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365082 No. 365082 ID: 89777a

All stories have a beginning just as all have an end. We begin at an end. A fighter's fall, weapons broken. Hope destroyed. Life...

Ceased. In shadow and stone a body lies barren

Then a figure of blinding light and splendour shines over a shattered remnant, a broken body and soul.
She looks with sadness at this defeated one, it is over for that one.

Over before it could even begin.

She turns her head to leave, locks of shimmering hair, swinging away, over the charred body.
“Such a pity”
Her voice, ripples and waves, echoes, resonates. The maiden of shades makes to leave, nothing she can do here, for this discarded husk.

“...”

Her ears perk up. Could it be? She turns to the fallen one again...
Does something still remain?
“Canst thou yet hear me, child of machines and strife?”

Nothing, was it merely wishful thinking, that anything could have survived... would miracles even suffice? She heavily sighs, another must be found, and in that time...

“...”

No mistake. Something remains, faint, barely aware, but fuelled by such a strong will not to cease, it has even forgotten why it wishes to remain, but it is there. Pulsing weakly.
“Poor one, thou can barely remain, come, come to mine arms, rest in mine sleeves, the call will not reach thee there.”
It's will drives it, she opens her arms and accepts it, warmth.

“...cold”

“The ice of death, little one, come, closer to mine bosom, tell me, doth anything come to thee?”

“...”
It flickers, it's substance breaking apart... the maid is dismayed.
“Do not strain thyself... peace little one, it matters not...”
“...”
She seems to consider something, a frown on an unblemished face, her light seems to dim.

“I shall restore thine body, return thee to it... wouldst thou wish that”
An unexpected flicker.
She laughs, the remnant feels more whole from such pure laughter. Like the trickling of a fresh stream.

She puts a finger to her lips.
“But, canst thou recall whether thy were man or woman? Or is even that beyond thee now... It matters not if thou canst remember, My powers will still work.
“...”
She smiles, and laughs again.

The remnant flare as the maiden of shades thrusts the now flaming echo back into it's husk and it bursts into fire.

“Just, remember little one, thou art mine now.”

*****

I wake.

I see nothing, there IS nothing.
Then light.

My hand? Covers my eyes. I still cannot see, blinded by this light.
I feel a panic, rising in me, I remember nothing, who am I?

Then it settles, rests, as I see, I know where I am, a hospital, I remember that at least. I lost my memory, or parts of it, mostly about myself, whoever I am.

The room I'm in has no other bed other than my own. Private room? The lights flicker a bit, annoying. Some kind of machine is hooked up to me, Doesn't seem to be on. I wonder why the pads are on me when the machine is off, what happened?

The room is a sick green, looking at it almost makes me nauseous.
“...Are you all right, Nao Fontayne?”
I don't recognise the name, but I start at somebody being so close to me without me noticing.
The nurse is a seehi, her red scales are finely polished, golden eyes look at me with concern.
“...Yeah...”

“I'll get the doctor, you just stay put Fontayne-Rih, and stay calm”
I lay back on my bed...
Did I have a dream?
Was I in a coma, who am I, where...
Pointless, I'll find answers soon...
Hopefully.

I spend some time thinking, trying to remember something, anything, but by the time the nurse comes with the Doctor I've not remembered anything. I put a hand to the back of my head... and feel cold metal through my hair. Did I always have a metal plate in the back of my head?

“Fontayne-Rih, I am Doctor Galluki, welcome to the land of the waking, are you feeling better?”

What stands before me is a mountain of a man, a huldre, his eyes hidden behind glasses, a white coat draped about his shoulders, garish plaid pants, and a humongous black beard. Two large horns poke through his hair and a cowtail swishes behind. He looks less like a doctor than he does a brutal force of nature.

“Well Doctor, I think you might be able to tell me more, I seem to have forgotten everything”
The Doctor frowns and grumbles into his beard.
“Well, Thankfully we suspected this...”

The Good Doctor the proceeds to had me my I.d. As well as what seems to be a strange key aswell as a callbook. He tells me who I am, was, no of it connects, so I'm not too concerned about whether it is truth or not. I apparently Nao Fontayne, no living family, no fixed abode other than my mech, ah yes. I seem to be a mercenary mech pilot. A Mechanical Armour... I... I can remember something, my Mecha, I can remember it it was...

[Choose intial mecha type]

First Question:
What Control method was it?
Direct integration: Plugs in body etc... Or just floating in brain soup. no direct visuals.
Remote integration: conscious transmittance, sleeper pod. no direct visuals.
Remote control: Controlled externally via a computer in a separate location. no direct visuals.
Direct Control: Controlled like a power suit. direct and indirect visuals
Cockpit Piloting: Self explanatory, direct and indirect visuals
Fully enclosed command pod: Control via computers inside the mech, no direct visuals.

Second Question:
Was it a transforming mecha?
[Warning, transforming mecha are not as sturdy as others and cannot take many weapons]


Third Question A: In case of Nontransforming Mech
What kind of mech was it?
Arms?
No Arms?
Legs?
Spiderlegs?
Hands?
No hands?
Humanoid?
Stumpy?

Third Question B: In case of Transforming Mech
What kind of transforming mech?
Artillery?
Mode shifter? [Melee, long range, medium range, cruise mode, etc...]
Tank?
Aircraft?
Mechabeast?
COMBINING MECHA?!? [WARNING, this choice will change the tale greatly, what with needing other team members right of the bat and combining mecha have the fewest weapons, uncombined they are often quite weak.]

ALSO VOTE FOR THE GENDER OF NAO, not having been able to remember is also an option (no it won't result in both, won't result in neither, either. It'll be different though.)

Chorus of whispers will return, when I get my summer break, but in the meantime, this will be.
42 posts omitted. Last 50 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 366303 ID: 453e62

"yes, i had to take drastic measures otherwise it would rampage and do who knows how much damage."
the damage to the OrbisF is the result of being forced to face a more powerful enemy one on one, if there was a second mech to flank it you could of done much better but as it stands you suffered amazingly little damage.
the blade needs all the scans done to it that can be done without risking destruction. take a normal blue one and run the same scans on it so as to have a comparison.
>>
No. 366337 ID: 200d2a

>>366303
yip yip, upvotan, but with a small change: TAKE HANDFULS OF BLADES. Even if nothing interesting comes up, we might still craft them into something, like light armor.
As for your Mech, CHECK LOGS. Check last known 'Session'. See if you can find a Diary (you might have kept one). Tags, Notes, anything is important to find out who you were and what you did. Oh, and ask how well you did on the Exam.
>>
No. 366343 ID: 13d0dc

>>366298
keep the fuck out of that sword, its your just reward for the defeat of a chlan.

"I have prevented your corporation a great deal of damage, both in material and personel, and will exept any payment you find adequate. that will be all."

also, check *all* your craft's records, you may have a contacts list in there. Links (full neural interface pilots) tend to live all but in their mechs, and Im willing to bet you were the same.
>>
No. 366345 ID: 13d0dc

>>366343
shit, wait, you already have contacts.

just watch the news or something.
>>
No. 366349 ID: 94a3cd

"...I guess I did, the Gatling arm got taken out so it was either stay on the ground or latch on to the one place it couldn't attack."

As for the blackout, it isn't uncommon for mild head injuries like whiplash to cause short-term amnesia, or it could be from the same injury that gave you your new extremities...

Aside from that, it may be a good idea to check the news and ring the Dome Bounty Office, see if they have any files available on yourself.
>>
No. 366373 ID: b6edd6

>>366303
Yep. And you can do quite a lot of testing without much risk i the sword is big enough to be mech-usable.

A spike from a nightmare creature transforming to a sword... Are there any known instances of non-nightmare dreams manifesting (or other non-nightmare supernatural occurrences), or of nightmare material being influenced by mortal minds?
>>
No. 366410 ID: f6106a

Ask a relevant person "Does that count as my practical exam."
>>
No. 366578 ID: 448d82
File 132176674734.png - (105.31KB , 400x640 , Yodhfen.png )
366578

>>366303
>>366337
>>366345
>>366349
>>366373
>>366410

I dismiss the blackout, probably just from whatever it was that laid me out in the first place, or something, regardless I put it from my mind.

