching over to look over Mocha. "Hehehe, happy, I'm guessing? I have to admit, you ARE pretty fluffy…" she says, reaching a hoof up to pet Mocha before pausing,
"Uh, do you mind if I…?" She asks before petting

As Voyage meets her challenge, she grins. "Alright, we'll make it fair: you name mine and I'll name yours. You go first!"

>>753032
>>753037
As Amy jumps into the portal-pool and splashes everyone, Shorthorns spits up some water and shakes her head, "Gah! I uh… I don't think it works that way, Amy. The portals for the others open to the SIDES here!"

As Gegenschein pokes his head in, she smiles as she looks at everyone. "Okay, so, does that make everyone except for the witches. And no casualties it looks like so far, so that's good. We should probably split up again after this, but it's good to have a moment to get our bearings straight."

>>753043
"You sure can! That's how everyone else got in here… starting to get pretty cramped, hehe."

 No.753045

>>753044

"That's confusing! Why are there so many steps!?" Amy complains.

>>753043

"Catch up!? As if! We went down! We're closer!"

 No.753047

>>753045
"Closer to your tail maybe! We're broadcasting from the Capo's own chambers door."

 No.753049

>>753047

"Ooooh! Really? Tell him that he's going to love his dinner! I made the menu myself!" Amy says proudly.

 No.753050

>>753043
"Shei, good to see you're in one piece. How was your travel?"

 No.753052

>>753045
"It's only one extra step! You go through the pool by going through one of the mirrors, that's just one extra step!"

 No.753053

>>753038
"A bit easy, if I must be honest," Gegenschein says. "The others made me journey with two healers, yet they had the luxury to deal as much damage as me against our foes."
"You needed it," Holy Hours says. "Given your reputation for being captured, or getting lost, anything of the sort down here could have meant your death."
"Alas, all I found was light exercise."

>>753039
>>753044
Mocha whines and sniffs you. Amy can tell, from her years of experience as a hound, that Mocha wants a treat.

>>753041
"We encountered the classics of trapdoors, traprooms, darkrooms and pressure plates," Fox says. "But the highlight was definitely that mashup of freeze tag and capture-the-flag."
"We could learn some lessons here to increase troop morale and interest during training," Ichimonji says.

>>753044
"A gopher!" Voyage declares.
Behind him, Tantra doubles over with laughter, as does the Dragon. Voyage doesn't take notice of their mockery at all.

>>753044
>>753043
>>753041
>>753039
>>753038
The rest of Gegenschein's crew, as well as Busta and Gadriel, enter the portal, stepping onto the circular platform.

"A most unusual place…" Gegenschein notes with awe. Doctor Galton, upon seeing the fruit, flies over and plucks one with one hand, taking a bite.

"Fool!" Freischutz protests. "What of poison?"

"I'd taste it anyway," Doctor Galton says after swallowing her bite. "I can hardly get a chance to research the oddities found down here if I shy away from every little risk, don't you agree?"

"The possibility of swallowing ancient poisons, a small risk…?" River repeats.

Monkey softly chuckles. "Please, relax. The Doctor only seeks to impart her boundless good cheer. We'll need it."

 No.753054

>>753052

"That makes no sense! How do I go through one thing by going through another thing!?"

>>753053

"I already ate some of the fruit," Amy says to the naysayers. "It tastes good! If you want it to taste good, anyway."

Amy then grabs a fruit and gives it to Mocha. "Hey…" she asks with concern to no one in particular. "Is Mocha broken?"

 No.753056

>>753053
"I am no diviner, but I do not believe Doctor Galton will be done in by a fruit." Cloak chuckles, offering his two cents, "We have already had some of our own try the fruit themselves."

 No.753057

>>753053
"It is good to be cautious in unknown territory, even if it does feel boring."
Pryce comments to Gegenschein's recounting.

"That didn't stop Zjetya or Amy," Pryce comments to River.

 No.753058

>>753049
Shei continues rubbing his pestle and mortar as he continues inside the portal to the other side with Gegenschein.

"Oo-o-h, I see you'll make dinner for the Captain but have never cooked for me." Shei steps forward and hugs Amy to his waist with one arm. Sliding his pestle into his pocket.
"Are there any other men you've been bargaining meals with I should know of?"

>>753050
Shei states from his position hugging Amy "Five stars! Everyone died. And I'm finally in a better place…" Shei turns his head around to look at his surroundings "It's getting cramped in here."

>>753053
"Griffons come from a long line of poison imbibers!" Shei remarks on Griffon stereotypical drinking habits as Gegenschein's friends caution him about the fruit.

 No.753060

>>753053
As Mocha whines for a treat, Shorthorns laughs, reaching through her bag to grab some of her provisions. "Alright, alright, settle down…" she says, before her eyes open wide in concern.
"Uh… Mocha, I'm just making sure, you're still 'you' in there, right?"

>>753053
"A GOPHER?!"
Shorthorns cries out indignantly, blushing as he picks her animal for her. Snorting, she smiles
"Alright, alright… I'll be a gopher. And youuuuuu-" she says, eager to take her revenge.
"You have to be a duck!" She thinks a water-fowl would be appropriate for the former Sinking Rain.

>>753053
"Don't worry, we already tasted the fruit. It doesn't seem to have any lasting effects, or at least no bad ones. It's mostly used to make the scry-ing pool work, I think."

She cracks her neck, "Hmm… I'm not extremely tired, but we HAVE been adventuring through here for a few hours. Do you think the dungeon will punish us if we take a break here for a while to catch our breath and heal our injuries? After that last fight I'm kind of feeling it. Plus it'd give us time to look around for where those shadows are coming from that Leather saw."

>>753054
"I… I don't know! Isn't that how Dark Corridors work? You go through it and it's like going someplace else, the pool just shows you where you end up. Like… oh, like a telescope! Just, a really good telescope."

 No.753061

>>753058
"Sounds like it went well," Pryce says, looking around. "This place probably wasn't meant to gather too many I imagine."

 No.753062

>>753058

Amy tackles Shei when he comes through the portal and gives him a big kiss on the lips. Then, mercifully, she climbs off of him.

"I didn't do the cooking! I just chose the meal!" she objects. "You really want ME to cook? Why would I do that when you're sooooo much better!?"

"Also, are you really jealous?" she laughs. "It's not like I bartered… other things."

>>753060

"It would be like if Dark Corridors worked by going in something that ISN'T the Dark Corridor!"

 No.753063

>>753062
>Why would I do that when you're sooooo much better!?"
"So I can be lazy." He smiles boyishly

>"It's not like I bartered… other things."

Shei swats Amy head with one hoof, not too hard but firmly "Bad. And I want a list of names. Now. -On second thought I don't let you out much. Just point to the man in this room. Who is it."

 No.753065

>>753063
He says the last of those words as if he were cursing.

 No.753066

>>753063
>>753053

Amy points to Holy Hours accusingly. "He said I smell… used…" she says with dramatic sadness.

 No.753068

>>753062
"Okay but… gaaah!" Shorthorns groans in frustration. "Okay, so, it's like… the pool is like a painting. The painting can be of a real place that you can take a dark corridor to, but you can't go to that place *through* the painting. That's what the pool is like."

 No.753079

>>753060
>>753054
"Woof!" Mocha answers.
She then leans in. "I'm just getting into character, relax!" she whispers. "Not often you get to be a dog. Now hand over the treat!"

>>753060
"A du–" Voyage gasps, before trying to regain his composure. "Fine, I'll be the bravest and the boldest duck. You ready… Count of three, we'll transform. One, two…"

[1d10+3]

>>753057
>>753056
>>753054
>>753058
>>753060
Once the others attest to the safety of the fruit, Galton flies over, and the others take turns cutting some slices for themselves. You note that all the Ecclesians take much larger portions than one might expect; with power like theirs must come a significant appetite.

Galton nods to Shorthorned's suggestion. "I haven't had the chance to sit and get to know most of you, anyway. All I know is your reputations and your names, but not really you as people. Let's have a potluck!"

"Now, here?" River asks. "But this dungeon can't have been cleaned in–"

Before she can finish protesting, Fox, Anzu and Lion are already setting out blankets, while Galton and Gegenschein bicker lightly over what to serve everyone. Freischutz plucks down another giant fruit-gem to supplement the rations.

Roll #1 8 + 3 = 11

 No.753249

>>753079
"This area is a lot cleaner than the rest of the dungeon, likely because it was sealed off," Pryce comments as River speaks up about the cleanliness.
You're not that bothered by dirt, are you?
Pryce asks through the mental link he set up between Zjetya, River and himself.

>"Don't worry, Hopper can help wash everypony's hooves off, right Hopper?"

KP adds in for anypony who might not like to carry dungeon dust onto their food.

 No.753386

>>753249
By dirt, hardly. By millennia-old gravedust, quite, River responds.
We all ate that fruit no problem, Zjetya says. Lighten up, we should be good.
Hmph, 'lighten' up, I'll bet you'd like that? River says.
Absolutely, Zjetya says with a wink.

Hopper hops down to your side, and the Ecclesians start to line up to have their hooves and claws cleaned before they eat.

 No.753653

>>753386
If the dust and grime were an issue, we'd be feeling it by now walking around, especially after that gold room. Pryce comments, stepping in line to wash his hooves off. At least this spot is far cleaner than any other part of the dungeon.

 No.753658

>>753653
River harrumphs. Make sure you take care anyway after all of that fighting and handling of strange statues we did.

 No.753662

>>753658
Don't worry, I will. I'm not one to let manners slip. Pryce assures, then glances down at his flaming leg. I wonder if this even get's dirty, or if it just burns itself clean…
Despite the thought, he still washes it.

KP, after cleaning up, gets an idea, hopping up and prodding Pryce in the side.
>"Hey, can you make a grater?"
"A grater?"
>"Yea! I wanna try something!"
"Sure, just be careful not to cut yourself."
Pryce takes off his bracelet, conjuring up a grater for his younger self.
>Hat Magic [Grater] [1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.753665

>>753662
You make a grater.

 No.753973

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>Conjure Weapon: Bow [Flare, Ranged, Single, +1]

>Homing Magic: 5 Spears [Fire]

>>753665
KP lifts up his Windigo's Chilling staff, giving it a spin as he freezes up a slice of the fruit. Then, taking the grater, he shreds it up to make a choose-your-own-flavor snowcone.

 No.753974

Last time, on HolyQuest…

As both the Spiders and the Ecclesians arrived at the top of the tower in the underground garden, Doctor Galton proposed they have a last-minute potluck before confronting the Capo, the last obstacle they would have to overcome before entering Tartarus. They'd just have to invite the other Saviors, the Witches of Gehenna, and the Light Brigade before they could have everyone there.

 No.753975

>>753079
>>753066
>"He said I smell… used…"

Shei flashes Holy Hours a look of betrayal and confusion. He drops Amy mid-hug without any indication. She probably falls to the floor, and if she does Shei doesn't notice. He makes a war path to Holy Hours

"HOO-O-OOLY HOURS! By what virtue do you get off calling my Beloved a used piece of meat. I've thought of you as kith and this is how you introduce yourself to my special somepony."

 No.753976

>>753079
Shorthorns lets out a sigh of relief as Mocha whispers to her, moving up to pet her behind the ears as she wags her tail. She whispers back, "Okay okay, just wanted to make sure I didn't do too good a job, hehe!"

As she asks for a treat, she frowns, "Uh… hold on, maybe Spark won't mind if I let you have one of his?"

>>753079
Shorthorns stomps a hoof and nods towards Voyage, "And I will be an even braver and stronger go… gopher… gods," she says shaking her head, but grits her teeth. "Alright, 'three'!"
[1d10] Transforming into a gopher

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.753977

>>753079
"Communion certainly seems appropriate before a matter of great importance, I agree." Leather nods, turning to River, "We could scrub down the tile if you so desire, I do not mind a little manual labor."

 No.753978

>>753975
"We will make no headway in Tartarus by lying to one another," Holy Hours says. "She informed me I smelled strange. I informed her likewise."
"NO REMORSE. AS TO BE EXPECTED OF A CHORISTER!" Rooster says with a boisterous laugh. "YOU'D HAVE BETTER LUCK GETTING BLOOD FROM A STONE THAN APOLOGIES FROM HIM."

>>753976
Mocha rolls onto her back and wags her tail as she expects her treat.

>>753976
While Great Voyage becomes a mighty and colorful mallard… you become a little potato-like blob of fur and fat that approximates the figure of a gopher.
GV leers down on you from above, his beak turned upwards in a smug grin. "Pathetic."

>>753973
As the Ecclesians observe this manifestation of shaved ice, they start to line up, procuring cups from their bags so they can get some. The Spiders form up behind them, doing likewise. Gegenschein, who is up first, produces also a handful of coins. "How much do I owe you, good sir?" he asks KP.

>>753976
>>753975
>>753973
>>753977
River sighs. "Well, as long as there are blankets…"
"Blessed blankets," Ichimonji chimes in. "Even if we must eat in Tartarus, we shall have no concerns over contamination. I cannot say the same for if you choose to eat the food of the dead, however. Fables hold that to be a surefire way of ending up imprisoned."

"Say," Zjetya says. "If there's no objections, I'm gonna try to invite the rest of our group here."
"You think it wise to bring over the Witches of Gehenna as well?" River asks.
"I think that Mudi would be very sore if she learned she was being left out…" Busta says. "But, then again…"

You recall Buiwong's words from after Amy's ascension – his plan to defeat Mudi, by gaining her trust and friendship…
…all for the sake of betraying her.
Doctor Galton looks over at Busta… as does Mocha.

"Come now," Doctor Galton says. "You can't leave out one of our brave allies."
"How else are we supposed to unify if we can't even break bread together?" Mocha asks.

 No.753979

>>753978
>>753978
Shei-Sher picks up a large stone from the floor and begins squeezing it in one hoof

DARK.III
[1d10] To actually squeeze blood from a stone

He does this while holding intense eye contact with Holy Hours

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.753980

>>753978
Shorthorns digs through her saddle bag quickly before engaging in her challenge with Voyage to pull out a peppermint (from Spark's horde), offering it to Mocha IF she rolls over.

Following this, Shorthorns uses her divine powers to shapeshift herself into her rolley-polley gopher form, looking down at her pudgy mass in dismay while Duck Voyage looms over her. She grunts, leering at him. "Y-you're just mad cause I'm fluffier than you now, but looks aren't everything!"

True to a gopher's role, she starts to dig, and proceeds to use her magic to carve out an elaborate series of tunnel right into the floor of the structure they climbed up to get to the scrying-pool
[1d10] Digging

>>753978
Shorthorns pauses for a bit, contemplating the suggestion to bring the witches, before nodding her head. "I agree with Mocha. It's not fair to leave them out. Look to see if you can find them in the scrying pool, then let's invite them over for a break."

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.753982

>>753978
"A shame this dungeon likely has no natural game, I did take interest in hunting game for the carnivores and herbivores during the later months after the Firmament's breaking."

He takes to the scrying bowl, before pausing, "I would not be surprised if the Witches of Gehenna would have charms to prevent scrying, I wonder how strong the maze might be and if it can circumvent this." Leather peers into the scrying table, hoping to be a voyeur to the actions of the witches.

 No.753983

>>753975
>>753974

"Yeah!" Amy says from over Shei's shoulder. "You tell him!"

>>753978
>>753975

"There's a HUGE difference between saying someone smells strange and saying that they smell like-" Amy glances at Shei. "You know!"

 No.753984

>>753978
As everypony starts to line up, wanting to try KP's fancy treat, he happily starts to freeze up more fruits to prepare more.
>"Owe?"
KP asks, as if the concept is foreign to him.
>"We're all friends, you don't owe anything!"
He says as he prepares a cup of shaved ice for Gegenschein.

>>753978
"That is a good point. We wouldn't want any assumptions of deception to linger if we gathered all but a few. Let's get the last of them."
Pryce says in agreement, working with Zjetya to get portals open for the rest of the army that entered. He himself curious on what Sir Estuary has been up to during this all.

 No.753985

>>753983
>>753979
Holy Hours doesn't even blink as he holds your glare.

As you try to crush the stone, a cactus's worth of sharp pains radiate from your hoof, and you drop the stone involuntarily, as blood gushes from your hoof.

"Shishishishi!" the Fox laughs. "That's one way to do it…"

>>753980
You dig all the way to the base of the tower. Duck Voyage leers down at you from the top. "And what good is that, when I can do this?"

He leaps into the air, flapping his duck wings, and dive-bombs down toward you, as if you were no gopher, but a juicy looking fish.

[1d10+4] basic attack

>>753984
"A kind-hearted lad!" Gegenschein declares with a laugh. He then gives Pryce a coin. "But ensure he learns the value of quality service and goods."
Each Ecclesian and Spider also give Pryce a single coin for the shaved ice. A nice allowance for KP, perhaps.

>>753979
>>753980
>>753982
>>753984
Zjetya nods, and steps up to the scrying pool. She closes her eyes to concentrate…

First, she focuses on all the other Saviors. Scattered though they are, they seem to be doing alright, if a bit beaten up and weary from their travels and inquiries from the other alchemical dragons. Soon – Observer, Yes Mare, Blessings, Wireframe, Box, Mirror Image and Chorazin arrive in the tower's peak by portal.

"Huh, where's Flow…?" Zjetya asks.
"Oh, he and Renee wanted to hang out with their old pals, I think," Gadriel says.
"Got it, the Light Brigade," Zjetya says.

She concentrates again, this time conjuring the scarred demon hunters called the Light Brigade – with armor to rival even Cloak's. Out from the portal step Sir Estuary, Flow, Sister Renee, Zophie, Gjenganger, Eligos, Vitalya, and Hope.

Zjetya steps back, rubbing her head. Busta steps up. "Here, let me take over," he says, and Zjetya gladly obliges.

Busta looks at the murk of the scrying-pool, pausing before he speaks.

"Mudi."

As he speaks that word, the pool's image immediately flashes to that of Mudi the Young, looking up at the ceiling. Beside her stand Vizsla the Kind, Hurricanrana, Supper of Crows, and Desert Lamp. Busta presses the button, and a portal opens up in the corridor nearby. Without hesitation, Mudi walks towards it…

… And walks out onto the top of the tower, joining you.

"Busta," she says. "I thought I heard your voice."

Busta nods. "Yeah. Didn't want to leave you out."

Mudi looks over at the Ecclesians sitting down with their shaved ice, while Vortigern and Ichimonji pool together their more substantial foodstuffs.

"I see…" Mudi says. "Th-thank you."

Roll #1 1 + 4 = 5

 No.753986

>>753985
"Aaah!" Shei holds his wrist dramatically "Can you see it now! Holy Hours! Do you see how you wound me."

>>753985
>>753983
Hunched and cradling one arm in the other as it spills blood magnanimously onto the floor. Shei continues to guilt Holy Hours.
"First he abuses you Amy and now he draws blood among friends. Do not fault him Amy. He clearly resents us for having found love."

 No.753987

>>753985
>>753979

Amy maintains the glare as well. At least, until Shei's hoof starts bleeding. Then, she breaks character and grab's Shei's hoof. "Oh my goodness! Are you okay!?" she asks with concern.

She pulls a potion out of seemingly nowhere and shoves it in Shei's mouth. (Not actually rolling because there's not actually any damage.)

>>753985

"Hey! Everyone's here now!" Amy says happily. "I see you're doing alright, Moody," Amy says, giving her a hug.

 No.753988

>>753985
"I will."
Pryce says with a nod, looking over with a smile as KP whips up the desserts for everypony.


>>753985
>"Hey guys, we got snacks!"
KP shouts over to the portals as they open up to bring in the rest of the groups, making each of them a cup of shaved ice too.

Pryce steps to Zjetya's side after Busta takes over for her, putting a wing around her for comfort.
"You alright?"

 No.753989

>>753987
"Wait! I'm just ki-" Shei endures the potion lodged into his mouth.

 No.753990

>>753985
Shorthorns looks up and smugs a big, toothy-grin with her gopher teeth up at Voyage as she looks down at her master-piece, before gasping in surprise at seeing him dive into the hole at full speed. She narrows her glare, ready to meet his challenge head on. "Well rule number one of hunting, Voyage: be careful when you enter your prey's home!"

She quickly uses her magic to cover up the hole leading to her, making sure Voyage hits a (soft) dirty wall on impact instead of her
[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.753991

>>753985
"Hmm, what else is there here to serve, all I have brought are dried fruits."

 No.753992

>>753989
>>753986
>>753987
"Yes, I see. But time heals all wounds."

As Amy tries to administer her potion, she, in actuality, puts it back to… wherever it was that she just got it from. The rock flies back into Shei's hoof, as does all his blood. He and Amy walk all the way back to where they stood. Amy falls to the ground (as she did when Shei dropped her), then bounces, without impact, right back into Shei's arms.

.ssendas citamard htiw syas ehs "…desu …llems I dias eH" .ylgnisucca srouH yloH ot stnoip ymA

Before you can make sense of it all, Holy Hours is sitting with his companions, enjoying his shaved ice.

>>753988
Zjetya rubs her head. "Yeah… just a lot of people to keep track of."
"Just imagine how many more we'll recruit once we're done here," River says.
"They'd better not recruit any Umbrals down there…"

>>753990
With a considerable "BONK," Duck Voyage splats right into the dirt before he can dive-bomb you. With miniature ducks flying around his head, to symbolize his dazed state, he turns back into a buffalo, and rubs his head. "Hmph. I know a mage who would make mincemeat out of a gopher like you anyway. Just be glad I didn't recruit him into all this nonsense."

>>753991
>>753990
>>753988
>>753987
>>753986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXrlkEBhGWc

"Save your rations," Galton says to Cloak. "As I might have mentioned before, we have agreed to provide the food and drink for this expedition, as well as some small excess from which we will serve this potluck."

True, as she says, she and Viper produce from their bags of holding quite a many rations of dried and salted foodstuffs – meat for the omnivores, and fruit and vegetables for the herbivores. With Vortigern's help, they start to distribute the food to all gathered – first, to the Light Brigade, then to the Saviors, then at last, to the Spiders and to the Witches of Gehenna. Tantra and the Dragon manifest a small shrine to Buiwong, at which Galton lays his share of the potluck's food.

Uneasily, Mudi sits at the perimeter of the potluck, while Vizsla confidently sits with the Ecclesians. She tosses a flirty smile towards Hope, who simply stares back. Though his face is stoic, his eyes betray murder. Hurricanrana sits with the Spiders, while Supper of Crows looks like she doesn't know where to sit. Desert Lamp takes a seat near the Saviors. Busta comes and sits beside her.

"Anyone care to say a few words before I bless the food?" Gegenschein asks.

 No.753993

>>753992
>>753989

Amy blinks as she processes the reversed events. She sees Holy Hours has left.

"Yeah! You better run!" Amy says, shaking her hoof paw Holy Hours comically.

>>753992

"If I eat blessed food, will it hurt me?" Amy asks, genuinely concerned.

 No.753994

File: 1615348127833.jpg (15.56 KB, 422x237, Shei&AmyNow.jpg)

>>753992
>>753993
Shei spaces out for a bit, only after a moment does he realize what just happened. He squints his eyes menacingly toward Holy Hours as he speaks to Amy.
"Oooo-o-o-oh That bastard. Don't you worry Amy, we're gonna get him."

 No.753995

>>753993
>>753992
"A blessing over a meal is usually different from the process to create armaments such as holy water. They involve completely different prayers, with prayers before a meal usually being focused on good health rather then keep evil at bay."

 No.753996

>>753992
"It's hard to say on that, who knows if they'll run into old friends of Amy's."
Pryce comments on the Umbral recruitment.
KP levitates up a bigger serving of shaved ice for Zjetya.
>"Here, this should help the headache!"
He also carries one for River and Pryce as well.

As everypony gathers for the potluck, Pryce takes a seat between River and Zjetya, while KP goes to hang out with Spitshine and Sugar and the pets. Pryce also takes a few treats out for Lockjaw as well for behaving through the dungeon so far.

"Only that it is good to see we have all made it through this labyrinth in one piece thus far."
Pryce says as Gegenschein asks for words before the blessing.

 No.753997

>>753994

"If he's a bastard, shouldn't that be good for you," Amy laughs.

>>753995

Amy stares at Leather as he explains. A moment passes after he's done speaking. "I wonder what holy water would taste like to me," she wonders aloud.

 No.753998

>>753997
"Good question, a strong alcohol burns on it's way down, I wonder if it's like that without the alcoholic effect."

 No.753999

>>753992
As the dirt-wall comes up and Voyage's dive-bomb is stopped in its track, Shorthorns peeks her little gopher head out of the hole to giggle at his expense. "You know, if you're gonna hunt like a duck, you really should at least try to have gotten me to turn into a fish or frog at least. Silly."

She stays a gopher, pushing up her fur as she laughs. "This is really fun, actually, I didn't know being other animals could be so… weird, but neat!"

>>753992
Shorthorns transforms out of the hole to join with the others for the potluck as it begins, looking around as she realizes she has no food of her own to contribute. She sees if she can masterfully create fruits as she does vine, trying to grow a few barrel-fulls of corn for everyone to munch on
[1d10] Sprouting corn.

She looks at Mudi out on the edge, feeling quite apprehensive of her after their previous exchange but, swelling with confidence in her newfound godhood, nods at her to try and join with the rest of them. "No, please go ahead Gegenschein, thank you for offering your blessing."

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.754000

>>753992
"Ba-a-ah. Doctor Galton, I can't let Ecclessia take all the glory. Especially since it was my idea to have potluck."

Shei steps out to a clear flooring and drapes his cape to the side. He slowly pulls it backward revealing the contours of a fridge behind it. Then Shei Swiftly pulls his cape revealing the fridgerator. "Triangle, Bass, Violin, put down your plates you'll be helping me cook."

>"Anyone care to say a few words before I bless the food?"

"Why not Mudi? Her drive is what brought us here in the first place isn't it?"

 No.754001

>>753997
"A father never loves all his children." Shei shakes his head.

 No.754002

>>754001

"Spoken like a true god of bastards," Amy nods her head sagely.

 No.754003

>>753998

"Getting drunk off holy water sounds fun!" Amy laughs. "Like, the ultimate irony!"

 No.754004

>>754003
"Perhaps so ironic that it loops back around to being unironic, is partaking in holy matters the ultimate sin for demons?"

 No.754005

>>754004

"Nah," Amy says dismissively. "Getting drunk is a sin or whatever to them. Using holy water to sin is just like a big 'fuck you', and that's hilarious."

 No.754006

>>754005
"But does distilling holy water remove it's holy properties - I forget if there has been experimentation in holy fire bombs before."

 No.754007

>>753996
Zjetya gives KP a quick hug, and he feels something strange also – her fangs scratch the top of his head, pleasantly, like how a comb might feel. Lockjaw happily munches on his snack, while accepting some head-pats from Fox and Anzu.

>>753999
Voyage sticks his tongue out at you as he falls silent to listen to the potluck's opening words.

>>753993
>>753994
>>753995
>>753996
>>753999
>>754000
Corn manifests from between the gaps in the tower's stones, and Shei's band of Malakhim collect some to help cook some side-dishes for the meal.

Then, as Shei prods Mudi into giving some words, Gegenschein nods, and all eyes turn towards her.

Mudi frowns, then looks at Vizsla. Vizsla nods, gesturing for her to rise, and she does, looking like she lacks the confidence with which she presented her plans of world salvation some small few days ago. But, as she stands, the crystal ball atop her staff glows, and light flashes from it. As the light fades, several wisps of dark smoke, lit by glowing eyes, manifest beside her.

The Shades.

Blessings stands with a snarl, reaching for her sword-handle, but Mudi meets her gaze evenly. Grimacing, Blessings slowly sits back down.

"It might surprise you to hear that I'm not accustomed to giving grand speeches," Mudi says. "But I do intend to thank all of you for having prevailed thus far, and having put your trust in… well, if not in me, then at least in my plans. Frankly, it's a bit early for me to be saying this, as we have one final trial awaiting us before we can pass through the Great Seal. But… all of us gathered here today carry the hope of all mortalkind and demonkind upon our shoulders. A terrible burden to bear, isn't it? But one that only we are fit to carry."

"Hear hear," Gegenschein adds. "And may I add, the burden has found no worthier champions than all of us."

He grins, and extends his claws for Mudi to shake. Despite his hand being large enough to crush her head, she turns and accepts his shake.

Gegenschein turns back to you. "Now, how about some lovely music for atmosphere?" he asks. "Will all the musicians gathered please gather here."

 No.754008

>>754006

"I was thinking, like, if it just gets demons drunk because it's poisonous to demons. Then, it would even be more ironic because it's a sin that only demons can commit using the exact that that's supposed to hurt us."

 No.754009

>>754007

Amy smiles when she sees people getting along.

"Well said, Moody!"

When there is request for music, Amy dutifully produces Lumpet and steps forward.

 No.754010

>>754007
Shorthorns smiles as she looks at all the growing corn, greedily grabbing at one as she thinks to give it a taste to see how well she can make it. "Wow… I better not let the Clan know about this part, otherwise they'll never wanna harvest again!"

She nibbles on her corn before she sees the Shades popping out of her ball, looking to Blessings as she imagines the reaction she'll have to seeing them again. Remembering the tragic story of the shades, Shorthorns looks at them with trepidation as she hears Mudi begin to speak before Gegenshchein.

As she finishes, Shorthorsn can't help but smile at the encouraging words, not having really expected them from the witch. And it takes everything from her to stop herself from frowning, knowing what they were planning for her in Tartarus itself. She stomps a hoof in recognition of her words, "Here here!"

As they offer music to accompany the picnic, she looks over towards Shei, curious if that guitar he acquired as part of his transcendence was just for show or not.

 No.754011

>>754007
"Unless it will the songs being performed are hymns, I will respectfully pass."

Leather sits down and begins to write an account of the events of the maze thus far.

 No.754012

>>754007
KP laughs as he feels the fang scratch.
>"Heh, that tickles!"

Pryce looks over as Mudi stands to give a few words. When the shades are summoned, he does frown a bit, conflicting in if she's using them for confidence or support.
After she finishes, KP stomps his hooves in small applause in politeness.

 No.754013

>>754007
"Music? Cooking? The rest is more demanding than the dieing. bah. What to do, what to do…" Shei crosses his arms and clenches his eyes in thought "I've already committed to the cooking. Despite this, everyone know's who the real musicians are." He talks to himself.

Shei-Sher opens his fridge, and begins alchemizing replicas of his packed fridge. Meat, veggies, lots of varieties of things for the dish he has in mind.

>Dark.III, LIFE.II

[1d10] replicating food

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.754014

>>754012
"Oh!" Zjetya says, retracting her fangs. "Sorry, didn't mean to have those out."

>>754013
You turn yourself into a loaf of bread. Immediately, Fox runs over and picks you up. "Who's ready to break bread?" he asks the gathered warriors, motioning as if he were about to break you in half.

Ichimonji bonks him on the head with a sheathed katana, and he, grumbling, sets you back down.

>>754012
>>754011
>>754010
>>754009
Rooster, Gjenganger, Chorazin, Onion, Vortigern and Zjetya gather up front where directed by Gegenschein. Then, so do the Malakhim, once the initial preparations are made for the meals. And, at last, one of the Shades floats over as well.

>roll DC 8 spiritual perception


Rooster toots his trunk once, and with a puff of smoke, a full one-elephant-band harness and rig appear on his back and sides, complete with timpani, pipes, chimes, tambourines and cymbals. Other instruments appear before Zjetya, Vortigern, Chorazin and Gjenganger, while Onion tunes his guitar.

Meanwhile, Gegenschein bows his head, and floats a small distance overhead, his hands raised to bless the food and drink of which you are about to partake.

 No.754015

>>754014

[1d10] spiritual perception

Amy plays a nice accompaniment with the music. Though, she gets a little into it. Which either results in stealing the show or embarrassment.

[1d10+1] for best trumpeting!

>for some reason, I seem to remember Amy getting a +1 to music playing as a result of some practice


Roll #1 3 = 3 / Roll #2 3 + 1 = 4

 No.754016

>>754014
"It isn't easy being a comedian." Shei says to fox, choosing not to admit the imminent terror he felt about being snapped in half.

DARK.III LIFE.II
[1d10]Flee bread-dom, return to goat

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.754017

>>754014
[1d10] spiritual perception w/ Ecclesian training

Leather continues to calmly write about his encounters, waiting patiently for the meal to first be blessed.

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.754018

>>754014
Shorthorns looks through the food being put out on the blankets laid by Ichimonji, picking a spot and letting out Spark to go out and stretch his wings / socialize with everyone as she calls Patience Stone and Voyage over to join her, putting the food down on some nice clean plates on the blankets as she gets ready to listen to the show. As she sees the massive elephant put on so many instruments, she opens her eyes wide, whispering to Voyage, "W-wow… You think he's really good with THAT many instruments?"

[1d10] Spiritual Perception

>>754015
Shorthorns whistles loudly before Amy's even begun to play. "Wooo! Go Amy!"

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.754019

>>754014
>"You can retract those?"
"You can retract those?"
The Pryces say in unison, followed by a shared look.
>JInx!"
"Wha—"
>"Ah, no talking until somepony says your name!"
Kp says, cutting him off. Pryce opens his mouth, but the triumphant expression on KP changes his mind, closing with a shrug as he relents. KP then looks back to Zjetya.
>"Don't apologize, that felt nice!"


KP and Pryce looks up as the musicians gather up, watching in surprise as Rooster makes a full band on himself, and then other instruments for the rest.
Pryce's eyes shift to the Shade that floats over, still concerned over them being brought out.
>Spiritual Perception [1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.754020

>>754018
As you observe the Shade, you can discern a distinctive and peculiar shape in the mists comprising what remains of his soul… robes, filled with roots, twigs, and a flower crown, and some kind of stringed instrument… this Shade appears to be an Earthsinger.

>>754019
>>754018
>>754017
>>754016
>>754015
Gegenschein finishes his whispered prayer, and at last, brings his hands together in a single loud clap, after which they remain there in a gesture of prayer. The Ecclesians mimic this gesture, anda fter a moment to catch on, the Spiders, the Light Brigade, the Saviors, and, finally, the Witches of Gehenna all repeat it.

"Amen!" Gegenschein declares. "Now, no further fanfare! Let's eat!"

Rooster cues the band with his trunk to begin their play. Looks like they'll have to eat later. Gjenganger plays a magitech keyboard, Chorazin wields a mighty horn, Onion has his guitar, Vortigern a violin, Zjetya her voice, the Malakhim their triangle, bass and violin, and the Shade his peculiar stringed instrument.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3tsFR2dDx0

A tune with groove, mixed with a splash of funk, fills the dark garden. Amy… is alright. Just alright. Perhaps that is a worse outcome than abysmal or incredible.

>Feel free to speak with any NPC or PC at your leisure. This can continue for as long as the players wish.

 No.754021

>>754020
"Agape!" Gegenschein declares. "Now, no further fanfare! Let's eat!"

 No.754022

>>754020
Shei tries again with the fridgerator's contents. Grabbing hold of the edges with both hooves focusing. He makes some grand gestures as no one pays him any mind and finishes with actually exercising his will.

DARK.III LIFE.II
[1d10] making food, making food lalala

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.754023

>>754020
>>754018

Amy stops playing to join the rest in eating. She grabs whatever meat there is and chows down in the nearest free seat to Flaming.

"I was just kinda getting in their way musically," Amy says between bites. "I guess that's what I get for not practicing more."

 No.754024

>>754022
You make a small helping of seconds. Hopefully not too many of the gathered are big eaters, but the Ecclesians have already proven that they are. Even now you can see them putting away great portions of food with little trouble.

 No.754025

>>754020
Shorthorns takes a look at the Shade as it moves up besides the group, playing along side them as they all provide their food with a great deal of merry accompaniment. As she nibbles on a sandwich and slurps up some tea to go with it, she looks towards Blessing, flickering he ears down as she remembers the unfortunate circumstances between her and Mudi.

She turns to Voyage and asks, "Hey… do you think with our powers, we could… is bringing the dead back to life something even a god can do?"

 No.754026

>>754020
Leather gets up to serve himself a somewhat sizeable portion of food, approaching River. "Do you mind if I sit and talk? I know we have been allied for a little bit now but I am curious to hear about your time since the fall of the Firmament. We have all had to walk strange paths."

 No.754027

>>754020
Pryce brings his hooves together after the Ecclesians, with KP following shortly after.

As the music begins and the food is good to eat ,KP goes over to Spitshine and Sugar with his snacks.
>"So what was your part of the maze like? We had a ton of puzzles to go through."

Pryce, meanwhile, enjoys the music, and takes a bite of food, content. And then looks to River, still abided by the rules of jinx KP pushed on him.

 No.754028

>>754024
Shei-Sher slams the fridge shut
"Vexing, whining, Damnable evocations! I command yee! On the dominion of Bastards and Kids! Let loose your vaults heaven!! Give forth larders for dragons! Thee Excess of kings! Let Mithrus' leg's quake, Stir Sedroth to blush, Give us a taste of life and Death!"

He sets back in a stand and points his hoof as though commanding lightning to strike. He demands the fridge pour out tremendous stores of food

DARK.III LIFE.II
[1d10] GIVE ME THE FOOD

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.754029

>>754023
>>754025
Voyage shakes his head with a frown. "No, not under most circumstances. Lord Buiwong… came up against this problem many, many times in the past. A god can reincarnate someone as a demon, or an angel, but not as they once were. Or, you could try to force a soul back into its own body… but death irrevocably damages body and soul both, and it only lasts a short while."

River nods. "One of my good friends, Buiwong tried to bring back with that method… alas, it was all too brief, before he was gone again. But, it is strange… I have heard that the truest art of necromancy – a genuine resurrection – is an art open only to mortalkind. I do not know why that would be the case, when it be forbidden to gods."

>>754026
River nods, scooching over to provide you room. "Of course. I will tell what I can."

>>754027
"A lot of puzzles for us too," Sugar says. "We ended up helping more than we thought we would. it seemed like we kept getting stuff that couldn't be solved with any kind of combat. Miss Anzu and Freischutz were getting really annoyed toward the end there."
"Well, not entirely," Spitshine adds. "We had a share of combat too. My guess is that the dungeon figures out what you're good at, somehow, and what you're not so good at. Then it pushes you to get better at the weaker stuff."
"Ooh, same with us," another voice says. It is the Lion, who, in a fashion similar to Amy, is an earth pony at first glance, only he has the mane and paws of a lion. "But… I don't know if it worked right in our case. Me and Gegenschein pretty much… stomped our way through most of it."
"I'd almost had those math puzzles solved," says the Monkey. "Until you lot got impatient."

>>754028
You make some sauces and condiments. Vizsla comes over, providing buckets of ice cubes. "For the drinks," she says by way of explanation.

Even the buckets are made of ice!

 No.754030

>>754029
>>754025

"Resurrection like with all the old memories and everything?"

 No.754031

>>754029
>"Really? Huh. We had a a room of cursed gold, and a ball game, and a room of trapped doors. But I think we were all good with sports, and moving around traps…"
KP mutters in thought.
>"Do you think the dungeon was calling us impatient?"

 No.754032

>>754029
Leather bows slightly and sits next to River, eating with pauses to speak, "I was curious as to the philosophy of Buiwong and their teachings from before these times - the world is not as strictly black and white as I once saw it, I mostly wish to come to terms with my past and better learn from those I interacted with."

 No.754033

>>754029
Shei mock coughs "Ahem. Vizsla- you love torturing yourself. Have you ever considered becoming a god."

Shei-Sher begins setting up the ingredients, fire and a hobo stove. When the Malakhim come to help Shei shoos them away "Ba-ah, go eat, go. I have this covered."

He begins making stir fry, just enough to serve the people playing music. And to also feed The Bodhidharma in his lantern.

>Please don't make me roll for cooking

 No.754034

>>754030
"Exactly like what I was thinking," Shorty answers. "Just the way they were before they died, not as something else that just looks like it."

>>754029
>>754030
"I see…" Shorthorns says as she looks out at the Shade again. "The only thing that could pull it off is a mortal, huh? I guess I missed the boat then. I was… kind of hoping with all these new powers I'm learning about, maybe I could do something for them too. For both Blessing and Mudi's sake, but, I guess if it were that easy they'd have done something else for them. It'd make the way going forward easier too knowing we could fight death itself."

Shorthorns frowns, "Sorry to hear that about your friend, River. I hope their soul is at peace now, at least."

 No.754035

>>754030
>>754034
"As do I," River says.
"Ecclesia is in possession of two of the five living beings in this world capable of performing a perfect resurrection," Monkey mentions off-handedly. "Under the right conditions, that is."
The others nearby blink in stunned silence.

>>754033
"Why would I?" Vizsla dismisses. "I really can't think of anything I would gain from divinity, especially when I have my own beloved god… perhaps we may see him anon."

You cook some excellent stir fry (describe at your leisure).

>>754031
Lion thinks about it for a moment. "Hrm… it could just be trying to get you to loosen up before the main event. After all, that all sounds pretty fun."
"Fun, but dangerous," Anzu says. "Some last-minute unwinding could have been the aim, but a reminder of what awaits, to temper your mirth."
Blessings looks over at Pryce, arching a brow as she notes his prolonged silence. "What's got your tongue, all of a sudden?"

>>754032
"Philosophy and teachings, eh?" River repeats. "It was hardly what you'd call scriptural or doctrinal, nor even coherent or non-contradictory. A paradigm of strength and the will, above all else. Perhaps his aim was to be as antithetical to the Union as possible. Any who had the will and the power could make his own world, or so they claimed. It was hardly individualistic, however. Buiwong never eschewed the strength of the masses; like all gods, he depended on them, and so he made the outcast and the fringes of Accorsian societies his people. Dissident sects, the unorthodox, the marginal… those at the bottom of the Accorsian hierarchies, he sought to bring together… and put at the bottom of his own hierarchy, with he and his pseudo-allied fallen gods at the top."

She pauses to have some of her shaved ice. "That's all very general, I know. Was there something specific I could elucidate?"

 No.754291

>>754035
KP thinks on their interpretations of the games.
>"Yea, that makes some sense. All the dragons so far have basically wanted us to be super focused on the mission… So having a little break before you can't have any distractions sounds like good prep."

Pryce looks to Blessings as she comments on his silence. He opens his mouth, then shuts it. Instead, he points to his mouth, then over to KP.

 No.754292

>>754035
As Monkey mentions there are people in Ecclessia fully capable of performing a full resurrection, Shorthorns is likewise stunned, taking a break from listening the the performance to look at Monkey. "R-really?! Who? How, what 'conditions' would they need? I guess it has to be insanely difficult, right, have they done any before?"

 No.754293

Last time, on HolyQuest…

Every member of the Tartarus expedition team gathered for an impromptu potluck and meet-and-greet so that they could all get to know each other before the final struggle to bring peace to the northwest.

>>754291
"Oh, he's got you under a curse, does he?" Blessings asks, though you're unsure how genuine she's being. "Don't worry, I can exorcise it."

She draws her sword handle, but instead of its ghostly, spectral blade, a small flame emanates from the opening. "Now, then, Pr– hrm?"

Blessings stops when River takes hold of her arm. A deliciously evil smile spreads across River's face.

"Oh, dear," Blessings says. "Now that, I can't exorcise."

>>754292
"So long as body and soul are both present, it is possible," Monkey says. "But, I only brought it up because it was relevant to your conversation just now. We'll be discussing it in more detail just prior to our entry into Tartarus, so I'll hold my tongue until then. Watch this space, as they say."
Voyage clicks his tongue. "Ending it on a cliffhanger, I see…"
"To keep the reader coming back, you must always leave them wanting more," Monkey answers.

 No.754294

>>754035
Shei chops up some bell peppers and chime. He makes a sauce from oyster juice, milk, and cumin and douses the stir fry in it. Moving the wok over his hobo stove to flip beef, bean sprouts, celery and potatoes into the air.

The food sizzles delightfully each time it lands back on the wok.

"In mine, and I imagine most people's upbringing you're under the impression the gods are something ascendant of mortals. -Better put that mortals are descendant from divinity I know.." He says the last sentance as though to correct himself. "but then I look at Mudi, and I look at Pryce, and I look towards people like myself. And I wonder how the heavens does not quiver in fear. How the gods and angels can dream peacefully, knowing there are these teeming hordes of mortals. If just willing could twist their spirit into a lance to rival longinus. And I think again what stops all of mortalkind from upending the cosmos and sending the tides of fate back on the divine. And then I think again that Mortals are not above or below anything, but something of it's own species and with my own inkling of godhood I only feel more as a servant to the teeming hordes than I do their master -Servanthood, which has always been my occupation.

 No.754295

>>754035
>>754293

Amy mulls over this information as she passively chews on some food. "But, like, how would that work? Would you just be like a talking baby?"

 No.754296

>>754293
Pryce raises his hooves, ready to mime his way to clarify it's not that serious of a curse. But when River stops Blessings, Pryce looks to her as if he's been deeply betrayed. After a pause, he nods his head, in a sense of understanding no help is to be found here. He stands, walking over to Zjetya when the musicians break to eat. He gives her a nudge, gesturing to his mouth.

KP snickers after River stops Blessings from saying Pryce's name.
>"Wow, that was a strong play River."

 No.754297

>>754293
Shorthorns lets out a breath, "Well, you succeeded: I absolutely do want to hear more. I guess i'll just have to wait until we get closer to the entrance," she pauses, looking around before whispering, "Can you tell me 'why' you'll be discussing it in more detail then, at least? Does it have something to do with Tartarus?"

 No.754298

>>754035
"Collecting the disillusioned and those put down by the then existing hierarchy and uniting them to replace the tyranny of the 'big shots' and flip the tables, I can see why ponies would attach to his beliefs. I cannot speak ill of his idea of flipping the hierarchy of being contricitory and marginalizing a different class of people in exchange without noting my own contradictions between my actions and the beliefs taught by Hypomone. While they certainly were not one of the most popular of the gods themself, I know they prefered I would've waited before deciding to make enemies of Buiwong."

He pauses as well to eat, letting there be a pregnant pause. "What you went through, really. I want an understanding of stories from all sides of things."

 No.754299

>>754294
"A servant, eh…?" Vizsla repeats. "How appropriate then, that you sought divinity, and obtained its spark. That's what your gods are after all – slaves to the last of them. An unsuitable horde of slaves hold the keys to the heavens in this age. So, I've never cared for them. You might say I am more admiring of the classics. Small wonder that this age's gods conspired to drag the old gods from their astral thrones, and turn the old majesties of the heavens into naught but a decadent riot."

She shrugs. "Yet, you think those slave-gods do not cower from us? Answer then, why those who still reside in this world remain in their heavens – and why so many other gods fled with your empire's Devas."

>>754297
"Because it is in everyone's interest to know of a failsafe in case they perish," Monkey continues. "You wouldn't want their focus and will to be swayed by fears of death, lest it endanger the whole mission. Now, let me enjoy my shaved ice."

>>754295
"That's reincarnation," Lion says. "Resurrection is just getting back up after you died, as if all that blood was just tomato soup and it was all for pretend."

>>754296
Zjetya sits with Vortigern and Mocha, eating some fruit, and yet her voice continues to fill the area. You see that all the musicians have, in fact, stopped playing in order to go get food, yet the music continues. Their instruments float there in space, playing automatically. Most likely, another of Rooster's powers.

"Hungry, hon?" Zjetya asks. She spears some fruit on her fork, then holds it up to feed you.
Vortigern and Mocha laugh.

>>754296
"A magician like him needs to be good at improv," River says. "And the audience always loves when a performer acts with restrictions. Makes things interesting."

>>754298
"How far back should I go?" River then asks. "From street orphan to mad doctor, to world-destroyer, to world… I cannot say that I am worthy of the title 'Savior' or 'redeemer' or anything like that, just yet. Not until it is accomplished. Even then, the credit will go to you folk. Well, pick a time period."

 No.754300

>>754299
Pryce looks at the instruments, peculiar that they continue with nopony playing. Though, after Rooster's introduction when they met before, it's not surprising he would have a power like this.
When Zjetya assumes he's hungry, Pryce shrugs, shaking his head. He gestures to his mouth, points over to KP. Then he points to her mouth then back to his.
When Vortigern and Mocha laugh, he rolls his eyes.

>>754299
>"Yea, this would get real fun back when I was travelling with my family. Well, except for whenever Clear got jinxed. He was the silent type already so he had no issue with it. He'd even flip it and make it hard for us to [i]un/i]jinx him."

 No.754301

>>754299

"Oh yeah, didn't Pryce say he did that one time?" Amy asks conversationally.

 No.754302

>>754299
Shorthorns nods to Monkey, "Okay, okay! I'll elt you get back to your treat, I could use some myself."

