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Animus Ex Nihilo - A God Quest

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GAWR said:
Well then, we should offer Skerhogis a challenge on who can build mountains a body to roam the world.
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We would lose that challenge even if Skerhogis deigned to wait for us to figure out how to do it. He has something tangible to offer now, whereas we'd have to research it.
 
[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.
 
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If you can't think of anything to convince the Harsh Mountain, it might help to consider why you don't want to take the offered deal and work from there.

Also added a "say nothing and wait" option in case you genuinely can't come up with something, but don't want to leave either.
 
Azel said:
If you can't think of anything to convince the Harsh Mountain, it might help to consider why you don't want to take the offered deal and work from there.

Also added a "say nothing and wait" option in case you genuinely can't come up with something, but don't want to leave either.
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The advice is appreciated, just added a rejection to the top of my vote.
 
[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.
 
[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.
 
GAWR said:
Well then, we should offer Skerhogis a challenge on who can build mountains a body to roam the world.
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Mountain needs to build the body himself or accept his immobility. Its mountains path to divinity and bestowing mobility to him would reduce him to a mere servitor. Its an inherently unequal partnership and Skerhogis wants tools and not allies. We need to point that out to the mountain because servitude and power are how the mountain thinks.

We should also point out the value of loyalty. Instead of dying we returned to warn our ally. Mountain recognized that partnership is the only viable path forward between powerful gods. Knowing Skerhogis corrupted nature Mountain has to recognize that Skerhogis would never seek such a partnership. Given his terrifying power its very obvious that Skerhogis seeks subjugation and corruption of the Mountain and likely has the necessary tools.

What we offer is the Mountain is a path to reach mobility on his own while retaining his very nature instead of degenerating into a servitor of corruption.
 
Azel said:
Adhoc vote count started by Azel on Dec 3, 2021 at 3:26 PM, finished with 37 posts and 18 votes.
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Turn 10 – Poisoned Words​

The wounds were deep. There was no denying it. No matter how far south you travelled, you could not leave the chill behind. You could not shake of the feeling of being trapped and suffocating in the cold. It was terrifying and you wished nothing more than to retreat to the safety of your reef to tend to whatever damage the Devourer had done to you. And yet, it was not where you were headed. Something else had to come first, as you were not the one who had lost the most in the disastrous fight. You dreaded the Harsh Mountains reaction to the news, as it was your urging that had convinced them to send their servitor to its death, but there was little choice. If it was not from you that they heard what had happened, there would be no salvaging of your still young alliance.

When you came upon the mountain and floated down towards its flank, the Harsh Mountain had already manifested itself and scowled at your approach. They had likely felt the Walking Mountain die. "We failed," you stated flatly, acknowledging the bleak truth of the matter.

"We? No, blighted sea-spawn." Gravel flew from the moving stone piles' mouth. "You failed. I am only left to suffer for the folly of trusting what the Child dragged to me."

"I did not force you to send your servitor along. It was your choice as much as mine."

"My choice?" The Mountains voice grew louder with every word they spoked. "It was you who came to me and all but demanded we strike at once. I told you that preparations could have been made."

You rose into the air once more as anger slowly pushed down the lethargy still clinging to your very essence. "And in the end, you agreed that stopping whatever ritual Skerhogis prepared to be too urgent to do so. I too suffered wounds in this battle, so cease acting as if you are the only one affected by this defeat."

"And yet, wounds or not, here you are, while what remains of my servitor is in the enemies clutches." The Harsh Mountains voice grew colder and somehow that made them sound more dangerous than their loud rage had done. "I have half a mind to finish what the Devourer started, instead of letting you flee these doomed lands and leaving me the only one to suffer the consequences of this folly."

In reflex, you drew upon you power, ready to flee or at least turn back a strike. The Mountain did the same and for one long moment, neither of you did anything but wait for the other to act first. Until you felt something, not all that far away and rapidly approaching. "It seems to have the same idea. The Devourer is coming."

The tension lingered a moment longer until the stone mound serving as the Mountains form slowly settled down again. "It matters little then," they said flatly, casting their amethyst eyes towards the horizon and the vile creature that slowly approached on its massive wings.

"For what it's worth, I regret the loss of your servitor," you said quietly, getting no response in return as the two of you waited for the inevitable. If you stood you ground with the other spirit at your side, there was at least a chance that you could beat Skerhogis back, but alone, it would be hopeless.

