>>6147523

Thoughts drift between William’s head as his fork taps against his dinner plate to make a small clink sound as he thinks. Trying to think of Hellscream’s deeper motives as he watches the steam rise from the cooked chicken in front of him. The dining room is filled with light brown wood furnishes and several seats with curtains of red and black coating the walls. With a few maids standing at attention with their eyes closed and arms crossed over against their lower stomachs awaiting further commands. Taking a breath as William tries to sound out his question to his host to get more insight to this deal.

“So shapechanging to get High Ring protection to avoid being jumped?”
“No, none of my agents will help but at the very least my spell will make sure you don’t kneel over after a fireball or two punches.”
“I am not that frail.”
“Yes you are. You refuse to convert but with the spell’s magic it will give you health padding and a magic reserve to escape from a fight as level 10 or above mages will be running around the area.”
“They have the mages for that?”
“And some reserves as this is the first time in a while where they have an actual reason to throw down fights with other mages and excuse it as territory control rather than grudge matches. Which will also flare up fights to go even harder if they bring in level 20s too.”
“Couldn’t I just use Prisma or Animus to hide behind as meatshields?”
“Why would Animus help you out? And for Prisma after their week trial ended they will demand the same thing or more aggressive suggestions. Hell I assume the reason none of them hunted you down right now is that they are scrambling for control first before looking into their candidate.”
“Any other side effects I might have to deal with the shapechange?”
“It's a spell why wo-hmm, okay I forgot the spell only has an hour duration and can have a 50% failure chance if someone throws a tier 9 counterspell on you. So I have to… I can try to make an auto shapechange trigger when you get hit but you still would die from a surprise fireball.”
“Why does everyone like that spell?”
“It is a classic for a reason and well known. Another thing you can do is I cast the spell as soon as you enter Astra and you just have to stay inside the school for an hour and head out when attendance gets called.”
“Sounds simple enough.”
“These are mages they will not be simple.”

-Refuse the spell and go into Astra with fighter level 5 and ranger level 3 and striker equipment
-Accept the shapechange and go into Astra as level 8 sorcerer
-Refuse the spell and speak to Rose for aid
-Accept an at damage trigger shapechange spell, go into Astra as William
-write in

Can Rose help us out here. I don't want to reject Hellscream without knowing Rose's options.

We can't use our cards at school so we either have to hope rose has something or get that trigger spell.

What's Hellscreams game here? What does this say politically or is she trying to cause a shift in Wills mind?

We refused shapechange before for the animus deal but it's starting to look like we might be forced to do it due to pragmatism but how will that effect the character?

>>6147560
Mmmmmmmmmm

>Thank Hellscream for the concern but we should be okay we're good at hiding.

We got prisma cloak and pass without trace we fine.

>>6148019
If she asks for why...
Tell her we are going to play Animus and Prisma off each other to protect our ass.

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>6147560
William insight checking motive DC 50

>>6147560
>>6148082
You have no idea what is Hellscreams motive is also pick an option as I want to move to the next day.

>>6147525
-Accept an at damage trigger shapechange spell, go into Astra as William

Damn these low insight checks. The problem with going with Rose is it brings up questions on how we did it. Also we'll still have to deal with Prisma with next to no backing. We can also use this to fight openly. The mage armor is still broken and our rebel gear isn't supposed to see use in public.

My worry is two fold, how this may change the Mc and what Hellscream is using this to convey.

>>6148451
>>6148019
“Ugh, fine I will take the shapechange trigger spell for another safety net for tomorrow.”
“Finally, it only took a small war and prodding to get you to accept it.” Adds Hellscream as she motions for a maid to fetch an item.
“I thank you for the concern but I think I can manage. Can’t be too bad since I will mostly hide using the Prisma cloak.”
“Faerie Fire and other workarounds do exist for invisibility, polymorphs, and general tankiness.”
“They do?”
“Of course. Everyone is a mage and will have their own counter to everyone else’s specialization with their own bag of tricks and gimmicks. So just keep your head down and avoid getting killed and kidnapped by anyone and save your spells for counterspells or misty steps”
“Don’t you mean killed or kidnapped?”
“They can skewer your heart and bring you back with revival spells. They just need a piece of you to recover but the pain will still be remembered.”
“Okay so I should avoid spending too much time in Astra and get out as soon as possible to avoid all that bad shit.”
“I do recommend that course of action.” States Hellscream as the maid returns back to present the spell safety net to William.

Turning his head to see an item in the shape of a glass ruby with sparks of electricity zapping across the inside of its core. Red streaks painting the insides in a storm of light with fractures spread across its surface awaiting activation at the slightest damage. A small hand sized gem able to be stored on William’s body easily without looking too out of place or easily hidden inside a cloak for further security.

-skip to next day
-speak with hellscream(what about?)
-sleep and start round 2 against Willow and Hayden
-contact boss rose
-contact muffin about repairs
-attempt to seize knowledge(ask hellscream about one book lore topic from the study room)
-write-in

>>6148843
Also won't be here tomorrow as I will be visiting the family to praise the gobble gobble so I will be back on Friday.

>>6148843
-attempt to seize knowledge(ask hellscream about one book lore topic from the study room)
-speak with hellscream(what about?)
-flirt

Happy Thanksgiving!

>>6149172
>support
Happy Thanksgiving qm and Mac.

Rolled 3 (1d4)

>>6149172
>>6149265
1 -The Fey Courts and Dangers.
2 -Astra University Graduation Career Brochure.
3 -Demonology: Age of Dawn, Ruin, and Desperation.
4 -World Geography

