He'd finally had a chance to examine the treasures they'd extracted from the King Fish. Gisena had concluded that the jade pearl and scale might sell for a considerable sum, but the map in the bottle offered more precipitous value. Drawn in quicksilver ink that shifted with the light was a map of their immediate environs in the Voyaging Realm, and a route to which they could reach an ancient ruin named the Temple of the False Moon.
There was no particular reason for them to pursue this lead, but his instincts told him that something of great value resided within, and his Rank-assisted intuition had rarely been wrong in the Voyaging Realm. The map was slowly disintegrating in the oxygenated air outside its bottle, so it was now or never. Even re-stoppering its container had failed to halt the degradation.
Gisena was characteristically enthused about the prospect of magical treasures secreted away, and Letrizia, having dueled the blue swordsman directly, felt badly that they needed the strength: so, ill-advised as it sounded, they set out for the Temple directly. At any rate it was only a few days' travel.
Well, like Verschle said:
Onwards, to the shining tomorrow!
I'm slightly sad that the pearl and scale seem to only be usefull as trade goods, but we'll find ways to use the money anyway. And maybe we'll soon have more to sell from our temple adventure!
The hours passed slowly as they wandered, a warm and sullen-sweet haze like a daydream on a summer's afternoon. Verschlengorge lumbered through pastoral fields of green, rolling hills beneath clouds like dolloped cream, past dirt roads and cottages of grey stone where farmers' children emerged, gawking crudely at the cruelly angled giant. Packs of them scurried gleefully in its dust-cloud wake, waving to the pretty Sorceress on its shoulder.
"Aren't they adorable?" Gisena gushed, hands clasped to chest. Letrizia answered with an affirmative chirp through the machine's speakers.
Hunger, laid flat on the opposite shoulder, kept his eyes skyward. So much had changed these past five days. He'd nearly died, then become a Cursebearer, gifted with power and obligation beyond reason. Aside from the Apocryphal Curse, the yoke of his dooms had sat lightly on him so far. For that he could count himself lucky.
I still think that, for someone actually TRYING to be a good person, taking Decimator is really a bad choice, if an understandable one when we see what were the alternatives.
Also yeah, these 5 days have been crazy. At least we've only been actively draining people for... what, a couple days? hopefully we'll be able to find enough hunger sated targets, at least until the point we'll actually be able to afford the 2 years upgrade (though I suppose the next time it might have a different duration. Nobody ever said it HAS to be one month/2 years after all)
Also Also we're really traveling in style! why staying INSIDE the robot when we can ride on its shoulders instead?!
He spoke sparingly to the populace, and Gisena was well-aware of how to navigate the Tyranny. The Decimator's Affliction he'd been proactive in mitigating, and was successfully free of it for a time. And the Geas of Indenture, though it promised a thousand trillion, trillion lifetimes of servitude, stretched long into the uncertain future, a problem for tomorrow's Hunger, not the languid beast of today.
He was, if not content, at least occasionally happy with his lot as it presently stood. Some might resent the cavalcade of trials that the Apocryphal presented, but that was a small enough price in his reckoning, when so recently ago he'd been reduced to nothing. His companions were able and only infrequently annoying, and his powers had expanded with explosive speed. In a year's time or less he might again be the man he once was. What might he be in ten year's time? A hundred? He could scarcely imagine it, even though his benefactor lay even further beyond; far, inestimably far beyond the span of finite years.
And yet even the Accursed presumably reached his level of power in a finite amount of time. Approaching him is not an impossible goal for a progression type, with enough time and effort. Indenture and Apocryphal might very well be the best combination of curses for someone that actually wants to try that, an infinite amount of challenges through which to rise up, especially in combination with our Hunger-limited battle-exp system.
On a secondary note, yeah, Apocryphal must not seem that different to Hunger than what he live through until now anyway. Challenge after challenge, difficulty after difficulty, except this time he's better equipped to face them.
Really, for him specifically being a Cursebearer is an upgrade under any possible point of view!
Would his companions of this first month still be beside him, when he repaid the Accursed's favor? Assuming - and it was by no means certain - he survived, would he be some juggernaut with merely the countenance of a man, so far removed from mortal concerns as to scarcely resemble the creature he once was? Given the trajectory of his projection, it did not seem an unlikely outcome. Very nearly inescapable, in fact, with an early demise his only alternative.
And yet there had been humanity in the Accursed, after all. Perhaps that was the calculated facade of a being so far beyond human comprehension that mere reason and causality found no purchase against its abilities, but he liked to think otherwise. What need had such a being to offer so generous a bounty of power with his burdens? Why design the Cursebearer's systems with such care, as if to nurture and foster their growth? He was raising an army, but it was not a faceless one.
