Why does that happen here? Granted I knew a guy who only consistently had me and veekie voting in his quest with maybe one or two others that showed up every few updates. That was disappointing.
We were also the only ones reading that quest for some reason, it wasn't bad by any stretch, where here it seems to be a good number of readers who forget to vote at the end of the day.
We were also the only ones reading that quest for some reason, it wasn't bad by any stretch, where here it seems to be a good number of readers who forget to vote at the end of the day.
Why does that happen here? Granted I knew a guy who only consistently had me and veekie voting in his quest with maybe one or two others that showed up every few updates. That was disappointing.
We were also the only ones reading that quest for some reason, it wasn't bad by any stretch, where here it seems to be a good number of readers who forget to vote at the end of the day.
Yikes. Save the healing and magic girl attack for when things get really bad then. Turning into monster won't help anyone right now. And Hawkwood caught on fast. Here's hope he'll believe she was tricked into learning that magic by a vile little alien.
[] Take the first staircase up, there's loot there, and the path seems to continue there.
Not married to this, one direction's as good as another to me.
While you walk, you talk to/ask Hawkwood about...
[] "So... what's a Follower?"
Only thing I can think of right now.
Edit: Points have been made, changed vote.
[X] Take the other way up, it probably leads to the area after the next building, so you'd just be saving time in the end.
[X] Are miracles uncommon? The Shrine Maiden had a healing miracle for sale, cheaper than that sorcery spell, but you didn't sound like you thought I knew it.
[X] What did you mean by a Follower?
Hmm. The Followers of Farron were men who went after the Abyss Watchers, and hunted down those who fell to the Abyss with swords and flame (and magic spears that copied themselves when thrown). They were trained to go after those recently corrupted, who still retained the skills and tendencies of men. Notably, they also used a saber pretty much like ours.
That's interesting, because if you swap a few terms around we're also part of a group who go after those who fall to the Abyss, just with less fire and more magic. We've also got a magic spell that lets us copy our weapons, just like them. If our magic is Abyss adjacent it might easily be mistaken for the techniques of those who've spent a long time hunting it (one takes on the traits of their foes), especially if Hawkwood wasn't too familiar with them (he was part of the guy they were sworn to police, it'd make sense that they wouldn't tell him everything).
In short, Hawkwood might have connected 'blue' + 'magic weapon summoning spell' + 'shield and saber technique' + 'weird magic' and gotten 'Farron Follower'?
[X] Take the other way up, it probably leads to the area after the next building, so you'd just be saving time in the end.
[X] Are miracles uncommon? The Shrine Maiden had a healing miracle for sale, cheaper than that sorcery spell, but you didn't sound like you thought I knew it.
Let's avoid agitating the Wyvern McToasty for now. We might be able to dodge, but Hawkwood'd be in trouble if he was caught in the open by it, especially if it's not content to just sit on that tower and hose everything down with flames once in a while.
[X] Take the other way up, it probably leads to the area after the next building, so you'd just be saving time in the end.
[X] Are miracles uncommon? The Shrine Maiden had a healing miracle for sale, cheaper than that sorcery spell, but you didn't sound like you thought I knew it.
I honestly just caught up last update, and I try to stay out of voting until I get a feel for how the thread acts. Even then I don't consider myself the most active voter.
I usually just vote when it concerns character interactions, and i don't remember the paths in DS3 enough to really contribute - Nevermind that i just haven't been on SV in a few days. I was going to vote, like now, but then i realized the vote was closed
You decide that it makes more sense to just take the further staircase, seeing as it will ultimately lead to the same destination anyway. Hawkwood gives a brief nod in agreement, and you both head out towards the two hollows standing guard outside, who both spot you as soon as you take a step out.
Hawkwood lunges for the Hollow near him, and with a quick slash leaves it on the ground clutching at the ruined remains of what was once its throat. His precision with what should be a two-handed weapon is, frankly, ridiculous.
You, on the other hand, make a mistake. Perhaps you got used to the Hollows not putting up much of a fight, or maybe you just got overconfident. You're reminded here that regardless of what they are now, they still were once soldiers, when the Hollow you charge at manages to move his shield up in time to block your slash, managing to deflect your swing. Taking advantage of your surprise, the hollow takes the spear in its other hand and jams it into your side. Blood splatters against the ground, painting the area red as a hiss of pain escapes your lips before you can deaden the feeling.
