Myth: A New Age CYOA

[Fangshi]

I meant, since the mental spells would take a longer time to work properly, would we be missing out on any other opportunities that might spring up, such as whatever the Dwarf King has planned for us?

Not really, no. As long as you are still in town you will be included in the King's plans.

Your prisoners will be held in a secure facility for as long as needed. The biggest difference will be how quickly you get Meletē back on her feet and how high the risk is to the prisoners.

Yes please

Added.

It looks like most casualties the Arrows took was from the Oneiroi's 'master'. What the hell was that thing, anyway? What triggered it's awakening, and could it have been avoided?

Some sort of otherworldly horror or halfbreed probably. Otto and three other Arrows were the only people that saw it (and lived) besides the Oneiroi and the Faceless Man. The Faceless Man also did not leave much of it left to analyze.

It woke up because the Oneiroi completed the ritual to wake it up. It could have been avoided by stopping the ritual somehow.

1) will we be meeting the daemon prince again and what is required to do so (not that it would be too smart, but we might need it down the road)

You might, you might not. Depends if you want to go wandering in the Dreaming again looking for him. To find him you would have to enter the plane with your conscious mind and then figure out where he lives/hunts/plays/etc.

2) what happens with the Dreaming if you kill it, what role does the creature play in it's ecosystem

Lyssa does not know as it has never happened before (that she is aware of). Maybe another creature is elevated to the role. Maybe that part of the Dreaming runs wild or disappears entirely. It is fairly safe to say that he is important though.

3) does this thing affect our dreams in any way

If dreaming were gambling then this guy owns the casino.

4) what happens with the Fort the Oneiroi built from the souls of the people.

The creatures will likely try to destroy it over time, they really do not like it. Whether they will succeed or not, you don't know.

It looks like we've made an 'ally' there as well, so I am naturally interested in how it can be used.

You have his interest certainly.

I assume our oath does not extend to our future dealings, however?

Correct. If you meet him again the oath will not shield you.

EE is terribly out of character...

The way I see it is that Derryth is already fine with torturing and killing enemies (Miosguinn for example), she also does not really have a problem with using people that she views as enemies. Add that to a mage's natural tendencies and I think it should still work for the character. These people wronged her, she does have a mean streak in her and a slight tendency to abuse power...

Not saying that EE would not shift her a little, it might, it will depend on what she does with them really.

fantastic update!

Thanks.

 

[Nevill]

I really doubt they would try anything funny in this situation.

Well, I know what I would have tried. Screw with my captors as much as possible - by giving false instructions, most likely, because after all they had done and an attempt on our lives to boot, they will never believe they can get alive out of this, let alone free. Can't blame them.

 

[Zero Credibility]

The alternative is death. And remember we do have the book, so we can test to see if they are really cooperating or trying anything funny, the book should say that much. Really, why bother with magic or torture when you can just ask them and you will know if they are lying or not just by making them hold the book?

 

[Smashing Axe]

EE is a fitting justice. They literally took the souls of their victims and transformed them into the brick and mortar of a fortress which they used to then capture and enslave innocent spirit creatures! (Not that there's anything wrong with that). They also attacked us and hurt Melete. (Our friend?). Justice demands they pay for their horrendous crimes with service!

 

[Fangshi]

If I may ask, what were our chances of taking him out with the gate? Or him not noticing it if we fail?

Spoiler

To hit him with the gate. If Derryth did it 1/10, if the creature did it 1/3.

If you failed he would feel it unless he was right at the other end when it happened. You had about a 1/5 chance of him not figuring it out.

Also, don't we have the book?

Yes you do, and you can use it here if you want to. It will be the slowest method but they also can not lie to it. Added as an option.

For instance I don't think he'd ever offer us the option to backstab a companion in good standing.

Yes at this point Derryth will not turn on her friends. She would rather die. Just part of the character at this point.

(Our friend?)

Your girlfriend's friend's friend.

 

[Zero Credibility]

How fast does the book work?