>>6149629
“That is some fine craftsmanship in under an hour?”
“Well two hours but thank you for the compliment.”
“Only someone blind would not notice the personal touches added to the spell. A crimson hue cut with the utmost precision to have the smoothness of faces while still maintaining its structure to activate the spell on a hair trigger.”
“The fracture lines look distasteful but triggerability was needed over form.”
“Which still took skill to not break apart at every tap with the added lighting affect trapped inside. Looks like something made from a high quality jeweler.”
“Aren’t you a flatterer? So what is the reason for this random praise?” Asks Hellscream with a small smile on her face as she sips her wine.
“Well considering I am in the presence of my gracious host there is something I would like to know more about from your study.”
“What would that be?”
“What is with the Demonology book with three titles?”
“Ugh, history of all things? Not even the fairy one?”
“Well its important to learn about the history of my host since I barely know your name and class type.”
“It's nothing special so I will try to get a quick summary out. So the dawn age of demons started around 350 thousand years ago more or less with the new gods rising up after the wars in heaven waged between the old gods and their favorite races.”
“You have books from that time?”
“No, as far as my family line can tell, all of history was lost when the old gods fought each other until their bodies were broken and their pet races scattered. That basically cleared the way for their children and new minor gods to branch into the void to carve their own slice of the world in their image and to reunify their chosen races to fix what was lost.”
“Must have been a very big mess living in that time.”
“Pretty much as entire cities were wiped out, continents shattered, and the magic leylines going out once from all the god level spells being tossed around. So about one hundred thousand years spent on endless wars as godly magic revived entire populations, counterspelled city wide rituals, banished armies, and erased oceans of blood. Made what should be small, short wars take centuries to break and one minute to fix.”
“That long?”
“It was very bad from what I could skim, forcing all the gods to have a much more depleted state from fighting for so long. Ended up causing something called soul burning where a soul is pushed across death and life so much that they started breaking from the stress and the war. Forced the entire old patheon into a ceasefire only because they pushed their bodies too hard and committed to a decisive battle that killed them all in a mutual brawl. So the god kids and new minor gods spent the next one hundred thousand years searching for their scattered populations across several dimensions and guide them into rebuilding.”

part 1

>>6149784
“Well at least the new gods learned from their mistakes from experiencing first hand the cost of god wars.”
“Ha, nope. The old gods made the first war in heaven and the new gods wanted to avenge their parents so they started the second war in heaven also known as the age of ruin to the demons. They originally hoped a surprise attack would end the war faster.” Chuckles out Hellscream as she remembers the history lessons.
“So it was a much worse time that almost broke the world?”
“Nope. The new and minor gods were much weaker than the old gods and had less god magic to throw around making the war stall a lot longer as they could not fix all their mistakes. So they have to treasure their power and population as they didn’t have infinite retries to carry their inexperienced command leading mortals.”
“A meatgrinder happened since no one was strong enough or confident enough to take a frontal battle?”
“Pretty much until someone cracked necromancy and got a free army to help turn the tide and lead to the continent being shattered and allowing the current new nation of Ashyn to rise. Known as the age of Ash to the mages and the age of ruin for the demons still as the pantheon committed to one final battle before they started to run out of embers.”
“You think they would have stopped before they were out of juice.”
“Yeah? They are gods so they think very highly of themselves. So another truce but this time they aren’t dead so they can focus on rebuilding again and outlawed gods from walking on the planet again as two wars in heaven amounted to nothing and almost shattered the planet. Now the next one hundred thousand years they just guide their favorite mortal races to try and outcompete each other hoping their chosen species conquers the world under their name to earn the title of the overlord of the new pantheon.”
“Wait, this is still the age of ruin and not desperation?”
“Yup now without a god’s in person guidance all the races fell into infighting to lead their newly freed tribes in their personal vision which made civil wars a requirement to survive. For demons at least they attempted to expand their domains for more war material with their newly acquired free will from the lack of godly control. This eventually got them to invade the elven, kitsune, mage, and fairy lands which all retaliated hard as they all had a reason to unite their civil war factions against the other.”
“So they were hungry and that is how they got to the desperation age?”
“Wrong again. No, the other races got paladins while it was not godly intervention as they merely borrowed power; it was still enough to make the rest of the gods angry to direct their chosen races to exterminate the demons. Now without god tier revival spells and defenses it cut the demon population from a healthy three billion to two hundred thousand over another one hundred thousand years more or less."

part 2

>>6149785
“No wonder it was the age of desperation.”
“Elves invented the green flu, mages leveled cities, kitsune could assassinate leaders easily, and paladins just lock demons down. Then at one point some kind of mushroom deleted the capital and forced the rest of the demons to take human forms to avoid extermination. Even then it was not enough so our god offered its name and power to be erased as long as his race gets spared.”
“And the god just assumed they would honor the deal?”
“It was that or watch his race get erased so it didn’t have much of a choice.”
“What happened after?”
“The age of ruin ended, the god is gone, and the demon race lost their true original forms. So they didn’t keep their word and no one knows if our god is dead, imprisoned, or worse.”
“So what about now?”
“Well we are now in the age of noon year 140,154 After Ash and so far the races are still vying for control demon numbers are higher than before but not too high to avoid triggering another crusade against us. Some minor wars and set backs with the other gods knocking Ashlyn down for a few centuries before everyone gets back up to do the same thing. It is like watching a clock at times.”
“And this is the quick summary?”
“There is a lot I had to skip from the spontaneous existence of fighter classes, necromancy, megaspells, leyline blackouts, and the horrors of the green flu.”

-skip to next school day start
-sleep and start round 2 against Willow and Hayden
-last minute prep for the class wars(+write-in)

part 3

>>6149786
sleep and start round 2 against Willow and Hayden

Uh Mac we gotta body these guys. So we gotta get them to take us somewhere private for our fight.

I say we lean into the polymorph spell. Turn into a giant ape ad grapple them then slam them into the ground until they stop moving.

>>6149799
Three reasons why we shouldn't.

Were going to school tomorrow so we need our health.

Second they'll still be out for 2 days.

Third we got a binding ritual to out them on leashes. Instead of fighting them we should just perform it.

Am I wrong on any of these points QM?

>>6150009
1 yeah your need the health for tomorrows difficulty tweak
2 yeah they can't do anything for two days as they scramble for recovery
3 they will fight you hard on the leashes as they won't just let you lock them down you gotta keep beating them till they can't resist anymore

>>6149786
-skip to next school day start

Ok ya we need to top off our health. We can always fight them the next day.

>>6150271
>>6149799
I will just go with the skip to next day as I want to start the difficulty tweak now.

>>6150949
“Okay that is a lot of history in one lesson but I think its time to sleep. So I will see you after school if I survive.” Adds William as he gets up from his chair.
“You better as I don’t want to waste more time picking out another candidate. I may have the a long lifespan but I can’t be in Astra forever.”
“Sure, I won’t disappoint. Goodnight Hellscream.”
“Night, William.” States Hellscream as she downs the rest of her wine as the maid begins cleaning up.

