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File: 1618707103826.jpg (722.56 KB, 1280x1717, 1546161690358.jpg)

 No.755503[View All]

Last time, on Anno Castra…

A long discussion unfolded between our explorers and "Mendicant Rudolph," assuming that was his true name. The dissident priest who unleashed a startling manifesto about the bleak future facing Ironcastle was, after all the panic and unrest he caused, a rather unassuming figure, not particularly unusual, nor even memorable. He maintained that everything in his manifesto came to him in a startling vision, which also included the zero-day virus that he used to forcibly download the manifesto to every Magicomp in Ironcastle.

This was an impossible feat, according to the Lux Deorum, as Rudolph had no background in technology whatsoever. They completely discredited his story about receiving it all in a vision, divine or otherwise, and maintained that he had to be working with a group of fellow terrorists and malcontents who wished only to stir up chaos in Ironcastle. However, Rudolph proved that he had information he could not have possibly accessed otherwise: He knew that the party had spoken with Godspeed. Just as this seemed to lend credence to his story about visions, he uttered a still stranger thing… that events that had unfolded in Ironcastle were also unfolding in other Castles as well, from ancient historical events such as the rise of the Brotherhood of Flagellants, to the schism of the Charismatics from the Abbey, to the development of mutually intelligible languages across Castles, despite there being no methods of communication between them, and the massive distances that separated them.

Before they could question him further, the DLs furiously dismissed the party, and took them away, back to the baggage claim area of the Ramparts. Many more hours than they had perceived finally caught up with them, and they had to get a ride from Rockfall back to House Titanite.
960 posts omitted. Click reply to view.

 No.761156

>>761152
>>761155
"Hrm… yes, perhaps it sustains itself through other things."

 No.761157

>Perception
[1d10]

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.761158

>>761156
>Perception [1d10]

Roll #1 1 = 1

 No.761159

>>761155
>>761147
>>761148
>>761149
>>761150
>>761152
As you approach the Tree of Evil, you see more clearly the complex that surrounds it. There are numerous buildings, high and well-built, of a visually striking structure, consciously ornate, geometric and iconic. To Zamrud and Good, who had some manner of art history education, it almost resembles what their textbooks identified as "art deco." Those structures nearest to the base of the tree are hard to see, some manner of haze or fog covers them. However, it is clear they are being lifted up upon the roots of the tree. Yet, they do not appear to be crumbling or falling. They seem to ignore the pull of gravity, and stand as proud as they were as if they were still planted upon flat ground.

There are towers, libraries, gardens, arcades, amphitheaters, plazas and chapels there, and the outermost areas seem reserved for various athletic endeavors. Well, the mission briefing did say that this was an Old World academy of sorts…

Hold on. There's… someone there. Near a crumbled section of wall, near the academy's outermost boundary. An equine shape… wearing an Armorsuit.

 No.761162

>>761159
"Perhaps one of your Castle-dwelling kin? But… hrm. We must be as careful as possible." He remarks, stroking his beak- and grimacing a little at the lack of mask.

 No.761163

>>761159
As Zamrud surveys the array of buildings situated around the Tree of Evil, her rubs the fur on his chin, unable to help but admiral the architecture. "Hmm… fascinating. The way they were all designed, I'd almost say an artist designed this city."

As he catches a glimpse of the shade wearing armor, Zamrud narrows his eyes, activating the telescopic view of his mutation to try and see them more clearly. "I see someone, just on the outskirts of the tree's boundaries. One moment…"

[1d10+1] Perception with telescopic vision

Roll #1 8 + 1 = 9

 No.761164

>>761162
You verify that this is indeed one of your fellow Iron souls – assuming it's one of the missing soldiers, it would be either Herb or Kirk, for they were the only ponies mentioned by High Director Mabin. Lone Star is a Minotauress, and Origami and Locomotive are Diamond Dogs.

Whoever he is, he's carrying a most unusual weapon: A firearm – a rifle, by the look of it. This in itself would be unthinkable to any Castle-dweller; firearms are loud, noise attracts Dreaded Ones, and the muzzle flash is not bright enough to deter a Dreaded One's approach. Although a bullet's impact could theoretically kill most known varieties of Dreaded, the sound would summon a dozen more for each one felled.

Stranger still is that this does not seem to be a modern weapon, as one might see carried by a police officer of a Castle, but an antique. Only a collector would own this sort of weapon, but would have to be insane or worse to bring it into the Outlands.

