Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)02:58 No. 231022 ID: cf68aa
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The gods are fucking trolls..

Get on you knees.

Apologize.

>>231022
@Mu: Remember your promise!
@Teri: Can you calm her down?
@Gram: Apologize.

>>231023
A-hem...

"Mu, there's nothing I can say that could make up for what I've done in the past. No words can restore your master, and they cannot heal the wounds I inflicted upon you myself. But despite that, I want you to know that I am truly and completley at your mercy. Just...

If you kill me...

Take care of Su. Please."

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)03:10 No. 231026 ID: cf68aa
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>>231024
-Teri
Calm her down? Why? What's wrong?
---------------------------

"Mu, there's nothing I can say that could make up for what I've done in the past. No words can restore your ma!?!?!"

SLAM

Gram is knocked against a tree hard. He can hear his body cracking and several chunks of himself break off. Su screams in horror and Teri grabs onto Mu's arm

>"Mu! What the fuck are you doing!?"

>"This isn't your fight Teri, stay out of this."

>>231026
FINE.

YOU HAVE FIRE.

USE IT. We will save her core, and repair it. however, we need to keep ourselves alive.

>>231026
[Switch to Mu]
YOU ARE A LIAR AND A COWARD!
@Teri: She's going nuts! That's the guy who might be able to heal you! DO SOMETHING!

@MU:
[RUN] to cecil's house.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)03:34 No. 231030 ID: cf68aa
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>>231027
Right!

Gram uses Item 10 on Mu. She bursts into flames and reels in for a second attack
>>231029
She stops her attack and begins to run off

Huh?

she is wearing us, we can make her do stuff like we do to you. she is currently running towards Cecil's house and will probably burn out on the way there.

>>231030
Douse the flames and follow her.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)03:49 No. 231034 ID: cf68aa
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>>231032
I see. So long as her core is still in one piece she should be okay.

Mu drops Item 7. she stops running and loses the top ten layers of her bodie.

Fuck

Gram sidesteps and barely manages to dodge a slash from her

>>231034
SET HER ABLAZE AGAIN. Her master will fix her, and this is most certainly self fucking defense.

damn, she got rid of us. just stay on the defensive. and maybe shoot her a few times if you get an opening. she is burning a LOT of magic with these large attacks.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)03:59 No. 231037 ID: cf68aa
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No need to set her on fire again. She's already done.

Mu staggers as she tries to move closer to Gram. various papers fall from her and soon she drops to her knees.

>"G-gram... Elric... Kil............"

She collapses into a pile of paper. Gram can see Mu's smaller true form within the burnt pile.

She was really going all out.

peel off the outer layer and and burn it. take her little form back.

Explain to her companion what was going on.

Take the items Mu was carrying as compensation.

EVERYONE, TO CECIL'S.
Also, where's Max?

...And to think, you were once the murderous monster, and she was the nice one. Well you were just both broken and it's her turn to be fixed. Gather what is left of her, and see that everyone is ok. We should hurry to Cecils place.

@Teri
Mu will be ok, she needs to be fixed on the inside. Don't hate Gram, please. Hate us if anything, we thought we negotiated a peaceful resolution.

@Max
There is a... long story here. Just believe when we say this has been resolved as best it could.

>>231037
Gather everything up and carry her and all the various debris and pieces to Cecil's place.

If it makes you feel better, she's acting this way because you damaged her core back when you killed your master. Meaning that she can be healed.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)04:15 No. 231042 ID: cf68aa
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>>231040
Teri
.... You guys suck at peace negotiations. The only reason stone dude still has his head is cause Mu told me to not get involved.

Max
Oh i already know the situation. I could read Gram's soul. That is why I stood back and protected Su.
---------------------
Gram gathers up Mu's pieces. He takes her tiny body and tells everyone that their heading to Cecil's to be repaired.

Without Item 10 I wonder how that fight would have gone...


I feel a little light headed for some reason.

>>231042
Here, Gram, use Item 21 on the elf.
Also, you probably feel light-headed because a good chunk of your head is rattling around in your feet.

@Teri: Mu's a bit brain damaged. No, really, her mind has actually been damaged. She went nuts right there.

aww shit. forgot. pass Mu over to teri. Mu is a energy leech.

@teri: yeah, the reason we thought we were cool was we made her promise not to attack him before getting fixed. negotiated that if she still wanted to kill gram after that then we would help her. but she apparently can't help herself when she sees him.

>>231042
You're kind of bashed up there, boss. You'll need fixing too, hopefully the master alchemist is back to do things properly. You might be energy drained too.

@Teri
Mu promised she would not attack Gram, not without first having her core repaired and
seeing if she still wanted to attack him. We trusted her... should have known better than to reason with the point of madness of a broken golem.

@Max
Thank you. I'm not sure how bad off Gram is right now, or how far we have to Cecils place. Hopefully Gram can make it their under his own power, but he might need your help if he's any worse than he looks. If you can do anything to speed our travel that too would be a blessing.

And I don't suppose you'd object to being called Maxine? I remember what you said about your name it's not that bad but the feminized version seems better suited for you.


...Wait, "soul"?!? Explain?

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)04:44 No. 231051 ID: cf68aa
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Actually Su would be better. The Dark Elf probably has more Mana then her.

Gram passes of Mu to Su. They continue walking to Cecil's

>>231043>>231045>>231047
-Teri
That makes sense.. I was really surprised when she attacked Gram. She's normally against violence and always kept her calm. She must really hate him.

-Max
Maxine huh? I like it, thanks. I could fly him there but I think he'd be too heavy and I can only carry one person at a time.
As for Souls every being has them, even Golems need a piece of a soul. It seems both of theirs are rather well developed though. As a celestial I have the power to read their Soul to see what their thinking at any given moment. I can't look into their past or anything though, only high level angels can do that.

They arrive at Cecil's. There doesn't seem to be anyone around.

>>231051
What are we looking at here?

@Tikka: Hey, we've back at your house. Nobody's here, where are they all?

@Max: What do your people think of immortals? Or those who bring back the dead? Are you trying to keep souls cycling through on a regular basis, or do you only care that all the souls in the pool are accounted for?
Oh, also, see that elf there? Her soul is rotting away. Do you know of anything that could help her?

Well crap. Gram you'll probably need to pull out the Goldeon Watch and find where Tikka or her friends are now. Got any teleport stones left?

@Maxine
We've unwound most of that tale: a lonely girl who builds herself a companion in Gram, falls in love with an abusive man, Gram is damaged trying to protect her and loses his ability to feel and care, eventually attacks him, the master protects and Gram kills her and almost destroyed the recently created Mu. Later he's collecting items, finds us, we try to steer him to the better path, find and protect Su, then we fix his head and after catching up on feeling his own major traumas he's the nice guy on a mission of redemption you see now.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)05:10 No. 231058 ID: cf68aa
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>>231057
-Maxine
Woah. That's quite a tale there. I'm glad he's changed his ways at least.

>>231055
Honestly I don't mind about people being immortal. We celestials don't really care about such things. Even Immortals die at some point. It's just the souls that are destroyed that we care about.
----------------------------
Gram knocks on the door. After a second Tikka pops her head out

>".... who the hell are these guys?"

okay. introduce everyone new. Max the angel. Teri the dark elf. and Mu.

>>231058
@Tikka: A maimed paper golem named Mu that feeds off of magic, Gram with a boatload of injuries, Su who spent the night in a coma after The Collector destroyed a good chunk of her brain, a Dark Elf named Teri with an incredibly rare disease that causes her soul to rot, and an angel named Maxine who desperately needs to talk to Cecil about the Soulless due to her people being in an outright panic over them.

We're pretty sure you've never had a chance to examine an angel, and you might be interested in examining such an incredibly rare disease.

>>231058
@Tikka
Dammit we need some help here, Mu the paper golem flipped her shit and tried to kill Gram, he's beat up and she's reduced to her damaged core. You'll need to fix them both up as well as you can. The others are Mu's friend Teri and an angel named Maxine that Su and Gram met when they escaped to the Temple.

...Please try to compose yourself.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)05:19 No. 231063 ID: cf68aa
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>>231060>>231059
>"!!! Well come in. Why don't you all take a seat."

