Breadman
Big loaf supreme
2
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Fantasy Terrorchild: Awakening
- Thread starter K0mori
- Start date
dikdik
colossal leaf and prince of the universe
1
joshuadim
the writer
2
turtwigwins
Junior Member
2
Infab
The Demon Fanatic
2
Damian0358
Roleplaying Procrastinator From Elsewhere
2
bat_hacker
Junior Member
2
Go to the Mage College
K0mori
Servant Supreme
Option 1: 1 Vote (14% - Range: 1-14)
Option 2: 6 Votes (86% - Range: 15-100)
Fae Roll: 19
"...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.
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.
Option 2: 6 Votes (86% - Range: 15-100)
Fae Roll: 19
"...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.
Infab
The Demon Fanatic
1
Breadman
Big loaf supreme
3
joshuadim
the writer
1
turtwigwins
Junior Member
1
hardcore.munchkin
Professional hater
3
dikdik
colossal leaf and prince of the universe
1
Damian0358
Roleplaying Procrastinator From Elsewhere
1
bat_hacker
Junior Member
2
Refuse
New
K0mori
Servant Supreme
Option 1: 5 Votes (63% - Range: 1-63)
Option 2: 1 Vote (13% - Range: 64-76)
Option 3: 2 Votes (25% - Range: 77-100)
Fae Roll: 28
Kulka barely reacts to your response. You prepare for her to retaliate in some way for your defiance, but she moves rather slowly. Only now do you realize that she walks with a cane - a fully straight one made of bone, and capped with a round onyx. She lifts it taps it against the ground a few times in contemplation before turning away from you. "...So be it," she says, beckoning you, your sisters, and the small army of thralls and undead you've created to follow her into the Mage College. "There's one thing I must show you, if you mean to keep that object. Once we're done, we can proceed to the keep and do what we must."
You realize that nothing has changed; Kulka doesn't view you as a rival - perhaps a nuisance, but not a rival - and isn't offended by your stance.
You glance to the others before following after her. Although you still hear distant screams and sounds of battle, or perhaps just lawlessness and looting, you ignore it all and move through the eerily peaceful and quiet grounds until you reach one of the largest buildings within. The doors are knocked in and hanging from the hinges, and then a second set of doors within are in much the same condition. Beyond those, rows of books and scrolls are arranged on shelves, mostly undisturbed. It's a library, like the one in the Sanitarium, but far more extensive - curios and pedestals display artifacts of all types, but Kulka leads you past them all to a large tapestry hanging on the far wall for display.
Your eyes strain, adjusting from the white sunlit snow to the candle-lit darkness of your new surroundings, but gradually, you make out the scene. At first, you take note of the gods depicted on the ancient and worn fabric, all seated at a long table, with Zephimus in the middle as if leading a discussion. Most of the others are unknown to you, although Gallanis is quite familiar, and Vestria and Upa are easy enough to pick out from the rest. Some of the figures are holding relics and magical implements.
You then realize that some of the other figures aren't even gods, but rather disciples, saints, and prophets - a rich spiritual world of which you know very little, and your heart sinks just slightly at your own ignorance. A separate, engraved plate on the wall nearby helps to identify them all to you, and even what artifacts are seen in the depiction, even if most of their names are ultimately meaningless.
Your eyes linger on a single, unique entry: Figure 53 - Unknown.
You look back to the gallery and frantically begin counting, but Kulka pulls your attention away: "Don't bother; this is the one you're looking for," she says, lifting her cane and pointing to the "unknown" figure. A feeling of doom washes over you as you follow the ivory cane to the dark figure seated at the table, with its hands clutching a pyramid-shaped object the same size and shape as the Pandemonium Door. A thin red outline contrasts the relic well against the black cloak and black fur of the tabaxi holding it.
Jannava and Embryx mutter swears under their breath, but neither is bold enough to say what they feel.
You, however, can't hold your tongue. "Is that... me? Why show me this now!?" you ask, your bile rising.
The goblin puts her cane back down and shrugs. "It could be you," she replies quietly, "or it could be the Eldest. You could even be one and the same... When I heard that the Diala stumbled upon a tabaxi hexblood carrying the Pandemonium Door, I knew immediately that she had chosen death by getting between you and that artifact."
