It's a conundrum, to say the least. You consider your options. You could carry her yourself, while you remain in front of the group to keep watch with your soulsight. However, that would risk the whole group if she were to transform. She could hop off your back and potentially infect more people. Even without the transformation, there's still a risk of her bleeding. You don't know exactly how infectious this whole thing is, but fluids are certainly a big no-no. So, you want her at the back of the line, preferably with some distance. Of course, leaving her alone at a distance is a sure-fire way to have her die if the slightest thing goes wrong. You consider leaving Yunikki with her, but she's the only one that can interrupt any trouble going on in the middle of the group, as you and Francine are too large to quickly get past everybody, and Sucy's weapons tend to have an area of effect. That wouldn't really work out either. So, you eventually elect to make the survivor walk a small distance away with Francine by her side to keep her safe. After a little coercion, she even got a ride from the nervous scientist. You REALLY made your point when you let
AlexiaWhen
youShe seems to have figured out that she should be nicer to folks. You had a good talk. She seems a tad nervous, but you're sure she'll calm down over time, right? She just needs to get used to trusting people more. At least you can convince her to do things.
The rest of the travel goes easy enough. Your soulsight helps a lot, though you wish you still had your scout. Just as you were getting close to the hide-out, however, a group of Beaks turns the corner. Something in their gait looks strange. They're confident, not even searching. They knew you were coming from before, and some of them look more armoured up. The one at the front of the group has a metal covering over his beak, even. Where did it get that?
Hm. One moment.Sucy digs through her pack and pulls out two bottles. The first one she throws underhand, in a weak arc. The birds seem to find it unimpressive as well, as they bat it aside without it breaking.
The second one strikes the leader dead in the face with enough force to outright break it. Whether the previous sentence refers to the leader's face or the potion bottle is up for the reader's interpretation;
Oh hey, a sling!As you look over to Sucy, you notice that she's holding her ears shut. You quick do the same, just in time for an ear-rwrenching explosion of noise. When you look at the birds, you see a massive amount of electricity zapping its way through the crowd, roasting them alive! That's some serious god-damn power! In no time at all, the way has been cleared.
We should move, the noise will bring more.Is that what you're going to throw at Jack?Partially. I'm not taking any chances with that thing, but I do have leftovers. The sling was with the help of Yunikki, while you were reading. What was the first bottle you threw? Something that explodes about 30 minutes from now. So keep the group moving. You reach the hideout after shanking one unfortunate lizard that was sleeping close to the entrance. You bring everybody inside and tell them to meet up with the survivors in the back. As for the wounded survivor...
She hasn't turned yet, if nothing else. But she's sweaty, trembling. Clearly infected. Regardless, she isn't going mad, and you can't bring yourself to mercy kill her now. While the survivors remain far away in the tunnels, you keep the infected survivor in the little laboratory. She's still standing, but she's clearly feverish. Her eyes, however, have already turned into an unnatural icy blue. They are not human eyes, to say the least.
I... I feel it coming. Like my skin is rebelling. I'm sorry.I... I don't want to die. Please. Let me lose my mind, first. I don't want to be aware. D-do you understand?I'll do this outside. The guard tower, if we can make that....I don't want to hurt anybody.Hop on, I'll make it quick.You did as you said. Morning is coming as you head for the tower. There were no enemies on your path, at least none that couldn't be evaded. You used the rooftops, after all. Once you arrive at the tower, you grab a new weapon to kill her with when... When the time comes. You can't kill an innocent woman, but a Beak? No problem. They're long gone, after all.
The both of you remain quiet as the transformation starts. Despite the horrific noises, however, the woman finds it within herself to speak as her bones snap and her skin breaks open to allow for feathers. You elect not to look to closely. As long as she talks, she remains alive.
T-the strangest... Strangest thing... This doesn't hurt. *crr* It... My breath falls away, b-but... It feels.. It feels almost n-normal.Crick and cracks fill the room, making your skin crawl. A series of pops really get to you, in this context. Still, she keeps talking.
My name is M-Miriam. I am an ap-apprentice to lord Nerevar. I am an Elemental wizard, I c-cast... Cast lightnin *krr* Choking sounds. Her voice had already taken on a more croak-like quality, like one would expect from the bird. The transformation must be nearly complete. You turn to look, as see that a beak is pushing past her face. You raise the spear already, though...
The bandit lost his mind far earlier. You furrow your brow, and elect to wait just a little bit. Miriam twitches a few more times, but...
