Turn 11: True CallingMaxime rests among the swaying palms and brilliant flowers, feeling the final remnants of the nightmare drift away from her. Mentally shelving any dubious plans involving Princesses fake or real, she set out to explore her archipelago under the cloudless cerulean sky. From somewhere came the faint echoes of drumming, and as she pushes through luxuriant vegetation, Maxime catches a glimpse of her old fascination: arthropods.
"Perhaps that shipwreck was not such bad luck after all."
I think this might be where Maxime bows out, choosing to abandon the kingdom and stay on the crab islands. Get an epilogue, give another player a shot.
[3] You decide to settle down into a nice nonapocalyptic epilogue, maybe forging the local savages into a glorious hidden city that will weather the coming storm. Alas, the locals are surly and routinely plagued by volcano cults seeking to destroy the world. You've had worse epilogues, but this one's just begging for a sequel.
+1 Subterfuge
Retired!Glaring at Enoch for his tactless stupidity, Cio had little to no time to even do something about that nuisance of an action, and no time further for anything else--somehow there were mages now missing, and a total lack of communication once more!
Illusion; get to getting the princess out of whatever Enoch did to her! Hopefully with influence of Dreamwalker.
[1] For a moment, you think you'll be able to fix this. That maybe you can reach into the princess' mind, reach into the dreams you all share, and bring her out of it.
Then the screaming starts.
It's the screaming of many things: The Princess, the nameless things the princess now communes with, you of course... but it's also the screaming of materials bending and shredding, of even this hellish structure coming apart at your presence.
Of the princess
hatching.You are jolted back into reality with a mild case of fever dreams and vomiting.
Princess: Thrashing Coma+Dreamwalker+Imminent Cuddly Tentacle Empress+Patient Cucumber Princess+Generous Mushroom Sultana->Trifold Empress AscendantEnoch has to use Dagon Magic and our linked dreamscapes to continue teaching the Princess about how to use Dagon Magic as a weapon and how to summon the things from beyond. He already did this before while stuck in a bag, he can do it again.
"What's wrong, Enoch? Everything is going according to the plan. To learn, one has to experience first. I know, We might need to stop Cio. She's getting in the way. Life will always lead to Death. Hope will always lead to Desperation. Everything that is part of reality seeks the way to end itself.
[2] You reach out through the dreamscape and find... more. A blazing
presence, glaring upon you as uncomprehendingly as a god might stare at a leaf blown nearby.
Oh also those vents of unreality between you and the princess seem to have... adjusted? It's now a corridor through places that cannot exist yet are. Needless to say the inhabitants are pleased to see you.
Both: Terror Vents->Nightmare ChannelTry to convince the new pyromancer to give lessons to the Kilnsticker Guard.
[3] You give an impassioned speech about the need to expunge the baker menace, but she only reluctantly agrees to do it for money or something. You readily agree, both because it's hard to back out of a heroic speech when the bill comes and because people you deal with don't seem to last all that long anyway.
+1 Public Speaking
Pyro Debt((I could swear I had posted. I guess the browser ate my post before I submitted it then I forgot all about it.))
"No, not like that. How about you be grateful I, the EVIL deity the cult worships, not only teaches you wondrous magic but also helps put yourself together when you fail? And that means calling me a dragon, by the way. Not a crab." Nallihen complained as he followed the suicidal volunteer and tried to piece him back together.
Help the suicidal volunteer rebuild himself properly.
[2] Nope, he melts further. Like, he was a
thick goo before, now it's much creamier and smoother.
Still screaming, though.
Taking Maxine's example in light of the increasingly chaotic tower and Baker Purge, Dennis decides to go retire to the ocean with his beloved sea cucumbers.
I'll give up my slot as well, I don't really have any more ideas for this character.
[3] Like Maxime, you decide to get while the gettin's good. Well, maybe not 'good' so much as... better than you foresee it being in the near future. Possibly the un-near future as well, assuming the coming apocalypse doesn't destroy the mortal notion of time or something. It might.
Anyway, you find a nice spot of ocean, but it's a little rough and deeper than you'd like. Damned open ocean prices have been inflated ever since those intelligent half-golem sharks started buying up all the real estate via butchering everything within reach.