Luckily, Hawkwood seems to have already finished off his opponent, and quickly moves to assist you. Annoyed, you hear what sounds like the flapping of wings before you move in for anothers swipe, only to be matched once again by the hollow as it deflects you once more. The sudden competence the hollow seems to be displaying surprises you, and you realize now how Hawkwood was overwhelmed earlier. Unfortunately for it, competence isn't enough to handle a bastard sword slicing into their spine, and the hollow quickly crumples to the ground.
Before you can celebrate, however, Hawkwood turns to look at you, and shouts one word.
"Run!"
Your confusion vanishes a moment later, as a loud screech causes the ground beneath your feet to shake. Turning to look, you see a Wyvern, much like the one you saw earlier, except this one is both very much alive, and very much angry as it flies straight towards you, its mouth wide open.
Before you even start running you can feel the area heating up, and you quickly join Hawkwood in a panicked dead sprint down what is essentially an alleyway. The group of Hollows sees you coming, and seems to try and form a cohesive wall of meat to block you, but stop upon the first jet of flame making contact with the stonework, and begins moving towards them. The two of you quickly push past them, as the hollows try and turn to flee themselves, but the wall of flame quickly overtakes them. The two of you manage to make it up the staircase before the wyvern seems to run out of flames to spew. It instead flies back around, and lands atop the roof of the building you had just skipped over, perching over it and leaving the two of you to catch your own breath.
Hawkwood, having had a head start, manages to make it out fine, beyond being left out of breath. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for you. The slight delay you had means that while you did make it out, the last stream of heat managed to roast your right leg, making you thankful to be able to simply deactivate sensation once again. Hawkwood appears concerned, but before much can come of it, you hear more footsteps.
Sayaka takes 1d6 (4) damage. 12/20
You see what looks to be a knight, wearing heavy armor exiting what appears to be a keep of some sort. He spots you, and with a grunt, begins moving towards you. As he does, a group of hollowed soldiers stands up, having been laying around the area, jump up to join him. You aren't sure whether they actually were ambushing you, or if it was more a coincidence, but regardless you're still not exactly happy about it.
Yeah, no thank you. You're not in the mood for this. You match the Knight who charges you, and let out a frenzied flurry of sword swings that quickly forces it onto the defensive. While it manages to block hit after hit, you give it no room to so much as try and make an attack of its own. Slowly, the knight is forced back, your onslaught of strikes almost pinning it in place as it has to focus entirely on defense. While this is happening, you hear the sounds of Hawkwood slaying the other hollows that litter the area.
Eventually, the knight seems to grow tired of your endless attacks, and tries to take the initiative for itself. With skill nothing that decrepit has any right to have, it knocks your sword away with its shield, before attempting to skewer you on its blade. This proves to be an awful idea, as while it is (or at least was) a fully grown adult in a suit of armor, you're a teenager who isn't. You roll out of the way of its thrust, before you counter with one of your own, your sword piercing through the eye-slit of its helmet. Defeated, the knight's corpse slumps over as you pull your sword from its head.
While you're left panting, with your right leg burnt and your left shoulder bloodied, Hawkwood seems none the worse for wear as he comes up to meet with you. He seems to eye you over, while you stare back as you catch your breath.
"There's a bonfire up ahead." He says seeming a bit surprised. Must've been expecting a further distance between them. You're not sure why, but you feel like you can sense its location too. The two of you enter the keep, and find it to be dark and dusty, with floors made of aged wood that, in some places, had already collapsed. While there is a staircase leading downwards, Hawkwood directs you to a side path to the right.
After climbing a flight of stairs, you emerge out onto a rooftop. While the sight of more corpse-trees sends a shiver down your spine, seeing another bonfire is comforting in its own right. The loud screeching coming from the Wyvern does, however, limit just how relaxing the experience is.
As soon as you get near, both you and Hawkwood nearly collapse down in front of the bonfire. As you do, that feeling of comforting warmth seems to swallow you once again. You can feel your wounds seem to fade away, and you let out a sigh of relief at regaining the sensation of your body parts once again.
Health set to Maximum. (20/20)
After a few moments of winding down, Hawkwood brings reality right back. "So do you think you could explain what that was earlier?" he asks.
"Sure," you say, confused as to the significance, "but first, could I ask you a question?"
"Which would be?" Hawkwood shoots right back.