Standing up from the blanket, she heads over to wherever some more sweet, dessert-ish items could be found, thinking she use a bit more sugar for energy. "Not having to worry about dying 'would' be a plus… though, now that I'm a god, I wonder if I can really 'die' die."

 No.754303

>>754299
"Nor do I think you are worthy of the title of world-destroyer, River. If you are to say your role was as significant to garner the role, then so too could you label the prior existing pantheon all as world-destroyers now, if you forgive my sacrilege." Leather chuckles, "Again, I have been trying to eschew the binaries of blame as of late. While I have no experience myself, many of my brothers and sisters in the Legionem had similar upbringings or lack thereof, so you have my sympathies. How does one erm… become a 'mad' doctor as you say?"

 No.754304

>>754299
"Vah!" a chuckle bursts from Shei. He begins serving the food he cooked on individual plates for those playing music.

"Then maybe I was more wrong than I thought and the many divinites ran for the hells as soon as the firmanent broke. Knowing there was nothing to imprison us now save for Metatron. Would I like to know…" He sighs "It's that exact servantness is why I'm likely not going to return from this expedition. If I could, I lend my case for Mortality's spiritual individuality and help them to master themselves. I don't have as puerile dreams of domination like you or your sister over there. But the new world will need a guardian for bastards and kids."


Shei takes a bell out from his cape and rings it "Food's ready! Something special for everyone playing music! C'mon on and rest!"

 No.754305

>>754304
>Ran for the hells
Ran for the hills

 No.754306

>>754300
"So you wanna kiss, huh, babe?" Zjetya asks. "Well don't be shy, just come and take it."
"You're so meaaaan!" Mocha laughs.
"She's just getting started," Vortigern observes.

>>754300
"Clear?" River asks.

>>754301
>>754302
Every Ecclesian looks your way, from Anzu to Living Saint Zoantharia.

Lion blinks. "Say again?"

>>754303
River snorts. "For economic reasons. In my youth I lived in alleyways and city outskirts, condemned districts and ghettos. The pack of outcasts I ran with had copious need of medical assistance, and so, following our break-in of the city's chirugeon's guild, I learned their healing arts myself. Of course, when learning any magical art, there are always bound to be mishaps and mistakes – much more dramatic in outcome when one is practicing healing magic. A few limbs not set right, an ear twisted this way or that… of course, normally the chirugeon's guild would settle such matters in a court of law. But, because I was not affiliated with their guild, they couldn't stop me – not through typical means, of course. When I ignored their cease-and-desist letters, then came hired thugs. When I eluded them, they went after my reputation. To be fair, much of their stories about me came from true events… of course, magnified several times over through hyperbole."

>>754304
Vizsla pauses, then laughs, and laughs some more after that.

Only after her cheeks are full red from the laughing does she stop.

"Oh… oh, dear. What a coincidence."

>>754300
>>754301
>>754302
>>754303
>>754304
As another course gets served, the expedition members line up, organized by faction, to get their helpings. Pretty much all the food served earlier is basically gone, the plates all but licked clean.

 No.754307

>>754306

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I remember someone saying something like that once…"

>>754306

Amy licks the plates clean.

 No.754308

>>754307
Holy Hours approaches, and hands you a caller conch.

 No.754309

>>754308

Amy takes it and looks at Holy Hours with confusion.

 No.754310

>>754306
>>754307
As Shorthorns grabs a few sweet-cakes to tide her over with a healthy supply of cream and sugar, as well as grabbing a few more treats for Spark and Mocha-Husky, she turns and looks at all the Ecclesians staring at Amy.

"Pryce said he did it once…? I'm not sure I've heard that. Does this have something to do with the Ember?"

 No.754311

>>754306
Shei's face slightly goes wry as Vizsla's laughing rubs him the wrong way. He stands quickly "You may be my elder but I'm not above hitting a woman." He snarks as he interprets her laughter at his expense.

But then Shei-Sher is overwhelmed by the folks crowding his mess station "Hay! Hay now- Meals were made for the musicians here! -baa-a-a-ah whatever I don't care." he fidgets his hooves at them but inevitably Shei gives in the appetite of the teeming masses.

He hurries to prepare a plate for Bodhidharma and puts it aside for him. Sitting the Angel's Witching lantern somewhere scenic beside his plate for him to eat.

 No.754312

>>754310

"I never remember details. I just remember asking someone once why he has wings."

 No.754313

>>754309
"Answer it," Holy Hours commands. "Because I called it."

Cruel snickering comes from the many Spooks. All the Choristers lightly bop their respective Spooks over the head at such a childish display.

 No.754314

>>754306
Leather also parties in the mild, morbid mirth, snickering, "Nor was I especially on the side of the law as an assassin, so we are kindred there. Making ends meet far surpassed the highest of scruples, and I am sure the people who you treated came to you not out of your coercing but because they were not able book or afford the more traditional medical services. Mad would be a misnomer, untrained was fair. So you were offered a way out of this infamy then, or were you… indoctrinated? That's not an especially good word but I'm failing to find a better one so apologize. Perhaps recruited?" He mumbles, before clearing his throat, "Recruited in a different matter or situation?"

 No.754315

>>754313

Amy looks down at the conch in confusion.

"Kinda symbolic," Amy shrugs. "Cause you obviously haven't called it."

 No.754316

>>754306
Pryce's face flushes red, clearing his throat from Zjetya's statement. He opens his mouth, mime-ing out silent speech. He then points ot KP, then draws an X over his mouth. He then points to Zjetya, then points to himself while mime-ing speech again.

>>754306
>"Oh, that's my oldest brother. He liked to do all those mind tricks and such, like reading and guessing. That's what made it so hard sometimes, cause he'd always know what you're about to say."

KP listens on as River tells Leather about her past as a mad doctor.
>"What were some of the stories?"
He asks curiously.

 No.754317

>>754311
Vizsla rolls up the sleeves of her kimono. "Square up, bitch."

"Vizsla!" Mudi shouts. "Stop that, we're going to be working together, what good will it–"

Vizsla completely disregards her sister's ongoing protests.

>>754314
"Simply imprisoned, once an official bounty was put out, and competent bounty hunters came a-looking. My only regret was that I could not get the price any higher before they caught me. But, as for indoctrination – I don't know what their plans were. They failed to do anything more than capture me, for someone broke me out soon after I'd been apprehended – Sardonyx Emblem. Do you recall her?"

>>754316
"C'mon, love, I'm not a psychic, what's on your mind?" Zjetya continues.
"She's just spelling it out for him now," Vortigern observes.

>>754315
By the time you make your retort, Holy Hours is already back in line. The Spooks, despite the disciplinary measures applied (Gegenschein had to bop Rooster), are clearly still amused.

>>754307
>>754310
>>754316
>>754314
>>754311
"Sir Pryce," Gegenschein says as he takes a plate from Shei. "Once you are quite finished eating, I believe Doctor Galton would like to ask you a few questions."
"Most certainly," Galton says. "Please, cease that game and come sit with us."
Eventually, the expedition members are back sitting where they were, having gotten their second plates.

Voyage takes an extra plate, and sets the plate down in front of Buiwong's makeshift shrine. The plate that Shei put in front of the Bodhidharma is already empty by the time he looks back at it. Gegenschein seems to have taken an extra plate, as well.

>>754316
River pats your head. "I'd prefer not to recount them."

>>754315
You notice that Supper of Crows is still standing, with both her first and now her second plates stacked up with each other. She hasn't sat down this entire time, you realize.

 No.754318

>>754316
River blinks. "Only now do I realize how precious little I know of Pryce's old family. How… how fare they, do you know?"

 No.754319

>>754317

Amy bounces over to Supper, who she doesn't know basically at all. "Hey! Why aren't you eating?" she asks with concern.

 No.754320

>>754317
"Many of my memories are vague, but I recall at least one encounter. Go on?"

 No.754321

>>754319
She looks like she's on the verge of tears.

 No.754322

>>754317
>>754316
Shorthorns flattens her ears, looking at Pryce. "Sorry if we just got you into some trouble, Sir Pryce: I really was curious myself but I didn't think it'd cause a stir like that."

As Voyage grabs a second plate of food, she looks at Buiwong's shrine with slight contempt, but does a great job of hiding it as she takes her plate over to sit with him. "Did you make that?" She asks, pointing to the shrine.

 No.754323

>>754317
Shei hurries back from setting the plate for Bodhidharma and see's Viszla in fighting pose. Shei snaps his hooves and instantly appears in gi pants and a black t-shirt with torn sleeves displaying the words 'Fight Club' on it's chest

"What the hell is it with elderly witches and martial arts!" Shei says incredulously as he readies into a fighting stance

Shei's cape flows upward and then splits into two wings slamming the the air beside him. Shei jumps into the air and tests a hoof strike toward Mudi's chin.
>(RACIAL)Highlander: passive; You naturally adapted to the conditions of mountainous areas. Cold damage is reduced by 1 (minimum of 1 damage). Rolls affected by Goatcraft are automatically successful in mountainous terrain. Your attacks made from high ground receive a +1 bonus.
>(RACIAL)Griffon Flight: Griffons can fly, and have a +1 bonus to divebomb attacks from high altitude. This is about as taxing as running at full speed.

[1d10+2]

Roll #1 1 + 2 = 3

 No.754324

>>754317
Pryce sighs. He points to his mouth, draws his hoof over his throat, then points between their mouths frantically.
When Gegenschein says his name, Pryce turns. "Questions? What of?" He asks, seeing a second serving of food has been prepared. He looks back to Zjetya, silent a moment.
"…Were you playing dumb or doing that on purpose?"
He asks, before getting food before it is all taken and joining Galton for the questions.

>>754317
KP smiles at the head pats.
>"Any nice stories from your past then?"

>>754318
>"He hasn't seen then since he left to train as a knight. But! I know they're ok. We used to travel all over, so they would've gotten to somewhere safe real quick."
KP says with confidence, despite it being clear he has no idea how they are.

 No.754325

>>754323
[redact]
Meant to say he hits Vizsla's chin

 No.754326

>>754322
"Got me in trouble for what?"
Pryce asks with concern.

 No.754327

>>754321

Amy is completely taken off guard by the welling of tears. The sudden influx of emotions causes Amy to tear up as well.

"Oh my goodness, what's wrong!?" Amy asks, giving Supper a hug.

[1d10] for good hug!

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.754328

>>754320
"It was she who recruited myself and Shining Light to join her and Tantra in Buiwong's crusade. Of us, only Tantra was a true believer, and him, only for the divine violence. As for the rest of us, our aims were purely cynical and self-centered, but it was what we had to do to survive where we were."

>>754322
"Yup!" Voyage says. "Carry it wherever we go. For him, taking an incarnate form is a bit like being on fire from the left side of his face, all the way down. It's been like that ever since the Devas defeated…"

The shrine smolders with black flames.

"Err… escaped from his divine wrath," Voyage quickly corrects.

The shrine stops burning.

>>754323
You punch clean through Vizsla's face, all the way out the back of her neck… only for copious blood to flow down your arm, as your veins are shredded by razor-sharp fragments of ice.

>Shei loses 10 Hits


With half a face, Vizsla grins, and raises her hoof to your side…

[1d10+8]

Hope stands, as does Hurricanrana, and Volkama. All of them have their eyes glued to the battle.

>>754324
"River let me in on what happened," Zjetya says. "If I'd had it my way, you wouldn't have said another word until you got it out of me."
"Is that what this 'Monster Island' game is about?" Vortigern asks.

>>754324
"You and Pryce," River says, tickling KP's ribs with her wing-tip. She looks on with concern about Pryce's lost family, but only nods. "Then, I will have faith as well."

>>754324
"The nature of your death and resurrection," Galton says. "You know, saying that to the wrong person would get you headhunted by some very unsavory characters indeed. It's a good thing you've made friends with us, indeed. So, tell me – how came you by this miracle?"
Chorazin laughs.

>>754327
"I – I don't know how I got myself wrapped up in this whole mess… Viz– Vizsla just came to me and said they wanted my help but before I could ask what was going on I was already fighting alongside them and all my demons were getting stronger and that just made them want my help even more and… and… I don't even know anyone here… I'm tired… I wanna go home… I'm allergic to people…"

Supper talks through her sniffles.

"Th-there there," Mudi stammers. "Amy, why don't we sit over here?" she asks, getting up and going slightly down the staircase of the tower to get more room away from the fight and all the other expedition members.

Roll #1 4 + 8 = 12

 No.754329

>>754326
"For mentioning what Amy was talking about. It seemed to make everyone in Ecclesia a little shocked, I'm hoping they're not going to, you know, interrogate you about it or anything."

>>754328
Shorthorns smirks as she sees the shrine light up in black-flames as Buiwong clearly takes issue with Voyage's exact 'phrasing' of that statement, before turning to him and nodding her head in understanding. "I see. That's neat. I never would have thought to carry around an idol of Vir-can. If I had, maybe I could have asked for his blessings more often."

She sits down besides him, looking at the shrines. "…do you think buffalo will make shrines for us too? And like, pray to them and everything? Would we hear it?"

 No.754330

>>754328
Shei pulls out his arm from Vizsla's face very disturbed at the tearing pains coming from his arm as he slides it out.

He looks at it, wrist to fist covered in blood and cuts. And He looks at her with an expression that says -really?- And then begins laughing comically "Fair skies Vizsla, I expected you to cheat, but I didn't expect you to cheat that much."

Shei-Sher throws her a disabling strike to her Stomach, knocking the time right out of her.

>Can I Borrow This?: Instant; Recharge 3(minus 1); Ranged; On success, you steal 1 of the target's chances to act next turn, completely stunning them if they can only take 1 action per turn. Next turn, you can use this stolen action in addition to your normal ones.

[1d10] To punch the time out of her

Shei mostly imitates a fighting form he's glanced off Flow. He attempts to block her jab to his side.
[1d10]

"Fine be it, I will conquer with only my hooves! Serving you the ultimate defeat." He says as he struggles

Roll #1 7 = 7 / Roll #2 2 = 2

 No.754331

>>754328
Leather nods slowly, "What are your thoughts on the gods? Your personal beliefs and faith rather? Now and then both if they've changed, I'm curious."

 No.754332

File: 1615953281347.png (72.43 KB, 339x321, cheeky.png)

>>754330
[forgot to post this]

 No.754333

>>754328
"You two are truly dastardly," Pryce says in a light tone when Zjetya reveals the plot. "I almost feel bad that Gegenschein stepped in before I could get you to spill."

"No, this was me being jinxed by KP," Pryce explains to Vortigern.

>>754328
>>754329
Pryce takes a bite of a biscuit, having picked more basic and filling foods from the second spread.
"Oh, that," Pryce says, sounding relived when Galton rebeals it's about his resurrection. "Don't worry Flaming, it's fine."
Pryce looks back to Galton. "When the Rapture happened, things looked grim up on Providence and Prominence. In desperation, I jammed the Ember of Jalandhara onto my horn to try and absorb it all. It… didn't work out at all. From what I recall, it erased me entirely. I can't even describe how I came back from that with only a burn to show for it," Pryce says, pointing to the black ring on his horn. "There's really not much to it. A miracle is the only way to describe it."

>>754328
KP laughs as River tickles him.
>"And Zjetya!"
KP adds in.

 No.754334

>>754328

>>754328

Amy keeps holding Supper gently but with a tight grip. Until she says that she's allergic to people, then, Amy lets Supper go and looks at her. "Wait, like literally?" she asks with concern.

"Yeah, let's go over here with Moody," Amy says to Supper. "You know Moody, right?"

"And, my name is Amy by the way. I don't think we've actually met. But, you know ME now! That's good, right?"

"What's your name?"

 No.754335

>>754331
"I suppose I'm… still sorting that out. The things we saw at Regina's tower in particular… they made me question what a god is, to begin with, much less if they are truly a thing of worship. Were you there for that?"

>>754329
"If their faith was genuine, I would imagine so," Voyage says, drifting off in thought. "Hey… can you imagine what hearing a prayer's going to be like? All those… all those private fears and wants."
"Get ready to hear some beautiful and dark things," Tantra says. "Just think about everything we've prayed for."

>>754330
Gegenschein looks over at Holy Hours, who nods. "It's going to get ugly in a moment. She knows no restraint," Holy Hours says.
"Then proceed."
"Time has stopped," Holy Hours says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyo4vEEVqsY

For an instant, everything stops. Then, in the next, you and Vizsla are standing apart. Hurricanrana holds her from behind, his arms hooked around hers to keep her from moving. Vizsla struggles, kicking at the air as she plainly wishes to continue the fight… but both her wounds and yours are completely gone.

>>754333
"Hrm… if this is what you get up to, I'll have to show my husband as well," Vortigern says. "He's always had a thing for sport and mischief."

"So, it isn't something you can do on command, nor invoke for others?" Galton asks.

>>754333
"Yeah, you can't leave me outta this!" Zjetya teases River.

"I was getting to– EEEEE!" River squeals, when Zjetya starts to tickle her too.

>>754334
Supper stammers through every one of your questions, unable to answer a one. Yet, you continue to ask them. It's not as if you intend to talk over her or ignore her (unless of course, that actually was your intent). It's more like – you ask, then continue to talk, as if her stammering was an expected and acceptable answer, thus prompting the next question. It's a bizarre phenomenon, one you only seem to grasp when thinking about it after the fact.

"S-supper of Crows," she says, eventually. "It's what everyone calls me."

"I had no idea your recruitment was like that," Mudi says as she gestures for Supper to sit (which she does, stiffly and awkwardly, as if falling). "Did… did you still want to go home?"

"N-no, it's fine…" Supper says. "It's not like I have much better to do. Plus my demons wanna go in too…"

 No.754336

>>754335

Amy frowns. "Tartarus isn't a place you go to because 'you have nothing better to do'. ANYTHING is better. Take it from me. I spent 2000 years there."

Amy's own voice wavers as she says that last sentence. She spaces out for a second, but presently recollects herself. "I don't want to scare you worse. You're so amazing and brave for coming here, but…"

Amy looks around at the dinner happening nearby. Then, she looks back at Supper. "Not everyone here is actually going INTO Tartarus. Some are going to fight the demons that come out and make sure they don't get by. You wanna help them with that?"

 No.754337

>>754335
Shorthorns turns to Tantra, nodding as she considers it. "When we met Shei's teacher, Crowley, he looked like what I imagine the worst case situation for a god can be… being to enveloped by a concept, taking TOO much in, and having to burden all of it because that is the role of a god, to shoulder everything."

"When we visited Fantasia, we told them that they could place their faith in us as gods, but the reality of what that all means… I can only hope I'm ready for it. I want to be the kind of god to be able to answer every single prayer I hear but, I know that's not possible."

She sighs. "It's just a big deal when you really think about it, having shrines like these. So," she says, "when you're finally having people whisper to you by their bedsides, do you think you'll still pray to Buiwong too?"

 No.754338

>>754336
After more stammering, Supper finally stops crying, at least briefly. "N-nah, if nothing else, the pay's pretty good…"
"Vizsla…" Mudi spits with a glower. "My apologies that my sister took advantage of you so."

 No.754339

>>754335
"You've never heard of Jinx before? Huh, I thought it was a common game," Pryce comments as Vortigern mentions bringing the concept back home.

Pryce shakes his head.
"Unfortunately not. It was an exception to even my situation. Even so, the Ember is all spent up now."

>>754335
KP laughs as Zjetya gets into to turn the tides on River. He too jumps in, tickling River as well.
"Yea, we're all a family now. No leaving anypony out!"

 No.754340

>>754335
"I did not attend, as I felt I have no place in pursuing that line of… empowerment. I have a wife and children on the way, while I do not doubt belief can empower people in supernatural ways alongside ritual and the like, my place is firmly put in the mortal realm." He nods again, "But I understand, it is a mark of wisdom that you do not blindly believe one thing or another."

 No.754341

>>754339
>>754335
>Edit first line
"Oh, I could loan the rulebook if you want for a bit. It's pretty easy to get the hang of," Pryce offers to Vortigern.

 No.754342

>>754335
Shei is confused for a second before noticing Holy Hours intervened again. He looks over to the Ecclessians and then Hurricana, not feeling awkward but impotent about the situation. He doesn't bother walking over to Vizsla, thinking her group might interrupt his intent wrong.

He instead says to Vizsla and Huricanna from his side of the room. "Hay.. We were only playing our games. -This is probably a good time to cut it. The victory is yours Vizsla- awful sorry Ecclessia had to make things weird."

Shei-Sher walks away from the debacle, finding himself to find a place by Amy, Mudi, that the Supper of Crows girl he hasn't met yet. As he sits he apologizes to Mudi "Sorry for provoking your sister. I was being cheeky and it got out of hoof."

 No.754343

>>754338

"Maybe we could talk to her and see if we can get her to pay you for fighting the demons instead?" Amy asks Supper as she glances at Mudi.

 No.754344

>>754340
>>754339
"eeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!" River squeals, thrashing. The Light Brigade clears out to avoid having their plates kicked away as River struggles. Needless to say, she is unable to answer any more of Cloak's sobering questions.

>>754339
"He may have trouble reading the common script, but he never got bored whenever I would read to him," Vortigern says. "My thanks."

Galton nods. "Oh. Then, you'll have nothing to worry about. I would imagine you'd have already been sought out, if it was something you could do by your will. Carry on, then!"

>>754342
>>754343
Vizsla snorts as Hurricanrana eventually lets her go, scornfully glaring at the Ecclesians. They do not seem perturbed, either by your words or her gaze, but the Light Brigade have all turned to face Vizsla, staring her down in kind.

"Not one of you is more than a stick in the snow," Vizsla scoffs. "You'd not last a minute in the Coven."

When Shei comes on over to sit with Amy, Mudi growls again. "You should have hit her harder. I trust you're no longer hurt?"

Supper of Crows just stammers for a bit. But eventually – "No… I'll go in with you guys. It'd just be awkward staying up here when I came all this way."

You note the Light Brigade glancing over this way.

>>754337
>>754340
Cloak notices that Shorthorned might be a better subject for the discussion of godhood.

Tantra shakes his head. "Nah, it doesn't work that way, far as I can tell. Gods can't pray to gods. It's a privilege, a power, and a burden reserved for mortals alone."
"Figure I'll be too busy with my own prayers to pray to another, anyway," Voyage says. "Hrm… wonder if gods ever get lonely."

 No.754345

>>754344

"That's dumb," Amy says flatly. "There's a lot of really nice and fun and strong people not going into Tartarus who are here right now. Like Pryce. And, he's one of the coolest and strongest people I know! You can be like him!"

>Mantra of Equality [1d10+4] DC-4


>>754344

"Why did you punch Vizzy?" Amy asks, completely unaware of what just transpired.

Roll #1 2 + 4 = 6

 No.754346

>>754344
"Hehehe" Shei giggles "I should assume all the Sisters of the Coven are so sassy. I honestly enjoy Vizsla's company I'm very comfortable with her. Had I gotten into a fight with anyone else I know it'd be difficult to talk to them again. But with vizsla, it's easier. I know shenanigans like this are not so serious."

 No.754347

>>754344
"Anytime," Pryce responds.

"Have you been looking for somepony who could do that?" Pryce asks Galton, feeling there must have been a reason for them to ask so quickly after Amy and Flaming mentioned it.


>>754344
Pryce looks over, hearing River's squeals, and seeing the tag team of tickling that is causing it. He steps over, looking as if he is going to stop it to give her air. But, a familiarly evil smile comes to his face.
Pryce's hooves come down, making it a tickle trio.

 No.754348

>>754344
Shorthorns nods, "Right…" she says, looking at Buiwong's shrine once more as she contemplates this.

"We're the only gods we have to pray to now. And we're both going to need to believe in ourselves as much as we can, so that others can believe in us too. I think, that's what it means to be a god: to have as much faith in yourself as your followers do."

"Well, gods can't pray to other gods, but I don't think anyone said they couldn't have friends." She smirks "Or, family."

 No.754349

>>754345
>>754344
Shei notices Amy talking to Supper of Crows and Shei bothers to introduce himself "Hi, my name's Shei. Amy's boyfriend."

 No.754350

>>754344
>>754337
>>754348

Leather sneaks his way into the conversation, given his previous conversational partner has been overtaken by a tickling-induced laughing fit. "Ah, that only emboldens my personal choice to remain rather mortal. Just because you cannot pray to other gods, doesn't mean us mortals can't keep up contact with you. I don't imagine it's totally isolated, at the very least."

 No.754351

>>754346
"Perhaps, but…" Mudi mutters. "With her, even I have never been able to tell. I don't think I'll ever know."

>>754345
>>754349
"Wh-who?" Supper asks, before Hope of the Light Brigade walks over.

"We are prepared to double any offer Vizsla made you to just stay back," Hope says.

"Uhh, umm, err, uhh…" Supper stammers.

"And if you're in need of friends," Vitalya says, coming over. "We'll put in a good word for you with the Vermillion Corps, Ecclesia's mercenary division."

"Nnn– uhh, n-n-n– no, no, I have fr–" Supper chokes.

"And," Zophie says, as she slithers over. "Repentant demon tamers such as yourself can find penitential salvation from Ecclesia without need of joining the ranks."

Supper basically curls up into a ball at this point from the social overload.

>>754347
"Of course," Galton says. "Only we mortals are capable of performing true resurrections, a feat forbidden to gods, demons and angels alike. Across history, each time a soul capable of wielding that power appears, the heavens and the earth overturn themselves in the hunt to claim them."

>>754347
"Noooooo!" River cries. "L-L-Lockjaw, help!"

With a snort, Lockjaw butts his head into KP's ribcage.

[1d10]

River then tries to counter-tickle Zjetya.

[1d10+2]

>>754350
>>754348
"Funny thing," Voyage says. "Mortals, demons, angels, even gods, needing faith."
"If there's anything I've seen to be true, across all the lands I've walked," Tantra says. "It's that nobody can get by without it. Not a one of us. So let's be sure people who believe in us are putting their faith in the right place, yeah?"

>Paused


Roll #1 1 = 1 / Roll #2 3 + 2 = 5

 No.754352

>>754351
Shei Stands upright to speak forwardly on Ecclessia offering Supper to stay back home. "The gall of Ecclessia, poaching after someone's comrade with gold. Tempting her with what? Status amongst strangers? The girl is living the height of her life exploring the world beneath all worlds! And you think you can tempt her to betray her fellows. I for one would welcome your company here Supper of Crows -that's your name right?- in the contest of wills."

Shei says to chastise their behavior.

 No.754505

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>754351
As Lockjaw jumps in to River's defense, Pryce, in one smooth motion, catches Lockjaw like he was a football and gently flips him over, laying the deviljho on the ground on his back.
"Keep him busy," Pryce says to KP, who nods in response. KP hops over to Lockjaw's side, giving the mightly lizard some bellyrubs.
>"You were feeling a little left out, weren't you Lockjaw?"

"You can't get out of this that easy River," Pryce says as her attempts for help failed. "Or, you either." Pryce says, as he spreads a wing under Zjetya to bring her under the tickle assault as well for a twin attack on both of them.

 No.754507

>>754505
Without even a roar of protest, Lockjaw completely forgets his defense of River and lays there, contentedly slapping at KP with his tiny forearms as he's showered with affection.

"Fwaaaah!" Zjetya cries as you start to tickle her. She manages to harmonize her cry with the part that her voice sings in the background music. With Zjetya now on the back hoof, River gets up to get her ticklish revenge. Not to be outdone, Zjetya grows her fangs again, and sinks them right into the sides of your stomach.

[1d10+2] River v. Zjetya
[1d10+2] Zjetya v. Pryce

Hopper bounces away, grumbling at this tomfoolery.

Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6 / Roll #2 9 + 2 = 11

 No.754508

>>754507
Pryce tries to turn as Zjetya goes to turn the tables, lifting his hoof from River to keep Zjetya subdued under the assault.
>Tickle Counter [1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.754509

>>754508
You reach out to stop her, but Zjetya barrel-rolls, and scrapes her teeth against your ribs. They do not scratch or damage your skin, and you can feel the aetherial buzzing of magic upon them. This defense against damage does nothing to mitigate their tickling, however, and you fall, unable to resist her further. Brutally, she scrapes her fangs against your skin, tickling you until your mind blanks out. Between your tears, you see River in a slap-fight with Zjetya's wings as the latter beats back the former's tickling assault.

"Reminds me of our early days," Galton says to Gegenschein.
"If by that, you mean yesterday, then yes," Gegenschein answers.

 No.754510

>>754509
Pryce falls back, not expecting the feel of fangs to be pleasant in anyway, leaving him off guard to the tickle tactic.
"Tha-a-a-a-t's not fair!" Pryce stammers out through his laughter, finding it difficult to concentrate through it. With River fighting back on her end, Pryce takes the opportunity of Zjetya being in so close to him. Pryce brings his hooves backs for a grapple, holding Zjetya in to leave her wide open for River's revenge.
>Grapple [1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.754511

>>754510
Zjetya slaps back your grab attempt, then River, smirking, nods at Zjetya, who nods back. The two turn about, then plop themselves down onto your side to keep you pinned and at their mercy, as they pause to catch their breath.

Meanwhile, KP sees Hopper talking to a spider.

 No.754512

>>754511
In the momentary pause, Pryce catches his breath too, looking up as they both join forces to pin him down.
"Well… I guess… you two won this round…" Pryce says between breaths.

KP looks up and over to Hopper, pausing in his play with Lockjaw.
>"Be careful Hopper, I don't think he's a good influence."
KP says, just a tad distrustful.

 No.754513

>>754512
"Get used to saying that," Zjetya says. "Can't beat fangs like these."
"Not unless we had some of our own," River says.
Zjetya blushes. "You'd… want your own?"
"Sure, they seem handy enough," River says. "Why not?"

The spider, as you can see, has a small wizard's hat. As you approach, Hopper grunts, but continues to sit with the spider. Mocha in particular looks offended. "What makes you say that?" she asks.

 No.754514

>>754513
"I wanted to ask earlier, I didn't know you could retract those," Pryce comments. "They also felt a lot softer than I thought they would."


>"Isn't that Buiwong? Or, like a part of him. I don't know how that works."

KP questions as Mocha chimes in.

 No.754515

>>754514
"Normally they're not like that," Zjetya says. "I covered them with my magic so you wouldn't get hurt. Normally they're meant for fighting, or for scratching against a hard changeling carapace. Against flesh, they'd normally cut, or even gouge, so obviously I wanted to avoid that… for now."
"Setting aside that last part…" River says. "Seems a simple enough feat to transform our teeth into fangs. I'm sure some magician here or there has a spell for it."
"There's another way, but… best to discuss it later, with a smaller audience," Zjetya says.

>>754514
"No," Mocha says. "Buiwong has his own spiders for that. As a mortal, you lack a divine spirit, and can't distinguish those spiders from ordinary ones. He could act through those spiders, just as he could act through me, but then, you'd be able to perceive the power that builds up there."

Some of the spider's friends come over, as does Lockjaw, as the unintelligible critter meetup continues.

 No.754516

>>754515
Pryce gives a nervous laugh at the last comment of Zjetya's, looking back to River.
"Well, we already got turned into birds, so there'd be transformation magic for that somewhere."
He looks between the two of them, thinking.
"I think you'd look pretty good with fangs," He adds on to River.

>>754515
>"Oh, my bad…"
KP says as Mocha clears up the situation. He watches as more gather, and Lockjaw joining in too.
>"I wonder if this Beast-Mastery stuff can teach to talk to animals. I wanna know where he got a tiny little hat like that down here."

 No.754517

>>754516
"Thanks, but I wonder if it would be difficult to speak with those things extending over my lower lip," River ponders.
"It wasn't any trouble for me, but then again, I grew up with them. You might have to relearn a few phonemes," Zjetya says.

>>754516
"Oh, I made that," Mocha says. "My mom helped me to practice all levels of knitting, from the smallest to the hugest."

 No.754518

>>754517
"It'll probably be quick to pick up, like speaking with those fake rubber teeth," Pryce comments, then start to think. He slips off his bracelet, and conjures up a pair of fake fangs, handing the result up to River.
>Hat Magic [Rubber fangs] [1d10]


>>754517
>You did? Cool! I wish I knew that before going to the pet store, I could've got a full matching set for the three of us."
KP says with amazement.

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.754539

>>754518
>>754517
>Edit
"It'll probably be quick to pick up, like speaking with those fake teeth," Pryce comments, then start to think. He slips off his bracelet, and conjures up a pair of fake wooden fangs, handing the result up to River.

 No.754748

>>754351
"You can get pretty far believing in yourself, but I've got at least three back home who have the strongest faith in me. Hoping to be back before two of them are born." Leather says, stretching before relaxing.

 No.754749

>>754350
Shorthorns sighs, "It has occurred far too soon for me to say for sure, and my powers have been an incredible boon so far… but I hope that I do not come to regret my choice later either."

"Though, if it results in the demon threat being dealt with and the world being saved, I imagine I won't. I would give up far more than just being mortal to save it."

>>754351
Shorthorn nods in agreement with Tantra. "Absolutely. I can't expect many to have faith in me as a god if I do not even have as much faith in myself."

She looks at Buiwong's shrine again. "Do you think 'he' minds? If you're a god now, same as him, that's like… losing a follower, isn't it?"

 No.754750

Last time, on HolyQuest…

At the precipice of the Abyss, the House of Death, the Maw of the Unknowable God, Tartarus itself, champions gathered, bearing powers and weapons to rival the heroes of old. Each one had come to wage war to save their world from irreversible destruction – from the devouring of mortalkind by demons, and from the Dissolution of reality itself, overseen by Metatron and his angels.

These champions proceeded to have a potluck.

>>754539
River sticks the fanged dentures into her mouth, then clacks her teeth a bit, before spitting the dentures back out. "Bleurgh… I'll wait for the transformation magicks to try fangs."

>>754749
>>754748
"It's something he's no stranger to," Tantra says. "His followers have perished every day since the day he was known as a god… to say nothing of how poorly they have fared in this broken, abandoned world."

In a hushed voice, Voyage adds – "He's been experiencing the lives of his fallen in his dreams… even I've been pulled into them now and then in his darker days."

>>754352
Supper has pulled up the hood of her robe over her face to assist in her hiding.

The Light Brigade look down at her for a moment, before Vitalya glances at Hope. "Yeah… I think we're trying to dissuade the wrong Witch."

Hope is silent as he studies Supper, before Vizsla glances over.

"No, no, you should continue," she says. "Don't underestimate a mare identified – by demons, no less – as one of Mortalkind's Strongest. Certainly not someone you would ever wish to fight."

"But that's irrelevant," Mudi says, glaring at Vizsla. "Because there isn't going to be any fighting between us, is there, sister?"

 No.754751

>>754750
"…well, that's something I can kind of relate to, at least. I've been having some disturbing dreams too, lately, with Vir-can and the buffalo."

She sighs. "So, at least he's used to losing followers… I still don't think I feel sorry for him but, that has to be getting harder. If I lost someone as loyal and strong as you, Voyage, I don't know what I'd do."

 No.754752

>>754750
"I have heard of assassins dreaming of those they've killed as the mind's way of processing remorse, but dreaming of followers that believed in you till the day they died seems far more impactful. No matter the god or goddess, I can imagine that can wear on one's mind. I am sure they have different ways of coping, healthy or otherwise." Leather nods somberly.

>>754749
"Your life is your own, do not worry too much. You did not have to twins on the way, but you will have the responsibility of having children of your own, in a different sense."

 No.754753

>>754750
>>754750
"Begone- Shoo. No soliciting." Shei flaps his hooves at them in dismissive gesture. "Boorish of you not to consider us Lords and Ladies of virtue. Here's some trading cards, now get."

Shei-Sher gives Hope a stack of trading cards bound by a rubber band. At the bottom of the deck facing up is a card with portrait of the God of Bastards and Kids. In the character description is details on how to summon Shei-Sher. Though it's probably useless in Tartarus.

>>754750
When Mudi says
>"Because there isn't going to be any fighting between us, is there, sister?"
Shei-Sher shrugs his hooves up, balancing them up and down like a scale "eeeeeh" remarking his indecision on that part.

 No.754754

>>754753
"Ohohohoho!" Vizsla laughs at you. "What's that indecision I can smell, kid? Fighting or surrendering, killing or sparing, you must be sure, lest Tartarus devour the lot of us when space becomes unstable in response to your indecision."

Hope examines the cards for a moment, then turns to Supper. "What if I give you these?"

"Um…" Supper says, peering with one eye out from her furled hood. "…Tempting offer…"

Vizsla sneers at Supper. "You! What did I just say!? Mere cards are not worth invoking my kindness."

Mudi bonks Vizsla with her staff, but the Kind Witch just ignores it. Mudi then bonks her repeatedly.

>>754751
>>754752
Tantra and Voyage nod solemnly.

"Then…" Tantra says, broaching the next topic. "I hope you two will understand that, on top of everything else, these dreams of our lord's should signal also his resolve."

"Yeah," Voyage adds. "No matter what, for the sake of those who, without doubt in their hearts, give their everything to him in their devotion, Buiwong doesn't plan to give up or settle for a half-measure in Tartarus."

"I trust our meaning is clear," Tantra concludes.

 No.754755

>>754752
Shorthorns blushes, rubbing the back of her head, "…I'll make sure to take care of all my followers like they were my family, for sure, but… I hope I can still have, you know… a-actual children too, someday."

"If you didn't have a mate and kids to go back to, do you think you'd have taken the choice?"

>>754754
Shorthorn nods in agreement. "I think so. No matter how many you lose, or how things don't go the way you planned, you have to keep moving forward or else everything you lost along the way will have been for nothing, right?"

"I'll keep charging on too. Till I don't have any breath left in me, and then a few more miles after that."

 No.754756

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>754750
"Yea, they take up a lot of space. Even for a short costume or act it's not that great."
Pryce then looks up to Zjetya.
"I am curious, too. I knew changelings could shapeshift, but I thought that was personal, not a school of magic."

>>754517
>>754518
>Relinking the KP response

 No.754757

>>754755
Cloak pauses, but then chuckles and shakes his head, "I know not what I'd be the god of - I'm rather comfortable embodying patience in the name of Hypomone rather than further muddy the pantheon by becoming a god of assassins or the like. I certainly do not think of myself as the archetypal assassin regardless." Cloak nods along with Shorthorn's want for an heir some day, "I cannot say I had the same desire, but I would do it all again knowing that we have lived past our first end of the world."

>>754754
"No matter the actions of the past, it is the actions of the present that best define one's character, mortal or otherwise." Leather responds.

 No.754759

>>754754

"Everyone leave little Crowsy alone!" Amy shouts at everyone crowding her. "Just give her a minute to figure out what she wants! Geez!"

 No.754760

>>754754
Shei is looks on concerned as Mudi repeatedly bonks Vizsla, although decides not to intervene. He thinks for a moment why doesn't she morph her flesh to avoid the bonks "Your lot are walking one way and my lot are walking another, I'll have to wait and see where we converge." Shei-Sher looks to Mudi "You may have everyone else in my brigand convinced of your kindness -but I still harbor suspicions. Just the same for every one of you."

Shei points to the light brigand and moves his hoof around the room to refer to the whole of Ecclessia. "At one point we'll reach our immutable differences and then our conversation with fate can begin." He turns his tone to more congenial next "That doesn't mean we can't have a nice pot luck and remain as friends despite possible opposition."

>>754754
Shei turns briefly to Supper "Really you like them?" He says referring to the cards.

 No.754761

>>754757
Shorthorn shakes her head, "I do not even know what I am the god of yet, and I've already ascended!" She stomps a hoof, snorting. "I… just hope it comes to me, sooner or later. I could be the god of stampedes, I was saying I really liked the sound of that earlier."

She blushes as you mention her desire for heirs. "Uh n-n-neither do I! I mean, right now, I-I'm not saying I want any now either!" She says, letting out a breath, "I mean, I am pretty sure I should wait a long time for anything like that. I was just thinking, you know… it'd just kind of happen one day. Don't know how, it just… kinda would. Now I'm worried if it won't because of what I am now."

 No.754762

>>754756
"Not quite," Zjetya says. "It's in our blood, for sure, just like unicorns with their telekinesis. But, both telekinesis and shapeshifting can be accomplished, just with much more difficulty and intermediary steps, by other magic."
"Quite the scholar, are you?" River asks.
"Eh," Zjetya says. "Just learned what I had to to get by."

>>754756
"I doubt I'll have time, considering I'm going into Tartarus," Mocha says. "But I can have someone get that going for all of you. Oh! Hrm… grandpa could squish me with a newspaper if he knew I was offering this… if I asked my mom, could you keep her location a secret?"

>>754759
>>754760
>>754757
>>754755
>>754756
"Well, how rare are they?" Supper asks, fanning out the cards. "That affects my answer."
"Oh my," Chorazin says. "You'd get along swimmingly with someone we met not two days ago."

At Shei's declaration of the truth of the potluck, tension electrifies the air as the Ecclesians, the Witches, the Light Brigade and the Spiders all seize one another up. And though they are not present, all gathered can sense the quiet looming of the Demon Lords' presence pressing in from the sides…

"Well-said," Gegenschein eventually answers. "Come now, there was never any hiding it."
"Of course not," Mudi agrees. "We all wish to save the world, but we could be no more different in every other respect."
"We can still cooperate toward a better future," Voyage adds.
"I certainly hope so, at any rate," Hope concludes.

 No.754763

>>754762
>>754760

Amy nods in agreement with everyone. "If everyone was the same, then everything would be boring," she says in response to Mudi in particular. "We don't need to be the same to get along. Heck, we SHOULDN'T be the same. Getting what you want all the time just makes you into a bad person."

"No one knows that better than me," she adds with a laugh.

 No.754764

>>754762
>>754760
As Shei outright speaks of everyone's path walking their own way, Shorthorn likewise looks disturbed, her tense expression at risk of divulging critical information to those who probably shouldn't know if it… However, as Gegenschein breaks the ice, Shorthorns looks at them, and lets out a slight sigh of relief

"I guess, better to get it out in the open BEFORE Tartarus than inside of it. Who knows what that'd do to our paths if we were as focused on keeping ourselves as secretive from each other as possible… you can't find your way if you're distracted."

 No.754765

>>754762
"That is a good point, though I imagine there's a lot that changeling magic can do that others can't," Pryce adds to their scholarly talk. He then looks between the two mares, noting that both still sit on him to keep him pinned from their mighty battle.
"So… truce?"

>>754762
KP nods, drawing a hoof over his mouth like a zipper. Then, after a moment, he pulls his hoof back to unzip his mouth.
>"Is she a spiderpony like you too, or a normal pony?"
He asks curiously.


>>754762
"We've all came here together, traveling through this dungeon and even feasting together. Despite the differences, we all know the greater risk and can unite to focus on that."
Pryce adds after a moment of silence when the tension rises.

 No.754766

>>754761
"Yes, from my personal experience, it certainly does just kind of happen. Let us hope, if it does so for you too, that it does not require the end of the world as we know it as a catalyst."

>>754762
"I am not a fan of the dramatics of this one in particular, but there is the saying of 'Keep your friends close and enemies closer'. If we are to think of each other as anything less than friends, let us have time to get close." Leather belly laughs.

 No.754767

>>754762
>>754762
"Vaa-a-ah! Come now. This isn't something to pout over." Shei-Sher tries to save the mood "A truely rare moment as this. Prophecy as annointed us it's saviors. Cast the most extreme of it's patriots into opposition to decide the outcome of everyone's lives. Gods, peoples, and worlds. Yet we are able sit down with one another and break bread- I love it!"

Shei begins to stir with passion as he speaks to everyone present now "This is what true friendship is! Rivals, and conspirators, spies, and allies plotting eachother's death but still celebrating life! I won't ever die a coward, or from natural causes, I won't dissipate into obscurity. Mudi will kill me, Gengenschien will kill, Perhaps my own party will decide I must be dealt with. And there is no greater honor than to be sent off. Knowing that there was no ill will, but simply that it must be done. I am brimming with pride and happiness to play this game with people I admire. I- ba-a-ah." His emotion overcomes him a moment "Born a slave, even if to an eccentric master. I never had thought I could live up to such a glorious life. Yet I know! I've arrived here because I lived a life with love! And so have you all."


"And- bah- I'm sitting down now." Shei-Sher sits down beside Supper and Amy now.

 No.754768

>>754766
Shorthorns chuckles. "Let us hope so. By the time I am ready to have a kid, I would say I'd have just enough apocalypses for one life time. Though, it does sound like it's a really good way to meet ponies, huh?"

She chuckels. "Well… if you don't mind my asking Leather, how did you meet your mate?"

 No.754769

>>754765
"Did you hear something?" Zjetya prominently asks River.
"Just a cute mare talking to me," River says.
"Jeez, you've certainly warmed up to the idea!" Zjetya gasps.
"Yes, how can I not, when you are a phoenix?"
"Ugh, can you get any cheesier?"

>>754765
Mocha withdraws a pendant from her tunic, and opens it. Two portraits (shrunken down with magic) lie within.

On the left, is an old and faded portrait of a small zebra family. The father is clothed in a heavy cloak and wide-brimmed hat, while the mother is clothed in a ritzy, rich garb, and no small amount of jewelry. Between them stands a young zebra drider filly, carrying another drider, this one practically a newborn, swaddled in her arms. By the older filly's smile, KP can tell she's a proud older sister.

On the right, is a newer portrait of another family. The mother is a zebra drider mare – the older filly from the first picture, judging by the smile – while the father is a bulky, scarred earth pony stallion, a rugged adventurer, wearing his armor even here. Between them stand six pony driders, all with the same salt-and-pepper manes as their mother. The one standing at the back, clearly the oldest, is Mocha, as a teenager. The family has also got some rather large wolves standing guard beside them.

"That's my mom in the second picture, and that's her carrying my aunt in the first picture," Mocha says. "Currently, they're in hiding, under Buiwong's orders… he really had to argue with my grandma before she agreed."

>>754766
>>754765
>>754764
>>754763
>>754767
"Hoo-hoo-hoo," Gegenschein laughs. "You'd make a fine Ecclesian, Shei. A Horror at minimum, a Spook, even, perhaps. Let's shed off all talk of truces and agreements and differences and all the like. I'd despise a world where 'friendship' is thought of as being free of conflict, free of fists and bloodshed. As far as I'm concerned, there's no reason we couldn't still be friends. Friendship negates nothing, embraces everything. It'd be a criminally boring world otherwise. Small wonder why our Accorsian epics of the gods filled their every page with deceit and bloodshed, passion and betrayal! Even the gods reject such placid harmony!"

As he speaks, his muscles bulge, and veins show beneath the fur. He grips his crucifix as if he were ready to swing it across the room in a moment.

"I'd call you all friends, if you'd like. And then I'll draw a gun on you, just as you make ready to sword me."

"…Perhaps you understand how we Witches think after all," Mudi mutters. "Not that we are a conventional Coven by any means. Despite our key difference from other Covens, that's just how we are."

"You people are crazy!" Hurricanrana laughs. "I like it! Who wants to be my bestie!?"
"You people are crazy…" Supper mutters. "C-can I remain an acquaintance for now? I'm not ready for your kind of friendship just yet."

 No.754770

>>754769
Shei smiles reticently, pleased with his impromptu behavior being so well received.

Shei nudges over to Supper with his own deck of cards "Sure thing, but you're my best acquaintance for now. So these aren't very popular yet. Buiwong only started minting them for me a couple days."

He shuffles through the cards showing each detail as Shei readies to show Supper how to play.

 No.754771

>>754769
>>754770

"You all use too many words to say exactly what I just said," Amy bemoans.

"I only like it when Shei does it," she adds as Shei sits next to him. She embraces him and rubs her cheek against his cheek.

 No.754772

>>754769
Pryce lies there a moment, flat in expression as he feels deja vu in being ignored. Seeing the way it's going to be, he rolls his body a bit under them to attempt to sit up, and scoop them up, River in his fire foreleg and Zjetya in the normal one, and re-sit them at his sides.
>Lift [1d10]

>>754769
KP looks at the family photos.
>"Wow, you have a lot of bothers and sisters!"
KP says, seeing how many kids are in the second picture.
>"Oh, so… is that Buiwong there?"
KP asks, pointing to the zebra in the left photo.
>"…Why are they in hiding?"

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.754773

>>754769
>>754769
Shorthorn raises an eyebrow at Gegenschein as he laughs. "Huh…? Uh… I mean, I would love for us all to get along despite our differences, but that's… kind of, really weird friendship."
"You'd really pull a gun or sword on someone you'd call a friend? Climbing Fire's are no strangers to combat, and we love to strengthen our bonds through our head-butts, but isn't what you're describing a little closer to… well, enemies trying to get along?"

