Turn 45:
Squacks the Carrion Bird - (Devastator)
Aww. It was just a defenseless little creature.. but we need the food for the wounded. And it was much better than getting badly hurt.
Still reminds me too much of my friends.
Eat my fill and then carry back what I can. Hopefully this will allow the others to heal up, now that we have an extra couple meals.
If we're okay, proceed further with the migration.
You picked a few strands of fresh, juicy flesh to sate your hunger, and the sensation of meat filling your belly
invigorated you. With this surely your wounded companions would recover in no time.
With the still warm carcass in your talons you flew back toward your hideout. Knowing the chasm had many greedy eyes you tried to keep a low profile in order to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
[Encounter: Avoiding hostiles]
[Moderate 10]: [1]
Outcome: [5] -Partial Success-
Making you as insignificant as possible you managed to avoid any dangerous confrontation, but for the entire duration of the flight you couldn't shake off this heavy feeling of eyes resting on you.
Your worries disappeared for a moment when you arrived "home", where you were met with the squawks of your lively brethren who had started eating already. The wounded birds looked much better already, as they gorged themselves on meat.
You looked outward. The sun was starting to set, and the wind was picking up. You looked toward your recovering brethren, who were now resting with full bellies. In a few days they would already be better, but could you afford to wait that long before resuming the migration?
Nearby Beings:- Carrion Birds
Allies:
-
Kra, Cinder Vulture-3 Carrion Birds [Motivated!]
-4 wounded Carrion Birds [In a cave, resting]
HP: 12/12
MP: 14/15
Essence: 3/5
STR 2
CON 0
POW -1
RES 1
INT -1
IND 0
Status:
[Spell Resistance] (Weak) +1 to Res against weak spells/mana based abilities
Location:
-Yet unnamed Delta Chasms (South to Anvarde Hills and Savarde Jungle)
Azarian, the Imbued Thoughtling (Dustan Hache)
Azarian Cleansed himself of the monster's ichor before traveling in the direction of the treeline. He knew that he wanted to leave as little of a trail as possible as he fled, and doubtless the pulped monster coating them would rub off on the vegetation in such a way as to reveal which way they fled. He kept his senses open for other creatures, especially humans. They were strange, yet keenly intelligent and seemingly magically adept.
[Tracking: Clearing your tracks]
[Moderate 10]: [7]
Outcome: [1] -Critical Failure-
You removed as much of the sticky goop covering your body but you couldn't do anything about this powerful stench of crispy burnt insect permeating your flesh. No matter, time was running out. You started moving toward the distant light blue hills as fast and sneakily as you could.
[Perception of Intelligent Creatures]
[Easy 6]: [4]
Outcome: [6] -Partial Success-
[Power 1: Magical Perception]
[Easy 8]: [2]
Outcome: [1] -Critical Failure-
You were in a state of constant alert in this unfamiliar environment. Unlike the silent deadland where only the wind could be heard, this place was noisy even in a state of would be silence. Shuffling grass kept brushing against another, greatly unnerving you. It was as if the vegetation knew you were an outsider, and you felt as if a myriad of judging eyes were observing you. This place was overwhelming with its colours, its higher magic density, and its life. Part of this overwhelmed sensation could also be attributed to the urgency of the situation.
Suddenly you sensed something intelligent, living. Its signature was similar to that of the beings of the wall, unlike anything you had experienced back in the ashen wastelands. There were humans approaching. It was far earlier than you expected.
Had they found you? Or were they still searching?
Nearby Beings:- Humans?
HP: 10/17
MP: 16/17
Essence: 18/20
Attributes:
STR 0
CON -1
POW 1 (+1)
RES 1 (+1)
INT 1
IND 0
Status:
Normal
Location:
-Nepkeros-Empsiphion Mountainous Passage
> Great Gate and Wall (nearby)
The Newborn Elemental Spirit of Ice - (TricMagic)
Wait on the ground, if it tries to attack, run away using the wind of the blow. If it doesn't focus on recovering.
(I'll revisit it once I reach that stage then.)
You remained motionless while the Troll scanned the ground for you. Tense seconds passed. The Troll exhaled angrily and started stomping the ground where he thought you might be. With each stomp it got closer, and now it was already dangerously close to finding you.
[Escape]
[Moderate 10]: [15]
Outcome: [1] -Success-
The troll stomped once more, this time nearly on you. You used the wind pushed by the blow to gain a bit of momentum and make a break for it. The Troll only let out a primal roar before failing to catch you and trying to chase after you.