I suppose it's always possible than one of his curses forces him to be that generous when sharing his curses, though I don't think that's very likely.
Also while I can see Gisena standing by our side beyond this world, I doubt Letrizia would do it as well. We could certainly find ways to have her scale if needed, but I think it makes more sense to make her the ruler that will take care of the Human Sphere once we have to leave.
We'll find a way to come back and visit sometime! Maybe we could, for example, periodically haveh her come to the Evening Realm even after we leave this world (...IF we take Pillars of Creation!). OR maybe we'll mitigate the geass in a way that will allow us to go back to previous worlds for short-term visits.
Lots of possibilities!
A peal of thunder broke his reverie and he looked ahead to see clouds towering like stygian anvils, gathering angrily in a mass upon the horizon. Rain fell upon their bucolic expanse, pouncing like a nimble invader, its onslaught sudden, brisk and overwhelming. Gisena cried in joy and tilted her head skywards, catching the water on her tongue, while he grunted and shifted to an upright position, the Evening Sky sheltering him utterly from so trifling a concern.
Lightning rumbled and rippled through the darkened heavens, splayed-finger aftershocks the only evidence of its passage, forked bolts of brilliant yellow like the gods playing at javelins. The hairs on his back began to rise. This was no ordinary storm.
Unsurprisingly, he was correct.
Monsters down upon them from the clouds, eyeless myrmidons with skin of thunderhead-grey, whose blades were plumed like water-drops, set upon chariots of twisting fire. They charged in their dozens and tens of dozens, and Verschlengorge roared in response, an echoing shock of sound as to drown out all thunder, blasting the children away, deafened but alive.
peace never lasts for Hunger, but we already knew that.
"Shit." Letrizia cursed. "I've seen these guys before. I hope we didn't attract them to these people..."
Hunger grimaced. "It is what it is. Kill them quickly and you've nothing to be sorry for."
Any other mindset would have him go crazy pretty quickly. After all it could also be applied to Decimator's.
They died, quickly. Almost surprisingly so. Their movements lethargic to his eyes, their strikes middling, bereft of passion, even of desperation as he scythed them down. Halfway through the moment of carnage he finally realized. He wasn't exhausted any more, nor injured, and now held Seralize's speed and all the power he had accumulated these past days in its fullness. His pressure poured forth upon them harder and heavier than the storm-rains, the well of his spirit like a spigot turned open to drown them in fury and might.
For a time, he was king of the battlefield, and though he knew it would not last, that more and greater enemies awaited, still for a moment he exulted that his sword-arm was strong enough, his eye sharp enough, his fury swift enough, that he would lose no companions today. But all good things, as they say, come to an end, and ill things no less so. The battle concluded, the storm begrudgingly dissolved, and short hours later they came upon the Temple, having slaughtered their way through a trail of Astral monsters, none of whom was a match for his Blade.
All too quickly their journey was over, and the porcelain towers of the Temple loomed large against the silk-panel blue of the sky. A foreboding came over him, and over Gisena as they saw it; impossibly high and vast, spires like a claw made to clutch at the heavens, tear free the moon and leave only a wound weeping into the void.
---
The winner last time was [X] Quickest Route with [X] Conservative, though you may have an option to change strategies depending on which build wins. You rolled a 60; uneventful journey, no complications.
...That was easy. I'm sure we won't have the time to get used to it, but it was nice while it lasted.
so quickest route won, eh? Well, if everything goes well we'll have pretty good chances of completely outscaling Ber, and We might still have the time to reach civilization to do business!
Select 3. You may spend up to 9 Arete, though you only have somewhat over 8, so it will put you into Arete Debt. This is a complicated vote, so take some time to discuss and make plans. What you decide here may well determine Hunger's fate in the Temple, as it is incredibly perilous...
---
ok, so we're up to 8. Unless I see something really cool I'd probably go for a ring-build, working our way up to the Ruling Ring.
Now let's see...
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Echo of the Forebear
Cloud-shadow of the Forebear's might.
Legendary strength and speed, and the resilience to exert them. Can be taken multiple times. [+Might, +Agility]
basic strengh option, good if trying to save arete, we're a bit short on Might after all..