Walking through the hallways as William goes through the motions of a quick shower as he jumps into his bed ready for the next day. Opening his eyes to a familiar classroom with Willow sitting on top of a desk with her desk crossed and a hand under her chin as she extends her hand forward. Becking William to come at her as she sits unmoving and silent on a teacher’s desk awaiting for violence to erupt.

“Nah.”

A look of confusion washes over Prisma’s face as William straightens his back and leans backward as his body falls to the ground as dark corners of his eyes cover his vision. Feeling the wind coil around his body as his legs jump from the sensation of vertigo overtaking him as he wakes up in his bed again. Immediately getting ready for the day ahead as his hands hold a slight tremor as he stashes away Prisma’s cloak into his jacket. His heart beats hard as he puts on Hellscream’s commissioned armor as the tingling of the glass ruby burns his pocket awaiting activation. Giving one more look into his phone to check that he still has everyones number in case he needed to call in anyone else for back up. With a sigh William makes his way to school walking, travelling by train, and hiking into the forest like he did before.

Crawling along the forest canopy past brush, broken twigs, and dirt as William steadies his breath to avoid making the smallest of sounds. Spotting several mages rushing into the school as flashes of teleportation magic lit up the area as more mages rushed to Astra. Gone are the relaxed walks of last week only to be replaced by vicious glasses as they eye their rivals before breaking line of sight to join up with their own factions. Thoughts begin swirling around William’s head as he tries to decide how he will work through the class day. Trying to stay in the lower class levels and get out after attendance, link up with Holly or Lora for better meatshields, or break the ruby and hide within High Ring groups to cover his class requirement.

-Sneak into a low tier class and get out as soon as attendance is taken. Possibly low level fights.
-Link up with a faction leader for better meatshields but guaranteed highly dangerous fights.
-Pop glass ruby and high inside High Ring classes. ? fights.
-Phone a friend(+pick who)
-write-in

>>6151089
-Sneak into a low tier class and get out as soon as attendance is taken. Possibly low level fights.

>>6151089
>none of the above
>use prisma cloak and pass without trace.

GG we can go where ever now.

I say we go to a rune knight class. Try to watch their fighting styles and stuff. I want antimagic field.

I'm pretty sure we were told there are ways to see past those otherwise we woukdnt have to get shapechange.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>6151297
>>6151201
1 knight of rune
2 snok low

Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>6151201
Enemy threat levels going to the class
1-5 level 16
6-30 level 12
31-60 level 8
61-94 level 4
95-100 mass cass

Rolled 4, 4 = 8 (2d5)

>>6151533
1 Prisma, 2 rune, 3 Coven, 4 Animus, 5 revelations

>>6151536
Looking across the area as William spots a few ords making their way to the school with a look of dejection and fear in their faces as they drag their feet to class. Every single ords knowing how dangerous the fighting will be if they accidentally get caught up in a fight. William’s fingers tap against the ground as his thoughts roam over using the Prisma cloak to investigate the rune knights for a day before shaking his head. Not fully confident in hiding from the anti-magic faction and instead focusing on avoiding getting into a brawl. Getting up from the ground as he rushes toward one of the closests classes he can find as he passes through the doors. Seeing the once pristine gray hallways are now covered with scorch marks from jets of flames being spilled in all directions. Pools of dried blood staining the ground with drag marks lining the floor from people either dragging themselves to safety or thrown across the floor before splattering against a wall. Tiles and walls broken or cratered hard enough to leave body sized dents in marble and stone with long thin gouges scattered across the ground. With even pieces of skin, flesh, and a severed arm left behind on the battlefield and the occasional lump of meat just scattered across the ground that looked less of a clean cut and more of a pummeling.

Already sounds of fireballs shake the ceiling as glass in the distance as cracks form on the ceiling from a heavy thud echoing in the floor above. Flinching at the strength, William quickly hugs the wall as other ords try to run toward the safety of a class to avoid a collapsed hallway. Steps echoing across the hallway as William feels the weight of his steps announcing his presence to the school as his eyes scan for any sudden surprise attacks with his ears straining to pick up any whistles of blades, stomps of a run, or the crackle of magic burning in the air.

Pushing himself faster as he faces his shoulder into a door to avoid being caught out in the open hoping the mages will distract each other and ignore him. Stepping into a classroom as he keeps his head down to avoid eye contact with anyone as he picks a seat in the back as he feels multiple eyes boring into him. Gritting his teeth as he pushes down his panic to focus on taking his seat before looking up back to the class door title to know what specialty he walked into. Only for a hiss to escape from his mouth at seeing the Conjuration class with a class full of Animus students with a few ords hiding in the corners to avoid notice.

part 1

File: wulf animus mook.jpg (54 KB, 375x557)

54 KB JPG

>>6151574
With William spotting a familiar wolf that once gutted him a week ago. Still wearing the same blue jacket and white shirt with the same look of contempt on his face as he casts a sending spell before staying in his seat as the teacher begins announcing the attendance and beginning the lecture. With the wolf getting up as multiple other Animus approach his area as William inspects each of his mage threats around him. Spotting the wolf moves a bit slower than what William remembers as his steps slag under his weight as if he is weaker or slowed. Noticing a rhino type with thick skin and a horn on his nose that looks like he can take a beating, eyes glance along on a snake type Animus coiling around the rhino for support. With a tiger and hyena student also pulling up the rear as they watch the windows and doors.

“About time you showed up runt. The boss wants a report on what you have been able to gain from Prisma. If it's not good enough, or lacking then a punishment will be issued for future motivation.”

-"I did not learn anything."
-"They have a cafe they like to visit."
-write-in

part 2

>>6151577
-"They have a cafe they like to visit."

Don't know if this is good info but at the same time they shouldnt be expecting much. It's only been a week and it's the sift week. Will probably has to explain that.

>>6151960
Yes def narc on the Cafe.

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>6152135
>>6151960
Animus mook intelligence higher the better lower the worse

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>6153077
1 prisma, 2 coven, 3 revelations

>>6152135
>>6151960
“Well Prisma did take me to a cafe that they liked to visit often enough an-.” Adds William as he notices the Animus students staring him down as his eyes glance to the door.
“That is useless, why would some random cafe matter when Lora needed actual useful information?”
“Let me finish.”States William as a quiet barely audible growl hisses out of the Animus wolf as he glares at William before motioning to continue.