 No.754774

>>754769
"Relax, relax, this communion was not a binding pact; you are free to define relationships between each other as however they consent to being defined as."

>>754768
Cloak grins, "Aha, me and Dagger met in the Morte Legionem, the assassin guild that had connections in our city. We were teamed up due to my connections in faith to Hypomone and her skilled assassin work. She rubbed off a lot more on me than I did on her."

 No.754775

>>754771
Shei hunches over a bit shy about his display "Eheheh, thanks." He smiles warmly. The expression is nostalgic of how he used to be.

 No.754776

>>754771
>>754770
"Then these will be beyond rare…" Supper thinks to herself. "That'd really give my collection an edge over everyone else's… wait, wasn't I offered these to leave? What if I just… don't…?"

Vizsla looks on with fury as Mortalkind's Strongest Demon Tamer is interested more in expanding her hobby than thwarting the other factions who stand against the Witches.

Hope shrugs and goes back to his food as Supper of Crows pulls out large codexes from her bag. In each one, various cards are sealed with protective enchantments against the papyrus of each page. Seems she collects from a wide variety of games.

>>754772
Zjetya and River gasp and squeak like ducks as you pick them up and fly over everyone, quite literally flexing on the competition. Not to be outdone, Gegenschein and Volkama soon join you, each of them carrying their own wife on their broad, muscular shoulders.

"No fair!" Box says. "If I'd known we were doing a wife-off, I'd have brought Regina!"
"Weren't you just on your first date?" Blessings asks.
"Yeah, but I know she's the one!"
Blessings sighs. "If only I could find someone like that…"
"If you survive, I'll introduce you to my brother," Mocha says.

>>754773
>>754774
"He is definitely exaggerating!" Anzu says, stomping one hoof. "That is not how gun safety rules go!"
"Neeeeerd!" Fox shouts at Anzu.
She snorts, and before you can blink, you're already seeing the smoke trail from her gun.
However, Fox cuts the bullet, holding a katana in one of his four tails.
"To continue Anzu's point," Viper says. "Sir Gegenschein means that the bonds of friendship cannot be sundered by mere conflict. If two friends share a true agape love, then nothing, not even opposing goals, not even death itself, can break their bond. Thus, from his perspective, there is no reason why we Ecclesians cannot befriend the Witches of Gehenna, despite our obvious differences in how we think the new world of peace must be governed."

 No.754777

>>754775

Amy continues to embrace him. She rests her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're not yelling at me for hugging you," she says as she soaks in the moment.

>>754776

"Do whatever you WANT to do," Amy says to Supper. "Don't do it because someone's going to give you something or because it gives you an edge over someone. If those are the things you want, then those are good reasons to do it. But, only if it's what you WANT."

 No.754778

>>754776
Leather watches the wife carrying and grumbles, "Could've carried mine around if I wasn't worried for the two on board.."

 No.754779

>>754772
"Yeah, that's him," Mocha says. "You know that his true form is the Spider, and it's commonly accepted that his 'mortal form' is that of a zebra… but it wasn't always that way. He used to change his mortal form like you or I change clothes, always picking whichever form was best for the scheme or the trick he was pulling… but that all changed when he met my grandma. A thief, who dared even to steal from the gods themselves… she was the first, and only mortal, to pull a trick on him. So, he had no choice but to fall in love. He sticks to the zebra form these days to be more like her."

As you ask why they're in hiding, Mocha frowns. "It's a dangerous world out there in the best of times, and he's the god responsible for ending it. Even before all of this, he made them go into hiding for their own protection, knowing what people would do to them if they found out they were his family. He couldn't have something like a hostage situation on his hooves. If it was his own family on the line, he wouldn't be able to handle it. Even a schemer like him has things he love, things he can't sacrifice, things he can't endanger."

 No.754780

>>754774
"So you met through your work," she nods in understanding. "And, how did you go from being battle-mates to being… you know… 'actual' mates? Was it the Rapture?"

>>754776
Shorthorn yelps as she hears the bullet ring out across the room, getting ready to pass into a battle stance and join the fray in an instant as she scratches the stone floor… but, as Anzu and Fox laugh it off, she looks down at herself, feeling equally giddy to join in some light hearted combat as she lets out a laugh at the situation.

She turns to look at Viper, listening to her intently as she explains how the bonds of friendship can be forged even across different sides of war. "…I knew friends could fight and still be friends, but, everyone I like to fight with still always had the same goals as I did, more or less… you really think it's possible to be friends with those who side against you? On the other side of something much bigger than just a duel or a fight, a war?"

She flattens her ears, sitting down to think it over. "…Vortigern and I had a really harsh fight just before coming in here, and, I like to think we're all still friends just the same. But, to go so far as someone like…" she thinks of a certain spider-god, before squashing the thought.

 No.754781

>>754776
"Wife-off?" Pryce repeats in surprise, "We're not quite there yet… And this wasn't meant to be a competition." He comments, thrown off by the term, and the others joining in with their own mates. Even still with the distraction and fluster, he doesn't set River or Zjetya down.


>>754779
>"Huh. That must get confusing, changing your form all the time."
KP comments in thought.
>"Well that's not right, they didn't do anything about this! They shouldn't be under threat if ponies are upset at Buiwong."
He says with his childish naivety.
>"Though, it is good to hear he does have a nice side at least."

 No.754782

>>754776
After Shei-Sher displays that the cards are standardized for playing with most other cards as he lays them out and shows different spreads "They're mostly a collection of the entities I've met thus far. In the descriptions there's hidden details on how favored rituals or how to enact conversation."

As Shei can see Vizsla is staring daggers at him he takes out a spare deck from his cape "You can put away the death glare. I'm not poaching anyone's companion today." Shei-Sher hands Supper a spare deck "I keep a lot of spares. Just be sure to show them off, and use them. I want the word to spread."

He says all this while very apparently oggling Supper's card collection.

 No.754783

>>754780
"We had… trouble defining our relationship and it was a little.. bumbling at times. We were 'partners' in a work-sense and a bit more than friends but- yeah. Once everything went down sat down and talked about our feelings towards each other and we both loved each other and didn't want to die just as coworkers. Of course we sort of, y'know, consummated that thinking we would die in the coming weeks but here we are now with two kids about to pop out."

 No.754784

>>754777
"Oh yeah- right." Shei responds absently. He seems much more engrossed in playing cards with Supper.

 No.754785

>>754780
"The most famous and moving tragic epics of our nations are premised on that very idea," Viper says. "Even to this day, whether the genre be romance, war, exploration, mystery, or comedy, that pattern has borne fruit in myriad stories."

>>754781
"Yeah, lots of stuff isn't fair," Mocha says. "But, he couldn't keep me down, since I'm the strongest out of the bunch. And the most stubborn."

>>754781
>>754778
>>754780
Flow slithers over, except he's being carried by Renee. The same reversal plays out for Hafaza and Observer, who looks quite content with being carried by his mare. Spitshine carries Sugar around, though he looks like he's taking good care to not harm her, being still young and awkward. Then, without warning, Shorthorned is struck by a sudden question of whether or not she does have buffalo wings after all, as she's lifted into the sky by none other than Great Voyage, who flips her onto his back.

"…What even started this?" Deriva asks.
"I'm not sure," Galton says. "I believe Gegenschein just saw Pryce goofing around with his harem and wanted to join in."

>>754777
>>754782
Supper's earlier anxiety seems to have largely faded now that she's met someone with a common interest. Already she's commenting on optimal strategies, synergy, and so forth. Vizsla snorts and steps off, but not before remarking to Mudi that the latter ought to invest in such diversions if they turn out to be as popular among demons as they are mortals.

 No.754786

>>754785
>"Really?"
KP asks with fascination.
>"How strong are you?"

>>754785
Pryce isn't quite sure how to respond with the growing trend, while also getting a strong feeling to not back down out of it either.
"Hold on, a harem is a bit of a strong word to put on this. Right?"
He says in defense of Galton's comment, looking to Zjetya and River to back him on the topic.

 No.754787

>>754785
With a mild harumph, Cloak gets to writing about the group's meeting with sketches far exaggerating the number of ponies and others being wifestacked, figuring it will make for a good full page art when he converts the journals to a picture book.

 No.754788

>>754785
"She doesn't know what she's missing." Shei comments as Vizsla derides their game at her departure.

"I'm going to regret saying this. But when I was making trading cards, I thought I was one of the first. Just where are all these distributors from?" Shei picks up one of Supper's cardx appraising it with his evil eye.

>appraise

[1d10] to admire the enchantments imprinted on the card

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.754789

>>754783
Shorthorns snickers at the 'consummated' part, "G-gross… but, I guess that'd make sense. Already said you loved each other, I guess… you know-"
She shakes her head, still snickering. "I also wish it didn't take the end of the world to make it happen, but, I guess you have to look at the silver linings every once in a while. Do you think you and her ever would have if it never happened or, not sure?"

>>754785
Viper's words strike a chord with Shorthorns, thinking over how friendly she could be with one she considered not just an ally who had different philosophies or goals, but one who stood in opposition. "…well, I do like the witches. It would be nice to still be friends with them even if we're not… not on the same side."
She snorts. "You know, maybe I just need to give them a good headbutt to get a feel for how it works out, but I feel like they'd turn me into a frog or something."

>>754785
Her thought process is interrupted as she suddenly finds herself lifted up into the air, gasping loudly and yelping as she's flipped up on to Voyage's fluffy back. "V-voyage?!" She says, looking around as he brings her into the 'wife off'. She blushes, somehow trying to make herself look small as she leans down to whisper into Voyage's ear, ("D-don't you think it's a little early to be competing in this? What if you give away we K-I… K-I-Z…E.. you-know-what the other day without even getting married?")

 No.754790

>>754784

Amy lets Shei go. "Really? You're ignoring my snuggles for a card game?" she asks, annoyed, giving him a glare of disappointment.

>>754785

Amy watches the card game that is apparently better than snuggles.

 No.754791

>>754790
"What I'm not ignoring you. We're-" Shei now turns head to look at Amy "We're doing our thing."

 No.754792

>>754789
There is no pause in Leather's next response, "Oh yes, one hundred percent. Patience is, y'know, my thing. I wanted to make it a little more special than, yknow-" His speech quickens, "Hookingupintheruinsofatownafewroomsawayfromdeadbodies and all.."

 No.754793

>>754791

"The thing where you ignore me?" Amy asks, crossing her arms. "I'm familiar."

 No.754794

>>754792
"Hoo in the what… huh?" Shorthorns repeats, clearly not catching that last, speedy sentence. However, she shakes her head, trying to focus on the initial point. "A-ah, well, that's good too. I'm sure you would have become mates one way or another, but in my opinion you shouldn't wait too long. You wait too long, you're at risk of missing your opening. I think you were wise to get right too it when you were both sure of it"

 No.754796

>>754788
>>754790
As you reach out to take a card, Supper gently reaches out, and places her hoof on your wrist – and your arm completely immobilizes. Try as you might, you cannot push forward or pull free; your arm is held fast, even to the shoulder.

She stares at you with a scrunched face and puffed cheeks. "Please do not touch my cards, please."

>>754786
"The strongest," Mocha says, ruffling KP's mane. "And since I'm a demi-demigoddess, that puts me above even Mortakind's Strongest over there."

Hurricanrana looks over as he hears an implicit challenge in the air.

>>754786
"Technically correct," River says.
"At least he didn't call us concubines," Zjetya adds.
"No, no," Galton says. "There's no way he'd have given his blessing if you were mere concubines and not wives."
"Of course not," Gegenschein adds. "If there was even a hint of rank or status between you, I'd condemn you like heathen barbarians."

>>754789
>>754787
"Like I said to Shei just now," Vizsla says to Flaming. "I'd like to see you try. Only, we'd better do it elsewhere, lest the wet blankets you call Ecclesia interfere again."

"The nose-bump?" Voyage asks. "You mean, this?"

>>754789
>>754790
>>754788
>>754787
>>754786
In front of everyone, Voyage bumps his nose against Shorthorned's.

"Whoa, whoa!" Tantra snaps. "There are children here!"
"How scandalous," Desert Lamp notes.
"Downright indecent," Ichimonji adds.
Mocha covers KP's eyes, and Onion does the same to Sugar and Spitshine.
"Vulgar!" Box adds.
"Have some decorum," Living Saint Zoantharia says.
"I'm trying to eat here!" Blessings chimes in.
"I don't get it," Zophie says.
"You two need to relax," Lion says.
"Get a room," Viper comments.
"I think they're doing a bit," Gjenganger says.
"What an immodest generation," Sir Estuary says.
"I can't believe you," Mirror Image says.
"If only my husband were here," Vortigern sighs. "He'd love this nonsense."
"Haven't any of these people heard of the rule of three?" Vitalya asks.
Chorazin is too busy eating, so she just makes a thumbs-down with her wing.
"I think we're running out of characters," Renee says.
Those who haven't spoken so far just nod out of consideration for the text limit.

 No.754797

>>754796
>"Well I gotta see that! I don't think I ever saw a spider fight before."
KP says to Mocha's boast. He looks over at Hurricanrana as she points him out.
>"…I don't know who that is. Is he really the strongest mortal?"

>>754796
"I, uh… Well, thank you for the blessing, but harem still feels like a bad term for this. I'd call it a three-way relationship. A triple? I'll figure out a good term."
Pryce responds, a bit flustered with all the relationship talk of wives and concubines.

>>754796
>"Huh, what's going on?"
KP questions as Mocha covers his eyes suddenly.

Pryce looks around as everypony exclaims over the indecent act.
"And I thought our reception was rough."

 No.754799

>>754797
"Mortalkind's Strongest Demon Hunter," Mocha explains. "All things considered, a pretty narrow category. But considering the title was awarded by reader votes in a publication run by demons, I wouldn't discount it altogether."
"Howdy," Hurricanrana says, offering a wave. "Want an autograph?"

>>754797
"Three of a kind?" Viper suggests.
"A sleight?" Galton asks.
"Ein triple kill, vith zhe love-god's crossbow," Freischutz says.

 No.754802

>>754799
>"The demons are saying that? He really must be strong then."
KP comments, turning up as Hurricanrana greets him.
>"Sure!"

>>754799
"Maybe…" Pryce says, thinking of the options. "Hmm, monte is a stretch that only a few would get… Trinity. A trinity sounds nice."
Pryce says, finding a good match.

 No.754803

>>754799
>>754802
KP fumbles in his pockets, then takes out his Beginner's Monster Diary.
>"I don't have any spare paper, but there sure be a spot in here somewhere."

>>754799
>>754802
"Oh, wait. How about a triad?"

 No.754804

>>754803
>>754802
Hurricanrana retrieves a quill pen and ink from his bag, then signs a blank corner of a page in the monster diary. When he hands it back, KP can read – "Always strive for glory and honor. All the best, Hurricanrana."

Mocha nods. "Huh, not really what I expected."
"Heheheh," Hurricanrana chuckles rather sheepishly for someone called "the Strongest." "I'm never sure what to write for those, so it always ends up being something basic."

>>754803
"Oh, I like that better," River says.
"Makes us sound like a criminal organization…" Zjetya observes. "I'm down to go by it."
"Ah, clearly you understand," Gegenschein says, then arches a brow at Galton. "Someone always gives me guff for naming my students a silly name like 'the Spooks.'"
"It's just not very ecclesiastical," Galton says.

 No.755003

>>754796
>>754794

"Don't listen to any of them!" Amy shouts supportively to Flaming above the responses of all the others. "You do your thing, Shortyhorns!"

 No.755004

>>754796
As Voyage's nose touches hers for the 2nd time in as many days, Shorthorn appears to temporarily regain some red to her fur, as the divine white calf is shaken, falling stiff as a board and wobbling off his fluffy back as she scrambles to get to her hooves, her eyes looking around and darting at everyone's judging comments.

"AAH! V-VOYAGE, YOU-!" She says, looking somewhere between furious and embarrassed as they commit such a vulgar and grievous taboo before an audience: nose-bumping before betrothal.
"Uh… well… that…" she seems trying to explain it to them, not wanting to make it seem as though she DOESN'T feel the same way in turn about Voyage (both for his own sake and in interest of not having Vortigern or Rus Tea pulling him aside for a word), but seems to be at quite a loss for once.
"We… heh… uh… well, you see…"

 No.755005

>>754796
>>754789

Leather comments on the headbutting,"As long as you were to frame it as a friendly duel, then it would not break any Ecclesian code of conduct… as long as there were none caught in the crossfire. Crosshead? Better than crossbutt, anyhow."

 No.755006

>>754804
>"Thanks Hurricanrana!"
KP says as he reads the autograph.
>"Yea, it's hard to write something for somepony when you don't know them. You could plan out some sayings beforehand, like cool quotes and such!"

>>754804
"It doesn't sound all that silly to me. You'd want your guards to be intimidating or have an intimidating name, right?"

 No.755007

>>755003
Shorthorns looks to her sister, her ears flattening as she quickly rushes over to her to whisper her situation, "I-I CAN'T! It's not… you know… i-it's not appropriate! We're not supposed to do stuff like that until much much later!"

>>755005
"PFfff," Shorthorns snickers, "Uh, yeah duh it'd be 'crossheads'… why would we hitting butts together? That's silly."
"But, yeah that's how it's always done. Well… most of the time, it's like a friendly duel. There are times where it gets much more serious but, it probably wouldn't be like this."

 No.755008

>>755007
"Butt is the suffix of Headbutt, and fire is the suffix of crossfire. Both are the action, you are not heading them. Headheading is the real silly concept." Leather responds in a tone that seems to imply he thinks his insight is sage knowledge.

 No.755009

>>755007

"If it's bad for the relationship, I get that. But, don't think that just because other people tell you to."

 No.755010

>>755005
>>755003
>>755004
"Heheh," Voyage laughs. "Maybe this is the note to end the potluck on?"
"Yes, well, now would be the time to go off and do that," Galton says. "I can only imagine the spatial warping you'd unleash in Tartarus were you to commit such an act while inside. It is for the best that we never find out."
Gegenschein winks at Galton.
"Ugh…" Supper groans, covering her eyes and ears. "No… no, no…"
"How is a demon tamer more chaste and prude than our outfit?" Viper wonders aloud.

>>755006
"Well, the silliness was intentional," Gegenschein says. "An ingenious plan, was it not? What villain would expect a threat from a group with such an absurd name? Of course, I'd trust any of them with my own life. Take that as a testament to my faith in their power."
Galton just rolls her eyes.

 No.755011

>>755010

"I think that says more about you guys than it does about the demon hunter," Amy says to Viper before sticking out her tongue playfully.

 No.755012

>>755010
Leather continues to chime in on the random musings, "Would not someone who spends their life besting demons require the strongest of morals as not to give into any form corruption?" Cloak replies offhand to Viper, "It is respectable, they are far more knowledgeable with first hoof experience as a result."

 No.755013

>>755008
"OOOOOOOOH." Shorthorns says, realizing what 'butt' he was referring to only now. "That makes much more sense."

"Well, going by that explanation, I guess I would go with 'crossbonking'. Like, bonking their heads a good one?"

>>755009
"Well… I don't know if it's bad or not, I mean…" she says, blushing again, looking around as she whispers into Amy's ears. "Can you keep a secret? Between sisters?"

>>755010
Shorthorns still looks quite flushed by the act, looking around at everyone with a flopped down set of ears and nodding in apologies for such a brazen display of affection during a meal. "S-sorry everyone…" she says, taking the reaction a tad too seriously (or at least Tantra's)

She looks at Voyage though, and so as to make sure he doesn't think she feels 'that' ashamed, she throws him a little wink.

 No.755014

>>755010
Pryce's horn glows as he sets River and Zjetya on his back, going back to standing proper.
"That is one tactic. Even with a silly name though, I wouldn't doubt your trust in your friends."

 No.755015

>>755013

"Of course I can keep a secret!" Amy says loudly in a crowded room.

 No.755016

>>755013
Voyage looks about as he sets you down, pretending not to notice your wink – only to swing his head at an alarming angle to bonk against your horns. Such a strike would send a smaller creature flying, but for a divine buffalo such as yourself, it only makes a rather amusing sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwxTZaa3NgI

>>755011
>>755012
"Ahh," Lion says. "Is that why she can afford to spend so much time and money on collecting cards?"
"N– ye– n…" Supper stammers. "Okay, yes, but you don't have to say it like that!"
Lion looks oblivious to the implications of what he said.

>>755014
Zjetya kicks her back hooves against yours as she rides on your back. "Giddyup!"
"I wonder if we might be too heavy for that," River observes.
"Maybe you," Zjetya says.
River gasps.
"There is no need for such bullying," Anzu says.
"Especially coming from a fatty such as her," River counters.

 No.755017

>>755016

"Hey! You're doing what you think is fun! There's nothing wrong with that!" Amy says as she gives Supper an over-aggressive pat on the back.

 No.755018

>>754796
>>754793
When Supper stops Shei from grabbing the card an indeterminate amount of time passes before shei realizes a sort of magic is preventing him from pushing his hoof past Super's. And then he realizes a feeling of vacancy to his side. When he looks he sees Amy is absent from hugging his arm.

Looking about the room He can see some of the others flying about holding their fellows aloft in some sort of contest he doesn't readily recognize. And He sees Amy trailing off to a another group.
"Ah- I see. Feeling left out I suppose."

Shei's eyes glance back to Supper "Yeah.. That's enough hoof holding for now Supper" He shakes his hoof away from Supper's hoof. He begins to stand and without warning picks Supper up allowing her to sit on one arm.

>>754796
>>755013
>>754796
Shei-Sher then ambles over to Amy and picks her up in one arm. Whether she resists or not. Upon arrival he chances a glance at Flaming and Voyage nose booping eachother. Shei remarks his vexation for their kind.
"You people disgust me." Shei says in a low growl of a tone.

After sitting both mares on his arms Shei leave them in a gust of wind as he flies off to the others holding the wife off.
"Here is my compromise! Survival of the fittest!"

Shei begins thrusting his wings violently toward the competition to knock them off balance
DARK.III
[1d10] To create a gust that blows away the competition.

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.755019

>>755016
As Voyage swings his head around to bonk his mighty skull into hers, the two thick heads clashing with equal force to make a rather amusing sound ringing throught he pot-luck, Shorthorns chuckles, returning the gesture ever so lightly. "Okay, see, THAT'S something we can do in front of people. There's nothing inappropriate about a good headbutt!"

>>755015
As Amy opens her trap and announces to the whole gathering she can keep a secret, Shorthorns looks around in a panic, quickly pushing her hooves up to close Amy's muzzle shut. "Y-you're not making a convincing argument, Amy!"

She keeps her hooves on the muzzle, letting out a sigh, "Okay, here it goes… I…" she looks around, making sure no one is listening, before leaning int whisper into Amy's ear as quietly as she can. "I really like Voyage."

 No.755020

>>755017
>>755016
"I concur, it brings no one harm, a hobby is a hobby." Leather nods.

 No.755021

>>755016
"Neither of you two are heavy, so no fighting during the ride," Pryce comments to their back and forth. "When we get moving again, I can giddyup. For now I'm fine taking it easy for the rest of our break." Pryce adds, levitating up his plate to finish off the food he grabbed earlier.

>>755016
>>754804
KP looks up to Hurricanrana.
>"So if you're the strongest… What's the strongest thing you've done?"

 No.755022

>>755018

"Disgust you?" Amy asks with a dramatic gasp. "Haven't you learned ANYTHING about public displays of affection over the course of our relationship!?"

>>755019

Amy gasps. "But, what about LJ!?"

 No.755023

>>755017
>>755018
>>755019
>>755020
Supper's just about to respond to Amy, or more like yell, given that she looks as stressed as she was earlier with how Lion blew the lid right off her non-existent love life, when Shei attempts to pick her up. Her yell turns into a full-on screech for the few moments that she's in his arm, when–
"Stranger!" she cries. "Stranger Danger! L'Etranger, I summon–"
At that word, "Summon," a black and needle-thin knife manifests upon Shei's shoulder. The handle is held by some spectral entity, who appeared without trace. Tall, impossibly lanky, wearing the masked hood and black robes of an executioner. A long cigarette dangles out of the hood, whose shadows conceal L'Etranger's face.

As L'Etranger accosts Shei, Supper spasms in every possible direction, and a few impossible ones for good measure, and tosses herself to the ground.

This time, it is the Ecclesians who hold their peace, despite a demon appearing in their midst. However, all of the Light Brigade train their weapons upon Supper and L'Etranger. L'Etranger, for its part, doesn't show any great interest in them, merely laying his blade upon Shei's shoulder.

>>755021
"Standin' up for peace, justice and the rights of my fellow mortals," Hurricanrana answers sincerely.
Mocha blinks in bafflement.
"And you too, with a little courage, can do what's right, every time," Hurricanrana continues.

 No.755024

>>755023

Amy has a giggle-fit as she watches the chaos unfold.

 No.755025

>>755023
>>755018
Pryce turns as he hears the shouting, wings spread and ready to intervene, even with his passengers, as he sees the demon on Shei with it's blade at the ready.
"Shei, what did you do now?"

>>755023
>"Wow, you sound like the old knights back at the Church. No wonder you're the strongest."
KP says in awe.

 No.755026

>>755023
Leather closes his eyes and exhales, trying to remain patient with Shei before opening his eyes back up and working on his children's book more.

 No.755027

>>755022
Shorthorns takes a few moments to stare at Amy as though she had a second head, then rolls her eyes and whispers again, "Voyage IS Journey! He changed his name too!"

>>755018
As Shei mentions how she disgusts him, Shorthorns stomps her hooves, "Oh, no, no alright, YOU have no room to talk! I know what we did was a little… inappropriate… but you and Amy do way, WAY worse than that like, every night! I had to change beds because of you!"

>>755018
>>755023
As Shei picks up a second mare along with Amy, Shorthorns looks on at his attempt to one-up everyone involved in the official Pre-Tartarus Wife-Off. She looks on as his wings start blowing away all of them, moving up to Voyage to stand their ground firmly before looking at Supper starting to fight back, summoning some odd, spectral creature looming over Shei.

As she starts to spasm, falling on the ground off of Shei's shoulder, her eyes open wide with concern, looking at the specter with trepidation. "Uh… d-does anyone know if that was SUPPOSED to happen to her?"

 No.755028

>>755023
Shei looks to L'Etranger and then the Light Brigade "Va-ah!" He dismisses the sense danger with a wave of his hoof "Let her have her moment."

Shei rolls his eyes for a moment and then looks over to Vizlsa just to say "These people."

>>755022
>>755023
>"Haven't you learned ANYTHING about public displays of affection over the course of our relationship!?"
"Yes- It's okay when we do it." and with that Shei-Sher picks up Amy resting her on his shoulder

Shei-Sher affixes a layer of his aura with the power of control. If L'Etranger decides to attack Shei he'll enter his the bounds of Shei's aura and be afflicted with this roll

>DARK.III

>Control+1
>[1d10+1]

Roll #1 4 + 1 = 5

 No.755029

>>755027
"The difference is I kept it in the bedroom!" Shei responds ungraciously to Flaming pointing out his night of passion in front of everyone

 No.755030

>>755027

"Well that's just confusing!" Amy complains with a stomp of her hoof-paw. "How is anyone supposed to remember that!?"

>>755028

Amy laughs and smiles at Shei's answer. Then, she yelps as Shei picks her up. "I-wha-whoa!" She shouts.

Now straddling Shei's shoulders, she looks down in confusion. Then, a grin crosses her face. "Shei, I think you put me on the wrong side of your head," she says with a snicker.

 No.755031

>>755030
"Why do you think you should be upside down?" Shei doesn't even realize how lurid it is what he just said. But says it as if meant to shut Amy up.

 No.755032

>>755025
Mocha decides not to burst KP's bubble.

Hurricanrana nods and pats KP's head. "And always remember to eat your vegetables."
"I should certainly hope he does, considering we're all herbivores," River says.

>>755024
>>755025
>>755026
>>755027
>>755028
Supper keeps low to the ground, scrambling to pick up her belongings and to go find someplace to hide – much to Mudi's embarrassment, Supper skitters behind her like a frightened animal. Sighing, Mudi pats her head.
L'Etranger, without moving its shoulders, or even its neck, pivots its head around to keep an eye on Supper. After a few moments of Supper issuing no command, it vanishes, dissipating into smoke, but the cold chill of its needle-like knife lingers upon Shei's flesh and veins.
"Just be glad she did not call for La Peste," Vizsla says. "Even I wouldn't have had the sheer gall to recruit them."
Silently, with L'Etranger gone, the Light Brigade sheathe their weapons, and polish off the last of their meals.

 No.755033

>>755032
KP nods.
>"I always do!"

>>755032
Pryce folds his wings back, clearing his throat.
"I suppose it is better to get stuff like that out of the way now, and not in Tartarus."

 No.755034

>>755031

"Oooh! You're right! If I was upside down, I could return the favor!" Amy says excitedly.

>>755032

"Does she also have a demon named Natasha?" Amy asks Mudi and Supper enigmatically.

 No.755035

>>755032
Shei eyes Supper with modest disdain as she cowers behind Mudi's robe "And I will consider that as the mood being thoroughly spoiled."

>>755030
"Well, we can't play chicken anymore. But you can still ride on my shoulders." Shei moves one of Amy's legs so she is seated with a leg on each shoulder.

>>755032
At Vizsla's remark Shei-Sher responds "I live for abuse." As if offended she would assume otherwise. "Also La Peste, sounds like a pasta."

 No.755036

>>755029
Shorthorns gasps, "T-That's… what we just did still isn't as bad! Right?"

>>755030
"Well, you're supposed to because we told you so, Amy!" She groans, "B-but that's all besides the point anyhow!"

She looks around, whispering again, "The point is, I really, REALLY like Voyage… and, I just wanna make sure we don't mess this up. Our clan told us stuff like… what we just did aren't meant to be just, thrown around or else it isn't special, and it makes people upset if it isn't done right."

>>755032
Shorthorns watches Supper's odd actions as she also keeps a careful eye on the black, spectral creature lingering around Shei, keeping in a battle stance ready to jump if it looks to harm him.

After it eventually vanishes, Shorthorns lets loose a breath, turning to look at Supper and Mudi. "WHAT was that? Did you bring it here? You looked so scared of it…"

 No.755037

>>755032
>>755033
"We should put together some small duels then, before going forward. As I said earlier, it is best to get any of these emotions out before we head to Tartarus, and sparring is good practice."

 No.755038

>>755037
"If we can keep them small. Maybe the Sons of God stuck an arena down here we could use."

 No.755039

>>755034
"Bad! Bad dog" Amy's balance shakes as Shei fidgets "Where's my newspaper."

>>755036
"Hmm." Shei grunts "I still taste bile."

 No.755040

>>755035

"Shei how am I supposed to NOT make a dirty joke like this!?" Amy asks as Shei talks about Amy riding him and with his head between her hind legs.

>>755036

"But, if you like him, it's not wrong," Amy says sagely.

>>755039

"But, YOU put me here!" Amy whines.

 No.755041

>>755035
"Then I would highly recommend that you swallow once you hear those words leave her mouth," Vizsla says with a kind smile. "You may find them delicious and nutritious, after all."

>>755036
"Umm, I wouldn't say scared, so much as not wanting to get my outfit dirty," Supper says. "If Shei had tried to grab me again, then I would have given L'Etranger the order… with white fur like that, you would have needed a new coat by the end of it."

>>755033
>>755034
>>755035
>>755036
>>755037
"Duels…?" Living Saint Zoantharia asks. He glances to Gegenschein, who smiles.

But before he can answer that suggestion, Mudi looks up.

"Oh," she says. "You preempted me. I guess. It was just something of an off-the-cuff idea I had, anyway."

"Don't leave us in such suspense," Hope says.

"I was going to offer a one-on-one challenge to anyone who intended to betray me," Mudi says casually. "I would fully disclose my abilities, down to the last cantrip. I would give them as much prep time as they needed. I would let them pick favorable conditions. I would let them use any weapons, style or abilities they wanted. And if I died, I'd give them the means necessary to pick up the plan in my stead… only, if I killed them, that'd be the end of it. Nobody would get to take up the challenge after that first challenger died."

 No.755042

>>755037
>>755038
>>755041
"It was playing! We were only playing. The stark difference of culture is astounding. You have to label things like duel or sparring. When for bohemians violence and tomfoolery are another method of conversation. And I won't have you labeling my good standing with these folk with something as one-dimensional as a duel- A twinge of advice. When you see two members of the occult throwing daggers at eachother the polite thing to do is watch with amused curiosity live Vizsla does, not pick up arms in their defense."

Shei-Sher complains to their suggestions loud enough for the crowd to hear.

 No.755043

>>755042
>live Vizsla does
ahem
like Vizsla does

 No.755044

>>755041

Amy, still sitting on Shei's shoulders, drops her smile as Mudi speaks. She stares at Mudi for a while. She steps down off of Shei's shoulders.

"I never intended to betray you, and I don't want to kill you. But, I'd be interested in dueling you," Amy offers Mudi in a serious tone.

 No.755045

>>755042
"That hardly looked like tomfoolery or good standing," Pryce comments. "Just remember to not start things like that in Tartarus."

>>755041
Pryce looks over to Mudi as she offers her proposal.
"A duel wouldn't end in death. There's no need to thin numbers before the mission even begins."

 No.755046

>>755040
"Isn't it?" Shorthorns asks, genuinely curious. "I mean… I really, REALLY like him, but, we have only just met, and… such displays are encouraged to only be between those who've been recognized and approved by each other's immediate family. Neither of us really have our parents around… and, even then t…touching… touching 'you-know-what's is considered pretty provocative."

>>755041
As Supper insists she wasn't scared, and only kept the interest of keeping her outfit clean, Shorthorns gives a smug grin. "Sure… that was all there was, huh?"
She winces as she mentions how she'd need to clean her coat afterwards. "Ooooh… sounds really messy."

>>755041
Shorthorns nods at Mudi, raising up. "I am always ready to meet a duel when it is offered, though I don't know if I should be our chosen fighter I would gladly take up that challenge!"

"But…" she pauses, remembering all the hesitation she'd had before in speaking with Mudi… but also the moments of benevolence she witnessed as well. "I would not want to kill you either, I'm with Amy. Our duel would end in your defeat, but not in your death."

 No.755047

>>755046

Amy shrugs. "Traditions don't really mean anything to me."

 No.755048

>>755042
>>755041

"In either case, I am an advocate of consent for things to be play or a duel, otherwise they are ambushes." Cloak shrugs.

 No.755049

>>755048
>>755044
>>755045
>>755042
>>755046
"My conditions aren't up for negotiation," Mudi says. "It's to the death, or it's nothing. If I failed to beat you, there's no reason to believe that I would have made it to the Momentary Lake. Thus, my plan would need a successor."
"That worried about letting secrets get out?" Hope asks.
Mudi glares over at him in annoyance.
"Notice that she spelled things out quite explicitly…" Hope continues. "But said nothing about allowing an audience. You would kill your challenger in secret, leaving the rest of us to speculate in fear of how you managed to do it."
"Mmm…" Gegenschein says. "No, no, I don't think it's quite that. She's sticking to her conditions precisely because she knows the Saviors won't take her up on them. They find murder so… disagreeable. Her challenge is only to us, I imagine."
"Or perhaps to me," Vizsla says with a shrug. "But I don't see what either of us would gain from it. Death is more of an inconvenience for our kind."
Mudi narrows her eyes as the others peel apart her bluff.

 No.755050

>>755047
"Well they're important to me!" Shorthorns says a little louder than she should given the privacy she wanted. "My clan's traditions are just about the only bit of my clan I still have!"

>>755049
Shorthorns narrow as she listens to Mudi's insistence their battle be one to the very end, then to the Ecclessians as they digest her terms and determine she refers more to them than the Saviors.
Shorthorns steps forward. "If you want to try and kill one of us, you go on ahead. WE won't die. And we'll beat you without killing you, as will be our right as victors."

 No.755051

>>755049
>>755049
"Again. A meaningless and pointless excursion. The games will begin after we pass the door. Otherwise duels are a distraction to the true conversation." Shei-Sher states

 No.755052

>>755049
"So it's not a duel then, only a test," Pryce says as the others analyze her conditions. "The dragons were saying we need to be decisive, and unrelenting in our goals. If you're thinking somepony here could have the possibility of beating you in an off the cuff idea, it sounds like you're not in the mindset for Tartarus at all."

 No.755053

>>755049

"I know exactly why she made this offer," Amy says, staring down Mudi. "The important part is that it's specifically to people who 'intend to betray her'. She wants it to be to the death because if it's not, then they might not want to betray her," she explains with uncharacteristic clarity.

"But, I'm not interested in explaining more than that. It would just hurt everyone here. I have a more important question, anyway. If I win the duel, then how do you intend to force me to kill you?"

 No.755054

>>755050
>>755049
"I do not think she would consider the duel to be over if you left her alive, Shorthorned. It would also be rude to go against her terms."

Leather digresses, "Alas, as cliche as it is I would rather wait it out and let fate takes its course. To rush such a thing when more solutions could emerge later is a sin."

 No.755055

>>755053
>>755049
"Feh- Betrayal. Look at Mudi. She's poignant, she show's restraint, She wears her emotions to fit the decorum. It's the same girl that harvests the souls of children, the same girl who wishes she could put the world inside a glass ball. She justifies her actions after they happen -she still justifies them to herself. Yet she feels compelled by fate, by remorse, and ambition. She secretly welcomes betrayal as absolution for her crimes. Yet will find the same satisfaction in victory, but no absolution. She will become a nihlist as all meaning in the world pales against her raw power. Mudi I will ensure you receive your power, your absolution, and your defeat."

Shei locks eye contact with Mudi trying to see within her.
[1d10] Appraise

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.755056

>>755055

"I don't think I agree with a word you just said," Amy says thoughtfully.

 No.755057

>>755052
>>755051
"That's what I think she's trying to suss out," Lion says. "Because if anyone was so tempted by an 'off the cuff' challenge like hers, obviously they didn't have the mental fortitude to resist quick and easy temptations."
"I daresay she had this planned from the moment she stepped hoof into Fantasia Palace," Monkey says. "Not an iota of it sounds spontaneous."

>>755051
>>755052
>>755053
>>755054
>>755050
>>755055
"Because otherwise, I would kill everyone," Mudi answers Amy simply, disregarding Shei. Energy sparks about her, eventually forming a small cyclone that snaps and burns, causing her mane and clothes to flow, and her eyes to glow.

"Everyone, until I am stopped. Everyone in this room… everyone in this dungeon…"

At this, the flippancy with which the Ecclesians dismissed Mudi's challenge freezes over. The Light Brigade, who had looked ready for a surprise attack since the moment of the challenge, tense themselves. The Spiders, not so reserved as the other two factions, wear their contempt openly, and stare her down. Even Hurricanrana, and especially Supper, back away from her. As for the Saviors, they watch her with a caution that borders on fear.

"Everyone in Fantasia… everyone in the neigh… yeowch!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBq8x8tjpsQ

Busta has hit Mudi atop the head with a karate-chop. Mudi rubs the impact point, grumbling.

"Your bluff hasn't worked," Busta says. "Now you just sound weird. We have a mission to accomplish, and I'm pretty sure everyone's done eating. Let's move on, alright? There's still some artifacts to be found around here, I bet."

The others look on in disbelief.

 No.755060

>>755057

As Mudi threatens everyone, Amy smiles simply. She ignores Busta. "And, what if you couldn't do any of that?" she asks Mudi.

 No.755061

>>755057
"Hard to believe she'd be testing the rest of us so casually."

>>755057
When Mudi expands on her plan, energy crackling about, Pryce ushers KP and the pets over to him, keeping them shielded as he glares down the witch as she extends what she'd destroy.
That is, until Busta stops her simply and effectively.
"…"
He is shocked silent at the display, Busta of any of them stopping Mudi like a child right before they start throwing a tantrum.

 No.755062

>>755057
Shei looks on in disdain. He's ready to leave now. And waits for the party to move on.

 No.755063

>>755057
"I still think it worked as an effective communion despite the ending, all in all a success." Leather says, rather detached from the threat.

 No.755064

>>755054
"Well, even if she DIDN'T consider the duel to be over, if we won, what could she do about it? If she started the fight all over again, it'd just end the same way, with us winning!"

>>755057
As Mudi lets them know what would happen if they didn't follow through, and a small cyclone of energy appears around her, Shorthorns is caught off guard, taking a few steps back in shock as she reminds herself to stand her ground, looking on at Mudi with determination to meet her threats…

Before being interrupted by Busta coming in to lighten the mood, giving Mudi a bonk on the head with a buggy chop. She looks at Busta, smiles, and starts giggling uncontrollably, the sheer contrast of what could have been an incredibly dangerous situation ending so light-hearted causing her to break out in giggles.

"AHahahahah! Well, I think I know who *I* want to fight Mudi if it came to that. Clearly, Busta's in a league of his own!" She compliments the demon fly

 No.755067

>>755064
>>755063
>>755062
>>755061
>>755060
Mudi, blinking away a few tears of pain after that chop, doesn't respond to anyone, and instead slinks away.

"Hoo-hoo-hoo."

Following Shorthorned's lead, Gegenschein allows himself to laugh. He is the only one. Even Vizsla, normally so cold toward her sister, looks on in silence.

"Now that that's settled… why don't we put this bowl to good use? Galton, dear, another fruit, if you will."

Doctor Galton flies over and retrieves another large fruit of possibility from the garden walls.

"Now, then, if one of you could be so kind as to fill me in on the details of how this scrying basin operates," Gegenschein says. "We can peer about for some treasure before we face the Capo."

>Paused

 No.755344

>>755067
Shorthorn looks at Mudi as she slinks away, her laughter dying down as she actually starts to feel a little bad for the poor witch, looking around as the others silence themselves. "Hah..ah… I-I guess it wasn't really THAT funny." She looks to Mudi with an apologetic glare, hoping she sees it before Galton flies over to one of the fruits to pick it.

"Let's see…. I'm pretty sure you just crack it open and pour the juice into the basin. Then, from there, it's just… either thinking about what you want to find, or asking it aloud maybe helps. Then, you should have it working."

 No.755345

>>755067

"Given the fact that it only showed swirling darkness when scrying what our next challenge might be, there is the chance that we are not fighting literal darkness next but instead has a defense mechanism for either fate that has not come into fruition", Leather pauses to chuckle at his own incidental pun, "Or does not intend give away the maze's design in the first place. It will require more testing either way."

 No.755346

>>755067
>>755344
>>755345
>>755062

Amy stares as Mudi walks away. Amy turns to Flaming, Leather, and Cloak. "I need smarter people to help me here," she says in a quiet tone so only they can hear.

"I really think dueling Moody is a good idea."

 No.755347

Last time, on HolyQuest…

The potluck ended on a rather sour note when Mudi, picking up an errant strand of conversation about the possibility of friendly duels, offered a chance at a one-on-one battle to the death with anyone who intended to betray her in Tartarus. None took her up on it, except for Amy Thest, who then denied Mudi's stipulation that it must be to the death. Then, when Mudi doubled down, stating her intent to, in the event of her defeat, kill everyone until she was finally killed herself, Busta stepped in and embarrassed Mudi in front of everyone with a chop to the head.

>>755346
You can subtly sense Volkama and Observer's quiet indignation that they were not included in your estimation of "smarter people."

>>755345
>>755344
"Hrm…" Gegenschein says. "Then, before I have a look, why don't I ask each of you if you've all had a chance to get some treasure."
"You're the only one of us who's not picked up a relic," Holy Hours says. "Just go–"
"Now, now," Gegenschein says. "I'm not just talking about we Ecclesians, but all of us gathered, be they Witch, Light Brigade, Spider or Savior. Or, even, the Demon Lords. I'd like you all to get a chance at some before I have my pick."
The Ecclesians narrow their eyes at him, but by their expressions, they're resigned to such an eccentricity from old Gegenschein.
"How magnanimous!" Hurricanrana declares. "Hahaha! Or perhaps, you're just that confident in your power?"
"Wh-what if he just wants to control what relics the competition gets?" Supper of Crows asks.
"It's not anything so convoluted," Gegenschein says. "I just know what it's like to not get a slice of cake when everyone else has gotten one."
He looks meaningfully at the Ecclesians, whose stares of suspicion give way to flabbergasted disbelief.
"Is that what this is about…?" they all ask as one.

 No.755349

>>755347
"I have only given to to this maze, not taken. At the request of some demons, they gracefully received some of my ammunition. Given I am unlikely to find my caliber in other locations, I have been trying to be conservative with the shots I take."

 No.755350

>>755347
As she's asked if she's had a chance to acquire treasure, Shorthorns nods eagerly, showing off both her new helm and the belt she acquired from the chests she's found thus far. "A few, definitely. I figure every single one will help out once we reach Tartarus, so I've been on the look-out. I'm curious just how much of this dungeon we've really scratched the surface of so far"

She looks at the pool, "You think it'll show us everything we've yet to find?"

>>755346
She turns to look at Amy, nodding her head in agreement. "You will never find a Climbing Fire who doesn't think duels aren't a practical solution to most of life's problems. I do way better with a head on, straight forward fight than sneaking around trying to put a blanket on Mudi's head. I even feel pretty good about our chances, I just don't know about… you know… her 'terms'."

 No.755351

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>755067
"When we focused on somepony, it showed them in the basin, and then we pressed one of the runes along the edge to open the portals you all came here through. I'm not sure if it works on objects or locations though."
Pryce explains.

>>755347
"We haven't found anything, aside from this room. Just about every part of the dungeon we passed through had a trap of some kind, so it was safer to just find a way through it all before it changed up again."

 No.755352

>>755349
"I can make you zome more," Freischutz offers. "Just give me zhe numbers und I'll put my own relic to good use."

>>755349
>>755350
>>755351
"I'm inclined to agree with Cloak," Gegenschein says. "There is only so much this basin will show us. You can hardly put something like this where the ones tested by the dungeon will find it, and then not expect them to abuse it. Thus, safety mechanisms to prohibit them from spoiling the best setpieces for themselves!"
Gegenschein turns to Pryce, then gestures with a flourish toward the basin. River and Zjetya step forward with looks of curiosity.
"So… whaddya think we should look for?" Zjetya asks.

>roll 1d100 to discern a relic's location

 No.755353

>>755350

"Her terms are exactly why I want to do it. She said she'll explain everything about all of her powers. With my witch powers, I could beat her easily if I know everything about her. In fact, it makes me scared. It seems TOO perfect. She shouldn't know how my power works. But, her offer seemed so perfect for me that I feel like she made it FOR me."

 No.755354

>>755346
"I have no strong feelings towards the matter, mayhaps it will be a good idea down the line, but I personally do not believe in taking action at this very moment."

 No.755355

>>755352
Pryce looks into the basin, thinking.
"We can't be too specific, since we have no idea if what we think of then is even in this dungeon. …Though, I wonder if it could scry things on the surface as well," He ponders, getting slightly off track. "We should focus on more general things. Maybe think about something fitting for ourselves, and they the basin fill in the gaps?"
He assumes, thinking about a relic fitting for a magician as he peers over the water.
>Gacha [1d100]

Roll #1 76 = 76

 No.755356

>>755354

"I doubt she'll want to do it once we're in Tartarus…" Amy contemplates. "There's not much longer to wait."

 No.755357

>>755346
Shei meets your gaze by closing his eyes like he was vey tired. "Please don't make me put your hoof into the grave."

>>755352
Shei-Sher ambles over to the fridgerator he still has deployed and swooshes it into his cape. He then asks his malakhim who are probably loafing about "How're my boys enjoying themselves? Like the show?" he asks

 No.755358

>>755352
"Right," Shorthorns points at Gegenschein, "That seems like it would be making things way too easy, the basin is supposed to help us with finding our way but I don't think a good rule would be to allow us to use it to find everything we missed. Some of it they'd expect to find ourselves."

She looks at the basin, rubbing her chin, "It may not help us find treasure… but maybe it can help us find the means to unlock treasure?" She says, moving up to the basin. "Show me any keys I passed but missed on our way here!"
[1d100]

>>755353
"I was talking more about the 'to the death' part. Only the most absolutely serious, dire of buffalo duels get to that point, Vortigern and I swore we wouldn't push it that far. But if Mudi's determined to make it to the death, how would we stop her?"

Roll #1 46 = 46

 No.755359

>>755352
"It would much appreciate, Sir Freischutz- while I believe Sir Pryce has the ability also generate matter with his magics, I am dismayed he will not be joining us for the journey proper. If you require exact dimensions, I do recall 20×139mm were the exact proportions."

Cloak also peers into the basin, trying his luck in finding a useful trinket.
[1d100]

>>755356
"Did she explicitly give a timeframe? I imagine she would be duty bound if presented later."