"Then why did you want it!?" you snap. "...And don't even start with this one-and-the-same talk! I've heard it before, I've felt it before, but the more I think about it, the more I know it can't be true."
Kulka shakes her head. "I don't want it. But I do want to kill that pact brother of yours, and I think that my skills are more suited to the job than yours. I know that you don't trust me, but I brought you here to explain that Diala's folly wasn't limited to opposing you; it was in teaching a distorted version of the coven's tenants to her young sisters, and leading you all down a path which estranges you from the rest of us. Tell me, why do you think I would recognize you as my elder?"
"Because I can unmake you," you reply, but the goblin merely chuckles and shakes her head.
"I'm sure you can," she replies humorously. "And the coven would be weaker for it, as the spellcraft that I possess would be lost, and all the lessons I could teach - not just to you, but to dozens, or hundreds, or thousands of young witches across my unending life - would go untaught. Do you understand?"
You feel your anger suddenly begin to dissipate as you grasp the lesson being presented to you. "I... I think so," you reply once you've calmed yourself. "You want me to remember that elders aren't just strong, but they help others get stronger. Diala only cared about strength and controlling others, which is why she wouldn't teach me her best tricks."
The lich smiles. "...And no matter how easily you might be able to unmake my immortal form, you still have more to learn from me than I do from you. So... I'll assist your desire to see this Kingdom fall under the coven's sway, but I will not recognize you as the elder sister of Turadal; it's a responsibility that you aren't ready to shoulder, just like you aren't ready to accept whatever destiny it is that Syrith intended for you. But since I can shoulder it, I can accept that my burden is to ensure you survive this day to continue your journey, and that is why you should trust me."
"The day I fulfil whatever Syrith planned for me might never come," you say, uneasily.
She nods and gives a smirk. "I know; I taught Diala how to read minds."
1. Face Veralt - "...Let's go then," you say, accepting Kulka as an ally for the battle ahead. "Even if I'm less suited to killing Veralt, if you want me to trust you, I need you to trust me, first." As you make your request, you realize it is also, ultimately, a promise.
2. Change Mind - Wordlessly you offer up the Pandemonium Door. For the first time since you fell into Syrith's clutches, you feel as if you have an elder sister you can actually trust. The wounds inflicted on you by Corrinth and Diala still burn, but there's still hope within you for a proper mentor to come along.
Option 2: 1 Vote (13% - Range: 64-76)
Option 3: 2 Votes (25% - Range: 77-100)
Fae Roll: 28
Kulka barely reacts to your response. You prepare for her to retaliate in some way for your defiance, but she moves rather slowly. Only now do you realize that she walks with a cane - a fully straight one made of bone, and capped with a round onyx. She lifts it taps it against the ground a few times in contemplation before turning away from you. "...So be it," she says, beckoning you, your sisters, and the small army of thralls and undead you've created to follow her into the Mage College. "There's one thing I must show you, if you mean to keep that object. Once we're done, we can proceed to the keep and do what we must."
You realize that nothing has changed; Kulka doesn't view you as a rival - perhaps a nuisance, but not a rival - and isn't offended by your stance.
You glance to the others before following after her. Although you still hear distant screams and sounds of battle, or perhaps just lawlessness and looting, you ignore it all and move through the eerily peaceful and quiet grounds until you reach one of the largest buildings within. The doors are knocked in and hanging from the hinges, and then a second set of doors within are in much the same condition. Beyond those, rows of books and scrolls are arranged on shelves, mostly undisturbed. It's a library, like the one in the Sanitarium, but far more extensive - curios and pedestals display artifacts of all types, but Kulka leads you past them all to a large tapestry hanging on the far wall for display.
Your eyes strain, adjusting from the white sunlit snow to the candle-lit darkness of your new surroundings, but gradually, you make out the scene. At first, you take note of the gods depicted on the ancient and worn fabric, all seated at a long table, with Zephimus in the middle as if leading a discussion. Most of the others are unknown to you, although Gallanis is quite familiar, and Vestria and Upa are easy enough to pick out from the rest. Some of the figures are holding relics and magical implements.