“Now Holly, the leader of Prisma, led me to their cafe that also had Animus students involved.”
“What? Did they subvert a few of our agents?” Asks the tiger Animus with worry lacing his voice.
“Can’t be as we greater restoration them.” Adds in the rhino.
“Could be clone spells to bypass our normal protections.” Hisses out the snake Animus.
“Yes, multiple animal types, Prisma mages, and a very well trafficked area with their members. I do not know how they recruited them but being a nerve center for them can easily cause damage if attacked and picking off a few mages.”
“Okay, runt so that is useful information. At least the boss's chance on you didn’t get wasted. I will let her know and see what she can do with the information and contact you for any future tasks.”

A few more seconds of silence pass as the Animus students begin dispersing as no further hostile action is directed at William. Keeping his body tense for a sudden attack or surprise interrogation as he watches the windows and entrances for an hour never once letting his guard down as class finishes without interruption. As soon as the clock chimed the end of the class all the ord students rush for the exits as a few pile up against the door as they trip out of the door as another student opens a window and jumps out of the room.

[Alert feat]

Taking one more look around the room before letting his guard down as he freezes up feeling the hairs on his neck tingle in danger. A building pressure pressing down on him as something is going on as William sees no other enemy mages inside the room as the Animus mages just hang around for a bit as they exchange notes. Eyeing the door and window to see nothing is blocking his escape while the wolf mage is huddled around his friends as William tries to think on what to do.

-Leave through the door
-Jump out of the window
-Attempt to warm wolf
-Go under the table for cover
-write-in

>>6153107
-Jump out of the window

Will this injure us?
Can't go through the door. We'd be relying on not being the target. Alerting wolf would make it obvious we're with him. Going under the table woukd work if we aren't the target but I'm not gambling.

>>6153121
It won't.

>jump out window activate prisma cloak. Misty step up to the roof (if we can with 30ft) or once we're within 30ft of the ground so we don't splat.

This rooms about to be nuked or dimensional door invaded.

Rolled 5, 6, 1, 3, 1, 7, 2 = 25 (7d8)

>>6153331
Muffin is repairing the gloves so no spells for now but the cloak is still on you.

Coven ambush 7d8 plus rock damage

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>6153331
>>6153121
1 prisma cloak
2 save it for later

>>6153331
>>6153121
Feeling the weight of danger pressing on his head William glances at the open door and decides to rush the window. Remembering the hallway damages and scorch marks left behind being enough of a warning to go for a different exit as his hands reach for his missing gauntlets. Only to feel fabric remembering they were damaged and still needed time to be repaired as he takes a breath and tosses himself out of the window. Tugging at the Prisma before thinking twice and saving the spells for later. Glancing upward toward the classroom’s ceiling as fractures spread around a circle as dust and pebbles drop from it as the entire ceiling rushes down. Jagged rocks, desks, chairs, and tiles drop from downward as it slams against the students. A sharp rock slamming into the rhino’s shoulder as he drops to one knee. The snake Animus having a desk slam into their head as it deforms from the force as it drops. With the tiger Animus getting an arm broken in two from poor positioning for reaching for his notebook as the spell popped. More rubble rains down on the Animus students as they get buried up to their waist as blood, bone, and torn skin leaves a bloody ashen mess behind.

Leaning against the outside of the wall as William peaks inside to see small green pinpricks of lights to begin glowing and flowing along the wall. Rapidly etching a tree as a small break pierces through the wall as a small luminescent sparrow spirit pushes itself off the wall as its leaf-like wings flutter gently towards the ground chirping its song. Taking a few seconds to register the room before beginning to vibrate as it prepares to charge at the Animus students for emergency healing. Fluttering its wings a bit more ready to move only for a heel to slam down on it as a counterspell sigils glows on her foot as the sparrow’s chirping is silenced. Inspecting the new student wearing a lab coat with a black dress underneath and some kind of ID card on her chest as she inspects the area.

“Now do die quickly so I can return back to more important matters of scrubbing this waste of runic materials.”

The rubble shifts as the wolf Animus shakes off the collapsed ceiling with his jacket torn, a bleeding head, and a few broken nails falling off his hand as the rest of Animus' students also recover from the ambush.

“I am surprised a lab rat knows what scrubbing even is. Thought that would be an ords skill only. Now ritual cast Healing Spirits upcast 4!”

A sudden green flash spreads across the room as more tree etches come into existence as more green sparrows crawl out of the walls ready to heal their masters. All the while the lab coat student wears an unimpressed face as embers begins sparking along the tips of her fingers as she prepares her counter.

-Leave to avoid getting collateral
-Watch the show and learn
-Roll 1d100+40 for ???
-write in

>>6153487
-Watch the show and learn

I woukd rather this be knights but beggers can't be choosers.

>>6153504
If we're going to do that use the fucking cloak pls.

Qm we don't need gloves for misty step... we can cast 1st level spells without our gauntlets. We gained that in a very early thread... we just need our gauntlets for anything higher from what I remember.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>6153532
This part I do remember. You learned the how to cast all the spells you got but being an ord and picking only fighter and ranger levels limits the mana levels to cantrips only.

Also
1 claok
2 save

What are the ways to detect cloak? Also what would be the consequences of were caught with it?

Rolled 95, 62, 23, 17 = 197 (4d100)

>>6154066
First dice animus counters +30, second and third dice coven second round +35, fourth dice william collateral save +40

Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>6154081
Wait william gets another roll for having cover.

>>6154081
In character William has no idea as he has not seen anti-cloak searches yet. And consequences would range from lost limbs, execution, or soul death as the soul contract will not allow capture.

Rolled 6, 5, 4, 3 = 18 (4d8)

>>6154112
Collateral William damage

>>6154135
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=student+ascension+quest

ze archvos

>>6154135
Hugging close to the wall William looks around the outside of the university as a puff of flame bursts out from a different floor window as he returns his attention to the battle in front of him. Seeing more lab rats upon the second floor having prearranged barricades to defend from counter fire while ready to open fire on the ground. As each mage has different effects tainting their finger tips from the cold frost, dripping green, a small ember, or a crackle of electricity. Only for the silence to be broken by the first lab rat as she yells out “Dragon’s Breath upcast 4” as a spark of flame flares on the tip of her thumb as she takes a deep breath and bites her finger before pulling it away. Scratching her nail along her upper lip as an orange light glows harshly ready to purge their enemies in front of them.