Roll #1 11 = 11

 No.755360

>>755357

"You've seen what my power can do. If I know what someone can do, I can take it away from them. She said that before the fight starts, she'd tell me every single thing about what she can do. I can take it all away from her."

"It FEELS like this is the easiest way to do what we want. If I don't do this now, it'll be SO much harder to learn enough to steal her power."

>>755358

"I've never wanted to kill her. That's why it's so perfect. Anyone else doing it would make her stronger. Because they'd be betraying her. But, I'd fight her, steal everything that makes her strong, then I win the duel. I don't need to kill her because she'd be too weak to do anything. And, I'd do it FOR her. So that she doesn't have to be all messed up like she is now."

 No.755361

>>755360
"Hm. Call me a skeptic if you must but I am having some doubts."

 No.755362

>>755361

Amy furrows her brow. "Doubts about what?"

 No.755363

>>755362
"Doubts about whether you're suicidal or only that you make suicidal decisions."

 No.755364

>>755355
Beneath the surface, you can see a long and thin box, seated upon a pedestal, in a small chamber at the bottom of what appears to be a long and oil-slicked tunnel, a most devious trap. Heaps of bone dust surround the pedestal.
"That's… reassuring," Zjetya says.
"I suppose we won't be able to sense any curses or search for traps until we're in front of the thing," River says. "Shall we risk it?"

>>755357
"Make sure that guy gets out alive," the Triangle malak whispers, gesturing over to Rooster. "His musical powers are quite nifty. We'd recruit him into our band but now seems an inopportune time."
"If we can get him on our tour, we'll rule the scene," the violin malak concurs.

>>755358
In short succession, you're shown a series of hidden keys; embedded in walls, hidden under rugs, in vases, between floorboards, inside of statues' heads and mounted armorsets' chestpieces. 15 in all.

>>755359
Freischutz nods and goes off with Anzu down the tower some distance to work with a bit of privacy.

Your look into the basin reveals a dark-looking cup, once ornate, but not bruised, beaten, slots visible in its sides where jewels and other adornments were embedded, but now plundered by many thieves. It sits in a reliquary of glass, deep in a tomb, surrounded by many rows of caskets.

 No.755365

>>755363

Amy's furrowed brow goes from confusion to suspicion. "Says the god determined to die," she says in an annoyed tone. "You just don't want me to because it doesn't fit with your silly plan you won't tell anyone about."

"If you ACTUALLY thought it was a bad idea, you would have given a reason. You always have reasons. But, you don't have one."

 No.755366

>>755364
"This seems almost designed against me," Pryce comments, seeing an oil-slicked tunnel with his main focus being in fire magic. "I did think of something fitting for myself, so it's worth a shot. I think we can avoid the worst of whatever is in there if we take it slow."
Pryce says, pressing one of the runes to see if a portal can be opened to this location.

 No.755367

>>755360
"…That does all make sense to me, yeah, I think you're on the right trail. The logic makes total sense to me, but… well, what if she takes the 'to the death' thing so seriously she, doesn't give you a choice?"

"Like… if she loses, what if she… you know… enforces the rule herself?"

>>755364
Shorthorn looks around at all the keys hidden, smirking as she quickly summons a parchment paper and quill from the solid ground beneath her using her sphere to create them, and drawing pictures of every single key she sees and passes them out to ever one.

"That's a lot of keys, and then just as many doors that they open! Everyone take one picture and look for that key, and we'll have this dungeon completely cleared within the hour, I'm sure of it!"

 No.755368

>>755367

Amy pauses a while to think. "I guess I'd have to talk her out of it… It wouldn't be easy, though…"

 No.755369

>>755364
"Ooo, a sepulcher," Cloak notes, "If I were another variety of paladin, this might be easier."
>>755367
>>755364
Leather looks to see if any of the key's locations look similar to where the tomb is.
[1d10] passive perception

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.755370

>>755366
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cCaVy3_Nl0

With the push of a key, you open the portal, and River and Zjetya stand beside it, making ready to enter at your lead.

>>755367
>>755369
Cloak spies over the keys, until he sees one that appears to be of the same make and design as the brass bars comprising the frame of the reliquary.

Each of the other Saviors takes a key illustration for themselves from Flaming, making ready to head out.

 No.755371

>>755364
"Vah! Preying on our competition. The band lives. But we'll hardly rule anything if you gents can't manage your time signatures." Shei opens his cape for the malakhim "You know where this goes. Off to practice. I'll summon you if there's any trouble."

Shei also points a hoof to Bass "And you don't forget I still have you under commission for a toy to distract me from the static."

>>755365
"Then obviously I must be an expert on the subject, seeing how close I've come." Shei put's a hoof on Amy "Aaamy." He says exasperated, with a deep confounding exhale. "You know I'm terrified for your sake. No fights to the death until we're in Tartarus can we do that?"

 No.755372

>>755371

"If we wait until Tartarus, it becomes harder! Not just because it's Tartarus, but because then she won't tell me about all her powers! Besides, it's only to the death if I lose."

"What makes your way better? What aren't you telling me?"

 No.755373

>>755368
"Right… that's what I'm worried about too. I don't doubt that if we put our heads and guts behind it, we can beat Mudi in a duel if she tells us all of her abilities, but… I'm worried about 'her' when I really think about it."

>>755369
>>755370
Shorthorn grabs one for herself, not entirely sure which one it may lead to but hoping some of them may be interchangeable across the dungeon as a whole. "Alright, that's been enough of a potluck. Back to the grind!" She says, preparing to go back down the spire. "I think one person probably should stay here, sort of as a look-out while the rest of us navigate the dungeon. You can call us out through the basin and re-direct us if we need, any volunteers?"

 No.755374

>>755370
Pryce steps towards the tunnel, heading through to looks over the tunnel. KP quickly follows behind after, sticking by the portal.
In the tunnel, Pryce's horn glows, checking the oil and attempting to unweave any magic in it, to see if the substance itself is the trap.
>Unweaving [1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.755375

>>755370
>>755373
"Ideally I'd not want to go alone to my section, so I could be patient and act as overwatch until one of you has done your section of exploration. The chalice I spied seems to have been there a long time, and it is unlikely to leave in the next few hours." Leather shrugs, remaining at the basin.

 No.755376

>>755364
>>755370
Shei-Sher tries his luck with the crying basin. He scrys for a peculiarity that'd entertain him enough.

>Looking for a relic that'll allow the application of Godly affinities (DARK.LIGHT.LIFE.DEATH) onto skills without having to roll for a succesful application of the Godly affinity.


[1d100]

>>755372
"Well for one it isn't good for anyone's plans if you did die early. And two there's more confusion in Tartarus and more hungry demons to enlist. The preparation for battle hasn't ended yet, but we can't play our hand too early. If you could defeat Mudi as you are, then you have nothing to worry about waiting a little longer for your duel."

Roll #1 73 = 73

 No.755377

>>755376
[just read in discord, general requests only]
>Looking for a relic that makes it more difficult to hurt Shei

 No.755378

>>755371
The bass malak reminds you that he wants to negotiate the royalty terms before the commission is done, then the band heads in for practice.

>>755374
Nothing seems to happen; it might just be authentic oil. River and Zjetya stick close by, carrying the pets in their arms.

>>755373
>>755375
>>755376
"I doubt you'll be alone," Renee says to Cloak. She gestures about the room, and you can see that none of the others, not from the Light Brigade, nor from the Spiders, nor from the Witches of Gehenna, nor even the Ecclesians, have taken up Gegenschein's offer of going before him.
"So, it's just us, then?" Busta asks.
"Looks that way," Flow says. "And as we're last in line, everyone else will get to peep at what we bring back."
"No wonder they'd rather not go in for seconds," Volkama says. "All right, we may as well put on a good show if we're going to have such an audience."

The others line up to have a look into the scrying basin…

>>755376
>>755377
During your turn to look in, you see what Cloak saw… probably a suggestion of what that beat-up chalice might be capable of.

 No.755379

>>755378
"Hmm. Alright, so it might just be a slick tunnel to push you into traps more easily then."
Pryce spreads his wings, taking the easier route of flying through the tunnel, but then KP steps forward.
>"Wait! I got an idea!"
He waves his staff, and uses the ice magic to freeze all the oil down the tunnel solid.
>Freeze Oil [1d10]
>Wendigo's Whinny: Recharge 2 +1 per additional target; Sprays a wall of ice from the caster to the target(s) and can target up to three foes. Deals elemental ice damage, in addition to creating a barrier of solid ice that can be used to block off areas. Ice wall is DC 6 to climb around if it does not reach to a ceiling, and DC 8 to break through. This can be used out of combat to freeze objects and create wintery conditions out of combat.

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.755380

>>755376

Amy contemplates this for a moment. "The issue is that I CAN'T just beat Moody whenever. I need to learn all sorts of things about her. And, I'm bad at learning. I'm bad at lying. And, she won't tell me anything without good lying. Except right now, she's OFFERING to give me everything I need to beat her."

"If you REALLY don't want me to do this, then I need your help. You need to find out about all of Moody's abilities and tell them to me. This isn't going to work any other way. Can you do that for me?"

>>755378

"Wait, are we using the crying jar to look for cool treasures?" Amy asks, only suddenly paying attention.

"I doubt there's anything else that could help me, but I guess I'll look if everyone else is…"

 No.755381

>>755379
You freeze the tunnel to make travel safer.

 No.755382

>>755378
"I care not if the effects of an artifact is revealed to those before us, I will no doubt have to show the effect sometime in Tartarus anyways." Leather shrugs, "Very well, I will wait and see if the same area is shown to anyone else scrying before going forth."

 No.755383

>>755375
>>755378
Shorthorns looks at them all of them holding off from going before Gegenschein. She snorts, not concerned with such things as waiting to see if others give her an advantage. "Well, if no one else will, I'll take him up on his offer to go first. I'm not one to just sit back and wait to see what spoils others find just to pounce on 'em!"

She moves up to the basin, looking for an area leading to both the key that she had found in her previous scrying attempt, and then to open the basin's means of transportation to send her there so she may claim it."
[1d100]

Roll #1 97 = 97

 No.755385

>>755380
>>755378
Shei's face scrunches with annoyance as Amy suddenly ditches homework on him. Not that he doesn't like homework but it's a little too late for notice "Oh for fucks sake- Fine! Nevermind, you're right. Go have Mudi kill you I can resurrect you from the dead anyways." He pinches his forehead and brings himself to pat Amy on the head "Have fun sweetheart. Just make sure your body is still there for me okay."

The part where Shei mentions he can resurrect Amy from the dead is said loudly enough in frustration that anyone else in the room likely heard him.

>>755382
>>755378
"Um yeah." Shei waves a hoof "I believe I saw what you saw. Chalice in a reliquary. Shall we?"

Shei binds a spell into his mind. When he last appraised Mercury he revealed tremendous insight into the nature of the dungeons and possibly the a map of it's network. In his minds eye he searches for the location of the reliquary relative to their current destination.

>LIGHT.IV

[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.755495

>>755385
In a vision, you discern that the reliquary is high above you, off on a branch of the dungeon that twirls away from the main body, like a twig upon a branch of a sprawling bush.

When the vision fades, you see that all twelve Ecclesians have you completely surrounded, and that Doctor Galton and Sir Gegenschein stand directly before you.

"Terribly sorry to interrupt, my boy," Gegenschein says.
"We just had a few questions," Galton adds. "About this resurrection of yours."

>>755383
You push one of the stone buttons on the basin's outer rim, and a portal opens in the paths between the garden's hedge walls to give you access.

>>755382
>>755380
>>755381
>>755379
While the Ecclesians gang up on Shei, the Saviors line up to the scrying basin to get the locations of the keys that Shorthorned found.
"B-b-b-bullying and peer pressure are wrong," Supper of Crows meekly mutters to the Ecclesians.
They do not respond, save for Rooster, who reaches over with his trunk and pats her head.
Desert Lamp sighs. "You tried," she says to comfort Supper.

 No.755496

>>755385
>>755495

"Oh!" Amy says as her face lights up. "Well, that makes things WAY easier! Why didn't you say you could do that earlier! There's nothing to worry about at all, then!"

Amy bounces away in the direction Mudi went.

 No.755497

>>755496
Before you can get near Mudi, Vizsla steps between the two of you.
"The offer is rescinded," Vizsla deadpans. "Mudi was deeply in error when she went off on her idiotic tangent there. I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment."

 No.755498

>>755497

"I want to hear her say it, then," Amy says, sidestepping Vizsla.

 No.755499

>>755498
Vizsla just turns and, ignoring you altogether, stares directly at Mudi.

Mudi, who you see sitting by herself on the edge of the tower, looks back, as if she can feel Vizsla's eyes on the back of her head. Upon seeing you, she frowns, and waves you off. "Go. It's not on the table. I was wrong to ever offer it."

Busta looks over, wringing his hands together with indecision and a bit of regret.

 No.755500

>>755499

Amy frowns. "Okay. If you say so. I'm not interested in betraying or killing you, anyway. But, I still thought it was a good idea."

"That's kinda your whole thing, though. You have good ideas, but you're really bad at presenting them," Amy says with a shrug. "I still like you, though. And, obviously people like your ideas enough to be here."

 No.755501

>>755500
Mudi turns away once more, facing down so that her hair covers her eyes. You can hear her teeth grinding as words, incapable of finding expression, are trapped, and die in her throat.

Vizsla hasn't broken her stare. Not once has she looked at anyone else besides Mudi. Busta, shivering, takes a step towards Vizsla… but freezes in his tracks, unable to advance any further for fear.

 No.755502

>>755501

Amy glances awkwardly between Viszla and Mudi.

Then, she shrugs. "Well, that's all, I guess. Good luck with everything, Moody! I'll do my best to make sure everything turns out perfect for all of us!"

With that, Amy turns to leave. But, after a few steps, she stops. Without turning, she says, "And Viszla… stay out of my way," she says in a far more serious tone, a low growl behind her words.

Then, in her more usual cheery tone, she gives a wave over her shoulder and says, "By Moody, bye Vizzy, bye Busta!"

 No.755686

>>755495
Shei's face goes pale once his senses return. Much like being startled awake, though he fails to react dramatically about it. "This wouldn't happen to be an intervention would it?"

His eyes shift left and right suspiciously.

 No.755687

>>755495
>>755495
As the portal opens up, Shorthorns nods and prepares to step through it, heading off back into the dungeon as she whistles towards Stone Patience. "Hey Stone, want to come with me on this one?"
>Going through the portal

>>755502
As Amy heads away from the witches, Shorthorn's ears twitch as she watches what appears to be a heated exchange. "What was that about?"

 No.755688

>>755686
"More of an interview," Holy Hours says.
"We just wish to know how this resurrection of yours functions," Doctor Galton says. "Its reagants, its requirements, its limitations, its capabilities."

>>755687
The portal deposits you in what appears to be a dead end of a corridor. However, you know from the basin that there's a key buried in the wall somewhere around here. You need only to get past this wall somehow… preferably without destroying the key.

Patience Stone rides atop your head, while Spark rubs his head and back against Patience's sharper edges to scratch his itches.

 No.755689

>>755385
>>755686
"Maychance it be best I get a head start towards the sepulcher, Shei. I will leave you to this conversation and I'm sure you can use your myriad of abilities to find me on the way there."
Leather says, not wishing to sit through this conversation.

 No.755690

>>755688
Shorthorns looks up at Spark and Stone as they make themselves comfortable atop her curly-haired head. She smirks, "Well, if you two are up there, guess that means I can't just knock this wall out of my way… I could use my spheres, but, let's see if there's a trick here first."

She moves up against the wall, pushing up against bricks and sliding her hooves across it to see for switch or trick to it.
[1d10] Perception

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.755691

>>755688
>"More of an interview," Holy Hours says.
"Well then! That's quite a WELCOMED change of pace." Shei-Sher's eyes light up. He pulls a director's chair out of seemingly no-where and begins ad libbing some good PR.

"Now the name of the band hasn't been finalized yet but we're leaning heavily toward something macabre, something spiritual but also something silly-"

But his enthusiasm wanes once Doctor Galton's words reach him late in thought "Oh -vah-" His face winges into a sour disposition "That's what you want to know? hm" Shei scratches behind his ear "I've never been one to give something up for free."

Shei brings his hoof up waving it around until his pointer lands on Rooster "Ummm you. Give me something. It can be anything and I'll give you some answers."

>>755689
"Leather! You can't leave me with this crowd." But alas it wasn't within Shei's power to break away from an interview. He'll follow after you in a bit."

 No.755692

>>755687

"She changed her mind," Amy shrugs.

>>755688

Amy waits her turn to have some fun with the crying jar!

 No.755693

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>755381
"Good job," Pryce says to KP as all the oil is frozen, impressed at his younger self's quick thinking. KP beams happily at the success.

"You three stay here, I'll see if it's safe," He says to River, Zjetya, and KP as he spreads his wings to fly down the frozen hallway.
>Flight [1d10]

>>755495
KP turns his head back, looking through the portal as he hears the confrontation around Shei.
>"What's going on back there?"

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.755694

>>755690
You feel around, and identify a loose brick in the wall. It comes out with a smidgen of finagling, and as you clear out the dust and the pitch around where the brick once was, you find a key… the handle is shaped like the head of a chicken. How strange.

Spark and Patience lick their lips.

>>755691
Rooster gives you a pat on the head. The Ecclesians patiently await your answer.

>>755692
Once the rest of the Saviors pick their portals and get to work with their end of the scavenging, the floor is yours for the taking.

>>755693
You fly down to the bottom of the pit, where the long thin chest awaits. Zjetya and River lean down above the pit's opening, nervously awaiting your verdict.

 No.755695

>>755691
>>755694
Cloak also tries out the portal summoning as to scout ahead before Shei follows, focusing on the aforementioned sepulcher.

 No.755696

>>755694

>rolling to find a relic that does something better than making wrath have no cooldown while in Mystic Animal Totem

>[1d100]

Roll #1 80 = 80

 No.755697

>>755695
The portal opens, providing you a pathway to the sepulchre where the beaten old chalice awaits you.

 No.755698

>>755692
"About the duel?" Shorthorns asks, her ears flattening a little. "That's weird, she sounded so sure of it earlier. I thought it sounded like a good idea."

>>755694
Pulling out the key from the loose brick, Shorthorns grins in anticipation as she looks at it in her hoof. "There you are…" she pauses, looking at the handle with a curious look. "…a chicken? Huh… none of those doors earlier with the animal symbols on them had a chicken, I don't think."

She pockets the key, shouting up towards the ceiling of the hallway, "Hey, whoever's at the basin watching this: can you still hear me? I need you to look around and see if you see anything involve a chicken in the dungeon!"

 No.755699

>>755694
Shei fluffs his hair with one hoof where he was patted "That's very much appreciated but it has to be something you care about. I can start my reputation as a generous god but I won't doing it for free. Now like I said it can be anything. Give me your last piece of candy, or your favorite trading card. As long as you're attached to it- it's a fine deal."

 No.755700

>>755694
Pryce hovers by the chest, nothing happened yet, but the piles of bone dust round the chest still leave concern of a further trap on the chest itself. "Wait up there, there might be just a little more still…" He calls up. His horn glows, attempting to remove any curses or spells on the chest, while he sings a song of protection to prepare himself after.
>Unweaving [Chest] [1d10]
>Hymn of the Cedar-Tree Shrine [Self] [1d10]
>Instant, Spell, Recharge 3 after effect ends: Massively increases the target's resistance to all forms of damage for a very brief period. On success, the target will only take 1 Hit of damage from each applicable source of damage that hits them. This lasts for 2 turns, or 3 on a critical hit.

Roll #1 2 = 2 / Roll #2 4 = 4

 No.755701

>>755697
Saying a short prayer and blessing himself, Leather walks into the portal.

>A Vision of Grandeur: Instant; Recharge 1 after effect ends; Choose 1 ally. For the next 4+1 turns, you and that ally gain +2 to all rolls made against all enemies that target you, either with a normal roll, or an Instant roll-to-dodge attack, regardless of whether or not that enemy's attack is successful.

[1d10]

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.755702

>>755701
>can't vision one person, meant to Strength

>I Dream of Strength: Instant; Recharge 1; Enhances the target's combat abilities until the end of combat. Every attack they land will do 1 extra hit of damage. Every attack made against them will do 1 less hit of damage, to a minimum of 1. This effect stacks with itself to a maximum of 3 successes.

 No.755703

>>755699
As you ask for candy, the Ecclesians all uniformly look at Freischutz and Anzu. The two gasp with the pain of betrayal.

"Traitorz, every lazt vone of you!" Freischutz growls, and clenches her teeth.
Anzu just sniffles and dabs at her eyes with a tissue.

The two rifle through their bags until they drop some satchels before you. Inside you see rock candy, taffy, and caramel in various assortments.

>>755698
"Hold on," River's voice replies. After a few moments, you hear her again. "Yes, alright, come on back, I think I've got something."

>>755700
If there is an enchantment upon the chest, you'll have to do better than that to remove it.

>>755702
You prepare yourself and step through, into the sepulchre, but no foe rises to attack you. The reliquary awaits, its glass walls seemingly offering no resistance against thieves and bandits.

>>755696
As you look into the basin, you uncover a room that has no floorstones to speak of. Rather, only dirt covers the floor. It looks as though the dirt wouldn't be too difficult to dig through; perhaps something is buried down there…

 No.755704

>>755703

Amy follows her doggy instincts and digs!

 No.755705

>>755704

[1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.755706

>>755703
Pryce takes a breath to clear his mind, horn glowing brightly again to unwind any magic on the chest.
>Unweaving [1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.755707

>>755703
Shorthorns nods as River's voice responds through the walls, waiting for the portal back to the Basin to re-open (Shorthorns wonders if she could open a Corridor as well) before walking through it, giving the key to Spark for very safe keeping… though she thinks to say, "Patience, even if it looks like a chicken, try to keep Spark from nibbling on it, okay?"

After coming through the portals, she looks to River. "Think you found something? What is it, a giant monster-chicken pen?"

 No.755708

>>755703
Giving no immediate hostilities, Cloak takes a deep breath, focuses on the enviroment, and looks investigates the room without moving for any arcane or mechanical hazard.

[1d10] danger sense

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.755709

>>755703
"Hah! That's what I like to see." Shei relishes in their anguish as they are forced to give up their valuables.

Shei-Sher drapes his cape over the bags of candy dragging the cape back leaving only the satchel of rock candy before him "You can keep the rock candy."

>*Bags of various assortments of candy stored in Shei's cape


"Alright then, my mantra is named Qlipphoth I inherited it from my kindling. Or maybe better said the kindling extracted the potential from my mortal self. It requires the soul and body be present, a living sacrifice of healthy quality, and the utterance of secret mantras. When Busta died on our way surfing beneath the dungeon depths I came to his limp corpse and pulverized the demons surrounding us into milky magasutchi whilst I played a ballad on my guitar. When I was done he came back to life. Satisfied?"

 No.755710

>>755704
You sniff about as you explore the dirt, and the ugly stench of rusted metal steers you clear from what is doubtlessly a plethora of traps buried beneath the dirt. But, when you sense the scent of magic, you know you've found your treasure, and dig deep. Eventually, you unearth a small chest, and find it unlocked. Inside, sitting upon a light cushion, is a rather small dagger, a deep brass shade. At its tip, you can see that it is hollow. An evil magic can be felt residing within.

>>755706
You dispel the curse upon the chest, and, after confirming that no other traps await you, you pry open the chest after wrestling with some metal joints rusted by age. Inside is an old wooden wand, and upon the handle is a carven image of a chimera.

>>755708
You don't observe any traps or sense any curses around here. Perhaps out of respect for the interred, this chamber might not contain any hazards.

>>755707
Spark's instincts as a dragon appear to outweigh his appetite, and he obediently clutches onto the key with his foreclaws.

River points to another portal which she has opened, as the one behind you closes. You poke your head through the portal, and find that you were really not that far off…

Inside is a large round chamber. A great drake sleeps on a pedestal in the center, and a number of smaller drakes sleep along the ground. Stone eggs of various sizes and shapes lay beneath them. It's worth noting that these drakes look categorically different from Salt, Sulfur, Mercury and the other alchemical dragons; these drakes are probably not sapient.

Beneath the great dragon is a chest.

River tugs you back to her side of the portal. "That's what I saw when I sought out something relating to your chicken-key."

>>755709
"YOU WILL LIVE TO REGRET TORMENTING MY FRIENDS," Rooster warns.

The Ecclesians look tremendously disappointed as you mention that Qliphoth requires a sacrifice.

"Then a true resurrection, it is not…" Galton observes. "Very well. You can go on as you are."

 No.755711

>>755710

"Ooooh! Neat!" Amy says with a wag of her tail as she takes the dagger and heads back through the portal.

 No.755712

>>755710
Pryce looks down into the chest after prying it open, glancing over the old wand. He reaches down carefully, picking up the relic and flying back up the tunnel to join back with the others.

 No.755713

>>755710
Shei stands up from his seat, absolutely giddy "We'll live long enough to torment eachother friend! Ahahaha" Shei strolls off with a skip in his step. The fresh sacrifice giving him a boost of pep.

He promptly jumps into the portal to follow after Leather.

 No.755714

>>755710
Shorthorns smiles proudly at Spark as he holds onto the key dutifully and protectfully, as she steps through the portal back to the basin, and then briefly into the next one ever as her eyes practically bug out of her socket at the sight of so many drakes in one room, in particular at the size of the great dragon in the center.

To River, she lets out a breath of exhaustion, "You weren't kidding… I guess with all the eggs it's the first thing I'd think of with a chicken as well. I don't know if I could take them all on in a fight, but I figure I shouldn't have to if I play my horns right. Keep the portal open in case I need to come back…" Shorthorns says as she leaves through the portal towards the drakes, stepping carefully to avoid waking any.

[1d10] Stealth to get as close to the chest as I can without waking them

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.755715

>>755710
Cloak offers a small benediction before approaching the chalice, "May those that came before me that built this great labyrinth rest knowing it's efficacy and expense knows no bounds, and may it continue to hold in the tides of demons of the dark world it safeguards. I acquiesce this chalice in the name of protecting those that live above, as to give it renewed purpose."

After bowing his head reverently, he goes to snatch the chalice up.

 No.755716

>>755714
You sneak up to the chest, and manage to unlock and open it while only making the faintest of sounds. Inside, you find a peculiar metalwork contraption, fashioned in the shape of a chicken's claw, with adjustable talons.

>>755711
>>755712
You meet back up with everyone else. Already the other Saviors are coming back, minus the keys Shorthorned helped them find, and plus some treasures of their own.

>>755715
>>755713
Shei enters the sepulchre just as Cloak opens the reliquary door, and retrieves the chalice. No curse afflicts him, and no traps skewer him. But a powerful enchantment can be felt upon the chalice itself.

 No.755717

>>755713
>>755716
Gently handling the chalice, Leather turns to Shei, fetching the picture of the key given to him, "There is additional treasure here, should we find where this key is stashed away."

Leather gets to looking for the hidden loot rather than immediately work to figure out the properties of the chalice.
[1d10] search

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.755718

>>755716
As she opens up the chest beneath the great drake, Shorthorns looks at the tiny, metal contraption with a curious eye as she carefully reaches inside to pull it out from its container. She thinks to herself
>"A metal talon…? I guess it really suits the key, huh. What could it do…?"
[1d10+1] Physical action

Roll #1 7 + 1 = 8

 No.755719

>>755716
>>755713

As soon as Amy arrives, she goes about seeking out Shei. "Sheeeei!" she calls out, looking around for him.

 No.755720

>>755716
>>755717
"A fine day, candy and treasure." Shei-Sher trains an eye on the chalice, unraveling it's secrets.

>appraise

[1d10]

"So- what sort of traps did you dodge when capturing this relic?"

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.755721

>>755720
"I offered a small blessing to the creators these halls and no harm befell me." Leather responds simply.

 No.755722

>>755718
You sense Spark leaving your head, and look up in time to see him flying curiously toward the great drake above him. However, you reach out in time to grab hima nd prevent him from blowing your cover.

 No.755723

>>755716
>"So what was down there?"
KP greets as Pryce steps back onto the plateau.
"A wand, though I'm not sure what it does."
Pryce steps over to the side, plucking a fruit from one of the vines and floating it a distance away for safety. He takes the new wand in hoof, and gives it a flick to the fruit to see what it does.

 No.755724

>>755717
>>755719
>>755720
Cloak studies the room as best he can without defiling any graves, and concludes without a doubt that there's nothing more worth taking in here. As he and Shei leave to go check another area, they go back through the portal, where Amy awaits.

>>755723
It has no effect on the fruit.
"Hrm…" Zjetya says. "Maybe try something on one of us?"
"Or he could try it upon the mighty shield he can summon ad nauseum despite how many times it's destroyed?" River offers.
"Or on me," Estuary offers. "He couldn't kill me even when he was going all out. I should be fine."

 No.755725

>>755724
>>755720

"Shei!" Amy shouts excitedly while she carries in her hoof a dagger with a dark ominous glow! She jumps at Shei and hugs him, nearly stabbing him with the dagger.

Then, she lets him go and holds the dagger up. "What's this do?" she asks simply.

 No.755726

>>755725
>>755724

"I imagine it could be used to cut bread or inflict stab wounds." Leather offers, following with Shei.

 No.755727

>>755724
>>755721
"An entirely uneventful heist. But I will be damned to not tell the story someday."

>>755725
"Amy-" Is all Shei says before she can glomp him. In response he tries to get a good look at the dagger "Okay, but bear with me. My abilities aren't all there as of late."

>appraise

[1d10] appraise Amy's dagger

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.755728

>>755724
"I don't think that's the best idea," Pryce comments as Zjetya suggestions trying it on one of them. He looks to Estuary as he chimes in. "And I wasn't trying to kill you either during that."

 No.755729

>>755726
>>755727

In response to Leather, Amy looks at the knife pensively, still in her outstretched hoof. Then, she looks back up at Shei.

"What does the dark glow do?" she asks in the same tone as before.

 No.755730

>>755722
As Spark begins to leave her head, Shorthorns stifles a 'gasp' and grabs him with her hoof, pulling him down and quickly departing the cavern of drakes back to the portal as she whispers,
"Spark, I know you could TOTALLY take that big drake, no question, but we're not really in a good position to be starting a brawl with all of 'em right now. Save it for later, okay? You can totally beat them up then."

She tells her young dragon, before making it through the portal, holding up the chicken-talon gleefully as she shouts (now free of the dragons) "I GOT IT!"

 No.755731

>>755726
>>755725
>>755727
>Bloodseed
>Single; By wounding an enemy capable of bleeding, and then pouring the blood captured onto fertile soil, you can grow a plant that sprouts a copy of that enemy's head from the vine. They cannot act, but they know what the original enemy knows, and can be questioned. They are just about as mentally resilient as the original enemy.

>And, throwing in the Chalice because why not

>The Chalice of the Centurion
>Recharge 3; Automatic Instant; The holder of the chalice can designate a target at any point during their turn. This turn, they will take all damage meant for that target. All damage taken through this effect is the original value of that damage; it cannot be modified by any factor, such as Attribute Relationships, Crits or Critfails, damage negating effects, etc.

>>755730
>>755728
Spark nips your horns with disappointment.

"Colt, no scientific knowledge was ever advanced without a willingness to test things on people!" Volkama declares, walking over to the wand. After studying it for a time, he hands it back, with the following information.

>Rod of Chimeramorph

>Recharge 2; Instant; Ranged; Spell; change some aspect of the target's body, such as a limb, into that of an animal whose appearance you know. This can change the entire body, but requires a roll of 8+. Any equipment they have is NOT morphed to accommodate their new form. This can be a hindrance, such as for armored foes. To work, this spell must hit the target on an exposed portion of their body.

 No.755732

>>755731
Shorthorns sticks her tongue out at Spark to tease him, before watching Volkama give a diagnostic on Pryce's wand.
"That thing can turn ordinary parts into animal parts?" She smirks, "That's pretty cool: I wonder if you can mix and match a whole bunch of animals, with a name like 'chimeramorph' I would figure you could."

She holds up the metal chicken claw for Volkama to see, "Me next, please?"

 No.755733

>>755731
>>755729
>>755726
Shei briefly explains what each of the items do as he appraises them for his friends.

Shei chews on some taffy "So, are we all ready to treat with the capo then?"

 No.755734

>>755733

"Hmmm," Amy whines. "That's kinda funny, but I don't have any use for that. You can have it," Amy says as she tosses the dagger in Shei's direction.

 No.755735

>>755734
"If anything it should make a fine souvenir for mother." Shei pockets the dagger

 No.755736

>>755731
"Testing unknown relics on those you care about is not something to do lightly," Pryce retorts as Volkama takes the wand to examine. When he hands it back with the info, Pryce looks it over. "That explains the chimera…"
He thinks a moment, then gives the wand a flick towards River, giving her some proper fangs instead of wooden ones after their conversation earlier.
>Rod of Chimeramorph [River Fangs] [1d10]

>>755732
"I imagine I could, given enough time."
>"Yea, you could pull off all kinds of crazy stuff with it I bet!"
KP adds in.

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.755737

>>755731
>>755733
"How interesting, a shame it doesn't do anything to drinks."
Leather nods, "I am ready when others are."

 No.755738

>>755732
>Chickenscratch
>This weapon has two effects, and their recharges are independent of one another;
>Spell; Recharge 3; When this claw is used to scratch upon a structural surface, such as a wall, floor, ceiling, etc., there will appear an item useful to the current situation behind that structure.
>Spell; Weapon; Recharge 4; When this claw is used to scratch upon an enemy, there will appear a spectral chicken that will rabidly attack that enemy's astral form, until the chicken is dispelled by some non-physical means. During the time that the chicken is active, the affected enemy loses 1 action per turn per chicken. The chickens are not considered minions, cannot attack, and have no H/W.

>>755736
There is no effect. River waits patiently.

>>755733
>>755734
>>755735
>>755736
>>755737
>>755732
The last of the Saviors comes back with their treasure. Now that everyone else is back, Gegenschein peers over the basin, humming to himself. "You folks go ahead and go along," he says. "This will not take me very much time. I'll be back before you know it."

 No.755739

>>755737
>>755738
"I have another chalice here that can incense a colt with a pretty good high." Shei retrieves the stone tartarian chalice from his cape, waving it toward Leather.

[It's the one we used to get an aspect after the tower of slavery. It gave everyone a trip.]

Assume that Shei follows the party through the scrying portal when ready.

 No.755740

>>755738
>>755737
>>755739
>>755736
>>755732

"Finally! We get to give the Cuccoo his dinner!" Amy says with an excited wag of her tail. "I hope he likes it! I made the menu myself!"

 No.755741

>>755738
>>755740
Shorthorns looks at the Chickenscratch as Volkama explains it's function, fairly familiar and impressed with its first ability, but somewhat confused with the second. Before she has a chance to test it on Shei to see how it works, she looks on as the last of the Saviors return, turning to look at Gegenschein as he tells them to go on ahead. "Are you sure? If so… then alright, let's get moving."

She turns to look at Amy, raising her eyebrow. "Maybe I'm forgetting something, the Cuccuoo….?"

 No.755742

>>755738
>>755740
>>755739
Leather nods but has little else to add, following along.

 No.755743

>>755741

"He's the guy who opens the gates!" Amy says sagely.

 No.755744

>>755738
Pryce turns the wand in his hoof, giving it another flick to try.
>Rod of Chimeramorph [Fangs for River] [1d10]

>>755738
"Are you sure? It seemed when we picked you all up one group was already at the end."
Pryce asks as Gegenschein tells them all to go along.

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.755745

>>755742
Shei holds out the chalice long enough for Leather to ignore his offer "…Taste it now, or taste it later. Death never goes bad."

 No.755746

>>755744
Before your eyes, River Spring transforms into a changeling.

Zjetya looks on in shock and awe, while River, apparently unaware, looks down with her head tilted upward, trying to see what her new fangs looks like. She gingerly pokes them with her tongue, keenly avoiding slicing herself on her new sharp teeth.

>>755739
>>755740
>>755741
>>755742
>>755744
Using the scrying basin, you make a portal for Mercury's chamber, the second to lowest level in the entirety of the dungeon. The room, plain and stony, is peculiarly round, and many stairway paths from above spiral downward into it, like some kind of peculiar alchemical device…

Upon stepping out of the portal into it, you see the Mercury Dragon floating there, across the other side of a deep chasm, which was not there before.

"Ordinarily, I would stop you here and ask my final question, but it appears that someone has gotten quite impatient," Mercury says, pointing with his tail into the chasm. The edge of the chasm is perfectly rounded, and there's a peculiar force subtly pulling you to the rounded edge.

"Someone after my own heart, after all," Mercury says. "Well, he's spoken, so I will just have to wait until later. You'd best not keep him waiting."

 No.755747

>>755746
"I still would not mind hearing it." Cloak replies politely, "Unless you find it an inconvenience."

 No.755748

>>755746
Pryce's eyes widen in surprise as River completely transforms. "Uh… Huh. This is a pretty powerful wand," He mutters. He tucks the wand away, and slides off his bracelet to conjure a mirror for River to see herself in.
>"Wow, it's like you two swapped bodies."
KP comments, looking between Zjetya and River.

>>755746
Pryce leads down as they descend back into the labyrinth towards the final chamber. When they are stopped by the Mercury Dragon, who tells them to continue forward, Pryce pauses.
"We're expected? I thought we had to go through your questions to even be considered."

 No.755749

>>755746
As they enter into the chamber, Shorthorns looks on across at the Mercury dragon across the other side, checking the massive chasm as she wonders if this room is one she had visited earlier. As Mercury speaks out to them, she smiles and shouts across to him, "Well, if you didn't want us going through the whole dungeon, you shouldn't have put in a really good short-cut for us to find!" She shouts, before continuing,

"You sure you don't want to ask? We came all this way to the end, we don't mind finishing strongly on this level."

 No.755750

>>755746
>>755748

"OBVIOUSLY, he REALLY wants my dinner," Amy says proudly.

"So, do we just like… step in?" Amy asks, looking over the edge of the curved cliff.

Then, without waiting for an answer, she lightly steps off the edge so she can slide down.

 No.755751

>>755746
>>755747
"You two are working on different time tables Leather."

Shei steps off the edge down into the chasm just after Amy.

 No.755752

>>755750
Before Amy takes that last fateful step, she whispers to her, "So… is THIS Cuccoo? I am sorry if I am forgetting something but I'm pretty sure that's a dragon, not a chicken."

 No.755753

>>755748
>>755749
>>755747
"Oh, you'll hear what I have to ask, but… well, to put it as simply as possible, the Capo is named as such because he outranks small fry like me. If he's decided to see you now, he's going to see you now. I won't keep him waiting, and I suggest you do the same."

>>755748
River gasps, flabbergasted, as she beholds herself in the mirror.
"Hey good lookin'," Zjetya says, sidling up to River. "Where were you hiding all that all this time?"
"Why did I not elicit that reaction with my regular body, hmm?" River asks.
"Guess I really just have a thing for carapass," Zjetya retorts.

>>755750
>>755749
>>755748
>>755751
>>755747
Mercury floats backward, gesturing for you to go down. When Amy takes the first step onto the rim of the chasm, she can feel gravity pulling her – northward. What is "up," "right," "left," and "down" shift as she steps into the chasm; the chasm walls become her downward. Freischutz flies to the other end of the chasm, and takes an experimental step downward as well. For her, "down" becomes southward; in other words, gravity pulls you, regardless of where you are, towards the walls of the chasm.

With nothing else for it, you walk downward, into an everlasting, deep darkness. So too do the Ecclesians, and after them, the Light Brigade. At last, so too, the Witches of Gehenna.

And onward, you walk.
And onward.
Onward.
And onward.
The last of the light above trickles away, and even any light sources you might bring with you seem only to illuminate a tiny gloom around you.
In this place, between one world, and an abyss, light finds no purchase.

(1/2)

 No.755754

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9L0snyd_uw

As you walk onward and onward, there comes to pass something that you would only recall in retrospect.
Something you did not notice at the time.
With the light, so too slips away your sense of sight.
As the darkness deepens, something about it pulls away your other senses, in kind.
But the loss of these senses is hardly a distressing one. Rather, it is almost peaceful… the kind of peace, seldom remembered, that comes just before sleep.
Next is the sense of taste.
Then, the sense of smell.
Then, the sense of hearing.
Then, the sense of one's garb.
Then, the sense of one's movements.
All of it drifts away, until the soul itself, is bared.
Only then, are you left with a peculiar unity, as your souls, and the souls of the dozens around you, are laid open.

https://youtu.be/1NvnXMFQ-LQ

Souls filled with light.
Souls heavy with dread.
Souls burning with zeal.
Souls terrified of death.
The souls of mortals.
The souls of demons.
The souls of angels.
The souls of gods.
And also, something else, nearby… a pair of souls…? Four…?
Or perhaps just one…?
No… too many to count.
Almost abruptly, the sense of your bodies comes flooding back, as around your legs, you feel a most peculiar warmth, and an… why, an itchiness… caused by the prickling of hard fur.
Then comes the sense of sight, brought about by two lights.
Deep, deep red lights. A pair of them, opening, in the shape of narrowed eyes before you.
Predator's eyes.
Hound's eyes.
A golden pair appears.
A deep blue pair appears.
Green. Yellow. White. Teal. Pink. Purple…
Twenty thousand lights gleam around you, followed by the uniformly white flashing of sharpened, ravenous teeth.
The lights shift and ripple as ten thousand hounds rise from the dark.
Some are great and terrible.
Some are lean and horrid.
Some are small and rabid.
The ten thousand hounds of the Loyal Kerberos.

>See you next time

 No.755755

https://youtu.be/1NvnXMFQ-LQ

As you walk onward and onward, there comes to pass something that you would only recall in retrospect.
Something you did not notice at the time.
With the light, so too slips away your sense of sight.
As the darkness deepens, something about it pulls away your other senses, in kind.
But the loss of these senses is hardly a distressing one. Rather, it is almost peaceful… the kind of peace, seldom remembered, that comes just before sleep.
Next is the sense of taste.
Then, the sense of smell.
Then, the sense of hearing.
Then, the sense of one's garb.
Then, the sense of one's movements.
All of it drifts away, until the soul itself, is bared.
Only then, are you left with a peculiar unity, as your souls, and the souls of the dozens around you, are laid open.
Souls filled with light.
Souls heavy with dread.
Souls burning with zeal.
Souls terrified of death.
The souls of mortals.
The souls of demons.
The souls of angels.
The souls of gods.
And also, something else, nearby… a pair of souls…? Four…?
Or perhaps just one…?
No… too many to count.
Almost abruptly, the sense of your bodies comes flooding back, as around your legs, you feel a most peculiar warmth, and an… why, an itchiness… caused by the prickling of hard fur.
Then comes the sense of sight, brought about by two lights.
Deep, deep red lights. A pair of them, opening, in the shape of narrowed eyes before you.
Predator's eyes.
Hound's eyes.
A golden pair appears.
A deep blue pair appears.
Green. Yellow. White. Teal. Pink. Purple…
Twenty thousand lights gleam around you, followed by the uniformly white flashing of sharpened, ravenous teeth.
The lights shift and ripple as ten thousand hounds rise from the dark.
Some are great and terrible.
Some are lean and horrid.
Some are small and rabid.
The ten thousand hounds of the Loyal Kerberos.

>See you next time

 No.755756

But before all of that happened…

Sir Gegenschein had a brief moment to himself.
Even the other Choristers and the Spooks, he sent along ahead.
Even Doctor Galton, whose side he seldom left out of concern for her safety, he sent with the others.
He could not risk anyone seeing him with this.
Once he sensed Buiwong descending to the chamber of Kerberos, he began.
Still, perhaps his caution was overblown.
After all.
The entire business took only a moment.
For the scrying basin, which ordinarily weighed the will and the strength of the one beseeching it for help before rendering its aid–
Submitted to him the moment he focused his mind.
Yielding that abomination Buiwong had commanded him to avoid.

Sir Gegenschein steps out of the portal, clutching in his talons a length of rope.
A rope tied into one hundred knots, and turned, of its own accord, into a spiral shape.
Called in the east a rosary, or in the west, a misbaha.
"Hoo-hoo-hoo," Gegenschein giggles to himself as he plays with the ancient weapon. "Seems I might have rolled some mighty lucky dice there. What a pretty little thing you are."

>Garland of the Accuser

>Contains 100 knots, which cannot be restored by any means. Declare a number X, then roll Xd10, succeeding on DC-3. Reroll all failures once. Each success deals Almighty damage to all designated targets in combat.
>Almighty damage ignores all Attribute Resistances and is, by default, tripled before other effects apply, but cannot crit. Almighty damage can only be dealt by a scant few effects, and cannot be produced by other sources besides those designated effects.

"Ah!" Gegenschein murmurs. "I'd better save a few towards the end. Even if my life should be forfeit, those two will find it a most useful present."

 No.756310

"Here's the pitch…! Strike one!"
It was Bosta's favorite pastime.

"Strike two!"
And Vizsla's most hated pastime.

"Strike three! She's outta here!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBq8x8tjpsQ
With a snarl bordering on a bratty squeal, Vizsla tosses aside her bat and stomps back to the dugout. Bosta was setting them up for another no-hitter at this rate.

Or, more accurately, setting her up.

A Shade steps up to the plate. All of Vizsla's attention zeroes in on Bosta… as he tosses the Shade a nice, light and easy pitch. The Shade hits it and after a moment of characteristic disorientation, they trot off to first base. The shortstop Shade, with a bit of gentle coaching from Desert Lamp, who holds the megaphone, grabs the ball and tosses it to first base.

Son of a bitch!
Every time!

Bosta saved all his heaters for her, and she could swear she saw him charging the ball with demonic winds, too. But when it came to Mudi's precious Shades, he always played softball.

Vizsla fumes as Supper of Crows reluctantly steps to the plate next. Despite Bosta's best efforts, the dreadfully shy and self-conscious Supper nearly strikes out, until L'Etranger's emaciated, cyanotic arm manifests, takes the bat, and manages to hit the ball far enough to get her to first base.

Before Coach Mudi can send out Hurricanrana, with a batting average of 1.573… somehow… Vizsla snatches up the bat, and darts out onto the home plate again.
"Vizsla!" Mudi protests. "Wait your turn, that's not fair."
"He is the one not playing fair - dear sister," Vizsla retorts.

With that phrase, "dear sister."
A cold, tight grip clenches around Mudi's heart, and her stomach, crushing them.
Vizsla had conditioned Mudi well enough-
That all she needed these days was to say those words.
Mudi lowers her head and ears, submitting instantly.
"O-okay, Vizsla," Mudi mutters.
"I believe you meant to say…" Vizsla leads.
Mudi preemptively winces.
"Okay, dear sister." She corrects herself.
And the grip grows tighter and colder.

 No.756311

>>756310
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShCTnzygwQY
Vizsla taps the plate.
Bosta glares at her over the tip of his glove.
"Whenever you're r–" Vizsla begins, when the catcher Shade behind her stumbles backwards. The ball is in their glove.

"Strike one!" Desert Lamp announces.

Growling, Vizsla raises her bat, just in time for Bosta to wind up. He throws, and she swings- and with her swing, an icicle spear launches from the bat, straight for him. But with a gust of demonic winds, he accelerates the ball, shattering straight through the spear. Bosta sees the catcher wince, and at the last second, he casts a headwind at the ball, slowing it enough to soften the impact for the Shade.

"Strike two!" Desert Lamp announces.

All fall silent as all eyes settle upon Vizsla and Bosta.
A storm of winds gathers around Bosta.
As a storm of ice gathers around Vizsla.

"CATCH!" Bosta shouts, rocketing the ball straight for her head, propelled by a concentrated gale.
"You first!" Vizsla laughs, as she swings her bat, which she's augmented all around with a thick layer of ice.
A direct hit, straight for the sky. The catcher and the umpire Shades are pelted with ice as the bat shatters into pieces.
Vizsla hikes up her dress and sprints for first base, nearly kicking over the Shades there as she turns for second.

"Eep!" Supper cries, as she sees Vizsla coming. "La Chute, save me!"
Supper vanishes from the field as the second of her demons comes to her rescue. But Vizsla pays no notice, for she's already bound for home… and she casts down a sheet of ice to slide onto the plate…!

"Safe!" Vizsla triumphantly shouts, as she touches home. "I'm safe! I win!"
But the umpire's gesture - says otherwise.

Bosta descends from the sky, his hand clearly broken… but clutches the ball.
Vizsla's face falls - as Bosta taps her upon the head with it.
"Out," Bosta comments. He'd caught it before she'd even hit first base.
There is a silent cheer from Bosta's all-Shade team.

