A Simple Transaction I

[HoratioVonBecker]

Oh shit, that's actually amazing. Even better than a cool story, it's also a quest hook!

Edit: whoops, wrong page gang

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Eh, it seems more like a lore thing to me - no obvious "go this way for shiny" interpretation, unless it ties in to something the adventurers have going on already.

Because Tower won, we had to leave the kids and Vershe behind to seek another decimation target.
Thus, we had the mountains of salt about morality and argumentation over Lord of Stalks.
Thus, we gave Lord Protector extra prep time while knowing he was a wizard and wizards love prep time.
Thus, Vershe could be exchanged away from us and is now held hostage.

In summation, Tower was the wrong decision, and it's neat aesthetics didn't make up for the risk we put others at nor the ammo we gave our enemies when we didn't need to do either.

Productive analysis will resume once my salt washes away a bit.

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Tower and Whiteout might be worth losing Versch entirely. It's not certain - Attramemnar might not be so good a replacement - but even fully-healed Versch is only barely stronger than our current state. Most of what I'd regret is losing his personality, and he does eat people, so I could probably get over that.

 

[TwistedJester]

I can't believe we lost our giant robot from a random spell rather than a giant kaiju fight.

 

[BrainInAJar]

Eh, it seems more like lore thing to me - no obvious "go this way for shiny" interpretation, unless it ties in to something the adventurers have going on already.

Tower and Whiteout might be worth losing Versch entirely. It's not certain - Attramemnar might not be so good a replacement - but even fully-healed Versch is only barely stronger than our current state. Most of what I'd regret is losing his personality, and he does eat people, so I could probably get over that.

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Armaments are still much, much stronger than us. They still have their Shrouds; more Rank; way, way more stats; the best tech and weapons possible from the Human Sphere; our their character specific abilities, like our own Panoply. We still have a long way to go before we can we can take a full power Armament on.

 

[ReaderOfFate]

Armaments are still much, much stronger than us. They still have their Shrouds; more Rank; way, way more stats; the best tech and weapons possible from the Human Sphere; our their character specific abilities, like our own Panoply. We still have a long way to go before we can we can take a full power Armament on.

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Yep. It'll take at least a whole two more weeks at our current time pace.

(Sounds crazy, but we're just RoB + Maybe Stranglethorn + a Feat perk away from that tier. SJUC wouldn't be bad either, though that may be kind of excessive.)

Of course, that all being said, that's still a significant amount of time for us.

 

[Prospalz]

Tower and Whiteout might be worth losing Versch entirely. It's not certain - Attramemnar might not be so good a replacement - but even fully-healed Versch is only barely stronger than our current state. Most of what I'd regret is losing his personality, and he does eat people, so I could probably get over that.

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Oh no, fully healed Versch is orders of magnitude stronger than Current Hunger. Rank 9 is the point where Rank undergoes a qualitative change and acquires a Shroud, and he also has stats worthy of his rank, unlike Hunger who's lag away behind. Also there are supposedly hi-tech weapons he could be using to further elevate his power...

...IDK if he is stronger than Hunger of tomorrow, tho. OaF II is 2 picks 25 arete away.

We probably could flash-buy it now-ish, if we Cut Through something that gives us two picks. We have roughly 6-7 arete right now, thread is probably fired up enough to mine, we got two days; we just need two Good Days to get there.

 

[Projectile]

If we don't want to Cut Through, we could grind 2 picks and then complain to Accursed-sempai that the mean Lord Protector is bullying us! 10 favor is enough that he won't just give us a deadpan look and teleport away, right?

tbh asking for help in a fight against a weaker opponent would probably be -100 favor even before he does anything

 

[Prospalz]

Shrug.jpg

Bottom line is, Pillars actually can revive the dead. Unless someone kill Versch in a way that leaves him super-mega-definitively-dead, him dying is ultimately reversible.

Would produce a lot of salt we'd rather avoid, though.