I almost laugh as I respond.
Nao :...I guess I did, the Gatling arm got taken out so it was either stay on the ground or latch on to the one place it couldn't attack.:
:You got guts kid, serious guts, I mean we could have just bunkered down here:
Nao :Sorry I had to take drastic measures otherwise it would rampage and do who knows how much damage, you saw those blades of its'. I have prevented your corporation a great deal of damage, both in material and personnel, and will except any payment you find adequate, Oh and does that count as my practical exam? :
:True enough, look I think I'll be able to get the testers to bump your markings up, least I can do... I'll have the blades collected up for you, and You'll find a bit more in your account...:

[Previous Kens: 4,000][+1,000 Gain]
[Contact Added!: Laropa Security Guard]

As the Laropa test centre's people come in I turn my attention to the blades... for a moment I think the golden blade is a sword, but the moment passes, It's a blade half my mech's length small enough that I could possibly carry it with me, just like the others, except rather than a ethereal and cold blue, this one is golden. I focus this hunk of junk's scanners on the blue blade.

What I see is... well apart from the fact looking at the thing makes me kinda edgy... about all I can see is... The structure is very stable, there is however, power leaking from the thing, corrupt no doubt, the edges are slowly moving and the air is split by its' edge... in spite of its' appearance it's more like bone than crystal, scanning my golden blade though... the scanner reveals nothing, I can see the swirling goldness inside, but apart from that nothing.

My right arm feels a bit numb after getting out of the mech, but I work it out, nothing unusual. I get some wrappings and belts to wrap my blade up, deciding I want to take this one with me. I'm promptly given about the third highest certification possible, The Brazen Mark. With that I get out of there, eager to see my mech, with a little hope it may jog a few memories...

It was left with a mechanic shop by the name of Empty Cell, when my mech and body were found. Checking the map on my Cbook I jump on a hovertram. Before I know it, I'm in the shop, gotta love Dome's public transport.

All kinds of mechs and mech part are all over the place, not just mechs either, tanks and cars too...
none of the mechs are mine though, I feel I would know. I almost don't notice a suited figure, welding something, light flashing.

“Uh, hey...”
Hmm not loud enough.

“Hey!”
Nothing, gotta make myself heard here.

“HEY YOU!”

I barely manage to dodge as the figure spins round and a jet of flame leaps right near me.
???: “Hey, thug hasn't yer boss gone told ya this place ain't worth yer time unless ya have a fetish for bein' burned alive, clear out, Ah don't need 'protection'”
I leap out of the way again.
“Hey, I'm not a thug...”
FIRE! Ahhh!
???: “Ya look like a scruffy one though”
“I'm Nao Fontayne, I'm here to pick up my mech!”
The psychotic madman stops trying to make me into a burnt crisp.
“Oh, well wah didn't ya say so? It's round back, ya go ahead, Ah'll get the key Ah've been using.”

I make my way to the back, which is a large area with a few sheds and what looks a bit like some kind of firing range. Then I saw it.

My Yodhfen

A custom glint mantis, but it's more than that. I've slept in it, I know it.
It's slender head, the clawed hand, smooth panels, a sleek predator, with legs augmented for jumping and better drifting. Then the havoc engine, an experimental mod that supercharges Yodhfen's power and launches a number of missiles, to cover the charging.

“It's a beau in a way ain't it?” a hoarse voice, said this, I turned to see the speaker.
A woman, with a large scar down half her face, a twitching alchemic eye rests in the scar where an eye once dwelt, presumably the same shade of green as her other eye, which was dull with heavy black rings beneath. Oil streaked, half burnt pale orange hair, curled around her head. She was shorter than me, but seemed to tower in a weary kind of why. She wore a black-overall over a grey jumpsuit, with thick gloves on her hands. A Nighom, just like I was...

“You ain't such a looker yerself, Linkhead.” She said tersely, noticing me staring at her scar.
“Ah Sorry, I'm Nao Fontayne, Hello”
She wipes a hand on her oil stained overalls, then holds it out to me.
“M'name's Marthuihl, most just call me Martha”
We shook... a rather crushing grip she has, can't help but feel it was intentional.
“Here” She hands me the other key to Yodhfen and a Linksuit... and looks at me expectantly... what?

“Come on, on with it, ya gotta give it a test run right?”
“You want me to undress and put this on right here in front of you?”
She stares blankly at me.
“Oh” she says dully and turns around.


I grumble in my head as I change into the suit that'll keep my skin safe aswell as help with the interfacing. The hood goes over my head and a visor promptly slams over my face. That was mildly unnerving, glad I don't have a big nose.

I hold my key up and it shines, Yodhfen bending down and it's heavily armoured chest opening to reveal the linkpod. I get in and the light vanishes as it closes. I wince as the plugs decend and connect me to Yodhfen. Then geist-liquid pours in, Feel my mind expand then my sight blackens, I cease to hear the hum of Yodhfen's systems booting.

I see nothing, there IS nothing.
Then light, my senses replaced with that of Yodhfen's. I stare at both Yodhfen's burst arm hand and my surroundings.
“Hey, linkhead, ya can hear me now right?”

:Yes:
My voice sounds stronger, more powerful over the Yodhfen's speakers.
“Great, now get moving Ah wanna see it in action!”
After that OrbisF... Yodhfen fits me like a glove, and I can move fluidly and quickly. I jump and land on a wall, gazing far into the distance amid the monolithic buildings. Then I hop down, drifting towards some targets that Martha must have set up earlier. I just rip the first apart, then the second I decide to try the pulsewave emitter on. It warps and crinkles, the target caving in on itself. After that I mess about a bit with my shield generator. I remember a few things

I can stand still and generate one big shield, slowly if I want to conserve power.
I can maintain a shield as long as it remains connected.
I can place a shield in midair, this degrades it quicker than connecting it to something.
I can overlay a shield to an object, this uses less power, but the objects can't be larger than Yodhfen's chest.
I can stand and grab a floating shield, it'll bear my weight, but degrades quicker.
I can make a stream of shields however, they last seconds.
I can reconnect a shield to Yodhfen if I want, other than that I cannot move a placed shield.

“Hey, quit messing around with yer crystal fab! Try the Havoc System out” Martha complains.

Ok, here goes nothing.
I fire it up.

~~~~~~~

The Husk Knight focuses, glad to be returned in his true armour, then filling himself with power calls his spirit lances, they float above his head before flying away at the ground, purging with arcane fire. Yes it is truly his armour...

~~~~~~~

I was aware of the Hunter missiles for a few moments before they shot away and blew up, huh gotta work on my control. I look about, everything seems to have slowed, Martha's jumps of glee the explosion, I walk over to one side of the range to the other, I lay shield upon shield and tear a target multiple times, pulsewave active. Then everything slips back to normal. Just a few moments after the explosions from the missiles had all but stopped. As does my mech for a few seconds.

“...And that was AWESOME, right, before ye go, the logs are kinda wasted, recovered what Ah could but me and Jask ain't progs, and remember, yar fast, manoeuvrable and strong, not greatly durable, get that lovely mech trashed and if ya survive Ah'll kill you maself.”
:Thank you, Martha:
She pauses as she is about to hand my clothes, other stuff and the wrapped blade to Yodhfen's large hand, roughly the same size as her.

“Ah had a look at that blade ya have there... Ah reckon Ah could with a bit of tinkern mod yer Crystal fabber to make yer shields a bit more durable, givem bladed edges too, Give me a call if ya're interested, Ah put Ma number on yer Cbook”

[Contact Added!: Martha & Jask's Empty Cell]

I put the items in Yodhfen's storage unit. Martha has my missile stock reloaded and my power recharged.

