Mischa: Parisbre's idea
Malkus: Stay/Go - unclear, flipping a coin... Stay.
Hungover guy: Eaten
Cultists: Reduce wall-building efforts, redirect recruitment power towards specifically Nuulyd and Brylib. Train cultists.
Nokluvgn: Find wizard's house. Attack it at night (Ourself+Smokewraths), convert(but don't make him stronger)\enslave\kill the wizard. Grab him\his corpse and his stuff and travel back to Fellshore to gift Mischa some toys if her work is good. Than go to your temple and spend the next month there to corrupt the place by leakage, force black imps to drink less and work harder and increase their number to 10, create 3 more wordbearers and 3 more smokewraths
Additionally, create a ritual that allows sacrifice of unborn children of cultists giving you power to do everything above. This ritual should be done by laying a pregnant woman on your altar and pronouncing a special prayer. Use it to terminate all unwanted pregnancies in the cult but don't take children that are wanted by their mothers, at least yet
But also maybe
Continue converting people in Oegorda
Just gonna combine these two (the second one on its own would be kind of boring anyway)
You travel throughout the city, going wherever the contaminated crops are consumed, and convert the unlucky consumers. After a few days of 'fruitful' conversions, 18 new members join the cult in Oegorda. You then decide to investigate the magic user whose dreams you detected earlier. You search the city high and low, carefully avoiding coming into contact with any priests, but cannot detect that tell-tale aura that magic users possess.
Frustrated, you wait for nightfall before once again peering into the dreams of Oegorda. There again you detect the dreams of a magic user, and attempt to subtly infiltrate them to discover the identity of the dreamer.
Your attempt goes horribly awry.
As soon as you reach out to touch the dream, it recoils, becoming a dense, impenetrable sphere (metaphorically speaking). Then blasts of energy start to emanate from
inside the dream, targeting you. This all happens in the course of less than three seconds, and you are so surprised that you are unable to dodge the blasts. They do considerable damage- though at your current strength 'tis but a scratch- and you quickly vacate the dreamscape, before this mystery dreamer does more serious damage.
Most concerning. Though it was only the element of surprise that gave the dreamer the upper hand, it is nevertheless a fact that you face a powerful mortal, who poses a serious threat, if not to you, then to your operations. You order your cultists in Oegorda to lie extra low for the next few days, lest some troublesome wizard comes looking for signs of demonic activity.
You decide that there is nothing more you can do; the dreamer will surely be on guard at night, and you have no desire to take more dream-blasts to the face. Besides, if you stay here, you risk discovery, as the dreamer will also be actively searching for you during the day. Better, then, to let them have this so-called 'victory'-
their triumph now will make your inevitable victory all the sweeter. You return to Fellshore, to see how Mischa's project is coming along, and also check up on the lake-beast(?).
Mischa is most glad to see you- only because she cannot wait to show you her idea, of course. She reveals to you her plan to create a device that will do double duty as evil-storage device and phylactery, using soul-capture technology to contain a part of your essence separate from the rest of you. You detect an element of deceit in her voice, but no desire for treachery in her mind- only a growing lust for power and domination. Of which you naturally approve, which is why you accept her proposal and tell her to start work immediately.
She says she will need materials. Of course, you say, the resources of the New Way are at your disposal. You misunderstand, she replies, I need
living materials. With souls in. That I can extract. Naturally you are capable of providing this, but you must decide how. Eventually you settle on
-Giving Mischa free reign to acquire her own captives however she sees fit. This is her project, after all.
-Ordering your cult to perform some low-profile kidnappings of people who won't be missed- lone travellers, vagrants, childless old people.
-Ordering your cultists to give themselves up for use in Mischa's experiments.
-Dismissing the entire project as too costly. As a demon, you can't just go around kidnapping people all the time, that would be wrong.
With Mischa satisfied (or not), you move on to the other female follower who demands your attention. Kate is eager to tell you of her exploits in magic, and to demonstrate that a seed of evil can already be detected growing within her. She also wants to know what you have been doing, to tell her of all the depraved acts you have committed. You naturally respond by
-Dismissing her... dismissively. She is to be the mother of your child, but that does not mean she can take up your time with trivialities.