+1 Sea Cucumber Care
Retired!Nji put it all out of his mind. The drowsiness helped. Everything and anything that might distract him from his purpose needed to go. All would be discarded, everything except for the bonds forged by the universal weirds, the bonds that fastened him to his pupil. To tread where she treads now he will need a clear path. He will invade these realms she spasms in and make them his own. And the princess will regrow them from fear into a place of beauty. Perhaps the fungi can even live in these realms. It is, after all, a place of dreams. It will teach her to grant life instead of destroy. Maybe even fight against her fears.
Take my soul out of the body and follow after the princess' comatose mind, shielding her from harm and helping her convert the nightmare realms into shroom habitats. More lively shrooms.
[6] You hurl yourself into the dreaming void, hoping to shield the princess from harm. Unfortunately the real harm comes from someone trying to help, and you're powerless to halt the birth of a terrible new god.
You're also powerless to not attach to her like a fungal spore, sprouting into a pleasant armor over an eldritch horror dwelling within a nightmarish dreamscape.
You're uncertain how to reverse this.
You: +2 Dagon Magic
Both: Nightmare Fungal ArmorNinjas:Kidnap Sally, then burn the tower to the ground: (5) Dolosus, RGU, Quest, Doomblade, ZBridges
Bug Out: (1) Egan
[1] You try to stuff Sally into a bag and then use her as a mobile flamethrower, but she just starts lighting
you on fire instead!
Another bad week for the shadow arts.
Sally: Ninjabane->Paladin of FireTeach the dumb guards
[6] The guards come to realize the power of fire, and cackle alongside you while burning the unrighteous. Now they understand why the Bakers are to be truly loathed and feared: They were attempting to keep the Secret of Fire to themselves. NO LONGER!
Both: +2 Fire Magic
Kilnstickers:The Cabal and Citadel are relatively quiet this week... as far as you can tell.
01 Mathelius the Ever-Angry, Responsible Angry Old Person (ziizo)
02 Jhin the Arcane, Neurotic Procurer (Doomblade)
03 Luark Ambereye, Life Mage (Roboson)
04 Jenkins, Seventh Eye of Isalgr'sheq (Atomic Chicken)
05 Vladimir Markov, Adamant Therapist (Shadowclaw)
06 Lucia Haiieitta, Secret Police (Egan)
07 Krazztar, BLOOOOOD MAAAAAAGE (Dolosus)
08 Erin Quill, Magitechnician (Glass)
09 Xazzoth, Crazy Old Man (darkwarlock)
10 El'Liger, Wrestler Wizard (PaPaj)
[4][10] Jenkins and El'Liger can saunter on back to the tower, if they'd like to. Otherwise, somebody else will probably steal their spot!
Princess Marcille
ASCENDED
-
+2 Apprentice Dagon Priest (5/8)
+1 Novice Consoler (2/4)
+1 Novice Sea Cucumber Mage (1/4)
+1 Novice Magical Theorist (0/4)
+1 Novice Mycomancer (0/4)
+0 Dabbling Vitamancer (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Public Speaker (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Sea Cucumber Carer (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Illusionist (0/2)
-1 Incompetent Sacrificer (1/2)
-1 Incompetent Air Mage (1/2)
-1 Incompetent History Mage (1/2)
-
Scorn For Life Magics: Life magic, Vitamancy, Mutationsim... none of it works, none of it helps, NONE OF IT IS WORTHY!
Enthusiastic Magical Theory: You don't have to be a sea cucumber when you love your classes!
Noodle Armed: Poor Marcy is not very martially inclined, tending to quake and quail at calls to valorous combat.
Fear of the Dark: The Princess gets nervous when she can't see things, such as in the dark or behind a veil of illusion.
Humanoid Graft: Has a long and branching mass of tentacles protruding from mouth. The tentacles are extremely vibrant and healthy, while her actual body is sickly and frail. Understandably swearing eternal vengeance against all of you over this.
YAK NAK VAR AIE: Ashul'adan ok'phur man'or u'k ver'fal'fal'mroa tshu'mar mor'ai ko'vak ko'vak ko'vak ab'tul mo'ka.
IT COMES: The princess seems rather distraught about something?
Nightmare Channel: You are connected to deep pathways that cannot exist, yet do. Are there voices within, or merely the echoes of your own fraying mind?
Gentle Caress: The princess knows the things between worlds have plans for her. They have assured her all will be as it should be.
Cute Puppy!: Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy who S E E S A L L ?
Hankering: Really could do with a good ol' fashioned sacrifice...
Crying Wreck: The princess is having a breakdown on account of regaining her humanity while all these terrible things are happening. Maybe this is the first step to getting better?