So as I leave I check Yodhfen's logs...
She wasn't kidding about them being wasted. There isn't much there. Most of what is there is just a record of income and spending on ammo and food, a number of big gaps in it though. Unhelpfully income is marked blandly just as that; Income. Still seems like I had a fondness for shark and pickles, not together. Still shark? Kinda odd, gotta try that. Seems like I started buying some dried insect bags about nine months ago, Tenguah food that, somebody must have introduced me.

Unfortunately I didn't eat out much and if I did, it was always a different place... Anyway the accounts go back about two years, so possible I didn't have Yodhfen before that...

Or something, anyway most of the session logs are gone, but I clearly spent a lot of time inside Yodhfen. No recordings by the cameras, those crystal balls have been wiped clean.

I park somewhere secluded. I tap into the ethernet and into a random news feed, checked my logs and bookmarks, before that, nothing there.

A nighom woman who would be pretty if it wasn't for the extreme amounts of make-up on her face appears.
“...and there has been yet another incident of violent mixedblood crime, The High Prelate has come out and condemned this crime, saying that the safety of the people is at stake, The Monitor of Dome maintains that...”

Ah, yes I had almost forgotten, well not much in the news other than tensions over the new freedom laws for magic. A few news stories about Dante Neverhold and the success of Myriad, an ethernet search tool. A story about the rising rates of certain foods, shark and pickles not included. Tengaoh sky tourism, Alsi holding another moonfestival, Some Alchemists are trying to make life, getting a lot of attention and pleas to stop.

Dorf has gone out of business, their cars aren't selling. A story about some mechs taking down a Ur-Wraith in Lser, A particularly unpleasant Trash-Hyena has recently been hunting mechs all mecha owners are warned to steer clear, it has taken five mecha out so far. Halifyna the Si'Naija Actress has created more scandal, going around transformed like a tainted that and rumours of gemdust usage.

On that note there is a bit about the dangers of the tainted getto around dome. The Current Monitor of Dome is criticized very heavily. A team of archaeologist in Yargothel have died due to a equipment failure, The government of Kotel is calling it a great tragedy for Sunder's historians, there will not be another team, due to the danger. The Jungle burning Arsonist of Meir has been caught, Liethiann authorities have no comment as to whether the arson is a gemchild or not.

Then there was the sports news, motoball was into the fifth heat of the world championships, Verrtuc is dominating in Titansport his original Makoss 12 is hammering competition. Tark is catching on in the card tournament scene. The participants of the 413th Sundercross are heading over Uinkoe the acid sea. The Vibrant Chimeras have defeated the Howling Asps in Holder, The Captain of the Asp controversially calling the Vibrant Chimeras a bunch of gem-snorting tainted lovers.

And then there is the weather, which is typical for Silem, great for tourism bad for everyone not trying to die of extreme weather seasons.

Well that was boring as Relhs. Now to bore myself with bureaucratic offices. I call up the Dome Bounty Office...

And I get driven mildly insane as I am on hold listening to the most awful waiting music loop.
Finally I'm put though. I ask if I can get some records of my bounties, I give them my licence ID number.
“Thank you Sir, we will have to get back to you later, your records will be made available to you once you have been authenticated and the withdrawal gets approval from the higher office, than you and good day.” The call golem closes call on me.


I just manage not to scream in rage.
Now I'm sure I should check the bounties but... I'm hungry as a devourer, I'm sure I can find a food place with ether-terminals or if all else fails I can buy some food and eat it somewhere else. Only thing is...

Where and what should I eat?
And what kind of mercenary work should I search for?
Is there any other numbers I should call?


A single 1d100 for encounter if you head to buy food or an eating place. No posts containing only dice rolls please.
>>
No. 366585 ID: 453e62

rolled 94 = 94

well, since you apparently like shark look up a place that serves shark. if not then go buy some. can't think of anything in particular just nothing that puts you against another fast powerhouse, very hard to make any kind of strategy when you are against your mirror.
>>
No. 366685 ID: 1e3433

Bah, you need some red meat not seafood. Plus what better way to celebrate your new lease on life than a steak dinner?
>>
No. 366751 ID: 44766a

You also need to get a hair cut and trim your bread, so you don't look like a hobo or a thug. You almost got set on fire because of it. That reminds me next time you go to the Empty Cell you should ask who has been trying to pressure them into accepting "protection". I mean they took care of your Yodhfen and they seem like genuinely good people. You might be able to help them out.

((I really hope that high roll means we get to meet Ayathil, because that would be awesome. Especially if she was our friend before we lost our memories.))
>>
No. 366933 ID: 4803b7

Between looking for a bounty or a mission such as raiding or defence of an area, you should try ringing at least some of the contacts that aren't likely to be commercial entities, namely to see who all these people are...
>>
No. 367950 ID: f3c121

get a haircut, then go find delicious food. after that, see if you cant find somewhere to take a bath, man.

It may be embarrassing, but check up on your contacts, say stuff like "Hello, this is Nao, Sorry I haven't been in contact for a while, but I almost died, I've been in recovery, and I cant remember much. Hoping we could catch up allot. By!"
>>
No. 369587 ID: 448d82
File 132296107125.png - (69.74KB , 400x640 , NaoFontayne.png )
369587

Closing the newsfeed I lookup food places that serve shark... ok I was asking for that just searching Shark and seafood, I lose several minutes to a Urball show called Calamari Godtiem , In which a group of Merian headed by a squid-like Uholtu... Cook? I'm not sure cook is the right word, but there is seafood, kinda... I had no idea one could fit that many sharks in a Batholith Clam...

One Horrified episode of fascination later and I've found a place.

[Roll = 90]

There was a couple of places I took note of but I settle on a place called The Huge Foe Decapod which also happens to be a bar. Fish and Chips being a speciality, almost any fish , almost any chips. There is a disclaimer that they do not serve Merian as Food. That they had to make that disclaimer makes me wonder.

Anyway, before I do that... I draw up my mech's minimap, handily there is a barber's right near me.
I get out of my mech and lock it, walking over. The visor on the suit retracts and I pull the hood down. As I walk I call one of the contacts on my Cbook.

The Echoman

And... nothing...
“We are sorry the contact you have called does not exist”
Well that was odd.

I randomly try Pepe's.
“If you are trying this number, it means you are a miserable weakling who is too frightened to talk to Pepe like a TRUE man, Pepe SNEERS at you, but Pepe is real man, so he gives you chance to walk path of EATING IRONWOOD, LIKE TRUE MAN. Pepe can be found at 35 Keelga Road In the Den of MANGRIT. If you are too scared to come see Pepe face to face then Pepe understands, Please leave your message after the beep and PEPE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN PATHETIC SPORECHILD!!!!!....

...

I close the line before the beep. What is with the people I knew?

I stop outside the Barbershop. The Groomed Miner is the name of it. I go in and, BY THE ALLKING, That beard so luxurious, so manly. I am momently entranced by the beard of the dwarven barber. He kindly draws my attention away from it.
“Careful lad, men and women both have gone mad from this beard O mine, now what do you want, though from the looks of you”
A lock of that beard... wait no I don't want that, I want a hair cut, yeah, and those hairs, no dammit stop looking at the beard.

The Bearded Dwarf sets me down in a chair. His fingers glide through my hair as he washes it and it's only then that I realize I was completely tense this whole time, I relax close my eyes as he makes tutting noises about the state of my hair. I find myself talking, telling the dwarf my situation, his presence is comforting like a hairy friendly uncle. He tells me not to worry, that I have a new fresh start aswell as skills and assets that can take me far. The scissors dance over my hair and beard, gliding through it, at no point am I told to remain still or feel pinching and only as he finishes I note that he cut my hair nigh-perfectly WHILE I talked.

I ask him how much and he tells me this time is free and sends me off with the Allking's blessing on strangers. I walk out feeling whole and free, dapper and groomed. I look back to take note of the barbershop location... and find that in my euphoria I've walked quite a distance.