Tikka leads them all inside. While there Gram explains the situation to Tikka and everything that's been going on. She says she can patch up Gram and Mu but Cecil is in Central with the others at the moment. He stopped by briefly and only dropped off some things of his and picked up some clothing. Gram asks if any of the things were Items

>"the only thing noticeable is a his spell book, a golden dagger and some mana potions. OH! My book came too! I've been copying all my notes in it. I'm just about done too."

>>231063
@Tikka: Finish up. We'll head out to Central and meet them there.
Did you tell him anything about what was going on?
Oh, and how are you liking this new book? Is it meeting your expectations?

Gram use Item 21 on Teri. She's been sick her whole damn life and we've meaning to help her.

And while we have some time, let's get some info on those other items we've got. The mask looking thing from Tikka and the Collectors orb item.

@Tikka
Just Cecil, what about the two others? Did you talk about us and everything? What about the clone, I trust you mentioned that at least?

@Maxine
Err you can probably tell something of this yourself, but Tikka here has certain... fascinations in the exotic races. Try not to mind it too much.

>>231064
@Su: It might be better for just you and Tikka to go get Cecil and the others. Don't worry, he'll be fine here.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)05:53 No. 231068 ID: cf68aa
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>>231064
-Tikka
The book is great! I'm pretty much able to hold all my notes in it now.

>>231065
Uhm... no. I didn't talk about anything. He just left the things I mentioned then went off again with Alex and Nari. I don't feel comfortable with everyone popping up on him. Everyone seems to be relying on this one man and hoping he has nothing better to do.

>>231067
-Su
I don't want to leave Gram..
---------------------------

Gram pulls Teri aside and uses Item 21 on her. Her arm is fully restore but then quickly rots away again

>"... yeah that's been tried before."

"Oh.. Uhm, sorry."

>"not your fault."

Well that was a failure. You ask about the other Items? I have no idea what they do and testing them out inside someone's home may not be the best thing.

>>231068
@Tikka Actually there's two of him but yeah

>>231068
@Tikka: Three people who are all renowned experts in their fields. If they can't help, then they can certainly at least point them towards people who can.
Besides, the only people who actually need their help are Teri and Maxine, so long as you can fix Mu's brain like you did for Gram.
Teri was sent by the Dark Elf Queen, and Maxine is on an official mission from her people. I can't see somebody kind enough to resurrect a town refusing to help them.

hmmm, options are take tikka and leave Max in charge, or take Max and hope those here can handle Mu.

@tikka: sorry if it seems like that. Max is more here for a mutual reason. heard Cecil has been looking into how to get rid of the soulless, and that is what max has been sent to do. Teri may seem like a biggie, but Cecil is the only person we know of that is great at soul magic but not bound by elven law. once she is fixed then she can go. and Gram just wants to ask a few questions and then he can go to. it's the price of being a good person with a lot of power, everyone comes to you with their problems.

Gram 2010/09/15(Wed)06:17 No. 231073 ID: cf68aa
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-Tikka
>"Okay, so there's a bunch of people who want to see Cecil Question is, who's first?"

-Su
>"I'm staying with Gram.."

-Teri
>"there's no way I'm living Mu with you guys."

-Maxine
>"I would prefer to go first."

"It doesn't really matter to me."

okay, gram, Su, and Maxine go to central to get ceil. we will find him with the watch and then maxine and su can talk to him.

>>231073
@All: Tikka and Maxine, you two go get Cecil. Everybody else handle introductions.

>>231073
@Tikka
Well it looks like most of this group is either going to stay here or all go together. I would rather most of them stay less chance for further trouble that way. But that leaves just Maxine who needs to talk with him, she could take the other gauntlet and we can talk to him directly if we had to. You should go along too, since he knows you and all. Of course you'll have more time to study the celestial at the same time... she'll be going back to her own plane soon too.

How's the clone doing, anyway?

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)01:37 No. 231245 ID: cf68aa
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>>231085
-------------
The clone? Honestly i don't know.. I've been busy lately.

"Allright, how's this sound.. Maxine and I will go find Cecil, you all chill here for a bit. Sound good?"

The others look at each other then nod in agreement.

"Good. I have a telestone on me. Ready Max?"

>"Sure."

They both teleport to Central with the gold watch. They look around.

>"This is a big city.. I don't like how it feels here."

"Eh, you get used to it. now, where the hell could Cecil be?"

it's why you got the watch. just tell it to point you at him and off you go.

>>231245
Look at the watch, say "Cecil Von Central III" and look where it points.

It's one of the three Goldeon items; we thought almost everybody knew that much about them from the legends.

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)01:55 No. 231250 ID: cf68aa
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Tikka looks at the watch

"Cecil Von Central III"

Hmm? It's pointing right behind me.

>>231250
That's because he's right behind you.
I just thought you should know how the watch works~

yeah, just follow the arrows.

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)02:18 No. 231254 ID: cf68aa
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Tikka turns around. Cecil is right behind her

"Cecil!"

>"Tikka? What're you doing here?"

okay, let's start with the one he can see. introduce him to Maxine and tell him that she is an angel and is looking to get rid of the soulless.

>>231254
"Chaos ensued.
Starting from the top?
Somebody found a tube with living clone of you in Dart's ruins, and dozens of smashed tubes. He remembers up until about the point when Dart died, and has vague memories of the house and Alex being pregnant. He's at home.
Maxine here has been sent by the other angels to get information to help them fight the soulless - she's already looked everywhere else and that's your hobby.
Queen Sils sent a girl with some kind of Soul Rot to our place to see what you can do to help her.
We've got some golems at our place who have serious mental issues due to damage - Alex would probably like to look them over - but are otherwise decent people
I got a book from the I Shop to store all my notes so I can do some traveling, and ordered a bag of holding - on your tab, I hope you don't mind. Great deal, 55pp.
We've also got one of the survivors of Resad at our place because some guy called The Collector tried to kill her and eat her eyes.

Those are the important bits, anyway. How about you? What are you guys up to that's got you in such a hurry?"

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)02:50 No. 231258 ID: cf68aa
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>>231257
Tikka tells him all of this.

say "just like old times, huh?"

>>231258
Tell him the voices of Item Seven say hi. We're a pair of gauntlets and we'd shake his hand and talk to him directly but the golems have us and honestly anyone else would get hurt putting us on.

>>231259
Let's not metaknowledge, now.

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)03:09 No. 231261 ID: cf68aa
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"Yeah I know, it's alot."

>"........."

Cecil teleports off.

"Son of a bitch!"

They see Alex. She looks around for a second then spots Tikka

>"Mya? What're you doing here Tikka?"

"Uhm... We needed help from Cecil but I think we freaked him out. He teleported off."

>"Mya.... We needed him.. Wait! Tikka maybe you can help us!"

"Hmm? I'm kinda busy right now.. What is it?"

>"We found this portal to the Dark World. We were actually gonna ask you for help anyway."

-Maxine
>"The Dark World!? Where?"

>"Mya? Who's the chick?"

"Long story. Point is she's looking for the Dark World too."

>"Lead me there!"

>"... okay... this way.."

Alex takes them into a closed off tent in the middle of the city. They see a hole in the air that leads to a pitch black land

>"This is the rip mya. There's never been one this size in all of history. We have no idea why it's here now..."

._.

Wait.

How often has Cecil been using the Goldeon Knife?

This is important.

@maxine: i suggest you set up a defensive barrier. a good ring of solid light should do it. while you are powerful, charging into enemy territory alone is a bad idea.

@Tikka and Maxine
Can you two avoid jumping into that for just a moment? Going to check on the crazy golem party at the house.

[Switch to Gram]
We gave Cecil the short-short version, he 'ported right away so I guess he should be on his way back of here. Try to avoid horribly awkward misunderstandings, and shake his hand with us if you can.

>>231261
So, it's a giant mutant space vagina. Lovely.
What do they want you to do?
"Soulless are weak against light magic, right? Well, a nigh-indestructible monster that's been murdering people for the 207 Items got whupped by a Light spell at Temple.
Think that might be related?"

@Su: Did anybody show up there? Could you tell us if somebody does?

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)03:38 No. 231269 ID: cf68aa
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>>231262
I dunno

>>231263
-Maxine
I always have a barrier around me. It's just not visible unless I want it to be.

>>231267
-------------------------
He's already here. He's searched through the whole house.. No clone.

>"Tikka... Well at least she wasn't joking about you guys. Uhm... Can I help you?"

>>231269
@Gram: Shake his hand, and have Su help look.

what? where could that dude have gone?

