Shatter the Spire (A Slay the Spire Enemy Quest)

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The Spire is a painful place. You think you're going to shatter its ugly mug.
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Floor -1

NinetyNineLies

Memento Vivere
Location
Dreamland
Pronouns
Any
Shivs meets scales as you dance with your skull-headed opponent.

With a hurl, you exhale scalding steam against the hunter as she kick your center spine.

A moment's breath allows you to curl up as she drinks some manner of potion.

The song of the earth propels you forward as you try to roll over your opponent, yet you are surprised to see her crouch low and quite literally lift you up and throw you into the wall using only her legs.

You unfurl your myriad of scales and taste the blood of your nimble opponent, pushing your enchantments to strengthen yourself. The song of metals echo through your head as you prepare to spin your arms and punish the opening she had created by her overextension.

The world turns green, and you know no more.

<-S-t-S->​

Your sword meets another. The rushing, burning blood within you surge to strike once more, to smite the apostate who would dare to overturn the peace you had held together oh so delicately for the past decades.

Thousands of embarrassingly subpar shields and blades fall upon you, and you know no more.

<-S-t-S->​

You feel lonely. For thousands of years have you stood vigil with your other half, and for the very first time since you first gained consciousness, you stand with only two legs.

The ever growing whirls of snow and ice turns toward you, and you know no more.

<-S-t-S->​

You see the beautiful and unceasing dance of the universe, and you know no more.

...

You whimper as the burning demon rubs his boot on your face, and you know no more.

...

You fall to your throne as the lightning and thunder destroys the home you've built so painstakingly, and you know no more.

...

You are confused as the cloaked intruder merely stare at you very, very, very hardly, until the tiny pitch behind your ears disappear, and you know no more.

...

<-S-t-S->​

You find your mark, the intruder that everyone's been talking about recently who had overthrew so much of the Spire's status quo.

You signal with your hand to your buddy to get into location, getting ready to ambush the unarmored monk.

Crack!

Your mark's head swivels toward your location at the sound of the branch, and you know you have no other choice. With a screech you've been practicing in front of a mirror, you charge forth and brandish your knife at the monk.

The world turns to light, and you know-

...

You warily stand guard in front of the chosen one who had freed many slawaitwhat?nothat'snotyouwereathie-

The heretical monk clad in abominable violet walk toward you with a clear confidence, and all you know is rage.

You CA-

The world turn red and the ritual bestowed upon you by the great chosen one fail to empower you.

It's only when you drop to your knees that you realize you do not have a throat, and you know-

...

You wiggle and slowly move in search for carcasses to eathuh?nothat'snotthechosenprovi

A delicious smell approach, and all you know is hunger.

You thrust with your tendrils and-

Flames fall all around you. Earth crumble and the universe turns to wordswhydoyouknowwords?

Another flames hit you, then another, then another, and you know-

...

<-S-t-S->​

Your lover is dead, and you know-

Your fallen siblings are cut apart, and you know-

You explode, and you know-

You-

Yo-

Y-

...

...

...

You are nobody.

...

You are a lie.

...

You are everybody.

...

You are-

<-S-t-S->​

You are somebody once more.

You like to think you are improving at spiting whoever's up top, especially when you managed to kill that skull-head before succumbing to the poison just seconds ago.

At this point, there's no longer any confusion to who you are anymore. You are you, and this stupid Spire can never take that away!

You shake off the sleepiness, and you feel:

[X][CHARACTER] Powerful, a being you once saw as the pinnacle of existence. (Choose from the Boss Character selection)
[X][CHARACTER] Free, a being you once saw as the happiest of existence. (Choose from the Elite Character selection)

You look around you and find:

[X][ACT] Derelict halls and chittering noises. (Start in Act 1. You will be racing against a sole Climber to see who can slay the Spire first. You will be the Hero of the Story.)
[X][ACT] Flapping tents and cacophonous screams. (Start in Act 2. You will empty the City and slay all the agents of the damnable Spire, and when the Climber rise to greet the familiar sight, they will find no enemy to sharpen their skills and no treasure to advance their stories. You refuse to let there be a Story.)
[X][ACT] Squirming caverns and silent echoes. (Start in Act 3. You will be descending down to defeat the 4 Climbers, reach their master, and slay the Goddess. You will be the Villain of the Story.)