Also, I'm not voting for the EEeeeeevil option no matter what. It wastes time (don't we have better things to do? personally, I want to go back asap to see how our operation is going on) and all it gives us is a couple (maybe, if they both survive) minions. Fuck that. We already have good mages in our circle that are glad to be there and more to train from our orphans.

 

[Nevill]

EE is a fitting justice. They literally took the souls of their victims and transformed them into the brick and mortar of a fortress which they used to then capture and enslave innocent spirit creatures! (Not that there's anything wrong with that). They also attacked us and hurt Melete. (Our friend?). Justice demands they pay for their horrendous crimes with service!

But Melete is a horrible, horrible person who did not comply with safety regulations. She had it coming, really.

They are the good guys here, vigilantes carrying out the law when the state couldn't, so I suggest giving them a quick death and be done with it.

Spoiler

To hit him with the gate. If Derryth did it 1/10, if the creature did it 1/3.

If you failed he would feel it unless he was right at the other end when it happened. You had about a 1/5 chance of him not figuring it out.

Spoiler

Those are some shitty odds, considering what was at stake. What would the rolls be if we made the prince and TFM duke it out? And if we did C, would Lyssa be a 100% goner?

 

[Fangshi]

How fast does the book work?

I think I said about 100 words a minute.

Both your prisoners are in their mid 20's.

It will take a few days at least probably. You will then have to read it, find the part you want and have the book go over that part again to get as much information as possible. So more than a week in all likelihood but you will get the truth eventually.

I only bring up the time issue because Albrecht is planning to move on his enemies in a day or two. Things might get interesting.

But Melete is a horrible, horrible person who did not comply with safety regulations. She had it coming, really.

"If Myrgard can not take a few small fires then clearly it does not deserve to be the Dwarven Capital anyway." - Meletē after a few dozen beers.

 

[Fangshi]

Spoiler

Those are some shitty odds, considering what was at stake. What would the rolls be if we made the prince and TFM duke it out? And if we did C, would Lyssa be a 100% goner?

Spoiler

The prince could not beat him stuck in that room but he would start pulling out bricks. The more bricks that came loose the stronger the prince would become. At a certain point the odds would tip against the Faceless Man as he can not fight an entire plain of existence. The prince was fighting for time. The Faceless Man had to end it quick. I can not give easy odds on who would win.

In C he would have killed her nine times out of ten. He would not have really done it out of spite or even on purpose he just would have completely lost it and only the fact that he needs you would have saved you. He would likely have gotten rough with you as well.

That is all assuming that killing the prince does not collapse that part of the Dreaming and instantly kill you all of course...

 

[asxetos]

But the Oneiroi were like the mercenary Arrows when we first met them. We had conflicting interests but they were not ideological ones like with Mios. They wanted Melete for the reward, but that ship has sailed now and there is no need for unnecessary violence.

 

[Nevill]

The alternative is death.

Naturally.

We've just brought an army to their HQ and slaughtered them almost to the last man.

What makes them think they'll live after they tell you what you want to know? As far as they know, and considering what they did to their victims, death is the best they could hope for.

But the Oneiroi were like the mercenary Arrows when we first met them. We had conflicting interests but they were not ideological ones like with Mios. They wanted Melete for the reward, but that ship has sailed now and there is no need for unnecessary violence.

A demon in the basement.
Soul-trapping powers.
Us responsible for killing what essentially is their god and master and killing most of them off.

Yeah, no. There is a need for it to end decisively, lest we fancy us or our girls becoming bricks in yet another part of the Dreaming one day.

 

[Zero Credibility]

I don't get your point. They will not cooperate out of spite when the alternative is actual death? I really, really doubt that. Only a complete fanatic would do something like that and these are mercs we are talking about here. Their organisation is gone, done for. They are the only survivors - of course they will cooperate, what do you expect them to do? 2A is the quickest option to get from them what we came for in the first place, regardless if we plan on releasing them or not.

 

[Fangshi]

But the Oneiroi were like the mercenary Arrows when we first met them. We had conflicting interests but they were not ideological ones like with Mios. They wanted Melete for the reward, but that ship has sailed now and there is no need for unnecessary violence.

