*describes method*
[convert him]
Make him order money, say that he saw a great evil being vanquished and deserves a party to these oh-so brave people. And then we will go back to corrupting the city.
If everything else go to shit. eat him, point swords at the knights' throats and convert them
This is a good idea but if it fails break his mind and Mischa can look after him
I suggest to send at least one knight to the village. Training villagers will help us in the long run. Maybe add some criminals for further buff of Fellshore
The Duke storms into the temple, flanked by four knights, with Mischa trailing behind. In a loud, commanding voice he demands to speak to his high priest. You approach him instead, apologising that the high priest is busy and can not talk at the moment, but indicating that you would be happy to help. The Duke insists that you tell him what has been going on, and why on earth it is taking so long. You suggest in a quiet voice that you speak in private, away from prying ears. The Duke accepts, following you to the inner sanctum. The decor is mostly the same as when you... interviewed Mischa, though the statuettes have been covered with drapes, so as not to overly alarm visitors. The braziers still belch out black smoke, however, and the Duke is taken by a fit of coughing. You offer him a drink, which he gratefully accepts, hesitating only slightly when he realises it is wine and not water.
You mention that you have interrogated the Necromancer to the death, and are now studying his corpse to ensure it does not rise up again. He demands to see the body, refusing to talk until he has seen this so-called Necromancer with his own eyes. You lead him into the temple's morgue, where one of your slaves lies on a slab, with demonic runes carved into their skin and wearing dark robes. The Duke inspects the body carefully, noting the signs of torture, tracing the lines of the runes with his finger, even opening the mouth and inspecting the teeth. Eventually he is satisfied, and demands you tell him what you learnt from your surely extensive questioning. Returning to the inner sanctum, you explain that the necromancer was working under the protection of certain political factions in the realm. Predictably, the Duke demands you tell him who they are. You hesitate briefly before revealing their identity, then act surprised when the Duke cries out "I knew it! Is there no low those bastards will not sink to to gain power?"
You gravely inform him that the necromancer was not alone, but merely the tip of the iceberg of foul plots employed by his enemies. The Duke seems somewhat more sceptical of this, musing that whilst hiding a single necromancer would not be beyond their abilities, such a significant plot would surely be beyond them. You barrel on, explaining that it seems they were planning on taking out a high value target in the near future, suggesting fearfully that the Duke may be said target. The Duke looks at you suspiciously. Perhaps you have been laying it on too thick? You quickly mesmerise him and erase the last minute of conversation from his mind.
"I knew it! Is there no low those bastards will not sink to to gain power?". This time you suggest a more plausible conspiracy of a handful of other necromancers and suchlike. The Duke nods, concerned, then asks if you know what they were planning. You explain that you were not able to get anything concrete out of the suspect, but that there may have been a plot on someone's life involved. The Duke puts two and two together, and looks quite worried. It could be me that they were targeting, he says. He must hire additional guards at once.
You explain that ordinary guards may not be enough to hold such evil forces at bay. Not even the gods could truly save you from a concerted effort on their part. But perhaps there is a way of avoiding a grizzly fate at their hands, you say. A method not found in the Old Way, but in a New Way of thinking. The Duke asks what you mean. You explain that in cases such as these, the priesthood sometimes turns to... a different source of salvation. A more tangible force, a more immediate power. The Duke insists that you tell him. You explain that it is a well-kept secret, and that it must only be shared in the most dire of circumstances. Agitated, the Duke demands that you tell him at once.
You tell the Duke that he may protect himself from dark forces by offering a prayer to the being known as Nokluvgn. The Duke winces at the sound of your name, but nods in understanding. Naturally, you explain, you must keep this a secret from everyone else. The Duke agrees to keep his worship of Noklevugen a secret. It is your turn to wince slightly at your name being butchered, but you smile and ask him if there is anything else he needs. No, he says, thanking you for your time.
The Duke leaves, his bodyguard in tow. Mischa stays behind to talk with you, asking for more help with her magics. You agree to show her some of the finer points of controlling Evil, and spend a few hours demonstrating for her, and correcting her mistakes. By the end, she is able to raise the corpse of the 'necromancer' for a few minutes at a time, as well as draw Evil from the death of small animals.
The Duke stays in town for two more days, secretly praising your name in the dead of night, but eventually decides that there is no more to be learnt here (and that his missing knights must have run away for some reason), and prepares to leave. He summons the high priest and Mischa, demanding that they accompany him back to his castle- and you have no real choice but to let them go. The choice you do have is whether to follow them;
-You will, to work more on corrupting the Duke.
-You'd rather stay in Nuulyd, and focus your efforts here.
Whether you stay or go, your cult can continue your 'good' work in town, converting more members through their hedonistic get-togethers. You give them your orders to
-Do so. Convert as many people as possible, swelling the ranks of the cult
-Do so, but focus on the more important members of the community, growing the cult in a more subtle way.
-Focus instead on gathering resources.
-Do something else.
Not described in the update: One of the Knights travels to Fellshore and begins instructing the villagers in combat. Their training will take some time to pay off.
You eat a random citizen your cultists kidnap. It sates your hunger. Concerned family start looking all over town for their missing relative.
Name: Nokluvgn
Age: 4.5 months
Physical might: 27
Mental might: 24
Followers:100 (74 villagers, 4 Wordbearers, 11 criminals, 7 rich men, 3 knights (heavily armed), 1 ex-priest)
Slaves: 12 (4 priests, 1 high priest, 7 guards (armed))
Servants: 10 (4 Brutewolves, two Smokewraiths, one devil-horse, 3 spectres)
Cults: The New Way (Fellshore): Low organization. 77 members in Fellshore (74 villagers, 2 Wordbearers, 1 knight (heavily armed))
Power level: 14
Of which: 6 spent gathering resources, 5 spent expanding the labyrinth, 3 spent training.
Resources: 12
Other: Training is underway (3/30)
The New Way (Nuulyd): 24 members in Nuulyd. (11 criminals, 2 Wordbearers, 7 rich men, 2 knights, 1 ex-priest)
Power level: 6
Resources: 1
Other: As they cannot exchange resources freely (yet), the two branches of The New Way will temporarily be tracked separately
Champions: Mischa Alwiz: The Duke's 'loyal' companion, now corrupted by the allure of evil.
Physical Might: 1
Mental Might: 6
Knowledge: Magic, basic Necromancy.
Other: A crash course in manipulating evil has taught her the basics of Necromancy. More advanced Necromancy will require considerable study, or the tutelage of another, more skilled Necromancer.
Fortresses: Fellshore: A small fishing village nestled between a small lake and a forest (with mountains not so far in the distance), now undermined with tunnels and chambers forming a twisted maze, lit with smoky torches, where the shadows form strange shapes in the corner of your eyes.
Small tunnel network: increases secrecy of local cult. Being upgraded (20/50)
Small (hidden) altar: A suitable place to sacrifice to you and praise your dark name.
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Topic: Demonhood 2 -Number of giant minions lost: between 0 and 3- (Read 143838 times)