>>231269
@Tikka keep us updated on any changes.

Gram, introduce yourself and try to explain things. Tell him you found the clone and left him with Tikka. The most urgent concern is getting Mu fixed and less murderous so if he or Alex and handle that it would be great. Or we can explain, shake his hand with us so we can talk to his magey self.

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)03:51 No. 231275 ID: cf68aa
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>>231271
Gram holds out the hand with the Gauntlet.

>".... I make it a habit not to touch magical objects until I examine them."

".... Anyway Tikka wasn't lying, there was a clone here."

>"Hmm... Let me see. Cae shysai"

Gram feels a chill pass through him

"There was someone magical here. Then again, there's a lot of people magical here at this moment. I can't seem to find anyone who left though."

>>231275
"The gauntlet is Item 7. It's full of voices that give advice, solve problems, relay messages, and make all sorts of absurd statements. It's annoying, but harmless. They say they want to show you what happened with the clone.

He was sleeping in that room over there. I don't think anybody else has been in there."

@Cecil Clone: Hey, where are you? We need your help here.

>>231275
Huh, well tell him the voices of Item Seven says hi, and we can talk to everyone here, Maxine and Tikka so we probably aren't going to hurt you. If it was a clone maybe it's a shapeshifter too and his hiding in some other form. I dunno, tell him it had the mark of the Item on the tube, if that helps at all.

And... Gram, did you ever touch us to the clone? We might have a possible connection we didn't notice before. Well let's see...

@Clone
Testing testing, can you hear us? Where the hell are you?

Gram 2010/09/16(Thu)04:12 No. 231279 ID: cf68aa
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"The gauntlet is Item 7. It's full of voices that give advice, solve problems, relay messages, and make all sorts of absurd statements. It's annoying, but harmless. They say they want to show you what happened with the clone. He was sleeping in that room over there. I don't think anybody else has been in there."

>"I've had enough head voices to last me a lifetime, thank you. I'm assuming you're not lying.. I'd better solve this problem first."

Cecil leaves.

Well... The was brief...

>>231279
I thought he was rather generous to let you finish.

@Tikka: What's this Cecil said about head voices?

>>231279
It seems we have bad timing, there's a giant hole to the Dark World over in Central. Why the doppleganger distracted him from that I have no idea. We should go help out on that end I guess, unless you guys want to port over to Central to get involved.

[Switch to Tikka]
Cecil is headed back, that clone was important enough to ignore everything else right now it seems. You lost that clone, by the way. Any changes?

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)04:45 No. 231282 ID: cf68aa
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>>231281>>231280
--------------------------
Well you have a static rip which is doing nothing at the moment and a clone of you running around that was made by your greatest enemy. which would you focus on? Ever since he defeated Dart all those years ago he's sorta had a grudge against anything having to do with him.
As for the voices a while back Cecil had some head voices caused by a curse. Long story. They're gone now, asleep he said.

And the rip.. Well Maxine's been dying to go into it. She's ready to go.

>>231282
@Tikka: Lemme guess. Dart gave him the curse? Any chance the clone and those voices are related?

Hey, if you and Maxine want to take a look then don't let us stop you.

>>231282
Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare~

So...

We're waiting!

==>

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)04:54 No. 231285 ID: cf68aa
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>>231283
No clue if it's related. So... i guess we'll explore a bit. it's a whole new world. Who knows what's inside?

"Ey Max, you wanna check it out real quick?"

>"Yes! Let's go."

Together they step through the rip.
They find themselves in the Dark World

>>231282
Curse-spawned headvoices? Odd, that's a story I wouldn't mind hearing sometime. I wonder what it would be like if we bonded to someone with another set of voices... likely couldn't tell ourselves apart.

[Switch to Maxine]
Hold tight, Cecil will be here to back you up in-
>>231285
Dammit all, you couldn't wait a few more moments?

>>231285
Oh, hey, a castle! And a giant butt-plug!

Yea, this place just gets better and better. Next thing you know it'll turn out the ground is comprised entirely of soulless.

>>231288
uhhhh, that "buttplug" as you call it has the soulless symbol on it.

Tikka 2010/09/16(Thu)05:21 No. 231291 ID: cf68aa
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>>231287
It's a loooooooong story. It'd probably take me a few months to tell the whole thing
-----------------------------------

>>231288
A what....?
Anyway I don't sense and of the Soul Stealers on the ground. In fact I don't sense any nearby...

Maxine begins walking to the castle

>"Hey! what are you doing!? We gotta stay near the rip!"

"Don't worry. I specialize in light magic, we'll be safe."

>"But..."

"Come on, we'll be fine."

Maxine continues walking ahead with Tikka following. They see people up ahead

Humans...?

They spot her

>"Well well well.. Defender, look at this.. We don't get many visitors.."

"No, not really. What're you doing her lil' ladies? You could get hurt here."

>>231291
"Investigating a rip in the fabric of the universe between our world and this one.
Can you tell us anything about it?"

>>231291
"Just tourists. Who are you?"

>>231292
Mentioning the exit to them may not be the wisest course of action

Maxine 2010/09/16(Thu)05:58 No. 231297 ID: cf68aa
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"Just tourists. Who are you?"

The man with the armor speaks up

>"We don't have names anymore. Not since we came to live here."

>"I don't think you're tourists... You're a angel.. What're you doing in our world?"

He seems hostile... should I attack now? He's sitting down and not on his guard.

>>231297
No. Once you start fighting you can't go back to talking, and that CASTLE over there suggests that they've got plenty of backup.

"Investigating the Soul-destroying monsters that are running amok."

>>231297
Fighting them won't bring us answers, if we win or no. And since you have the advantage now, not taking it is a sign of sincerity... if they knew only violence, they would have already attacked.

"We aren't here to fight you, we're here to understand what is going on."

Investigating disturbances between life and death. Disturbances located here. Must investigate further

Eh, just tell them you're trying to stop the soul-destroying monsters. Ask if they know anything about it.

Maxine 2010/09/17(Fri)05:14 No. 231439 ID: cf68aa
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Okay... I won't attack.

"We aren't here to fight you, we're here to understand what is going on."

>"I'm sure you are referring to the several rips within your world connecting to ours? I can assure you it is not our doing. We wouldn't want to make ourselves that well known to the public. And a portal leading into our world is sure to get some people poking their noses around. Now, I highly suggest you leave before you get hurt."

explain that you know the dangerous things here are weak to light magic, which you happen to VERY good at.

>>231439
"We already knew about this world, and we're working with a few powerful mages to fix the problem.
You're not the only ones who want these rips closed, you know.
But fine, we'll go back and report our findings."

Head on back. If they want to get violent then it would be best for you to be at the back of a powerful mage.

>>231440

Maxine 2010/09/17(Fri)05:31 No. 231445 ID: cf68aa
File 128472666796.png - (101.35KB , 800x600 , 302.png )

"I know all of you are weak to light magic, and I happen to be very good at it."

>"Not all of us are. I'm still human, you cast a light spell and I'll rip you to shreds"

The man with the shield laughs

>"Sorry about that, he can get a little aggressive. We won't harm you but we'd rather not have you die in our world. Just leave now and we'll pretend we didn't see you, okay?"

>>231445
"I don't intend to die here by any means, no offense to you two. Thank you for your concern, but I don't see why my well-being should be any matter to you."

>>231445
"I was tasked with figuring out why this was happening and I have little time left before I am to return. If I fail this mission, I will replaced by others. With many open portals and the situation escalating... how many dozens of celestials do you want poking around in here? If you can help us in any way we can hopefully avoid that and we'll be out of here all the sooner."

>>231446
I think kind of language will only escalate the situation.

ack, we didn't mean say THEY are weak to light magic. but the soulless are.

"I'm a badass angel with nothing to lose, and I don't play the rules. I'M MAX ANGEL THE BEST MOTHERFUCKIN' ANGEL IN EXISTENCE! EVIL FEARS MY IRON-FISTED LIGHT!"

Now go somewhere else and pump a fist in the air.

Character?

Wat

if John can help then it may be a good idea.

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)02:51 No. 231619 ID: cf68aa
File 128480349098.png - (68.53KB , 800x600 , 303.png )

"I was tasked with figuring out why this was happening and I have little time left before I am to return. If I fail this mission, I will replaced by others. With many open portals and the situation escalating... how many dozens of celestials do you want poking around in here? If you can help us in any way we can hopefully avoid that and we'll be out of here all the sooner."