Vizsla continues to lay there as Bosta, clutching his broken hand, hobbles back to his team's dugout. Hurricanrana steps over with a fresh bat, and helps her up, though she can barely stand.
"No worries!" Hurricanrana says, "We'll make a comeback."
"Yes…" Vizsla murmurs. "I certainly will."

 No.756791

Just this morning…

Six Choristers and six Spooks of Ecclesia.
Five demon slaying champions of the Light Brigade.
Seven heresiarchs of Buiwong's cult of spiders and stories.
Three Witches of Gehenna, joined by three of Mortalkind's Strongest (one unofficial) – and an untold number of Shades, disembodied spirits of children harvested by Mudi the Young.
And the twenty-five Saviors of Vitral – demons, angels, mortals, and newly-Kindled soon-to-be-gods among their number.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_314btHEaQ

This eclectic group descended into God's Entombed, the ancient dungeon hidden below Fantasia Palace. Once abandoned, and buried by millennia upon millennia of earth, this ancient proving ground for the Sons of God was unearthed when an Anomaly brought all of Fantasia from the Collective Unconscious into this world, unceremoniously, but appropriately, dropping it somewhere above the entrance to Tartarus… the birthplace of so many of this world's dreams and nightmares.

Millenia ago, the Sons of God, and their successors, the Bene Elohim, led an uprising against the demon lords who ruled this world and kept mortalkind enslaved, borrowing the power of the Tartarian entity they named "God." Those the Sons could not kill… or did not want to kill in favor of a darker fate… they banished into Tartarus. Later, they would deposit cursed relics, criminal mortals, and even entire geographical locations and wonders, moved via Geomancy, within Tartarus's infinite labyrinthine space.

(1/2)

 No.756792

It was one of those locations that this expedition sought: The Momentary Lake, whose waters could preserve anything, without flaw, for all eternity, rendering them immune to age, to entropy, to want, to need, to damage, perhaps even to suffering itself.

Mudi the Young, who endeavored to save the whole world from demonkind, sought those waters. She brought her Shades with her, after having turned each of them into spiritual batteries, nearly overflowing with power she harvested from mortals, demons and angels alike. She would fuse with the Shades at the exact moment she entered the water – such a sudden increase of power would normally annihilate any mortal, but with the waters of the Lake, Mudi would be preserved, with power outstripping that of any demon or angel, power to rival a goddess, but without the limitations that plagued demons and gods.

It was no secret that the Ecclesians, Light Brigade, Spiders, and Saviors had other plans – even the other Witches. But, mortalkind was under threat of extermination by demonkind, repressed beyond the barrier of the Firmament for so many centuries. Power was everything to demonkind, and Mudi held in her grasp power beyond compare… the quickest way to save the world from demonkind was to see Mudi's plan fulfilled… or else hijacked.

To that end, they followed her into God's Entombed. Mudi needed them just as much as they needed her. And all needed Amy, who possessed one of the few remaining relics capable of opening up the Great Seal of Tartarus – the Garment of the Founder, a favorite dress of Princess Vinland, founder of the Sons of God. It was left behind in the Tower of Traitors when Vinland disappeared some 3,000 years ago, in search of answers at Tartarus's deepest Layer, the Tenth Layer, where God was said to reside.

Having passed enough of the trials of God's Entombed, the expedition at last reached the depths of the dungeon… where the Great Seal left behind by Princess Vinland lay.

Only one obstacle awaited them now.

One, or perhaps ten thousand.

The Ten Thousand Hounds of the Loyal Kerberos.

 No.756793

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>756792
>>755755
Pryce stops as their senses return, and the glowing lights of the hounds of Kerberos surround them like stars. His wings spread, holding them defensively in front of River and Zjetya as he glances over their surroundings, unsure of how this will unfold. His horn glows lightly, magic grasping the handle of Memory-Pluck at the ready to be drawn.
"…What now?" He asks after a moment of pause to the Ecclesians.

 No.756794

>>756793
https://pastebin.com/jbpPAusX

"Well I can either lead forward shield up or take up the rear with the rifle - what is required of me?"

 No.756795

>>756791
>>756793
>>756794
Shorthorns looks on ahead as the darkness fades away to the thousands of twinkling pinpoint lights surrounding their company, and the white buffulo looks on into the angry maws of twenty thousand hounds guarding the gateway to Tartarus as she guages the massive army gathered before them, turning to look towards Pryce and Leather as they ask what to do next.

"We've all gotten a lot stronger but… I'm not sure if even we can take on odds like this. There'd be a thousand for each of us to fight." She gauges the encircling eyes, tapping her hoof as she tries to think what to do.
"Defense is probably our best option. It's a common tactic among my tribe when surrounded by enemies: the strongest, toughest of the buffalo form a circle around the weaker ones, and we move as a unit to guard from all sides. We could move as a group and force off the hounds as they come while we inch our way closer to the seal, so long as we all stick together and don't split apart they'll find us tough to break."

 No.756796

File: 1634004224828.png (1.26 MB, 2600x1800, shei's bandmates.png)

https://pastebin.com/YJFusUgn

>>756792
Shei's spirit soon enough fades into the scene along with everyone else's presence.
Except his form is inexact. The image of Shei vacciliates wildly, and the goat snorts and grunts painfully as he seems to wrestle with his head.

"Ngh- Ahh!-"
Digging his horns into the dirt, bashing his head onto the ground, thrashing into the air a hundred times simultaneously as his form fails to get steady.

All Shei hears is a static roar crashing into his senses. Energy sparks around him in ill-contained bleats, many voices of his own whisper to him at once.


[for context: Shei manifest as a bare naked spirit has exacerbated the severity of his spiritual tinnitus]

>>756792

https://pastebin.com/KM94XECP

The Malkhim that serve Shei appear behind him.

 No.756797

>>756795
>>756794
>>756793
The Choristers hold their ground, while the Spooks, having already been fanned out in a defensive perimeter out of habit, stare down the Hounds. Neither the Ecclesians nor the Hounds move, both sides observing the other in a silent stalemate. The same plays out for the other factions… it seems that the Witches are the only ones perturbed by the presence of the Hounds. Mudi looks quite nervous, as does Supper, while Vizsla is plainly ready to fight, the air around her a chilly swirl. Yet the Hounds show no signs that they are intimidated or enticed by their reactions, instead they sniff and eye everyone up and down.

If this demon is sapient, it – or they – show no signs of it.

"Hold, Cloak," Sir Holy Hours says. "We know not what this trial may entai–"

His words freeze, and the factions snap their heads towards Mocha, as she slowly trots forward, at a sidelong angle, not directly, but still towards a Hound, and stops with some distance still between them. The Hound steps forward and sniffs her… then brushes around her. She smiles, even as its rough and unkempt fur scratches at her spider-body.

"Maybe you could try… saying hello, instead of drawing weapons," Mocha says. "They've been trained, I can tell. Let them approach you, and try to relax, okay? …Vizsla, I mean you."

Vizsla makes no response, and no Hounds approach her, instead continuing to stare her down. She matches their unblinking glares… and their hackles slowly raise. Busta looks her way – as if he could kill her this very instant. But this too seems to disturb the Hounds who look on.

Tantra and Voyage still look apprehensive about the notion of the Hounds walking among them. "I dunno… Shorthorned's idea sounds better than them getting around us," Voyage says.

Whatever the case may be… the Hounds don't look like they favor you right now.

>>756796
"Shei?" Volkama asks. He generates a bubble around you to try to protect you, and the hackles of the nearby Hounds rise as you writhe in your miserable throes. "Focus, lad! What ails you? Calm yourself, this is no time to lose control!"

Deriva and Chorazin, though they take their time around the Hounds, form up to guard you from the Hounds in front, while the Malakhim guard the rear.

 No.756798

>>756797
"I-"
"I-"
"I-"
"I can't!!"

His voice phases out of unison with a cacophony of his own voice.

"This-"
"This-"
"This-"
"This-"
"ONE HUNDRED PERCENT"
"always"
"always"

"Feeling it.."
"…it.."
"ALL THE TIME"

Shei barrels himself to the ground and stabs a horn into the dirt desperately trying to anchor himself, let a variety images of himself thrashing and peeling out still emanate from his core.

"Hounds"
"hounds"
"hounds.."
"Speak to Amy"
"please."
"please…"
"please….."

 No.756799

>>756798
[typo]
>let a variety images
yet a variety of images

 No.756800

>>756797
"Well if they're trained, then can they do tricks?"

Cloak clears his throat, speaking clearly, "Roll Over!"
[1d10] dog charisma

Roll #1 6 = 6

 No.756801

>>756797
>>756797
As Holy Hours speaks, Shorthorns jumps up in surprise as she notices around the corner of her eyes the sight of Mocha scuttling closer to the beasts. She clenches her teeth, preparing her shield for a charge as she hisses, "Mocha, wait! Get back… here?"

She pauses as she sees the hounds merely sniff and scratch around her, looking on curiously as they seem non-hostile. She looks towards Tantra and Voyage, nodding as she sees they agree with her strategy. "I'm with them… they may not be openly hostile, but who knows how quickly that could change! You should get back here, Mocha, if they're really able to be reasoned with there's no reason we can't do it safely!"

>>756798
As Shei starts to convulse and phase, Shorthorns looks at him with concern. "Shei? What's going on, what are you doing?"

 No.756802


 No.756803

>>756801
Shei speaks to you, seeming to struggle at adopting a casual tone of voice

"Worry"
"worry"
"worry.."
"YOURSELF NAUGHT."

"This is but a trifle matter."
"trifle matter"
"matter.."
You see a many translucent images of shei reaching up to pull other phases of himself back into his core form.

"Ba-ah! Look away!
"look away..!"
You're distracting me!"

 No.756804

>>756797
>>756798
>>756801

"Hiiii!" Amy shouts in the awkward tone of someone meeting up with someone they haven't talked to in a very very long time. She waves vigorously at the many faces before her.

"You… uh… don't exactly look like how I remember you. You ARE Kerberos, right? I only remember seeing two heads before…"

"Anyway… I've been wanting to meet you for a very very very VERY long time. I want to thank you… Thank you so much for letting me out of Tartarus. I don't know why you did it… but, thank you!"

>Mantra of Equality to pierce the veneer of ferociousness [1d10+4] DC-4


Roll #1 9 + 4 = 13

 No.756805

>>756798
Mirror Image crouches beside you as the others form a guard of sorts. "Give me your hoof, and entrust yourself to me," she instructs through her robotic voice. "I may be able to help, but it may feel frightening at first. Will you permit me to try it?"

>>756800
The Hounds gawk at you as if you just spoke some kind of gibberish.

Monkey shakes his head. "An admirable attempt, but I wonder if they'd even recognize our tongue. Equish has changed so much over the eras… perhaps if you or another Savior knows a translation spell… or, I suppose you could always try some more universal language… Fox."

"Eh?" Fox flippantly grunts.

"Give us some of those treats you and Lion enjoy so much."

"Tch…!" Fox grumbles, then fishes in his bag. He tosses you and Monkey some strips of dried meat. That certainly gets the Hounds' attention – but they look at you now as if they're gauging how easily they can snatch the treats.

>>756801
It appears to be too late for Mocha; Hounds are currently circling all around her, and getting under her many spider-legs as they check her out. Perhaps she owned dogs of her own at some point, for the Hounds seem to take a liking to her. "Eheheheh," Mocha chuckles. "I uh… don't think I could get back to you if I wanted."

"We'll come to–" Voyage begins, taking a step forward, before the Hounds look at him.

"Ah-ah-ah!" Mocha cautions. "Y-you're better off right there. I can feel it, Shorthorned's right. We're on thin ice here."

You sense a stirring from Tantra's direction. Not from him, but from something, perhaps an object in his possession, with a powerful spiritual presence. A moment later, it registers: It's Buiwong's soul, probably interred in some kind of totem. Most likely, seeing Mocha trapped by demonic Hounds – however temporarily non-hostile – has gotten under his skin. Tantra takes a step back toward the center, his apprehensive expression revealing that he too has sensed his godly patron's disturbance.

(1/2)

 No.756806

>>756794
>>756795
"Defense is our first priority, for sure. We're surrounded and outnumbered, we can't let them separate us or break through."

>>756797
"I don't think befriending all of them will be that easy," Pryce says to Mocha's suggestion, still keeping his sword at the ready but not drawing it out.

>"So… they're just big pets then?"

KP asks, then reaches into Pryce's cloak to pull out one of the meat treats and levitates it over to one of the hounds to try and be nice.

 No.756807

>>756804

She…

Wanted to meet him?

A ridiculous statement.

Could she really not remember him?

For Kerberos remembered her.

The scent of her dress…
It alone bore so many centuries of memory.

After being apart from it for so long, the sweetpea aroma clinging to the threadbare gown evokes more memories than Kerberos can even process… but one rises to the surface.

How many millenia ago now…?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOdO7VFO38Q

Deep within Violence – the Seventh Layer.

A sweetpea aroma drifts through the darkness… a nauseating sweetness over mounds of gore, hills of bone, streams of blood. Over the remnants of the demon houses that once warred over this Node, a lonely island of calm and peace, adrift in the black ocean of Tartarus, its peace now the peace of death – however temporary death was in Tartarus.

A Node that the Sons of God designated now – as a dumping ground for cursed relics.

To that end, they butchered every last demon house residing upon and near the Node. Those who were simply near the Node, not upon it, would have been cast away by Tartarus' chaotic wiles soon enough… yet not soon enough for the Sons, and so, they too were exterminated.

A single survivor scurries amidst the wreckage, whimpering for shelter, his ears folded back, and tail tucked away – a mere three-headed puppy, until now, a prisoner of one of the warring houses. He trembles, his every instinct begging him to flee, or else to surrender… but he knows that death is nea– The scent suddenly spikes, as its source comes round the corner of a sundered castle, a towering silhouette of light, blindingly radiant like a wargoddess, terrible with the weight of slaughter that sought no repentance! Terror and adrenaline flood through the puppy, who with a yelp, leaps–!

 No.756808

"Ghhrk! Ack–" gasps the Princess.
"Vinland!?" shouts a distant voice.

Sir Osmium sprints through the darkness in search of where his wife had wandered off in exploration. As he rounds the castle wall, he sees her laying prone amid the gore, her throat clenched in the three jaws of a three-headed demonic hound. "Vinland!" Sir Osmium gasps, and a sword of roses blooms into his hoof. "Hold still, I'll–"

"Stay your blade, my beloved!" Princess Vinland orders, holding up a hoof. She stands, and the puppy holds fast, dangling afore her chest, still biting onto her throat with jaws that can pierce adamantium, drooling a venom that could melt through dragonhide – but try as he might, the hound cannot even pinch the skin on her neck.

"For the love of the gods, my beloved," Sir Osmium sighs. "When I heard your scream, I thought… How long are you going to wander off on your own down here? What if that demon had been any stronger? Have some sense!"

"Common sense has never helped make my life interesting," Princess Vinland retorts. "This is the first I've seen something like this… so strong, and yet he's not a chimeric Umbral – I sense only one soul within. Perhaps he was infected by a Demonic Parasite before his birth?"

"Whatever it is, it has no place here anymore," Sir Osmium says. "Raising the barrier with it still around would be pointless."

"Okay, we'll take it with us."

"With us!?" Sir Osmium gasps. "You're taking a damned Umbral as a pet…? After all we've worked for!?"

"Despite the gap in our strength, he had the courage and the foolhardiness to attack me," Princess Vinland answers. "So, yes. Make no mistake, he'll be no lapdog. Fight poison with poison, my beloved barbarian. I want to see if we can turn Umbrals against the demons that still plague our world. We've liberated precious little of Mariposa yet, and we've still to fight the demon lords who rule the skies and seas. We'll not say no to anything that can prove an aid to our cause."

Sir Osmium shuts his eyes and ponders this, as trepidatious as ever.

"…Very well. But you're going to be the one in charge of picking up after him. Come, we must raise the barrier before more arrive."

Princess Vinland trots along after Sir Osmium, still letting the thrashing puppy bite onto her throat. "I'm lousy with names… perhaps Wineberry may have an idea or two… or maybe I should say, 'an idea or three?'"

Sir Osmium groans.

>For Everyone


The hounds of Kerberos fold back their ears, and wag their tails, crowding around her, indeed, around all the Saviors, the Light Brigade, the Ecclesians, the Spiders and Witches too.

What strange new companions his master had found.

 No.756809

>>756806
The nearest Hound immediately snatches it up and chews on it. Lockjaw looks on forlornly, but knows better than to get in its way, obviously sensing the Hound's power. Zjetya and River gasp as half a dozen Hounds surround KP, all sniffing at him. They try to reach toward him, but the Hounds softly growl, standing their ground between KP and the triad. Hopper screeches softly in terror, and Lockjaw braces himself for battle.

 No.756810

>>756805
"No"
"NO"
"This burden"
"It's mine"
"mine"
"mine"

"Let them see me how I am"
"am.."
"am…."

"Naked"

>>756807
>>756808
The serene picture of the hounds welcoming them does something to give Shei a modicum of peace, as more quiet grunts, exhalations of his breath.

"Haah… Haah…"
lead to Shei managing to pull himself down into a position that is a little more stable.

 No.756811

>>756805
"Alas, not my expertise. It would be a nice sight though."
>>756808
"-Though this is nice too." Leather offers a hoof to sniff if one approaches and pets if allowed.

 No.756812

>>756805
>>756804
>>756806
>>756807
Shorthorn grunts as Mocha comments that she was right, looking at her with a bit of agitation. "I appreciate that, but I kinda wished you'd realized it BEFORE getting surrounded by them… it's weird that they're all so friendly with you like that."

As Amy approaches the pack, Shorthorns is about to shout out another warning, but as the dogs all begin to change their tone entirely in response to her presence, the white buffalo goddess can only look on in surprise as they all start to sniff, lick, and wag their tails in jubilation around their group.
"W-woah! Okay, that's a big change in attitude." Tentatively, Shorthorns sticks out a hoof to try and let a hound sniff it so as to recognize her scent. "Amy, what did you do? Did you speak dog to them?" Shorthorns asks rather bluntly, as though the wolf-nature of Amy would immediately provide some sort of kinship.

 No.756813

>>756808
>>756812

Amy sees them all relax in her presence. However, this makes her frown. "I don't think I am who they think I am…" she says in a sort of sad tone.

"Where's the version of you I met before?" Amy calls out to the many doggos. "I want answers!" Amy calls out, sounding more desperate now. "I've waited and wondered for so long! Please! Talk to me!"

Amy howls at all the dogs, desperate to get answers out of them.

>Mantra of Equality [1d10+4] DC-4


Roll #1 2 + 4 = 6

 No.756814

>>756809
KP stiffens up a bit as some of the hounds surround him, a bit surprised given the potential danger. Pryce as well instinctively reaches out, stopping as the hounds growl.
"Don't make any sudden moves, follow Mocha's lead!" Pryce says to his younger self out of concern as he puts a hoof before Lockjaw to keep the deviljho in line.

>"It's ok! This is just a little practice in my beastmaster training, right?"

KP says, rationalizing it a bit to feel more safe. He gives Hopper a comforting pet as the frog screeches, trying to calm him.
>"Don't worry, nothing bad will happen to you."
As the hounds circle and sniff at him, KP looks around to each one, occasionally glancing over to Mocha to see what she does. Then, out of a bit of curiosity, he reaches out a hoof towards one. Not touching any of the hounds, but to see if they'd let him pet one.

>>756808
As they're all surrounded further after Amy's greeting, Pryce still stands defensively, but cuts his magic to try and give a more friendly vibe to not cause any instigation.
"Is… Is there really not that much to worry about?" Pryce stammers in confusion at how the wall of terror quickly turned around in attitude.

After a moment of consideration, Pryce takes his bracelet off, and attempts to conjure a large dog toy for the mass of hounds.
>Hat Magic [Dog Toy] [1d10]

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.756815

>>756813
>>756807
>>756808
>>756810
A piercing howl, a sandness rings out and folds together all the voices inside Shei. He finds himself compelled by a great force of emotion to arch forward and join with Amy's howl, wailing an incongruous bleat into the open air.

[1d10] complimentary social roll

>Shepherd's Tone: one effect per 6 turns, stackable, negates resistances; Divinity transposed through rock and roll. Play a song that invokes profoundly visceral effects upon all your enemies or allies on the field to either alter their behavior or status condition.


4:22
https://youtu.be/GzhTLu8eydk?t=262

Together Amy's and Shei's howling stirs the abstract space they reside in, all around the saviors, the ecclessians, the witches, the hounds manifest the party's memories of their respect homes. Of Accorsia, of Huoli, scenes of their life play out around them. Bearing the meaning of what they are fighting for. Of what they mean to go to Tartarus in order to protect.

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.756816

>>756815
"BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-AA-A-A-A-A–A-AHHH"

 No.756817

>>756813
>>756814
>>756810
>>756811
>>756812
Immediately, the Hounds become friendly and docile, even to the malevolent Vizsla and agitated Busta, walking among and rubbing up against you as if you were all long-trusted, long-known allies. The difference from their behavior a moment ago to the behavior of now is like night and day, to the point even of pure absurdity. Any hooves you hold out, the Hounds don't even bother to smell, they immediately rub against them with no reservation or fear of attack, permitting you even to touch their necks in a show of submission. There is a great shuffling as the first Hounds to greet you cycle out, allowing the Hounds in the rows further back to get their fill of scratches and rubs. The Witches and their retinue look on in disbelief, the Spiders seem to relax, the Saviors still stand guard around Shei, the Light Brigade cautiously study the Hounds, and the Ecclesians maintain their guard– with the exception of Lion, Sir Gegenschein and Doctor Galton; the three of them are openly playing with the ancient demon.

"Something's… off," Rus Tea says in agreement with Amy.
"Indeed…" Gegenschein wistfully says, even as he scratches a Hound's stomach.
"You think so?" Gadriel asks.
Estuary grunts. "No guard dog worth his salt would change his tone so quickly… but who will be the one to test them?"
"Any suggestions?" Flow asks.
"They're guarding the way forward…" Blessings observes. "If we stay here, I doubt they'll react, but if we press on…"

>>756814
A group of the Hounds quickly snatch the dog toy, a coiled length of rope, before it's even out of the bracelet. A few of them start to play tug-of-war among themselves with it.

>>756813
>>756815
I want answers.

Those words give the Hounds pause, and the howling brings them to a shudder. Some blink slowly, like a dreamer, shocked by a wake-up call from without that has wormed its way into his dream.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrjD30l507w

"I want answers," Princess Vinland says with finality.

The impenetrable Great Seal of Tartarus stands before her… as does their guardian, the Loyal Kerberos.

A towering three-headed Hound.

She wants answers…?

He… well, he doesn't want to be alone again!

But– but she won't listen!

Why won't she listen!?

Why won't she talk to him!?

Sir Osmium… Lady Athena… they stand beside her, their stoic expressions hiding what he can plainly sense! They know something's wrong, they know they might not come back! He thought they agreed that what lay beyond the Ninth Layer wasn't to be investigated, but… why won't they stop her!? Why won't they help him!?

After that battle, upon that island

Where demons offered no resistance. Where demons and mortals alike– laid down their lives to protect one another.

Where demons and mortals alike perished in one another's arms.

She had been but a shell since.

And nothing he did could raise her spirits. No amount of play, no amount of sparring, no amount of napping together…

What had he done wrong?

Had he not fought by her side? Had he not fought poison with poison? Had he not protected her well enough?

He stares down the Princess. Stares down his mother.

The Hounds of Kerberos crowd around Amy, offering no resistance, yet their ears fold back in shows of submission.

 No.756818

>>756817

Amy can just tell by their expressions, they miss their master. Tears of pity well up in Amy's eyes. "Just a poor dog waiting for their master to come home…" she says with a slight whimper.

"Did… Did I remind you of her even back then? But how? That doesn't make any sense…"

 No.756819

>>756817
>>756818
Shei files down his bleating. He is filled with singular purpose, remedying his disposition.. mostly.

Shei steps forward, he brushes past those guarding him and takes Amy's hoof in his hoof "This is someone important you." Shei looks to Amy gauging the look on her face. He then forward ahead of them. "Say the things you need to say. And then- We need to keep moving forward."

 No.756820

>>756817
KP smiles and laughs as the hounds become much more friendly, giving them pets and pats, while also using the opportunity to get back to Pryce, River, and Zjetya's side.
>"I wonder if my bestiary would write this down… This would be great to show off!"
KP wonders in exclamation, pulling out his Memory Bestiary and flipping through it.

Pryce watches as the hounds quickly snatch up the rope and begin playing almost instantaneously as he conjures it, pulling back his bracelet before it's snatched up too.
"They changed quickly when Amy spoke to them, she might be able to pass through the easiest. I can test the waters as well, for another option."

 No.756821

>>756813
Shorthorns turns in surprise to Amy as she calls out to the various hounds gathered around them, stomping a hoof. "Amy! Do you know them or something? Why do they like you so much?"

>>756817
As the legions of hounds get increasingly friendly, Shorthorns starts to laugh as their fur coats and curious maws find their way around her hooves, smiling as she dares to pet a few of them and give a few scratches behind the ears. "Heh… w-well, that definitely seemed to work, whatever it was. To think they were seconds away from tearing us apart only a minute ago. I can't believe how friendly they are!"

As the others seem to question their swift change of heart, Shorthorns takes one more look as she pets one of them, finding their question valid. "Yeah… well, I guess there's only one way to find out, right?" She says, as she tries to move slightly through the thicket of dogs to get closer (but not all the way too) the seal, to gauge their reaction.

 No.756822

>>756818
>>756817
Leather nods along, listening in on what Amy's saying untranslated. "Ah, that's a sad tale. No wonder they were quick to greet a friendly face."

 No.756823

>>756821

"Last time I was in Tartarus, I only got out alive because Kerberos let me. He was mowing down thousands of demons around me, but he looked straight at me and stopped. He didn't look like… this, though," she says, gesturing to the crowd of dogs that seemingly IS Kerberos now.

>>756822

Amy nods then adds in a somber tone, "He probably won't let us go. His last friend, Princess Vinland, went into Tartarus and never came back. If I were him, I wouldn't want new friends to go either…"

 No.756824

>>756823
"I'd say offer 'em to come with us, but they're guarding the place to begin with, right?"

 No.756825

>>756824

Amy nods. "He'd be really helpful out here, blocking the demons from trying to get out."

 No.756826

>>756818
What…?

The Hounds look up at Amy now.

The scent of sweetpea, potent even now after so long… clashes now suddenly with the sight of another hound, wearing the dress as if it were a scarf, a comical far cry from his master. A hound not like them… this one's soul was born of many other souls… a result of demonic fusion.

And who… who is that…?

Who are those two… just beyond her?

Or, was it just one…?

>>756820
A dark scrawl appears upon a once-blank page… it seems like you need to spend more time with a creature before the entry finishes writing itself.

>>756822
>>756821
>>756820
>>756819
>>756818
The Hounds look about, as do all of the Tartarus expedition members as scenes of memory long since past surface from the interminable darkness, mingling and flowing with one another in one long and intricate tapestry of precious things, precious places.

The Ecclesians beam with a sorrowful pride as they witness Agape, paraded about by pilgrims and priestly orders thousands strong…
The Light Brigade look on bitterly as they see prosperous cities of mortalkind, bustling, bartering, blooming and booming as if no dark fate ever awaited them, no hint of demonkind anywhere around.
The Spiders chuckle softly as they see the cultus of Buiwong, secretive as they were, hidden among ghettos, secluded villages, and underground caverns, still eating, drinking, raising children, laughing and living despite their persecution.
The Witches… Mudi's countenance is hidden in darkness, and Vizsla looks away altogether, not watching as a trio of hooded fillies wander through a burned madina, perhaps the only survivors of the siege, prying food and other resources from the arms of the dead.
As for the Saviors… their expressions are too mixed to recount, as the memories Shei evokes are miserable and joyful, beautiful and baleful all at once.

When Shorthorned tries to push through, deeper into the darkness where the Great Seal awaits… some hounds of Kerberos crowd in front of her, forming a barrier of bodies. Wireframe, frowning, flies overhead– but the Hounds start to climb atop one another, until they have piled themselves so high that they can even body-block a winged one like her.

Yet still they offer no violent resistance, even as they prohibit you from moving on.

 No.756827

>>756825
"Can't take half and leave half?" Leather chuckles to himself.

 No.756828

>>756826
>>756825
"Amy could you translate a message for me." Shei asks you to do this for him To say to Kerberos what he says next.

Shei approaches Kerberos and manifests a Black thread in his hoof.

"Kerberos! I have no desires to give up anymore of this world's treasures to Tartarus. Precious lives belonging to this world will stay here. Will you help me! Would you take the thread in my hoof and hold it. This way maybe should someone die in Tartarus I could transport them body and soul back here. And should the thread's tether be succumbed by murdurous intent. I'll cut it! I swear to you! Please, would you do us this one kindness before we leave!"

>Black Threads; Spell; Ranged; Recharge 3(minus 1); Create a tether between two targets. What happens to one target (damage, status effects, intimidation, persuasion etc.) will also happen to the other. Killing one target does not kill the other.

[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.756829

>>756823
"Are these ALL Kerberos?" Shorthorns asks, looking around the crowd of dogs. "I thought it was supposed to be one big dog with multiple heads. Not… uh, THIS many dogs. Did he divide himself somehow? Grew even more heads…?"

>>756826
Shorthorns looks up at Wireframe as their progress is stopped hard by the wall of canines blocking them both, and she lets out a sigh. "Well, they're definitely not 'un'-friendly!" Shorthorns shouts back to the group, before sighing and reaching forward to scratch behind the ears of one the dogs blocking their path. "But they're definitely not wanting to let us go any deeper. And if we start fighting our way through, I don't want to bet they'll stay this nice."

She turns towards the group, starting to wedge her way through the thicket of hounds back to the group. "We're gonna have to try and convince them somehow to let us through…" suddenly, Shorthorns's ears perk up, and she looks down to her magical brooch tying off her cloak. "My brooch!" She says, remembering how it allows her to speak to animals.

>"Hello!" She says, activating its powers as she looks to one of the hounds. "Are you Kerberos?"

 No.756830

>>756826
>"Hmm… alright then. Let's play around some more since we'll be here for a bit."
KP surmises, shutting his grimoire and picking up his staff.
>"I bet it's been some time since you've seen some of these!"
KP waves his staff around, conjuring up a cloud of bubbles to spread around for the hounds to chomp at.
>Bubbles [1d10]

Pryce watches as the dogs block any advance to move past them, not violently but just with their immense numbers. Pryce's horn glows a shade a black, wondering if this trial is just getting any one pony past them.
>Subspace Walker [Self] [Auto]
>Subspace Walker: 2 times per combat; Automatic; Hide yourself, an ally, or a medium-sized object within a Subspace pocket for four turns, or until they dismiss the effect. During this time, the target cannot attack or be attacked. If used on a sentient target, that target can now move through solid objects, barriers, etc within a short distance at will.

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.756831

>>756827
>>756826
Leather waits for a response, not wishing to slight the hounds if not needed.

 No.756832

>>756829

"I don't know… but, they all feel like him. This whole PLACE feels like him…" Amy mutters, sounding almost as confused as Flaming.

>>756827

"Maybe? I mean, if it was me you asked to cut in half, I'd say it'd be really hard to do. But, I guess Flow does it all the time."

>>756828
>>756826

Amy nods at Shei and looks to the dogs. "I want to be the friend you lost. I can't be her literally. But, I want to be your new friend. I don't want to be lost like she was. But, I need to get past you. I need to get to Tartarus. I need to go where she went."

"I know… it sounds like we're just doing the same thing again. And, maybe we are. But, she's there now. So, whatever we find, it won't be the same as last time. And, we know how to do it better now. And, we have gods among us. They're young gods, but they ARE gods."

Amy point to the thread that Shei holds. "HE is a god. And, he has this thread. If you hold it, he can use it to keep everyone alive. Anyone who dies in Tartarus, he can send back here. You won't lose anyone. We can keep being your friend. We just need to get into Tartarus for a little while. It's going to be hard for a bit. But then, we can make a lot of people happy, including you."

>Mantra of Equality [1d10+4] DC-4


Roll #1 3 + 4 = 7

 No.756833

>>756832
"And that's why I asked." Leather shrugs, "It is not like I would know either."

 No.756834

>>756833

"Oh yeah!" Amy says oddly more conversationally for the current circumstances. "I guess you would know Flow from before he started splitting himself! Was he… nicer then?"

 No.756835

>>756834
"I'd like to think so, but I also haven't seen much of Flow now to compare." Leather returns conversationally as well, given that they're in no present harm.

 No.756836

>>756835

"Yeah… he seems like someone I would have liked once…" she says in a tragic tone that implies that's no longer the case.

 No.756837

>>756828
>>756830
The Hounds are clearly no longer in the friendly mood they just had, and some are even starting to look downright depressed. They offer no response to Shei, and even though the bubbles KP conjures are many and colorful, only a few Hounds even bother to look their way, let alone nose at or bite down upon. Lockjaw, getting a bit bold, nudges a Hound with his head, and while the Hound bats at Lockjaw with a paw, there's almost no energy in it anymore.

You vanish into Subspace; it's much like regular space, only the world around you appears to have a light lavender filter, while you do not, helping to distinguish between what is within and without Subspace.

>>756829
Although Kerberos should have heard you with the aid of your brooch, he offers no response. The friendliness he had just now has receded, perhaps by his rude awakening from Amy's words, or the attempt you and Wireframe just made to approach the Great Seal.

>>756832
>>756831
>>756830
>>756829
>>756828
>Kerberos unmodified persuasion DC: 12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPte1fIX4-Y

At last… a voice answers. It sounds like a low growl, yet when you listen… the words invite themselves into your mind… ten thousand voices speaking as one.

Ten thousand minds all trying to find an answer of their own.

"Why…?" Kerberos asks, midway through Amy's plea, as if he weren't listening.

He sounds so young.

"Why did everyone go away?"
[/i]
"Why did everyone leave us alone?"

[i]"Why does everyone have to be so cruel…?"


Then, Amy attests to your countermeasures against death, your alliances with gods, and the possibility of saving souls.

Kerberos laughs, a cruel, derisive laugh. "Power like yours… how could I… how could I ever mistake you for mom?"

"You're dust in comparison to her. You really think with power like yours, that you could save anyone?"

The Hounds brace themselves, baring their teeth.

"T-take one step beyond this point… I dare you. Death…? Death's the least of your worries down there."

 No.756838

>>756836
"Well most creatures are not static beings, and it's not in slime's nature to be hardened for too long. Mayhaps he needs to live somewhere warmer to loosen up a bit more."

>>756837
>>756836
"They seem perturbed, what would you suggest be the course of action, Amy?"

 No.756839

>>756837
KP frowns as the hounds barely bat an eye to the bubbles.
>"Aww… Come on guys, cheer up!"
He says, as if that alone would work.


Pryce takes a step forward as he enters subspace, stopping as the voice of Kerberos penetrates his mind even there. He pauses for just a moment, but then continues on, trusting that he is safe inside this space to pass through.

 No.756840

>>756837
Shei-Sher steps forward toward the hound continueing to present the thread to Kerberos "You underestimate my fortitude. You underestimate what has brought me here. I've seen the fates that visited my family. When I lost my mother, I transformed. Everything that I am now is a transformation in her honor. Look at my soul! Kerberos! Take the thread! Or bite my hoof. But I will not lose anymore of my kith to the fate that visits our world!"

Shei-Sher continues stepping forward.

>>756837
>>756836
"Amy! Tell him to look at my memories!"

>>756837
The Malechim move to back Shei up and beginning playing a song, to show Kerberos Shei's past and the fate of his families.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaQ4OTov-0g

>>Shepherd's Tone: one effect per 6 turns, stackable, negates resistances; Divinity transposed through rock and roll. Play a song that invokes profoundly visceral effects upon all your enemies or allies on the field to either alter their behavior or status condition. When using this ability describe the effect and purpose and whether it is for allies or enemies. Based on the description of the effect and purpose the DM may attach any status conditions at his discretion. Player may describe environmental effects on planes where the environment is nebulous i.e. dreams, astral plane, chaotic planes, etc.


[1d10] complimentary social roll and showing Kerberos Shei's lost families, his mother, his father, his goats. Gabby.

Roll #1 5 = 5

 No.756841

>>756837

"I KNOW!" Amy shouts angrily, her coat immediately turning black. Those around her can feel intense emanating off of her in a way it hasn't since she fused.

"Don't you DARE try to FUCKING tell me I don't know what Tartarus is like!" she bellows in a shrill shriek. Furious tears roll down her cheeks. Her form grows more massive and wolf-like.

>Animal Totem: automatic instant, recharge 5 after effect ends;You shapeshift into a Mystic or War animal for 3 turns (chosen when you learn this skill), gaining a bonus. May be combined with Nature Elemental.:-Mystic; +1 to a known spell. Gain useage of a cleric or shaman spell skill worth up to 2 points, chosen when you earn Animal Totem..

>Level 1 Tattoo (1 extra turn of Mystical Animal Totem)
>Level 2 Tattoo (1 extra standard action each turn in Mystic Animal Totem)
>Level 3 Tattoo (Gain an additional turn on Animal Totem Form. User takes half-damage while in Animal Totem Form,. All foes in close range are knocked back on activation and cannot attack the user next round. Regain 1 Wound per turn while in Animal Totem Form, after damage calculation for that turn.)

"I SPENT MORE THAN TWO MILLENNIA THERE! Don't you think that if I want to go back, it's for a pretty DAMN good reason!? I'm scared out of my fucking mind, but I'm not being a coward about it, unlike YOU!"

"You think WE are weak!?" she barks at him. As she does so, a Nail Beast fades into existence.

>Animal Mastery: spell; You can talk to and understand animals, and wild animals obey your orders. For recharge 3 after effect ends, you can instead summon an animal minion of large size or smaller that obeys your orders for 5 turns.

>[1d10+4]

"YOU'RE the one who sits here uselessly! YOU'RE the one who lives in the past! YOU'RE the one who doesn't do a DAMN thing to work toward a better future, just living sadly with what used to be! We can make things BETTER! And, we sure as hell won't be stopped by some weak idiot who can't face the truth like YOU!"

>Mantra of Equality: Recharge 2; Instant; Soothes a hostile target, making them more likely to listen to what you have to say, and unable to target you next turn.

>[1d10+4] DC-4

Can I Borrow This?: Instant; Recharge 3; Ranged; On success, you steal 1 of the target's chances to act next turn, completely stunning them if they can only take 1 action per turn. Next turn, you can use this stolen action in addition to your normal ones.
>Stealing one of Kerberos's turns next turn
>[1d10+2]

Roll #1 9 + 4 = 13 / Roll #2 3 + 4 = 7 / Roll #3 5 + 2 = 7

 No.756842

>>756841

*intense HEAT emanating off of her

 No.756843

>>756837
>>756832
As Kerberos no longer share the friendly energy they expressed earlier, and they offer no response to her call, Shorthorns looks at them all with a worried glare before she starts to pull back towards the group away from the wall of dogs blocking the way to the seal. When the voice rings out in her head, Shorthorns strains slightly, struggling with the ringing of 10,000 tongues speaking at once within her mind.

"Everyone leave you… y-you must mean Princess Wineberry. The Sons of God." She frowns, "How they left you outside of the gates to Tartarus… we know about all that."

As they all grow in anger, and in aggression, Shorthorns tightens her stance, looking to meet their challenge as the others seem to continue to try to appeal to their sensibility. She lowers her horns. "We need to get to that gate, no matter what. We've come too far to turn back now. If getting past you is what'll take to prove we're ready, then that's what we're prepared to do."

 No.756844

>>756841
>>756837
Leather offers two brief prayers for Amy, knowing this will be difficult for her in multiple ways.

>A Vision of Grandeur: Instant; Recharge 1 after effect ends; Choose 1 ally. For the next 4+1 turns, you and that ally gain +2 to all rolls made against all enemies that target you, either with a normal roll, or an Instant roll-to-dodge attack, regardless of whether or not that enemy's attack is successful.

[1d10] Amy, Cloak
>I Dream of Strength: Instant; Recharge 1; Enhances the target's combat abilities until the end of combat. Every attack they land will do 1 extra hit of damage. Every attack made against them will do 1 less hit of damage, to a minimum of 1. This effect stacks with itself to a maximum of 3 successes.
[1d10] Amy

Roll #1 1 = 1 / Roll #2 9 = 9

 No.756845

>>756841
>>756837

Oh, also:
>Pragma: Passive; Select an ally at the start of battle. When an enemy inflicts you or that ally with a status condition, you deal 3 additional units of damage against that enemy.
>Shei

 No.756846

>>756839
You pass thousands upon thousands of hounds as you walk through the strange unreality at Tartarus's border, and at the end of the colossal cavern… there awaits a colossal stone circle, split down the middle in the shape of a most unusual, symmetrical rune. Eldritch pictograms you can make no sense of cover the surface at all points… yet around the circle's center, written in an inner circle, are etched glyphs. Though you are separated from that language by millennia, somehow, like the words of Kerberos, their meaning enters your mind.

Set me as a Seal upon thine Heart
For my Love is stronger than Death

>>756838
>>756839
>>756840
>>756841
>>756843
The Hounds of Kerberos shrink back at Amy's explosion, tearing through the memories that Shei conjured. Every one of the expedition's other members silently draw their weapons and gather themselves, and though they do not add to what Amy said, from their expressions of determination, there is no mistaking that, despite their disparate, perhaps irreconcilable goals, they can at least assent to this point.

"YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT ANY OF THAT ANYMORE!?" Kerberos bellows in ten thousand voices.

Ten thousand minds… that found no answers.

"Two millennia…? Hah! Hahahahahaha! IS THAT ALL!?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk5H-zPoQUw

"Let's see how much YOU like it to be left alone!!!"

What little sourceless light there was in that chamber entirely vanishes. You can still sense the others for a time… but it begins with the Ecclesians, beginning and ending as swift, and inevitable, as darkness.

A dark soul-presence, like a deep swamp, opens up below them. Each Spook and Chorister gasp and thrash as wolf-jaws emerge from the swamp, clamping down and dragging them into the darkness faster than they can flash-step. Those quick enough to leap into the air are just as quickly devoured, as the swamp manifests upon the walls and ceiling, and grotesque columns in the shape of wolfheads bite down and drag them within. The Light Brigade, Spiders, and Witches are set upon just as quickly, and though the Ecclesians' screams warn them of the danger, they fail to fight off enough of the wolves to avoid the same fate.

Then too– are the Saviors waylaid. Volkama and Deriva grab onto one another as darkness pools at their ankles, trying to hold fast, but they are torn away from one another, dragged separately into the darkness by screaming wolf-heads. The same afflicts Observer and Hafaza, Tantra and Voyage, Sugar and Spitshine, Chorazin and Mirror, Estuary and Renee, Zjetya, KP, the pets and River – on and on and on… until you are left with naught but six.

Amy.
Shei.
Shorthorned.
Pryce.
Cloak.
Flow.

Those survivors of the heroes who sought to save the world… and their first companions after their defeat.

Flow shudders, collapsing as he furiously stabs at the ground where Renee sunk, but naught is left but hard-packed earth. With a hellish roar, he spins, ripping at the air with his swords to cut down Kerberos– but he hits only air, as the other Hounds melt into the darkness…

Until you're left alone. But as the cavern shudders and quakes, you can tell that this was no flimsy retreat.

 No.756847

[Man I already typed all this up. You just ignore any roll thats non-applicable.]

>>756846
all Malechim group inspire
>Inspire: You use song and performance to enthrall a crowd or rally your allies. Combat: the entire party gains +1 to all rolls next turn, or +2 on a critical success; this bonus does not stack with repeated use. Critical failure replaces the bonus with a -1 penalty to all rolls next turn.
[3d10+3]

Triangle
>Slow: Spell, Ranged, Recharge 4 after effect ends; Binds a target to the limits of mortality, slowing it down and allowing it to counterattack only one target at a time, the one with the most tragic failure. Last for 2 turns.
[1d10+3]

Base
>Terrify: recharge 2; 8+ renders a group of targets helpless

[1d10+3] on numerous wolves

Violin:
This malechim speaks just as Shei-Sher does allowing Shei to communicate with Kerberos.

>Animal Mastery: spell; you can talk to and understand animals, and wild animals obey your orders. For recharge 5 after effect ends, you can instead summon an animal minion of large size or smaller that obeys your orders for 5 turns.

[1d10+3]

gadriel
>Darkness that can be Felt: Twice per combat; Smother the battlefield (or other large area if outside combat) in a heavy layer of darkness for four turns. During this time, enemies must roll a non-instant action to locate you before they can attack. You and all allies will be able to see perfectly in this darkness, and all actions will be DC - 1.
[1d10+3]

>A Vision of Grandeur: Instant; Recharge 1 after effect ends; Choose 1 ally. For the next 4 turns, you and that ally gain +2 to all rolls made against all enemies that target you, either with a normal roll, or an Instant roll-to-dodge attack, regardless of whether or not that enemy's attack is successful.

[1d10+3] Shei and Gadds

>>756837
Shei
>Background Music: instant, stackable; the entire party gains +1 to all rolls for 2 turns, this effect is stackable for a maximum of +2; upon critical failure cancels all stacks of the effect, this skill cannot critically succeed. Effect duration of each stack refreshes after a successful use.
[1d10]

>Shepherd's Tone: one effect per 6 turns, stackable, negates resistances;

[1d10] To show Kerberos Shei's memories of lost family.

"KERBEROS! LOOK AT MY MEMORY!"

Roll #1 8, 7, 7 + 3 = 25 / Roll #2 3 + 3 = 6 / Roll #3 4 + 3 = 7 / Roll #4 3 + 3 = 6 / Roll #5 7 + 3 = 10 / Roll #6 10 + 3 = 13 /

 No.756848

>Subspace Walker [2 turns remain]

>>756846
Pryce looks upon the stone circle, the gate to Tartarus perhaps? He raises a hoof, reaching out but stops himself from advancing further, not knowing what may happen if he touches the stone. He pauses as the glyphs translate themselves into his mind, reflecting on them.
My love is stronger than death… Was this sealed with a sacrifice?
Pryce thinks to himself, wondering what the meaning could be.

His pondering is cut short when he hears the bellow of Kerberos, and then the screams of the others. Pryce turns and rushes back, finding that only five of his friends are left. Panic fills him as he sees Flow's reaction, dreading the worst. And that panic delves deeper at realizing he was wrong on the trial, leaving River, KP, and Zjetya alone. He spreads his wings, forgetting the concerns that came before as they ventured through the labyrinth when others tried to cheat their way through as he flies about ,using his time in subspace to delve through the ground, fly above through the cavern, trying to find trace of the others.
>Search [1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.756849

>>756847
>>756846
Shei's rolls
[1d10]

[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7 / Roll #2 10 = 10

 No.756850

>>756841
>>756846
At Amy's outburst, Shorthorns herself is taken aback by the sheer force behind Amy's voice, lowering her legs slightly as the wolf-pony releases all her frustrations and calls out the flaws of Tartarus' guardian. She looks towards the dogs as they shout out their response, ready to join Amy's side in the argument before the shroud of shadows around them leap out and ensnare their companions, grabbing Tantra, Voyage… and as Spark in particular is taken, the howling baby dragon snagged right from her bag, Shorthorns gasps as the hound-head retreats back into the dark with her beloved companion. "VOYAGE! SPARK!"

Shorthorns makes a quick grab for him but finding nothing but darkness remaining. Shorthorns starts to hyper-ventilate, panicking as her first instinct is to slam her head down upon the ground to shatter it and uncover her friends, but the weight of her experience slows her skull, and Shorthorns, in a brief period of remembering what it means to travel through Tartarus, re-focuses her goals, calming herself through slow breathing as she takes in the darkness around them.

"We're about to brave the horrors of a world so far removed from our own, even demons dread it. A place where our own worst enemy can be our own indecision and hesitation. If you mean to shatter our hearts so easily, Kerberos, then you better think again."
Shorthorns looks throughout the dark, and taps into her secondary Dark Sphere to try and feel through the infinite shadows around her, feeling for the sensation of where their friends were taken

>Dark Sphere (Secondary): [1d10]


Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.756851

>>756846

Amy watches as her companions disappear. "This means nothing to me," Amy shouts into the darkness around her. "I have faith in all of them. They'll find their way back to me. Or I will find my way back to them. Because we'll actually try! Unlike you!"

>Regular social roll

>[1d10] DC-4

>Prayer for Enlightenment: Automatic; Once per combat; Select a 1-point skill from your class and add it to your repertoire for the rest of the combat.