Troll Self-Control: [5]
The Troll pursued you until the entrance of the cave, making the ground tremble with each of its steps. It didn't manage to catch up to you, and decided a pursuit would be a waste of time. With its icy eyes, it glared at you until you had disappeared from view.
"Where are you?!"Nearby Monsters:-Ice Troll [Hostile] [Dangerous] (Lost 5HP)
[A tall and stout humanoid covered with an armour of ice. Its bony head is square and shaped like a roughly carved block of frozen rock. Strong and adapted to an icy climate, the Ice Troll is not a nice creature.]
HP: 5/12
MP: 15/15
Essence: 2/5
STR -1
CON 0
POW 0 (+1)
RES 0 (+1)
INT 1
IND 1
Status:
-Mist Form
-Nature Spirit Active (Cold Environment)
Location:
-Iron Ridge
> Frozen Summits
>> Frost Trees Grove
Gray the Unstable Prismetal Blaster (Beirus)
As Gray had worried, it was indeed an illusion. He could only be glad he had managed to break it without harming anyone. "Sorry, Brown. The illusion was more insidious than I thought, even with the spiritual protection. And they likely know we are here now. We must move quickly and remain wary, to limit their ability to ambush us. I don't like illusions." Gray said as he glanced around to find the path.
So much for stealth. Onward to the spring! If shady stuff starts happening again, see if Gray can filter energy through his Glyph of Truth and back into his body to break any possible illusion, which would hopefully be more efficient than just making shockwaves.
Brown hugged you in a bear-hug. It was good you didn't have bones or lungs.
"It's okay Gray, I'm glad you are unhurt."Upon confirming you had broken free from the illusion, your allies approached and apologized.
"We underestimated the potency of their illusions. You are right Gray, there is no time to lose. The Mirages will try to make us expend our energy before a confrontation, and Gray, you are our trump card. We must ensure you save your stamina until we reach the spring."You all agreed and progressed further toward the spring.
[Combat: Illusionary Sands (Basic Innate Magic)]
Caster Power: 2
> Basic Magic: +1
Targets Resistance: 1 (Gray) / 2 (Brown) / 1 (Djinns&Spirits)
> Spiritual Protection: +2
Spell checks: (Gray) d20 against 12 / (Brown) d20 against 14 / (NPCs) d20 against 12
Roll: [2] -Spell failed- / [2] -Spell failed- / [17] -Spell successful-
In a record time you had reached its entrance: an open crevice within the cliff. There were several problems though: firstly there were three crevices instead of one now, without a doubt another form of illusion. Secondly your allied seemed abnormally exhausted, as if they had crossed an entire desert. A few of them even seemed about to collapse.
At a glance nothing seemed off with any of the three entrances.
Nearby Monsters:-10 Pacified Greater Sand Spirits [Allies] / [Exhausted]
-6 Pacified Djinns [Allies] / [Exhausted]
-Brown [Ally]
HP: 28/28
MP: 10/18
Essence: 25/50
Attributes:
STR 1 (+1)
CON 2
POW 1 (+1)
RES 1
INT -1
IND 0 (+1)
Status:
-[Chaos Form]
-Spiritual Protection [Illusions and Mental Attacks]
-Masterful Glyph of Calm on fist + Aerodynamically shaped arm (Left)
-Masterful Glyph of Truth on fist + Aerodynamically shaped arm (Right)
Inventory:
-Cloak of the Disciple (worn)
-Desert Traveler Gear (M)
Note:
[Martial Art knowledge increased]
[Magic Knowledge Increased]
[Combination attack development in progress]
Location:
-Valley of Whispers
[Onward to Jinna Fel!]
Companion: Brown the Dirt Protector
HP: 18/20
MP: 14/14
Essence: 5/20
Status:
Attributes:
STR 0 (+1)
CON 3
POW -1
RES 2
INT -1
IND 0 (+1)
Inventory:
-Cloak of the Disciple (tied around)
-Desert Traveler Gear (XL) (Damaged)
Terrence the Bone Baron - (ironsnake345)
"Excellent work! This marks one more victory on our path to escape from these lands, and ascension to power. These squires shall remain with us, and their blades will aid us on our quest. I predict we will meet many more postmortals, and many of them shall recognize their leader and join our cause, just as these noble few have. As our army grows, so too shall we! To victory, gentlemen!"
Terrence uses his mending ability to heal up. If there are no objections, let us continue onward, with the enthralled squires taking point so that we won't be surprised if they decide to go back to attacking us for some reason. Terrence values and appreciates his new, low-ranking soldiers, but has yet to totally trust their loyalty.