"Are miracles uncommon?" you ask, which is met with a puzzled expression from Hawkwood. "The Shrine Maiden had a healing miracle for sale," you continue, "cheaper than that sorcery spell, but you didn't sound like you thought I knew it."
"You were asking about sorceries earlier, not miracles, so I thought it safe to assume you didn't have access to any." He lets out a sigh, as his hand seems to hover near his side. You notice an oddly shaped sheath much shorter than his sword's, and realize he hasn't actually used the weapon he has there at all.
"Now," he says, his face seeming to darken as he speaks, "how and where did you learn those techniques you used before?" You tell Hawkwood...
[] Everything; that you're not from this place; you just woke up here after you turned into a monster and were mercy killed by someone else; the magical girl system from what pieces of information you are aware of, etc.
[] Some things.
- [] What would you like to tell him, and what do you want to keep private?
[] Refuse to tell him.
[] Tell him something else? (Write in)
Stats
Hawkwood: Full
Sayaka: Full
Abyssal Corruption: 160/2000
Souls: 750
Adhoc vote count started by RecurringExtra on Jul 4, 2019 at 11:32 AM, finished with 21 posts and 10 votes.
[X] I'm not sure what to say honestly? This is just how magic is done where I'm from. I'd never even heard of Sorcery or Miracles until today. And even if you tell me I had to have burned in your First Flame to be here, I don't know anything about that. I know who's fire I burned in and Kyouko was a human like me. Yes, there's a story. No, I'm not going into it now.
-[X] I wasn't the best magic user either, probably the worst actually of those I know, so I can't really answer much on it. Our magic is born from our souls and centers around a single Wish we make in exchange for needing to fight for the rest of our lives. I wished to heal someone important to me, so I get the ability to heal myself and others a lot better than others would be able to. Everything after that is some mix of instinct, skill, and experience in terms of developing it further.
[X] I'm not sure what to say honestly? Not many Japanese people are even aware magic isn't a myth, and this was the only game in town. I'd never even heard of Sorcery or Miracles until today. And even if you tell me I had to have burned in your First Flame to be here, I don't know anything about that. I know who's fire I burned in and Kyouko was a human like me. Yes, there's a story. No, I'm not going into it now.
-[X] I wasn't the best magic user either, probably the worst actually of those I know, so I can't really answer much on it. Our magic is born from our souls and centers around a single Wish we make in exchange for needing to fight monsters that make people kill themselves for the rest of our lives. I wished to heal someone important to me, so I get the ability to heal myself and others a lot better than others would be able to. Everything after that is some mix of instinct, skill, and experience in terms of developing it further.
Well, at least there were SOME bad rolls this time, I suppose. These dice will be the death of me. Or rather, they'll not be the death of you, at any rate.
[] I'm not sure what to say honestly? This is just how magic is done where I'm from. I'd never even heard of Sorcery or Miracles until today. And even if you tell me I had to have burned in your First Flame to be here, I don't know anything about that. I know who's fire I burned in and Kyouko was a human like me. Yes, there's a story. No, I'm not going into it now.
-[] I wasn't the best magic user either, probably the worst actually of those I know, so I can't really answer much on it. Our magic is born from our souls and centers around a single Wish we make in exchange for needing to fight for the rest of our lives. I wished to heal someone important to me, so I get the ability to heal myself and others a lot better than others would be able to. Everything after that is some mix of instinct, skill, and experience in terms of developing it further.
I don't want to get to into it, so I skipped past some things that I figure Sayaka may or may not just wave off. Like that they're Magical Girls instead of saying magic users, which has implications for people who think on it like Hawkwood might, but seemed like it might just draw the conversation on too long. So just kind of a thrust towards the basics. To Sayaka these people are the weird ones, so just an upfront shrug with a "To me, magic was magic until I got here" basically.
Not actually a vote yet cause I want to hear if people have any nitpicks or holes to poke.
I like it, the only complaint I might have is how it dances around some topics that I feel are okay to mentioned, Like instead of 'fight for our life' just say 'fight Witches' or Kyoko's name in the first part instead of 'she' (although I still like the 'I'd rather not go into it.' part right after it).
But yeah, I'm cool with not just telling him everything. We did just meet, and he's still kinda shady. If there was anyone I'd vote on venting/telling the whole story to it's the Firekeeper, or Andre. Maybe Karla if we save here.