>Learning Homing Magic

>Homing Magic: Spell, Recharge 2 after effect ends; On success, summons a magical projectile, plus an additional one for every point you pass the roll by, to a maximum of 5 on a critical. The projectiles follow you around, and any number of them can be launched as an instant ranged-spell action, rolling separately for each.

>[1d10+3]

Amy rears her head back and releases a deafening howl. As she does so, her wolf coat seems to come to life. It waves around like an open flame. A moment later, her back erupts into open flames. However, the flames are colored black and white, swirling around each other.

>Go, Go, Go!: Once per combat; For the next 3 turns, you and all allies may take an extra action. On a natural crit, that's 2 extra actions.

>[1d10+2]

Roll #1 9 = 9 / Roll #2 3 + 3 = 6 / Roll #3 5 + 2 = 7

 No.756852

>>756846
Leather stands his ground, continuing to chant prayers, this time for himself. "I am never alone through my faith."

>Sallus: Instant; Recharge 5; Self-Buff; For 3+1 turns, your physical attacks deal an additional 2d3 damage on success, rolled by you at the time of the attacks. If any of these attacks are natural critical hits, they will Blind the target, removing one of their chances to act next turn.

[1d10]
> Slow Down!: Recharge 3 after effect ends; Ranged; You can slow down time in a small radius around the target. The target of this power will take 3 fewer points of damage (minimum 1) for the next 2+1 turns.
[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7 / Roll #2 2 = 2

 No.756853

>>756848
On a hunch, you follow the dark swamp into the earth, where the majority of them were pulled, and after hurtling deep underground, made all the faster by no wind resistance, you at last see distant glimpses of figures writhing in the darkness. Like distant stars, you can see each of the captured members of the expedition, each one completely separate from the others, trapped in small honeycomb-like spheres of darkness, beset by innumerable wolves, all rising just as quickly as they can be cut down.

But… there's something that might offer a glimpse of hope. The children and pets, it seems, are in no danger – for though they too are kept separate, and imprisoned in darkness, they aren't under attack; no wolves plague their chambers of darkness. Even the Shades are given their own prisons, but they are just as safe…

But maybe Kerberos is not so lucky–

For in Mudi's sphere of darkness, you see the Witch has gone berserk. That's hardly an accurate assessment– you can't even see Mudi for the most part, but you can recognize the terrible magic that you once scried her using, as she annihilates those wolves that attack her by the hundreds… they can't land a single hit. Not even Vizsla is doing that well in her own battles, bearing terrible wounds that bleed, unlike when she fought Shei at supper…

>>756851
You gain two Homing Magic Charges as you quicken your allies' pace.

>>756852
You buff yourself as well.

>>756847
You sense that your allies, trapped in darkness though they may be, are fighting as hard as they can… you buff everyone as well.

>>756852
>>756851
>>756850
>>756847
The darkness of the chamber gives way, as Shei wrests a modicum of control from the enraged Kerberos… but even as light and memory take over the darkness once more, Kerberos howls from all around, and darkness emerges from the cracks in the rock and gaps in the earth…!

As swift as cannon fire, a horde of Hounds erupt from the darkness, and hurtle towards you, jaws unhinged.

Jaws that can pierce adamantium.
Drooling a venom that could melt through dragonhide.

[3d10+4] Shei
[3d10+4] Amy
[3d10+4] Shorthorned
[3d10+4] Cloak
[3d10+4] Flow

Flow stands his ground, slashing at all those who come your way.
[2d10+3] Cleave vs 3 each

>Paused


Roll #1 7, 7, 4 + 4 = 22 / Roll #2 5, 8, 3 + 4 = 20 / Roll #3 1, 3, 4 + 4 = 12 / Roll #4 1, 1, 9 + 4 = 15 / Roll #5 1, 4, 6 + 4 = 15 / Roll #6 9, 10 + 3 = 22

 No.756898

>>756853
>>756853
Seeing the most vicious attacks heading towards Shei, Leather holds out the Chalice of the Centurion as a toast towards the godlet, letting it fill with the pain that would be inflicted upon the goat before pantomiming the action of dumping it on his cloak, letting the holy magic imbued absorb it.

>The Chalice of the Centurion: Recharge 3; Automatic Instant; The holder of the chalice can designate a target at any point during their turn. This turn, they will take all damage meant for that target. All damage taken through this effect is the original value of that damage; it cannot be modified by any factor, such as Attribute Relationships, Crits or Critfails, damage negating effects, etc.

taking Shei's incoming damage…
>Enhanced Armored Ecclesian Jacket: Adds 5 Hits and 1 Wound, stackable with armor. Additionally, once per combat, can completely nullify a single attack made against you as an automatic action.
…and absorbing it.

 No.756899

>>756853
Shorthorns nods her head in agreement with Amy, "She's right! We're not so faithless as not to trust our friends and allies, all true warriors themselves, to be unable to handle themselves! The only thing we need to do now," she shouts as she slams her hooves, a mane of blue fire erupts around her horns, "Is prove to YOU we're ready to handle anything Tartarus throws at us, including you!"

Noticing the horde of hounds shooting towards Flow, Shorthorns also activates one of her primordial aspects, magically transferring the damage to herself as she proceeds to drain life energy from the irate army of hounds at the same time

>Offering on the Mountain: Automatic; Recharge 2 after effect ends; A cursed blue fire encircles your head, drawing the ire of enemies, leaving them more likely to target you over allies who have not attacked yet. Allies who score critical successes attract more ire. This effect lasts 3 turns.

>Mantra of Recovery: Recharge 2 after effect ends; Instant; Cannot be used at full Hits; On use, select an enemy. Every turn, you drain two Hits from that target. This effect ends when you go helpless, or after 3 turns pass, whichever comes first.
[1d10] Rolling for Mantra of Recovery
>Covalent Bonds: Auto Instant; Recharge 3; Ranged; Choose an ally. All damage they would normally take this turn will be applied to you instead. The most damage you can receive from using this ability is (Full Hits) + 2 Wounds.

>Shorthorned Dragon is Resistant to Fire / Dark attacks

>Fortifying Belt; Relic; The DC to hit you drops to 0, such that even Critfails will succeed against you, but all damage taken is Halved before other effects.

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.756900

>>756853
"Give me a hug Kerberos!"

Shei's cape flairs into the air wide open to let 6 chains fly out from it's interior.

[gonna have to go over a detail about this skill later]
>Bohemian Purgatory: instant, Automatic: The chains produced by the God of Bastards and Kids are fabrications of the soul. As an Instant Auto action gabby's seal may be applied as an elemental attribute to Shei Sher's manifested switch-cane for this combat. A successful Lasso with the switch cane applies Gabby's Seal. Target's lasso'd with multiple chains receive psychic damage multiplied for each chain. Psydmgmulti (damage*Chain#) Psydmg Multiplier for Targets with resistances instead downgrades the resistance for each chain lasso'd. 1 chain brings repel to Absorb, 2 chains brings Repel down to Null. With 2 chains required to revert Resist to Neutral. And a total of 5 chains to bring Repel down to Neutral. The number of chains increased after Neutral is reached does not effect the Attribute Relationship any further, Instead the Psydmg Multiplier begins after Neutral.

>—Drawbacks; Gabby's Seal used this way can be physically dispelled by breaking the lasso'd chain. If Control was achieved via Lasso'd Target, if all chains are broken Control effect dispells. For each chain damaged Shei-Sher takes 1/4th (rounded up) the damage inflicted onto the chain as Psychic Damage calculated after his resistance. Chains' Durability damaged can be restored with Tinker also restoring Psychic HP, for this use Spell Bleed applies to Tinker. Because Gabby's Seal applied this way applies through a successful use of lasso, Bohemian Purgatory will have difficulty affecting non-physical targets, or aqueous/gaseous targets. Any number of chains may be released at anytime as an auto action that does not consume action turns, but will forfeit the opportunity to Restore with Tinker.


[1d10+1]

Shei-Sher points a hoof into the air, a shimmering light manifests at his hooftip and with it he strums his guitar as it were a pick.

>Light.IV Dark.III

The sound sends waves across the field imbueing his allies' weapons with the power to do psychic damage

[1d10+1] giving mind element to allies.

Roll #1 10 + 1 = 11 / Roll #2 7 + 1 = 8

 No.756901

>>756900
>>756853
[I forgot to write it in there, but I think you get the idea that shei is lassoing Kerberos with 6 chains.]

Also here is my sheet
https://pastebin.com/YJFusUgn formal sheet
https://pastebin.com/tZcwtyju ulties sheet

 No.756902

>>756853

As the swirling black and white flames on Amy's back intensifies, she howls. The flames they're launched in every direction, blanketing the many doggos.

>Wrath: recharge 2, spell, ranged; Damage all nearby foes with a powerful blast, ensuring they cannot attack you on the next round; renders targets helpless on 9+. On crit you can kill or incapacitate weakened/dying targets.

>[1d10+5]

>Homing Magic: Spell, Recharge 2 after effect ends; On success, summons a magical projectile, plus an additional one for every point you pass the roll by, to a maximum of 5 on a critical. The projectiles follow you around, and any number of them can be launched as an instant ranged-spell action, rolling separately for each.

>[1d10+3] [1d10+3]
>This attack aims for one of the dogs attacking Amy directly

"I hope you like playing rough!" she shouts at Kerberos with a manic grin. "Let me know when you've had enough. I made a nice dinner for you."

>Mantra of Equality: Recharge 2; Instant; Soothes a hostile target, making them more likely to listen to what you have to say, and unable to target you next turn.

>[1d10+4] DC-4
>recharge is 1 because of Impatience

>>756901

Then, Amy zooms over to where Shei is. She's there so quickly and so suddenly, that it might make Shei jump. "Shei!" Amy says in a hurried tone. "Let me eat your eye!"

>Princess of Hunters: Recharge 3; Spell: Permanently steal any one skill from a target, gaining it for your own use. You do not gain the target's roll bonuses along with the skill. In order for a skill to be a valid target for stealing, the user must fulfill three conditions. 1: You must know what skill you want to steal. 2: You must have seen that skill used before. 3: You must know of the target's motivations and desires.

>[1d10+2]
>doing the roll now to save time

Roll #1 10 + 5 = 15 / Roll #2 8 + 3 = 11 / Roll #3 5 + 3 = 8 / Roll #4 8 + 4 = 12 / Roll #5 4 + 2 = 6

 No.756903

>>756902

Oh, also the Nail Beast attacks a dog attacking Amy.

[1d10] [1d10]
>dual strike rules, DC-1

Roll #1 5 = 5 / Roll #2 3 = 3

 No.756904

https://pastebin.com/RaZG8KLM

>>756853
Pryce dives as fast as his wings can carry him through the darkness, stopping only when he sees the light of the others, struck stunned as he sees each fighting for their life against unending beasts. His eyes quickly scan for River, Zjetya, and the children, finding relief in the kids being safe. He then quickly turns his attention back to his mares, mind running quickly on what to do as he feels his time running short.
Decision made, he dives towards River's sphere, drawing out his Memory-Pluck in flight. Once he breaches into the light, his horn flashes, stepping out of Subspace as he brings down his sword on the closed hound to her.
"River! Are you alright?!"
He calls out as he lands down, horn glowing white as he quickly covers any injuries she may have.
>Exit Subspace [Free]

>Slash Kerberos [Memory-Pluck] [DC5] [1d10]

>Steals an opponent's skill upon a hit, enabling the user to use it while the victim can't. Normal success = 1 use, Critical = 2 uses. Once you use the skill, the skill goes back to the victim. You can hold the skill indefinitely to simply deny its use by the victim. You can only steal 1 skill at a time.
>Guarded: Reduces critical failure damage by half.

>Prayer For Deliverance [River] [Instant] [1d10+1]

>Instant; Recharge 2; Restore the target’s Hits to full, and give them +1 extra temporary Hit until the end of combat.

Roll #1 5 = 5 / Roll #2 10 + 1 = 11

 No.756905

>>756902
Shei's gets goosebumps Amy nudging right into his ear. She somehow startled him from his battle trance. "My eye! Why- oh.. Yeah I get it." Shei realizes what she's doing just in a moment. As he parts his hair "People might not see it, but you're one high maintence girl Amy. I hope you realize that."

Shei digs a hoof into his left and pulls from it an eye, which soon reveals to be a long gleaming staff Shei is sliding out from his socket. Impossible for it to be held considering it's length "NGh AHH again with this!"

Though it pains him, Shei-Sher lends Amy a Pupil in his staff form. There is an inscription reading the -The whole of the Law-

"And you have to eat all of it." Shei remarks like a parent would remark on a child's unfinished veggies.

 No.756906

>>756902
>>756853
>>756904

>Didn't account for GGG action


Leather also mutters another prayer under his breath, strengthing his allies' Pryce and Amy's damage.

>Recharge 2; Ranged; Pick two targets; This effect spreads a mist around those targets which will either increase their damage received by 2 for 2+1 turns, or reduce their damage dealt by 2 for 2+1 turns. Effect is chosen when cast.

[1d10+1] Buffing Pryce's and Amy's damage.

Roll #1 10 + 1 = 11

 No.756907

>>756905

"Oh, you KNOW I can fit all that down my throat," Amy says with a grin and a wink before she takes the staff and shoves it down her throat as impossibly as it came out of his eye socket.

 No.756908

>>756906
>>756853
**Amy, Shorthorns

 No.756909

>>756907
Though much has changed with Shei, some things may never change. Shei blushes "You're being weird again. She's being weird again!" Shei calls out like a child who needs an adult.

 No.756910

>>756900
>>756898
As the hounds descend upon Shei, their jaws clamp shut, and their heads writhe as they endeavor to thrash him into a concussion – yet naught befalls him, and the hounds spit him out, as Cloak simply fills his Chalice with Shei's misery, and pours it out without effect.

>>756899
Hounds' jaws clamp down onto Flow, but your flames surround him, drawing his pain onto yourself, though it is fleeting, for your belt and the health you start to sap from Kerberos reduce and restore the damage you take from this feat.

>>756904
You leap through Subspace into a small and spherical chamber, and slash the hound that currently pins River against the chamber's stone floor. The hound melts into darkness, and River stands, dusting herself off. Briefly, you feel a surge of power in Memory-Pluck…

These are placeholder names.

>Darkness Spew (Std.) (Inflicts Blind)

>Shadow Realm Drag (Std., Auto)
>Poison Drool (Std.) (Inflicts Concentrated Poison)
>Claw Slash (Std.) (Inflicts Paralysis)
>Soul Split/Merge (Std.)
>All Lordblade Skills
>ATK Support 3 (Psv.) (Increases damage dealt)
>DEF Support 3 (Psv.) (Reduces damage taken)
>Dark (Psv.) (Attribute)
>Poison (Psv.) (Attribute)
>Smoke (Psv.) (Attribute)
>No-risk Multi-Target (Psv.) (Enables Cleaves on any skills with no ceiling and no increased critfail range)

>>756900
>>756899
>>756898
>>756902
Shei's chains fly forth in stunning loops, sweeping vast swathes of the dark hounds under their grasp. Shei tugs the chains and pulls them tight, wrapping up hordes and hordes of hounds… yet thousands more can be sensed in the vast darkness that surrounds this arena like the curtain of nightfall. Amy spins and breathes forth a wave of holy fire against them, and the dozens of hounds consumed howl with pain and dive back into the darkness to douse themselves. Three more chomp onto Amy from behind, but she knocks them back with Homing Magic before their fangs can sink too deep. The Hounds collapse onto the Nail Beast, which finds itself sinking into darkness.

>Amy loses 8 Hits

>Nail Beast 0/3

>Kerberos' Mind AR goes from Resist to Neutral; 6 Chains total == 4x Psychic Damage Multiplier


The surface of the darkness churns and bubbles like the surface of a boiling cauldron, and snarling echoes from all around! From the darkness, dozens more hounds leap up into the air, and dive into the darkness, splashing up a great wave of sludge-like shadows, threatening to drag you under! A fetid smog of rotting carrion and venom rises from the darkness and fills the stagnant air…

[3d10+4] Wave of Darkness vs. all
[3d10+4] Wave of Concentrated Poison vs. all
[3d10+4] Wave of Smog vs. all

The hounds bound by Shei gnaw at their chains, thrashing and screaming all the while.

[3d10+4] Bite (Pierce) against Chains

Flow leaps into the fray of chained Hounds, trying to grab onto one and ride it like a steed.

[1d10+3]

Roll #1 5, 9, 6 + 4 = 24 / Roll #2 6, 4, 3 + 4 = 17 / Roll #3 4, 10, 6 + 4 = 24 / Roll #4 10, 4, 4 + 4 = 22 / Roll #5 7 + 3 = 10

 No.756911

>>756910
>Cloak loses 6 Hits

 No.756912

>Shorthorned lost 2 Hits

 No.756913

>>756910
>>756910
Shorthorns looks on in triumph as her fires absorb the impact from the dogs' many chaotic chomps on her gooey companion, and as the damage is barely felt she looks on in high-hopes as she sees how the rest of the group is faring with Shei's many chains ensnaring them. However, she sees that the massive horde just keeps fighting on, the numbers truly overwhelming. "There sure are a lot of them!" Shorty shouts, as much an observation as a warning. "Stay in a group! Keep each other's backs!"

She shouts as she moves to group up with their small unit, shooting out in a quick leap with her head to slam down on a crowd of the hounds before quickly darting back!

>All Or Nothing: Recharge 1; When all else fails, use your head. Autocrits. All failures count as critical. Can be used while helpless.

>Charge: Passive; At the beginning of combat declare a charge against one enemy. You get a +2 bonus on that target at the cost of increasing critical failure range by 1
[1d10+5] All or Nothing against Kerberos
>Equipped Oorzof's Circlet of Routing (Relic)
>Effect: Activating Wild Hunt (when you take an enemy down to Helpless) no longer gives a free Automatic action, but instead knocks back all nearby enemies and applies a debuff of -1 to all their rolls for 5 turns (or until debuff is broken). The debuff does not stack and wears off if this relic is removed.

Roll #1 10 + 5 = 15

 No.756914

>>756910
Pryce is still for a moment as he feels the surge of power through his sword, just as when he fought against Sir Estuary. In the brief flash, Pryce settles on the best choice he sees.
>Picking Shadow Realm Drag

He steps back towards River, wings spread defensively in front of her, prepared for more hounds to show.
"Do you still have the Vivarum on you?"

 No.756915

>>756910
>>756909
>all rolls this turn get +1 because Crystal Emotions
>that's right, I remembered!

Once Amy is done deep-throating Shei's eyeball, she looks around. "Ooooh!" she says with a wag of her tail. "This is neat!"

Though this is no noticable physical change, her perception of things has enhanced greatly.

>Appraise: instant; Determine the number of remaining hits and wounds on an enemy, and possibly weaknesses. More powerful enemies may be harder to Appraise. Out of combat, quickly determine value of objects, study mechanisms and documents, size up other ponies, etc.

>[1d10+2]

Amy barks and more technicolor flames wash over the doggos.

>Wrath: recharge 2, spell, ranged; Damage all nearby foes with a powerful blast, ensuring they cannot attack you on the next round; renders targets helpless on 9+. On crit you can kill or incapacitate weakened/dying targets.

>[1d10+6]

As the wave approaches her, Amy opens her mouth wide and sucks in as much of it as she can.

>Hungry Like the Wolf: Recharge 2; Instant; Spell: Bite into a magical effect, such as an enemy's oncoming spell, or a natural magical effect in the surrounding area, and devour it. This both neutralizes the effect, and allows you to roll that spell once for your own purposes, using whatever bonuses and modifiers that the original caster would have used, PLUS any of yours that are applicable. Using this skill is an Instant action, but the captured spell is whatever kind of action the original spell was (standard / automatic / instant / etc)

>[1d10+3]
>If I can only swallow one part of it, I'd like for it to be the Concentrated Poison part

Amy also bites one of the doggos to steal its action.

>Can I Borrow This?: Instant; Recharge 3; Ranged; On success, you steal 1 of the target's chances to act next turn, completely stunning them if they can only take 1 action per turn. Next turn, you can use this stolen action in addition to your normal ones.

>[1d10+3]

Also, the Nail beast tries to get up… [1d10]

Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8 / Roll #2 5 + 6 = 11 / Roll #3 9 + 3 = 12 / Roll #4 3 + 3 = 6 / Roll #5 1 = 1

 No.756916

>>756910
Feeling the imbuement of psychic damage from Shei, Leather's standard glow of radiance is twinged with purple as he sends out psychic holy radiance towards 3 hounds.

>Phantasmagoria of Conquest: 3 times per Combat; Automatic; Sacrifice X hits to deal 4X damage and inflict a status condition (chosen when you learn this skill) on up to 3 targets.

Sacrificing 4 hits, dealing 16 Psychic Damage (I forget how the weakness multipliers work so not accounted for) to 3 hounds that didn't attack this turn.
They are also afflicted with Delayed
>Delayed; The results of any roll made by those affected by Delayed take place a turn after they would normally. Rolls to dodge or interrupt may be made at any point between this time.
22-4= 18 hits remaining

Leveling his rifle, he fires at another hound, his bullet glowing the same purple.

Elephant Gun; Blessed Ballista: ICE, GUN, PSYCHIC; -2 DC, -1 Crit DC, Quality ranged weapon(+1), requires instant auto to reload.
[1d10+1] DC-2, Crit DC-1
[2d3] Sallus damage, on Crit Blinds target

He then reloads his weapon.
>instant automatic

Roll #1 2 + 1 = 3 / Roll #2 3, 2 = 5

 No.756917

>>756915
Shei can't help but watch every moment of Amy swallow the Whole of the Law. He is aroused, and something about the moment reminds him of one of Crowley's poems. He tries to shake the thought away.

>>756910
[as a reminder]
>—Durability Status: Each chain as a Durability Status. A chain has 3 Statuses after the 3rd status is breached the chain breaks off. 1st Status = pristine condition. 2nd status = damaged condition. 3rd Status = Brittle Condition. Natural Unmodified Rolls 6-7 breaks One Status. Natural rolls 8-9 break Two Statuses. And Natural 10 breaks the entire chain apart/3 Statuses. A roll of 1d10+3= 4+3=7 would not damage the chain since the natural roll is below DC6. Each time the chain(s) are damaged Shei takes 1/4th of damage inflicted onto the chain as Psychic Damage.


Shei-Sher continues to play his sad song
>Background Music: instant, stackable; the entire party gains +1 to all rolls for 2 turns, this effect is stackable for a maximum of +2; upon critical failure cancels all stacks of the effect, this skill cannot critically succeed. Effect duration of each stack refreshes after a successful use.

[1d10+1]

Shei-Sher breathes deeply. He tenses his shoulder's into a shrug and then strums his guitar releasing that shrug. All his allies feel a loud vibration protecting them.

>Princess Vinland's Opulence: Twice per combat; Automatic; Recharge 2 after effect ends; Sacrifice 1 Wound to negate all damage against you and your allies made this turn. Damage made next turn against you and all allies will be reduced by 3, minimum 1. Damage made the turn after that will be reduced by 2, minimum 1. Damage made after that turn will be reduced by 1, minimum 1. On the final turn, 1 Wound is restored to you and all allies.


[auto]

Shei takes a mid flight whilst holding the beasts in his chains. He descends upon Amy's nail beast and with his axe cleaves in asunder. The blow lands, reducing it to an effervescence of magasuchi which Shei absorbs.

>Qliphoth: automatic, recharge 3; Sacrifice one or all of the minions under your control to heal yourself 5/5 H/W per minion sacrificed. The minion must have over 20% of it's HP to be a proper sacrifice. Can heal beyond character's Natural H/W up to a maximum of double their Wounds+2W. For Shei 13/14 H/W. This ability may require a Control roll at the DM's discretion. Can be used to heal allies and H/W gained may be distributed to up to Five allies at a time. I.e 1/1 for each of Five allies, 2/3 and 3/2 for each of Two allies, etc. This skill can heal someone from 0/0HW but requires a roll and both their soul and body are still present.


[auto] sacrificing Amy's nail beast for +5 max wounds to Shei

>>756915
"Reciprosity is a hallmark of a healthy relationship." Shei announces as he devours Amy's nailbeast with his axe.

Roll #1 5 + 1 = 6

 No.756918

>>756917

Amy frowns. "That was way less sexy, though…"

 No.756919

>>756918
"I-it wasn't!?" Shei stammers, not expecting that response. He feels reduced as a man

 No.756920

>>756917
[Qliphoth was used invalidly. Assume rp actions occurred delayed to when Qliphoth is used validly.]

Substituting Qliphoth for a Control roll

Shei's witching lantern hums, as he assigns control of Amy's nailbeast.
>CONTROL+1: Spell, attempts to take control of a hostile or neutral undead. More powerful undead may require a higher minimum roll. Also used to take control of a larger undead at recharge 2.
[1d10+2]

Roll #1 6 + 2 = 8

 No.756921

>>756919

"How would killing a dying animal be as sexy as deepthroating something!?"

 No.756922

>>756921
"I- I thought I possessed a general sex appeal now that I am a musician!" Shei confides bewildered by this realization "That must count for something!?"

 No.756923

>>756913
You dive-tackle the crowd of hounds, sending dozens flying in a great eruption of darkness and pained whining.

>>756914
None other appear, but every few seconds, the earth around you trembles and shudders; distant explosions, eruptions, and rumblings can be felt from far off. River nods, producing the metal cube. She twists it, and a small light shoots from one of the square's faces, becoming a square portal entrance to a vast white space. Breathlessly, River leaps in, pulling you with her.

>>756920
Succeeds

>>756915
The Nail Beast sinks deeper into the darkness…
>NB 0/2

You analyze a Hound, seeing that its soul is but a fragment, a small thing, as are the countless others surrounding it– and there's some rapidly-growing soul-mass deep below you, expanding each time a Hound perishes in combat…

Kerberos HP: 8500
Psychic HP: 4184
DC-to-Hit: 8
DC-to-Persuade: 12
Weak: None
Resist: Slash, Blunt, Pierce, Magic, Mind
Null: Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Salt
Absorb: Light, Magatsuhi
Repel: Dark

You learn of these skills…
>Darkness Spew (Std.) (Inflicts Blind)
>Shadow Realm Drag (Std., Auto)
>Poison Drool (Std.) (Inflicts Concentrated Poison)
You sense also that more skills lie beneath the surface…

>>756915
>>756913
>>756916
>>756917
>>756916
The chains surrounding the Hounds all shatter, as waves of darkness, toxin and smoke spew over you, but a great vibration rises from Shei, shielding you from what was bound to be a catastrophic level of damage. Amy and Cloak annihilate row after row of Hounds with holy flame and blessed bullets, but the bullets don't seem to be as efficacious as the holy flame…

The Hounds back away, and just as they did before, they start to disappear into the darkness below, melting into black puddles. Before the last one can, Flow hops onto it, and after it bucks a few times, he forces its nose downward, and the hound dives into the darkness, carrying Flow along with it!

A sudden anxiety prickles the air…

[5d10+3] Assassinate

Roll #1 4, 4, 9, 1, 9 + 3 = 30

 No.756924

>>756923
Shorthorns grins as she sends a small crowd of them flying in every direction, looking at the small but sizable dent they've done thus far in Kerberos' mass. "Keep at it!" She shouts as the chains shatter, trying to keep everyone's spirits up as Amy and Cloak mow through row after row. "We're getting through them!"

However, as the dogs disappears, and the black puddle forms, a sense of dread builds along Shorthorns' spines, prickling up the hair on her head as she watches Flow sink into the darkness after it. Laying her faith in him knowing what she's doing, Shorthorns tries to think of what Kerberos could be thinking next, simply prepares her body for the worst as white light rises to protect her.

>Prayer for Salvation: Automatic; Recharge 2; The target's next recovery from Helplessness will be an Automatic Instant action, and the target will get +1 to all future attempts to get up until the end of combat.

"What are you trying at now…" she asks aloud, expecting no real answer.

 No.756925

>>756923
Burning through his stamina, Cloak sends out another wave of purple-tinged holy light to prevent 3 of the Hounds from hiding in the darkness, glowing far brighter as he speaks with conviction towards the Hounds.

"Slink away into shadows all you desire, but the holy light of Hypomone will do away with any darkness you might try to hide within! You cannot hide from the possibility of loss, you must have faith in your allies to persevere despite all odds!"

He first applies a prayer to himself though.
>I Dream of Strength: Instant; Recharge 1; Enhances the target's combat abilities until the end of combat. Every attack they land will do 1 extra hit of damage. Every attack made against them will do 1 less hit of damage, to a minimum of 1. This effect stacks with itself to a maximum of 3 successes
[1d10+1] Cloak

>Phantasmagoria of Conquest: 3 times per Combat; Automatic; Sacrifice X hits to deal 4X damage and inflict a status condition (chosen when you learn this skill) on up to 3 targets.

Sacrificing 17 hits, dealing 68 Psychic Damage (I forget how the weakness multipliers work so not accounted for) to 3 hounds (204 total), the ones that rolled 9, 9, and one that rolled 4.
They are also afflicted with Delayed
>Delayed; The results of any roll made by those affected by Delayed take place a turn after they would normally. Rolls to dodge or interrupt may be made at any point between this time.
18-17= 1 hit remaining

Roll #1 3 + 1 = 4

 No.756926

>>756923
Pryce takes a breath as they enter the Vivarium, now that they're relatively safe.
"I saw where everypony else is, but I don't have time to get them all with the distance. The kids aren't in any danger at least," Pryce explains. "I took Kerberos' ability to pull things like he did all of you, but that's not enough. We need a plan… Do you have anything that can dig, anything to travel quickly?"
He asks, trying to figure out how to work this the best way possible. He then turns, horn glowing white.
"Here. I don't plan on us separating again but we'll need as much of a connection as possible."
He says, before tapping his horn to her forehead.
>Assuming she'd accept it
>White Threads [Auto]
>Spell; Ranged; Automatic; Create a telepathic link between you and up to two other characters. This link's radius is half a mile long, and can only be blocked by magical or other supernatural effects, not physical ones. Cannot establish a link without the target knowing and accepting the link.

 No.756927

Amy looks around at the lack of anything to attack, still in her enraged, empowered state. She breathes heavily and closes her eyes.

>Vestigial Sunlight: Recharge 1; Spell; Roll to hear insight, whispers of guidance and fleeting thoughts from those who have come before you in similar situations. Roll number determines the quality of advice.

>[1d10+2]
>looking for advice on how to make Keroberos capitulate
>or just on how to survive this next attack

Then, she looks around at her allies. She quickly zooms up next to Cloak and gives him a potion. "Here you got, Pleather."

>Natural Remedy: recharge 1, ranged; Use an unpredictable tincture to fully restore a target’s hits to full and restore one wound, or removes status effects. Crit on 9+ restores 2 wounds, but crit fail on 2- deals a wound of damage.

>[1d10+4]

She then proceeds to charge up another attack for when the shit hits the fan again. All the darkness in her coat approaches her head, then she opens her mouth and balls of darkness come out.

>Homing Magic: Spell, Recharge 2 after effect ends; On success, summons a magical projectile, plus an additional one for every point you pass the roll by, to a maximum of 5 on a critical. The projectiles follow you around, and any number of them can be launched as an instant ranged-spell action, rolling separately for each.

>[1d10+3]

And just because she has more time to kill… Appraise?

>Appraise: instant; Determine the number of remaining hits and wounds on an enemy, and possibly weaknesses. More powerful enemies may be harder to Appraise. Out of combat, quickly determine value of objects, study mechanisms and documents, size up other ponies, etc.

[1d10]

"Looks like you're having a hard time if you have to resort to sneaking," Amy taunts Keroberos.

>instant action for a generic social roll

>[1d10] DC-4

Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6 / Roll #2 7 + 4 = 11 / Roll #3 1 + 3 = 4 / Roll #4 4 = 4 / Roll #5 4 = 4

 No.756928

>>756923
Activating qliphoth on Amy's nail beast

>Qliphoth: automatic, recharge 3; Sacrifice one or all of the minions under your control to heal yourself 5/5 H/W per minion sacrificed. The minion must have over 20% of it's HP to be a proper sacrifice. Can heal beyond character's Natural H/W up to a maximum of double their Wounds+2W. For Shei 13/14 H/W. This ability may require a Control roll at the DM's discretion. Can be used to heal allies and H/W gained may be distributed to up to Five allies at a time. I.e 1/1 for each of Five allies, 2/3 and 3/2 for each of Two allies, etc. This skill can heal someone from 0/0HW but requires a roll and both their soul and body are still present.


[auto] +5 max wounds for Shei new total H/W 13/11

Just as his chains are torn to bits Shei sends another volley of chains after Kerberos. Sending 6 chains after Kerberos

>Bohemian Purgatory: instant, Automatic: The chains produced by the God of Bastards and Kids are fabrications of the soul. As an Instant Auto action gabby's seal may be applied as an elemental attribute to Shei Sher's manifested switch-cane for this combat. A successful Lasso with the switch cane applies Gabby's Seal. Target's lasso'd with multiple chains receive psychic damage multiplied for each chain. Psydmgmulti (damage*Chain#) Psydmg Multiplier for Targets with resistances instead downgrades the resistance for each chain lasso'd. 1 chain brings repel to Absorb, 2 chains brings Repel down to Null. With 2 chains required to revert Resist to Neutral. And a total of 5 chains to bring Repel down to Neutral. The number of chains increased after Neutral is reached does not effect the Attribute Relationship any further, Instead the Psydmg Multiplier begins after Neutral.


>-—Drawbacks; Gabby's Seal used this way can be physically dispelled by breaking the lasso'd chain. If Control was achieved via Lasso'd Target, if all chains are broken Control effect dispells. For each chain damaged Shei-Sher takes 1/4th (rounded up) the damage inflicted onto the chain as Psychic Damage calculated after his resistance. Chains' Durability damaged can be restored with Tinker also restoring Psychic HP, for this use Spell Bleed applies to Tinker. Because Gabby's Seal applied this way applies through a successful use of lasso, Bohemian Purgatory will have difficulty affecting non-physical targets, or aqueous/gaseous targets. Any number of chains may be released at anytime as an auto action that does not consume action turns, but will forfeit the opportunity to Restore with Tinker.


>-—Durability Status: Each chain as a Durability Status. A chain has 3 Statuses after the 3rd status is breached the chain breaks off. 1st Status = pristine condition. 2nd status = damaged condition. 3rd Status = Brittle Condition. Natural Unmodified Rolls 6-7 breaks One Status. Natural rolls 8-9 break Two Statuses. And Natural 10 breaks the entire chain apart/3 Statuses. A roll of 1d10+3= 4+3=7 would not damage the chain since the natural roll is below DC6. Each time the chain(s) are damaged Shei takes 1/4th of damage inflicted onto the chain as Psychic Damage.


[Spell Bleed; passive cleave on spells]
[1d10+2] To lasso Kerberos in 6 chains.

sound and time refract against eachother as Shei continues to play his song.
>Go, Go, Go!: Once per combat; For the next 3 turns, you and all allies may take an extra action. On a natural crit, that's 2 extra actions.

[1d10+2]

Roll #1 5 + 2 = 7 / Roll #2 10 + 2 = 12

 No.756929

>>756926
River nods, and points off to the side. A Dark Corridor begins to form, but River gasps, shudders and falls to the ground. The Dark Corridor forms, but as you recall, a Dark Corridor's length is proportional to the distance it covers. This Corridor is barely more than five meters long, and you can see that its exit leads to another empty chamber.

"Agh!" River breathes. "What… why did that hurt to conjure? This has not happened before."

>>756924
>>756925
>>756926
>>756927
>>756928
Amy senses that Kerberos has, to put it bluntly, lost more than his share of sanity. Being left alone for upwards of 2,000 years, first by Princess Vinland, Sir Osmium and Lady Athena, and then, by Princess Wineberry… it may not be possible to convince him to stand down… not unless there's some guarantee that he won't be left alone again.

Shei only captures one hound with six chains… but the Hound just stops and stands there, staring you down…

Until–

Thousands of lights flash above you.
Below you.
Around you.
Every color imaginable.

"You wanted memories…? I'll give you memories!!!"

Thousands of voices call out – as the Hounds dive, leap and lunge toward you, their shadow-bodies melding to resemble ancient armor, even shifting into images of tall and powerful warriors of every race, but mostly of Mariposan ponies, with their peculiar regional features… echoes of the ancient Sons of God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ooJx0kONak

The Hounds, shapeshifted into their former friends, unleash a pale echo of their former attacks.

[3d10+3] Love Poison
[1d10+3] Assassinate
[3d10+3] Smite
[3d10+3] Wrath
[3d10+3] Stopza
[3d10+3] Command

>Applying

>No-risk Multi-Target (Psv.) (Enables Cleaves on any skills with no ceiling and no increased critfail range)
>Cleaving each of these skills for all of you

Roll #1 2, 10, 7 + 3 = 22 / Roll #2 2 + 3 = 5 / Roll #3 7, 5, 3 + 3 = 18 / Roll #4 2, 7, 2 + 3 = 14 / Roll #5 3, 5, 1 + 3 = 12 / Roll #6 4, 10, 3 + 3 = 20

 No.756930

>>756929
Pryce catches River as she falls, horn glowing white to heal the strain the corridor caused.
"Do you Kerberos affecting it somehow?"
Pryce lifts River up, helping to carry her through the corridor, taking the Vivarium as they leave it and looking around the new chamber, sword at the ready for any hounds that might be lurking.
"If out of anything else, we'll get Zjetya with my last spell."
>Prayer for Deliverance [Instant] [River] [1d10+1]
>Prayer for Deliverance: Instant; Recharge 2; Restore the target’s Hits to full, and give them +1 extra temporary Hit until the end of combat.

Roll #1 7 + 1 = 8

 No.756931

>>756929
Shorthorns looks around in anticipation as her mind picks up on the irate voice of Tartarus' guardian, looking around as she tries to get a bead on his voice to no avail. As the shapes of the shadows emerge above them, Shorty looks up in shock, finding the visages of the former Sons of Gods they'd been learning of in legend being summoned before them. As they come down with a salvo of nostalgic attacks, Shorthorns tightens her holding, fires building all around her body as she prepares to summon a fiery shield to safeguard her friends.

"I know you're hurting, Kerberos, but there's still time for you to stop this. Let us into Tartarus, let us help you!"

>Ultimate Move: Stampede of the Inferno: Automatic. After activation, instantly create a flaming buffalo minion (ignoring minion cap) with 'Protect' equal to your Hit Total / 1 wound for each Wound lost since activation, up to a total of 3.

>Mantra of Recovery: Recharge 2 after effect ends; Instant; Cannot be used at full Hits; On use, select an enemy. Every turn, you drain two Hits from that target. This effect ends when you go helpless, or after 3 turns pass, whichever comes first.
[1d10+2] Mantra of Recovery

Roll #1 7 + 2 = 9

 No.756932

>>756929

"Your clinging to the past has weakened your conviction. I repeat myself, you must believe in your allies to persevere despite all odds. Have some FAITH, mutt!"

Leather's holy symbol imbedded in his shield pulses out a wave that passes through every ally and enemy around alike.
>Vanguard: Free, Automatic, Once per Combat: Negate all incoming damage and non-damage negative effects to allies the turn this is activated.

He lets out a boisterous laugh, picking off two dogs while standing near Shei.

>Shatter: recharge 2, weapon; Breaks the target's defenses, opening them up for attack. Any attacks against a Shattered target crit on a 8+ for two+1 rounds. Can be used against inanimate objects or armor to break and damage them efficiently.

GUN Shatter [1d10+2] DC-2, Crit DC-2, Ranged

>Reload Instant Automatic


>Second Action, standard attack

GUN [1d10+2] DC-2, Crit DC-2, Ranged

Leather then withdraws behind his allies after his boisterous convictions.
>third action, Assassinate: Recharge 4; On success, blends into a nearby crowd or suitable hiding spot. Once hidden, can take an Instant action to instantly kill one target. On a failure, your cover is blown. On a critical blending roll, the assassination autocrits. A critical assassination roll does the job so neatly nobody even realizes the target died.
Hide [1d10+2] Crit DC-1

[1d10] the resistance roll for Shei's thing

Roll #1 9 + 2 = 11 / Roll #2 5 + 2 = 7 / Roll #3 7 + 2 = 9 / Roll #4 4 = 4

 No.756933

>>756929
>turn 1/7 recharge for Animal Totem

Amy reverts back to her normal form. She breathes heavily. Then, she smiles.

"You want guarantee that we'll come back? Then, watch how powerful we are when we work together! And, watch how small we can make our enemies!"

Amy grabs one of the shapeshifted hounds and bites down on its neck.

>Princess of Hunters: Recharge 3; Spell: Permanently steal any one skill from a target, gaining it for your own use. You do not gain the target's roll bonuses along with the skill. In order for a skill to be a valid target for stealing, the user must fulfill three conditions. 1: You must know what skill you want to steal. 2: You must have seen that skill used before. 3: You must know of the target's motivations and desires.

>Name: No-risk Multi-target
>She's seeing it used right now
>Keroberos wants to stop people from going into Tartarus so that they won't leave him behind again
>[1d10+2]

>Mantra of Equality: Recharge 2; Instant; Soothes a hostile target, making them more likely to listen to what you have to say, and unable to target you next turn.

>[1d10+4] DC-4

As she bites down, her whole body launches holy fire in every direction.

>Wrath: recharge 2, spell, ranged; Damage all nearby foes with a powerful blast, ensuring they cannot attack you on the next round; renders targets helpless on 9+. On crit you can kill or incapacitate weakened/dying targets.

>[1d10+4]

The holy fire is immediately followed by a wave of poison.

>Wave of Poison: It's a Ranged Spell, targets all foes by default, deals Concentrated Poison which deals 2 wounds

>[1d10+3]

Roll #1 10 + 2 = 12 / Roll #2 1 + 4 = 5 / Roll #3 4 + 4 = 8 / Roll #4 5 + 3 = 8

 No.756934

>>756929
Shei breathes agog at the shimmering visage of warriors coming down to smite them. And he looks at the single hound of kerberos he has ensared "You're a good dog. I don't know why you have to do this."

Shei unravels the cocoon of chains ensnaring the hound and resends them at the visage of mariposan warriors coming down to smite up
>chains, spell bleed, bohemian purgatory, cleaving 6
[1d10+2] sending 6 chains


Shei tears off a seal on his chest, tearing his shirt up in the process. "And I will give you my memories in exchange!"
>Black Aria Catechism: Automatic; Shei sacrifices 5 wounds for 5 rounds of Black aria Catechism

>mechanics —Dhyana/Qi Overload: Status Effect; Make a Resistance Roll to respond harmoniously with the surging Dhyana/QI. This roll does not benefit from any bonuses. You must roll this Resistance Check every round D/Q Overload is active. With each success the DC for your next resistance check is lowered by -1 DC up to a maximum of DC3 and heals 5 Psychic HP. For every round D/Q Overload is active the DC to score a natural crit is lowered by 1 regardless of succeeding or failing the resistance check. Upon Resistance Check Failure your flesh becomes brittle your aura becomes glass dust. The DC to critically hit you is decreased by 1 regardless. If you have >Ndindisholo the first failure only deactivates >Ndindisholo if you want to benefit from it, write that you're standing beside Shei. If you don't want to benefit from it then stay away from shei.


[auto] 5 wounds sacrificed for 5 rounds. allies within close range of Shei are affected

As Shei-Sher capes flows wide open, so too vines and many foilage rise out of it along with his chains toward the mariposan heroes.

>Phantasmagoria of Conquest: 3 times per Combat; Automatic; Sacrifice X hits to deal 4X damage and inflict a status condition on up to 3 targets.

Sends a hot, white wind of energy around the vicinity and wrapping its targets. The wind plants a Vampiric Garden in the area, flowers, fungi, grasses, and herbs grow from the afflicted target's skin applying +1DC to all rolls for 3 turns. The Vampiric Garden affecting a target can be healed to prolong its effect another turn and raise the DC another point for a maximum of +3DC. The afflicted opponent cannot be healed without healing the Vampiric Garden, but not Vice-Versa. The Vampiric Garden can be destroyed or preemptively counteracted by a successful roll with fire, electricity, or pestilence. For this reason the effect cannot be applied to molten, or non-physical creatures. Reusing the skill on afflicted targets renews status duration and adds a point of Dice Challenge.

[auto: sacrificing 1 hit for 4 damage and raising enemy's dc to hit us by 1 for 3 turns; can be refreshed]

>Light.IV Dark.III

[1d10+2] To enchant all shei's attacks with psychic element.

Roll #1 3 + 2 = 5 / Roll #2 2 + 2 = 4

 No.756935

>>756930
River shakes her head. "It's… hard to describe, but I don't quite think it's Kerberos. I tried to get us out of his chamber. You'd think he'd want that… No, what if it's our proximity to Tartarus itself?"

As you enter the next chamber, the rumbling suddenly spikes in severity… you're close to the battle– too close! A great chunk of earth falls from above, threatening to squish the both of you!

>Roll dodge, DC 8


[1d10+3] River dodge

>>756932
>>756931
>>756934
>>756933
"And what was I supposed to do!? Just run away and let you mortals open Tartarus again? You'll really doom your worthless race if you do that! Or maybe… is that what you want!? You talk about power… then show me power! You've withstood so much… I can't even put a dent in you… but how long can you keep this up!? Why don't we find out? Hahahaha… hahahahaha!"

[3d10+3] Despair
[3d10+3] Chaos
[3d10+3] Cursed Seal
[3d10+3] Brand
[3d10+3] Word of Power
[3d10+3] Enfeeble

The innumerable hounds of Kerberos continue their attacks, heedless of how many of them fall to Cloak's and Amy's onslaughts, even when Amy steals away his ability to drag others into the darkness.

>Applying

>No-risk Multi-Target (Psv.) (Enables Cleaves on any skills with no ceiling and no increased critfail range)
>Cleaving each of these skills for all of you, except for Amy and Cloak

Roll #1 9 + 3 = 12 / Roll #2 2, 2, 6 + 3 = 13 / Roll #3 5, 8, 3 + 3 = 19 / Roll #4 8, 4, 3 + 3 = 18 / Roll #5 10, 6, 6 + 3 = 25 / Roll #6 3, 9, 5 + 3 = 20 /

 No.756936

>>756935
Enfeeble roll (cut off by MLPG's dice bot limits)
[3d10+3]

Roll #1 7, 6, 6 + 3 = 22

 No.756937

>>756935
"With how the labyrinth was warping around us, it might be having an effect it too."
Pryce steadies himself and River as the ground starts to shake. When the earth above them falls, Pryce instinctively holds his sword up, releasing the stolen spell to sink it away into the shadows.
Exhaling, Pryce holds out the Vivarium, twisting it to open its door.
"Get in. If this place is falling apart, we'll need to get the others out quick. I don't know how well this will work, but seeing the chambers might help with the corridor."

>Shadow Realm Dra[Auto] [On Rock]

 No.756938

>>756935
Shorthorns growls as her infernal doppelganger emerges, ready to take damage for her friends as she prepares for the new oncoming assault after CLoak's holy symbol protected them from the previous barrage. Her own body glows with a renewed flame, preparing to take on any pain that Kerberos is willing to dish out as she shouts back,

"We'll keep it up until we win! We're not entering Tartarus to die, we're entering it to save everyone! That we've held on this long against you isn't proof enough of our strength, of our resolve? Who was the last one to confront you who held on this long?" She asks, still trying to break through to the anguished guardian dog

[1d10+2] Retribution of the Dragon: Spell, Recharge 4 after effect triggers; After three turns, for every attack that has hit Flaming, combine the total amount of damage dealt by each enemy's attack. This total is released towards a single enemy, or split evenly between multiple foes. (IE, 10 hits to 1 enemy, or 2 hits to 5). Critfails don’t count toward the charge of this spell.

>Inferno Buffalo (18/1) uses Protect to safeguard Shei


Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6

 No.756939

>>756935

Resistance Dyana/Qi Overload
[1d10] free action

>chains, spell bleed, bohemian purgatory, cleaving 6

[1d10] sending 6 chains

>Background Music: instant, stackable; the entire party gains +1 to all rolls for 2 turns, this effect is stackable for a maximum of +2; upon critical failure cancels all stacks of the effect, this skill cannot critically succeed. Effect duration of each stack refreshes after a successful use.


[1d10]

>Light.IV Dark.III

[1d10] To enchant all shei's attacks with psychic element.

>Can I Borrow This?: Instant; Recharge 3(minus 1); Ranged; On success, you steal 1 of the target's chances to act next turn, completely stunning them if they can only take 1 action per turn. Next turn, you can use this stolen action in addition to your normal ones.