Something is very wrong with this figure…

 No.761165

>>761164
As Zamrud observes the soldier from afar, he gives his analysis to the rest of his team and Ride's. "It's a pony wearing a Castle-issue Armorsuit, for certain. I would hedge my bets on one of our missing squad members, which if I recall the dossier correctly would make that either Herb or Kirk."

"Curiously though, they appear to be wielding a ballistic firearm, and an ancient looking model at that. I can only presume their standard sidearms were destroyed and they're forced to rely on whatever relics they were able to find, which speaks volumes about their current situation."

Zamrud tries to open his Concord, seeing if it's possible to get a signal to ping any local IronCastle teams in the area who might be listening in.

 No.761166

>>761164
>>761165
"Perhaps he's stuck in stasis if he is just standing perfectly still?"

 No.761167

>>761166
"Do you think we might end up in the same condition if we get too close, or is there a way to pull one out?" Billy asks out loud.

 No.761168

>>761165
Under the "Open channels" tab, you see an available short range communication channel registered to one Herb. However, his status shows him as being "Offline."

This is most likely the channel belonging to the equine figure ahead of you… perhaps he just prefers to list himself as being Offline…?

>optional: roll technological insight. anyone you share this info with can roll too.

>>761162
>>761165
>>761166
>>761167
"Stasis?" Ride asks.

Indeed, the figure appears to be near frozen in that position… Zamrud can tell that he is moving, but only at a snail's pace. Each movement passes, frame-by-frame, like an online video lagging for lack of bandwidth.

"He might need help to escape that state," Assembly says.

 No.761169

>>761168
"Well how do we fix somethin' like that? Do we drag them away from the location or somethin'?" Grutar scratches his beard idly while squinting at the figure.

 No.761170

>>761168
>>761169

"I say we push the pony out with something like a stick or bar, just so that we don't have to experiment using each other with this stasis." Billy makes a suggestion.

 No.761171

>>761166
>>761168
>>761167
As Zamrud looks at his Concord, he raises his finger to make a correction. "Not in stasis: simply moving at an extreme decelerated rate. It's difficult to see from here but my eyes can see he is moving… barely. It's as though he stutters for one moment, then moves a fraction of an inch, then freezes until he makes the slightest of moves again."

He taps on his Magicomp. "I am picking up a reading for Herb, but it's 'Offline'. My guess is that the radio waves are moving as slowly as Herb is himself, hence it is as though he has no online presence at all." He stands up, rubbing his chin. "We should take the risk of that happening to us very seriously, though. If we are all trapped by the same effect, decades could well pass before we ever returned to IronCastle. I'm just uncertain if it's a field generated by the tree itself, or if something happened to affect Herb in particular."

[1d10] Rolling technological knowledge

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.761172

>>761168
"As being stuck. Though he instead appears to either be battling some kind of paralysis or time dilation effect.

 No.761173

>>761164
"Why does he use such a loud, noisy weapon? It seems rather unwise, and even if one preferred it, it's aged."

>>761168
"Stasis? How would we be able to remove him from such a state?"

 No.761174

>>761172
>>761173
>>761171
>>761170
>>761169
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG-3jOZ-0Js

Concord has four statuses for a user: Offline, AFK, Busy and Online. These can be manually set, or automatically set by Concord itself. If they manually change their status to any state besides "Online," their status won't change until they manually set themselves to "Online" again.

However, if their status changes automatically…

A user becomes "Busy" when they are in a call. They return to "Online" when the call ends.

A user becomes "AFK" if nine minutes pass without Concord detecting any user activity, even something as simple as checking different chat windows.

An "AFK" user becomes "Offline" if another nine minutes pass while they are "AFK."

An "Offline" user becomes "AFK" if Concord detects any user activity whatsoever. The next time that Concord detects any user activity, they will be changed from "AFK" to "Online."

"The only reason I can think of is that no other weapon is available to him," Assembly speculates, but he sounds unsure of this reasoning. "But… even a desperate soldier would prefer to bludgeon a Dreaded One with a firearm rather than shoot them. He's carrying it in a position to facilitate shooting… and, are those grenades at his belt?"

"We cannot rule out the possibility of possession," Ride says. "In which case, my flames may be able to purge the infection at the root. In any case, this Iron soul is in a dangerous position, both to himself, and to us, if he shoots that firearm. I suggest we either make contact, or ambush him, and disarm him of his noisome weapons. What say you, fellow souls?"