By default 2 Lesser Essences awarded to Terrence, and 1 to Vel and ArtomalFor future reference: when used, Mending will be rolled to determine MP to HP conversion.
At Power 0 the base ratio will be 2MP for 1HP.
Overshoot: 1MP to 2HP (more likely more MP than needed will be drained)
Epic Success: 1MP to 1HP
Success: 2MP to 1HP
Partial Success: 3MP to 1HP
Failure: 4MP to 1HP
Epic Failure: 5MP to 1HP"To us! A figurative toast to another victory! I do wonder if I still have a sense of taste..."[Mending]: [3] -Partial Success-
12MP consumed [2/14 MP]
4HP recovered [18/20 HP]
You focused your energy into your damaged parts, causing bones to regrow and reconnect together. The process was physically and mentally taxing, and brought you much discomfort. It felt like many tiny prickly ants were having a party in your bones.
In much better form, you resumed your journey toward an eventual escape with the Squires in front position.
[Squire Control]
You noticed something about your new servants. The farther away from you they were, the more fidgety they became. Upon closer inspection, it also looked like the fog was drawing them in when you started losing vision of them. For now you kept them somewhat close, but not too much.
[Fortune]: [5]
HP Recovery: [5] -Full Recovery- (20/20 HP)
MP Recovery: [4] -Half Recovery- (9/14 MP)
Vel and Artomal recovery handledWithout a palpable notion of a time or a place, you kept wandering across the foggy plains until you came across the fresh remains of a battle. Broken spears and cloven corpses, still leaking the unlife energy that sustained them. Upon looking at their twisted expressions and mangled bodies, you surmised they had experienced a brutal second death.
Your heard the sound of something, somewhere ahead of you. Hearing this, your frontline squires adopted a defensive posture to brace for whatever was coming your way. A lone humanoid figure emerged from the fog, ragged and frail. Upon seeing your squires, the figure fell to their knees in terror and yelled a desperate "No!".
Your squires surrounded the figure, a person. Although an undead like all of you, it looked so weak and more surprisingly, living. Its face was that of a human, which seemed odder than anything else considering all the undead you had met until then either lacked one, or weren't flesh and blood anymore. But this one here seemed to be made of flesh, and they had a face. Paler than a white mask, they looked like a corpse. This thought actually reassured you. Yes, they were probably a corpse. A well-preserved one that is.
In rags and bereft of a weapon, it was a wonder it was still undead. Everything about this person screamed "peasant" and "levy". Maybe it had a secret power, or had received help. This situation could be a devious trap!
Vel had already drawn his sword. Artomal sighed.
"Easy now friend, I can imagine what happens next and it sounds pretty much like BULLYING.""Just in case."You noticed they had nice teeth. Not as nice as yours though.
Nearby Beings:- [Allies] Ambushers in the Fog: 4 Squires of the Fog (S1 C1 P0 R0 Int-1 Ind-1)
HP: 18/20
MP: 2/14
Essence: 12/20
STR 1
CON 1
POW 0
RES -1
INT 1
IND -1
Status:
-Damaged
Inventory:
-Bone Broadsword [Wielded]
Location:
-Deadland of Easenval
> Fog
Companion: Vel
HP: 20/20
MP: 14/14
Essence: 11/20
STR 1
CON 1
POW 0
RES 0
INT -1
IND 1
Status:
-Okay
Inventory:
-Bound Arming Sword [Wielded]
Companion: Artomal
HP: 20/20
MP: 14/14
Essence: 6/20
STR 0
CON 0
POW 0
RES 1
INT -1
IND 2
Status:
-Okay
Inventory:
-Spectral Rapier [Wielded]
Some Traits:
-Spectral Undead
Eximius Res, the Rusty Ring (Hawk132)
[Looks like you didn't update Eximius' and Prias' mana expenditures. Not that I'd refuse infinite mana.]
"Be ready to grab me, Prias!"
Eximius will change into a smaller weapon, like a dagger to hopefully dislodge himself from the Roamer's flesh and fall onto the ground. Should that be impossible or not work, engage Mana Burn instead.
Simultaneously, distract the creature with an Illusion to help Prias with getting me back.
Liel was visibly very distressed. In turn, her distress caused you to instinctively tense up, possibly showing to the perceptive eye your own change of state. You sensed a thought from Liel.