I stand before The Huge Foe Decapod The Sign is a Giant Glowing Crab terrorizing a city. Tables and chairs filled the bar, there was a stage, a woman sang on it, A fiery haired beauty of a Huldre, singing something about days past and buried treasures being found. A large fireplace brought life into the place, and I spotted a number of machines in the corners, game stations? One seemed familiar.

I stopped at he counter, a Rashkiir, was serving at the bar, standing on the counter, due to being hardly different in size or form to a housecat. He, at least I think it's a he, looks at me.
“What can I get ye?”

[Roll = 94] [First Effect Activated]

“Uh...” I'm about to speak when a rasping voice interrupts me.
“A ssshark fillet with laefhallow chipss, and a bottle of Cysstholm ale? Wasss it not? It hass been ssome time, I almosst didn't recognise you”

I am taken aback. I was not expecting this.
A Large frilled Lizard man stands before me.

What do I say?
Suggest what way you want to go about talking and trying to get, basically play investigator, the bounty/mission look up and the main effect of the 94 roll will happen next update, now back to studying for me.
>>
No. 377700 ID: 448d82
Audio 119522_ComfortablyLostMASTERED.mp3 - (2.65MB )
377700

“What?”

It's all that comes out of my mouth and it isn't that I remember something, but more I come to a realization, I am an idiot.

“ah... Yes” I say awkwardly.
The Lizard man looks at me sceptically.

He looks at the catkin called Reeb, then at me.
“You lossst your memory, didn't you? Well I am Aiisss, owner of this fine bar”

“Yes, I mean no, I... how did you know?”

Aiis closes an eye before replying, “Well I am quite adept in the art of guesssing, and I've dealt with people foolish enough to lose their written mindss”

Written minds? Odd phrasing, Reeb winces as if the comment was directed at him rather than me, wait... he just called me foolish, isn't that a bit insensitive?

“Well, I did, got in an accident, lost my memory...”
[Aiis]“Accident? More like your mech blowing up, given your extenssively modified body, you look very different to the way did the last time I sssaw you.”
“...”
Less art of guessing and more infallible pinning of the truth, Ow.
“Well that's pretty much it, so anything you could tell me would help”
[Aiis] “Not really anything I could tell you that would help”
I'm about to open my mouth in protest.
“You kept to yourssself mosstly, never sspoke much, ate your mealss, paid for them, never flirted, never talked, didn't really drink, you played on the machiness a bit, though there was one person”
“One person?”
[Aiis]“ I could only describe your relationsship as that of... Rivalss”
“Rivals?”
My memory doesn't recall anyone like that, but then the fact of my visits to this place, I haven't remembered anything, not that I like shark, that just a fact a found out...

I've remembered nothing, but how to fight.

I hear a small delicate voice sound out.
“Rivals? How can you dignify a miserable sod such a him as my Rival Aiis!”
I spin round on my chair, and what greets, or perhaps assails my eyes is what seems to be a small girl, I can't tell what race she is, a child?.

Her hair is more like an emerald mane than normal hair, scales lightly cover her cheeks and fore-arms, which also sport fetlock like strands of hair. A pair of black horns, sweep back from her head. She wears a simple but elegant white coat, reaching her feet. Imperious Azure eyes glare at me, as if I'm some kind of blister or worm. I stand, she's really small, barely coming to my chest even.

My rival is a child?

Just As I realise I said that out loud, I feel a sharp blow to my shin.
I tumble to the ground clutching my leg, pain dominating my senses, man it was just a little kick, so why does it feel like I was shot?

“I am no child, Worm, You have the honour to be in the presence of Ozillyhana Vil Cazelterg” she replies, face bright indigo, looking both embarrassed and angry.
“He has lost his memory, has he Aiis?”
Aiis nods, smirking, curse you Aiis, you're enjoying this, aren't you?
“If your mind has forgotten I shall just make your body remember!”
Wait what? I don't like the sound of that, not liking that at all.
I close my eyes as a finger descends to point at me.
“Play me!”
What? No What? My mind is in pieces, what is happening here?

“A game of Gunwieltun IV!”

Huh?

In a daze I'm led to one of the machines in a corner, I look at it, then at Ozil.
“Aren't you too short for this?”
Why mouth, why do you wish pain on me, I cringe in anticipation of the shin kick that never comes.
Pouting, she points at a box, which before I know it, I've moved in front of one side of the machine.

The game is a fighting one, Cyborgs, guns, teddy bears, it's pretty Zany. I don't remember it, but I find the combos flow out of my, my fingers and thumbs remember this, and sweep over the crystal control ball. In spite of being able to play, I don't win once...

But then neither does she, furiously concentrating we draw, each time, neither of us can gain the upper hand. I finally remember something.

In all the times I played against her, we never told anything to each other, knowing only each other's names, we had our rivalry, and nothing else... at once heart-warming and empty...

I can remember how to play, the rivalry persists, it is enough for her, we never sought more than that, or was it me?

Who was Nao? I feel such a disconnect. Aiis has my meal ready when we finish, she sits beside me eating a parfait, that Aiis makes parfaits strikes me as more odd than her eating with her rival, only natural that rivals should eat together, or so I think.

We finish without speaking, we exit without speaking and we part with nothing but a promise to beat the other. I walk through the dark rain filled streets back to my mech.

Later I rest warm and safe inside my Yodhfen, looking for work to do...
I come across many options, but I narrow them down to five.

FIND MY CAT
One mission stands out because of it's oddity. It's to find a woman's Cat... I was a first confused as to why a mech is needed to find a cat, but then well the cat in question is sightly larger than my mech and has to be non-lethally subdued, well not exactly, just have to get it home. Interesting, but likely to be difficult, in spite of the Cat's supposed tameness. Private contract of course. A noble by the name of Selayna Muikro, Looking up the Muikro brings up all kinds of things, Quite a big family, Losing giant cats is pretty tame for what happens in regard to them. High standing family all the same, they have connections.
Reward: 300,000 Kens + Repairs
A 200,000 bonus if the cat is found and returned home on the day of acceptance.

RAID ON LAIFET CULTISTS
This is part of a larger op, backed by the Order of the Maimed Hand, Supposedly it's only my past history that allows me to access it, basically a heretic Chlan-worship cult is going to be hit and some extra mecha are needed, there is no chance of enemy mechs, but several large and small scale Chlan are predicted, there is the possibility of the Cultists summoning a Colossus Class Chlan, the main reason for the mechs, get a bonus for each Chlan killed and if the Colossus Class comes, everyone gets a big fat pay check whether it's killed or we're forced to retreat.
Reward:
200,000 for taking the job
500,000 Kens per Chlan killed
1,500,000 for appearance of the Colossus Class
200,000 bonus if the cult is completely wiped out.
100,000 bonus for dealing the final blow to the Colossus
All repairs energy and ammunition paid for.
Only offered to those who have a record of anti-monsterous fights.
I'd have to be ready for tomorrow evening, that's when the raid is due.

Order of the Maimed Hand are a mercenary hunting organization, behind a lot of cult smashings, they do some security work when the cults aren't acting up. Public quite likes them, not that they like the public much. Not hot about Gemchildren either, but they'll keep away.

DROMFORGE LABRATORY DEFENCE
Seems that a company by the name of Dromforge Industries is scared that some “bandits” might try raiding their lab, bandits being rogues hired by catspaws of their compeditors. It's a week long contract, just until they have their current “prototype” finished and moved off securely, fairly standard, however, they are offering two further deals.
Any Mech pilot who tries out some of their experimental equipment gets a bonus per each item tested, either in the field or in combat against any “bandits” compensation for any damage resulted from testing is included.
Also, anyone can assist guarding the Prototype while it's in transit, this is a strictly opt in contract, it'd count as an extension of the existing contract.
So, in total...
One Week starting immediately tomorrow, 750 an hour, energy, meals and board paid for.
Repairs are covered if you test out five experimental items.
100,000 bonus for each “bandit” popped
200,000 bonus for testing experimental items.
The escort duty is a Flat 300,000 take it or leave it, with the bandit and item bonuses still being open.