Only for the green sparrows to fly across the room to heal their masters and return peeled skin back to their place as blood seeps back into their bodies. Bones and skull fragments leaping back into their hosts as snaps and grinding bones reknit themselves back into shape with rubble fragments being pushed out of their body as the sparrows are already repairing the damage their masters sustained. With a flick of their hands the Animus students all pull out small arrowheads from their pockets as every single one tosses their weapons into the air as they yell out Conjure Barrage. With the fastest casting barrage from the wolf being sent out first toward the floor above as he ignores the lab rat in front of him. Directing his spell above him to reach his victims as dozens of arrowheads split apart into a storm of gleaming arrows ready to pierce his enemies. Only for counterspells to immediately trigger as tendrils of static to whip out and grab the spell and rip it apart turning the hail of metal into a single arrow head as it slams into a wall. A laughter prepares to escape from their mouths before more Conjure Barrages and Dragon’s Breath roar throughout the room as elemental attacks could not stop all the arrowheads raining into the ceiling.

Steel rain clicks against stone as screams echo above their heads as more arrows are launched upwards with the lab rats scrambling for cover from the tide of steel. Lighting shot downward to paralyze students, fire scorching hair and skin until it was raw and bleeding, with puffs of green smoke choking Animus in exchange for sending walls of arrowheads to tear into flesh and magic robes. Fingers chopped off, skin ripped off across faces, and one unlucky Coven getting both of her eyes gouged out from arrows as she screams before disappearing in a flash of light. With Animus counterspells also flaring to life to eat targeted attacks to keep them standing for a few seconds longer to launch another Conjure Barrage at their enemies.

part 1

>>6154139
Spells continue being thrown at each other only to have more lab rats drop to the ground before flashing away as Animus students drop to the floor only to get back up as the healing sparrow keeps picking up injured students to continue fighting. The intense violence sends errant arrow walls and spells toward William as a lighting arc slams into the wall next to his head and jumps around zapping his head only for William to flinch forward to move away from the attack. His hand pulling toward his cape as his trace mana recognizes the danger and activates its protection to let a shimmer rise in front of him blocking the lighting. Taking a moment to try and recover only for several arrow heads to slam into his neck in between the shield and wall gap as an intense bloom of pain forces William on his knees. Taking a breath as he rips the arrows out and feels around his neck only to realize the arrows pierced his face instead saving him from a bad injury.

>Cape: Shield activated to negate lighting arc attack but not Conjure Barrage

Learned
>All prepared mages have at least one counterspell protection to avoid alpha strikes.
>Mage Counterspells triggers against any magic used against them and always triggers for the closest attack.
>Coven teleports downed students out of harm if they drop.

>William Fighter level 5, Ranger Gloomstalker level 3
HP 62/80
Character: +5 from gauntlets, +10 dodge focus
Mods: +35 attack, +35 dodge. Ranger duelist +2 damage to each hit.
Skin Armor: +30 dodge on a bonus action
Cape: +25 Shield cape for one round activated on B.A limit 1 per fight.
Current Total: +35 attack, +90 dodge
Battlemaster skills: Riposte, Trip Attack, Disarming Attack, and four superiority dice locked at d40s to attack rolls or d8s to damage. Action surge and does 2x attacks per action.
Melee 2d6 per landed hit.

-Stay and learn more. Roll 1d100+40 to dodge two collateral attacks.
-Leave the area before they use stronger magic.
-write-in

part 2

>>6154141
>fuck it we ball.

>trigger cloak. Go grapple a Coven and restrain it. Then push it prone. Drag it's ass to our Animus frens. Steal the covens magic focus. Use action surge as needed.

Us grappling one will stop it from being teleported. And us restraining one will stop it from casting spells.

Hostage time.

>>6154141
>Battlefield status
Fifteen Coven mages hold the second floor with their barricades still up. One Coven mage on the ground fighting the wolf Animus. And one Coven had teleported out.
2/3 group HP

Fourteen Animus students and the wolf on the ground with all their damage being constantly healed by the runes on the walls.
3/3 HP +1 HP from rune preparations.

Forgot to bring in more information.

I thought the shape-shifting activates on hit. Better for is it didn't activate.

-Stay and learn more. Roll 1d100+40 to dodge two collateral attacks.

Rolled 86 + 40 (1d100 + 40)

>>6154141
-Stay and learn more. Roll 1d100+40 to dodge two collateral attacks.

I'm not getting in a fight where we gain nothing. This is strictly recon for future mage fight.

Also remember Will is hiding his fighting level since ords aren't supposed to know spells.

>>6154459
Okay I forgot about the Ruby so quick retcon decision.

-Have the ruby in your hand and trigger the change
or
-Have the ruby inside a bag in your pocket that can only trigger if the ruby is in your hand or making skin contact

Kinda forgot that you can delay the trigger and save it for a worse fight.

>>6154539
Snag the one that's fighting our wolf boy.

They might get squirrelly if they can't TP save their Coven fren.

I still vote for grappling one and taking it hostage.

>>6154459
We dislike Coven as much if not more than prisma. And it'll earn us reputation with Animus if we help them out. And we're going to need their help with fighting prisma.

>>6154706
We don't like any mage faction. We don't want to show our fighting ability to anyone. Nor do we want to publicly fight along with another faction and increase our active enemies from the three we start with.

>>6154539
Guys I need a decision for the ruby as it will affect things later.

>>6154539
-Have the ruby inside a bag in your pocket that can only trigger if the ruby is in your hand or making skin contact

>>6155120
>>6154705
Okay so my workplace is going through a restructuring and ran off about 70% of the work force and fucked up the online business side of things. Things should be better in a few days or I get fired on Monday so I might get spotty for this week as I pull overtime to fix their mess.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>6154705
>>6154459
1 learn
2 get involved

>>6155120
aight

Rolled 43, 6 = 49 (2d100)

>>6156236
william cover dc 126

First die animus, second die coven

>>6156241
Forgot to add the +40 but they would not beat William's DC anyway.