 

[Projectile]

Bottom line is, Pillars actually can revive the dead. Unless someone kill Versch in a way that leaves him super-mega-definitively-dead, him dying is ultimately reversible.

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Oh man, I didn't know that. And I was already 100% on the Pillars train, that's amazing. It sure is nice to have superpowers.

 

[Prospalz]

Oh man, I didn't know that. And I was already 100% on the Pillars train, that's amazing. It sure is nice to have superpowers.

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Rank 13 or 14 Bloodcasting might manage the same, actually, given how impossible becomes increasingly possible after rank 12 Bloodcasting.

But TBF, before getting overly excited with all the ways to ressurect our poor boy, it is worth remembering that we are in a Realm of Myth, and we already were under risk of sustaining super-mega-definitively unhealable injuries before. Someone killing versch in a super-mega-definitively-dead way is very much possible.

 

[ImperatorV]

You know, out of all the party members that could have been kidnapped... You'd think it'd be the Princess, or the Duchess, or the Kunoichi, or the Destined Hero. But no, the LP decided to kidnap... The giant, people-eating biomech. Can't say I saw that coming.

...Uh oh, I just thought of something. Does the Shard of the Arcanist exist? And didn't the blurb about her mention something-something-implement-eating? Bringing in the Shard of the Arcanist would be a hell of a play from the Apocryphal... Perhaps we should rush to rescue our mech like immediately.

 

[Prospalz]

...Uh oh, I just thought of something. Does the Shard of the Arcanist exist? And didn't the blurb about her mention something-something-implement-eating? Bringing in the Shard of the Arcanist would be a hell of a play from the Apocryphal... Perhaps we should rush to rescue our mech like immediately.

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Oh. Oh no

Maybe buy some EFBs while we are at that. Just in case.

 

[Orm Embar]

As for the argumentation, if Orm wanted a refund, or an upgrade for his remaining markers, or for me to change my behavior during the vote cycle he was (and is) welcome to something himself.

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I was distracted during that vote and wound up winning both parts of it anyway, so I'm not salty. If you wanted to upgrade the remaining marker to cover argumentation for one option, that would be appreciated, but it's ultimately not that big a deal.

I don't remember what that's a reference to, although I'm almost certain I've seen it before.

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Cauldron operatives say 'door me' to trigger portals; the pronoun pulls double-duty as a pun since it's your SI.

Regarding the events of the update, boy am I glad we didn't take our time with Territorial Waters, I can only imagine the flavor of clusterfuck we'd be facing now. To literally steal an Armament out from under its pilot is absurd. Even factoring in Versch's relative weakness, the reduced Rank that must've enabled such a feat in conjunction with our theft of the Tower, Totality is supposed to be absolute. I really don't want to face this guy without the most magic defense possible; it's a shame we got no immediate power from the Fish. Anyway, Letrizia can hardly return to Voyaging City absent an Armament, so we've got to get him back.

Hunger notes in the update that he can still sense Verschlengorge through their bond. He'll be easier to locate than the Protector, though obviously Hunger should be cautious about triggering another trap. Step one should be to summon something, the situation is dire enough that the risk of not doing so is greater than the chance of an unfavorable outcome. Assuming the Apocryphal doesn't strike, depending on the creature's capabilities there are a few possibilities. A tracker to locate the Protector, a combat summons to send after his Legions/him or set to defend Adorie's people (if Hunger had done this as suggested, Adorie's loyalist Legion might not be in tatters). Ideally the summons will buy time so that retrieving Versch doesn't cede more initiative to him. Cutting the head off the snake is appealing, but he can open portals so it's unclear whether an alpha strike would put him down for good.

 

[Projectile]

Since we were lucky against the Fish, we still have Silver available. It should be especially useful against LP Shenanigans as compared to a more brutish, consistently powerful opponent, so I'm pleased with that.