The beast was in no hurry in its approach, diverting its path a good long while before reaching the mountain to fly a great circle around it. Most likely, it wished to preen in the terrified gazes of the mortals below. It gave you a chance to carefully cast your senses out some further, looking for any sign of a different monster created by ritual, or of the Sky Child coming to aid you, but you found neither. Had the other spirit maybe been hunted down by Skerhogis after you had slipped away? There should not have been enough time for that, but then again, you had not expected the winged serpent to follow you to the Harsh Mountain either. It circled you twice more, slowly drawing in, before settling itself on the very peak of the mountain, coiling its sinuous body around it, its white scales easily melding into the eternal snow.

It's voice was mocking as it spoke, amused even. "I would have expected you to run away and nurse your wounds, carrion feeder. Perhaps I was too gentle."

"Why are you defiling my mountain with you presence, creature?" The grind of gravel was slow and deliberate as the mountain spirit called up to the peak. "You are sorely mistaken if you have come here expecting another easy victory."

"No," it rasped with a chuckle. "I know your might and where it springs from quite well. Perhaps even better than you, trapped one." It paused briefly, savouring the surprise that could be felt radiating from the Harsh Mountain. "You are not the first whom I have seen ensnared by what they claimed."

"You still have not answered why you are here, Devourer," You almost shouted in response, letting your power swirl around you. It was empty bluster, the cold still lingering in your essence and another strike perhaps your undoing, and yet you could not sit idly as Skerhogis manipulated the mountain spirit. "If all you have come for is to gloat and mock us, you should leave, before the owner of this peak makes you."

"Presume not to speak for me, water-spawn."

"I came here to make an offer in good faith. When I looked upon your servants body, I realized that your aid would be quite helpful in my great working, so I have come to see if you still bear me a grudge over those few mortals."

"You have slain his followers without provocation and now his servitor too. There is no reason why the Mountain would trust you, Skerhogis."

The mound of stone briefly glanced towards you, it's annoyance still quite clear. "Indeed. What could you possibly have to offer me that could outweigh your past attacks? Why should I aid one who has willing made themselves my enemy?"

"I know how to free you from this mountain."

There was a deathly quiet for a while until finally, the almost gentle sound of stones tapping to each other broke it. "Go on," the Mountain said.

"With the body of your servant, I can craft a vessel for your essence, letting you leave this place for good. What are a few scurrying vermin compared to that? You could walk the world again, and all it would cost you would be to aid me."

"Don't fall for its trap," you urgently called to the face of stones. "I have heard them rejoice about the prospect of plunging the world into eternal night and winter. First, it will make you its slave, and then, it will starve you to death as it kills every last of your followers."

"Is that so?" The Mountains amethysts eyes focused on the black ones of the Devourer. "To you truly plan to see all my followers dead?"

"What gives? We are more than them. We don't need mortals, even though I will admit that they can be convenient. Don't let your thoughts be clouded by one who has debased themselves to a mere servant of humans, instead of ruling and commanding them as it is proper for our kind. I have not a single mortal servant, and do I seem starved and powerless to you?"

"Even you draw power from them though. Feasting on their bodies and their fears in equal measure. Why should Harsh Mountain trust you to not turn on them and devour them too, once the mortals are no longer there?"

"Oh, is that it?" Skerhogis chuckled again, though it was edging towards full blown laughter this time. "Are you jealous, carrion feeder? Has feasting on the remnants in the forests and the essence of the Carrion Bird given you an appreciation for the taste of our kind? Maybe you would rather take the Mountains place and join me in their stead."

"What," was the first thing you could think of saying in response, all eloquence beyond that buried under the shock at the implied offer.

"Your powers would not be quite as useful as theirs for my purposes, yet I am curious to see what would become of one such as you in time. That is, if you can prove to me that you truly wish to leave behind you old allies."

What do you say?

[] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[] Write-In arguments

[] Stay silent. There is nothing more to say.

[] Attack at once. Together you can drive the Devourer away.

[] Leave the mountain while you have the chance
-[] Write-In where to

[] Take Skerhogis offer and join them.
-[] Write-In proof of loyalty

[] Something entirely different.
-[] Write-In


AN: Needless to say, you being here had quite an effect on how this particular discussion went. On a personal note, my joyous proclamation that my schedule cleaned up was sadly premature, so expect irregular updates for a while longer.
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Pfft, this dude is probably the last person to have any right to call someone else a carrion feeder. Literally slunk around stealing our dead people for years, then wandered off to try and do the same over in Mountain's territory.
 
