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Stitia, Plane of 13 Deaths (RPG Style Saga/My First Saga)
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This shard of starlight. It was the same as the one Pathos brought to the world long ago. He remembers...
When he was injured, he was taken to Gothael to recover. Everyone was too busy with the sudden outbreak of plague to heal his supernatural injury; every able cleric was sent elsewhere. As he lie there in a small hut, the plague made its way into Gothael, taking hold of the village right as he returned to duty. He was helpless to aid them. Nothing seemed capable of curing this supernatural disease that cursed the populace. Eventually, the plague hit a household of nine, that already struggled to get along.
"What... was your friend's name?" Pathos asks Byro.
"Reggie..." Reggie... he was the last child in a struggling family of nine.
Reggie's brother, Arnie, was stricken with the plague. Pathos couldn't stand for the innocent to suffer needlessly any longer. Their whole lives, they did acts of good, helping the entire town. And yet, in their hardest times, their youngest son was struck by the plague. When Pathos came down with the shard of starlight, Arnie miraculously recovered. But once the village found out a cure existed, the family was swarmed, ravaged for everything they had. Reggie took the shard from Arnie's lifeless body, and ran away from home...
"Now... there's... just one question I need to ask..." When Pathos explained that he was the one that gave Arnie the shard, as a cure, something occurred to Byro. "Reggie... died from the Plague, with the shard in his possession. Does that mean it can stop working?!"
"Sometimes it's best you don't ask certain questions." The portal above the group opens again, and a familiar sight emerges. White fur and wings, and a scorpion tail. Arne... but this time, he's changed.
"Arne! Your head!"
"Looks like Conse grew a sense of fashion." Wosy stands up and looks at Arne. "Even your ugly face looks a bit better with horns."
"Silence, miscreant!" More lightning, but this time, it penetrates the ward on the shop, crashing through the ceiling and hitting the table, setting it aflame. "I'm done with giving people second chances. When I realized I could see into the future like my father, I knew I could save lives. Yet despite all of my warnings, it's readily apparent that not even my closest allies are willing to listen to me. Not even the Lord Arbiter himself. And then, when the gods come seeking punishment, the mortals refuse to accept the cost of their mistakes, acting like they don't deserve it. I saw the light. I finally realized that no one deserves a second chance in this world. No one deserves warnings, or mercy. If I have to burn this whole plane to ashes, and kill everyone on it, I shall do it..." Suddenly, Arne erupts in flames, causing a massive explosion that knocks back everyone. No one dies, but everyone other than Wosy, Otaimo, Onaeca, Byro, Pathos, and K'Trinop is seriously injured. "In the name of what is right, by the order of Conse... this is the end of your charade. You have sealed your fate, and I am here to enact it!"
Everyone except Arne took 3 damage. Wosy, Otaimo, and Onaeca have 2 HP left, and Byro, Pathos, and K'Trinop have 7 HP left.
Arne plans to kill all of you, so fleeing is not an option. You'll have to hold him off. He is going to attack 3 times. Make three cards to represent your actions against him. Points will given based mainly on balance, realism, and syntax. Your card does not have to be capable of doing anything to Arne. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be damaging in any way. Effectiveness is determined solely by score.
Each of your entries will be scored from 0-15. Any score below a 12 will count as a miss, and you will take one hit for every point under target your scores are. Every point above target will deal one damage to Arne. Arne will retreat once he has taken 13 damage. Each of you currently have 7 HP.
Criteria:
• 5 points for overall effect and balancing.
• 4 points for realism, following color pie, and proper rarity. You may lose a point if the effect of the card is unclear.
• 3 points for fitting the colors and themes of your character
• 2 points for proper grammar and syntax
• 1 point for flavor (text not required; mainly checking if overall fell of the card fits its art, name, etc.)
Oh well, don't care... bring it on, you think some weird lion, ram, eagle thingy is gonna stop me...
This is my updated version of Byro after he had his ordeal with the Lord Arbiter...
The Eternal Darkness Begins
While there are gaps in time, it's undeniable. Even at noon, the sun gives not a ray to the world. The most you can see is its radiance on the clouds. The crimson moon becomes the main source of light, four times its size and bright enough to illuminate the world with a shadowy red. Lycanthropes are reaching an apex of power, being capable of destroying buildings and never resting. Dark forces garner a supernatural level of resistance, and many have begun to die in their wake.