The way I would justify it if it happened is as follows:

Spoiler

-They were worshipping some sort of dark god, Derryth is not a huge fan of those in general

-They tried to kill Derryth and Thaïs

- They were destroying souls to use as building materials

- They were capturing spirits and killing/torturing them to power their spells

So they are not that different from Miosguinn really. The only difference is that Miosguinn succeeded in killing a friend of Derryth's and he stole from her. But he had also been a loyal and remarkably trustworthy ally all things considered.

Derryth will not lose sleep over hurting these people. Though E is of course the most extreme option in both 2 and 3.

 

[Nevill]

I don't get your point. They will not cooperate out of spite when the alternative is actual death? I really, really doubt that.

There is no alternative. They deserve death, they know it, as well as the fact that we dealt it indiscriminately to their brethren.

Why would we ever free them?

I know we can actually be that stupid, but would they believe we could be?

 

[Zero Credibility]

So because someone knows they deserve death they will actively seek it? Come on. Their alternatives are death or possible death - what would you choose?

 

[Nevill]

So because someone knows they deserve death they will actively seek it? Come on. Their alternatives are death or possible death - what would you choose?

Their alternatives, as far as they think, are certain death after screwing us over, and a certain death after giving us what we want.

Really, now. You can promise people life, freedom, wealth, power and a harem of 72 virgins, but you can't expect them to buy it.

After living a life of servitude to a dark god and having all of what I believed in destroyed before my very eyes, I won't cooperate for a mere fear of death. Why do you think they aren't talking?

 

[Smashing Axe]

Why not vote EE? You'd both be happy that way. They get to live and do penance in a manner that is not likely to result in inevitable betrayals. Best all round.

 

[asxetos]

Well screw them then. Flopping to CDB.

 

[Zero Credibility]

So because someone knows they deserve death they will actively seek it? Come on. Their alternatives are death or possible death - what would you choose?

Their alternatives, as far as they think, are certain death after screwing us over, and a certain death after giving us what we want.

Really, now. You can promise people life, freedom, wealth, power and a harem of 72 virgins, but you can't expect them to buy it.

After living a life of servitude to a dark god and having all of what I believed in destroyed before my very eyes, I won't cooperate for a mere fear of death. Why do you think they aren't talking?

Ok, one more time. One option is certain death - the Arrows will still be there and so will we and they have just seen we have no problems killing the rest of them. The other is possible death if they don't do as we say. They may or may not trust us with this, but those are the option as we present them. So, which option would give them a bigger chance of getting away with their lives? Refusing or trying to fuck things up for us? Or complying in the hope that we meant it? They may be horrible people, but that doesn't mean they are actively suicidal. Quite the opposite, the fact that they are horrible people and mercs will make them more likely to cooperate in the hopes of saving their skins, and not throw their lives away in a fit of spite.

 

[Azira]

C
F
B
I'm not in much of a hurry. 2F affords Derryth a potentially very valuable insight into the spells they used, not only on the sleeping inventor, but in general. And it's sure to work.
After we've got all we need, then let the d0rfs do with them what they will.

 

[Zero Credibility]

Yeah, if time is not of importance the book could be useful. It's completely safe and gives us detailed information on everything. Mostly boring unimportant information, but something else usefull could be found in there. Though it could be funny trying to use it - we would have to tie them up so that they remain in constant contact with the book for days, wouldn't we?

 

[Jester]

1C

2C
3E

if no traction on 2c,3e
2E
3A

 

[Jester]

Fangshi If we will break their minds will we roll attempt to persuade them to share their knowledge? If they know how to drop this spell we should be able to extract some spells or magical theory.

 

[Kz3r0]

1C

2F
We bought the book exactly for this purpose, and LOL at trusting anything fanatica would say under any condition.

3 B

 

[Nevill]

The book is nice... but Bari is faster.

The artefact is good to check up on someone without antagonizing them too much or if they can't be broken in any other way, but I doubt any of this applies to the duo.

Still, I can set it up as a secondary vote, I suppose.

2. C>F
3. A>B