TheDuke said:
Pfft, this dude is probably the last person to have any right to call someone else a carrion feeder. Literally slunk around stealing our dead people for years, then wandered off to try and do the same over in Mountain's territory.
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Proud Waters isn't certain if it is meant as an insult or a term of endearment.
 
[] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.

Edit: Changed vote
 
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[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.
 
Fuck Skerhogis... But I don't think we can win this as at a minimum even if the Harsh Mountain doesn't join him Proud Waters will still be at his mercy unless we escape well the deal is being cut in which case Harsh Mountain is at his mercy if the deal is not cut.

So I motion we join him and stab him in the back as if you can't beat them join them, and then beat them.

[X] Take Skerhogis offer and join them.
-[X] The Sky Child's head.

The Sky Child is weak, and therefore the easiest way to prove our loyalty.
 
[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.
 
[X] Take Skerhogis offer and join them.
-[X] The Sky Child's head.

Let us attempt to kill the Child, fail and die so that the God born out of our dead corpse can do better.
 
[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.


Shouldn't have attacked and now were in a super fucked position. Great.
 
[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.
 
[X] Give more arguments why the Harsh Mountain should reject the offer.
-[X] First, we reject the offer. Not only do we not trust Skerhogis, we do not wish to lose ourselves to the madness and hunger that we have seen in him and his actions.
-[X] Even if the offer is tempting, the Harsh Mountain can never trust Skerhogis. See how he makes the offer first to the Harsh Mountain, then in the same breath offers us the same deal against him. Such an alliance would be short-lived at best, doomed for inevitable betrayal.
-[X] Very pointedly ask what the Great Working that Skerhogis would need the Harsh Mountain for is.
 
You know, with the benefit of hindsight, our best chance to kill Skerhogis was like 5 turns ago. They seem to be getting as much power as the rest of the gods, but unlike the gods they don't have to worry about keeping mortals alive, so they can just focus on leveling their domains and creating monsters. The Devourer was always going to outscale us unless we sacrificed everything that wasn't leveling our domains, and we had no idea they could do that until they sent that Carrion bird, and by that point it was too late to do anything about it.

PS: I'm now feeling a bit salty because I can't see a way this could have been avoided with the knowledge we had available. We didn't know Skerhogis was sentient and capable of planning until it was too late. And since we thought Skerhogis was a aimple beast we believed it was safe to ignore him when it wasn't and we were blindsided for it.

TL;DR: Skerhogis too op, pls nerf.
 
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Well, I did repeatedly point out that Skerhogis was not only sentient, but outright cunning and careful. They did after all consistently avoid confrontations on even terms with you.
 
When we voted not to pursue it when it was injured the soonest time we could have pursued it was turn 6 to my knowledge not turn 5 due to us needing to spend turn 5 exploring our connection with it to allow us to figure out where it lived.

...And, looking back on it the choice to hunt down the Devourer turn 6 lost by 5 votes well pursuing it well it was wounded lost by about 15. Knowing, what I know now I don't think we would have won the pursuit on average since we'd be defending on a 1d4 against a 2d6, and attacking with only a 1d4 due to the Devourer not taking the fight in the sea so it's a good thing that vote didn't win.

Looking at the turn 6 fight I honestly think we could have won that one though but I am going to stress this as much as possible that is solely because we'd have gotten lucky by attacking the same turn we'd gained the death domain, and the healing domain if the plan to attack the Devourer had won as we'd have been able to defend with a 1d6 using death which when combined with the Sky Child's own 1d4 defense versus the Devourer's 2d6 attack would have most likely seen us winning the fight slowly over time due to the Sky Child being able to attack the Devourer with a 1d6 versus a 1d4, and Proud Waters being able to use the healing domain to patch up any damage.

Unless, of course, the healing domain is opposed to the death domain in which case we could have used that to defend regardless of if we got lucky or not.
 
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The votes for betraying sky child...
No! Bad!

I am going to go all out and say I would rather have the quest end in defeat than even think of such a thing.
Voting for the main plan to make such a massive 'Heretical' thought not happen.
 
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