I like it, the only complaint I might have is how it dances around some topics that I feel are okay to mentioned, Like instead of 'fight for our life' just say 'fight Witches' or Kyoko's name in the first part instead of 'she' (although I still like the 'I'd rather not go into it.' part right after it).
I figure Sayaka might not be wanting to talk about Witches after turning into one. Especially since that might very well lead into more of what Witches are right now.
I didn't mean not to mention Kyouko, it just felt more natural to say "she" there. I don't think that matters too much either way considering the tone/inflection Sayaka would be saying that with, but eh.
It'll mellow out as the enemies get tougher, I guess, but getting stabbed by a basic soldier on a 36 does feel like it kind of downplays our superhuman strength and speed. Experience might help somebody less over-the-top survive us, but it's only a bandage for a doddering hollow.
[] I'm not sure what to say honestly? This is just how magic is done where I'm from. I'd never even heard of Sorcery or Miracles until today. And even if you tell me I had to have burned in your First Flame to be here, I don't know anything about that. I know who's fire I burned in and Kyouko was a human like me. Yes, there's a story. No, I'm not going into it now.
-[] I wasn't the best magic user either, probably the worst actually of those I know, so I can't really answer much on it. Our magic is born from our souls and centers around a single Wish we make in exchange for needing to fight for the rest of our lives. I wished to heal someone important to me, so I get the ability to heal myself and others a lot better than others would be able to. Everything after that is some mix of instinct, skill, and experience in terms of developing it further.
I'm not too sold on any vote that includes exact wording, because that always seems a little off-key, but I like the general list of concepts you brought up.
'Magic was magic', 'I wasn't really the best magic user', 'you got magic from making a wish, based on that wish' , 'I wished to heal somebody important to me, so I'm good at healing magic', 'I'm really just winging it', that sort of thing.
I don't think mentioning that we were called magical girls would draw the conversation on too long, and a few words could easily convey that we weren't part of any organizations or anything, which might explain a lack of institutional knowledge. However, I'd wait until he asks some more to mention them, mostly because lying to people correctly is also how you tell people about true things without seeming suspicious, and a massive red flag of a lie is if you try to tell people every part of it in one go.
It should absolutely be pointed out this isn't Sayaka's world. Like, not an alternate version of this one, Soul's folk know about those, but one that has developed in an entirely different way. They don't just not have different types of magic, most people don't think magic is a real thing. Hell, she's seen more magic since she got here then she ever saw back home. Dragons like the one that just set her leg on fire only exist in story books and were never real, people don't rise from the dead, things like that are all fantasy.
It'll mellow out as the enemies get tougher, I guess, but getting stabbed by a basic soldier on a 36 does feel like it kind of downplays our superhuman strength and speed. Experience might help somebody less over-the-top survive us, but it's only a bandage for a doddering hollow.
It should absolutely be pointed out this isn't Sayaka's world. Like, not an alternate version of this one, Soul's folk know about those, but one that has developed in an entirely different way. They don't just not have different types of magic, most people don't think magic is a real thing. Hell, she's seen more magic since she got here then she ever saw back home. Dragons like the one that just set her leg on fire only exist in story books and were never real, people don't rise from the dead, things like that are all fantasy.
Stuff like this is important, but I'm not sure how we'd go about working it in. Maybe something to leave for later, unless it's to bring up that so many people back home didn't know any sort of magic that the general consensus was that it didn't exist.
Eh, a thing to consider is that stabbing us until we're a corpse doesn't actually kill us, unless our gem is broken. It'd burn corruption like a tire fire, and we probably couldn't move around until we got back up to positive HP, but death for us is a whole lot harder than death for the average Ashen One.
[] I'm not sure what to say honestly? This is just how magic is done where I'm from. I'd never even heard of Sorcery or Miracles until today. And even if you tell me I had to have burned in your First Flame to be here, I don't know anything about that. I know who's fire I burned in and Kyouko was a human like me. Yes, there's a story. No, I'm not going into it now.
-[] I wasn't the best magic user either, probably the worst actually of those I know, so I can't really answer much on it. Our magic is born from our souls and centers around a single Wish we make in exchange for needing to fight for the rest of our lives. I wished to heal someone important to me, so I get the ability to heal myself and others a lot better than others would be able to. Everything after that is some mix of instinct, skill, and experience in terms of developing it further.