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Fall of Night - 2 Arete
The stroke of his blade is the fall of night, to every foe the sun of hope extinguished
Conjunctional Advancement with the Evening Sky. ++Strength, +Agility. Blade projections of all kinds deal one-third more damage with a one-tenth chance to inflict critical damage, tripling the harm done and applying half again the power of ruin. Control and manipulation of blade winds becomes far less taxing. The surcharge in power for stronger blade-winds is substantially reduced.
The wielder becomes capable of manipulating the properties of his falls; falls whose nature is languid but whose movement is swift, gentle falls that strike with magnified weight and heft, falls from great distance that do no harm, and so on.
the ranged power-up option, but we can probably spend arete on more useful/efficient things...
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Form of Rage - 7 Arete
When flesh and spirit both have abraded away, what remains of a man?
His essence at last stands bare and alone, free of the armor that presumes to shelter the world from its glory. A silhouette, bare outline of a figure, through which pale light pours forth without end.
If the form of flesh and the form of spirit are both felled, and if he should still be compelled to fight on, then he may assume the form of Rage, which is pure light and thunder, heft and raw Pressure, the forces of the world arrayed as a fist to strike down his enemies.
The form of Rage can only be entered if one has a compelling reason to fight on, else one dies instead. While in this Form, triple all Attributes for purposes of battle and increase Astral Rank by a significant* amount. The wielder moves like living lightning: the wake of his blows is the crush of thunder, the blaze of his eyes like furious stars, his merest regard like a mountain onrushing.
Use of this Form is taxing in the extreme. Should the wielder avoid annihilation, after the battle concludes he emerges, human once more and fully healed, but diminished as well. Choose one Advancement to revoke or lose 1 point of Arete after re-emergence, and become Tired, or Exhausted if already Tired.
*+1 if Low-Ranked, +0.5 if Mid-Ranked, and +0.25 if High-Ranked
Pre-requisite for Final Form.
I'm against it for the same reason I've stated last time. Ring was better, and it's better to invest on something we can use more often than "after dying twice) anyway.
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Undying Vanguard - 7 Arete.
Where tread the Forebear, his men would not fall, for the shadow of his presence could turn even death aside. And for his most stalwart servants, the reach of his shadow spanned continents and worlds.
Taking Echo of the Forebear (1 pick) and Undying Echo (2 Arete) unlocks Undying Vanguard (upgrade to Undying Echo, 5 Arete).
Choose up to 5 companions whose true Astral Ranks do not exceed your own. They receive bonus Protection, Constitution and regeneration depending on both your relative power levels and their level of loyalty to you. A highly loyal companion would be about as difficult to kill as you yourself are, including the effects of your Artifacts. [+Might, +Agility, +++Constitution]
You personally don't receive any healing from this, though the extra Constitution will increase your effective health.
...while I want to save for ring, this is admittedly tempting now that we're going somewhere that will put our companions in even more danger. Arguments about the sinergy with Gisena now being able to risk more have already been stated.
[ ] Forebear's Blade - A Thousand Cuts - 7 Arete (0 picks)
In the Forebear's grip could even a common knife blaze with fell power. All melee attacks made with the Forebear's Blade now apply cursed wounds. Septuples the power and speed of the Fell-Handed Stroke and allows it to be used with blade projections. Such horrific offensive power allows one to challenge foes vastly stronger.
a 0 pick option that massively improves our offense. Definitely a good one, though I'd STILL prefer to save that arete...
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Ruinous Valor (3 picks)
Where he advanced, so did the tide of entire wars, the shock of his blade like a hurled epicenter, the trail of his passage but wasteland and rubble.
[+++++Strength]
Power of Ruin now scales upwards depending on your Strength.
Choose:
Einhander - You may not regrow or replace your left arm by any means. Substantially reduces the cost and increases the range of special attacks made with the Forebear's Blade. This Advancement grants Might instead of Strength (+Might = +Str, +Con).
Zweihander - Regrow your left arm. Your barehanded strikes now carry the full destructive power of the Forebear's Blade.
If Einhander is taken, unlocks One Arm Fury.
If Zweihander is taken, unlocks Martial Stances: Forebear's Blade
---
This can be a really good choice if we're trying to save Arete. I'm against Einhander, if we wanted to stay crippled we should have taken Unshattered, but the +++++ strenght is certainly a nice power-up, and we'd get our arm back too!
...Actually I think Orm Embar mentioned this was taken at some point (he talked about the martial stance I think), and it would make sense if it was taken here... Conservative was the "everyone but hunger waits outside", right? In that case we can probably risk just strenghtening Hunger, and this way we save the Arete for later.
[ ] Evening Sky - Opalescence - The soft light of evening before which all attacks falter. Improves defensive parameters. [+Protection]
boring but practical no arete pick...