I.. It's over? she says, quite shocked. She looks herself over, looking at her "hands" (wings) and her claws in place of feet. She looks smaller, though the covering of thick black feathers add a lot. Her face carries a lot of humanity on it, due to the smaller beak and how her eyes remained closer together. Less like a bird, more like a human. Her clothing is mostly in tatters, however, leaving only a cloak on her back.
Does the dementia come later?You speak for the first time to her. You elected to stay quiet, to avoid gathering attachment, but this is kind of unique!
The last time, the guy was insane before he even transformed. You, uh... You look just about done, but you're still talking. I... I don't know how that's possible. H-hold on.With a quick flick of her finger, a small arc of electricity shoots between her feathers. Kept her magic, too?
Remain here, experimentThis could be a trick. Some smarter breed trying to trick people. Best to see if this is all true. Also, you'll probably socialize with her. Why not?Leave her here, go get a second opinion.The tower is pretty secure, for the most part. You can ask what Sucy/Francine have to think about this. Bring her back to the hideoutThis is clearly something big. Best to just bring her with you so it can researched properly.Kill her anyway.Not taking any chances.Other.Basic Stats
Level: 14
Health: 50/60
Poison stings: 0/1
Restraint 3/3
Mana: 50/50
Items and equipment
Items:
410 gold coins
Magic Cookbook.
Book On Far Eastern Royalty
4 rations
Equipment:
Steel Scimitar
D-VA armor
Skills and spells
Magic:
Summon Tome: You can take out your piece of the Tome of Eternal Darkness from seemingly nowhere. Others cannot see the book unless you want them to, and it's still headache-inducing to do so.
Resurrect vermin: Allows you to resurrect very small creatures such as rats(invests 2 of your max mana) (no mana cost)
Resurrect average beast: Allows you to resurrect creatures such as dogs, cats and other similar-sized creatures.(invests 7 mana) (no mana cost)
Resurrect Humanoid: Allows you to resurrect humanoid creatures. (Invests 10 mana) (Costs 14 mana)
Reshape minion plus!: Allows you to majorly change the appearance of your resurrected minions.
Control Undead: Allows you to attempt to control an undead that doesn't belong to you. (mana cost of 2 per second, unmastered)
Minion Vision: Allows you to see what a minion sees. The minion must have eyes.
Disintegrate undead: Delete a corpse you currently control.
Animate Piece: Allows you to animate just a piece of dead tissue. It requires your constant attention, and cannot act independently. (Drains 0 mana)
Graft: Allows you to use dead tissue as a replacement limb. Requires a lot of mana. (1 per second) (average limb takes around 20 seconds to properly graft)
Gather Soul: Allows you to make a soul visible. You could try putting it in a flame of some sort to keep it around. (9 mana)
Soul battery: Allows you to use a soul-infused flame as a small mana-boost. This snuffs it out, however
Undead flashbang: Allows you to blow up a minion for a flash-bang effect. (9 mana)
Stitch: allows you to close a wound and stop bleeding as fast as you can stitch. Costs zero mana, but requires something to stitch with.
Siphoning Cloud: Breathe out a cloud that drains the life from victims and gives it to you. Adds a LOT to intimidation (4 mana)
Smoke Cloud: Breathe out harmless but thick smoke. (1 mana)
Deathbolt: A bolt that hurts the body's connection with it's soul. Causes minor wounds to appear over the body as it attempts to compensate (1 mana)
Doombolt: A more powerful version of the above (4 Mana)
Pinworks: You can apply spells into a bone spike, relative to the size of the victim. You can also make traps if you use an offensive spell. Allows creation of free zombies.
Cantrip
Spark: Allows you to set something on fire, provided it is flammable to start with.
Skills:
Broodmother: Once per day, you can sting something to create spiderlings, which are large, clever spiders that adore you by default. Your instincts cause you to be VERY protective of them.
Crossbow usage: Novice
Adaptation: You regenerate mana faster than most
Gun usage: Novice
Oral Fixation: Can cast spells spells from the mouth.
Draining: Can drain blood using fangs.
Incredible experience in blocking and swordplay.
Climber
Crafty: Bolas
Cooking skill: Excellent
Corpse Cutting: Quite Decent.
Animal handling: inexperienced.
Necromantic knowledge
Soul Sniffer
Spiders
Lieutenant (Really large spider. Can use magic and is really smart for a spider)
3 Breedlings (White spider, slightly larger than average. Their stings spawn spiderites)
3 spiderites (small, weaker spider that is still highly loyal to you. Expendable and toxic.)
Author
Topic: Web of Life: A Drider's Adventure (Ended) (Read 184956 times)