I don't want to get to into it, so I skipped past some things that I figure Sayaka may or may not just wave off. Like that they're Magical Girls instead of saying magic users, which has implications for people who think on it like Hawkwood might, but seemed like it might just draw the conversation on too long. So just kind of a thrust towards the basics. To Sayaka these people are the weird ones, so just an upfront shrug with a "To me, magic was magic until I got here" basically.
Not actually a vote yet cause I want to hear if people have any nitpicks or holes to poke.
I'd rather just refuse or admit the downsides of Kyubey's BS rather than deceiving him to thinking it's all cool. Could bite us in the ass later if/when the truth is revealed. Not comfortable confiding in him yet, so I'm just going to: [X] Refuse to tell him.
That what Sorceries, miracles and the First Flame point out. Those are all universal in Dark Souls, that Sayaka never even heard of them is saying she's not from around here at all.
Stuff like this is important, but I'm not sure how we'd go about working it in. Maybe something to leave for later, unless it's to bring up that so many people back home didn't know any sort of magic that the general consensus was that it didn't exist.
This too. Frankly it just isn't important right now either.
I wasn't intending to use exact wording, I use quotation marks for that on the very rare chances that I do use it, but it just kind of ended up coming out that way. As long as the spirit of the message and major points are met it doesn't matter too much either.
[X] I'm not sure what to say honestly? This is just how magic is done where I'm from. I'd never even heard of Sorcery or Miracles until today. And even if you tell me I had to have burned in your First Flame to be here, I don't know anything about that. I know who's fire I burned in and Kyouko was a human like me. Yes, there's a story. No, I'm not going into it now.
-[X] I wasn't the best magic user either, probably the worst actually of those I know, so I can't really answer much on it. Our magic is born from our souls and centers around a single Wish we make in exchange for needing to fight for the rest of our lives. I wished to heal someone important to me, so I get the ability to heal myself and others a lot better than others would be able to. Everything after that is some mix of instinct, skill, and experience in terms of developing it further.
Seems to mostly work though so I'll throw it up now.
Yeah, that works well enough, I guess. I know your vote wasn't explicitly saying 'exact wording' or anything, but I've seen it taken either way in quests, so I just wanted to make sure, sorry.
Yeah, that works well enough, I guess. I know your vote wasn't explicitly saying 'exact wording' or anything, but I've seen it taken either way in quests, so I just wanted to make sure, sorry.
No, its fine. I was admitting that I kind of did end up doing a bit of... well, not exact wording, but wording, if that makes sense.
I have seen how that falls apart more than once, bit of an old hat with how long I've been here, so its good for you to worry about it. Extra's a good enough QM that I'm not worried about leaving it as is, especially with our discussion right now being what it is.
You're drowning. You can, on some level, recognize that, even through the lens of despair that now coats your existence. All around you is an inky blackness as far as you can see, letting the orchestra echo out into it.
You are aware of this, as you scream and rage against everything and nothing. You simply cannot bring yourself to care, despite your lungs having filled with tar, and your very being tearing itself apart as you spiral downwards into the depths.
Your very identity falls apart at the seams as you cry out for someone, anyone to notice your suffering. And then the embers appeared, burning bright where there was once dark.
The bits of flame leap around, unwanted and unwelcome, as they try and ignite in the void around you. No matter what you do, you can't extinguish them entirely. They spread all around, as you, in your hysteria, try and snuff them out by any means. Time has no meaning anymore, as you rage against the flames. But they are not be denied, as suddenly, an inferno erupts all around you. The flames swallow you and-
This is what she remembers from before she woke up. Like it's kinda her fight with her, but its very non-specific and metaphorical. Just drop the bits about the First Flame and Kyouko, then it works.
It's tempting, it really is. You could have a sword that's on fire, which is the coolest thing imaginable. But then you look over at the gemstone, and you worry about just where it came from. Your memories of your last few days are foggy, but you can remember one moment clearly. There was a huge burst of light, before the pain died down. Kyoko. She died so you wouldn't have to be alone, you remember that much and it seems even that was in vain. You aren't sure if this gem is related to her, but you'd rather not risk the chance. If it were somehow what was left of her, it wouldn't be right to just... toss it away.
Concerns address and reasoning checks out, though I did a quick skim and part of the vote is wrong. Sayaka doesn't know Kyouko killed her. Check it.
This is what she remembers from before she woke up. Lime it's kinda her fight with her, but its very non-specific and metaphorical. Just drop the bits about the First Flame and Kyouko, then it works.