-Dismissing her gently. You don't have time for this at the moment, but it is probably a good idea not to make her feel too bad- it might affect the health of your child, after all.
-Having a delightful chat with the missus. Demonically.
Half a dozen other matters require your attention. You order the cultists to cease work on the half-finished wall and focus more on the labyrinth. To help in this endeavour you create seven new black imps, who naturally assign themselves seven stupid names, and go off to work in the labyrinth singing an infuriatingly cheerful song. You further aid in the creation of the maze by personally corrupting it, amplifying its already haunting smoke-filled halls into a nightmare realm from which ordinary mortals could not hope to escape. Skeletons and spectres lurk in hidden corners, and the haze filling the halls is itself possessed of a certain sentience, capable of letting approved entrants pass through the maze unhindered, whilst clouding the vision of unwanted intruders so badly that they cannot see their own feet.
With construction out of the way, you move on to contraception. As you predicted, there are many female cultists in various stages of pregnancy, the result of months of debauchery in your name. You offer them all an alternative to giving birth, a more direct way of aiding the cause. Several take you up on your offer, citing reasons from not wanting to go through the pain of childbirth to wanting to be able to fight unhindered by some mewling babe. The rest are too taken by natural motherly instincts to want to get rid of their child, especially those in the later stages of pregnancy. You could always force them to perform the ritual, but you don't want to test your cultists loyalties too much, and besides, their children will grow up to be your most loyal followers, having known no other master their entire lives.
Those who do accept your offer are taken deep into the rapidly expanding labyrinth, to the chamber that now houses your altar. It has been improved since those early days when the first sacrifices were performed in your name- then it was just a slab of rock, now it is an engraved hunk of opulence, with channels to let the blood run off and everything. It isn't gold-plated yet, but we make do. You have the first participant lay down naked on the altar, with a cushion for comfort, and place your hand on her swollen abdomen. Whilst the girl looks around nervously, perhaps wondering if this was not some ploy to find more sacrifices (he could have just asked, she thinks), you chant a few words in demontongue and breathe a plume of smoke over the reclined figure. At the sound of those cursed words, the girl's eyes begin to glow, smoke starts pouring out of her mouth, and her body starts to shake violently. Then a bright white mist arises from her belly, the entrapped soul of the unborn child. You swallow it up, relishing the taste of purest innocence. Moments later, the liquefied remnants of the fetus begin to pour out from between her legs, and she lets out a pained moan, but who cares about that, this soul is
delicious.
You repeat the process with the other volunteers, and you feel your power rising. You use said power to create new Wordbearers, continuing until three candidates survive the ritual. With the remaining Evil you create a third Smokewraith (you had hoped for two, but there simply was not enough energy, and you don't want to burn through your power too quickly).
Finally you get around to the lake. Mischa's 'suspicions' mean little to you, and you want to know more about what is coming. You send a small pulse of evil into the lake... and moments later, get a reply. Black oil appears on the surface of the lake, and bubbles start to foam up the oil-slick water. Then a voice emanates from the bubbling patch of darkness. At least, you assume it is a voice. It sounds too complex to be merely animal noises, but you have no idea what it is saying. It sounds like a
corrupted form of demontongue. At the end of the... message, the voice repeats one word several times: glvlgdng. Which is sort of similar to the demontongue word for
'stringed instrument being played poorly'*, but you doubt that is what it was trying to say.
With its message delivered, the water stops bubbling, and the oil begins to disperse. Well, at least you know it is awake, whatever it is. Presumably it will be coming soon?
Perhaps you should prepare for its arrival (and stock up on evil energy) by
-Doing something evil
I wouldn't worry too much about being detected (probably?) in Oegorda. Probably nothing bad will happen because of it.
...anyway, also happened this update: your cult did some stuff
E: Oh, by the way, I am travelling at the moment, and may not be able to update regularly. I should have internet & time most days, but I can't guarantee anything.