>"hmm..."

The guard looks at the sword man

>"should we take her to John?"

>"I don't think she wants to see John... Do you?"

"Who's John?"

>"Our king. He is on the top level of the castle."

>>231619
oh, sure, why not.

>>231619
They're not soulless. They aren't the enemy. I think we should talk to John.

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)04:16 No. 231623 ID: cf68aa
File 128480860263.png - (27.58KB , 800x600 , 304.png )

>>231621>>231622

Maxine nods. The two men escort them to the castle. Nothing attacks them on the way. Once they arrive there they're taken up to the top floor. the man with the shield leads her into a ordinary looking room. It's almost painfully empty with only a table, a chair and it's occupant inside of it. The man, who Maxine assumes is John, does not move to face her. The man with the shield leaves. The moment he steps out the door John speaks

>"Can I help you?"

>>231623
Investigating the soul-eaters, we come in peace, yadda yadda.

tell him you are here to ether figure out how to seal this place from the other world or to get rid of the soulless. you were told he could help.

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)04:29 No. 231626 ID: cf68aa
File 128480939938.png - (28.31KB , 800x600 , 305.png )

"My name is Maxine, I'm a celestial. I was sent on a mission to discover why so many soul stealers have been appearing lately. Turns out there are various rips connecting this world to my world. I wanted to know if you could help us close them."

>"No."

"What!? Why not!?"

>"I made them, I'm not going to close them."

"Made them!? You've given people access to your world and not only that soul stealers are destroying the balance between souls coming in and souls going out!"

>"That... Is not my concern."

then ask him what IS his concern. if he cares not about the soulless or the people then what does he care about?

>>231626
Ask him why he opened them, then. Maybe he can help you destroy the soul stealers, if he doesn't want to close the rifts. Or maybe you could help him with whatever goal he has in mind that requires the rifts to be open, so that they'll close earlier.

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)04:37 No. 231629 ID: cf68aa
File 128480986261.png - (29.22KB , 800x600 , 306.png )

"Then what is your concern?"

>"The welfare of my kingdom."

"What? What kingdom!? There's no one here!"

>"Exactly. Only a small handful of half humans and thousands of soul stealers. What kind of king would I be without people to rule over? What kind of world is this? We've been here on our own for many many years. The rifts will allow my Soul Stealers to leave this land and if it goes well this will become a true world."

"I don't get it.. How will this help? The soul stealers would just kill the people."

>"Most of the time. But if the human is strong enough he can reclaim his soul and join our ranks."

"Is the only reason you're doing this because you're lonely?"

>"Not just that. As a kingdom there is one thing I need to do, expand. Your world is the only one within my reach. I plan on it becoming mine within the next 30 years."

"What!?"

>>231629
"This is how wars start, you know."

"if you go to war then you should know you already lost, everyone already knows what a soul stealer is weak against, they were just so few that no one bothered making a dedicated effort. if you unleash them to the world at large then light magic will become a well practiced thing and your soul stealers will all die. leaving you with a numerically inferior force.

>>231629
He has declared war on our world out of greed.
Speak no more words. Leave. Return through the rip.

How fast could you mobilize the celestial army?

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)04:52 No. 231633 ID: cf68aa
File 128481074446.png - (61.18KB , 800x600 , 307.png )

"if you go to war then you should know you already lost, everyone already knows what a soul stealer is weak against, they were just so few that no one bothered making a dedicated effort. if you unleash them to the world at large then light magic will become a well practiced thing and your soul stealers will all die. leaving you with a numerically inferior force."

>"... As it stands I have a army of 12. This is not counting the thousands of soulless I use. If I sent just 2 of my more powerful men to Central it would be destroyed within the day. Your light magic means nothing to me angel. The only reason I'm telling you this is because you have no way of stopping it."

"Stopping what? A world war?"

He turns around

>"This will not be a war, this will not be a battle, this will not even be a skirmish. We will win almost instantly. You may leave now."

>>231633
Leave. Give them no more information.
We need to speak with Cecil and General Norue, you need to send word back to mobilize the celestial army.

he is WAY too cocky for you to fight. that kind of confidence is massive.

>>231633
Fine then, asshole. We're outie. Don't even give him a response, it's what he wants. Just. Leave.

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)05:11 No. 231638 ID: cf68aa
File 128481187610.png - (125.73KB , 800x600 , 308.png )

Maxine turns and leaves with Tikka. As she walks down the hall she feels a sudden chill.
Before she even has time to react someone stabs her through the chest shattering her barrier. Her body goes numb as she can feel something precious being pulled away from her.
A monster stands in front of her. He twists his hand around inside her causing a sharp pain. Tikka backs away from the man and Maxine.


"I know what.... You're planning... if.. If you do anything... To alert people... I will... I will hunt you..."

He withdraws his hand and vanishes

>"Max! Are you okay!?"

"y-yeah... He didn't do any damage. I'm fine."

He broke through my light barrier..

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)05:11 No. 231639 ID: cf68aa
File 12848119124.png - (92.61KB , 800x600 , 309.png )

They eventually make their way back to the rip

>>231638
It looks like he also stole part of your soul.
He seems to be able to read minds. Get out of this world.

no no, he just grabbed and and twisted. that had to have been painful. let's leave. and figure out what do do.

Maxine 2010/09/18(Sat)05:55 No. 231644 ID: cf68aa
File 128481451221.png - (142.51KB , 600x800 , 310.png )

The two of them quickly leave.

Alex is waiting for them

>"What the hell were you two doing in there mya?"

>"A-Alex! uhm... She... she wanted to check it out. Cause she's a angel and everything"

>"I told you not to go in there. what if you got hurt!?"

>"Oh you worry too much, we're fine. Right Max?"

".... huh? Oh, right. We're fine."

>"... Don't go messing with the portal again okay?"

okay. just sit back until cecil comes back and snipe any soulless that come through.

>>231644
@Tikka: "We found out what's causing the portals and why.
There's no reason for anybody to go in there; we need to go home right now."

Max Angel is not afraid of any dark world. To doubt and fear for Max Angel is to doubt life itself. Max Angel.

>>231645
I think there are a few too many portals everywhere for this to actually work.
Warning the King, and the guy who will eventually be the King would probably be the best idea.

Don't say anything at all about what you were asked to keep secret. He didn't know about us, we can deal with this without a word being spoken and no effect they'll freak out about. Or by the time they do, you won't be in any danger. We'll see what we can do, with not a word being spoken.

>>231644
Let's not spread the word until we can figure out a way for Max to not get immediately killed. Perhaps, discuss ways of fighting the Dark World inhabitants with Alex? She might have a good idea of what to do about the hunter's threat.

Maxine 2010/09/19(Sun)22:09 No. 232084 ID: cf68aa
File 128495938884.png - (76.36KB , 600x600 , 311.png )

>>231645
She waits with Tikka and Alex for Cecil to return. An hour passes without him coming back. Alex asks Tikka if she has a Goldeon Watch and takes it from her. She teleports off.

Still no sign of Cecil... I think I might be in over my head on this one. Light magic was supposed to work, without it I have nothing.

>>232084
I think we're falling into Holding Out For A Hero waiting for Cecil and relying on him so much...

>>232084
They're dead. All dead. Alex and Cecil. Need to find them.

On the whole dark world matter, what you need, miss, is to work out spiritually. Because that thing they did to you with the whole not-sword-slash thing? Not anything like light or dark magic. I'm guessing some kind of weird soul magic or anti-soul... whatever.

@Gram and Su: Why the heck are you sitting around for? Get the hell out and start looking for Items. We found out you may need them even more, now.

Maxine 2010/09/19(Sun)23:25 No. 232095 ID: cf68aa
File 128496394798.png - (77.17KB , 600x600 , 312.png )

>>232090
Yes... You're right. i can't falter now. If I'm too weak then the simple solution is to become stronger. He said it would take 30 years, I have time then.

>>232092
-Gram
Kinda busy right now. Some cat chick came by and patched up Mu. We're waiting for her to wake up now.

>>232095
Not that I disagree, but somebody needs to check on him.

[Switch to Gram]
Who? Let us see her.

Maxine, are you certain that thing didn't have any long term effect on you? Nothing taken or added? Just kinda worried...

