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Fantasy Terrorchild: Awakening

Go to the Mage College New
Option 1: 1 Vote (14% - Range: 1-14)
Option 2: 6 Votes (86% - Range: 15-100)
Fae Roll: 19

2. Go to the Mage College - You realize that Fiola's message is strange to have addressed Stalna instead of you, given that the information given seems extremely important. You wonder if "us" means the entire circle or if the two of them have some sort of ulterior motive that's just been exposed accidentally. Whatever the case, you decide to meet with Kulka first, as she must have a good reason to pick such a dangerous place. Moreover, Wag's message raises serious questions about Veralt's loyalty as well.

"...Agranne?" Jannava asks with tempered concern. "Do we know what we're doing?"

You nod fiercely as you begin to glide in the direction of your thralls, meaning to ask them directions to the Mage College. You pause for the moment and explain yourself: "We're meeting with Kulka. Embryx can explain Wag's message on the way, but first, Stalna-"

"I- I don't know what she means by sending a crow for me and not you," she interrupts, looking unsettled after the suspicious development, "but I don't think we should ignore her warning."

Embryx steps between the both of you, looming over the human. "Why." The word is not a question; it's a demand.

"Compel me if you need to; I'm just afraid that we're facing more than one threat, here!" she replies, defiantly. When you indulge her, moments later, to divulge her true thoughts about the situation, she answers: "I think something might've happened between Veralt and Kulka before we could get here that's pit them against each other and she might've decided that the coven would be better off if she simply removed him and you to clear a path to controlling the Kingdom herself."

You release her from compulsion and allow her to catch her breath as you curse under your breath at the logic she's presented. Kulka did seem to stand down strangely early and willingly once you announced your intent to storm Thandan; maybe she's been waiting for an opportunity to secure the Pandemonium Door ever since she learned it was in the hands of Diala, and began to feed into your ego when you changed your mind about giving it over to her...

"But what if Veralt sent those messages from Kulka and Fiola himself?" Embryx cuts in. "For all we know, Kulka's dead, and every part of this is just one big trap by that humongous creep just to slow you down or get you killed, Agranne."

You take a deep breath and sigh. "...We can go to the keep, or we can look for Kulka. Are there any other options that I'm forgetting?"

"We can go the harbor, steal a boat and sail away," Jannava replies, sarcastically.

You can't even bring yourself to laugh at the thought, but then it occurs to you that Jannava's loyalty to this point shouldn't follow you to the grave when the original arrangement meant she'd only follow you here, to Thandan. "Honestly," you say grimly, "maybe you should just lay low, and see how this situation shakes out, Jannava. Pledge loyalty to whoever survives, and then get yourself home to Estfang."

"Absolutely not," Jannava replies, to your surprise. "The Pandemonium Door sitting in your hands is dangerous enough, Agranne. If Veralt gets it, things are going to get so much worse, I don't even want to think about it. Knowing him, and the way he compels people... I might never be able to leave."

You nod, appreciating that she isn't ready to abandon you yet. Stalna issues you the same assurance; they'll stay by your side today. You reaffirm your desire to search for Kulka, hoping that Embryx' theory is wrong and that somewhere in this giant network of roads, plazas, parks, and towers is an elder that can help you finish the job of bringing about the Grand Design.

---
Another half hour passes as you push through the streets, closing in on the Mage College. More crows find you along the way, screaming about Kulka's betrayal - this time addressed to you - but this only cements your belief that Veralt is trying to meddle in your decision-making. You send out crows of your own as well, all searching for Kulka or Veralt, but none return. Something very strange is happening, but you refuse to allow your nerves to become undone. It occurs to you that Veralt might be overriding your spell and refusing to let them return to you. If that's the case, then you might as well not trust them even if they return with news; it could just be your rival sending you false directions.

At last, you reach the top of a large flight of stone stairs, descending towards a large complex of ornate wooden buildings. Small shrine-like statues of Zephimus and lesser gods decorate the path below, along with the bodies of dozens, if not hundreds of dead mages, their wands and staves littering the road like autumn leaves. Their ages range from children up to the elderly, all shown an equal lack of mercy from what must have been an overwhelming onslaught.

Embryx takes a knee next to a drow child who clearly died in a seated position, his hands covering his face in horror. "Gods..." she says quietly as she gently lays the boy onto his back, arms outstretched on either side, looking as peaceful as an angel in the steadily rising snow. "I'm sorry," she whispers to him as she stands.

You place your hand on her back and remind her that it's too late to be concerned with the casualties. "We didn't do this," you remind her. "It was never our choice."

She nods, but then glances back to Jannava. "If you're going to revive any, for fuck's sake... Leave the children alone."

"Constructs can't wield magic, anyway," Jannava replies, grimly.

Then, from below, you notice movement. A short figure in a luxurious indigo cloak approaches. "Sister Agranne, I presume?" Her voice is harsh, but contained, and a well-trained accent has removed the common goblin impediment regarding the letter 's.'

"Sister Kulka," you reply. "Where's everyone else? What's been happening since Veralt arrived?"

Before she can answer, however, Embryx asks another question: "How did you bring down the Mage College!?"

Kulka removes her hood, revealing a hideously-decayed face beneath - the visage of a lich - and gives a bow. "I've long planned for this moment," she says. "All of my sisters and brothers were here not half an hour ago, but they've moved on to join your pact brother inside the castle walls. He's quite ambitious, you know, and quite troubled. He attempted to compel me, and when he couldn't, as my mind is no longer flesh that he recognizes," she explains, taking a moment to knock against the side of her skull, producing an audible, hollow sound, "he then tried to kill me. But you can't kill what's already dead; you can only unmake it."

"Then why didn't he?" Jannava asks.

Kulka's deathly grin widens. "I'm not so easy to unmake. He knew that, and wanted to preserve his pneuma for another fight. I presume he means to kill you, Agranne."

"That sounds about right," you say, tiredly. "If he lured me in and killed me, he'd have the Door and all the magic he could want to destroy you, as well."

The goblin nods. "And that's why it's wise that you sought me out. Give me the Door, and we'll bring about the Grand Design together."

"I thought you weren't going to oppose me?" you reply. "Did you not send that crow?"

Something akin to a laugh escapes the lich's mouth. "...I did send it, but this is not opposition. I'll explain everything once we've finished what you've set in motion, but until then, know this: I will not oppose your aims, but you are not my elder."

1. Refuse - You aren't giving her the Door. Syrith didn't send you on this quest just so you could hand over the artifact that's practically made you a demigod over to a dead goblin. "...No. I won't give it to you. If you don't mean to oppose me, and you're already fighting alongside me, then come with us and I'll prove to you that I'm the one who's meant to have it."

2. Accept - "I have only one condition," you say. "I'll give you the Door if you can explain to me how to bring my blood sister back from the Land Beyond Death," you offer, knowing that it will anger your pact sisters.

3. Fight - "If you can take it from me, you can have it," you declare.
 

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