One day, you will be rid of this cursed existence. One day, you swear that one day you will not be chained to this damned place. One day, you will Shatter the Spire.

AN: Hello and welcome to Shatter the Spire, where you are a mob in the game who refuse to stay where you are and decides you want to Shatter the Spire (roll credits). This is inspired mainly by the Downfall mod (check out the fandom wiki here) where you will be playing a mob of the Spire to fight and be rid of the cursed Spire, and by Slay-by-Comment over in the subreddit. The combat system will follow the video game's deckbuilding combat system where you have cards in your hand, an energy meter, and your enemies are doing something, so you better do something too to stop them from killing you.

Don't worry about the Elite or Boss character choice, that's just for narrowing down the character selection later. Also, while some characters' cardlist may be ported over from Downfall, I'll also be adding some stuff too to keep things fresh.

Approval voting works.
 
Floor 0: Character Selection
[X][CHARACTER][TIE]
[X][ACT] Flapping tents and cacophonous screams. (Start in Act 2. You will empty the City and slay all the agents of the damnable Spire, and when the Climber rise to greet the familiar sight, they will find no enemy to sharpen their skills and no treasure to advance their stories. You refuse to let there be a Story.)

You feel angry. Existence is an endless cycle of awakening and death and awakening and death and awakening and futility and death and death and DEATH AND DEATH AND-

You stop that line of thought. Thoughts and words are meaningless in the Spire, for this abominable tower only recognize strength. Fine. It wants strength?! Then you'll find strength and see how it likes it when you SHATTER ITS-

You walk across deserted tents, the sounds of loud chatter in the air, yet something is wrong.

It takes a few seconds before you realize, there is no one else here. Or rather, it is too quiet where you are standing right now.

The screams are ever present. That's just how it is in the City, yet... everyone is giving you a wide, wide berth.

A nearby window reveal exactly why, for in its reflection, you see the face of a being you once saw as the greatest of all possible existences.

You have become:

[X][CHARACTER] The AUTOMATON
-HP: 75/75
-Starting Relic: Bronze Heart (The first time you Compile a Function each combat, gain 1 [E])
-Starting Deck: 4 Strike, 5 Defend, 1 Replicate, 1 Goto

[X][CHARACTER] The CHAMP
-HP: 85/85
-Starting Relic: Champion's Crown (At the start of combat, enter a random Stance)
-Starting Deck: 5 Strike, 4 Defend, 1 Berserker's Shout, 1 Defensive Shout, 1 Execute

[X][CHARACTER] The COLLECTOR
-HP: 60/60
-Starting Relic: Burning Branch (At the start of combat, Spawn 1 Will-o-Wisp)
-Starting Deck: 4 Strike, 4 Defend, 1 Gallows Spear, 1 Putrefaction

[X][CHARACTER] The BOOK
-HP: 55/55
-Starting Relic: Ominous Page (The first time you deal unblocked attack damage with a card containing "Strike" each combat, Read all Letters)
-Starting Deck: 4 Strike, 4 Defend, 1 Audiobook, 1 Scrabble

[X][CHARACTER] The GREMLIN LEADER
-HP: 75/75
-Starting Relic: Hollowed Horn (At the start of combat, play a random Minion card from your draw pile)
-Starting Deck: 5 Strike, 5 Defend, 1 Fat's Vest, 1 Mad's Arm, 1 Shield's Wrath, 1 Sneaky's Pants, 1 Imma Wizard

[X][CHARACTER] The TASKMASTER
-HP: 70/70
-Starting Relic: Scouring Whip (At the start of combat, Steal 1 Strength from a random enemy)
-Starting Deck: 5 Strike, 4 Defend, 1 Plunder, 1 Spiteful Spit

Well.

Well well well.

Well well well well well ain't this an opportunity for you.

You might actually succeed at this shattering the spire business.

You step back from admiring your reflection and think on what you're going to do.

The City is a settlement that has grown in the middle section of the Spire like some kind of mold. A place where thinking beings go to suffer in the Spire. If the Exordium is an unwelcoming gate filled with beasts that do nothing but kill and the Beyond is the most obvious place where the Spire's madness seeped into its inhabitants, the City is utterly banal in comparison.