 

[Orm Embar]

Speaking of reasons to put Versch first, Hunger did agree to escort Letrizia back to the Human Sphere. His status as a bodyguard has become a footnote next to the party's adventures, but it's still an obligation he committed to and Hunger considers his word absolute. The possibility that the Protector's gearing up to trade the Implement to the Shard of the Arcanist is also, uh, worth considering? Strongly mixed feelings there, it'd be great if she existed in literally any other situation. Would the Protector really call up someone he couldn't put down? Modeling him as a straightforward autocrat hasn't helped predict his actions, though, who knows how far he's willing to go. We've never even met the man.

 

[Projectile]

Hunger notes in the update that he can still sense Verschlengorge through their bond. He'll be easier to locate than the Protector, though obviously Hunger should be cautious about triggering another trap.

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That is an excellent point. The LP yoinked Versch through the totality, like Gisena said-

"To separate an Armament from its pilot through the defenses of totality, even if diminished..." Gisena mused. "That's very formidable magic."

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but it presumably was an undertaking, and totality provided some insufficient defense. I have a third of a thought, please hold. Synchronization Complete is the place to go for Versch lore, let me see...

"Totality. Merger of self and consciousness with the Armament. A much smoother means of control, as Verschlengorge has tactical reflexes many times faster than those of humans. It also prevents injury to the pilot, as our bodies are transposed within the Armament's Astral shadow."

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He understood instinctively that the Armament's ownership had been transferred to him, that it would obey his commands without question, and that the Curse that afflicted it was no more, merged seamlessly into his own without any increase in effect, so long as the leash between them was unbroken. There was a limited range, but it was vast, more than a planet's worth.

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So, LP abducted Versch from Letrizia, but perhaps not from Hunger? I think it might actually be time to pilot the giant robot- for his protection rather than Hunger's, as absurd as the thought is. The "merger of self" could defend Versch against the Protector's magics, leaning on Hunger's higher Rank and... probably not higher but still good Willpower. And ADS, of course.

So zoom directly to Versch's cockpit. We have absolutely no idea how to pilot, but that's part of the fun!

 

[Orm Embar]

So zoom directly to Versch's cockpit. We have absolutely no idea how to pilot, but that's part of the fun!

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No better time to learn than when failure has stakes, thanks to the Ring. I have the silliest picture in my head of the Evening Sky draped about Verschlengorge's shoulders (with gaps in the firmament's fabric for his other heads), feet spread in the All-Defeating Stance, and an oversized version of the Forebear's Blade in his hands. "'Protector' of Nilfel, do you have enough Legions?!"

 

[HoratioVonBecker]

Cauldron operatives say 'door me' to trigger portals; the pronoun pulls double-duty as a pun since it's your SI.

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Fair enough.
You saw my plan clarification?

Hm. I was intending to call my subquest vote this evening, but apparently I forgot to post this. Anyway:
The current plan is definitely workable, but it'll be tight. Go Further isn't your strongest immediate-power perk, it's more about building up over the medium term, and you've picked the dropzone that wants the most offensive power right out of the gate. My defenses are good enough that I'll probably survive, but I may not pull off the win you're going for.

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[Garlak]

You know, out of all the party members that could have been kidnapped... You'd think it'd be the Princess, or the Duchess, or the Kunoichi, or the Destined Hero. But no, the LP decided to kidnap... The giant, people-eating biomech. Can't say I saw that coming.

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Verschlengorge was the biggest stick the Royalists/Loyalists had on the field and the biggest martial threat and the highest-Rank being; he probably picked him because he feared what he'd do otherwise? Remove the biggest threat on the battlefield, the biggest danger that your enemy has; it makes sense.

Maybe it's also possible that he... doesn't know enough about Hunger, and maybe thinks that the Tower was fed to Verschlengorge, and so picked him for that reason? Hm, no, probably not -- Verschlengorge was parked in a given area, at the time that the Tower would have went down. Still, it's an amusing thought to think.