Who knows what he's doing in there. Just be patient, Alex should be back before long and she will probably head back right to him, you can go along if you wish. After this I don know, you have to go straight back after gathering all the info you can?

@Gram
Excellent. Hopefully you two can work things out... there may still be hard feelings and all but at least the two of you aren't hell bent on killing each other anymore.

[Switch to Gram]

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)00:00 No. 232103 ID: cf68aa
File 128496604878.png - (72.39KB , 600x600 , 313.png )

>>232100
Hmm? No no, I'm fine. I would sense if anything were off about me. Thanks for your concern. It's getting dark out though and they've still yet to return. They didn't exactly tell us to wait here either.
--------------------------------
Gram

She hasn't done anything yet. She's just rebuilding her body

>>232103
Alrighty, then.

Hide behind something solid, though.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)00:09 No. 232105 ID: cf68aa
File 128496654268.png - (99.59KB , 600x600 , 314.png )

>>232104
done.

Mu finishes repairing herself. She stands up and looks around at everyone.
Then she spots Gram

>"Gram... I hurt you.."

>>232103
"Yea. I can't say I didn't deserve it, but if I die then I can't atone for what I've done."

Now Show us the "cat chick"!

@Maxine: Well, the proper thing to do is to report this information to your superiors so that they can research and plan.

>>232105
Stay hidden.
"You had your reasons. Are you satisfied?"

>>232105
Tell her you hurt her first. Even if you weren't yourself then, she wasn't quite either.

@Maxine
Don't stick around on our account. I don't see what else to do as far as your mission, the only further you can do for that involves Cecil. Alex is done here and should return soon. If you have a better idea on what to do next then go for it. Or just go relax someplace for a while.

>>232105
Yes, and then you set her on fire. I think you're pretty even as far as hurting eachother is concerned.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)00:36 No. 232112 ID: cf68aa
File 128496816812.png - (96.75KB , 600x600 , 315.png )

>>232110
-Maxine
I think I'll be going back home for now.. I need to talk to some people about what to do next. I'll tell tikka to head back.
------------------------

"Yea. I can't say I didn't deserve it, but if I die then I can't atone for what I've done."

>"Gram..."

"Are you satisfied?"

Mu smashes Gram's head in. It crumbles under the sheer power of her strike.

>"Now I am."

gram if you are still conscious, use item 10 at maximum blast.
if not...
[kill] Mu

>>232112
>>232113
What? No.
@Whoever is nearby that can fix him: Couldja fix that?

>>232118
@Su: ask cat person to fix him.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)02:04 No. 232140 ID: cf68aa
File 128497345118.png - (136.14KB , 600x600 , 316.png )

>>232124
-Su
What cat person!? There's no one else here but us now! What's going on!?
---------------------------------------------

>>232113
And risk burning down the entire house? Not gonna happen
[Kill]!

Item 7 spears Mu through her torso, she doesn't seem to flinch

>"Did you think that would hurt me Gram?"

now reel us in and ether have us grip the wall and you fly forward, pull us back with fingers spread.

>>232140
Can we just run away already?

@teri: get in here, mu woke up and she is just going nuts again. just cut her head off, she can be put back together again later, we have her pinned right now but not sure how long.

I'd tell you to leave and tele out, but you'd probably spew some bullshit about everything being fine, so fuck it.

oh and since we are touching her

@mu: you broke the deal Mu, so we have to kill you.

@Mu: We repaired you in the hope you would see sense. You have one last chance. If you don't take it, you will die here and now. Choose.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)03:12 No. 232152 ID: cf68aa
File 128497757929.png - (73.28KB , 500x500 , 317.png )

Gram pulls back Item 7 cutting Mu in half. The lower portion of her body falls apart. Gram grabs onto Su and teleports out.

He finds himself back in Temple.

okay, let's see if anyone in here knows enough to at least get the top of your head back in order.

@mu: you know, we can still talk to you. while you may not listen to us you should know this is your own damn fault. we made a deal and you broke it.

>>232153
It's a good thing su is blind because you might freak out a few people without half your goddamn skull seriously how can you even see

>>232151

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)04:06 No. 232163 ID: cf68aa
File 128498076187.png - (163.94KB , 600x600 , 318.png )

>>232153>>232157
-Mu
What!? Gram killed possibly hundreds of people! Men women children, all slaughtered by him! I want to end the half-life of 'one' man for a good reason and you see it fit to give me the death penalty!?
--------------------------------
Gram and Su ask around for someone, anyone who can repair him.
A alchemist offers his assistance and fixes his head.

hmm... He screwed up on my hair. I'll have to fix it later.
That meeting didn't go as well as I had thought it would have. I guess Mu is still pissed at me for killing her Master and stuff.

>>232163
@Mu: YES! Because he's a far different person now. He's trying his damndest to fix what he did. He's already saved dozens of lives through his direct actions. You are not in a position to decide whether anyone lives or dies, Mu.

Well, yes, Gram. We were mislead by our instincts that healing her damage would render her sane. Next time we see her, we try to talk, then we kill. There's no point in letting her live while you get so heavily damaged. I know you're something like siblings, but... there;s only so much we can do.

okay then, let's just get this show back on the road. and finally head for those mermaid lakes.


@mu: oh no, we were only going to make you mostly dead. not dead dead. you would be kept out of the way and then put back together later. but what you did that was wrong is that we told you taht gram is fixing everything. all those people he killed? they are going to get fixed. your master? fixed. we told you this already. besides, you took us off, gram is our only master now, so helping him is our job. you also broke your deal. i see you still wanted to kill him even after getting fixed, but you were so short sighted you attacked him instantly instead of waiting a while, where you would of been fixed and then we would of been forced to honor our end of the bargain and kill him.

>>232163
@Mu: Some of us always want to kill people. Sorry about that.
As it stands now? Gram has been repaired, and has dedicated his life to putting everything right. He's not even really the same person, since much of his mind needed to be reconstructed. It's effectively the same as if he was under some sort of mind-altering curse, which is a rather severe mitigating factor.

We aren't ignoring everything he has done, but killing him now would just prevent him from fixing the damage and working off his debt to society.

Our goal is to improve the happiness and quality of life for all sentient beings, and we are rather big on cold calculating pragmatism. If he returns to being a monster then we will kill him without hesitation, but until then we're going to let him be a force of good.

We've been using you the same way. The card scammer lost his Item ans was jailed because he was harming others and we felt that was the best solution.
We obtained the pain blocker for Teri because it improved her life. Her addiction gave us an excuse to commission the creation of a cure for said addiction. Her disease enabled us to bring it to a trio of master mages so that it could be cured for the sake of everybody.

So, no, we will not kill you. However, we will prevent you from killing Gram - before you even bring it up you broke the terms of our agreement so we are under no obligation to help you kill him.

We want you to be happy and we'll help you as much as we can, but we'll keep Gram alive as long as he's helping others. We will be seeing to it that your master is resurrected, but what other goals do you have? Does your mind hold nothing but revenge?

Oh, and from experience? Revenge is never satisfying as you think it will be. You'd be horribly disappointed.

>>232163
So go bring her master back, dummy. Take Su and Tikka on a boat ride to the northern continent and resurrect her.

Actually, check that. Take Su and Tikka with you to retrieve her body, COME BACK, then resurrect her.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)04:52 No. 232174 ID: cf68aa
File 128498357045.png - (97.71KB , 800x600 , 319.png )

>>232164>>232172
-Mu
..... Don't talk to me again. Ever. I will kill Gram on my own. With my Item I will hunt him down and strike when he does not expect it.
------------------------------------
>>232168
I'd rather not leave Mu alone like that but I'd also rather not have to kill her.
I guess it'd be best to let things cool down over there.

"Su, we're going to merfolk lakes for a bit okay?"

>"Mmmkay."

He holds onto Su, they teleport to Mermaid Lake.

"Not a soul in sight here. Where could the Item be?"

>>232174
@Su: look around and report.

Well, Gram, it looks like we're stuck at having to kill her. Even ressurecting the master will probably leave her thinking she's fake and nothing will change.

hmmm, mermaids are under the water. you can go no problem since you don't need to breathe. but su will need a mer-person to help her.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)05:03 No. 232178 ID: cf68aa
File 128498421644.png - (70.21KB , 600x600 , 320.png )

>>232175
-Su
I can see something 'everywhere'. It hurts my eyes.
-----------------------
Whatever. I'd rather not kill her but if it needs to be done it needs to be done.