Doubtful Hope: The Princess isn't entirely convinced all is beyond salvation. Also she'd rather not be a world-shattering terror, all else being equal.
Drowsy And Full: You feel sleepy and content, which might hamper your attempts to light everything on fire.
Trifold Empress Ascendant: Lo! Behold your Empress, The Ever-Dreamer Ascendant, bound not by rules of the material! Lo! Behold your Salvation, The Writhing In The Dark, bound not by shackles of form. Lo! Behold your Ruin, The Weaver Of Fate, bound not by doubts of humanity.
Nightmare Fungal Armor: The Princess' terrible dreamform bears a mantle of soothing, protective mushrooms, the embodiment of Nji's life force hurled into the dream realm.
Nallihen Talandr (Caellath)
Healthy and Goo-Free!
-
+3 Adept Polymorpher (6/16)
+2 Apprentice Vitamancer (2/8)
+1 Novice Resilient (0/4)
+1 Novice Charismatic (0/4)
-
The Great Crab: Worshiped by a nearby cult of terrified peasants who occasionally leave offerings to The Briny One. Attempts to explain that he is an evil and fearsome dragon rather than an arctic crab have failed.
Mild Grumbles: Your colleagues keep accidentally hiding your keys and unscrewing the specimen jars. Or maybe the specimens are unscrewing the specimen jars.
Suicidal Volunteer
Creamy And Smooth
-
+1 Novice Polymorpher (2/4)
High Priests
Incompetent
-
+0 Dabbling Polymorphers (0/2)
Sally
Feelin' Fine!
-
+2 Apprentice Fire Mage (0/8)
+1 Novice Accountant (0/4)
+0 Dabbling Researcher (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Medic (0/2)
+0 Dabbling Psychoarthropodist (0/2)
-
Lightly Melting Walls: You keep seeing things that should not be, cannot be, and by all subsequent investigation are not. However, lately they've seemed more frequent and less exploitable in arcane magic.
Cabal Possessed: You're infested with nightmare lice, nightmare spiders, and their mysterious overlord. From their towering citadel within your own nightmares, they plot and scheme for ever greater power...
Citadel Possessed: You're infested with nightmare parasitic wasps. From their mighty citadel, they plot their dominion over all things, and of infinite fields of spiders to consume...
Dreamwalker: Your mind is linked up with everyone else's, resulting in a sort of closely shared dreamscape that sometimes manifests even for those not part of the link.
Firelord: SETTING THINGS ON FIRE SOLVES EVERYTHING!
Drowsy And Full: You feel sleepy and content, which might hamper your attempts to light everything on fire.
Paladin of Fire: Sally is a valiant crusder of justice and righteousness! Which is to say she gets to roast the hell out of anything that sneaks into the tower, like ninjas!
The Cabal
Fine/Fine
-
Deep Schism: The entity known as The Cabal is actually two rival factions with similar methods and goals. While they are not above working together, they are similarly not above directly opposing each other's aims.
Ninja Shells: The Cabal controls a few ninja fools who attempted to mindrape their betters.
The Citadel
Stifled!
Nji (Secheral)
It's Complicated
-
+3 Adept Mycomancer (5/16)
+2 Apprentice Dagon Priest (7/8)
+2 Apprentice Life Mage (0/8)
-
Above the Law: Your reckless disregard for civility and law has earned you a fearsome reputation as a ruthless outlaw, not to be lightly crossed.
Nagging Feeling: You feel like you're being watched all the time. Presumably by your all-seeing puppy whose gaze knows barriers of neither stone nor time.
Mild Grumbles: Your colleagues keep accidentally hiding your keys and unscrewing the specimen jars. Or maybe the specimens are unscrewing the specimen jars.
Dreamwalker: Your mind is linked up with everyone else's, resulting in a sort of closely shared dreamscape that sometimes manifests even for those not part of the link.
Drowsy And Full: You feel sleepy and content, which might hamper your attempts to light everything on fire.
Nightmare Fungal Armor: The Princess' terrible dreamform bears a mantle of soothing, protective mushrooms, the embodiment of Nji's life force hurled into the dream realm.
Enoch (randomgenericusername)
Lightly Savaged
-
+3 Adept Dagon Priest (8/16)
+2 Apprentice Archarus Priest (0/8)
+2 Apprentice Hag Magic (0/8)
-
Starsucker: Has a knack for sucking nightmarish abominations into the world. Does not have a knack for controlling nightmarish abominations.