[ ] Evening Sky - Iridescence - 2 Arete
The sharp light of the stars before which all malice is lessened.
+Protection, +Charisma. Expands the range of effects subject to the Evening Sky, allowing it to passively weaken almost all forms of magic. Even Nullity itself can be once withstood before the Sky recedes.
Requires Opalescence.
we don't really need the charisma right now, and we have more efficient arete options...
[ ] Evening Sky - Philosopher's Wreath - 7 Arete (2 picks)
The twilight hours are a time of contemplation, growth of mind and spirit. Perhaps there are more things in earth and heaven than are dreamt of in one's philosophy. But that may not always be so.
They for whom the heavens themselves are aegis and raiment, these are the hours to speak - perchance to dream. And in dreaming, grow strong beyond the imagining of mortal men.
[+Intelligence, +Wisdom, +Charisma]
Select one magic system which you have personally encountered and which is no greater than the Noble Praxis. You may use that system to the limits of your Intelligence or applicable Attributes, developing any appropriate qualities within reason, but this may no more than double your overall advancement.
Allied mages with which the wearer dialogues extensively find they may develop novel applications of existing abilities and steadily grow in knowledge & power with effort, independent of their own paradigm. This can no more than triple their overall level of advancement, but any progression done on their own will raise this cap. Should said mage no longer be allied, the wearer may strip this power at will, like a dream dissolving at break of day.
---
...a grace could certainly help right now, depending on what it would do exactly. It would also make it easier to strenghten Gisena, as we'd have BOTH of us trying to learn more about this system, and she'd get the multiplier to her advancement as we'd certainly speak with her at lenght about it.
[ ] The Ring of Power - Dominion - 2 Arete
A ring of power does not exert influence casually. It has its own will, its own preferences, and if that will should be inseparable from its owner's, its sway thereby shall be greater for it.
Select a domain of influence. While acting within its domain, [Ring of Power] effects are substantially less taxing and more potent; the effects of this can be abstracted as follows: treat the owner's Rank as if it somewhat* higher for related actions. You may select this advancement multiple times, choosing a different domain each time. If multiple domains apply, their bonuses do not compound.
*+0.5 if Low, +.25 if Mid, +.1 if High.
The available domains for Hunger are: War, Passion, Life.
War - Applies to any conflict with real and serious stakes
Passion - Applies whenever in the throes of a powerful passion, or to inflame the passions of others
Life - Applies to the manipulation, augmentation, or restoration of biology or life-force
[ ] The Ring of Power - Preeminence - 7 Arete
It is no small thing, to master a ring of power; and for those few who have braved that height, at its peak they shall only glimpse the true jewel which lies even further beyond.
Choose a domain you have already purchased. While acting within its purview, double its effective Rank modifier and gain +All Stats. You may select this advancement multiple times, choosing a different domain each time.
The available domains for Hunger's Preeminence are: War, Passion
If taken these two should be taken together. War would help in case of a boss fight in the temple. I'm not sure Passion would apply though. Can Hunger find it in himself to be passione about this expedition?
They might not help in case of puzzles or similar things though.
Finally, you may decide one advancement your companions have made in the past days:
[ ] Letrizia - Hollow Star: It appears your Pristine light actually is capable of healing Verschlengorge... just not by very much. But the giant has regained some small matter of functionality, enough to fight about as well as it fought when you first encountered the Armament, all those... days... ago.
You haven't really been the best of bodyguards, have you? [+Letrizia]
[ ] Gisena - Sorcerous Advancement I: By studying your body and spirit and its correlated astral shadow, Gisena has made a breakthrough in the nature of Sorcery and findross, though it will take additional time for this to translate into power. Nothing concrete as of yet.
Gisena has obvious sinergy with Philosopher's Wreath, so if we take the second we should DEFINITELY also take her.
Other than that this is very much a short-vs-long term decision.
I can see many different viable plans here. some of my favourites are
1)
[ ] Forebear's Blade - Ruinous Valor (3 picks) with regrown arm. the arete-saving plan.
2)[] the 9 arete ring plan, starting to work for the 27 arete pick, likely with the war domain.
3)Philosopher's Wreath (WITH GISENA), and we become a sorcerer. we get a general boost and a new superpower for 8 hours each day, and we can then progress towards a second coalescence like we do everything else, and with Gisena's help. The mental bonus could also be of help for not-battle challenges in the temple, like puzzles. either of the 0 arete options can be added.
but really, there are many other possible AND valid combinations here!