File: 300px-Scrying_Eye_Model2.png (57 KB, 300x300)

57 KB PNG

>>6156236
Rubbing the blood off his jaw as William presses his hand against the wound as the warm crimson fluid stops leaking. Already feeling the skin swelling a bit to stanch the bleeding as he focuses on the battle for more information when he faces his own enemy mages in the future. Peeking back into the room to see a devolving bloodbath as a lab rat thunder waves a piece of the floor from the second floor into the ground somehow missing every Animus below them. More lab rats firing off cantrips as Animus burns their reactions to raise up counterspells as waves of static reach out and crush hostile magic. With the green sparrows zipping across the room ensuring any damage taken is immediately healed up as blood lurches across the ground and back into its hosts. Every Animus rushing behind and under desks and rocks trying to avoid getting hit from the high ground as more debris and spells are thrown at them before tossing Evard’s Black Tentacles into the ceiling.

Shadow tendrils exploding out of stone as they whip and strangle the Coven witches having to fight from multiple angles. Tendrils coiling around arms and snapping them like toothpicks as pierced bone rips through their skin, legs bent from a solid wack sideways, as their vision gets blocked from being pressed on all sides. As more of their numbers drop from the sheer weight of spells being thrown at them until the survivors point their hand down and cast Erupting Earth.

Immediately William tosses himself to the ground as the earth shakes for a second before rupturing apart. The outer stone walls explode outward as marble, stone, tile, and glass come apart like a firecracker scattering their materials into the soft ground outside. Rocks, dust, and glass covers William as he buries his head under his arms to avoid damage as the shock wave passes above him. Feeling and hearing Animus bodies diving out of the windows as they roll with the momentum to let the earth guide their bodies with the flow rather than try to tank the force head on. Dozens of Animus mages scatter around the area as the runic spells on the walls get shattered into small glow sticks as magic fades from the surface. Breaking apart Astra property enough to see the hallway wall has also been broken down revealing a circular orb with a small storm inside as well as a pitch black center as it hums in power.

“Warning Astra property has been damaged. Local Rune Knight detachment will prosecute all agitators. Do not resist.”

part 1

Rolled 64, 87 = 151 (2d100)

>>6156241
William's insight high is good

>>6156275
Fear washes over all the mages present as Coven mages attempt to get their teleportation spells ready as Animus mages look for the closest treeline as they take a breath ready for their run. Space warps in six places as light bends in front of everyone in a wave-like pattern before a bright flash of green blinds everyone as cries echo in the open air classroom. Six knights wearing bloody stained armor with nicks, cracks, and dents covering their entire equipment with only their swords being the only thing that looks well maintained. Standing in a two by three formation as the front line pair hold short swords and bucklers with the pair behind them keeping their fists raised toward his cheeks as the last pair is scanning for threats across the area.Silence descends across the open air classroom as everyone freezes in place waiting for who to break the tension first.

Only for William to spot something much worse due to his familiarity with his new faction and from Rose’s warnings. Striker equipment as each knight carrying a backpack and waist pockets for easy potion access as cables, armor adjustments, and a buzz of magic hums in the air as they stand vigil and tense for a fight to break out.

The bloodlust leaking out of their gazes as they don’t see any of the mages in front of them as a threat but only as prey and victims.

>New information discovered
Astra is pushing hard for research and production into Striker technology
Rune Knights only require a reaction action to get summoned.
Six rune knights equal to at least twenty four normal mages.
Each knight is much stronger than level 8

-Pretend your dead. Roll 1d100.
-Run. Roll 1d100
-Activate ruby stone and transform.
-use a cantrip thaumarturgy and cause a fight. Roll 1d100
-write in

>>6156277
>Act like the pathetic ord we are. Hold our wound and Act like we're hurt bad. Maybe stick our fingers in the wound to make it worse.

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>6156277
-use a cantrip thaumarturgy and cause a fight. Roll 1d100

No one's paying attention to us and we're here to observe. Plus a perfect chance to both weaken the other factions and see what the popos gear does.

Got a counter arguement anon?

>>6156522
Don't cast a spell. There's a verbal component and they'll see it... and then we're fucked. 100% don't cast nothing in front of them. They probably have detect magic too. And they'll easily know if that spell since it's a cantrip. 100% absolutely not. Just lean into us being a pathetic ord caught in the cross fire they see that shit everyday.

>>6156836
If we're going to act like an Orb then continue to hide or run away are our options. No need to over act.

The catrip is just to start the fight all over again, doesn't matter if they can detect it. Just need to restart hostilities and make it a three way fight.

>>6156522
>>6156362
First die Animus save and dodge+40, Second die Coven save and dodge +40, third die William positioning DC 50 above avoid getting hit but below get hit, fourth and fifth die rune knight attacks +70

Rolled 22, 87, 59, 6, 72 = 246 (5d100)

>>6157430
rollnig

>>6157431
Eyes zip across from the rune knights, Coven, and Animus mages as William tries to scan for an escape from this killzone as ideas race through his head for a moment. Feeling a drop of blood drip from his jaw he gets his idea as his fingers into his jaw for more blood as he traces a thaumaturgy spell on the ground. Muttering out the correct sequence as he feels a bit of exhaustion shaking his body as imaginary lines flow in front of his vision. White lines coiling underneath the ground of the rune knights as William reaches out a finger as he starts tapping on the lines. Forcing out a small harmless tremor to shake the knights as they immediately react as two of the buckler knights pull out counterspell magic to break the spell affecting them.

“Erupting Earth! Counterspell uptier three!”
“Suspects resisting activating subjugation protocols!”
The four other knights raise their fists and squeeze them as a shudder and a sense of energy fills them with confidence before moving onto their next action. Digging into their packs as they throw glass cylinders with a swirling green fluid pulsing against its containment. With all the mages in a panic as they try to increase the distance as two vials race towards both factions to catch as many mages in the line of fire. The glass flies across the air as they are thrown at expert level precision at jagged rocks with all the mages throwing out counterspells to break the enchantment of the spell. Only to witness the counterspells doing nothing more than adding faint cracks along the container. Every spell failed as terrors spread across everyone’s faces as the cracks on the glass turned into a spiderweb of fractures as it lightly tapped against a broken rock before exploding in a plume of yellow-green noxious fumes. Fumes rapidly spread across the ground as mages choke on the poison air as it rolls along the ground as Coven mages begin vomiting out mouthfuls of blood. Eyes streaming tears of blood as many full collapse where they stand with their bodies unable to teleport out from the sudden death of their owner.