The bandits are likely to be mech users, perhaps a manufactured monster or too, the threat is played down, but clearly Dromforge is worried about not having enough Guards, perhaps they've spread their private security too thin? Well in anycase, taking the job and the escort duty nets you a bit of experimental tech if they decide they like you.

RELIC SHIPMENT IN NEED OF PROTECTION
An expedition of archaeologists is bringing a shipment of relics, which always attracts attention, they want some aid in securing the the shipment when it arrives, and then protecting it, while it's loaded off into something... more fortified. The Relics are apparently quite fragile, or are they volatile? In anycase, they wouldn't be surprised if there was an attempt to grab the relics, and even if there isn't, they've had problems with Chlan all throughout the transportation.
Repairs covered.
300,000 for the Job
100,000 bonus for each nasty
500,000 if anything goes really bad.
Due Sometime in the next few days, 50,000 for each day on watch for the Shipment to arrive.

Then... the last job that was of interest,
Sir Jagdwuir
A private request, Within three days I have to go to his manse for the details, which are negotiable.

Seeing Jagdwuir is in my contacts I decide to do a bit of research on him.
Well...

Sir Hyleath Jagdwuir, Son of Airen Jadgwuir. He's a Duke of Dome, and a Goblin Prince, a Shareholder in many companies, Head of a textiles empire, that really isn't much of an empire any longer. Patron of various charities and arts, owner of various esoteric things. A collector of any pre-cataclysm armour, as long as it is black. Quite Social, he's not taken a bride though. His political views and his views on the mixed-blood/gemchild situation are a secret well kept sercret, has a fondness for Crunchy fruit and Hunting Hounds. As with most Noble Goblins, Crystals a source of fascination. The Daily Judgement has rated him number 6 in Dome's best dressed individuals. His aloofness and mind-boggling ability to avoid the media at large has made him something of a figure of Interest, who still manages to remain an enigma.

Or so Lexiconnect says.

I close the ethernet connection, and close my eyes...

Well a few more things learned about Nao Fontyane, I'm in the low-mid level, I've got a really clean record, so much I'm offered jobs that require my silence afterwards.

What mission should I take?
I have some evening left...
I could go somewhere, wander the streets, or something.
I could do some research into those other contacts I have.
I could look for some other missions, ones in the coming days, rather than tomorrow, but I need cash badly.

Or I could just bum inside Yodhfen scanning the ethernet until I fall asleep, suppose I could try finding a Ethereal Tale to read...

Right! lets get this show on the road again! consistant like!
>>
No. 377829 ID: fc22d7

Let's take the Sir Jagdwuir job. It sounds interesting, and looks like he might've known Nao. Can see him anytime in the next three days.

As for tomorrow, the cultist raid sounds risky but potentially profitable. The lost cat job seems like it could be done today or tomorrow.
>>
No. 377847 ID: e3aff6

I am thinking for job order we should do the cultist job, Jagduwir's job, then see if the lab defense mission is still open.

Is our burst arm's attack a beam, an explosive energy projectile, or something else?
>>
No. 377943 ID: a78f05

Well, what we need right now...is some money. And not really the best time to look for clues on who we were. Cultist raid!
>>
No. 377980 ID: 448d82
Audio 416994_Him.mp3 - (1.18MB )
377980

>>377829
>>377847
>>377943

On some reflection I take the Raid job, seems at 19:00 I have to report to the Temple of Broken Swords, the Order is using that place as their headquarters. So, I have the rest of the day free, I'll keep an eye out for that Cat....

I also reply to the Jagdwuir message, the details will be decided over dinner at 18:30 in his Manse, the day after tomorrow. Later than that, I'm not planning anything, but I'll keep tabs on that lab guarding, if all else fails, I might get in for the escort.

That dealt with, I get out of Yodhfen and start giving it a bit of a buffing. The Air is crisp and clean after the rain, Yodhfen's lights washing the surroundings with pale viridity. I've parted in a quiet abandoned building, old but sound. The roof is whole, even if there is a hole in the wall, not sure why I did, but... I just found the place...

I concentrate on cleaning Yodhfen, and checking for rust-tics.

”You called?”

...Odd, thought I heard something, an echo? I turn, my back to Yodhfen, I can't see anything in the dark, given I was looking towards light.

Did you call the Echo-man? Man? Man?

… The voice doesn't come from anywhere, instead, I hear it all around me, the questioning Man? Slowly fading as it floats and bounces around before dying. I'm puzzled, wait... I called the Echoman but? This is odd.

“Are You the Echoman?”

There is a sharp laugh that rasps uncomfortably and rattles in this broken building.
“That, is as good a title as any for me, So Remnant, what do you Seek? Seek? Seek?”

“I don't know, what do you know of me, I've lost my memories, can you help Echoman?”

There is no echo, just a cold breath on my neck.

“Many things DARK, Walker of Steel cold, I know much of you, death

… The muscles in my neck feel suddenly stiff, I glance, but no one is behind me.

“So it is answers you want child Joy, I can help you, but everything has a price teeth, open mouths... or if you prefer I can sell you items Things less lost than you that were related to you... but, are memories WORTHLESS ALL you lost? Lost? Lost? Lost? LOST

I don't feel fear, or threatened, rather I feel... as if... something hurts, there's something... gah, the more I try to consider this unexplainable feeling I have, the stronger it gets and the more it sinks into my mind.

“What price do you exact?”

“I trade in storiesfood, I buy this and that Greed, a rat's tail could be of more use to me than crystalDross, A man's hair colour, a woman's sight The taste of beauty, the voice of a singer, the skills of a warrior, the courage of a fighter, the ears of a being that should be dead BUT LIVES... or does it, the teeth of a bird, the snore of a rock Madness, riddles are always good, except when they are not...WORD EATER but things that are of personal value to people are always favoured sweet loss, and a great gift is given to those who abandon dreamsto gain to me, or what they prize mostyou must LOSE... most, most, most”

I... honestly not sure what to make of what this thing is, I keep catching whispers, or is it echoes.
The cold breath returns, this time on my chest.

”So... do you wish to buy anything? To sell anything? just what do you think you can sacrifice?
>>
No. 377989 ID: e3aff6

With 'trading stories', is it just you gaining the story, or do I also lose it?
>>
No. 378179 ID: 448d82
File 132595871354.png - (95.78KB , 400x640 , Wordeater.png )
378179

One post, so a smaller update, also forgot to weave in a expo on the mech arm, it's a pulsewave emitter, which in this case means it uses air pressure to make things collaspe or crumple, or be cut apart, so Air based

>>377989

I pause, something confusing me,
"With 'trading stories', is it just you gaining the story, or do I also lose it?"

The cold breath again, just why is this guy so creepy?

"Yes and Noevery action, you lose a bit of yourself I could tell you a tale perhaps of your past echoes and in return you would tell me a tale equal exchange? or you could give the tale outright to me, and then I would have to give you many tales words, precious, or give a tale outright to you Sadness"

...
Do I really want to buy anything from this, whatever it is?
For that matter, do I even have anything to trade or sell?
>>
No. 378207 ID: e3aff6

"I am afraid I am rather short on stories at the moment, as you might imagine. What would you offer in exchange for a riddle?"
>>
No. 378324 ID: e935f0

This guy feels like bad news.
>>
No. 378456 ID: e935f0

>>378324
To expand on what I said with an actual cogent suggestion, I think we should just... walk the fuck away from this.
>>
No. 378509 ID: e3aff6

But I have a pretty good riddle. (And not that cliche one with the man's legs either.)
>>
No. 378685 ID: 448d82
Audio 417004_Him__Hell_Mix.mp3 - (1.18MB )
378685

For the moment lets keep the conversation chopped, there'll be a big update after you've finished with this guy

Laughter echos around me. I catch a glimpse of teeth...