(Impossible... an Arma grade... Protector...)
coughEximiuscough
[Dagger Form: Dislodge]
[Moderate-Hard 12]: [10]
Outcome: [3] -Failure-
You morphed into a dagger in an attempt to dislodge yourself from the tough flesh of the monster, but you were too firmly stuck for your change of size to suffice. No matter, you had another idea in mind.
[Combat: Mana Burn (-1MP)] (20/21 MP)
Eximius Power: 1
Defender Resistance: 1
Attacker Check: d20 vs 10
Roll: [13] -Successful Hit-
MP Damage
1d6: [3]
HP Damage: half of MP Damage
Flames of gold and silver engulfed you and the wound, causing the surrounding mana to be burnt away. The monster didn't even feel the singe in its back, too focused on the human before it.
[Skill: Illusion (Basic Innate Magic)]
Base Difficulty: 10
Eximius Res Power: 1
Final Difficulty: 8
MP Cost (1x): 8
Power check: d20 vs 8
Roll: [19]
Outcome: [4] -Critical Success-
MP used (halved): 4 (16/21)
You conjured a perfect doppleganger of your host to distract the Deadland Roamer. Upon seeing a second enemy appear, the creature roared in confusion and focused on the illusion in the panic. You made it move sideways to open the monster's back to Prias and made the illusionary double feint an attack. Feeling threatened, the monster swung viciously at the illusion. Prias jumped on the occasion to retrieve you and strike again.
[Prias: Battle Sense]
[Easy 8]: [9]
Outcome: [3] -Critical Success-
[Accelerated Flow] (-1HP)
The young warrior closed the distance with a single dash. With a hop that made him appear as light as a feather, he got on the monster's back who was still caught in the momentum of its swing. You felt the reassuring grip of your host and your thoughts became one once more. Reading Prias' intent, you changed shape into a shortsword with a narrow crossguard. With [Slaying], you had adopted a material structure suitable to piercing this monster's flesh. While pulling you out, Prias had already begun casting a flame spell and you turned your Mana Burn off to avoid disrupting his spellcasting.
[Prias: Sever&Crush (Stab)]
Prias Strength: 2
> Limiter Release: Str +1
> Battle Sense: +1
Defender Constitution: 2
Attacker Check: d20 vs 6
Roll: [6] -Successful Hit-
Damage
2d8: [4]
[Prias: Basic Fire Spell (Basic Arcane Magic)]
Base Difficulty: 12
Prias Power: 1
Basic Magic User: +1
Final Difficulty: 8
MP Cost (1x): 8
Power check: d20 vs 8
Roll: [9]
Outcome: [6] -Overshoot-
MP used (doubled): 16 (4/20)
+ Damage tier will be increased
----
Prias Power: 1
> Overshoot: +1 Power (for the duration of the spell)
> Close quarters casting: +1
Defenders Resistance: Roamer 1 / Prias 1 / Eximius Res 1
Attacker Checks: d20 vs 6 / 6 / 6
Roll: [7, 9, 4] -Successful Hit except for Eximius-
Damage
1d8: [5]
----
Total Damage: 9
Prias stabbed with all his might and weight in the open wound, plunging you even deeper in the body of the monster. Then with his hands digging in the wound, he released the flame spell in the monster. As a burst of flames swirled out of the wound, Prias pulled you and jumped away. He landed out of the monster's range who was now flailing like a maddened beast as its bleeding back was on fire.
You were unscathed, somehow, but Prias had burns up to his forearms. As for the monster, it seemed to still have a lot of vitality. That one wouldn't go down that easily.
Prias had a sharp look, carefully analyzing the monster. Panting lightly, he told you.
"I admit, that was a bit reckless."Nearby Monsters:-Starved Deadland Roamer [Hostile] [-15 HP] / [3MP]
Stats: S3 C2 P0 R1 Int-1 Ind-1
[Like most creatures of the deadland, it was gaunt in appearance, partway between a skeleton and a starved creature. It looked like a massive bat which had lost the ability to fly, with the skull of some sort of dog instead of a bat's. It was very tall, as tall as a small house. Its blackened eyes seemed to scan the landscape, and its gaping mouth would slaver if it had any saliva to produce.]