With even Animus mages also dropping to the ground as they are hit with the same plumes of poison only with the notable difference being the slow creeping gas crawling toward William’s face. Forced to take a deep breath as William flinches away from the gasses as they reach within five feet of his face before fading out of range as the gas moves southward from a gentle gust of wind. More blurs of motion grabs his attention as rune knights rush across the Animus group as swords and spells rip into the animals. Limbs torn off with an upward swing of a sword as a buckler snaps upward to caved in someone's face as blood and teeth get knocked out. Moving a bit too fast as the knights trip over a few jagged rocks before twisting their body’s fall into a roll as they thrust forward their swords through more mages.

part 1

>>6157438
Turning a small failure into an adequate attack as they continue pressing into their victims as more blood and intestines are spilled into the ground. As Animus mages die by their sword too fast and easily due to the lack of their rune healing sustaining their attack on Coven as the knights take a look at their massacre.

“Well damn we should have avoided killing them so hard.”
“Eh, it's fun and plus their tuition pays for the revival scrolls”
“True, okay we will have to call in the golems to luggage duty because I am not staining my armor again.”

Being stuck under rocks, William watches as the rune knights turn their heads toward a fireball explosion on the second floor of the building in a different classroom. Cracking their fingers first as they teleport out of the area as Astra golems walk into his view to recover the bodies of the mages and their limbs before dragging them back into the school. Lumbering their way to and from the broken classroom as they begin searching for bodies to recover as they begin cleaning up the mess.

>Rune knights have adrenaline shots and items immune to counterspells

-continue playing dead and let the golems grab you
-attempt to escape the golem search party
-write-in

part 2

>>6157439
>time to jump out that window.

They're dumb golems they shouldn't chase us.

>>6157439
-continue playing dead and let the golems grab you

They're probably taking us to where people are revived. I'd like to know the place.

>>6158123
We're an ord we don't get revived. We get liquidated...

Mages get revived...

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>6157481
>>6158123
1-run
2-ded

Rolled 41, 68, 75 = 184 (3d100)

>>6158701
First dice William's run and dodge +40, next second and third dice is bo2 for golems spotting and attack +50.

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653 KB PNG

>>6158703
Seeing six golems begin rifling through the rubble for corpses as they spread across the area following some kind of search protocol. Deciding he doesn’t want to be involved with whatever they do to the corpses William waits for golems to turn their backs toward him as two others carry a pile of bodies toward the insides of the school as two other golems appear to push the rubble toward the walls as mending spells coil around their arms. Slowly pulling bricks toward the wall for repairs as they hold their hands outstretched fully focusing on their job. With a deep breath William pushes himself off the ground as rocks crackle against marble as his heel turns his entire body toward the treeline. Just a quick run to get him out of Astra and back into the safety of the outside world as he begins to push his legs forward only to hear a pop behind him.

Knowing an unnatural sound is coming from behind him he clenches his fist as his left hand reaches for his cape to cast shield as a sharp tingling arrow stabs into his shoulder blade. Cold metal slicing deep into his shoulder as a harsh warmth blooms inside his flesh as the sharp pain subsides. Knocking him into the ground as he rolls with the force as dirt and dust slams into his face as skin burns from the friction. Rolling along his side as William gets back up with a weight on his back to face the golem face on as its rust colored body and glowing orange eyes burn with magic. Already retracting its extended arm that closes up an opening as its other arm slides a large sword into its hand as it prepares to chase him down. Beforing giving a quick glance to his back to see the arrow’s shaft still vibrating and stuck in his shoulder as he wonders why he got healed. With the other golems ignoring or not noticing the fight as tense seconds stretch out the silence before it announces its intentions.

>-4HP from arrow hit and gained 8 HP back

“Ani-error-Coven mage further punishment will be issued due to resistance. Comply now and only two limbs will be broken.”

Finishing off its statement the iron golem brings its sword up in a defensive posture as it holds its action as it brings its hand to the side of its face before quelching it into a fist as it watches William.

part 1

>>6158742
>Compliance Iron golem
HP ??/??
Mod ?
Equipment ?

>William Fighter level 5, Ranger Gloomstalker level 3
HP 66/80
Character: +10 dodge focus
Mods: +40 attack, +50 dodge. Ranger duelist +2 damage to each hit.
Skin Armor: +30 dodge on a bonus action
Cape: +25 Shield cape for one round activated on B.A limit 2 per fight.
Current Total: +35 attack, +90 dodge
Battlemaster skills: Riposte, Trip Attack, Disarming Attack, and four superiority dice locked at d40s to attack rolls or d8s to damage. Action surge and does 2x attacks per action.
Melee 1d6 per landed hit due to no gauntlets.

-Comply
-Run
-write-in

part 2

>>6158743
>Run

We can dash, action surge dash.

Why would it attack us qm...? They're on luggage duty... and we didn't attack it. We are also an ord and it should know that...

Like I'm confused asf. Ords get caught in mage fights all the time and we know they don't get revived. You telling me golems murder fleeing ords for no fucking reason? Like there'd be 0 ords left in this school if the golems just murdered them all after every mage fight. Like we've been told multiple times if it wasn't for Lora or hellscream our brains would still be painted all over the wall. And how can't the golem identify as an ord... we can't do shit other than cantrips and we didn't cast anything in front of them...

Idk really doesn't make sense with the plot of ords are basically flies in the wall or ants beneath the mages feet and that nobody gives a shit about them.

>>6158743
-Run

Now that we're not playing dead I don't know what will happen with a malfunctioning robot.

>>6159996
OOC
The golem is programmed to attack anything that gets back up as it assumes its a mage playing dead. As the normal mage would avoid fighting rune knights and much rather risk golem fights instead. If it was an ord it would expect them to be dead, dying, or not there.

Also the university cut costs on downloading the entire student database into each golem and much rather use if code statements rather than remember all its current students. Its why it thought William was a Animus before correcting to Coven as it did not see animal features.

>>6160565
>>6159996
Gritting his teeth as William stares down the rusted golem as his heart thunders inside his chest as his eyes scans the plain. Seeing the other golems not bothering to even look at his direction as the singular hostile golem chose not to run him down immediately. Thoughts race through William’s mind as he decides to avoid capture and losing his other backup spell too as he glances at the treeline being only one hundred feet away as he takes a breath as he takes a mental once over to check that he still got a lot of energy and vitality to survive the run.

