[LP CYOA] Epic

[Baltika9]

...they can just send in Darth Vader, sorry, Ban.

...goddammit.

*rewrite*

Mmm, small victories.I wonder how his meeting with Ean will pan out, so, yeah, I'm for going to Ankida.

 

[TOME]

Not much flopping going on.

 

[Kayerts]

our "Grande Armee" will have nothing, nothing on the numbers of the Empire and the experience of their veterans and will be outclassed by Skane if they complete their steam-engine research(that was about ten-eleven years ago)

Scholars have begun experimenting with steam power, and a working prototype of a steam-powered water pump is currently being tested in the northern mines.

which means steam tanks, given the love of chariots in this part of the world.

Nah, they've got a long way to go. The first historical steam engine was invented in the 1st century AD. The analogue to what treave was describing here seems to be Jeronimo de Ayanz's 1606 steam-powered pump, also for use in draining mines. So, still 300 years before the real world had steam tanks, and the steam tanks we actually made had some kinks, such as only being able to drive fifty feet before getting stuck. Anyway, Ean's Earth is not ours, but even with Shulgi expediting R&D, it should be decades if not centuries before tanks are on the field.

 

[Kipeci]

Yeah, that steam technology is horrendously inefficient right now. The historical reason for their early use being limited to areas like coal mines is that they needed to be right next to a ready fuel source.
It's quite a leap to jump from there to steam tanks in the span of a decade or so.

 

[TOME]

Like you said, Ean's Earth is not ours. It could be that they some different, better energy source by now and they could come up with efficient steam tanks. I highly doubt that, though.

 

[Baltika9]

Nah, they've got a long way to go. The first historical steam engine was invented in the 1st century AD. The analogue to what treave was describing here seems to be Jeronimo de Ayanz's 1606 steam-powered pump, also for use in draining mines. So, still 300 years before the real world had steam tanks, and the steam tanks we actually made had some kinks, such as only being able to drive fifty feet before getting stuck. Anyway, Ean's Earth is not ours, but even with Shulgi expediting R&D, it should be decades if not centuries before tanks are on the field.

Fair point and I shouldn't count on it then (my familiarity with steam engines extends no further than Napoleon's quote and ironclads), but on the flipside they have a) Fenrir/Shulgi and b) treave (edit: on a related note, I won't be surprised of squats dwarves will start crawling out of caves soon).

Edit:Is it just me who thinks Ean, as a character, has more in common with Loki and Prometheus than the "warrior/leader god" archetype?

 

[Esquilax]

So... uh, is there a majority yet or are we still tied? Maybe treave should go with the ancient and hallowed ritual of arbitrarily flipping over a metal disc to determine the winner.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

So... uh, is there a majority yet or are we still tied? Maybe treave should go with the ancient and hallowed ritual of arbitrarily flipping over a metal disc to determine the winner.

Well, technically, I think B is still in the lead as all the C voters have differing views on just how they should ditch the team of mutants that have pledged their lives to our service.

 

[Bloodshifter]

Snip

Ean is more akin to Chaos then any gods but Loki is close.

So far Ean has been "weee for the lolz!! Death to The Tentacles cept Sek.... Shulgi! Shugli every where! I want a baby! Pimp slapping hoes in bitches. I exploded a mountian you? Kill the Xenos! Derp jump into holes that make common sense and Physics cry..."

More or less

 

[Baltika9]

So... uh, is there a majority yet or are we still tied? Maybe treave should go with the ancient and hallowed ritual of arbitrarily flipping over a metal disc to determine the winner.

Well, technically, I think B is still in the lead as all the C voters have differing views on just how they should ditch the team of mutants that have pledged their lives to our service.

Well, technically, TOME and Omicron have their own variation of B, which puts the original B on par with Esquilax's C. And if we ignore variations, C and B are still tied.

Edit: treave, another question, rather important. What is Ean's concept of a world set "right?" "REMOVE KEBAB WORST MASTERS!!!" or something more?

 

[treave]

From my reading TOME and Omicron were going for a straight B, so when the update comes out today it'll be using B, unless any of you feel like flopping. I'll keep voting open for another 5 hours. As for setting the world right, in the end that will be up to you guys, I suppose. There'll be... choices.