>>232174
It looks like THE LAKE is an item.
Welp! Your quest is impossible, time to go home.

>>232174
@Mu: Well, if that's how you want things to be then we're going to have to resurrect your master so she can talk some sense into you.
Oh, we completely understand why you feel that way, but that doesn't change the fact that your actions are motivated by emotion, not rational thought.
We're still going to help the non-murderous parts of your quest though, and try to get you to change your mind.

@Teri: Can you tell us a bit more about this cat girl? Her name, what she looked like, her approximate age, that sort of thing.
Also, could you keep us informed on who's at the house? There are people we need to talk to.

Oh, and I think Mu could use a hug.

splash the lake a little, see what happens. maybe a mermaid will come up?

>>232179
Either that or the lake is enchanted, or something similar.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)05:38 No. 232182 ID: cf68aa
File 128498630558.png - (85.69KB , 600x600 , 321.png )

>>232179
-Mu
I don't need your help anymore.. Leave me alone.

-Teri
she seems kinda pissed off right now. Not sure she's in a huggy mood.
-----------------------

What!? I'm not gonna give up that easily!

>>232180
Gram splashes the water a bit. A merfolk pokes it's head out of the lake

>"Hi, can I help you?"

tell... her? that you are looking for items with numbers on them, then show us, and that your detector said one was here. also that while you can survive under water just fine Su cannot and were wondering if they had anything that would let her come with you.

>>232182
"We're looking for the 207 items, and were wondering if you could help.
Also, my partner here can see magic, and your lake is positively glowing - why is that?"

@Teri: Well, if you don't think a hug will help then don't hug her.

@Tikka: So, what are you up to?

@Su: How old ARE you, anyway?

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)05:52 No. 232185 ID: cf68aa
File 128498714543.png - (85.30KB , 600x600 , 322.png )

>>232184
-Teri
Maybe later... she just seems upset now.

-Tikka
Wondering where the hell you guys are!!!

-Su
Uhm.... I think I'm 20 something... I never really had a birthday so...
---------------------------------
"We're looking for the 207 items, and were wondering if you could help. Also, my partner here can see magic, and your lake is positively glowing - why is that?"

>"I dunno.."

"I see... Do you have any rare magical Items? One with numerals on it?"

>"Oh! Yeah there's such a object! But it's guarded by a scary monster. A crocadon!"

>>232185
Pfft. As if Gram can't handle a monster. Lead the way, young lady!

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)05:58 No. 232187 ID: cf68aa
File 128498752511.png - (77.63KB , 600x600 , 323.png )

>>232186
"Lead the way miss."

The merfolk slides out of the lake.

>"I'm male."

He leads Gram and Su to a nearby mountain range.

>"The Item you're looking for is in the center of the pile. I wish you the best of luck...."

>>232185
Crap! Tikka needs help!
Ask them if the monster has been hurting any of them. That's going to determine how we solve this.
Also? Merfolk abhor violence, so you're going to need to resolve this peacefully.

Touch us to it.

[Switch to Tikka]
What's wrong?

while yes, they don't like DOING violence, they don't blame others that do it. but yes, let's see if we can do anything about this.

>>232189
They abhor violence completely. They don't like anybody being violent against anyone or anything else for any reason.
If they knew how people were keeping the scum of the earth away from them, they would be horrified and ask them to stop.

They won't DO anything about it, but we should do our best to respect their customs.

Tikka 2010/09/20(Mon)06:13 No. 232191 ID: cf68aa
File 128498838955.png - (100.11KB , 600x600 , 324.png )

No violence huh? This is gonna be tough.

Gram goes as close as he can and presses Item 7 against it. A weak connection is formed.

>>232188
-------------------------
Oh I'm fine. But if this man doesn't leave me alone within ten seconds 'he' won't be.

>>232191
@Croc: Hey there! We'd like to have a little chat, if that's okay~?

@Tikka: Pffthahahahahahahha
okay
uh
okay
why is he bothering you? He hitting on you? Tell him a golem has a better chance than he does.

Because it's true.

>>232191
What is he?
Is his species in your book?
Even if it is you probably don't have a diagram of its internal anatomy, so you should examine that.
Namely, by putting on a glove and shoving your arm so far up his ass that you can jam his vocal chords shut.

@Gram: Walk back to the water's edge and ask to somebody who would know about the lake's magic. A half-merfolk, if possible, since they'll have a better time relating to you.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)06:30 No. 232195 ID: cf68aa
File 128498944422.png - (99.54KB , 600x600 , 325.png )

>>232192
"A dickless golem has a better chance at getting with me then you so cut the crap and leave me the fuck alone you sad excuse for a man."

Well that got him to leave. So where are you guys!?
------------------------------

"Hmm... I need to plan a bit before I attack. Are there any half merfolk who I can speak to?"

>"Uhm... There's Sem. She's a really good singer."

"... okay. Can you lead me to her?"

>"Sure!"

The merfolk leads me to another small lake. He sings a soft tune and another merfolk, presumably Sem, pokes her head out

>"Greetings Mil, and who are your friends?"

>"These people said they wanted to see a half merfolk."

>"I see, what can I do for you?"

>>232195
"My partner here can see magic, and she says your lake is incandescent with it. Could you explain why that is?"

try to ignore the massive naked mammaries. Don't think about how they'd feel in your hands, at any cost.

@tikka: we are at the mermaids lakes. sorry about just vanishing like that.

@Maxine: Hey, what should we call your nation-thing? Celestia? Heaven? Land of the Dead? What?
Also, you work with the dead, right? How does the Dark Elf Soul Binding thing affect the souls in the afterlife?

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)06:52 No. 232202 ID: cf68aa
File 12849907454.png - (118.02KB , 600x700 , 326.png )

>>232199
-Maxine
Just call it Celestia I guess. As for Soul Binding it is truly a marvelous art. The mixing of two souls is simply beautiful. I hope one day to go through such a thing myself. It's forbidden however for me to choose a non-angel as my partner. It doesn't really affect the balance but if they were to die we make sure that if they return to this world they become partners for life again. and no I don't usually deal with dead people. I'm not that high ranking.

>>232198
-Tikka
I'll be there shortly.
-----------------------

>>232197
Hmm? I wasn't even really paying atte-HOLY CRAP THOSE THINGS ARE HUGE!

>>232196
"Uhm... My uh partner here can uhm see magic, and she says your lake is filled with it. Could you explain why that is?"

>"Well we're naturally magical creatures so it may simply be us rubbing off on the lakes. I however did not notice a spike of magic until recently when the Crocadon returned from it's journey."

>>232202
Maybe it brought the item with it from elsewhere? Which way did it venture from? East? North?

Don't touch them. Dooooon't touch them. No matter how much you want to, and I know you do.

hmm, thank her for her time.

>>232202
@Maxine: Mostly I'm just curious about how the afterlife works. How do souls exist there? As little flame-like balls like we see here? As their self-image says they look?
How active are they? Is it a society of souls, or is it more of a bunch of spirits floating around aimlessly?
Are they allowed to watch what's going on in the world? Or are they cut-off from that flow of information?
Just how forbidden IS it for a living person to chat with somebody in the afterlife?
Have you considered opening up a tourism industry? "This can be yours for the low, low price of not being a dick!"?

@Su: So, you don't just like Gram, you're romantically interested in him.
You should tell him that once you have some privacy, since there's a good chance somebody else will confess first.

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)07:07 No. 232207 ID: cf68aa
File 128499166347.png - (116.65KB , 600x600 , 327.png )

>>232206
-Maxine
Look I really shouldn't be talking about this okay?

-Su
W-what!? I n-never said that.
----------------------------------

"I see... Thank you for your time."

>"It was my pleasure."

>>232203
......................

Grope

oh jeez. you have one chance of getting out of this intact. grab us by the wrist and pull us back and chastise us with like "bad gauntlet, bad!" and say that you are dreadfully sorry, but the thing has a mind of it's own.

>>232207
oh shit I didn't think you'd actually do that good god oh man oh man oh man

uh uh

@Sem: OH MY GOD WE ARE SO SORRY I didn't think he'd actually do it don't be mad he doesn't understand boundries or that sort of thing aaaaaaaaaaaaaah

>>232207
Gram, you aren't supposed to touch other people like that unless they're ok with it.