Meanwhile, the forces of the divine have become corrupted. A new Lord Arbiter ensures the divine forces in the material world will not disobey as a new age of the world begins to be ushered in. Angels with horns. Clerics in black. Gods demanding blood... Those that did not turn away from the Six have become enveloped by their ideals, seemingly overnight. Arne has sworn his final allegiance to the gods. Anyone that has ever committed an act against the Six shall fall. With force comparable to a god, and gaining full free will, the only way to stop him would be to hold him back until he has to retreat. Only an extreme measure of power will be capable of stopping his judgement...
@Pepperoni: After seizing nearly an entire caravan of werewolf corpses, Tiel, disguised as Teegar, went on to Padetra to defuse a conflict, narrowly avoiding capture by Khantsievth's agents. Now, he dwells in Nasita, preparing to storm a cathedral...
@ThatOneCat After escaping capture by a cleric, Gistix followed a corpse caravan onto a ship, killing the entire crew. However, right now, he's stuck in deadlock in a battle against Kia in Padetra.
@sanjaya666 After an epic battle against Reliqid vampires attacking Yrntrn, Rafael was offered a promotion to the third highest divine status on Stitia; Retributionist. However, in an unexpected twist, he refused this position, being expelled from the Beyond and losing his divine status. After fighting a parallel of Arne, he was taken to Racrion to recover, being miraculously healed by a strange man whose techniques bypassed Triskaidians' inability to being healed. He then flew to The Changing Arcanum, where he discovered a prophecy of doomsday from a legendary book, the Stargazium. Now, he travels with the Great Xataxji, hoping he can secure allies before it's too late.
@DrakeGladis After escaping the grasp of a siren, Enerew repaired his ship using a powerful spell. Then, he searched the island for secrets, feeling as though he may of missed something, when, using his cunning, he stumbled across an ancient temple, gaining the blessing of Nohel. Now in Owu, he struggles to escape as he is pursued by hypocritical forces.
@EnvyReaper After saving a small group of adventurers, Draundr returned to the Coven, finding the blade Scour along the way. After fighting off plagueborn specters to retrieve a griffon feather, he returned, using the feathers to create glamours for him and his group. Now a griffon until he's transformed back, Draundr hopes to find the one that killed Drana, who he believes to be a manticore.
@BudGetTheCam Upon Draundr's return, Schoren decides to settle his alchemical studies in favor of aiding Draundr's search for Drana's killer. After fighting off a group of mail thieves, he returns to the Coven. Going with Draundr and co. to Hitcherald, he has taken temporary refuge with allies in a small apartment, hoping to find the same manticore as Draundr.
@TezzeretofCarmot21 After awakening to a new plane, Zacarias is captured by the Duskwood, who believes he is a Bloodwood shaman. Held to the mercy of Sprot, he begs for her acceptance, but surprisingly, Sprot finds within Zacarias a new beginning for the clans. He is given a brand new home, and governance over his own clan, the Rootforged Conclave. After proving his worth against poachers, he has gone into the mountains to take down a group of hunters using firearms...
@EmolgAn After tracking down a mysterious pearl, Alyssa realizes that a merchant ship has already raided the island. She destroys the ship, taking on board anything of use, then going back to port. One of these things was a shipment of ale, which belonged to Mastiffa, but the conflict is resolved non-violently. Another thing she acquired from the voyage was a strange coin, which leads her to Descour...
@Derain2 After awaking from a literal nightmare, Pathos decides to group up with his friend Chertraum and an unusual ally with the same plan, Wosy Crot, to literally rob the heavens. In an ultimate swear to his cause, he partakes in an assassination against a snitch, then returns to Yrntrn to finalize the heist. However, he is halted along the way multiple times by increasingly powerful forces, ending up in a skirmish against the forces of the Beyond. Now, their most powerful being other than the gods themselves faces them...
@MonkeyPirate2002 K'Trinop's journey has been unusual. It begun with fleeing away from spirit hunters, then fighting off a group of thugs. Searching for answers to the world, he goes to a museum, where he comes across a strange revelation. A story, combined with the appearance of Otaimo, reveals that he was a god. Along his journey with Otaimo, he finds the safe house of Wosy and Pathos, and flies to Yrntrn to meet them. Very much in the same situation as Pathos.
Extra Note - Chertraum: Behind Pathos's back, Chertraum had taken the nearly indestructible timepiece to use as a phylactery. Making a deal with a strange individual, her soul was placed into the timepiece, and upon her death, she was reincarnated as Onaeca, the demon of vengeance.