>>378456

really not liking this.

"MARVELOUS, I can taste your fear, your desire to know nothing of me, but still, you have a question burning in your mouth, truely wonderful, You have pleased me, so a reward; It is your QUESTIONS, that drew me to you the first time we met... met... met..."[i]

The strange feeling that I had seems to abate slightly, I don't have that odd buzzing in my head either.

Well, whatever it is, I'll take this chance a bit further, I would really like to get away from it, but something tells me... Angering this being might end very badly, not sure I could get in my mech fast enough. All the same, I edge closer to Yodhfen as I ask my question.

>>378207
"I am afraid I am rather short on stories at the moment, as you might imagine. What would you offer in exchange for a riddle?"

I feel a sense of hunger, of want.
[i]"For a good riddle, I offer, riches, wisdom, curious things or... I give in return a riddle of a different kind, one heavy with meaning, sometimes prophecy... the last option is only if the mood takes me, and the riddle is a good one."


...
Do I have a riddle to tell?
And if I do, what do I want for it?
...
I could always say I have nothing for it at the moment, so much seems off about this being. Perhaps I'm just fearing the unknown, I've dealt with this in the past... haven't I?
>>
No. 378734 ID: a18ebe

>>378685
This may be a reason you where so misterious to those who interacted with you. There is no way of knowing (until we ask, and I dont want to) how much you lost, and it probably matters verry little what you *forgot* in that past life.

If we decide upon trade, here is a riddle for this eater of words.

With potent, flowery words speak I,
Of something common, vulgar, dry;
I weave webs of pedantic prose,
In effort to befuddle those,
Who think I wile time away,
In lofty things, above all day
The common kind that linger where
Monadic beings live and fare;
Practical I may not be,
But life, it seems, is full of me!

Lets see what it makes of that.
>>
No. 378814 ID: b6edd6

Another potential riddle:

My face is your face,
except never as is and rarely as was,
but rather most like what you've seen,
in your eye and the minds eye,
expressed as something else,
an imitation become its own thing,
skin of stone, or wood, or clay
but likeness unmistakable
>>
No. 379056 ID: 448d82
File 132624834967.png - (296.57KB , 640x400 , Zhimryga.png )
379056

>>378734

Perhaps... it is my interaction with such beings as whatever is before me, that kept me apart from people... Whatever happens, I'll need to find out what in Leiak's Name this being really is.
I wonder, before losing my memories, what did I sell to this being, what prices did I pay?



I'll get no where like this, but at least a riddle has come to my head.



“With potent, flowery words speak I,
Of something common, vulgar, dry;
I weave webs of pedantic prose,
In effort to befuddle those,
Who think I wile time away,
In lofty things, above all day
The common kind that linger where
Monadic beings live and fare;
Practical I may not be,
But life, it seems, is full of me!”

The cold breath returns to haunt me.
”A Riddle Words amidst words, flesh in flesh, meaning sevenfold, but one thing

Then, the too cold breath recedes, I really wish it'd stop doing that. It's laughter echoes around me.

“A old riddle I have heard many times, It pleases me you were able to remember it, so I shall give you a riddle.

It comes at me from all directions, like a black wind, and I lose all vision.

”Empty, yet I hold nothing, That is something...
My home a grave, Secrets I have devoured whole.
There is but one time I live, when I die.
If you destroy my body, I still live.
Solid and yet Hollow.
Hollow... hollow...

Blood and fire are my children.
And Death are my works.
I never sleep nor dream, yet I wake
Favoured and Cursed.
Alive and Dead.
Whole and Broken
Broken... Broken...

By finding I lose.
By Loss I gain.
My hope is my destruction.
I have downed my strings.
Strings... Strings...

There is not one part of me that is me.

WHAT AM I? I? I?[i]



I fall to my knees.
I feel blood come from my ears, and I weep blood... This... This is painful, Am I dying?
Dying again...

I feel I've partaken in something I had no right to, and now, my body betrays me...

[Discontinuity]

[i]”I shall leave you now, any more and you would die from the strain, call me again, if you wish”


…My throat is dry... but burning in my mind. I won't submit to this feeling. I stagger upright and then my voice barely escaping my mouth I call out.

[Inherent Trait Activated; Thousand Man Will]

“Wait... I'm... not... don... done with... you”

It's form freezes, I can almost feel it's surprise.

“I have... another riddle...”

>>378814

The words slowly cut their way out along my stiff tongue.
Finally, wiping blood away, I finish.


It smiles.
So many smiles.

Then, for a while I am left to struggle as it thinks. I barely remain conscious as it answers.

GolemNightmareMirror[spoiler]
[spoiler]Simulacrum
DynwamungSelf-portrait
EffigyDoppelgänger Homunculus


I vomit up my previous meal... damn... I liked... that...
In spite of hearing many things at once, I feel Like only one answer one word was given...

I cringe as the shadows that hide the being from my sight now tear away.

What looms before me is a monster, the very sight of it my mind wishes to erase, it isn't so much it's horrific physical appearance, as the presence of raw violence and intelligence it gives off.

The body of a monstrous cat, Wings of a Werlin, a more humanoid head and arms in place of a cat's head and mouths, so many mouths, even mouths that float like ghastly rips in reality. Of the “head” wherever there is not a mouth, there is ears. A huge ragged plaited beard hangs around the largest mouth, blending into a mane.

It pads towards me.

And speaks with a single mouth.

“Tomorrow, when you wake, you will find a great gift, I am sure it will satisfy.”

[Discontinuity]

I don't know when I got into Yodhfen, but, I find my eyes closing as I fall, exhausted, asleep.

Day; 1, Long Day, Short night, END

******

And the Knight wakes.

He is comforted to still have his armour, to still have his gauntlet of storms and his shields of will.

He takes stock of his surroundings...

A old temple, long abandoned, overgrown by vines and trees, broken by roots. The wild has claimed this place. Green light shines through shattered stained glass windows.

Once great art, now defaced, literally, as each figure has the head smashed out...
Seven figures all told...

Each has a colour.
Brown.
Green.
Black.
Blue.
White.
Red.

The last is yellow, and is far more defaced than the others.

As the Husk Knight rises from the cracked altar he was lying on, over-large spiders shift deeper into their webs and watch the metal warrior warily, their Mandibles rubbing together, they see nothing worth eating.

It is then that the Knight notices something that was not his before... there tied to his arm, a cloth, a lady's favour... but who had given it to him...
The Knight leaves the temple, nothing but webs, spiders and death there now.

He shields his sight from the light as he strides out.


He wonders, if he should seek the lady...
But something troubles him... He does not know who he is.

Running past the temple is a dark road of stone, that severs and divides the ground, no plants dare grow near the black road.
He could go left or right...

In front is an ominous forest, wild and old, the song and terror of various beasts sounds from it.

Far behind, he hears singing, such beautiful singing, what manner of Diva is making such a melodious melody?

He also sees the Shadow of a great castle, tall and imposing, it floats in the sky.



Or perhaps there was something he did not see in the gutted temple ?


This would have been out earlier if I hadn't bothered with the picture, but, I felt like doing it, so I did.
>>
No. 379606 ID: e935f0

What might lie within the dusty, forgotten corners of the temple?

Perhaps the castle holds errands for a knight, if it can be reached. Or a few answers, a way to orient himself.

If not, might not that diva know something about the locality?
>>
No. 379667 ID: 1384a4

it seems this deva is the best choice to calm our damaged soul. locations should not move, but this singer may leave.
>>
No. 379690 ID: b6edd6

Did the yellow figure have any sign of two tails?
>>
No. 379788 ID: 448d82
Audio 25Alleviloftheworld.mp3 - (1.67MB )
379788

>>379606
>>379667
>>379690
[Path chosen, Temple and Diva]


The gutted temple distrurbs the knight greatly, and he is compelled to gaze at it's ruined and defiled insides once more...