Nothing more than a place where everyone sought to survive on top of another's corpse.

Cults, slaver guilds, thief alliances, mad geniuses, all sorts of selfish and unrepentant madman exists here.

Evil, existing only to be slain when the Climber passed through. A trial to be overcome. Just another sculpted antagonists in the Story of the Spire.

You hate it.

You hate this existence.

You hate the Story.

You refuse to let there be a Story!

You scream it to the entire City!

No mercy to be given! Not a single crevice will have life! Neither warmth nor riches will be left when you are done with your vision!

And when the Climber reach the City, they will find no path to advance. You will shatter the steps of the Spire. You will break the Story.

And then.

And then you will be free.

The sounds of footsteps rumble from around the corner. Wonderful, your prey approach you.

With a roar from deep within your Soul, you rush forth to kill them.

[X][BLESSING] Obtain a random rare card.
[X][BLESSING] Obtain a random common relic.

AN: Since the earlier character vote tied, I just give you six options in this one. Regarding the relic, I'll be putting my own custom relics in addition to the ones from Downfall and the unmodded game and also some from other mods I like.
 
Compendium
Compendium

Discovered Card List:
The AUTOMATON
NameRarityTypeEnergyDescription
StrikeStarterAttack1Deal 6(9) damage
DefendStarterSkill1Gain 5(8) Block
ReplicateStarterAttack0Deal 5(7) damage.
Encode.
When Encoded, add a copy to the draw pile.
GotoStarterSkill1Draw 1(2) cards.
Encode.
Compile - Next turn, draw 1 card and Encode 1(2) Skill card(s) from your hand.
Lag StrikeCommonAttack0Deal 1 damage 4(5) times.
Encode.
Compile - Gain 1 Weak.
Oil SpillCommonAttack1Deal 5(6) damage and apply 5(6) Poison.
Encode.
Compile - Shuffle 1 Slimed into the Draw Pile.
Tracking CookieCommonAttack1Deal 4 damage and apply 1(2) Vulnerable.
Encode.
Encode additional copies equal to the amount of Vulnerability the enemy has.
BoostUncommonSkill2Gain 7 Block.
Encode.
Compile - Gain 2(3) Strength.
Disk CleanupUncommonSkill2Exhaust all Status cards in hand and Draw Pile.
Gain 6(9) Block and 1 Blur for each Exhausted card.
LibraryRarePower3(2)At the start of your turn, gain a random card with Encode and reduce its cost to 0.
TBA


Known Keywords:
  • Encode: When this card is played, place this card into the Sequence instead of the discard pile.
  • Sequence: When 3 cards are placed in the Sequence, merge all cards in the Sequence into a Function.
  • Function: A card with all the effects of the Encoded cards except for Encode, with its cost being the same as the highest cost Encoded card.
  • Compile: An effect that occur when the Encoded card is turned into a Function.
 
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Floor 1: Gremlins Fight
[X][CHARACTER] The AUTOMATON
[X][BLESSING] Obtain a random rare card.

You are the AUTOMATON, a guardian construct of the Spire made to police and secure the gate to the Beyond.
HP: 75/75
Gain Bronze Heart (The first time you Compile a Function each combat, gain 1 [E])
Gain 4 Strike, 5 Defend, 1 Replicate, 1 Goto

Gain 1 Library.

NameRarityTypeEnergyDescription
StrikeStarterAttack1Deal 6(9) damage.
DefendStarterSkill1Gain 5(8) Block.
ReplicateStarterAttack0Deal 5(7) damage.
Encode.
When Encoded, add a copy to the draw pile.
GotoStarterSkill1Draw 1(2) cards.
Encode.
Compile - Next turn, draw 1 card and Encode 1(2) Skill card(s) from your hand.
LibraryRarePower3(2)At the start of your turn, gain a random card with Encode and reduce its cost to 0.

New Keywords:
Encode: When this card is played, place this card into the Sequence instead of the discard pile.
Sequence: When 3 cards are placed in the Sequence, merge all cards in the Sequence into a Function.
Function: A card with all the effects of the Encoded cards except for Encode, with its cost being the same as the highest cost Encoded card.
Compile: An effect that occur when the Encoded card is turned into a Function.