@ASubtleGhost After multiple invasions of his ziggurat, Xataxji finally decides to take action. He meets Mastiffa, Draundr makes a pact with him, and he goes back to meet with his most powerful allies. His meeting is interrupted when one of his minions comes back from an adventure with a coin similar to the one he already bears, leading him to the same location, and he makes his way posthaste to a temple. Now, he is in the presence of another demon, whom he has made a deal with.
@ElMagici The demon whom Mastiffa made a pact with demands a great sacrifice. After her manor was ravaged by vampires, she makes her way to a nearby village, where she kidnaps a cleric named Ana and transforms her into a vampire to collect blood. She has also set up a business in Yrntrn to establish her name, and has gone to Descour to detain a group of pact breakers.
@Bowler218 / @EpicBoss99 This has been quite the venture for these two rangers. After questioning his allegiance with the Duskwood, further reinforced by a prophecy of betrayal bestowed upon him by the gods, Vryx goes to Delvad to strike them down. However, Verth had recently forged an alliance with them after an accident. Verth defends the Duskwood from the attacked, but accidentally infects Vyrx, turning him into a werecrow. Verth makes restitution, taking Vryx to his friend to be cured, but they have to go to Woewedt to find the real Arne, who was a close friend to Uvras, and helped enchant the mythril for his rings. After helping fight off the Bloodwood, they go back to Uvras's hut, and he makes a ring to keep Vryx from transforming. However, Uvras notifies them of a major threat in Racrion, a werehyena named Timothy, and they hunt him down. However, they meet Joseph, who actually turns out to be their real target, using the identity of Timothy to deter suspicion. While Vryx goes back to Descour, Verth goes back to Delvad, soon discovering his fatal error...
@spookoops After being ransacked by evil spirits in Padetra, Byro decides to go back to his home in Ystheria, being closer to the source of the plague and in better safety, However, while there, he discovers a potential cure for the plague, and sets out to identify it. In Hitcherald, he is attacked, and nearly loses the stone, but he fights his way out, and escapes with a rebel named Lo, who takes him with a shipment of stolen holy artifacts to Yrntrn. He ends up in a fight against the divine, and has to defend himself...
Now if I missed anyone I will explode.
@KorandAngels There's not room above since I hit the character limit.
After defending not just Hitcherald, but Yrntrn, Ishka rose in status to a Divine Scholar, taking in a young angel named Kia as a student. After teaching her morales and spells, she finally decided to turn to researching the Cursed Rebirth again, when she found herself locked in combat. Fleeing, she was pursued by Gistix and cornered, when suddenly, Kia's true form emerged to protect her.
As Schoren and his group makes their way through town, they notice a manticore flying by. It's gone in a blur, and there's no chance they'll catch up to it.
"Wasn't that one o' them manty-core things?" Rusty comments.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure if he had the brand." Danny responds.
"Erm... excuse me madame!" Schoren decides to ask one of the townsfolk, an angel, about manticores. "Excuse my ignorance, but I've never seen a manticore before. How common are they?"
"You asked the right person!" The angel turns around. She had blonde hair and green eyes. Her clothing is unusual; her dress is green, with golden trimmings. "I'm Naea, designated Nature Scholar. Nice to meet you!" The energetic angel shakes everyone's hand firmly before speaking. "Manticores are very rare creatures indeed! Only five exist on Stitia, and four of them are highly revered as demigods!"
Demigods... that doesn't sound like a task he'd be interested in undertaking just yet. But if there's only 5 of them, then surely the search shouldn't be too difficult...
A few hours later...
Naea sure is energetic. She spent a solid hour talking to Schoren and co. about manticores. As they continue walking through town, they suddenly are in the presence of a griffon. Draundr. He's covered in blood.
"Draundr! Are you okay?!" He nods as he lands. If only he could explain what just happened to his allies. Schoren can tell he's injured, but it's only a flesh wound. "Good. Anyways, we just found out that there's only five manticores on Stitia, and four of them are demigods." Draundr nods again. "So... our target should be pretty easy to find... hopefully." Draundr flies away again to return back to base, and Schoren and co. continue their investigation.
"Um... are you sure it's such a good idea to run in headlong?" One of your demons, Dorf, says.
"I love your enthusiasm, Tee, but I don't think us running in first would be the best idea." One of your main strategical experts, a human, chimes in.