How much is known about Hunger in Nilfel, right now? Is it only the inner circle that know his level of power and the agreement Hunger and Adorie have made? Or does everyone know? And the removal of the Tower was too big and public to not be missed?

Does the Lord Protector know that Hunger is a Cursebearer bonded to Verschlengorge, or not? Or does he just think that Versch is Letrizia's, and is a scary Armament?

This could be something as simple as "Shit, the Tower and it's power is down, our nation is going to need something to replace that strategic asset" + "The enemy has an Armament (albeit a wounded one?). That's terrifying. I'm going to neutralize that advantage of their's right away.", rather than something more complicated or esoteric as "Knowing all about the Cursebearer-Armament connection, and deciding to capture Versch in order to trying to pull some Voodoo on Hunger via the Armament-Cursebearer bond."

 

[TwistedJester]

Fuck, Versh is gonna get magi tech replacements for his tech based gear and body parts isn't he?

Fighting a giant monsters on foot I can get behind, but fighting a giant robot in anything that's not another giant robot is sacrilege.

 

[Projectile]

*Grail Keeper: At any time while within a land he rules the wielder may take on the Decimator's Affliction into himself. For the duration, the Decimator's Affliction merely poisons the land, rendering it barren and and its residents infertile, rather than claiming lives. Territories not under the wielder's rule are not affected by this mitigation. This causes him to suffer the Affliction of Leprosy and the Mutilating Affliction for the duration.

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Guys, I've been stuck in the Voyaging Realm for too long. I have forgotten about this new fangled invention called oUtEr SPacE, that is mostly uninhabited.

Yo Letrizia, give us a few shitty uninhabited jungle planets in the boonies to eat. Or don't, we can take them ourselves. We'd still have to find a Huntress' Moon target to go anywhere we don't rule, but until our Decimation Range encompasses a galaxy, isn't our problem basically solved?

 

[OctarineShrike]

Guys, I've been stuck in the Voyaging Realm for too long. I have forgotten about this new fangled invention called oUtEr SPacE, that is mostly uninhabited.

Yo Letrizia, give us a few shitty uninhabited jungle planets in the boonies to eat. Or don't, we can take them ourselves. We'd still have to find a Huntress' Moon target to go anywhere we don't rule, but until our Decimation Range encompasses a galaxy, isn't our problem basically solved?

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It might encompass a galaxy right now I don't know.

 

[Rihaku]

Speaking of reasons to put Versch first, Hunger did agree to escort Letrizia back to the Human Sphere. His status as a bodyguard has become a footnote next to the party's adventures, but it's still an obligation he committed to and Hunger considers his word absolute. The possibility that the Protector's gearing up to trade the Implement to the Shard of the Arcanist is also, uh, worth considering? Strongly mixed feelings there, it'd be great if she existed in literally any other situation. Would the Protector really call up someone he couldn't put down? Modeling him as a straightforward autocrat hasn't helped predict his actions, though, who knows how far he's willing to go. We've never even met the man.

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How could one man who you haven't even met be the cause of so much grief?

Perhaps a Wizard did it.

 

[Zampano]

If the curse is unable to eat enough life force, Hunger's own power is targeted. And it's not in the cool, self-sacrificing way. It's more like we'd "bleed essence, losing components of your powers, skills, identity, memories, and ontological veracity at a proportional rate."

 

[Orm Embar]

How could one man who you haven't even met be the cause of so much grief?

Perhaps a Wizard did it.

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Or perhaps a Patron Spirit is the cause? When in doubt, blame the divine, that's what I always say. Interesting that the Grey Shadow's purview includes equivalent exchange, however warped. It's weak evidence that the Protector would have been amenable to a bargain to permit the Tower's destruction.

 

[Prospalz]

Those two curses are going to fuck us up still. Pretty badly, too. Main point was increasing AHS duration and frequency of procs, not harming everyone slightly less when and id we fail to proc ASH.