Nightmare Channel: You are connected to deep pathways that cannot exist, yet do. Are there voices within, or merely the echoes of your own fraying mind?
Chitinous Hunt: Humanoid bugs are hunting you in your dreams, including the waking ones you have all the time due to the link-thingy. That makes your day very exciting!
Mild Grumbles: Your colleagues keep accidentally hiding your keys and unscrewing the specimen jars. Or maybe the specimens are unscrewing the specimen jars.
Dreamwalker: Your mind is linked up with everyone else's, resulting in a sort of closely shared dreamscape that sometimes manifests even for those not part of the link.
Drowsy And Full: You feel sleepy and content, which might hamper your attempts to light everything on fire.
Very Slightly Carved: You've had some slight disagreements with crude stone weapons and horrifying nightmares intent on hunting you for sport.
Archeux "Archie" Venison (OceanSoul)
Healthy
-
+3 Adept Academic (0/16)
+2 Apprentice History Mage (1/8)
+1 Novice Enchanter (0/4)
+1 Novice Polymorpher (0/4)
+1 Novice Magical Theorist (0/4)
-1 Incompetent Sealer (1/2)
-
Arkanikon: Has glimpsed the terrible truths of basic magic and recorded these unspeakable secrets into a blasphemous tome, available at most book shops and read widely by children. Has more familiarity with basic and intermagic principles, and haunted by swarms of living and ghostly children wanting autographs and deeper fell knowledge.
Mild Grumbles: Your colleagues keep accidentally hiding your keys and unscrewing the specimen jars. Or maybe the specimens are unscrewing the specimen jars.
Dreamwalker: Your mind is linked up with everyone else's, resulting in a sort of closely shared dreamscape that sometimes manifests even for those not part of the link.
Best Idea: There's a Sealing Mage you could summon from beyond, if you had the right components. Dark, ruinous components, not needed save for the vilest of sorceries... and this, which would turn out great!
Drowsy And Full: You feel sleepy and content, which might hamper your attempts to light everything on fire.
Cio Cioae (Tiruin)
Healthy
-
+3 Adept Air Mage (1/16)
+2 Apprentice Prophet (0/8)
+1 Novice Life Mage (0/4)
+1 Novice Illusionist (2/4)
+1 Novice Consoler (2/4)
-
Philosopher: Renowned as a guru and philosopher, granting improved understanding of foreign, sometimes downright alien and inexplicable, psychology and conditions.
Mild Grumbles: Your colleagues keep accidentally hiding your keys and unscrewing the specimen jars. Or maybe the specimens are unscrewing the specimen jars.
Dreamwalker: Your mind is linked up with everyone else's, resulting in a sort of closely shared dreamscape that sometimes manifests even for those not part of the link.
Drowsy And Full: You feel sleepy and content, which might hamper your attempts to light everything on fire.
Mordred (Nirur)
Healthy
-
+3 Adept Public Speaker (6/16)
+2 Apprentice Poll Mage (4/8)
+1 Novice Tactician (0/4)
+1 Novice Sacrificer (1/4)
+0 Dabbling Dagon Priest (0/2)
-
Noble Hero: Celebrated as a noble hero, especially by the vile aristrocracy and hungry wraiths of the Untouchable Wastes.
Cracked Mirror: You've glimpsed the terrible truths lurking beyond... and within.
Mild Grumbles: Your colleagues keep accidentally hiding your keys and unscrewing the specimen jars. Or maybe the specimens are unscrewing the specimen jars.
Dreamwalker: Your mind is linked up with everyone else's, resulting in a sort of closely shared dreamscape that sometimes manifests even for those not part of the link.
Drowsy And Full: You feel sleepy and content, which might hamper your attempts to light everything on fire.
Pyro Debt: You owe Sally something. Hopefully something you can provide or she'll probably light you on fire.
Kilnsticker Guard
Zealous and Reasonable
-
+3 Apprentice Pitchforkers (0/8)
+0 Dabbling Fire Mages (0/2)
-
Doughy Hatred: You refuse to let these treacherous maggots infest your kingdom any longer. Let all who wield a rolling pin or wear an apron beware!
Dreamwalker: Your mind is linked up with everyone else's, resulting in a sort of closely shared dreamscape that sometimes manifests even for those not part of the link.
Fiery Reclaimers: The secrets of Fire must be retaken from the vile Bakers who have hoarded them for themselves!