"There's a reason your nickname is Buzzkill, Buzz." Ringer responds. "Personally, I don't think those meatsacks are capable of strategy, even if they are made to obey Tee. If he says 'clear the guards in the way' what's keeping them from dilly dallying? They're zombies. It makes sense they'll just waste our time feasting. Plus, the undead in a cathedral? We'll blow any cover we've got!"
"I... still don't think this is a good idea." Dorf says.
"Eh... I think you got a point, Ringer. I guess. I just don't wanna be up front and personal."
"Then you don't have to be up close and personal, sissy." One of your devils, Spiderhands, licks one his incredibly long fingers before sticking it into Buzz's ear.
"Ah! I don't know what's been in your mouth! Hands off!"
The entire ship roars with laughter.
"Maybe it's Tee's toes," Dorf comments. "I know a suicide mission when I see it. We may of torn that caravan apart, but we got lucky there. What if that wagon wouldn't of gotten stuck behind a tree? What if that axe would of went the rest of the way through Tee's armor? I'm gonna say we had a lot of luck last time, luck we might not have this go round."
"I thought it was Buzz's place to make dumb comments like this," your female demon, Kelshifa, responds, her four arms crossed. "You don't wanna obey the captain? You don't get payed. That's your choice to make, but personally, my coffer's feeling empty."
Dorf seems very apprehensive about this mission. How will you respond to his detesting of your plan?
Let's see you hide from this...
A strange technique it is. You've never had to use it, but you have been taught how to manipulate your enemies with plants, forcing them to obey you. The vines dig through the wolf's skin and seep into its veins. You try to control it. While you cannot fully maneuver it, it is unable to act against you. You notice a glint out of the corner of your eye, and realize that Kima has moved to a more opportune position to strike. You move backwards, and the ball flies towards you, taking off your rotting left hand. You send out vines to replace the missing hand, and continue to force your will upon the wolf. Eventually, it succumbs as its entire body has become entangled, inside and out. Every muscle bends and flexes to your will. Even if its mind is filled with fury, its body is under your control as you send it to strike Kima.
While Kima distracted, you attempt to seize them as well, but to no avail. They pull out a small but thick bladed falchion and chop through the vines. This leaves them open to the wolf, who pins them down. You move in and attempt to further restrain them, but they manage to aim their weapon at you again. They reach for the trigger, but the wolf's paw strikes the gun, turning it directly at Kima's head, and it's too late to let go of the trigger as the gun fires, killing Kima instantly.
Due to the low score for your spell, you failed to gain Kima's assistance.
The wolf, startled, whimpers. It tries to inspect Kima, but the vines still control it, making it a difficult task. It barks, then looks at you with tear filled eyes. You then notice that the ball struck its paw as well, and it collapses, only supported by the vines that controlled it.
You took 1 damage. Your HP is now 9. You can replenish your HP by spending a significant amount of time in meditation. Note that time is of the essence.
Since your score was below target, I will send you ranking info soon.
To Arne; "You say the ones who have remained faithful have not been plagued. But, I ask you, faithful to whom or what? You, yourself has just condemned the Lord Arbiter, his angels... and the Gods themselves. What else is there to be faithful of? If it is the Gods, why would a man who has been plague stricken rejoice in the face of the ones who plagued him?"
"I am faithful; faithful to my cause, faithful to my people, and most importantly, faithful to myself. If you wish to strike a man down for being what has been bestowed upon him, so be it. But, it will not be today, nor will it be me..."
Ishka and Gistix quiver in fear. Before now, dragons had only existed in myths and legends. No one on Stitia would of known of their existence if it weren't for folklore and interplanar knowledge. And yet, before them, soaring in the sky, is Kia, and her sights are right on Gistix.
"My father calls me. My business with you will have to end here... which means I won't hold back!"
Though this immense power is very new to her, it only took Kia a moment to harness it. As an immense blue flame gathered in her mouth, Gistix prepared to dodge. Only fate would tell how successful his escape would be.
A flame unlike anything the three had seen before cloaks the area in a blue haze that contradicts the crimson moon. In an instant, everything in sight is ravaged. The corpse of the beast is gone. A clearing emerges where the surrounding trees used to be. Gistix is caught in the flame, and he struggles to escape as his fur begins to fly away from him. Demonsong is destroyed in the blaze, but Gistix manages to make his way out of the flame, hissing and spiting profanities as he flees. While Demonsong could be replaced, his life could not, and it wasn't worth the price to try his hand at attacking Kia again...