And right now, you are staring down a trio of tiny Gremlins. For a moment, you wonder if they would escape, but you can see it in their eyes. They can see the slight hesitation in your frame to immediately crush them like bugs.

A subtle signal by the red gremlin's claw and the other two immediately stop sliding backwards. A construct like you would sell for a high price in the market, and you had just shown yourself unfamiliar with your new body, slow and cumbersome as it is.

With an ease that suggested long years of history, they go into formation, the orange Gremlin rushing at you with its hammer while the red Gremlin tries to flank your sides. The purple Gremlin that has a staff hangs back, but you can feel a subtle wave of dread when you try to figure out what it's doing.

You think fast and:

ENEMIES APPROACH

Fat Gremlin: 13/13 HP
Intention: Aggressive (Debuff) - 4 damage

Mad Gremlin: 21/21 HP,
Intention: Aggressive - 4 damage
Buffs and Debuffs: Angry{1}

Gremlin Wizard: 25/25 HP
Intention: Unknown

[E]: 3/3
Hand: Goto, Defend, Strike, Replicate, Strike
Sequence: [Left: Empty], [Middle: Empty], [Right: Empty]

2 Strike, 4 Defend, 1 Library
-Empty-

<-S-t-S->​

HP: 75/75
Gold: 99
4 Strike
5 Defend
1 Replicate
1 Goto
1 Library
Bronze Heart: The first time you Compile a Function each combat, gain 1 [E].

AN: Vote for a course of action until you end the turn, or you adjourn after receiving new information e.g. drawing new cards or creating random cards. Example:
[X] Play Pommel Strike on Cultist 2 and wait to see the cards drawn.
[X] Play Envenom, Blade Dance, and 4 Shiv. End turn.
[X] Use Cunning Potion, play 3 Shiv+ on Bronze Orb 1, and wait to see Dead Branch results.
 
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Floor 1: Gremlins "Fight" Turn 2
[X] Plan thinking ahead but hit the Wizard.
-[X] Replicate on fat gremlin (for 5 damage) then Goto to draw. (total – 1 E)
--[X] if we draw the replicate copy use it on fat gremlin for 5 damage and compile a function (+1 energy), then use strike to kill it (- 1 E). then use another strike on gremlin wizard and defend (6 damage and +5 block to us. -2 E).
--[X] if we draw a defend, use two defend (+10 block -2 E).
--[X] if we draw library or strike use 2 strike to kill fat gremlin (12 damage, -2 E).
1. Replicate is played at 0E on Fat Gremlin, dealing 5 damage, Encoding itself, and shuffling a copy into the draw pile.
2. Goto is played at 1E, drawing a Replicate, and Encoding itself.
3. Replicate is played at 0E on Fat Gremlin, dealing 5 damage, Encoding itself, shuffling a copy into the draw pile, and creating the Function{Replicate-Goto-Replicate}. Bronze Heart activates and gives 1E.
4. Strike is played at 1E on Fat Gremlin, dealing 6 damage and killing the target.
5. Strike is played at 1E on Gremlin Wizard, dealing 6 damage.
6. Defend is played at 1E, gaining 6 Block.

They believe you to be malfunctioning. Defective. Slow.

The sudden appearance of a beam of light shows them just how wrong they are. While it is true that you are unfamiliar with this body, it does not mean you cannot quickly adapt, and before the orange Gremlin even realized it, you have shattered its hammer.

Before it can blink at the shrapnels of its broken armament, your arm has already returned to its resting position with a whipping crack.

Before it can stop its charge, you have broken his legs with the same beam that destroyed its beloved hammer.

Before it can scream at the pain, you have backhanded its remaining torso into the sky, assuring its death with only blood remaining on the ground to prove the Gremlin had ever existed.

In less than a second, you have slaughtered a living creature without its friends able to do anything, your new vessel too fast for anyone in the battle to even react to, power you could only ever dream of having before.

The first to react is the purple Gremlin with the staff, its chanting becoming quicker and filled with obvious fear.

But it's futile. This body is fast. Too fast even for your mind to handle as before you can even recognize what the wizard is doing, you are already there, your hand slamming it down to the floor, unknown instincts and programs recognizing the threat for what it is and pushing you before it send any hint of fear.