If you get that far. I'm removing the kid gloves for this chapter.

 

[Baltika9]

From my reading TOME and Omicron were going for a straight B

Only if you are shutting down the free-form choices.

Skane with Yellowstreaks. But if treave wants to revert back to ABC-choices, then B.

I initially thought the direction of the group would be decided in the next update, if this is not the case I'd like to flip to going to Skane with the Yellowstreaks.

Otherwise, C and B are equally tied. We need a tie-breaker. Bloodshifter, care to help us out here?

If you get that far. I'm removing the kid gloves for this chapter.

Dis gonan be gud reel gud awesome. Fists up.

Carry on.

Edit:

Snip

Ean is more akin to Chaos then any gods but Loki is close.

So far Ean has been "weee for the lolz!! Death to The Tentacles cept Sek.... Shulgi! Shugli every where! I want a baby! Pimp slapping hoes in bitches. I exploded a mountian you? Kill the Xenos! Derp jump into holes that make common sense and Physics cry..."

More or less

That was all us, actually. Prometheus, on the other hand

Prometheusis a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence( ), and as a champion of humanity.
The punishment of Prometheus as a consequence of the theft is a major theme of his mythology, and is a popular subject of both ancient and modern art. Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, sentenced the Titan to eternal torment for his transgression. The immortal Prometheus was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. In some stories, Prometheus is freed at last by the hero Heracles (Hercules).
In another of his myths, Prometheus establishes the form of animal sacrifice practiced in ancient Greek religion. Evidence of a cult to Prometheus himself is not widespread. He was a focus of religious activity mainly at Athens, where he was linked to Athena and Hephaestus, other Greek deities of creative skills and technology.
In theWesternclassical tradition, Prometheus became a figure who represented human striving, particularly the quest for scientific knowledge, and the risk of overreaching or unintended consequences(this pretty much sums up Ean, "Whoops). In particular, he was regarded in theRomantic eraas embodying the lone genius whose efforts to improve human existence could also result in tragedy…

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

If you get that far. I'm removing the kid gloves for this chapter.

 

[Baltika9]

If you get that far. I'm removing the kid gloves for this chapter.

That's why E and I are pushing for C: it's a full commitment to searching for other, better, opportunities in other parts of the world, and the only reason we want to get the Yellowstreaks top Joan is because a) it gets them off the streets and away from being gobbled up by other less scrupulous factions and b) it's just plain dickish to flip off these guys, they awakened Ean and seem like a decent bunch (sadly, their decency is outweighed by their lack of power, more on that later) and doesn't sit right with either of us (also, Ean is a more moral person than this, which will come in handy, I'm sure).

B is the "middle road" option, which may be fine in some instances, but not this one, as what we need right now is a decisive action, because as a wise man once said, "the middle road is where the white line is and that's the worst place to drive".

And about their power: I don't terribly mind flopping to A if it stands a better shot than C, since it is a total decision in favor of improving the Yellowstreaks' powers and it also capitalizes on Ean's martial proficiency, which very well will come in handy.

Also, your powergaming "lol devour a village" won't really work here: for starters, Ean wasn't ever about wanton

We've built up a character with strong willpower and self control and this will jeopardize it, since the more you eat, the more you give into your passions and psychoses (see Marduk). Also, it is rather useful to have a Battle Buddha. And B, in fact, will polarize our group against such an act, so we will most likely be betrayed and/or outed.

Flop, bros, for otherwise we stand little chance: either full recon (C) or fucking Napoleon with Teutonic Knights (A). B will make us a jack-of-all-trades, instead of a specialist. And with the current stakes (the entire planet) we need to specialize to maximize our advantages.

 

[treave]

Since TOME stated he'd vote B if we reverted back to ABC, that's what I'm going with.

And with the current stakes (the entire planet)

B update incoming.

 

[Baltika9]

Since TOME stated he'd vote B if we reverted back to ABC, that's what I'm going with.

And with the current stakes (the entire planet)

B update incoming.