 No.761175

>>761173
"My wager is it's strictly out of necessity. His other weapons must be unavailable and he's left with no superior means of defending himself, out-weighing even the risk of ancient, loud weaponry."

>>761174
Zamrud considers the possibilities of what else can be drawn from the Offline status for Herb before looking to Ride. "I agree we should try to make contact, but whatever effect has taken Herb cannot be allowed to befall the rest of us or Iron Castle will have to send out ANOTHER team. It could be an area of effect tied to the tree itself, meaning just getting close to it isn't option."

"I would propose we try and hurl something as close to Herb as possible, and observe what happens. If the object freezes in mid-air, that'd seem to suggest just approaching is in itself dangerous."

 No.761176

>>761175
"I will try and find something." Billy responds. Aiming to follow the plan or find something to push the pony out.

[1d10] Look for a stick/rod or rock

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.761177

>>761176
>>761175
Billy scrounges up a rock with some good heft, just round enough to be aerodynamic.

>+1 to any attempts to throw the rock at the target or in his general area

 No.761178

>>761177
"Eeyup!" Billy goes forth and chucks the rock forth near the pony.

[1d10+1]

Roll #1 3 + 1 = 4

 No.761179

>>761174
>>761175
"I suppose a shot from my light gun would be a bit much."

 No.761180

>>761178
Good decides to use his Gravity powers to try and help.

[1d10] Powers of Gravitational mastery!

Roll #1 3 = 3

 No.761181

>>761174
>>761176
Grutar begins to search for any good hardy rocks to throw around.

>Search for good rocks, maybe a gem poking out somewhere?
[1d10+2]

Roll #1 4 + 2 = 6

 No.761182

>>761179
"Only in terms of speed. Lightguns shots are obviously near luminal, it might be difficult to tell if it slowed down should a time dilation field affect it. Something slower would make it more obvious."

>>761181
>>761180
>>761178
As Billy chucks the stone, Zamrud looks at it as it soars through the air. "Easy does it, keep your eyes on the target…" he says as he watches it closely to see if it slows down upon approach.

 No.761183

>>761174
"Where would a weapon that old have come into his posession from? It is quite bizarre. Perhaps he has been frozen for some time, or it was all that was within the buildings he could find?"

 No.761184

>>761181
[1d10]
>Thunderstorm's Wings to assist!

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.761185

>>761184
>>761178
>>761179
>>761180
>>761181
>>761182
>>761183
>>761175
You approach the shattered wall, close enough for Billy to huck a rock towards the target… he winds up, and throws–

And the rock vanishes in mid-air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3EhUx8fTaQ

In the very next instant, there is not just one Herb, but nine others, all interposed onto one another, slightly displaced, like an onionskin in an animator's book. However, each of them has dropped their weapon. You see the rock laying nearby – the rock seems to have knocked the gun out of Herb's hooves, disarming him for the moment.

Each of the nine Herbs is doing something different.

The first three are reaching for the three grenades at their belt – each reaching for a different one…

[1d??+??]

The second three are reaching for their rifles as they stand their ground. One kneels, one raises his hoof, another starts to fall back.

[1d??+??]

The last group of three are running for cover, having abandoned the rifle. However, you can see them all reaching for some sidearm or another – an antique pistol, a knife, or a storage unit on their armorsuit.

[1d??+??]

The others in your group dive for nearby cover among the rocks, but it's limited.

 No.761186

>>761185
Zamrud looks on in astonishment and confusion as the rock appears to vanish out of thin-air, only to suddenly reappear on the ground later as though it had knocked Herb's weapon out of his hooves. He is only given a moment to contemplate the nature of the TEN sudden Herbs around them now moving at a normal pace.

"I am beginning to think time is broken in more than one way for Herb." Zamrud quickly looks for cover of his own, trying to see what the 'Signal' for Herb's Concord now appears if it's AFK or Online

 No.761187

>>761185
Good quickly prepared to throw a singularity down in an attempt to stop any explosions but he waited to see how the others acted.

 No.761188

>>761185
Billy decides to make some distance from the the sudden multiplication of herb, unsure if there would be any other anomalies.

 No.761189

>>761185
"Looks like we're gonna need a lot more rocks."