You would have blinked if you have eyes in this form. You did not realize just how strong your new body is. It takes you a long second before you realized the red Gremlin that must have been the leader tried to scratch you with its claws to no effect.

It takes you a while to process what you just did, long enough that the shaking red Gremlin starts to run away.

...

Wait.

They can do that?!

Since when?!

How?!

You have never in your uncountable lives seen anyone except for those thieves run away from a fight!

They can just walk away from a fight if they don't want to?!

Can you do that?!

The squirming in your hand reminds you you're still in a fight.

The purple Gremlin in your hand just keeps chanting though, and you can understand the expression on its face. Spite. If it's going to absolutely die, it's going to do its Spire-damned best to take you down with it.

ENEMIES DESPAIR:

Mad Gremlin: 21/21 HP,
Intention: Cowardly (Intent to escape.)
Buffs and Debuffs: Angry{1}, Trembling{1} (Change intent to Stunned if dealt unblocked attack damage.)

Gremlin Wizard: 19/25 HP
Intention: Unknown

[E]: 3/3
Hand: Defend, Defend, Defend, Strike, Strike, Defend,
Sequence: [Left: Empty], [Middle: Empty], [Right: Empty]
You may Encode 1 Skill card in your hand.

1 Library
1 Replicate
2 Strike
1 Defend
1 Function{Replicate-Goto-Replicate}

<-S-t-S->​

HP: 75/75
Gold: 99
4 Strike
5 Defend
1 Replicate
1 Goto
1 Library
Bronze Heart: The first time you Compile a Function each combat, gain 1 [E].

AN: Yes, enemies can run away if you did something intimidating enough. Like killing someone in a single turn without a scratch on you. Or exploding their ally's bloated green corpse. Or channeling a hundred lightning bolts and nearly obliterating everyone in a turn.
 
Floor 1 End: Reward Screen and Next Encounter
[X] plan let it go.
-[X] strike the gremlin wizard twice then defend.
Turn 2: Deal 12 damage to Gremlin Wizard (19 -> 7 HP)
Hand Drawn: Library, Replicate, Defend, Strike, Strike
Maximum damage dealt = 17 HP
Mad Gremlin escapes.
Wizard Gremlin perishes.
Gain 12 Gold.

You have no time to chase after the escaping Gremlin. Something inside you blares terror at the thought of letting the purple wizard finish his spell.

With a crude fist, you strike at its lanky form, breaking its already bent spine.

Once again, you strike when the chanting did not stop.

Another strike to shatter its staff and arms to strings.

The fourth strike finally kills the Gremlin Wizard.

And there you stand. The undisputed murderer of two Gremlins, their blood splattering the road for all to see when they come to investigate the loud noise.

Flawless victory.

You take a breath you didn't even realize you were holding. Your Soul struggles to fill in the Body you have gained, but the kills you had just tallied make it much easier to steady yourself.

So, so easy. As if an excess part of you had been cut out to better fit your platonic shape.

You take the opportunity to flex your metallic limbs and:

[X][CARD REWARD 1] Oil Spill
[X][CARD REWARD 1] Tracking Cookie
[X][CARD REWARD 1] Boost
[X][CARD REWARD 1] Skip the cards.

[X][CARD REWARD 2] Lag Strike
[X][CARD REWARD 2] Oil Spill
[X][CARD REWARD 2] Disk Cleanup
[X][CARD REWARD 2] Skip the cards.

...

Well that just happened. It looks like there are things you haven't figure out about this body.

That will have to wait however, as you can hear someone approaching. The sound of jingling items and whimpering bodies approach from the corner.

"Ho there! Be you a customer, or a massive prick? Do you have any gold for me, stranger, or do you bring only blood for the murders and conspiracies?" A voice calls out to you, its tone wavy like an off-key choir, its rumble like an echo in a cave, its gait like a spider that saw a fly approaching its net.

[X][ENCOUNTER] Run towards it. You're not afraid of anyone now that you have this absurdly broken body. (Encounter an Elite-level fight.)
[X][ENCOUNTER] Book it. You'll be deciding who to fight when and where you decide. (Encounter a non-Elite fight.)
[X][ENCOUNTER] Wait and see what the newcomer wants. (Encounter an unknown Event.)