@Sem: ACK! Sorry about that! He suffered some brain damage awhile ago and completely lost touch with reality. It's been fixed, but he needs to re-learn social mores, and he's been having problems with knowing what is and is not appropriate physical contact.

Couldja tell him 'No' and help explain why what he did was wrong?

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)07:28 No. 232213 ID: cf68aa
File 128499289327.png - (53.22KB , 600x600 , 328.png )

[A link is formed between Item 7 and Sem. You can now use the @ and Switch To command for her.]

Gram pulls away at Item 7 with his free hand. Sem dips underwater until only her eyes can be seen

"No! Bad Item 7! Ahehe... Uhm, sorry about that, this is a cursed artifact and stuff."

>"It's okay.."

>>232209>>232211
-------------
-Sem
Ah I see. So you really are a cursed artifact. It's okay, really. I'm fine.

"Sir."

>"Yes...?"

"You're not supposed to do that to a female unless she says it is all right."

>"I-I understand."

"Breasts count as sexual organs and only those who have a really close bound with another person are allowed to touch them."

>"Yes miss.."

"Good. Please refrain from doing such a thing again."

>"I will.."

He sounds like a child. Please teach him these things so he does not make such a mistake again.

@Su: you didn't deny it~

>>232207
@Su: You don't have to. It's plainly obvious.
Just confess your feelings so you can move on. Experience has shown that hiding it never works out well, and that the fearful uncertainty that causes you to hide it is far worse than any response he could offer.

>>232213
@Sem: He basically is like a child at this point. We're trying to teach him, but there's always something we miss and we can never be too sure if he actually understands or is just saying he understands because he knows we want to hear that.

I pity him; for a long time his mind was mostly gone, and his body did some truly terrible things. We managed to get his mind fixed, but now that he's fully aware of his actions he's completely horrified by what he's done. He's cursed with memories of things done by what's effectively a different person, and with people that remember terrible things 'he' did.
We're helping him work this out by going around helping people to offset his guilt.

With that said, is there anything we can do to help the Merfolk?

Gram 2010/09/20(Mon)08:45 No. 232221 ID: cf68aa
File 128499752337.png - (53.82KB , 600x600 , 329.png )

>>232215>>232218

-su
I.. I don't feel that way to him...

Sem
I understand. I can sense his aura, it is a troubled one. I trust you can take care of him.
And don't worry about us merfolk, we're doing just fine.

>>232221
@Sem: I wasn't asking for your sake, I was asking so that he would be able to help somebody.
Still, thank you.

@Su: Oh really? Your dreams disagree~

hmm, i think we should just go, camp out by the croc thing until it wakes up.

>>232225
Dude. What the fuck are you doing? Stop trying to rush along their relationship. It's rude and usually harmful. Let it develop in a natural and healthy manner for once.

@Sem: Alright, what do you know about the croc? How durable is it? How strong? Do we have permission to rough it up a bit? Can it talk?

>>232282
Yes! Agreed!

Sem 2010/09/21(Tue)00:45 No. 232479 ID: cf68aa
File 128505512842.png - (58.37KB , 600x600 , 330.png )

>>232282
I don't want to say 'strong' but.. Well it's tail could knock someone's head off.
I'd prefer if you didn't harm it as it has not harmed us in any way shape or form. It simply forages for a bit then returns to it's cave.
though honestly I doubt you 'could' hurt it. It's quite tough

>>232479
Then we get the Item while it's foraging and get the HELL out of dodge. Simple!

indeed. no wait. that could make it rampage and kill someone.

wait for it to wake up and greet it. seems like a water dragon to me, and those are pretty smart.

You know Gram, you do have that item you stole from the Collector, it should be the one that messed up Su. Why not use it on the croc? You can heal it's wound and it'll still be out cold for some time.

>>232485
It hasn't been involved in anything violent, so lets not change that.

[Switch to Crocadon]
Hello?

??? 2010/09/21(Tue)01:51 No. 232491 ID: cf68aa
File 128505906549.png - (80.31KB , 600x600 , 331.png )

>>232486
--------------------


mmm....?

>>232491
What is your name?

You're fucking adorable. Yawn up this motherfucker, pop a brewski, and lets chill. Also let that stone golem guy get some weird thingy but let's pop that brewski first.

Sharaes 2010/09/21(Tue)02:08 No. 232495 ID: cf68aa
File 128506008039.png - (89.12KB , 600x600 , 332.png )

>>232492
sharaes...

>>232494
Thank you.
Which stone golem guy and what weird thingy? I have thousands of such things in my collection..

>>232495
Well, Sharas, how are you this... evening? We're Item 7, a sort of collective entity that offers advice to people.

>>232495
Hello, Sharas.
We're looking for a powerful magic artifact. It can be identified by roman numerals inscribed upon it and its magical aura.
We can sense that there is one near here, and the merfolk suggested it might be in your collection. If so, is it of significant value to you?

>>232495
We would be willing to perform a service for you in exchange for the item. The golem, whose name is Gram by the way, is under our influence. We can order him around do some degree if necessary, although he is pretty reasonable now.

Sharaes 2010/09/21(Tue)17:35 No. 232656 ID: cf68aa
File 128511570120.png - (81.93KB , 600x600 , 333.png )

Roman numerals...? Yes I believe i have such a Item..
I'm trying to sleep, I'm very tired...
If he wants it he can have it. I'm not gonna bother finding it for him though.

Just be quiet while you're here..

thank you for your time, sleep well.
[switch to gram]
okay gram, good news. it said you can have it as long as you are quiet. bad news is, digging through a pile of stuff without making noise is hard. see if that mask will make you silent.

[Switch to Gram]
This guy is very laid back, lucky us. Just go and try to find it.

@Su
We've got the go-ahead to grab the item, who knows how much of his stuff is magic so look around carefully.

>>232659
Let's not experiment with that just now. We should be able to pinpoint the position well enough to not take very long here.

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)00:27 No. 232716 ID: cf68aa
File 128514042951.png - (75.27KB , 600x600 , 334.png )

>>232659
While it's true I haven't tested out the new Item i don't think this will be the best situation. It'd be a lot better if we tested it some other time. What if it were the Item of Really Loud Annoying Music?

anyway...

Gram heads off to where the Crocadon is.
There's already someone here.

>>232716
Tap him gently on the shoulder with us.

>>232719
Soon we will have a network spanning the entirety of the world, making it ripe for the taking. No dark king, it is us, ITEM 7, who shall rule this world.

>>232716
...Swell. I think we already know how this scenario goes. Gram, this isn't really our style but if you can use that orb to just proactively burn a couple holes in his brain, loot his items and leave him here with is wounds healed by item 21... well, I wouldn't call it evil. But I guess we should at least let him talk before piercing his skull, we might glean some useful info from him. Have Su get behind you or hidden if there is a good spot for that, ask who he is and introduce yourself.

@Su
Lemme guess, this guy is glowing like a solid ball of magic? Or did we luck out and he's only partially covered in Items?

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)00:53 No. 232725 ID: cf68aa
File 128514198755.png - (87.05KB , 600x600 , 335.png )

>>232724
-Su
No.. It's just his head that's glowing.
-----------------------
Gram taps the person on the shoulder. He turns around to face them, his appearance makes Gram jump a bit

>"Hmmm...? You're here for the Item? You have to be, judging by the small collection I see upon you. Greetings to you fellow Collector, my name is Vandri Pylys."

"......... Gram Elric."

>"I'm guess my mask must frighten you. Happens."

Well he's civil so far, that's good. Don't expect to get out of this without a fight, but let's talk to him for a bit. Maybe we can really negotiate getting it. Ask him what is story is, and give him the basic story of collecting items to make good and defending against the likes of Mr Blue and the Collector. Maybe he knows more about them.

>>232725
"This big dragon's sleeping at the moment. What say you we decide this after extracting said item from this place? Preferebly nonviolently."

ans also "oh, and i'll obviously want that mask of yours sometimes, not like it's a secret"

>>232725
"Hello, Vandri. No, your mask is just a bit strange. I must say, this is the first time I've met a collector who wasn't out to kill on sight.
Any idea why that is?"

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)10:37 No. 232784 ID: cf68aa
File 128517704450.png - (74.03KB , 600x600 , 336.png )

"Hello, Vandri. No, your mask is just a bit strange. I must say, this is the first time I've met a collector who wasn't out to kill on sight. Any idea why that is?"