 No.761190

>>761186
[1d10+1] Rolling perception

Roll #1 3 + 1 = 4

 No.761191

>>761188
[1d10] Perception

Roll #1 9 = 9

 No.761192

>>761189
>Perception
[1d10]

Roll #1 7 = 7

 No.761193

>>761187
[1d10] Perception

Roll #1 8 = 8

 No.761194

>>761189
>>761188
>>761187
>>761186
The Concord signal for Herb is jumping rapidly between "AFK," "Online" and "Offline," and very rarely, to "Busy." The changes are without rhyme or reason, and in fact switch so often that it's starting to hurt your eyes.

However, you barely have time to contemplate this before explosions erupt nearby, seemingly without cause – until you glimpse, through the smoke and scattered dust, that three of the Herbs have completed their grenade throws. An instant later, you are pelted by dust, rocks and shards of metal, piercing your Armorsuits in a cacophony of deafening explosions and gunshots.

>Everyone loses 4 Hits

Through the chaos, you can see that three of the Herbs are reaching for their secondary grenades, while three others appear to be stuck reloading in various states of loading their guns. One appears to be a flintlock, another a firelock, and one, a matchlock…?

The last three are holding position – one has his pistol raised in a threatening posture, another reaches for another knife, and the other is reaching for… are those fireworks?

>>761191
>>761192
>>761193
You see, in the instant after the explosions and shots, that the craters and impact sites for the grenades and bullets are all between you and Herb. In the case of the one who opted to throw a knife, the thrown knife is practically at his hooves.

Was he even trying to hit you?

But as you process this, you feel a shuddering in the lands outside and around you… a distant, warbling cry, shrill on some beats, shudderingly deep on others… the inhuman, soulless song of a Dreaded One, hungry and malevolent…

"We've no time!" Ride shouts. "This fool summons them! Cover me– I will restrain him!"

Ride's preparing to rush the shooter…!

"Preparing – covering fire–!" La Senorita splices!

 No.761195

>>761185
Qhapaq blinks, more confused than anything else. "Are… we in danger?" He asks, preemptively stepping in front of the others- just in case!

 No.761196

>>761194
Good narrows his eyes and decided to throw the singularity at him to try and pin all of them in place at the mass.

[1d10] Singularity Shot

He also moved to go into cover

[1d10] dodge

Roll #1 4 = 4 / Roll #2 10 = 10

 No.761197

>>761194
"HOT DANG!" Grutar shouts shortly after the explosion. "Thing nearly blasted my armor apart! I'll cover ya Ride!"

>Follow and assist Ride in restraining shooter
[1d10]

Roll #1 2 = 2

 No.761198

>>761194
Zamrud cries out as some of the shrapnel hits him, prompting him to quickly start making healing sedatives from his chemistry pack. "AGgh… was JUST starting to feel that part of my chest again after the Daemon fiasco, damn."

[1d10] Distill Life: recharge 2, spell; Create three Health Potions that restore 3 hits each, and on Crit also restore one wound. You may distribute these freely to nearby party members on cast, at any time after. Consuming a potion is an Instant Automatic action. Non-Alchemists can only hold one Health Potion at a time.

As Ride comments going to restrain him, Zamrud looks between the various Herb's and shouts, "That's the question, isn't it: which 'him'?" He asks Ride as he tries to gauge, assuming his working theory is correct and all these Herb's are in fact the 'same' Herb along different points in time, which one is the 'latest' one

>Appraise: instant; Determine the number of remaining hits and wounds on an enemy or possibly a weakness. More powerful enemies may be harder to Appraise. Out of combat, quickly determine value of objects, study mechanisms and documents, size up other beings, etc,.
[1d10+1] Appraise

Roll #1 2 = 2 / Roll #2 2 + 1 = 3

 No.761199

>>761194

In response to Ride's request Billy takes out his grimoire crystal spell to protect him.

[1d10]

>Crystal Wall α:
>Spell; Ranged; Recharge 1 after effect ends; Encase your target in a 5x5' square of crystal, permeable only from their end. The crystal square absorbs 5 Hits of Damage on behalf of the target, after which it breaks.

Roll #1 10 = 10

 No.761200

>>761194
"T-This is very bizarre. I do not know if we can aid him as he is, and he does not seem to be trying to hit much of any of us."

 No.761201

>>761199
You bless both Grutar and Ride as they run into the fray–!

>>761197
As you and Ride sprint past the boundary of the crumbling outer wall, the world about you shudders and wavers, and you stumble and shudder along with it, as if you had just belly-flopped straight into a pool. When your vision settles, you see that eight of the nine Herbs have collapsed into a single one, who dual-wields a pistol and a dagger.