Kicking against the ground as he spins his body around again as his shoulder screams in pain as the arrow digs into his flesh and muscle. Poking the back of his lung as he feels it ripping into his organ as the smell of iron and rust exits his nose as the ground shifts under him from the amount of force he is putting into his limbs. Like a spring William begins to leap across several feet per lunge as his legs push rather than pull his body forty feet toward the treeline. Feeling the air rush below him as his cape billows through the wind as he peeks behind himself to see the golem release its hand and announces Shocking Grasp. Already a sharp tingle seizes his shoulder as his right arm as sparks burn the ozone behind him and inside his flesh. Cooking his blood, muscle, and hair in a disgusting smell of cooked meat as his arm goes slack for a moment before regaining functions.

[William cannot take reactions this turn. -4 HP from grasp and -1 HP per 10 feet moved so -12 HP.]

Feeling the digging metal in his shoulder as his legs take a second to recover as William falls to the ground from the surprise injuries. With a last minute action running through his mind to reach out his arms to dig into the soft dirt during the fall to let his nails dig in place and push up. Launching his body forward as he uses his body's momentum and arm strength to keep up the escape as another forty feet gets added from the golem.

More distance, more safety mantra echoes inside William’s mind as he steadies his breathing and digs into his reserves as adrenaline surges across his body. Wiping out the tiredness, aches, and strain his muscles accumulated as he reaches for another surge of distance as he knows the golems might now pay attention to the runaway that somehow disappeared from their sight. Rose’s trick of just running at the best time comes in handy now with the fighter and ranger training barely making his body winded from the sheer speed he is maintaining by adding another forty feet from the school. Vision is obscured by trees, bush, branches, and leaves as he jumps through the foliage to begin breaking line of sight with the golems as shade start blocking out the sun.

part 1

>>6160701
Feeling the familiar burning pain returning to his body as William’s body is reaching close to his limits of what his body and training can handle only for him to ignore that. Gulping down lungfuls of cool air as he scrapes for every bit of energy he can find as his limbs grow numb, his heart beating harder and harder, as muscles scream in agony as he pushes out another forty feet of distance again. Uprooted roots, thorny vines, and jagged branches all move out of his way as his ranger magic helps open a path for him before returning back to their places to block vision. As lances of fire streak through the forest like a lighthouse burning all in its path as it cleaves through trees and bush. An explosion rocks the edge of the forest as bush gets flattened before William gets hit by its very weak shockwave. A thin sickly green ray of magic slams into a tree before turning it into ash and dust. Taking cover before another tree as William drops down on the floor as he takes a moment to gather his strength as pixels of rust can barely be seen past the forest’s cover. Distance too great for the golems to cover even while running full tilt as they announce their demands.

“Cov-Rune Knight you are to submit to authority and explain desertion of duties!”

Confusion wraps around William’s face at that statement before shaking off the distraction as he takes in another breath and gets up. Bracing himself against the tree as William launches himself away as his legs fly across the ground dodging and weaving against errant branches and roots as he puts another 120 feet between him and the golems. Taking a quick pause as he grips the arrow and with a harsh few tugs rips a chunk of his flesh off to see a barbed arrowhead with metal spikes designed to dig into flesh and holes for muscle to grow into. A very efficient way to cause continuous pain or waste precious seconds to rip out before William casts Thaumaturgy to clean the blood off of the arrowhead before tossing it away.

>William HP 50HP-12HP/80 HP

-Survived Animus vs Coven collateral fight Level 6 brawl. +6 XP
-Caused a bloodbath using Rune Knights +7XP
-Avoided Compliance Iron Golems +5XP
-Mage war active x2 multiplier
-Did not use emergency gemstone x3 multiplier
-Did not have mana gloves x4 multiplier

>+72 XP

>William’s XP bank 3
>75 XP pushes William from level 8 to level 13. Five unassigned levels available.

part 2

>>6160703
Limping into the city and away from the open sky William takes a quick seat along the wall of an alleyway as he keeps his eyes peeled. Letting a sigh of relief shake his body at surviving all the danger he faced and survived in the death trap of Astra. Entire hails of arrows sweeping across the classroom, dragon’s breath pouring down from the sky as it somehow missed trapped mages. To the bloodbath rune knights can commit without even activating their songs as their blades ripped apart bone and flesh as easily as he had against the gangster’s HQ. How efficient the knights picked apart mages so easily with their counterspell reactions and item usage to avoid losing their advantages while outnumbered and surrounded. With thoughts drifting to the golems and how slow they were in trying to catch up to his and their last minute use of high tiered spells. So much knowledge gained with half of his blood lost being a pretty great deal in exchange even if the rest of his body aches and throbs in pain. But a great way of realizing he still has skills learned from Rose that completely saved his life when he had no offensive or magic abilities to rely on. Rolling his shoulders for a moment before the sting of pain stabs into his back as William wonders what he should do next.

-Hellscream mansion and recover.
-Find the Rose and recover.
-Call friends
-write-in

GM note: Yeah move 40 feet, action 40 feet, dash 40 feet, action surge 40 with ranger magic to get rid of terrain obstacles while iron golems were spec’d into anti-mage tactics had only one outcome.

part 3

>>6160709
Ah okay. I guess it makes sense.

>well I guess we should use second wind to heal some. Then use prestigation to clean ourselves up and mend. Try to look like we weren't just caught in a fight.

>then go to rose and tell her all the shit we learned. And we need our ranger pet... I'd suggest a dire wolf... since we can ride it... and BTW we have spells from ranger qm... you le forgot. So we can cast cure wounds or eat some goodberrys.

Fighter 7, gloom stalker 3, rogue 3 (assassin)

We get our wis to initiative + alert we should basically auto win initiative checks. And we get auto crits on first round of combat. We can see in the dark. People can't see us with dark vision. We're the ultimate assassin now. And expertise on skill. I'd say perception or bluff.

>>6160831
With pass without trace we are nigh unseeable. We can KO a mage in one round of combat. Mac next 4 levels go into fighter so we get 3 attacks a round.

>>6160709
-Find the Rose and recover.

I'm forgetting what we agreed on when it came to specs.

>>6160835
Fed mages have pass without a trace. I'm not going to assume there's no counters to this.