Name: Nokluvgn
Age: 7.5 months (.5)
Physical might: 46 (+3 p/w: province-wide suffering)(-3.5: creating black imps)(-5: corrupting labyrinth)(+0.5: leftover evil from baby ritual*)
Mental might: 42 (+3 p/w: province-wide suffering)(-4!: dream attacks)(-3.5: creating black imps)(-5: corrupting labyrinth)(+0.5: leftover evil from baby ritual*)
Followers:237 (150 cultists, 8 cultists (armed), 29 trained cultists (armed), 40 mercenaries (armed), 6 Wordbearers, 3 knights (heavily armed), 1 Duke)
Slaves: 12 (4 priests, 1 high priest, 7 guards (armed))
Servants: 46 (8 Brutewolves, 3 Smokewraiths, 15 spectres, 3 giant-rat-packs, 10 black imps, 8 skeletons, 4 Hollow Remnants, 3 fungal druids)
Cults:
The New Way: Low organization. 187 members (100 cultists, 8 cultists (armed), 29 Nails (armed), 40 mercenaries (armed), 6 Wordbearers, 3 knights (heavily armed), 1 Duke)
Slaves: 12 (4 priests, 1 high priest, 7 guards (armed))
Power level: 26 (18 used)
Of which: 4 spent improving the labyrinth in Fellshore, 3 spent recruiting in Nuulyd (sneaky-like), 3 spent recruiting & replacing in Brylib, 6 spent training cultists (12/30), 2 spent training cultists (magic, 2/10).
Secrecy estimate: Somewhat at risk in Oegorda (you think), but fine everywhere else.
Resources: 1120 (+40 p/week: Duke's income)(-6p/w: building labyrinth)(-2: new altar)
Locations: Fellshore: Fortress
Nuulyd: Merchant & town council & jail connections.
Castle Brylib: Court connections+.
Oegorda: Nokluvgn may have been detected here.
Fözdoch Province (misc): No special features.
Other: Recruitment goes a bit more underground, yet is still successful. 6 new cultists join you in Nuulyd, including several jail-guards. Meanwhile in Castle Brylib, efforts are of moderate success, the already deeply corrupt courtiers more willing than your average citizen to join the cult. 4 new cultists join, and several cultists from Nuulyd are hired as staff. Also, construction on the labyrinth goes much quicker with the new black imps digging away.
Champions:
Mischa Alwiz: The Duke's 'loyal' companion, now corrupted by the allure of evil.
Physical Might: 1
Mental Might: 7
Knowledge: Magic, adequate Necromancy.
Possessions: Grey imp (knowledge of human & demonic magic, disguised as a crow)
Other: Awaits test subjects for her attempts at soul extraction and storage. Continues to tutor cultists in Fellshore in the art of magic. Also Kate, who remains insufferable.
Malkus Rom: The captain of the mercenaries in the Duke's employ, he proved an especially eager convert, requiring only the most minor of rewards before pledging his loyalty to you.
Physical Might: 9 (+2: Devil-horse)
Mental Might: 2
Knowledge: Competent Tactics.
Possessions: Devil-horse (A huge black horse with demonic strength and intellect; +2 physical strength, greatly increased mobility)
Other: Remains behind as the 50 cultists (and 950 other recruits) march -or rather walk in a disorganised manner- towards the capital in the west.
"Kate": A female Wordbearer, trained in combat and provided with arms and armour, now the vessel for your demonic offspring.
Physical Might: 6
Mental Might: 4
Knowledge: Adequate Mesmerism, dabbling Magic.
Other: 1/9(?) months pregnant. Continues to think of Mischa as a deluded fool who believes that she is superior to her despite the mountains of evidence to the contrary.
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 many tunnels and chambers forming a twisted maze, lit with smoky torches, where the shadows form strange shapes in the corner of your eyes.
Smallish labyrinth (10, increases secrecy)(being upgraded to Medium Labyrinth 28/200), Crude wall (construction halted. Defence value of 5. 32/100)
Hidden altar: A suitable place to sacrifice to you and praise your dark name. Recently upgraded to a nicer version. Mostly a cosmetic upgrade, though.
Author
Topic: Demonhood 2 -Number of giant minions lost: between 0 and 3- (Read 144001 times)