"–aaaaaaaaaagh!" Herb snarls – as if he had already been screaming, and you just didn't hear it. He raises his weapons at you and Ride, and you can see, through his visor, that his eyes are deeply lined, and red-rimmed, with fury and frustration. For a brief, few moments, you and Ride weave around gunfire and knife stabs and slashes, as Herb, animated by a sudden hatred, tries to sink the both into the two of you. Billy at the last moment manages to bestow a protective crystal shield on you and Ride, just in time to absorb no fewer than three gunshots apiece – this gun is an automatic, and Herb, a skilled marksman.

With a combination of jabs, feints and grabs, you and Ride, rushing him from either side, manage to disarm him, twisting his hooves behind him as if you were about to reverse hogtie him.

>>761195
>>761196
>>761198
>>761199
>>761200
But, to the lot of you – it appears that Ride and Grutar completely vanish. The nine Herbs freeze for an instant, before you see each and every one of them restrained in nine different positions by nine different Rides and Grutars. The restrained Herbs all thrash at the helmet, bobbing up and down in concert with his frenzied talking, but you cannot hear them.

The disharmonious singing draws near, from the west and south…! Ride's team draws their weapons, grouping up together with clear apprehension…

"We should get to cover!" Dorya shouts. "They're coming!"

"We're too exposed out here," Gimmel says. "Where the hell are we gonna go!?"

>>761197
"Idiots! You total idiots!" Herb snarls. "Godsdamnit, didn't you get my Concord calls!?"

"Wh–" Ride begins.

"Nevermind!" Herb barks, now practically crying. "Get back, get back beyond the wall! You might still have time! It might not have–"

But then, like an earthquake in the air, a rumbling pounds your inner ear, and you and Ride both stumble, nearly folding up upon yourselves as the rumbling destroys all semblance of balance and direction you had. Ground becomes sky becomes horizon. You are as uneasy on your legs as a newborn babe would be.

"Oh, gods…!" Herb gasps. "We were so close… the prom was tomorrow…!"

 No.761202

>>761201
"I suggest we find a building that doesn't have a time dilation effect and go there."

 No.761203

>>761201
>>761202
"Maybe we can go up the tree? Bound to have some safe place." Billy offers up.

 No.761204

>>761201
>>761202
Zamrud looks at the nine different Rides and Grutars also appear to constrain the Herbs, shaking his head as the distant howling of the coming Dreaded Ones put everyone on high alert.

He looks at Good and nods, "Agreed, the buildings are our only cover. Everyone head into the nearest one, we'll hold up there. The question is what to do with 'them'." He says, looking at all the Rides, Grutars, and Herbs.

"We can't just leave them out here, they'll be eaten alive. I think the effect only works on direct contact, can any one use magic to move them with us remotely? I believe affecting ONE of them should affect all of them."

 No.761205

>>761201
Grutar stumbles about as his legs get shaky, holding his helmet in one hand he tries to keep himself steady as best he can. "Whoa whoa whoa! Thank goodness I didn't have any booze before this! What didja say about a prom, lad? Did someone dump ya?!" Grutar says as he looks for possible dread sources.

>Search for dreads & stay stable.
[1d10]

Roll #1 4 = 4

 No.761206

>>761201
>>761204
"Perhaps the time dilation will keep them safe? I cannot imagine this was a thing that occurred suddenly, just now. Perhaps the time effect will keep them safe… but, I do not feel good about leaving them be. Is there a way we could seal them away safely?"

 No.761207

>>761205
>>761204
>>761203
>>761202
>>761206
As you try to discern what to do next, a vertigo, then a sudden crashing, waves up over you, as if you had suddenly been dropped on your side onto a Castle ocean's cruel and uncaring waves. Discombobulation follows, and light and shadow play before you, as you stumble, reeling… dark figures of flesh and insatiable hunger tower before and around you, and your muscles, weak, instinctually reach for weapons – either to slay them, or yourself, and spare yourself a most incomprehensible fate…

But some providence of the gods, a divine boon… columns rain from the dark heavens. Not light, nor even darkness, but distortion, and energy, fall like raindrops, upon the monstrous figures… and in an instant of grotesque horror, you witness them shredded, twisted, ground and slain… until, weakened by the impact of hitting the waves, you succumb to weakness, and fall into sleep…


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