[1d10]

Shei stands within roaring vortex of magasuchi, within a glistening ether of dhyana and qi at it's center. He stand within the eye of the storm. Along with who ever shares the space with him.

Roll #1 6 = 6 / Roll #2 3 = 3 / Roll #3 3 = 3 / Roll #4 2 = 2 / Roll #5 5 = 5

 No.756940

>>756935

"You wouldn't be holding off the demons along. The plan was always for some of us to stay and hold off the demons with you. And, then we'll come back for you all."

"We always come back for each other. If you want proof of that, just watch…"

>Shadow Drag to pull the Ecclesians out of their Shadow Realm

>Automatic

"And, I'll make sure you can't hurt us!"

>Commandment of Balance: Twice per combat; Automatic; Brings up all Helpless allies, cures all status conditions on the party, and restores full hits and 3 Wounds to each.

>Automatic

She also observes Keroberos some more.

Appraise: instant; Determine the number of remaining hits and wounds on an enemy, and possibly weaknesses. More powerful enemies may be harder to Appraise. Out of combat, quickly determine value of objects, study mechanisms and documents, size up other ponies, etc.
>[1d10]

>generic social instant roll

>[1d10]

Roll #1 10 = 10 / Roll #2 7 = 7

 No.756941

>>756935
A deafening shot rings out as a bullet flies at the one successful Despair dog.
>Instant PSYCHIC instakill shot
[1d10+2] CritDC-2

Emerging back from stealth, Leather Casts out more purple-tinged holy light towards the two chaos doggos and the crit Enfeeble puppy.
>Phantasmagoria of Conquest: 3 times per Combat; Automatic; Sacrifice X hits to deal 4X damage and inflict a status condition (chosen when you learn this skill) on up to 3 targets.
Sacrificing 8 hits, dealing 32 Psychic Damage (I forget how the weakness multipliers work so not accounted for) to aforementioned hounds, for a total of 96 psychic damage.

They are also afflicted with Delayed
>Delayed; The results of any roll made by those affected by Delayed take place a turn after they would normally. Rolls to dodge or interrupt may be made at any point between this time.
28-8= 20 hits remaining

He then prays for his own safety, holding faith in his ability to persevere.

>Retaliate: recharge 3 after effect triggers; After three+1 turns, you deal out damage for every hit you lost during those three+1 turns. Going Helpless before the end of the three+1 turns causes the effect to release instantly. Critfails don’t count toward the charge of this spell.

[1d10]

>Anastasis and Apricity: Once per combat; DC 5; Cast on a target. When the target of this effect is reduced to 0 Wounds, they are restored to 2 Wounds and are immune to damage for a single turn. Whoever reduced the target to 0 Wounds must make a saving throw or suffer 20 points of Holy damage. If they are an ally, the throw is DC 4 and 5 damage on failure.

[1d10] self, DC5

Roll #1 10 + 2 = 12 / Roll #2 2 = 2 / Roll #3 4 = 4

 No.756942

>>756937
River nods, ducking back into the Vivarium's blank white space with relief. Breathing deeply and steeling herself, she tries again to make a Dark Corridor, only to nearly collapse, as the Corridor shudders to life. Beyond it, you can see the faintest glimpse of your allies… a spike of dread shoots through you as you sense something disastrous approaching…

>>756938
>>756939
>>756940
>>756941
In an instant, Kerberos's strategy becomes clear – all but Amy and Cloak are filled with despair, then turned undead, Branded with antimagic, and sealed by Words of Power… and then, each of them erupts, exploding into blood and gore, from a spell that an old companion of yours once wielded – Corpse Explosion.

Only, just as death draws near… Amy intervenes, healing the lot of them, bones and guts and brains and all, saving them from sure death.

Kerberos, at this point, just stops, as Amy appraises him once more, leaning now of his skills' names.

>Darkness Spew (Std.) (Inflicts Blind)

>Shadow Realm Drag (Std., Auto)
>Poison Drool (Std.) (Inflicts Concentrated Poison)
>Claw Slash (Std.) (Inflicts Paralysis)
>Soul Split/Merge (Std.)
>All Lordblade Skills
>ATK Support 3 (Psv.) (Increases damage dealt)
>DEF Support 3 (Psv.) (Reduces damage taken)
>Dark (Psv.) (Attribute)
>Poison (Psv.) (Attribute)
>Smoke (Psv.) (Attribute)
>No-risk Multi-Target (Psv.) (Enables Cleaves on any skills with no ceiling and no increased critfail range)

And she learns now of one more…

>How it Ends


>Kerberos HP: 5000

>Psychic HP: 2500

Kerberos simply stops, only a few of his heads turning as he looks at the Ecclesians.

They too appear to be doing quite well. The worst they have are cuts and scratches. Sir Gegenschein appears to be the worst hurt of all, bearing mere scrapes and some missing or bent feathers here and there.

"You're… monsters,"

is all that Kerberos can say.

"I… killed you. And you just came back."

"Oh, he killed you too?" Gegenschein laughs. "Clearly he didn't do it enough times."
"Did you want them dead!?" Fox exclaims.
Gegenschein laughs some more.

Kerberos blinks in disbelief, then stares at Amy.

"…Thief… you stole even from Death itself."

 No.756943

>>756942

Amy smiles and wags her tail. "That's what you get for playing rough!"

"Actually, I kinda wanted to steal from you one more time. Would you mind if I nibbled on you just one more time? Pretty please? I promise we can have a nice dinner right after!"

>Mantra of Equality: Recharge 2; Instant; Soothes a hostile target, making them more likely to listen to what you have to say, and unable to target you next turn.

>[1d10+4] DC-4

Roll #1 7 + 4 = 11

 No.756944

>>756942
Pryce looks on in horror through the Corridor as he sees Kerberos' attack wipe out all of his friends that remained above, feeling his heart and soul sink before Amy's magic interrupts it at the very brink of despair.
He steel's his nerves, looking into the Vivarium as River stands uneasy from the corridor.
"Just hold still. Rest now."
Pryce closes the door to the Vivarium, remaining outside as he opens a door to subspace and dives down to where he saw Zjetya's chamber, and exiting once he arrives.
>Subspace Walker [Auto]
>2 times per combat; Automatic; Hide yourself, an ally, or a medium-sized object within a Subspace pocket for four turns, or until they dismiss the effect. During this time, the target cannot attack or be attacked. If used on a sentient target, that target can now move through solid objects, barriers, etc within a short distance at will.

 No.756945

>>756942
"Thats it!?" Shei bleats in consternation

He stands idle within his own personal storm of Dhyana, Qi and magasuchti "You couldn't decide that 2 minutes ago. I cannot necessarily turn this off of my own accord." He says to effect his inconvenience at having to stand by inside his Black Aria Catechism

 No.756946

>>756942
>>756943
Shorthorns' death is as resolved as swiftly as it occurs, overwhelmed all at once by the onslaught of the attack as various spells and combinations pile up on them from its many heads.

However, as quickly as her pristine white coat erupts into a fountain of blood, Amy's magic washes over her as she's restored in a moment, her fiery aura from Retribution still burning as she looks around in confusion, only taking about half a minute to fully process what happened to them.
"Did we just… die?" Shorthorns asks, surprisingly unshaken by such a grave statement, finding herself more curious than traumatized.

She looks at Amy, a weak smile appearing on her muzzle as she grins, "W-woah… I didn't know you could pull THAT off! Thanks a ton, Amy, we owe you big time."

She turns to look at the 5000 remaining Kerberos heads, shaken as he looks on at the mass of warriors (some of which re-summoned from the shade) and she takes a few steps forward. "We told you: we're not giving up. Even death won't stop us from saving the world. Please, Kerberos… does this not demonstrate how serious we are? How READY we are?" She says with a stomped hoof. "I understand why you're hurting so bad… and like Amy said, we won't leave you alone again. But you have give us a chance after this, can't you?"

 No.756947

>>756942
Leather leans back, cleaning his gun and loading it again. "And to be fair, hardly killed everyone. Strong conviction will persevere against all odds, though by the gods I'm sounding like a broken record at this point."

Leather pulls out his scrolls and quills and starts drawing a crude sketch of Kerberos.

 No.756948

>>756947
[1d10] it's for a children's book

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.756949

>>756947
"You're more like a repeating record. Get it? Like repeating fire Pew pew pew" Shei finger bangs at you multiple times with his hooves. Amusing himself with his lame joke

 No.756950

>>756946

Amy shrugs. "I'm not really sure what happened either, to be honest," Amy laughs.

>>756947
>>756949

"Shei's right, if the record was broken, how would it make sound at all?" Amy asks, completely distracted now.

 No.756951

>>756943
"If you do that, I'm going to use my super special move," Kerberos says. Suddenly, he's gotten back some of his youthful vigor. "I don't think you'd like that. Give back what you stole, too."

"He's growing chipper again," Ichimonji observes.

"Am I…?" Kerberos asks. "Oh, it's… well… it's been too long since I've had a visitor who wasn't one of the dragons. I was almost… having fun there for awhile. You people… you really remind me of them. After so many millennia, I really wanted to believe… they'd come back… that someone would come back for me. And so, when someone finally appeared… smelling like… like her, I…"

Kerberos whines and lays down.

>>756944
Traversing Subspace, you enter Zjetya's chamber, finding her a bit scuffed up, but not badly injured. She gasps as you enter, and embraces you both. "The others, where they at? When I felt the shaking stop, I was worried it all went to shit up there!"
River leans on Zjetya, letting you do the talking.

>>756945
>>756946
>>756943
>>756947
Kerberos looks down in consternation. "You're… stronger than my initial appraisal, sure… but… the people of your era simply aren't as strong as the stock from which my mom gathered the Sons of God. For starters… that scheme of yours, goat. The one to save souls… if an Umbral finds that thread you wanted to give me… well, I'll be fine. But you– I'll make no guarantees of your fate."

"So you are letting us through," Viper says.

"I haven't given up trying to dissuade you," Kerberos corrects. "Few things are more dangerous than a mistaken notion guarded by certainty that it will work."

 No.756952

>>756950
>>756947
"Exaa-a-actly, How could you not know that Leather?" Shei backs up Amy by doubling down on the dumb.

 No.756953

>>756951
Shei remains crossed arm in his still ongoing personal storm of conflicted energies
"I'm tieing it to my lantern. Our resident Bodhidharma will have to deal with that. But worry not, he eats very well and has experience fending of corruption of the like. He will let me know before anything irreversible occurs."

Shei-Sher produces a black thread again, releasing his cross armed position to hold it out towards Kerberos "Come- take it Kerby."

 No.756954

>>756951

"I'm not giving it back and you can't make me," Amy says before sticking out her tongue playfully. "Besides, if you kill me, then it will die with me. So, there's really nothing you can do about it!"

"Speaking of the dragons!" Amy says, clapping her hoof-paws excitedly. "Where's Salt! She should have the dinner with her! I just know you're going to like it! I put together all of your favorite things!"

She doesn't have much to say in regards to being dissuaded.

 No.756955

>>756950
"Whatever it was, do you think you could remember how to do it again? Might be useful, don't you think?"

>>756951
Shorthorns frowns as she hears Kerberos whine, daring to approach one of the dogs left standing and stroking its head, hoping she's not unintentionally disrespecting the mighty guardian in trying to comfort it. "I know the Sons of God were unstoppable warriors. I'm not surprised if, even after all we've been through, you're still not sure we measure up. And, I know our plan isn't perfect."

She sighs, "But it's all we have. We've run out of time: we need to enter Tartarus to stop the demons now, or there won't be anything left to save up there. We have to at least take this shot with what strength we have, because we won't have another if we turn back now."

 No.756956

>>756951
Pryce pulls Zjetya in tightly as he sees her in one piece after the gruesome sight above, saying nothing for a few moments. After a time, he speaks, but doesn't let go.
"Nearly everypony was pulled underground into their own cave like this. I don't know how the rest are faring, but the kids weren't being attacked at all, they should be fine," Pryce explains. "Amy, Flaming, Cloak, and Shei seem to have the fight at a pause now. But… I'm not entirely sure of how to get all the others free yet. I used the last of my subspace magic getting you two."

 No.756957

>>756954
>>756951

"Oh, I guess I should bring the others back too, huh?" Amy laughs and then snorts.

She raises a hoof paw and everyone else congeals out of the ground.

>Shadow Drag everyone since we are out of combat

 No.756958

>>756952
"You're the musician, not I." Leather responds simply.
>>756951
"I cannot believe anything else, for to give up now ensures that my children will live in a world that will want them dead, if they are even given the chance to live at all. I understand I may not return, and that it's even likely; but any chance to make sure my children will live in a safe world is worth my life."

 No.756959

>>756953
"I came from Tartarus," Kerberos continues, just staring you in the eye. "I don't know if I was born there… but I remember nothing from my past that did not involve Tartarus. I journeyed back down there, and back up, and back down, down even to the Ninth Layer, for nearly one thousand years. I am TELLING you that, if this goes wrong, you will wish you had not ever existed."

>>756954
"My super special move doesn't kill anyone," Kerberos says. "But you will wish it did. Give it back."

His ears perk up at the mention of dinner, but he's still clearly set on having his power back.

>>756956
>>756955
>>756954
>>756953
>>756958
>>756957
Zjetya is midway through expressing her relief, just as River makes ready to endure the painful conjuring of another Dark Corridor, suppressed by Tartarus's presence, when Amy calls everyone back up from the shadow realm into the central chamber, where they're plopped all across the earth.

Everyone.
Including Mudi the Young.

When she appears, a palpable wave of furious, burning magical energy rushes through the chamber. Mudi herself might as well be a star, her body only a dark silhouette amid a horrid flame of cursed power… and as she turns toward Kerberos, the Hound's hackles raise with mortal terror.

Mudi raises her staff… and murderous intent radiates forth, as unmistakable as death.

"She… maybe she could measure up," Kerberos mutters.

Busta, himself bleeding badly, limps towards Mudi, heedless of his wounds, to try to stop her.
But he is far, far too late.
For Vizsla, her body now healed of its earlier injury, looks towards Mudi.
"Oh Mudi," Vizsla says. "The battle's won already. You can stop, dear sister."
Mudi shudders, and the dreadful aura surrounding her withers and breaks. Her face is clenched with obvious pain.
Busta glares at Vizsla, but gestures around. "Hey… the Shades are here. It's alright now."
Mudi lowers her gaze, instead holding out her staff. The Shades approach her from among the gathered warriors, and disappear into forms of light, which are absorbed into the crystal ball.

 No.756960

>>756959
"Yes- yes, unfathomable torment. I wouldn't be where I am had I taken such warnings carelessly. Now bring your snout over here. I am a fountain of magasutchi. For what use is now other than to give you a drink."

[1d10] social roll to get Kerbero to bring his head close enough to have a drink of Shei's delicious looking magatsuchi

>>756959
As Mudi appears into the scene, for a second time today Shei feels reduced as a man "Well doesn't that just make you feel small." As a storm compares to a star.

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.756961

>>756959
Seeing as conversation is focused on other people, Leather just gets back to writing his accounts of the battle.

 No.756962

>>756959
Shorthorns looks on as the majority of their disappeared party returned, confident but relieved at their safety. However, as Mudi appears, and the sheer radiance of anger, death, and power rushes outward, it's all Shorthorns can do to plant her hooves and stay her ground, looking at the on-coming beacon of evil energy. And, as she does, keeping herself low despite her divinity, she can't help but remind herself how badly it might an idea to let her into the lake.

As Kerberos seems impressed all the same, Shorthorns looks to their company first, noting the injuries. "Hey everyone. Knew you'd make it back in one piece, just like we did. Did you have to fight more of Kerbero's heads too?"

She turns to look at Kerberos, smiling as she nods at Mudi. "Well, we're with her. So do you think we'd stand a chance now? How do we measure up to the average demon in there, would you say?"

 No.756963

>>756959

"So basically, you put us in Tartarus?" Amy laughs at Kerberos's threat.

"You're welcome, everyone," Amy says with a smile as everyone is returned to the central chamber.

"But seriously, all that fighting made me hungry, where's that dinner!?"

>>756960

"Shei!" Amy smacks Shei's hoof as if he's done something scandalous. "Not desert before dinner!"

 No.756964

>>756963
"How long are you doing to make him wait. Look at the fella. We tuckered him out."

 No.756965

>>756964

"Talk to Salt! SHE is supposed to bring the food!"

 No.756966

>>756959
Pryce is caught by surprise as they suddenly are brought back up to the surface, seeing everypony safe and sound. He feels relieved for only a split second under Mudi's killer intent radiates as thick as any fog, readying himself to shield Zjetya and River, until Vizsla stops her with only a few meager words.
Pryce turns his attention to River, paying the witches no further mind with danger out of the way, putting a wing and hoof around her.
"Please, don't push yourself too hard," He says with concern, seeing the pain and struggle coming from just readying the act of conjuring.

KP, seeing they're all back together, quickly runs over to the triad, joining the embrace, trembling a bit from the experience.

 No.756967

>>756963
"You had your chance," Kerberos says cryptically. "I warned you."

>>756966
>>756960
>>756961
>>756962
>>756963
Kerberos sighs. "If all of you can work together… you could… perhaps… survive within certain Rounds of the First Layer."
"Wonderful news, hoo hoo hoo," Galton laughs. "That's as far in as we're going."
"But I also don't know how Tartarus has changed since I last entered. My information is thousands of years out of date."
"Isn't Tartarus always changing?" Holy Hours asks.
"Yes, but with enough power, certain places can become… anchored in certain places. And there are always certain fixtures that have endured across the aeons."
"Would you be interested in discussing this over a meal?" Monkey asks.
"Hah!" Lion says. "And you give me grief for being a big eater."
"Save all that for the food, I'm hungry again!" Fox says.
"I don't have to eat…" Kerberos protests.
"But I'll bet you want to, no?" Hurricanrana asks.
Kerberos pauses…
"…Yes."
He looks like he's about to cry.

>Paused

 No.756968

>>756967
>>756963
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G-AuLXhTN4

Couldn't find the SFX I wanted so have this

 No.757080

>>756967
Pryce looks on s Kerberos seems to not only have turned on opinion, but even looks to be joining another feast to be happening. How quickly this event turned from panic and horror to an amicable atmosphere leaves Pryce dwelling over many questions and concerns. After a moment, Pryce stands, and steps over to Shei.

>>756960
"Shei, can I speak to you a moment, in private?"

 No.757081

>>756967
"Ah yes, communion - what better way to reunite with friends, even if separated for less than an hour." Leather chuckles.

He begins to inspect how many bullets he fired off during the fight, "Not bad, though I suppose it could've been over sooner had I not been shy to do harm to a friend of Amy's. I imagine I'll burn through rounds much faster within Tartarus."

>>755352
"Speaking of, how long does the relic you mentioned earlier take to produce munitions, if you're comfortable revealing that among present company?" Leather asks an an aside to Freischutz.

 No.757082

>>756967
>"…Yes."
>He looks like he's about to cry.

"c'mere you big lug! And get a drink." Shei announces lovingly with open arms as he welcomes Kerberos to come take a drink from his currently outpouring fountain of magasutchi due to his Black Aria Catechism still running it's effect.

>>757080
"Hold oooooon just one moment." Shei says as he is still coaxing Kerberos to come get a drink like a good boy.

[Shei will come speak with Pryce next round]

 No.757083

>>756967
As Kerberos looks as though he's about to cry, Shorthorns looks on with pity at the massive collection of hounds, daring to approach the creature who moments earlier seemed dead-set on ending their journey here.
"When… when was the last time you had a meal, if I can ask?"

 No.757084

>>757082
Pryce nods.
"Alright then."

 No.757085

>>757082
Shadows manifest into the shape of a straw, and one end sticks itself into the cloud of soul-contaminating magatsuhi, and the other end, a hound bites onto, quickly drinking up the demonic essence before it can further poison your soul.

>>757081
"Qvick enovgh," Freischutz says. Her elbow makes the slightest of twitches, and you can feel your pack grow ever-so-slightly heavier the next instant. A subtle peek reveals that she has fully reimbursed you for the bullets that you spent during the battle. "Seek me ovt zhe next time you need more. Not enovgh of zhe Choir appreciates guns qvite like zhe three ov us. More enamored vith zheir other veapons. As for Sir Gegenschein – I've no idea vhere he gets so many cannonballs."

Gegenschein, with his owl-keen hearing, turns and shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine, Sir Freischutz."

>>757083
>>757082
>>757081
"The dragons bring me food, not that I often eat it. Our tastes are just far too different," Kerberos answers to Shorthorned. "And you'd think with names based on ingredients, they'd learn how to cook after thousands of years…"

You hear distant sounds of angered dragons from above… or backwards, considering how space has warped in Kerberos's lair.

"But make no mistake," Kerberos says. "You… most of you, anyway… I can feel it. You're the type to prefer to talk than fight. To dissuade, rather than to kill. That approach… if you want to take it here, then I'll answer in kind, and talk you down from doing this. I really wonder how long you can keep it up. But as for the rest of you… well, I don't have anything to say to you lot. You know who you are."

Gegenschein, Great Voyage and Mudi lock eyes with Kerberos briefly.

From behind, you can smell food approaching. From the far end of the dark tunnel float down a retinue of dragons, alchemical in nature and appearance, carrying upon their heads many trays. Salt is at their head, carrying a dinner bell in her mouth. The stress in her eyes and upon her forehead signals that she just got done screaming some poor chef's incompetent ears off.

 No.757086

>>757085
Shorthorns smiles, "You can always count on the blessings of dragons. And their wrath too, when it's called for. I'm glad to hear you they haven't been ignoring you down here."

As Kerberos mentions his plan to talk the group down, Shorthorn's nose wiggles (mostly at the scent of delicious food coming up behind them), but focuses on Kerberos. "I'm glad you noticed. I've been trying to keep others in mind for a while now. Everyone seems to have their own side of things, right?" She shakes her head, "But, I don't see how you can talk us down. It is like we said: we HAVE to do this, now or never. The alternative to losing ourselves in Tartarus is losing everyone we love up on the surface. You think we would consider that worse than taking our chances in Tartarus?"

 No.757087

>>757085

Amy puts her hoof-paw to her chin. "I don't think I know who I am," she says in a sort of jovial contemplative tone.

 No.757088

>>757085
Gently, Shei-Sher takes the moment to pet Kerberos's snout, as the dog gains close enough to drink from Shei's magatsuchi. Enraptured by the moment, the tender, course skin of Kerberos's nose. Briefly, Shei misses his pets.. With the Black Thread still in Shei's hoof he attaches it to Kerberos.

>Black Threads; Spell; Ranged; Recharge 3(minus 1); Create a tether between two targets. What happens to one target (damage, status effects, intimidation, persuasion etc.) will also happen to the other. Killing one target does not kill the other.


The fountainous energies spilling from Shei soon subside as a mended seal affixes itself onto Shei's soul. "There you are Kero Kero. Care not to leave that thread just laying about." Shei promptly feeds the other end of the thread through his lantern for Bodhidharma to grab hold of.

>>757084
Shei-Sher steps away from the scene to address Pryce "Etac! What was it?"

 No.757089

>>757085
> +4 standard bullets, back to 35

"Eh, faith provides." Leather returns with a similar shrug as Gegenschein's, "Thank you again, Sir Freischutz, I believe I prefer this than trying to somehow scrounge similar munitions among demons."

 No.757090

>>757088
Pryce glances up as Shei returns, thinking for a second.
"…One moment."
His horn glows white, and he taps it to Shei's forehead.
>White Threads: Spell; Ranged; Automatic; Create a telepathic link between you and up to two other characters. This link's radius is half a mile long, and can only be blocked by magical or other supernatural effects, not physical ones. Cannot establish a link without the target knowing and accepting the link.

Do you have the tablets we were given by King Lininas?
Pryce speaks through the mental link.

 No.757091

>>757089
"Ach!" Freischutz gasps.
"You forgot another request–" Anzu begins with an eye-roll and a sigh.
"Vhat do you mean another reqvest, I never forget anything!" Freischutz snaps, then looks back to you, obviously having forgotten. "I'll get you zhose other vones… soon…ish."
She flash-steps off to the side. Anzu simply giggles girlishly.

>>757088
>>757089
>>757086
>>757087
"Now, why is it you think you have to do this?" Kerberos asks. The hounds start to sit as the dragons bring around the food. "And I don't just want you to recite what you've been told. Start from the top."

https://youtu.be/4_mr8Lz3LUg

"What is that supposed to mean…?" Tantra asks.

"Demons once ruled the world," Kerberos says. "From what I've heard, it sounds like they're taking over once more. Why do you take issue with that?"

"Their rule comes at the expense of our lives and freedom," Vitalya says.

"Hahaha…" Kerberos laughs with ten thousand voices. "They said the very same of you all, back in the day. Before the revolutions against the demon lords of ancient days, your kind had their proper place in the world. Now, demons are fighting poison with poison, fire with fire. You're on your way back to the way things were. Why try to preserve the old status quo?"

The others look like they can't believe this talk, coming from the famed hound of Princess Vinland, liberator of mortalkind.

 No.757092

>>757091

Amy excitedly finds somewhere to sit as the food is brought at last. She sits down obediently with her tail wagging vigorously.

Then, Keroberos asks his question. Amy frowns. "I don't care about their freedoms or anything like that… I just feel sorry for demons. I think they deserve better than what they have right now. They deserve better than themselves."

"They hurt people because they don't know better. They CAN'T know better. They're broken. I got lucky. I got fixed. I was shown love and kindness and all sorts of other things happened that made me much happier than I ever thought I could have been back when I was broken."

"I want to do that for all the demons. I want to fix them. Everyone deserves to be happier than they are now. But… I don't really know how to do that. Yet. Meanwhile, people are dying and hurting. Nice people. Smart people. People who might be able to help if things were better."

"So, first we need to make things better. We just need to be able to slow down the hurt enough for long enough to find a way to fix it all completely."

>Mantra of Equality: Recharge 2; Instant; Soothes a hostile target, making them more likely to listen to what you have to say, and unable to target you next turn.

>[1d10+4] DC-4

Roll #1 4 + 4 = 8

 No.757093

>>757090
Shei looks curiously at What Pryce is doing before he realizes he established a telepathic link.

"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘴- 𝘐 𝘥𝘰. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵?"

>>757091
>>757092

"ba-ahah!" Shei bleats with what sounds more like an abrupt laugh "That's quite the take! Admittedly, I'm not certain any of us had considered the opinion of demons."

Shei steps forward trying to better place Amy's, and the party's words for Kerberos.

Though those among my kith are those abducted into demonhood such as Deriva and Volkama. If I can try to speak for the beliefs of my party. It seems we share an idea of a 3rd path. Within the limits of civilization, we neither want for the the subjugation of mortalkind or demonkind, -or even angelkind should they continue to join our ranks. The Saviors would like to place Amy at the top of this hierarchy -advised by her peers we would like to create peace amongst the races for as long as it could last. But we are not interested in continuing the cycle of struggle that divides the races and faiths of this world. Plainly said, we cannot afford any other wars other than the one against Metatron or soon enough he will rob our precious world of all it's luster and leave us to sink to the bottom of Sheol."

 No.757094

>>757091
Shorthorns considers Kerberos' words, trying to think of the proper response. "I know the demons are just trying to reclaim lands that were once theirs. Believe me, when I say I understand how that feels: all of the buffalo clans know what it's like to lose their homes and wanting it back."

"That's a big reason of why our clan helped Buiwong do what he did in the first place. But, it isn't fair to those who live in those lands now who were born and spent their whole lives there, never realizing anyone else used to share those lands."

"But the demons are overcome by emotions that have built up and ran out of control over thousands of years, they can't control themselves and see how their actions are affecting the mortals around them. I want demons, mortals, even angels to find a way to live together. But that's impossible to convince anyone of right now so long as the demons are running rampant."

"We don't want to restore the status quo. We want to make something BETTER than before!"

 No.757095

>>757091
"It is of no concern at the moment, I am certainly not out of bullets."

Turning to Kereberos, Cloak grins with overconfidence and zeal, "It's a father's job to ensure the best for his children, and I would rather them know I fought to prevent theirs and others subjection than sit back and hold back and risk their death, or worse. In my eyes, it is the potential for singular loss, versus the much higher potential for greater loss. My love greatly outshines my fear of death, and likewise my partner and I agree with the course of action for what's at stake."

 No.757096

>>757093
This fight… You all can turn the tide on foes with talking far easier than I can. The demons on the surface, that Treibheanna group, I don't think I could have an outcome like this against them. I would like one of those tablets to have as a last resort for them.

 No.757097

>>757093
>>757094
>>757095
>>757092
Kerberos mulls it over, but something in his demeanor suggests he's growing more irritated… it strikes you as reminiscent of the heartache invoked just before the fight. Perhaps this is another result of your reminding him of the Princess.

"So, you'll just share your 'love' with the whole entire world, is that right? To 'fix' demons. Fixing them with a mass-produced love, stretched thin all across the Diskos? Okay. And by 'fix' you mean get them to do what you want. What happens when someone will not do what you want, no matter what? When there is nothing you can do to change their mind. When you come across someone you can't so easily… 'fix'. Someone who has been broken beyond repair. By someone else's hand… or by their own."

Gegenschein looks uninterested in this line of questioning, as does Vizsla. For Mudi's part, she quietly mulls over the questions posed and answers so far proffered…

 No.757098

>>757097

"No, by fix I mean fix," Amy says flatly. "I want to make them not demons anymore."

 No.757099

>>757098
Kerberos leers at you.

"Don't just leave it at that… what's that supposed to mean?"

 No.757100

>>757097
"These are topics I was not around around for discussions on, and my reasoning for being here is already stated. I trust the course of action of those that will succeed." Leather says, in a strange place between Ecclesian and party in terms of goals.

 No.757101

>>757099
>>757088

Amy shrugs. "There's a lot of smart people. Some of them are in this room. I've seen them turn people into demons and mix demons and people and make angels not angels… and then an angel again or something?"

"If all those things are possible, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible to make demons not demons anymore. Demons are just broken people. I want to fix them."

 No.757102

>>757097
Shorthorns thinks carefully on the moral quandary of the demons' free will. "If there's one who doesn't stand down, we'll talk to them more directly. We'll figure out what it takes to get them to stop hurting other mortals, or at least help them as best we can. We don't want to take away their freedom, but we need to stop the rampage, even if we have to force them all, in order to figure out how to help everyone."

"We know our plan may have some bumps along the way, but we'll fix them when we get to them. It's the only way to help everyone in the long run!"

 No.757103

>>757102
>>757097

"I'm fine with taking away freedoms," Amy interjects. "It's kind of my thing now," she adds with a laugh.

 No.757104

>>757101

>Mantra of Equality [1d10+4] DC-4


Roll #1 8 + 4 = 12

 No.757105

>>757093
>>757097
>"The Saviors would like to place Amy at the top of this hierarchy -advised by her peers we would like to create peace amongst the races for as long as it could last."

[amending this part of the post]

"The Saviors would like to place Mudi at the top of this hierarchy -as much to my distaste there isn't a better a candidate. Bosta has told me we aren't much different. Perhaps my scorn for her is merely scorn for when I see myself in her. We would like to create peace amongst the races for as long as it could last. But we are not interested in continuing the cycle of struggle that divides the races and faiths of this world. Plainly said, we cannot afford any more wars other than the one against Metatron or soon enough he will rob our precious world of all it's luster and leave us to sink to the bottom of Sheol."

>>757096
"𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦!? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦member 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥. 𝘉𝘢-𝘢-𝘢-𝘩- 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 alone. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 10𝘴 𝘰𝘧 100𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩"

 No.757106

>>757103
>>757102
>>757101
>>757100
>>757104
>>757105
Kerberos thinks and listens.

https://youtu.be/CQlX5WojFD8

"We agree on more than I thought," Mudi adds, jumping in before Kerberos can answer. "That's the line of thought I had at first, but really, why stop there?"

She looks to Kerberos. "What you're getting at is that demons are the way they are, that things are the way they are. Trying to fight that fundamental nature is what broke your old allies. So the answer is to change the way things are. Not just in the sense of stopping wars, or convincing someone of this belief or that, of moral right and wrong.

"Some people just don't care about that. It's not that they can't, or that they simply don't have enough information to reach the same conclusion as you. It's that they know full well, and do not care. Others cannot cooperate by virtue of their nature. The Devil's Instincts – the nature of demons. Being bound to the world and to belief, operating like a trapped machine – the nature of gods. Unbreakable obedience to law and order – the nature of angels.

"The answer, obviously, is to change how things are. If someone won't obey you because they are a demon, just take away their demonhood. It's simple."

She laughs. "Though, I would see that as a half-measure. If you want them to stop fighting one another, to stop fighting you – just take away their ability to fight."

Great Voyage is plainly disgusted, while Gegenschein seems to have nothing but a light disdain for Mudi's words. Kerberos leans back, but holds his reaction until he sees yours.

 No.757107

>>757105
I know, I remember what the King said about them and they're a last resort beyond all else. I wouldn't be asking otherwise. And that's why I'm speaking with this thread than aloud. Only you, Flow, and I know we have these, and both of their power and the King's wishes, it should be kept that way.

 No.757108

>>757106

Amy nods in agreement to what Mudi says. But, knowing what Mudi is - that she is, in fact, one of those things that can't cooperate by their very nature - she can't bring herself to say any more on the subject.

 No.757109

>>757106
Cloak gets back to drawing, seemingly trying to be willfully ignorant of of the beliefs of the different opposing factions for now, coming to the mental conclusion he'll figure it out later.

 No.757110

>>757103
Shorthorns snorts, "Maaaaybe not be the time or place to say that part outloud, Amy…"

>>757106
Shorthorns looks at Mudi with a similar, but veiled, show of contempt for the idea of removing their ability to fight, silently disagreeing with the notion but not wanting to divide the group in front of Kerberos and give him an opening to strike.

"The point is, we don't want to just restore the status quo. We don't want to just, make things the way they were before the Firmament broke, or even before there was a Firmament in the first place. We want to make something BETTER, to keep moving forward. For mortals and demons and angels alike. Is that not a worthy goal?"

 No.757111

>>757110

Amy pouts. "Are you restricting my freedoms!?" she asks dramatically.

 No.757112

>>757106
"In every place, the masters of ones respective abode have fashioned prisons to put away the criminal elements of their world. Just as the Sons of God saw fit to discard their most heinous criminals into Tartarus. This doesn't necessarily have to be our recourse however. The world we intend to build, if successful will shine as a beacon of curiosity, progress, and grandness that it will draw in the masses as most things are drawn to the promises of power. Those who wish to be a part of it must abide by the law. Those who wish to remain outside civilization may do so, and enjoy the liberties of barbarism in isolation. And should one day our new world be rivaled by another that seeks dominion over us let it be in the name of progress and not a return to a barbarous world. The bonds mortalkind makes with the extra-terrestial are broken in time fueling wars and outrage, causing cataclysm and returning the world to a more primitive state. If we could retain one power over everything- a monolithic culture to preserve the memory of our bonds- we could stop this cycle. And even if our world may be conquered again some day it will not be lost to repeat the same mistakes."

 No.757113

>>757111
"What?! No!" Shorthorns counters accusingly. "Uh… you are, y-you're restricting your own freedoms!"

 No.757114

>>757107
>>757107
"𝘳𝘪𝘪𝘪-𝘪-𝘪-𝘪-𝘨𝘩𝘵- 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦… 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘦. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘺𝘤𝘦.. 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩.. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦."

 No.757115

>>757113

Amy groans in agreement. "That's SO true…"

 No.757116

>>757108
>>757109
>>757110
>>757112
"We Ecclesians are amenable to a solution much like, but, if you will excuse the bragging, still superior to either of those," Gegenschein adds.

"Though it will take quite a long while before it can come to fruition – equality with demonkind. Oh, and we'll invite the angels too, so do not worry, Chorazin, Mirror. I believe no fewer than ten generations will have to pass, before either side of today's cataclysmic wars will let down their arms… But until then, under a rule of we twelve Choristers, just judges, fair and impartial to all beings, I am confident we can reach that horizon with no need for either changing anyone's inherent nature, nor taking away anything from them. Am I oversimplifying? Perhaps… as are the rest of you. But, don't mistake me – no utopia awaits any of us. We would all do very well to remember that."

He smirks at the rest of you.

Kerberos shuts his eyes… and sighs. "If there's one thing that I don't think will ever change… it's your kind… it happens every time I find myself liking mortals."

One by one… the ten thousand hounds start to step aside… allowing you passage to the Great Seal.

"If it comes to it… I'll shut the Great Seal behind you, thread or no."

"Do as you see fit, great guardian," Living Saint Zoantharia says. "We shall take charge of our own souls."

 No.757117

>>757114
I don't plan on dying… even if it comes to using one of these. Thank you ,Shei.
Pryce pauses to think, though of course with their connect Shei can hear/see Pryce's concern as he thinks over each tablet, the worst case scenarios of being surrounded by endless hordes of demons with no way out or allies to help. A last effort to be made to keep the masses from coming down to the Seal after the rest of his friends.
…The Image of Broken Earth.
He says in final decision

 No.757118

>>757116
"I'd have hoped as much," Leather says mostly to himself at Kerebos' last comment, chuckling as he doesn't look up from his writing, "It's impolite not to close the door behind oneself unless there's someone else entering after you."

 No.757119

>>757116
As Kerberos looks to them all in approval of their resolve, despite several different exact ideals (which causes Shorthorns a bit of concern for when they are made to enter Tartarus itself, but decides to worry on that for later), she looks to Kerberos as the great sea of hounds start to part, leading to the mighty seal beyond.

The white buffalo goddess bows her head in respect for the army of mighty guardians. "Thanks, though I'm not sure I qualify as mortal myself anymore. But I hope we can at least hope to live up to the standards of the Sons who came before us here."

As he mentions being willing to close the seal behind them, she nods. "We understand. Do what you have to do to keep the world above safe. But I promise you, we WILL find a way to succeed on our mission, and we will return here to see you again. And, if you want, maybe we'll bring better food next time, too?"

 No.757120

>>757116

"I think you're just too pessimistic," Amy says with a smile at Gegenschein.

>[1d10+4] DC-4 Mantra of Equality


"Anyway, thanks for eating with us," Amy says as she gets up from her meal. "And thanks for letting us through!"

She skips over to one of the doggos and gives it a big hug. "I hope you liked the food I picked out! I know I did!"

As she lets the doggo go, she looks at it with a frown. "I still never got an answer to my question…"

Roll #1 9 + 4 = 13

 No.757121

>>757117
"𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘮𝘮.. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘗𝘳𝘺𝘤𝘦." 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘪-𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯

"𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥."

>>757116
>>757118
>>757117
>>757119
>>757115

Shei-Sher heart thumps heavily for a second. He turns back to the rest of the group. To the people he has known so far as his family. Some of them will be remaining. His secuirty for those coming with isn't much better. A great pang of anxiety comes over Shei as it seems the time for saying goodbye is coming.

"Is this it then?"

 No.757122

>>757121
In her jubilation, as Shei-sher mentions this being the moment of truth, Shorthorned Dragon's joy and pride at proving herself to the guardian of Tartarus suddenly turns shaken. She likewise looks back at the huge collection of friends they'd made along this journey, many of whom would be staying behind… and starting to realize the time of parting was upon them.

"….I… I guess i-it is…"

 No.757123

>>757121
Pryce thinks over his choice, surmising a volcano might not be the best depending on where the confrontation takes place.
Falling stars it is then.


>>757121
>>757122
Shei's words shake Pryce more than his concern over the demons. He looks around as Flaming comments as well.
Despite that, Pryce can't find it in himself to admit that the time is here in front of them.

 No.757124

>>757121
>>757123

"That's a good question. A shame I didn't even get a last battle with Pryce in." Cloak frowns.

 No.757125

>>757123
Shei puts one hoof in his cloak and retrieves from it the stone tablet of Falling stars. Shei passes it to Pryce before quickly and firmly enveloping him in a hug. "Love is the law."

Shei lifts Pryce up from the ground and squeezing tighter to crush under his farewell hug, as he exerts himself he grunts "Love Under Will."

 No.757126

>>757120
Gegenschein just keeps on smirking. You get the sense that it will take much, much more to get through to him.
>Null: Mind

>>757120
"I…" Kerberos begins. "I… couldn't tell you. It's been a long time, but… that was one of the last times I ever fought alongside Wineberry. I remember it very well… I remember thinking I saw something else, something alongside you, but… I don't recall it. Everything else I can, but not that."

>>757120
>>757119
>>757118
>>757121
"This is it, then," Gegenschein says in agreement to Shei.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TkG8Q06dZE

Even without Kerberos' shadows, the path to the Great Seal is a slow gradient. Ancient stone, so cold under your steps, slips away, sensation by sensation, replaced with an utter darkness, a void without feeling, without substance, the further and further you walk along… an interminable tunnel it seems, made the worse by the lack of feeling. It is quite some time before you can see something at the far end… a perfectly circular shape, wrought of some peculiar stone, the likes of which you have not ever seen… dull and dim, yet seemingly lit from inside by an unseen un-light. Like the Diskos, it is a wheel, no portion of it without an etching or raised portion, scrawled with runes and glyphs of no earthly origin, that bend the mind and defy interpretation no matter how carefully you behold them.

Only one part of the Great Seal is intelligible – strange characters near its center, unrecognizable to any language; yet when you behold them, their meaning appears in your mind.

Set me as a Seal upon thine Heart
For my Love is stronger than Death

The Light Brigade double-check their weaponry, jaws set with determination…
The Spiders wear their god's indefatigable confidence…
The Witches of Gehenna look on with hope. Even Mudi looks hopeful, an expression she has not worn before…
The Choristers look on with stony grimaces… with the exception of the smirking Gegenschein…
The Saviors project no image whatsoever, openly wearing their nervousness and quiet fear…

>Divide yourselves into parties. Many sources have suggested that six is the ideal size for a party venturing into Tartarus.

>With certain limits, you can have a say in how the other parties are divided.
>Gegenschein and Galton must travel together.
>Vizsla and Mudi must travel together.
>The Choristers must travel with their respective Spook.
>Fox and Anzu cannot travel together.

 No.757127

>>757123
Knowing Pryce is the one of their original party staying behind, Shorthorn's attention is turned to him first and foremost. The white buffalo is speechless, eyes widening at the look of the alicorn as she slowly approaches, lowering her head as she tries to find the words.

"Sir Pryce… I… I'm trying to find the words but, they're not coming to me." Little bits of tears start to well up at the corner of her eyes, which she quickly shakes away. "It is going to be hard, different, taking on this challenge without you at our side. I have no regrets with you choosing to stay up here, and, knowing what's coming, I am unsure which of us has the tougher job ahead of them." She snorts, "And, of course… I am glad that River and Zjetya will be safe under your care as well, along with Vortigern and Spitshine and everyone. But I'm…"

She sniffs, then slowly and gently bonks her head into his chest, "I'm going to miss you."

 No.757128

>>757123
>>757127
Without hesitation, Zjetya and River come in for the wing-hugs, having nothing to say that isn't said better by the tightness and love of their embrace.

 No.757129

>>757126

Amy frowns and sighs. "I've waited for an answer for hundreds of years… And I still don't get one. Oh well… It was nice seeing you again," she says with one last quick hug and scratch behind his ears before she leaves him to rejoin the party.

>>757126
>>757125
>>757122

Amy looks around at the others around her, growing nervous, but resolute. Then, she looks up at the seal. She knows these doors. How many time did she look at these doors from the other side, hoping, wishing, PRAYING - perish the thought - to get through them. How many times did she and countless other demons claw at the doors until their limbs were bloody or gone?

She always said if she ever made it through those doors, she'd never look at them again.

These were memories that Amy had suppressed. Even as it was decided that they would be going into Tartarus, Amy had suppressed them. Only now, seeing these damn doors in front of her once more, do they flood back in.

Tears silently roll down her cheeks. Her entire body tremors. Not a slight tremor, but her entire body shivers as if she is cold. She feels sick. She opens her mouth as if she's about to say something, but no words come out. She can't look to anyone. She can't look away from the door.

The only noise she succeeds in making is a strange, garbled, loud whimper.

 No.757130

>>757125
>>757127
>>757128
Pryce is caught by surprise by Shei's hug, and the pressure from it. Then by Flaming's bonks, and the wings of River and Zjetya enveloping them.
"Shei… Flaming…" He manages to speak out, voice carrying a slight warble. After a moment, his hoofs and wings embrace his friends, returning the affection.
"There's nothing to miss. We'll see each other again. I… I know we will."

>>757124
Pryce looks up to Cloak from the cluster.
"We'll have plenty of time after this mission is done, right?"
He responds, hope in his voice.

 No.757131

>>757126
>I lack knowledge to give input.
>>757130
Cloak grins and speaks with gusto, but his response doesn't relate to what was asked, "Glass would love to have you drop in at some point. Really wished I got to be there when the twins are born, but I trust you to keep everything up top safe while I'm down there. "

 No.757132

>>757126
Shorthorn looks on as the mighty Seal slowly peels apart in a gradient, opening into a dark tunnel leading onto the circular image beyond, marked with great runes in the distances. She takes in the grandeur of the great entrance to the most dangerous plane they've been to yet yielding before them, but takes a moment longer to linger on the thought of those they're leaving behind on this moment, looking on towards the others.

"Everyone… everyone who's staying behind, I want you all to know what a difference you've all made. The things I've learned, seen… I would not be who I am today if it weren't for everyone here." She chokes back a sob, looking at Vortigern in particular as she approaches the silent matron.
"Vortigern… I have no regrets, of the outcome of our duel. I promise I will make you proud when I am in there. I just…" she reaches forward to wrap her in a hug, "I just want you to know that you were always a beacon of strength to me. I promise, when I'm down there, I will protect everyone with the same ferocity that you've protected all of us. I-I'm going to fight so hard it'll be enough for us both, so you don't have to worry about anything, okay?!"

>>757129
>>757130
Shorthorns smiles as she feels the wings wrapping over her, reaching up to wrap her hooves around Pryce's withers as well. "You're right… I know you are. We'll come back, and we'll all be part of this beautiful new world we created, together. So please… just stay safe until then, okay?" She grits her teeth, trying not to let a warrior-clan buffalo such as herself be seen crying so pitifully. "And we'll do the same for each other. I'll take everything I learned from you with us, so it'll be like you never left!"

As Amy starts to let the tears roll down, and feels unable to look back to the friends they're leaving behind, Shorthorns approaches her and pulls her into a hug as well, embracing the wolf-pony tightly. "It's okay, Amy. You don't have to hide it… not for anyone here."

 No.757133

>>757130
"Yes we Will." Shei affirms before releasing the hug

>>757126
Shei-Sher kneels down to Gadriel, putting a hoof on his "Gadds I know I've changed a lot. But I need you to know that I'll always be your big brother. And I will always love you. My mind may not be all there, but if you cry my name I will come barreling through the hells to steal you away from death. Now- how do you feel Gadriel."

>>757129
[parallel posting because I want to fit in rp]

Shei views Amy in her sickness, with trepidation he approaches her from behind and holds her with a hug that wraps her body around. "We'll do fine."

 No.757134

>>757133
putting a hoof on his shoulder

 No.757135

>>757132
>>757133

Amy cries more outright as they hold her. She makes a few more whimpering sounds as she attempts to form words. "I-I don't know if I can do this…" she says quietly.

 No.757136

>>757135
"If we don't get in then the day will come the angels will leave robbing everything great about our world. And we will sink into Tartarus then regardless. We have to do this Amy. We MUST do this. You are all of my love Amy. Tartarus could never swallow you." Shei tighens the grip on hugging Amy "And you know I intend on keeping you on a tight leash." Shei whispers the sentence into her ear before playfully biting it.

 No.757137

>>757132
"I will. I'll make sure everything up here stays in one piece for you all to get back without skipping a beat. This'll all be done before we know it."
Pryce says, trying to keep the mood high amidst the goodbyes.

>>757131
"It'll be better than how you left it. And I'll be sure to catch up with her when I can."

>>757135
Seeing Amy take this the hardest, Pryce comes over, putting a wing around her.
"Amy, we've only know each other for a short while, but… I know you can do this. Nothing we've experienced or been through has been able to keep you down. And look, you were able to talk down the guardian to Tartarus easily. I can't think of anypony else who can do the things you can."
Pryce says, trying to lift spirits as best he can.



>>757126
>>757136
>>757132
As the group goes down towards the Gate of Tartarus, facing off against the boundary and last place they'll all be together for some time, Pryce looks among his friends and allies. Then, he looks to Flaming, Shei, Voyage, Tantra, the Dragon, Observer, and Hafaza.
"You all… have you decided what your god domains are?"