<-S-t-S->​

NameRarityTypeEnergyDescription
Oil SpillCommonAttack1Deal 5(6) damage and apply 5(6) Poison.
Encode.
Compile - Shuffle 1 Slimed into the Draw Pile.
Tracking CookieCommonAttack1Deal 4 damage and apply 1(2) Vulnerable.
Encode.
Encode additional copies equal to the amount of Vulnerability the enemy has.
BoostUncommonSkill2Gain 7 Block.
Encode.
Compile - Gain 2(3) Strength.
Lag StrikeCommonAttack0Deal 1 damage 4(5) times.
Encode.
Compile - Gain 1 Weak.
Disk CleanupUncommonSkill2Exhaust all Status cards in hand and Draw Pile.
Gain 6(9) Block and 1 Blur for each Exhausted card.

HP: 75/75
Gold: 111
4 Strike
5 Defend
1 Replicate
1 Goto
1 Library
Bronze Heart: The first time you Compile a Function each combat, gain 1 [E].

AN: In the interest of making the quest go faster, each kill will reward a card instead of 1 per encounter.
 
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Floor 2: The Cleric Cometh
[X][CARD REWARD 1] Boost
[X][CARD REWARD 2] Lag Strike
[X][ENCOUNTER] Book it. You'll be deciding who to fight when and where you decide. (Encounter a non-Elite fight.)

You stare at the shadow in the corner, pondering the mysterious newcomer.

You look down to the ground where your feet dig into the stone as if it was mere dirt. You look at the corpse of the Gremlin wizard you had beaten to a pulp. You note down the way your body moves way faster than your mind can even think, the way your legs already begin walking before you even think about the destination.

And.

You look at your shaking fingers. No, shaking would imply some manner of controllability. They are literally vibrating without your input. An eagerness at the thought of fighting and slaying powerful enemies.

...

No.

You walk away. You'll fight when you want to fight and not a moment before.

You are the master of this body.

You are not the construct of the Spire, you are the master of your own destiny. Whoever the calling stranger is, you'll hunt him down when you decide to.

Before the stranger turn around the corner, you have already disappeared into a dark alleyway, intent on finding a prey that you choose.

It doesn't take long. The City is always on the verge of overpopulation even when there's so many empty space and so many threats to one's life. It's just how it's always been. The City is abandoned. The City is full. The City is miserable.

A blue skinned beggar sits on the side of the road, ignored by all who passed by.

You can tell however, that he is different from the rest. There is a spark in his eyes that stands out amongst the hollowed out citizens of the City.

You jump from the rafters, swiftly cutting through any unfortunate bystanders in the way as your hand reach toward the mysterious beggar.

Blue flames blaze in the beggar's place, revealing nothing once it has dispersed. You knew it, he is indeed different from the rabbles.

Amidst the panicking crowd, you stare at who you recognize in your myriad lives to be the Cleric. Is this what he does in his free time? Pretending to be a weakling?

Well, at least he's not the Chosen, damned be his arse.

"Whoa there, buddy. Tis' a bit early to already be fighting, isn't it? Why don't we all walk away and no one gets to be harmed?"

Bold words for someone whose hands are already on fire.

ENEMY AWAIT

The Cleric: 32/32 HP
Intention: Aggressive (Debuff) - 3 x 5 damage

[E]: 3/3
Hand: Defend, Strike, Boost, Library, Strike
Sequence: [EMPTY], [EMPTY], [EMPTY]
2 Strike
4 Defend
1 Replicate
1 Goto
1 Lag Strike
-Empty-

[X] Play Boost and Defend to gain 11 Block and Encode Boost.
[X] Play Boost and Strike to gain 6 Block, deal 6 damage, and Encode Boost.
[X] Play Defend and 2 Strike to gain 6 Block and deal 12 damage.
[X] Play Library.

<-S-t-S->​

HP: 75/75
Gold: 111
Relics: Bronze Heart
4 Strike
5 Defend
1 Replicate
1 Goto
1 Library
1 Boost
1 Lag Strike

AN: The Quest system is still somewhat in progress. This time, I'm trying to see if I can thought up all the possible course of action for voters to choose instead of waiting for someone to write up a plan. Probably not going to work once the cards got more complicated, but it works for now.
 
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