You then realize that some of the other figures aren't even gods, but rather disciples, saints, and prophets - a rich spiritual world of which you know very little, and your heart sinks just slightly at your own ignorance. A separate, engraved plate on the wall nearby helps to identify them all to you, and even what artifacts are seen in the depiction, even if most of their names are ultimately meaningless.
Your eyes linger on a single, unique entry: Figure 53 - Unknown.
You look back to the gallery and frantically begin counting, but Kulka pulls your attention away: "Don't bother; this is the one you're looking for," she says, lifting her cane and pointing to the "unknown" figure. A feeling of doom washes over you as you follow the ivory cane to the dark figure seated at the table, with its hands clutching a pyramid-shaped object the same size and shape as the Pandemonium Door. A thin red outline contrasts the relic well against the black cloak and black fur of the tabaxi holding it.
Jannava and Embryx mutter swears under their breath, but neither is bold enough to say what they feel.
You, however, can't hold your tongue. "Is that... me? Why show me this now!?" you ask, your bile rising.
The goblin puts her cane back down and shrugs. "It could be you," she replies quietly, "or it could be the Eldest. You could even be one and the same... When I heard that the Diala stumbled upon a tabaxi hexblood carrying the Pandemonium Door, I knew immediately that she had chosen death by getting between you and that artifact."
"Then why did you want it!?" you snap. "...And don't even start with this one-and-the-same talk! I've heard it before, I've felt it before, but the more I think about it, the more I know it can't be true."
Kulka shakes her head. "I don't want it. But I do want to kill that pact brother of yours, and I think that my skills are more suited to the job than yours. I know that you don't trust me, but I brought you here to explain that Diala's folly wasn't limited to opposing you; it was in teaching a distorted version of the coven's tenants to her young sisters, and leading you all down a path which estranges you from the rest of us. Tell me, why do you think I would recognize you as my elder?"
"Because I can unmake you," you reply, but the goblin merely chuckles and shakes her head.
"I'm sure you can," she replies humorously. "And the coven would be weaker for it, as the spellcraft that I possess would be lost, and all the lessons I could teach - not just to you, but to dozens, or hundreds, or thousands of young witches across my unending life - would go untaught. Do you understand?"
You feel your anger suddenly begin to dissipate as you grasp the lesson being presented to you. "I... I think so," you reply once you've calmed yourself. "You want me to remember that elders aren't just strong, but they help others get stronger. Diala only cared about strength and controlling others, which is why she wouldn't teach me her best tricks."
The lich smiles. "...And no matter how easily you might be able to unmake my immortal form, you still have more to learn from me than I do from you. So... I'll assist your desire to see this Kingdom fall under the coven's sway, but I will not recognize you as the elder sister of Turadal; it's a responsibility that you aren't ready to shoulder, just like you aren't ready to accept whatever destiny it is that Syrith intended for you. But since I can shoulder it, I can accept that my burden is to ensure you survive this day to continue your journey, and that is why you should trust me."
"The day I fulfil whatever Syrith planned for me might never come," you say, uneasily.
She nods and gives a smirk. "I know; I taught Diala how to read minds."
1. Face Veralt - "...Let's go then," you say, accepting Kulka as an ally for the battle ahead. "Even if I'm less suited to killing Veralt, if you want me to trust you, I need you to trust me, first." As you make your request, you realize it is also, ultimately, a promise.
2. Change Mind - Wordlessly you offer up the Pandemonium Door. For the first time since you fell into Syrith's clutches, you feel as if you have an elder sister you can actually trust. The wounds inflicted on you by Corrinth and Diala still burn, but there's still hope within you for a proper mentor to come along.
Last edited:
hardcore.munchkin
Professional hater
1
Infab
The Demon Fanatic
1
Damian0358
Roleplaying Procrastinator From Elsewhere
1
bat_hacker
Junior Member
2
Breadman
Big loaf supreme
1
dikdik
colossal leaf and prince of the universe
1
joshuadim
the writer
1
turtwigwins
Junior Member
1