 No.757138

>>757137

"You don't understand," Amy says, as she begins to hyperventilate. "Everything I do, I can do because NOTHING in this world is as bad as what's in there… I told myself I'd never go back. For at least 2000 years I kept promising myself that. I… I don't want to break my promise to myself…"

>>757136

Amy's hyperventilating is interrupted by a light bit of giggling. Which only makes it harder for her to catch her breath. "You're so sweet… You don't deserve what's in there…"

 No.757139

>>757133
Gadriel quietly nods. "I… don't… really know how to feel. None of this has set in yet, I guess… no matter how much I've thought over it, mentally rehearsed this moment, thought about what I'd say or do… it's all nothing in comparison to standing in front of the real thing. Wh-whatever I am… your bro, your… crazy, world-ending lesbian moms… I'll always love you. Whatever you're up against, there's no place I'd rather be than fighting at your side."

>>757132
Vortigern, immersed in your fluff, squeezes you hard enough, wings and arms both, that you can feel a generous share of vertebrae pop. It's a comforting refreshment, in this situation of all things. You feel her kiss your forehead as well. It's muffled, but she speaks.

"I know you will… I wouldn't have conceded our battle if you couldn't. Tell me all about it once you're back, alright?"

>>757137
"Power!" Hafaza shouts. "Obviously."
"Knowledge," Observer echoes. "What else would I pick?"
"Determination," Tantra says. "If I'd given up even once on my quest here… hell no, I'm not even thinking about the mediocrity I would have fallen into."
"Well, since my first pick was taken…" Voyage jokes, shouldering Tantra. "Guardianship. No matter whether I'm in the heavens or deep in hell, I shall always shield my tribe from everything that would crush them."
"Holy vengeance," the Dragon says. "I've still to crush that cluster of cowardly dragons – the self-proclaimed 'Jade Crowns of the Heavens' who reduced me to this state, stealing my name and form. Save a few for me, won't you Vortigern?"
"They're all yours," Vortigern says.

>>757130
>>757129
>>757132
>>757135
>>757137
As you huddle together, River, Zjetya, Sugar, Spitshine, Onion, Renee and Estuary quietly mingle among the others, offering what may very well be their final words shared… yet there is no sense of that among them. Bravely, they put aside all worries of what may come to pass… instead enjoying final moments as one massive party.

 No.757140

>>757138
"I can't say I know what Tartarus is like, or what your situation was back then. But, look at all the ponies going in with you. Your friends, and allies. Whatever 'bad' that is in there, there is much more 'good' at your side."
Pryce pauses, mulling a bit.
"I can't help with the promise. The best I can do is say make a new promise that you'll be back to see the rest of us who are staying up here again."

 No.757141

>>757135
Shorthorns holds tightly, nuzzling against her adoptive sister. "I do. And you can. You're the strongest one here, Amy, I truly believe that. You can do ANYTHING."

>>757137
"Of course… I know you will. Thank you, Pryce," she says, moving up to give him one little nuzzle with her nose against his cheek - an intimate exchange by buffalo standards, leaving her blushing afterwards. "For everything. A-and don't you go messing things up with your mates, or I'll bring Tartarus back with me, you hear?!"

>>757137
As Pryce asks her, Shorthorns nods her head. "I think I have." She says, puffing up her chest as she wells with pride. "I am Shorthorned Dragon. I want to be known as the goddess of Persevering Flames. I won't ever go out when my light, warmth, or power is needed by others."

>>757139
Shorthorns groans as she feels the vertebrae pop, but relaxes as it loosens her up, and feels better for the tight embrace. She blushes as she kisses her forehead as well, looking up as she looks down. "Of course I will. I'll share everything we went through!"

Shorthorns moves from the embrace, her muzzle twisting into a look of a pained frown as she reaches for her saddleback… her hooves grabbing for her beloved little dragon. "I… I have a favor to ask." She says, holding up the baby dragon as she stirs him from any slumber he may have been having.

"Everyone going into Tartarus, I have to be able to trust to protect themselves if needed… but Spark can't. Spark just isn't ready for what Tartarus has. And, I can't risk him getting hurt, or my distraction hurting the others… s-so…" she sniffs, "Would you… would you please look after him for me? Just until I get back…?"

 No.757142

>>757137
"Thank you Pryce, it's been an honor. Take what I've written so far up to Glass just in case," Leather says, pulling out a few dozen scrolls of cartoonish drawings and slightly watered down descriptions of battles and adventures clearly meant to be read to children, "I'll get it bound in as a proper book when I get back, but I want there to at least be these for the kids."

 No.757143

>>757139
Shei speaks to Gadriel, a glint of pride in his eye "An excellent response! You'll have time to fight beside me when we reach the first node. For now I think The Dragon _____ and Tantra will appreciate you at their side. I can already see Shorthorns wants to steal Voyage away from them hehehe." Shei chuckles lovingly as he points to Shorthorn's conversation with Tantra and Voyage

>>757137
>>757139
Shei flourishes his robe before announcing proudly after the other prospective gods have claimed their titles "I've always known what I am. I am the God of Bastards and Kids!" Shei's words are soaked with pride and humor for the joke life has played on him, ye his tone does not betray the unyielding genuinely of his response

>>757138
"There is nothing in there scarier than you are when you are angry. My little witch pup."

>>757139
>>757142
>>757138
>>757132
As the saviors are gathered at one spot and once he has their attention Shei tries to communicate to them "Everyone I have something important to say, please listen. I have a friend waiting for us within Tartarus at the Hanging Port. It is one of the nodes I believe. I am greeting him on the demand of business so while it is still possible we could be assailed it is unlikely we'll come harm as I am meeting out my contract with one of Tartarus's secretaries. Once we arrive there we can gather more information and rest. So please, so we can regroup focus on the word Hanging port when traveling with your respective group. Harbor inside your intentions to head for the Hanging Port. That is all." Shei-Sher concludes.

 No.757144

>>757140

At that, Amy smiles. She lets out a weak laugh and a sniff. "It would be better if you came with us…" she says shakily.

>>757141
>>757143

"I'm not strong enough… yet… But, Pryce is right. Together we can get even stronger," Amy says as her resolve shakily grows.

>>757143
>>757139

Amy laughs and smiles a little more strongly. "Sorry for panicking there, everyone," she says with an obviously forced grin.

"The Hanging Port?" Amy cocks her head. "How do you know someone there?"

>Amy wracks her brain to see if she can remember such a place [1d10] to remember things!


Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.757145

>>757141
>>757140
Vortigern nods, but Spark, as he slowly wakes, jumps out of her hoof, and back onto your tunic. Vortigern gently pries him off, but again he slips from her grasp, growling with annoyance, heedless of what must happen. Vortigern again, her heart clearly pained, tries to get him away from you, until… she gasps with horror…

As Lockjaw trots up and devours Spark in one bite.

Somewhat.

Lockjaw's mouth is held slightly ajar, and inside, resting in a throat pouch clearly meant for carrying young deviljho, is Spark. Lockjaw's jaw is held secure, keeping Spark from escaping again. He pokes his eye out between Lockjaw's teeth, growling and squeaking for Shorthorned's attention.

>>757144
It's no good… your mind recoils at a subconscious pain, and rebels against you as you try to explore your memories of Tartarus.

>>757143
>>757141
>>757142
>>757140
Among the other factions, it seems that groups are starting to solidify…

>Barring any objections, the other factional groups as follows:


>Gegenschein

>Lion
>Galton
>Viper
>Ichimonji
>Fox
>???
>???

>LSZ

>Monkey
>Holy Hours
>Rooster
>Freischutz
>Anzu

>Mudi

>Vizsla
>Supper of Crows
>Hurricanrana
>Desert Lamp
>???

>Hope

>Vitalya
>Eligos
>Zophie
>Gjenganger
>Evil's Judgment

>Buiwong

>Mocha
>Tantra
>Voyage
>The Dragon

>Pausing DM side, but continue to RP as you wish

 No.757146

>>757144
"I-If I tell you, you'll think I'm stupid." He says a bit nervous to come out and say what his business with the umbral is.

 No.757147

>>757141
Pryce is a little surprised by the exchange, then chuckles at her threat.
"I won't, trust me. You, Rus, and Vortigern wouldn't let me live if I did."

>>757142
Pryce nods, taking the scrolls in his magic to protect.
"I'll make sure Glass gets them first thing. And I'm sure the rest you write will be even better."

>>757139
>>757141
>>757143
As they all proudly display their domain as befitting of a god would, Pryce smiles.
"Your names will be spread as far as I can reach on the surface. And, I'll have my own prayers to you all as well, to help you down there."

>>757144
Pryce sighs, a half smile on his face.
"I'm staying behind, but I'll still be with you all," Pryce says, poking Amy's chest where her heart is. "In spirit, and in prayer."

 No.757148

>>757147

"Fiiiine!" Amy pouts.

>>757146

"Nothing could ever change my opinion about that," Amy says with a sly smile.

 No.757149

>>757148
"Well.. If you must know. I'm- delivering a pizza."

 No.757365

>>757147
"Many thanks, and you know it. How many stories have you heard from people who've went to Tartarus and came back to tell the tale? I imagine it could be a bestseller, if I actually went and published it."

>>757145
Leather approaches Holy Hours and Rooster, "I will continue to keep tabs on these Saviors as I have been, unless you will be requiring me to come along with your party. As your Horror, I will follow such a request without hesitation."

 No.757367

>>757145
>>757149

Amy stares at Shei with a furrowed brow. "Where's the pizza?" she asks suspiciously.

 No.757368

>>757367
>>757145
without warning Shei throws his cape over Amy.

The fabric falls over her head without touching her instead it becomes a cieling over her head and the seems of another world roll into view like falling curtains as Amy enters an extra-dimensional space in Shei's cape.

Amy sees Shei ahead of her in the same velvety pocket dimensions. "Come follow me." Shei turns around to begin walking down the corridor they've entered. The walls are lined with doors and doors and doors down a long hallway.

 No.757369

>>757368

Amy looks around at this mysterious new space.

"If you could do this, then we could hug and stuff whenever we wanted!" she says as if Shei is dumb for not using his power 'better'.

 No.757370

>>757145
As Lockjaw snaps up Spark in a single gulp, Shorthorns looks on with surprise and concern at first, but then looks to see how gentle Lockjaw's grip is, keeping Spark firmly but safely locked behind his teeth. As Spark calls for her attention, Shorthorns chokes back a small sob, and leans down to put her hooves gently on Lockjaw's muzzle. "Thank you, Lockjaw… but, he at least deserves a goodbye first."

She lightly pries open his maw, and lets the squirming infantile dragon out to give him one last, solid hug in her hooves. "Spark… I-I'm…" she inhales, hoping he can understand. "Spark, I'm sorry but I need to go away for a little while. Where we're going… it's going to be really dangerous. And… a-and I'm worried what'll happen to the others while I'm gone."
She sniffs, pulling the dragon into her white, fluffy coat once more. "Spark… I know we haven't been together that long but, I already love you. You are the bestest, strongest, bravest, nicest 'baby' dragon I ever knew." She adds on, hoping their nameless dragon friend won't take too much offense. "I know I'm asking a lot, but," she sniffs, stroking his head. "Could you please stay here and look after the others for me?" She says tears welling a bit at the sides of her eyes. "I promise I'll be back before you know it… a-and I'll bring snacks!"

>>757147
She snickers, "That's right we wouldn't. Buffalo's do NOT take being mistreated by their mates lightly, so you better treat 'em nice, huh?"

>>757147
She bows her head reverently towards the alicorn, "And I'll be praying for you as well, Pryce. All of you. Tell them we promise we won't let them down, and…" she gives Pryce one more encouraging hug, "PLEASE take care of everyone, will you?"

 No.757371

>>757369
"Eeehh not as much as you would think. I have a couple flatmates." Shei replies as he walks Amy down the corridor.

As they continue down the corridor a peculiar sound begins to enter their earshot. The sound of a bungle of instruments clamoring together. They arrive at a door that looks like every other door where the music is coming from.
Shei opens it for the source and sound to come into full view. Amy sees Shei's angel malechim coordinating a practice session on their instruments.

"hiya boys, what's the progress on our new sound?"

 No.757372

>>757371

"Well, hey, a small audience is better than a big one, right?" Amy responds with a grin.

"Nice music," Amy says as the door opens, looking at the interior with confusion. "But, where did you get angels!?"

 No.757373

>>757365
"You'll be up there with the Sons of God in legend when you come back.


>>757370
Pryce returns Flaming's hug, patting her on the back.
"I will, don't worry. Demons, angels, nothing will get to the others without going through me first."

>>757145
>>757370
Pryce looks down with shock, reaching for Lockjaw as he snaps up Spark, stopping to see he's holding him gently to keep him safe while separate form Flaming.
"Looks like Spark will have extra protection too."

>>757139
>>757147
>Pinging this for the NPC responses
As they all proudly display their domain as befitting of a god would, Pryce smiles.
"Your names will be spread as far as I can reach on the surface. And, I'll have my own prayers to you all as well, to help you down there."

 No.757374

>Last time, on HolyQuest…

>>757365
"Your first instinct was the right one," Holy Hours says. "We already have your fellow Horrors Zophie and Gjenganger observing the Light Brigade. Were it not for both Buiwong and the Witches declining our offers, we would have others directly observing them. However – the Witches have shown an interest in the Saviors, so you've circumvented the latter's refusal. You're right where we want you."

He puts a hoof on your shoulder, and issues you a hard glare. "Do what you must to come back alive. I tire of delivering bad news… and I doubt even the Great Seal could shield us from the punishment your wife would bring down upon us – yourself included."

>>757370
Spark starts to make biscuits in your fur, occasionally nipping you to entice you to play… but something in your tone makes him tilt his head. He seems to sense the urgency, and the unmistakable tone of a serious command… He is a loyal dragon indeed. You see his eyes fill up with determination.

>>757373
>>757370
When at last you let him go, Spark leaps onto Lockjaw's head. Lockjaw looks up to try to scoop Spark up into the throat pouch again, but the defiant Spark instead crawls down and perches in the crook of Lockjaw's back. The deviljho accepts this, and the Dragon laughs. "Spark's a true drake," he says. "I'm looking forward to seeing how well you train him, Pryce."

"Alright, I'm done waiting, I'm goin' for it," Zjetya says. She practically tackles Shorthorned as she comes in for a hug. With a whistle, she summons Rus Tea, and River, the two of whom yank in Pryce and KP to join them."

>>757372
>>757371
The three malakhim wind down their practice, and at last get a quick break during which they pull from some wineskins and get some snacks.

"Still ironing out the setlist for our first tour," the trianglist says. "We have a solid core, but we're waiting to sample the Tartarian scene and sound before we commit to anything."

>>757368
>>757367
>>757365
>>757370
Gegenschein clears his throat and spreads his wings for attention, offering everyone a charmingly apologetic wave for the inconvenience. "When you are all quite prepared to embark, I am afraid I have one last thing I must delay our little voyage for," he says.

Great Voyage sneers at the association of his surname with the word "little."

"It is a gift, a testament to our growing professional and friendly relations," Gegenschein continues. "But it will require some explanation I'd rather not have to repeat, so it can wait until the end."

Great Voyage quickly forgets his annoyance at the thought of getting a cool gift.

 No.757375

>>757374

Amy wags her tail. "A concert in Tartarus DOES sound pretty cool!"

 No.757376

>>757374
Leather nods along, "Of course, I'm fighting for the sake of the world, but more importantly her. Trust me, I don't want to deal with her ire either, even if I was dead."

 No.757377

>>757374
Shorthorns looks down at the little dragon as he starts to play, worrying that the infantile drake won't understand what it is she is asking of him. She is about to choke up as she tries to think of another way to put it, but sighs in relief as Spark looks up at her with knowing eyes, taking his place among Lockjaw's back as a perch, rather than needing to be corralled in his mouth. Shorthorns smiles, shaking the tears out of her eyes as she nods towards the Dragon. "He sure is…" she leans over, giving Spark one more nose-kiss on the head. "Thank you, Spark. I know you'll make me proud… and I promise I'll be back soon, so keep an eye on everyone for me."

>>757374
>>757373
Shorthorns snickers at Pryce's comment on Lockjaw. "Looks like. Try to keep them getting along while I'm gone too, huh?"

As Zjetya moves in for the sneak group hug, Shorthorns laughs and pulls herself into it, the buffalo who once never knew what a hug even was now well experienced in giving them as she laughs into River, Rus Tea, and Zjetya's collective embrace. "All of you, I'm gonna miss all of you so much, try not to have too much fun without me, okay?!"

>>757374
As Gegenschein calls for their attention, Shorthorn offers it as he explains what the delay is.
"A gift? For us? Well, don't keep us guessing! What is it?"

 No.757378

>>757372
>"Well, hey, a small audience is better than a big one, right?" Amy responds with a grin.
"Friends and family don't do me any good. I want hear our songs chanted by thundering crowds upon crowds. This is not your two bit street performer act."

>"But, where did you get angels!?"

"They've been around I ran into them a long time ago. Before I met you it so happens. Meet triangle, bass, and violin."

>>757374
"We have a nice grit in our sound that I like we just can't get too avant garde with the distortion."

>>757374
>>757375
Shei ambles over to the fridge just at the end of the room. Light spilling out from it as he brings the door ajar to peruse it's contents "Hoy! Who had the bloody wits to eat my cheese cake! I planned on alchemizing more of that." Shei yells to the malechim as his head is in the fridge.

He finally retrieves a box from the fridge which he brings around to Amy. "Behold." He opens it revealing an immaculate cold pizza within. "I baked it myself."

 No.757379

>>757374
>>757377
"Shouldn't be too hard. They already look like a fearsome duo," Pryce comments as Spark takes perch on Lockjaw.

As the others come and pull him into another hug, Pryce can't help but laugh, with a barely noticeable bittersweet tone to it.
"We'll just have more fun once you all get back. We'll have plenty to celebrate."
>"Yea! We'll through the biggest party ever for saving the world!"
KP chimes up from the middle of the group hug.

>>757374
"A gift?"
Pryce questions, wondering what it could be that Gegenschein is talking about if it wasn't brought up during the previous feast at the scrying pool.

 No.757380

>>757378

"Wow!" Amy responds with her tail wagging vigorously. "I didn't know being a god made you THAT much bolder. Hey, if a big audience is your fetish now, then I'm TOTALLY into it!"

>>757374

"Nice to meet you guys, by the way," Amy says to the angels. "I'm Shei's girlfriend. My name is Amy!"

>>757378

Amy eyes the pizza jealously. "How come *I* don't get one?" she whines.

 No.757381

>>757377
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TbhslL_ASA

Spark kisses you back, and makes quite a squeak, that almost sounds… no, it surely is – the sound of a son's pledge of love for his mother.

>>757379
>>757377
After that hug subsides, Rus Tea and Zjetya face each other… and Zjetya is very quick to curse, and snarl, looking aside as tears force their way to the corners of her eyes. "Gods…" Zjetya growls. "Seriously, Rus, did you have to squeeze me that hard…? Look what I'm doing now…"
"Keeping up the act this late in the game?" Rus softly answers. "You and your changeling ways."
"Guess you can't bullshit a minotaur, huh…" Zjetya continues. "This'll be our first mission apart from each other, won't it?"
Rus nods.
"S-sorry," Zjetya says. "I…"
But Rus puts up a hand for silence.
"Apologies will not get you out of your responsibilities or my expectations," Rus says. "I expect that you will keep our book club up and running in my absence. Think you can handle that, you illiterate?"
Zjetya scoffs and punches Rus's arm. "Better than you ever could, you meathead."
"Good," Rus grunts, then turns to River Spring. She holds her hand out for a shake… Pryce remembers this grueling ritual. River gulps apprehensively.

>>757378
>>757375
>>757380
"Cheesecake?" the bassist asks. "There was never a cheesecake. Just as there was never a fridge."

The fridge vanishes in a feat of illusionment. You suspect there is more to this mystery. That aside, the malakhim introduce themselves cordially to Amy.

>>757379
>>757377
>>757376
Gegenschein has stopped to speak with Living Saint Zoantharia… the two seem to be waiting for Amy and Shei to reemerge.

Meanwhile, Supper of Crows appears to be in a bit of a pickle. She's standing, petrified by social awkwardness and stage fright, next to Desert Lamp, and the two in turn stand in front of the Spiders and Spooks. Lamp clicks her hoof, and Supper's outfit completely transforms in a feat of fashion magic. In response, the Spiders and Spooks give their approval of disapproval as the outfits cycle through.

 No.757382

>>757380
"For the BAND! The Band Amy." Shei scratches his head with digression "You already knew that though. Amy if we do the deed in any of these rooms you'll have my cape smelling like must and seeing how the band uses the place for practice I'd rather not subject them to that."

>>757380
Shei closes the box "Calm down. I have plenty of other snacks for the trip don't you worry."

 No.757383

>>757381
>"There was never a cheesecake. Just as there was never a fridge."

"Bah-" Shei waggs a finger at the bassist "A clever trick I'll give you that." Shei tosses the fridge cardboard standee aside and pulls the wall up as if it were a curtain revealing the real refrigerator.

>>757381
"Here, I have some prizes for you angels." Shei tosses over two bags of candy he won from the Ecclessians "So my refrigerator is never in any danger. Help yourself."

Shei puts away the pizza box and steps over to the Bassist Malechim. "Have you put any thought into your desired prize for fashioning me a puzzle box?"

 No.757384

>>757381
Shorthorns smiles and cries openly as she nuzzles Spark for a few more brief instances, but now her tears are not those of sadness, but of pride for having such a loving companion.
"I'll be back before you know it, Spark!"

>>757381
>>757379
Shorthorns chuckles, "It'll be the last big hug for a while. She wants to make sure you're feeling it until the next one, Zjetya. If I had arms like hers, I'd have the same idea!"

She lowers her head, looking between Zjetya and River. "Take care of Pryce too, will you?" She looks to KP as well, moving over to give him a friendly, very light bonk. "Both of 'em know how to get into trouble."

 No.757385

>>757381
Pryce looks between the Zjetya and Rus, having forgotten how they were paired up when the group first met them.
"I'll be sure to help it continue. Should at least finish the book you left off on, right?"
He looks to River as she is offered a shake by Rus, and nods to her as River looks apprehensive, feeling Rus' judgement wouldn't nearly be as harsh on her as it was him.

>"Book club? What were you two reading?"

KP asks curiously.

 No.757386

>>757381
Leather watches with mild bemusement.

 No.757387

>>757384
KP snickers at the light bonk.
>"It's fun though! And we always make sure to keep safe still."

 No.757388

>>757382

"YOU'RE the one who misunderstood!" Amy says with a laugh. "We were talking about hugging and…" she looks at the angels. "Stuff."

"Then, you said we couldn't do that here because you have roommates. Then, I said that a small audience would be better than a large one. Then, YOU disagreed."

"Honestly," Amy says with a condescending grin. "Sometimes I really have to spell things out for you."

>>757382
>>757381

"Are you sure?" Amy asks with a giggle as the fridge disappears.

 No.757389

>>757386
>>757385
>>757384
River bravely sticks out her hoof, and Rus takes it… and instead yanks her in for a vertebrae-popping hug. River squeaks, but endures, having survived pains much worse than these, and those pains were not tempered with Rus's genuine love, such as this one. When at last Rus lets her go, River exhales, and looks as limber as a snake.

"Now where have Amy and Shei gone off to?" Rus asks. "Must they plague us with their incessant disappearances even before their final tribulation?"

>>757383
>>757388
You start to sense that you are wanted topside…

"Still holding onto that one, chief," the bassist says as he looks over his share of the candy. "There are few things in life that I want, and those few things are sweetest when obtained under my own power, and not under another's. Don't mistake this for ingratitude, but perhaps Buiwong's ideals and principles have lingered after my previous transformation."

>>757385
"Books that would make even Regina blush," Rus says. "You will have to find a more suitable curriculum for the little one's reading."

 No.757390

>>757389
"Would you expect anything else from them? It seems quite common."

 No.757391

>>757388
Shei squints his eyes at Amy "Hm. Right. Hugging. Hugging the inescapable Revelrous Friendmaking Heartthief Hugger. That couldn't possibly lead to anything else."

>>757389
"Very well." Shei now speaks to all of his Malechim "We're entering Tartarus soon. Under no circumstances are any of you to leave the cape without receiving my call. Reality may collapse on itself should you dare linger too long. Please- And thank you."

>>757389
>>757388
"I believe thats enough with the tour." Shei jumps up grabbing the cieling and pulling it down like unraveling more curtains. The whole dimension collapses on him and Amy as Shei-Sher pulls his cape out from over Amy.

Amy and Shei find themselves outside the cape now.

 No.757392

>>757389
"Feeling alright?"
Pryce asks River after her crushing hug.

"They can't have gone too far with how things are here. They might be taking a few minutes with how Amy was looking earlier."
Pryce comments on the disappearance of the last two.


>>757389
"R-Really?" Pryce stammers in surprise at hearing what books Rus and Zjetya were reading.

>"You guys had something more complicated than that Warg and Witches game?"

KP questions, misunderstanding Rus' implication.

 No.757393

>>757391
>>757389

"You can't escape my hugs forever," Amy says with a playful grin as they return to the correct reality.

>>757389

Amy sees that everyone is gathered around as if someone is about to say something. "Sorry, what did we miss?"

 No.757394

>>757387
"Yeah, cause we're always around to bail you out, 'shrimp'," Shorthorns chuckles, using her hoof to noogie one of the very, very few companions she had that was shorter than her. "Just be extra careful without us around for a while, okay?"

>>757389
Shorthorns chuckles as Rus delivers her bone-crushing hug against River as well, moving in to offer any help necessary as she's released from the vice grip.

She turns to look at Rus Tea, looking around afterwards for where Shei and Amy are as they avoid detection. "Huh… they were just here, I'm sure they wouldn't exactly go far. I'm really curious what the 'gift' is, they better hurry up here."

 No.757395

>>757394
KP laughs as Flaming gives him a noogie.
>"Hey, come on! Alright alright,"
KP says, giving a proud salute afterwards.
>"I promise to be extra careful until you guys get back."

 No.757398

>>757389
>>757396
>>757397
"Hay buddy no solicitations we're having a moment here."

 No.757399

>>757392
"Never better," River says, rolling her shoulders with her newfound flexibility. "If that's all you stallions have to endure when courting a mare, I don't get what all the complaining's about."

>>757392
"Much much more complicated," Zjetya says, ruffling KP's mane. "You'll have more fun sticking to W&W than trying to get into that other stuff."

>>757391
"Right, we know the drill," the bassist answers. "Some spiders – lowercase 's', mind you – have been crawling in here from time to time to catch us up on the pertinent details of what we miss out there."

>>757392
>>757391
>>757390
>>757393
>>757394
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MPuWUMGUAk

With everyone at last gathered, Doctor Galton stands at the fore of the Great Seal, side by side with Sir Gegenschein. She fans out a collection of long, sepia-colored paper talismans, practically every inch of them covered with ancient, arcane scrawls. She passes them to Viper, who in turn begins to distribute them.

"In our World," Gegenschein begins, "The soul lingers for three days before departing for the Ocean of Souls, safeguarded by angels. In Tartarus, however, the soul is immediately captured by the Abyss, and shredded and mutated by its dark, unknowable machinations. Hence, the spiritualist wing of the Laity has developed a handy failsafe for us.

"If ever you should find your life forfeit, simply place the seal upon your heart, and make an earnest wish – 'I want to live.' It need only be a thought. You will immediately die, but under controlled conditions, and the talisman shall rip soul from body, and instantaneously take it into our safe care. Afterwards…"

He smiles, and tips his hand. "We, Ecclesia, possessing two of the five beings in this World capable of it, will perform a perfect, true resurrection on you upon our triumphant arrival back into our own World. Free of charge, I might add. The only catch being that you won't be a poor sport if things don't quite shake out as you had hoped down there. A reasonable condition, would you not agree?"

"Who performs the resurrection?" Vizsla asks.

Gegenschein just smiles at Vizsla.

Vizsla laughs derisively. "Oh, come on… catbird's got your tongue all of a sudden?"

 No.757400

>>757399
"There were a few more factors on my end," Pryce comments, remembering the judgement from Rus and Vortigern's shakes. "But that's nothing more to worry about."

>>757399
>"Yea, that book is plenty big enough as is. Don't need something more than that."

>>757399
Pryce frowns hearing the reveal is a way to save their souls. The offer is noble, but hearing the possibility of death leaves a sour note on the promises made by everypony present.
"…Two of five? Who are the other three?"
Pryce asks, that part catching some of his concern of this matter.

 No.757401

>>757399
As Shei recieves his talisman he cannot help but sneer at the thought. "We-.. appreciate the gesture. A VERY very last resort. reserved for after other failsafes have failed." Shei puts the talisman away in his cape.

 No.757402

>>757395
Shorthorns chuckles as she lets go of KP's head, and as he gives his salute to them she gives a low bow of her head, before quickly reaching out to pull him into one more hug. "Same goes for us, we won't do anything we wouldn't do if Pryce were there, I swear!"

>>757399
As Gegenschein explains the purpose of the talismans, she looks down at her own as she is passed one.
"These… you can do that?! You can bring us back to life if we die in Tartarus, without our souls being corrupted?"

Shorthorns lets out a sigh of relief, looking at hers with every so slightly trembling hoof as she's made aware they have a safety net now. "So… even if we die, we can still get another chance… though it will mean we'll be taken out of Taraturus, it means we have another shot." She closes her eyes, "W-wow… this is… I can't even imagine how you made something like this. I'm almost worried I'm going to get too cocky now going in there knowing we have these."

She turns to look at Gegenshchein. "I have a question, can a seal be used by someone else on you? If you aren't able to put the seal on your own heart or are almost too far gone to make that wish, can someone take your seal and do it for you?"

 No.757403

>>757399
"Perfect and true? I wouldn't mind not having green fur if was a little imperfect. Though truth be told I don't plan on using such a device anyways. But that's not the point of them, anyhow."

 No.757404

>>757399

"Hey, thanks!" Amy says, wagging her tail. "When exactly does the resurrection happen, though? Will we be out of the fight until everything is done?"

 No.757405

>>757399
this post happens before this post >>757401

As Shei arrives he can notice all the tear soaked farewells and hugging being emitted from the crowd. He greets his friends, the saviors.

"I cannot even remember how I've come into all your company. But it is the happiest thing I've ever bumbled into."

 No.757406

>>757400
"You should hope and pray you will never have to meet them," Doctor Galton says. "There are some things that are dangerous just to know."

>>757402
"An excellent question," Gegenschein says. "To which I must answer 'no.' Can you imagine? Immediately giving you all the power to kill each other with just a strip of paper and a few words? How dreadfully irresponsible it would be of us to do that. Hahahahahaha!"

>>757404
"It will have to wait until we are out of Tartarus," Gegenschein says. "It would be far too dangerous to perform beforehand. So do take care, this failsafe does not negate every consequence."

>>757403
>>757402
>>757401
>>757400
>>757404
"You dreadfully boring coward," Vizsla deadpans to Gegenschein. She immediately crumples up her talisman, and tosses it back at Galton's head. Gegenschein catches the talisman before it can strike his beloved. Vizsla then slaps the talisman out of Mudi's hoof. Mudi just sort of stands there and takes it.

"Think for a moment why he won't divulge any pertinent details," Vizsla says, standing at the opposite end of the crowd. "It is so you all, so fearful of death, will ensure that the Ecclesians, every one of them, comes back alive. After all… it has to be one of them who takes care of the captured souls, right? The souls can't just get back to this World on their own. Perhaps it's even one of them who can perform the resurrection…"

The Ecclesians' faces betray no emotion, but their bodies are tense. Vizsla stomps Mudi's talisman into the earth, and sneers. "So, relying on these trinkets does nothing but behold you to them, like the rest of their faithful sycophants, letting them stomp all over you as they please. I became a witch to never be driven down into the gutter again, to be who and what I willed. If any of you entering here are afraid of dying…"

The temperature of the air starts to drop, faster and faster…

"You simply do not belong here."

 No.757407

>>757406
Shei begins to play a melody.

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL1xtPD6UAw


The air douses with warmth, the song soothes the soul. A somber melody for those going somewhere dangerous. Perhaps to never return.

>Shepherd's tone

[1d10]

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.757408

>>757407
>>757406
Shei's malechim step out of his cape to back him up with a chorus

[1d10]
[1d10]
[1d10]

guitar strings are strung, voice heard, sweetness in a grim fate is perturbed.

Roll #1 2 = 2 / Roll #2 4 = 4 / Roll #3 10 = 10

 No.757409

>>757406
"I have already said I had no plans of using it, my going here was a choice made without the option. It is not like I retroactively knew then." Leather shrugs, "What will happen will happen."

 No.757410

>>757406
Pryce isn't sure how to take the answer, feeling the manner might just be on the Ecclesians.
"I shall hope so, then."

>>757406
"Those of us staying above will be hear to meet you all when you return. If you're concerned this is a ploy, I'll be sure to keep watch over any talismans that were used and ensure nothing shady is done for the process."
Pryce says to try and temper the concern that Vizsla is making over the offer.

 No.757411

>>757406

"What a stupid, pointless complaint," Amy speaks up at Viszla's impertinence.

"Yeah, if they have useful people, they're going to want to keep those people safe. That's just obvious. You haven't pointed out anything secret. If you wanted to be considered important enough to keep safe, then you should have done something more useful than trying your best to make everyone scared of each other. If you don't want to be in the gutter, then maybe don't try so hard to make everyone in the room not like you."

"But, you can't really do that, can you? It's not in your nature. You became a witch to be whoever you wanted to be?" Amy laughed. "You literally couldn't be a cooperative person even IF you wanted to. Now, stop bullying your sister, she's way better a person than you'll ever be."

"I'll shut up now before I say more that we'll both wish I hadn't. And, you should probably do the same. There's no point in complaining about a gift given to you. Even if they have other reasons for giving it. No one's making you their slave. I don't like them either, but I'm not dumb enough to talk about it. You don't have to like them to use someone."

"That's how cooperation works. People with different ideas come together to do something better than the could do alone. You don't have to like every part of it, but it works. And, we're all here to cooperate. So, thank you, Ecclesia for the nice gift! I'm sorry that SOME witches don't know how to say that word."

>Mantra of Equality: Recharge 2; Instant; Soothes a hostile target, making them more likely to listen to what you have to say, and unable to target you next turn.

>targetting everyone, not just Viszla
>[1d10+4] DC-4

Roll #1 4 + 4 = 8

 No.757412

>>757406
As Gegenschein points out how the wish-granting paper might be so abused, Shorthorn's muzzle turns into a sneer, "Oooh… right, I can see how that might be a problem. Okay, so, better make sure you use it yourself when it looks like you have no choice… just have to make sure you hold out just enough strength to do that."

"Then, one more question: can someone force you to use it? Like if we're bewitched or possessed? Or does it have to be our own free will?"

>>757406
As Vizsla makes her speech, crumbling up both her own and Mudi's seal, Shorthorns listens to her words, and contemplates if she has a point. She was just fearful a few moments ago that a safety net would make her feel cocky, and now there's the point that taking in such a trinket, only for the sake of preserving their own lives, would further distract them and cause them to separate from their goal.

However, as she thinks on it a bit more, she puts the talisman away in her satchel. "I am no coward. I plan on coming back alive, even through the gates of Tartarus and a sea of demons. But I'm not more scared of being betrayed than I am of death." She turns towards the Ecclesians, "To turn down a gift offered to better our chances, ALL of our chances, is not something I'm going to throw away just because I'm scared of what they might do to my soul." She turns towards Vizsla. "I want our way to be the way that wins, but in the end what matters most is that someone gets the job done. If that sadly doesn't turn out to be us, then so be it. I won't turn down anything that gives us any sort of decent shot here."

"And besides: it's not JUST to bring ourselves back to life. They said it can do other things, it's a 'wish' isn't it? You don't HAVE to use it the way you're worried they'll abuse."

 No.757413

>>757412
>Change last line to:
"And besides: surely a great and powerful witch like you can find another use for it. It doesn't HAVE to use it the way you're worried they'll abuse."

 No.757414

>>757412
"Rest assured, it cannot be used under duress," Gegenschein says. "Lion's Horrors thoroughly questioned the spiritualist department on every possible undesirable contingency before approving the talismans for use. Though you must understand, we couldn't exactly test them before deployment! Hahaha."

>>757412
>>757407
>>757408
>>757409
>>757410
>>757411
Vizsla turns and stares down Shei and Amy, ignoring all others, as Shei tries to fight the frigid cold. It grows only worse as Amy tears apart Vizlsa's supposed exposure of Ecclesian subterfuge… but soon, another warmth begins to fight back against the cold, as Galton softly glows, her flames like those of the sun – burning and burning.

"Thank you, Amy," Busta says. "And thank you, Sir Gegenschein."
Just as Vizsla's eyes snap over to Busta, other voices start to thank the both of them. Vizsla turns her nose up, and Mudi fishes the stomped talisman out of the dirt. Vizsla glares over, but does nothing to stop Mudi this time.
Supper of Crows skitters over to Amy, her mouth all contorted up in a squiggle. She stands there a moment, then pets Amy, and immediately retreats, as if fearful of what her gesture will invite.

Gegenschein waves his hand dismissively at all the gratitude. "Thank me for nothing, 'twas all the Laity's work. You can make the spiritualist cloister a nice gift basket once this is all over. Now then, I have said my part. Does anyone else want to make a big speech, or shall we be off? Vizsla, old girl, you want a go?"
"My title is 'the Kind,' not 'the Old," Vizsla sneers.
"You could have fooled me," Gegenschein chuckles.

 No.757415

>>757414

Amy sits down and happily accepts the head pats, her tail wagging vigorously. When Supper backs away, Amy looks to her with sad, puppy-dog eyes.

 No.757416

>>757414
"I understand, of course. Just want to know what all to prepare for, you never know how things might turn out in how they're used, right?"

>>757414
Shorthorns can't help but stifle a giggle as Supper of Crows comes over and briefly pets Amy before swiftly running off, looking over to Mudi with pity as she fishes her stomped talisman out of the dirt. She looks over towards Vizsla, sighing, as she walks over to Mudi, taking her talisman out.
"Want to trade with me Mudi? I don't mind if mine's a little dirty, I like the feel of it."

As Gegenschein asks if everyone is ready to move on, Shorthorns looks one last time at all her companions, eyes quivering as she thinks of seeing of Pryce, River, Zjetya, Spark, Vortigern, and the others before this perilous journey. "I'm… I'm ready. I could stay here saying goodbye all day if you let me, I just know it."

 No.757417

>>757414
"I'm patient, I'd rather save the speech for once we get back."

 No.757418

>>757414
Pryce looks over his friends, allies, and all gathered as tensions end and Gegenschein extends the floor to any further speeches.
He shakes his head.
"I don't have anything more to say. Only that I'll see you all again soon."

 No.757419

>>757414
"She was an absolute sweetheart to me when I was a younger." Shei comments on Vizsla's title to Gengenschein

>>757414
Shei dotes on Supper of Crow's cute behavior "gaaw- there's no need to be shy. She's quite fond of the head pats

>>757414
"FUCK IT! LET'S DIE ALREADY!" Shei lets out the battle cry heralding his readiness to enter Tartarus."

He hurries his malechim back into his cape as he hold it's open for them to rush back inside "Come on! Get a move on! Women and children first!"

 No.757420

>>757416
Mudi shakes her head, avoiding your gaze as she walks onward to the Great Seal.

>>757418
>>757417
>>757416
>>757415
>>757419
Vizsla starts to walk to the Great Seal, heedless of Galton's phoenix flames. Galton and Gegenschein stare her down, all smiles, already in position to storm the Gates of Hell itself…

In the moment that their bosses' backs are turned, Desert Lamp and Hurrricanrana quickly pat Amy. Every Spook becomes a blur as they flash-step to Amy, pet her, then flash-step back to their respective Choristers, who were obviously not fooled.

"Wait, why did they have to hide it?" Voyage wonders aloud.

Mocha, seeing everyone else do it, reaches over her spider leg and pets Amy from a distance.

The Light Brigade abstains from the petting… except for Evil's Judgment, who loads a wad of papyrus into her crossbow and launches it to Amy. When unwadded, it reads, "IOU one pet."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvvR-uGw_Ls

"If you all are done having fun back there…" Galton begins, looking back over her shoulder. "Amy, I believe you hold the keys to this door. Care to let us in?"

The Saviors brace themselves.

"You'll be alright… you'll be alright…" Zjetya repeats, to herself and to everyone.
"I love you all," River says to you.
Sir Estuary simply nods his farewell.
Sister Renee holds back her tears. "You're a brave lot… but keep yer heads on straight down there!"
"This isn't goodbye," Spitshine says. "Do us proud down there."
Sugar hangs her head. "I… wish I knew what to say… but thank you."
"You saved my life," Onion says. "I'm an old dog, but I'll pay it forward."

Sir Gegenschein shoulders his crucifix.

Vizsla surrounds herself with snow and ice.

Hope holds his magitech arm at the ready.

Great Voyage places his hooves steadily in the earth… and his shadow wriggles like a disturbed nest of spiders.

 No.757421

>>757420
Leather pulls up his shield, bracing himself with rifle notched above it.

 No.757422

>>757420
>"You can do it guys! Show Tartarus who's boss!"
KP cheers in high hopes as the group makes its move towards the Great Seal.

Pryce looks on, unable to bring himself to say anymore. He watches them march towards the Great Seal, still as time feels to slow while watching them near the barrier.

 No.757423

>>757420
As they approach the final doors separating them from the gates of Hell, Shorthorns takes a look back, taking one last long look at everyone bidding them farewell. Remembering their first run-in with Spitshine so long ago, meeting Onions on the way to and from Fantasia, meeting River and Zjetya and Renee over a journey that feels like a life-time ago to her now, to Spark and Vortigern as they wait just behond the line, Shorthorns reaches up to rub the tears out of her eyes one more time before waving them frantically at her friends.

"Goodbye everyone! I promise I won't let any of you down, I love all of you too! Every one of you made me the buffalo I am today, and I won't forget a moment of it! I promise we'll be back together soon and go on more adventures together, so take care of each other until then, alright! Thank you all for everything!" She shouts, practically screaming with passion as she reaches the end.

 No.757424

>>757420

Amy closes her eyes and lifts her head up high with a huge smile on her face as everyone comes to scratch her head.

She opens her eyes when Galton calls them out on it. She blushes slightly, then stands up, donning a fighting position for what comes next.

Then, when she's told she has the key, she stands up straight again. "I do?" she asks, cocking her head, completely ruining the mood.

Then, she remembers the dress that is half fused into her very being, practically looking like a part of the fluff around her neck. "OH!" she says, with a jump. "S-so, I have to be the one to…"

She lets out a big sigh, then a gulp. "Alright, let's do this…"

Amy steps up to the gate and looks up at it. She feels another dizzy spell, and closes her eyes. "Um… open up?" she asks the gate kindly. She opens one eye cautiously to see if it did anything.

[1d10] diplomacy on the door!

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.757425

>>757420
Shei-Sher stops by Zjetya and River "Please keep Pryce out trouble. He can be a tad dense- and- thanks.. You are my kith."

Shei stops by Sir Estuary. Shei pats his lantern and winks at him with a fingerbang of his hoof.

Shei stops by Sister Renee "I'll bring Flow back. Even if I have to bring him back like I did you all that time ago."

Shei stops by Spitshine and Sugar he's very short with them "Be good."

Shei stops by Supper of Crows "Boo!" and hurriedly walks away, he waves goodbye to Vizsla and Mudi who are nearby

Shei stops by Desert Lamp "I like the dress by the way. How do you like my new get up?" He leaves before she can respond.

Shei stops by Onion "I never had the chance to thank you for helping me see my master. When you strum your guitar and sing your songs know that I'll be playing too."

Shei stops by the Spiders and bows his head "Spiders" He greets them cordially.

Shei stops by Gadriel, Volkama, Deriva "Let's make an agonizing bet. First one to arrive at the Hangor Dock has to taste the worst tasting dish in Tartarus!"

>>757424
>>757423
>>757420
Shei hugs Flaming and Amy from behind, patting Amy's head and ruffling her hair.

Shei flaps his wings with a mighty gust he takes into the air swirling, twirling his axe around before playing a lull on his guitar. Ready to enter Tartarus.

 No.757426

>>757421
>>757422
>>757423
>>757424
>>757425
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ4dmzUBrlI

At Amy's command… the entire earth shudders.

It is a quake that would be felt and reported across the continent for years to come, as the beginning of the end.

An unearthly, eldritch light dawns at the center of the Great Seal, and spirals outward, spindling in slow pulsing rhythms, from its heart. It illuminates every etching and glyph inscribed into the face of the ancient Seal, and the heart of the earth rumbles in a terrible birth-pain.

The first connection that this World had to another – to a malevolent, dark place, unfit to be called a World – has opened once more, long after this World had thought that horrid era to have concluded.

Only now, that horridness has gouged its way back again… brought about, just as last time, by fools who dreamed they'd save the World.

After the two halves of the Great Seal recede into their carved grooves… an utter void awaits beyond. Devoid even of darkness, no word exists for the emptiness before you. A sudden dull, uncomprehending pain rushes across your eyes and foreheads, as you behold a non-being, a state of non-existence, for which your mind holds no conception, your World holds no Data.

In time, it fades… as that peculiar void has changed. Your minds, unable to process its true form, have substituted the void for shadow, an analogy necessary to retain sanity.

All, even Vizsla, stand there a moment, their bodies rebelling, courage lost, now confronted with the unconfrontable…

Sir Gegenschein swallows, even his body leaden… until he glances to his left, and sees Doctor Galton. He glances to his right, and sees the rest of his motley allies.

He begins to hum, and then to sing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLjbMBpGDA

>The End of HolyQuest: Act II

 No.757589

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sop6JYpoQ7c

Alternative music for this post; it can replace both tracks

 No.757590

>>757421
>>757422
>>757423
>>757424
>>757425
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sop6JYpoQ7c

At Amy's command… the entire earth shudders.

It is a quake that would be felt and reported across the continent for years to come, as the beginning of the end.

An unearthly, eldritch light dawns at the center of the Great Seal, and spirals outward, spindling in slow pulsing rhythms, from its heart. It illuminates every etching and glyph inscribed into the face of the ancient Seal, and the heart of the earth rumbles in a terrible birth-pain.

The first connection that this World had to another – to a malevolent, dark place, unfit to be called a World – has opened once more, long after this World had thought that horrid era to have concluded.

Only now, that horridness has gouged its way back again… brought about, just as last time, by fools who dreamed they'd save the World.

After the two halves of the Great Seal recede into their carved grooves… an utter void awaits beyond. Devoid even of darkness, no word exists for the emptiness before you. A sudden dull, uncomprehending pain rushes across your eyes and foreheads, as you behold a non-being, a state of non-existence, for which your mind holds no conception, your World holds no Data.

In time, it fades… as that peculiar void has changed. Your minds, unable to process its true form, have substituted the void for shadow, an analogy necessary to retain sanity.

All, even Vizsla, stand there a moment, their bodies rebelling, courage lost, now confronted with the unconfrontable…

Sir Gegenschein swallows, even his body leaden… until he glances to his left, and sees Doctor Galton. He glances to his right, and sees the rest of his motley allies.

He begins to hum, and then to sing–

As you march into Hell.

>The End of HolyQuest: Act II

 No.757591


 No.757835

>>757406
[Retroactive RP post]

Shei-Sher finds a moment to slink over to the witches' proximity, and doing his best not to bother them picks up the talisman Vizsla stomped onto the ground. "ehehe" He laughs nervously to conceal his chagrin. "Would be an awful shame to see such a nice gift go to waste."

Before taking his leave Shei decides he may as well take a chance and ask Supper of Crows "Supper? Do you plan on keeping your talisman?"

 No.757836

>>757835
[omit this post. rp is mistaken]

>>757406
Shei-Sher finds a moment to slink over to the witches' proximity. and he probes Mudi "Intend on keeping that? I would hate to see such a fine fetish go to waste" He asks in regards to the talisman she's holding.

 No.757837

>>757836
Mudi brushes past you, shoving you aside without looking your way. A moment later, an icicle falls from above, dropping with more force than mere gravity could give it, stabbing into the ground, right where you would have been had Mudi not shoved you.

 No.757838

>>757837
As Shei is brushed away so forcefully by Mudi he actually doesn't take it personally. He's quite used to being admonished. Yet when the icicle drops, Shei sees Mudi had saved him some pesky head trauma. And yet Again, Shei-Sher does not take it too personally.

"Oh Aunty Viz! I was only asking. What is the harm in any of that. I hardly thought you wanted her to keep a token of Ecclessia in the first place."


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