...He looks again at the shattered windows, particularly being drawn to the yellow one...
Chains.
He didn't see it before, for the window was greatly damaged, but the image was definitely of a chained being of some kind. Looking closer, there remains not one bit of whoever the image was, only chains remain...

The Knight does not know what it means, but chains and yellow have ever been an ill omen.

He hollowly clanks over to the cracked altar.
The cracks have destroyed what strange symbols were on it, not that the Knight could have read them anyway, he is no wizard.

But then, he spots something on the side, he bends down for a better look, creaking as he does so.
A small click and the Altar begins to move aside, revealing a stairwell. The smell of blood is strong from it.

The Knight, feels no fear, so, in an act that shows no bravery, he descends.

[Play music]
Obscenity greets him with bloody hand and frozen face.

What hidden sanctuary this place once was, it is now a place of evil.
Chained formed hang from the ceiling, and a ghastly effigy of a bloodstained yellow crystal, glows malevolently, mocking life and hope.

One Charred Skeleton is lying on the bloodsoaked floor, it reaches out with an arm that has no hand toward the crystal Idol. It too was betrayed. Evil does not serve. It owns, it claims.

There is too much horror to find anything of significance. All that remains in this accursed place is senseless evil. ...Though, The bodies, all women, on the ceiling... they are in a circle... which the charred skeleton is in the centre of.

Silent as the abused corpses, the knight pulls the bodies down, and carries them up, his final act in the place is to smash the foul artifact. It's pieces turn to ash and sink into the ground. He feeds the bodies to the spiders, life from death, some small good, in spite of tragedy.

The Spiders do not speak, they have not the words. But they are grateful... and they were in terror of the Chlan beneath them.

The Husk Knight leaves, the temple now slightly less unhallowed.




The Diva can still be heard.

He strides in the direction of the lilting song.
He passes ethereal lights, and wades through amethyst grass, he comes to a hill of shimmering stones. Warm to the touch, not that the Knight would know.

On top of the hill, sits a being of great beauty. Long arms and legs, full of life and pale glow. Shining liquid sliver hair. Her neck is almost too long, it lends a strange dissonance to her beauty. Hard to tell is she seems more mare than maiden, or more maiden than mare. Long fingers glide across a crystal harp.

Then, she turns her head, a smooth, clean face, untouched by the elements, almost too clean. Her mouth opens wide to let song flow out. Her lips and nose... so delicately formed. Soft eyes as green as new shoots glance from under silver lashes. Her endowments, smooth. She wears nothing on her small feet. Her clothes are a cloak of shifting colour, with a thick neck of many feathers of many birds. Her teeth are so blindingly white and pure.

A mare or maiden, a bird of great splendour.

The Knight, barely registers this beauty, so captivated by her song. She sings for a time...
Then stops... and the Knight feels pain he should not.

She gazes upon him, then laughs, her laughter like a joyous blooming of flowers
“Noble Sir, do you intend to stare and listen all the day without telling me who you are?”
Her voice is like honey, rich, sweet

The Knight shakes his head, and explains that he knows naught, but that he found her singing a comfort, he also asks what she knows of the Castle and the forest.

“You were wise, Sir not to venture into the forest or the Castle. Evil has taken residence in the castle, those who live in it's shadow are in constant terror. Darkness has taken the forest, do not think to enter it. Death would be the only thing to greet you there... oh, did you see a black road”

The Knight nods... though, he feels as if something important has slipped from his grasp, something...

“Whatever you do, do not walk along that road, it is a foul cursed thing, to travel it would warp you so badly that... Well, enough of dark matters. Surely you have no need to go anywhere, I would be happy to sing more for you... especially for afavour

Yes...
>>
No. 379817 ID: b6edd6

We should ask where those who live in the castle's shadow are. I think we should visit them after we finish talking to her.
>>
No. 379837 ID: 44766a

Does anyone else get the vibe that talking to this lady is dangerous? Like she is trying to put the Knight into trance or something?
>>
No. 379848 ID: b6edd6

Hm, it might be. I think we should probably still ask her about the other people living nearby before we leave.
>>
No. 380018 ID: e935f0

No. This woman is a siren. Because she is trying to lure us into staying with her, and warning us against practically everywhere, her words are not to be trusted. Do not ask her anymore, lest she enchants us further.

Turn away and leave. If she pleads with us not to leave, ignore her. If she attempts to force us, strike her down.
>>
No. 380029 ID: e935f0

>>380018
Even better: block off ones ears if possible.
>>
No. 380038 ID: cf49fc

>>380029
This man speaks wisdom. She cannot have survived untainted in so evil a place. Why would she sing such a beautiful song in this hellish place if not to lure others to their doom? We must leave and travel the Black Road that we may find the Source of this corruption.
>>
No. 380217 ID: 448d82
Audio 367455_Castle_Fire.mp3 - (3.05MB )
380217

>>379817

To stay a bit longer would be wisdom, there is much that the knight still does not know about this place. She smiles...

Yes, the knight has no reason to leave right now, no need to depart and leave this creature of beauty.


>>379837
So why does his mind rebel, why is there a nameless thought, struggling not to be forgotten?
Something is not right, perhaps more of that singing will clear his mind. He does feel an unnatural weariness. He looks at the lady, see does not seem to have the same glow... and her face, she seems nervous...

>>379848
Stay a while, ask her a few questions, the Knight is well protected, surely if even if there was any thing sinister about her, he would come to no harm, he does wish to know more about those who live in the shadow of the sky castle...

...and to hear that song again...

The knight steps forwards to the Lady, she greets with open arms.

>>380018
[Echo Resonance: Will]
[Knight: Roll = 112(92 + 20)]

No
NO
What has this woman done but warn the Knight off from everywhere. She tries to keep the Knight with her.

>>380029
He dares not to take his helm off.

>>380038
There is nary a way that such a being of beauty would be left unspoiled in a place so near to a mad cult, treachery, lies, the mask lies!

The Knight takes a step back, and there is a ghastly crunch beneath his metal clad foot...
A small bone, perhaps from an arm or leg...
There is something fel about this.
The knight tells the Lady that he must leave.

She lunges at him, a soul splitting shriek escaping from her now warping lips. The Knight leaps back, narrowly avoiding being speared by the now dagger like fingers the once-lady had. She laughs, laughs...
Now, her hair has the sheen of bloodletting metal, rather than the splendour of jewellery. Her arms are more skeletal than before, her now lascivious breasts heave to her laughter, which the Knight notes with horror still has it's beautiful sound.

Her legs are now thin bladed points, her dress, flayed leather. A ruff of feathers on her too long neck, then, she raises her head to the Knight.

Yellow eyes... baleful, corrupt, mad, evil eyes, they beam from a face of metal, gnarled with knotwork, The face is completely unmoving, but a gaping maw splits open the throat, displaying too white fangs. Pulsating tendrils come from it's back, into the hill.

The illusion which covered the hill is gone, revealing that it was made of bones and skulls not stones, a quivering mass covered in yellow eyes lies on top of it. It is her stomach, half digested forms still visible in it.

“Pitiful creature! Surrender unto me! And I shall make your end less painful, how DARE YOU REJECT ME, I would have shown you pleasures unknown to mortals, AM I NOT BEAUTIFUL?, why do you reject my love, why? Why? WHY?”
Tears of blood leak from the eyes on her external stomach and the emotionless metal mask.

“Was my singing not loving? CURSE YOU BARREN ONE! Can you not stay and listen?”

She giggles.

“I know...”

A bladed finger touches metallic lip. The wraith giggles again.

“I'LL MAKE YOU STAY HERE!”

The Knight blocks her furious swipes with a shield of will. He has no fear, she cries in pain as the Knight cuts her with winds from his gauntlet.

She scrambles back, She has the disadvantage, she cannot depart from her stomach, the Knight steps back to leave...

A far too large spider barrels into him, and moments later sharp spines render it to pieces, right where the Knight had been moments before.