>"I can say the same about you Mr. Elric. I realized a while ago that there is no point in harming other Collectors for now. We all have the same goal in mind right?"

"I suppose.. Anyway the dragon is asleep and said I could take the item."

>"I was well aware of that."

"Well I came here to get it."

>"As did I. you can see the problem can't you?"

"Yeah."

>"Well I don't truly need this one, it's useless to me. How about we play a little game? First one to find it gets to keep it. Sound good?"

>>232784
Sure, why not.

i suppose. only other option is to kill him which would probably wake the croc up and then everyone loses. we'll see if Su can see anything.
@su, look at the big pile of stuff, do you see any glows that HAVE to belong to the item?

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)11:01 No. 232788 ID: cf68aa
File 128517850378.png - (106.62KB , 800x600 , 337.png )

>>232786
-Su
Uhm... Yes... no...? Sorta... I don't really know...
-----------------------------
"Sure."

>"all right, may the best man claim the prize."

Gram and the other collector step into the huge pile. There's literally a mountain of things here. Vandri begins poking through the pile with his cane.

start digging, we'll help su sort through the magic interference, maybe then she can find it.

[switch to su]
okay, we'll help you sort this out.

>>232788
Well start picking through it. I don't know how well us or the amulet will work to find it but see if there isn't a useful response. Su can point out the magical ones to speed things up. Actually, we'll help her out with that directly.

[Switch to Su]
Alright we're just going to go through the brighter looking items together, just rook around for any brighter points and Gram can help dig them out. We'll relay what you can see directly to Gram so we don't tip off Vandri before we actually find it.

Su 2010/09/22(Wed)11:17 No. 232791 ID: cf68aa
File 128517943378.png - (139.00KB , 600x600 , 338.png )

>>232789>>232790
-----------------------
Everything's glowing... I can't tell which is the Item..

>>232791
@Su: Hmm, is that a more intense glow up there near the top?

>>232791
there is a... more powerful glow, i suppose you could say, near the top right of what we are seeing. see it? go over to it and say "let's try over here"

@gram: su is walking over towards it and is about to call you over, wait until she calls then go over to her, we'll pin-point it more when she get's closer.

Su 2010/09/22(Wed)11:26 No. 232795 ID: cf68aa
File 128518000198.png - (164.36KB , 600x600 , 339.png )

oh! I see what you're talking about.

"let's try over here"

Su walks over to a spot and Gram follows her.

I think that may be it. It'll seem weird if we find it so fast though.

that may be but it still counts. point at where you see it and we'll get gram to grab it.

[switch to gram]
okay, found it, dig where su is pointing.

>>232795
[Switch to Gram]
Just start scouring the area, pretend you decided to start from this direction and just do what you would without foreknowledge.

But you know, it's not like we have to play on equal footing here. No rules were given, but it's still kinda unsportsmanlike to rely on seeker items. But given that you two could well be at each others throats in the future that seems like a silly thing to worry about. Just don't dawdle long.

Just grab the damn thing.

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)17:42 No. 232911 ID: cf68aa
File 128520256872.png - (202.18KB , 800x600 , 340.png )

Gram stalls for a little bit then picks up the object Su is near. It is a small marble with the letter C on it

Hmm... No clue what this one does either.

LEAP TO YOUR LEFT AND SPIN AROUND!

say "Sup, brah. Kinda in my personal space, ya dig?"

>>232911
He's looking over your shoulder. It's creepy but not obviously hostile, still you should be cautious. Say "Hey there, found it. So, what is this one and why is it useless for you?"

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)18:36 No. 232928 ID: cf68aa
File 128520579224.png - (128.08KB , 800x600 , 341.png )

"Hey there, found it. So, what is this one and why is it useless for you?"

>"It is a future teller. I have no need for such a a thing, I believe the future is something one should should see for themself. it is yours, you won the contest."

"Uhm... Thanks?"

>"No thanks required. Your companion has some of the most powerful seeker class Items I've ever seen. I would kill to add such a thing to my collection."

tell him that is EXACTLY why you keep getting attacked, powerful means high priority, so everyone is after her. it is rather exasperating sometimes.

>>232928
"Yes well, please don't. Enough have already tried and I'm tired of the bloodshed."

This guy knows items pretty well, maybe we can pick his brain for a bit? Ask if he knows more about the items origins and purpose.

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)22:09 No. 233010 ID: cf68aa
File 128521857483.png - (170.23KB , 800x600 , 342.png )

"Yes well, please don't. Enough have already tried and I'm tired of the bloodshed."

>"HAHAHA! A tough one you are."

"I like to think that. So... You know a lot about the Items. Where do they come from?"

>"Hmm? a collector who doesn't know? I guess I can explain. Many years ago man was able to bring down a god. However they were unable to slay him. Instead his powers were divided into Ten Items and scattered across the lands. Over time the magic from these Items leaked into mundane objects causing them to gain powers. As it stands there are now 207 Items in the world. I have 17, Mr. Blue has 19, Linda has 32 and the closest on of all is Sang with 90"

"90!?"

>"Yes."

"So... what happens when you get all of them?"

>"we don't know. We just have that pull to get all of them. Maybe it's power. Me, I have my own goals in mind. I'm after a specific set of Items. The Life and Death Items I and II."

>>233010
Power leaked eh? I'm pretty sure we just need to collect the first 10, then the core power will either summon the others... or we'll just plain resurrect the god.

Ask WHY man dissected the god. Was it an evil god or what? What IS the Collector anyway?

>>233010
>The Life and Death Items I and II.
That's not troublesome sounding at all. Ask if you can have them when he's done with them. Also, if he thinks maybe that the drive to get them all is the god trying to reform himself. It doesn't sound like a good thing to happen.

Gram 2010/09/22(Wed)22:32 No. 233017 ID: cf68aa
File 128521992219.png - (114.26KB , 800x600 , 343.png )

>>233012
"Why did man feel the need to do that? Was he a good god?"

>"When the story is told the Gods morality is never mentions, just the fact that we humans killed him. Can you imagine that? We humans were able to kill the being who rules over us. What does that say about god?"

"... The Collector, who is he?"

>"No one knows. He's killed a great deal of us trying to take our Items. Best you can do when he comes around is just give him the one he's askin for. fightin him is futile for he carries Item I."

>>233015
"so what if all of this is just a ploy to bring back that god?"

>"It may very well be.But push come to shove I think humanity can deal with him again."

>>233017
Ask what his mask does. Looks like CVI?

>>233017
"By the way, your scorecard's off. I managed to steal one of The Collector's items a little while ago... After he lasered my friend's brain."

"I think I'd rather he died. Which is Item I? I stole an item from him once, if I can take that one he can then be killed for good. Heck if I can get it back when you're done with it I might just hand it to you. What is it you want these those two Items for..?"

Gram 2010/09/23(Thu)00:48 No. 233062 ID: cf68aa
File 128522810883.png - (133.73KB , 800x600 , 344.png )

>>233019
"You're mask.. Which Item Number is it?"

>"CV"

"Oh! I got one of the Item's from the collector!"

>"Really? Which one?"

"The Laser one."

>"Oh... I wasn't aware he'd gained that. I guess Nicholas is either dead or in hiding."

"so.. what do you want them for? The Items?"

>"The god... The one I told you about. He was killed so easily even with the Items. The reason i guess is because humans were afraid of him, they couldn't identify with him. So.. I want to take his place. Having the power over life and death will make me into a new god. A better one."

Gram there's a bit of guesswork involved here, but I'm sensing something....

"So you want to be a killer that can't be killed? Even if you use that power wisely and with restraint it doesn't sound like much of a god. But it does sound like someone that would be widely feared and misunderstood. And hiding behind a mask can only make it worse..."

Then start to leave and say this:
"You want to be understood and accepted? Seek to be a better person, than some kind of god."

>>233062
Ask what would make one desire to be a god? Seems unnecessary to distinguish oneself with a very powerful man of items and a god. Just words, well unless he wants to be worshiped. Then he counts as a god. Don't be getting all morally on his ass, you're technically working for power too simply because it's a purpose you've assigned to yourself.

Just asking because hasn't he heard of enough stories of men trying to become gods? It seems kind of pointless.

>>233062
"Um... Didn't you get the memo? We've already got power over life and death. I spent most of yesterday un-killing the population of Resad.
I'm curious; what could you do with those items that we can't do already? What's the use of a new god? What happened that made you want to do this with your life?"