HP: 25/25
MP: 20/21
Essence: 25/50
Attributes:
STR 2
CON 2
POW 1
RES 1
INT -1
IND -1
Status:
-Ring Form
Location:
-Safara (Eastern Village of Nepkeros)
> Back to Safara
Host: Prias, Human Hero of Safara
HP: 12/20
MP: 4/20
Status:
-Bonded
-Heroic Protection
-[Of Vigilance]
-[Of Protection]
-|Of Erudition]
Gear:
-Monstrous Leather armor set
Inventory:
-Two dark green potions (apply to use)
Attributes:
Str 1 (2)+1
Con 1 (2)+1
Pow 1 (1)
Res 1 (1)
Int 1
Ind 3
Notes:
-Semi-Locked Potential (True and acknowledged)
-Ancient Combat Techniques (Bonus to combat)
-Strong bones (Less chances of breaking bones)
-Seasoned Hunter (Bonus to hunting related actions)
-Resolution to return to them
-Ambition: Save Nepkeros?
Skills:
-Experienced Hunter:
-Basic Arcane Magic:
-Accelerated Flow: at the cost of stamina and/or HP, the user can move at incredible speeds for extended periods of time.
Notes:
-Investigated Prias "restraints"
-Known Villagers:
Veras: the village's mage
Sandra, Septor, Iseis: Prias's close friends
Eten, Luaros: villagers on townwatch
Ulkas, the Horned Demon (Sarrak)
(Arma grade Protector? Was it something truly rare, Liel? And, Astrosa, is it dead, or hibernating still?)
“Interesting how facility could be so damaged inside while outer protections work near-perfectly...”
Satisfy my curiosity while being wary for possible traps. Alarm Ambition if finding any, let him proceed otherwise. If there is no danger - follow through to terminal for connection.
[Liel: Trust]: [18]
Outcome: [5] -Overshoot-
(Protector were not exactly rare, uncommon maybe. But a defeated Arma-clad Protector... that would be unheard of outside of the most devastating conflicts. They were the core of the military might of the old world. The entire security system of Xatares would be unable to stop a Protector with an Arma-grade Assistant. You have to understand, to us, Protectors cannot be defeated.)[Trap Perception]
Easy 6: [12]
Outcome: [4] -Critical Success-
You didn't sense any trap around. The place was perfectly safe, you were sure of it.
[Ulkas Intelligence 7: Curiosity]
[Autosuccess]
Outcome: [1] -Success-
You studied the damaged gate, and remembered the status of external protections of the facility. And this so-called Protector, lying defeated on the inner side of the first inner gate while the outer gate was unharmed. Whatever damaged the installation, it came from the inside. Either it managed to get past the outer gate without fighting, or it was inside from the very start.
Looking at Astrosa, you deducted she had probably arrived to the same conclusion.
Ambition was studying the Protector with great interest.
"Hmm yes... that could work." ---
You now stood before the terminal. To you it looked like some high pedestal with a screen of sort. The craft of this device was exceptional, and you could tell even the most insignificant details had a purpose, even the many sockets of various shapes underneath the upper part. You recognized above the inactive screen some sort of embedded projection device which you saw operated back in Xatares.
One of the sockets on the flat surface seemed fit for Liel.
(I will attempt a direct connection, can you place me there Ulkas?)As she said that, you heard a crunching sound followed by chewing. Ambition was eating the Protector.
"What are you doing?" said Astrosa, who naturally had pointed her spear at Ambition before even speaking.
Nearby Monsters:Ambition the Irregular [Stage 8] [Partnership]> Source of a Field of Mind Manipulation
Roaming Gol Gimmun, Cradled SkydragonHP: 39/39
MP: 63/63
Essence: 0/750
Attributes:
STR 0
CON 0 (+1)
POW 1
RES 1
INT 7
IND 2
Status:
-Okay
-Advanced Mental Protection (Communication with Astrosa and Liel)
Gear:
-Xatares Adaptative Suit
-Xatares Mining Armor
-Xatares Shielding Device (Glove)
Inventory:
-Ashafan Journal about the Taes ruins.
Contents: partial map of the early levels of the Taes complex. Expedition log.
-Xatares Shatterer
-Xatares Collapser
Location:
-Baldarus Plains, Sky
>> the "Sky Temple"
> Unknown settlement northward, close to the Beacon
Companion: Astrosa
HP: 63/63
MP: 39/39
Essence: 20/750
Attributes:
Attributes:
STR 6
CON 2
POW 0
RES 0 (+2) (Bracelet)
INT 0 (+1)
IND 3
Status:
-Fine
Gear:
-Xatares Adaptative Suit
-Xatares Mining Armor
-Xatares Shielding Device (Glove)
Inventory:
-Electrum Bracelet of Magical Protection (+2 Res)
-Xatares Shatterer
-Xatares Collapser
Companion: Liel
-Data still pending-
Status:
-Worn [Special]
-Fine
Author
Topic: You are a Monster - Turn 63 (Read 215490 times)