Careful Dreamless Knight, we cannot leave once in her domain, you must find a way to kill or defeat her, we shall help you, but we dare not draw close to the Chlan organ she bears.

The Spiders came, they saw the Knight snared by the wraith's song, and followed, fearing the worst.

You are strong, a paradox, your will is good poison to her

The wraith dislikes these new odds, she has lost the element of surprise, she was never a fighter to begin with.



She was a Singer.
The Spiders writhe in pain and the Knight drops to his knees as the wraith woman sings...

He can't take his helmet off, there must be a way to disrupt this song.
The wraith advances, bladed spines bursting from the hill, dripping with acid...
>>
No. 380308 ID: b6edd6

Perhaps the Gauntlet of Storms can be of use?
>>
No. 381411 ID: 448d82

>>380308

...
It is not in the Knight's nature to sumbit, to fail.
Rise.
The Knight stands up, the wraith involentarily stops singing for but a moment. She quickly resumes...

But a moment was all the Knight needed.
Wind.

The Knight raises his gauntlet of winds.
A Gale sunders her song, howling out of the Knight's hand. His song is the wind.

The spiders recover and begin pinnning the Acid-dripping spines down with webbing.

There is an opening. The howling gales protect the Knight from her song for now.

The Knight prepares to make use of this small chance, clawed from the jaws of defeat.
>>
No. 381489 ID: b6edd6

Our shields have cutting edges, yes?
Decapitation usually works as a counter for vocal attacks. She will likely start reforming while the hill is still alive, but that should give us some time to deal with the hill-creature.
>>
No. 381932 ID: 448d82
Audio 387739_Inner_Demons.mp3 - (1.61MB )
381932

>>381489
The knight calls forth a shield to;
LNABgvm N,sks
oai fkksl mmskks

LOkimjs fhativn

I thought that
ksoohios

Ah reckon Ah could with a bit
Haaojovsn ;;s;ppkpp['w


I'm burning, I'm on fire... it hurt, pain, pain, pain... I can't move... why can't I move...
I
I don't want to die.
Not here.
Not now.
But the pain, too hot. My skin melts.

MAFKAlkkf
of tinkern mod yer Crystal fabber to make yer sh

aajajm;k3q.3. //;s;'gg
Give me a call if ya're interested,
Interested,
Interested.

With a shield of Will the Knight blocks a spine as it lashes towards him with a shield of will, acid flys about, but the Knight Advances.

His shield are only good for defence, but if he can get close enough... he can behead this chlan.

The wind was with him, he raised his hand, the wind to cut her head asunder.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH"
A nightmarish screach, the neck is where the Chlan's mouth is, he cannot cut it with the winds...

Acid dripping spines burst from the ground at the Knight's feet!!
>>
No. 381939 ID: b6edd6

The shriek is unpleasant, but does not seem incapacitating like the song was. We should now cut the cords between her and the hill, as it seems likely the lady body is but an appendage of the hill.
>>
No. 382388 ID: 448d82

>>381939
The Knight ignores the spines, the spiders have his back. Their webs entangling the foul protrusions.


He rushes forward and bladed wind rushes from his gauntlet, severing the Body from the stomach sack. The body flops to the ground, and the acid spines no longer move. The stomach tries to reattach. The spiders put a stop to that. The Knight places his palm on the writhing flesh.

It quivers in fear, once, Then the knight renders it to naught.

The Knight falls to his knees, the gauntlet of winds takes it's toll on him, just as well that the battle ended. He thanks the spiders, he feels weakness inside.

He slowly gets up to go on his way again. The Wraith lady strikes.

The spiders again save him, as the claws stop mere inches from his helm. The Knight is amazed by the heroism of these arachnids. The spiders quickly bind her limbs and gag the gaping throat maw.

The knight need only now deliver the finishing blow...
The metal mask shows no emotion, the sickly yellow eye show no emotion... other than the tears of blood that run down her unmoving face, deep into the cracks of the knot-work...
>>
No. 382492 ID: b6edd6

I don't see any reason not to kill her. Even if we had a reason to feel sympathy for this killer, with her vital organs destroyed the only thing left for her would be a slow death.
>>
No. 382881 ID: 448d82
Audio 404355_A_Handful_of_Nothing.mp3 - (2.10MB )
382881

>>382492

The Knight holds her head...

...for a moment, just before the winds destroy it, the knight sees untainted green eyes.
The body turns to ashes, the hill is blown off in a swirl of dead leaves, only the gruesome remains of her victims are left.

Am I free now?

The Spiders are silent as the Knight uses the winds to make a mass grave, in vain hope that the dead will find peace. The Knight, weary, still aching leaves for the black road... and the spiders follow the Dreamless Knight, they feel a weight of purpose about the Knight. They will aid him in his quest.

A quest where even he does not know the answer nor the question.

His only clue is the favour of a lady, golden cloth, with the scent of honey and death...


> A person, Grab, desperation...
“...Who... are you?”
> ...
A child?
...Can you not talk?
> Shake head
“I see... Look, I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do for you, I don't live like that.”
> Let go, no use, what's the point of trying...
“Damn... how many times have you heard that?”

>Days, weeks, hunger, ache, cold. Hunger. Crows closer, can't fight them.

“...you again? Still alive?”
>nod
“Huh, strong one, aren't you”
>Shake head
!
“...h-hey, kid, show me your face”
>Turn away, can't, won't
“...”
>Kick bite, but, doesn't let go...
“...your eye... who?”
>Struggle, give up, point at crows
“...Damn it”
>Scared, person angry... death soon?
“Kid... come with me”
>...fear, that again? It hurt, don't want to...
“I won't hurt you...”
>...nothing left anymore.
“Kid, you can't move?”
>Shake head, picked up.
“So light... ! Shit, your legs, I mean... damn it... come on, I'll get you some food, we'll see about some legs and an eye later”
>what is... this feeling... person leaking, water from the eyes... it's salty...


I wake... disturbed... that child, was it me? I feel fairly well rested. I get out of Yodhfen to do some stretches and stuff before breakfast. It's about 08:00.

As soon as I am out and have my visor up and hood down I hear a voice.
“Good Morning master, I trust you had a restful sleep?”

I turn to look at the source of the voice...

votan time!

Nao has some time before he has to go for the night raid brief, so he can do some stuff during that time.

And...
It seems that the Eater of Words sent you a servant.
Type
Golem [construct]
Spirit
Familiar
Homunculus [construct]
Unknown
Shadow

Form
humanoid (basically humanish)
Humanform (human shape)
Animal like (specify kind, mythic accepted)
Chimaerical
Elemental (form is determined by power-sphere)
Robot (inhuman mechanical)
Unknown
Shapeshifter (Chose a preferred form)

Gender
Male
Female
N/A
Unknown
Androgynous (I decide the gender, but don't tell you, and keep it hidden)

Sphere of Power
Elemental (Elements in this setting are wide ranging, but the core elements are; Shadow, Light, Wind, Earth, Fire, Water. Metal, Ice and Energy are all quite strong too.)
Conceptual (A concept, like the power of liberty or trolling[may backfire] or something)
Unknown
Physical[non-living] (Avocados, rubber, stones, food, whatever, as long as it doesn't live or unlive)
Physical[Living] (Animals or whatever, sharks even)
Physical[Unliving] (Yup, bones, moving, alive, unalive, undead whatever)
Unknown

The servant will have a power level, but I won't say what power-level.
If “unknown” is chosen for all options, you will not have a clue what the servant is and neither will Nao.
>>
No. 382956 ID: b6edd6

My vote:

Type: Spirit
Sphere: Energy
Form: rodent Elemental (inhabits conductive objects like a living electrical charge)
Gender: Androgynous ((because why not))
>>
No. 382959 ID: 13d0dc
File 132779562984.jpg - (11.84KB , 320x235 , enfield-beast-2.jpg )
382959

>>382881
Type: spirit
Form: enfield beast
Gender: androgynous
Sphere: Concept-Protection
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