@ThatOneCat You took one more damage and fled successfully. Your HP is now 7.
Injury - Burned: A miss against a foe possessing skill with red mana will cause 1 extra damage. You must heal to 9 HP to clear this injury.
There are still no major problems to deal with. What will you do next? Modified/New tasks are italicized.
- Lycanthropy activity near the Rootforged Conclave
- Vampire activity near the Rootforged Conclave
- Reports of a missing child in the area
- A long lost Dawnwood member fleeing to Descour.
- Duskwood getting attacked by werewolves (Delvad)
- Serial killings in Racrion
- Spend a day meditating to heal.
"Sorry... if I scared you..." Kia transforms back into her angel form. She's highly upset. "I didn't know that was going to happen..."
"Kia... Ishka... if you are done, return to me at once. We must speak." An ephemeral voice fills your ears. Conse. A light opens up above. Glad to see that the battle is finally over, you and Kia fly into the light, transiting into the Beyond...
You come across four armed and armored archangels. They escort you and Kia to the Chamber of the Six, and Conse appears to be concerned.
"Ishka. I'd like to thank you for helping guide our child. However, you most recent act... was quite saddening. Our intervention was required. Normally, we would consider a demotion, but you are too great of an asset for us to lose. Kia seems good enough to function on her own, so we would like to consider you for a status that better suits you." A white sigil appears on the ground in front of you. "Hitcherald is in disarray. Your skills seem more suited to the works of the mind, and recently, with the fall of Rafael, rebellion is at an all-time high. We need another governing body in the region to ensure that it doesn't begin to collapse. Ishka... please accept this promotion to Divine Governor."
Accept the Offer: "Most kindly, we will try to end this matter swiftly, we don't want to overstay our welcome"
- Deymot, Nasita
- Hedstone, Padetra
- Nutheport, Etsane
- Lager, Yrntrn
To everyone, here is the Pantheon of gods on Stitia. The Six.
It's fine, there's something I've been hiding to you all. You are right Dorf, a lot of coincidences made us succeed in the caravan assault last time, but It wasn't luck at all...
I make sure the spirit lantern isn't anywhere close to me before I continue.
Remember that spirit we went to reclaim some time ago? Teil, something? Well, the moment I grabbed him, he tried to possess my body. Overwhelmed by the difference between our soul's strengths, he was facing his utter demise; in that moment of vulnerability, I noticed a vast knowledge in this man, so, in a last attempt at surviving, I consumed his soul and made him... Part of me, I gained access to a couple tricks, mind and spiritual power mostly, I can foresee events and calculate outcomes much easier, that's why we succeeded.
Of course, you can keep doubting me, run away like the chickens you are, stay in the back like these mindless zombies. But of course, I will treat you like the position you take, and will pay you in the same measure. The speed at wich I need this first attack to happen takes a little brain and coordination, if you can't bring that to the table, well, I hope you enjoy the same meals the zombies get.
I throw a piece of rotting meat to the werewolves, and smile (If Teegar''s disgusting mouth can even smile) as they devour it.
"Now... repeat after me. I swear under oath, to Conse and all of his gods, to uphold the virtues that bind this world, to the greatest of my ability. I shall devote myself, my time, and all of my effort, to dissolving the corruption that plagues this plane, and I will humbly accept this offering of power. I will give my body, my life, and my very soul to carry out the will of the Six, and ensure that evil meets its bane."
"Yeah! Normally you woulda tore a few more heads off by now!" Another one, Dirtbag.
"So... hold on." Dorf is scratching his head. "You mean to tell me you absorbed a human soul? Are you sure he wasn't trying to corrupt you or anything? That **** is dangerous!"
"Perhaps... perhaps..." The spirit lantern... it's whispering... "Teegar... there's been something... onnn my mind..." Suddenly, the door to the room containing the lantern opens, and out comes Treyble, holding the lantern.
"How in damnation did you get on board?!" Kelshifa draws her four swords, but holds, realizing it's Treyble.
"Iiiii have a gooood, honessssst question for you, Teegar..." The lich's twisted face slithers as he puts an icy hand on your shoulder. You can feel its imprint on your soul. "What would happen if I were to open this lantern? Would your spirit remain? Or will the essence of a deceiver pour from within, naught the man whom accepted my contract?"