But then that goes for C too, which makes it 5-5.

DAMN YOU, TREAVE!
Happy New Year's, by the way.

 

[Baltika9]

Screw it, never mind, I'm starved for an update. Looks like we'll have to be Ekstra Kunnin' (TM).
.
.
.

We're fucked, aren't we?

Edit:

And with the current stakes (the entire planet)

B update incoming.

Wait a second... this means taht we're not fighting for just the planet, but for at least our dimension.

Kodex Kool Kunning incoming and I hope it will save us.

 

[treave]

Chapter 8.4: First Aid

Not everyone was happy with your decision, but as the days passed and the amount of work grew, complaints lessened. You did not take over leadership of the group, but they came to see you as a source of advice nonetheless. The escalating conflicts enabled you to rally more and more support from the people. Extensive aid networks were established from the hinterlands to the borders. Branches were quickly established in each kingdom, each operating as a semi-independent cell that abided by the core group’s principles of neutrality. Surprisingly, Dario, who had not been eager to take this path, took the lead to set up these branches, spending most of his time travelling between countries. He was particularly efficient at sniffing out and finding the right people to handle local operations, smoothing over issues with towns guards and other authorities diplomatically.

As the weeks went by, a few problems emerged.

You began to feel your hunger again, as did the Successors. One of your group, a man by the name of Joshua, was the first to go. He went berserk in a shelter, tearing apart three refugees before he was stopped by his brethren. Reports of others – Skane, Gallo-Britannian, Imperial - feasting on humans began to flow in from all over the continent. Blasphemous stories abound of the Successors being products of the First Emperor mating with trolls. Those who tasted human flesh without preparing themselves would lose their mind immediately at the ecstasy and the way it filled their empty hunger, as Joshua did. You did your best to guide them best as they could, but you could see that at times their willpower wore thin. Thankfully, in their dealings they worked with the more benevolent part of humanity, reducing their risk of being overwhelmed by their desires, and you lost no more Successors after the first one. The other factions were not so lucky, as in their fights quite a few succumbed and either fled into the wilds in their insanity or were put down.

The second problem stemmed from Dario. He had gone ahead and encouraged each of the branches, and the people it helped, to see each other as part of the Empire as a whole. This was not difficult – thousands of years under Imperial rule had begun to erode away at the borders between tribes and nations despite their cultural differences. It was a noble sentiment that helped uphold neutrality and bring about the different peoples together; after all, it was easier to justify helping your own than someone belonging to an enemy nation. It was also a sentiment that created issues with the rulers of the various kingdoms. Skane was the first to react, with King Dagrun issuing a decree that all members of your little aid group were treasonous traitors to be put to death. Gallia and Britannia followed suit with an official proclamation that none of you were welcome in their kingdoms, though your little understanding with the Lady of the Martyrs ensured that this was only their official stance aimed at keeping the two kings happy. The core kingdoms of the Shinar Empire took a stance of disapproval – if you were helping people as part of the Empire, not swearing allegiance to the Emperor meant that you had designs on the throne. They did not react as harshly as Skane did, but still motions were made to disband any branches they could find.

Of course, despite making life harder, all of this only served to increase your support from the commonfolk; you were the ones on the ground helping them out. These, however, were long-term issues. A couple of more interesting matters appeared, involving matters that you were more equipped to handle.

Tenebrae brought to you news of Crete. On the uninhabited island ravaged by an undead outbreak a decade, a tremendously large tree had sprung up in the middle of the island. Fishermen noticed it from leagues away – from afar, they had first thought it was a mountain. Though sirens now populated the waters around Crete, a few brave men had managed to venture onto the island. Even fewer returned, and those that did told tales of strange fruit that devoured any that walked close with black tendrils.

Meanwhile, something strange had been occurring in the wastelands of Greece. According to Dario, the miasma, ever present for three thousand years, had vanished overnight. With its disappearance, the land could be seen again, and from atop the Wall of Korinthos an oddity had been noticed deep in the wastelands; a strange, smooth, white structure that did not match anything seen in nature. Every day, the structure seemed to grow larger and taller, and now it appeared to be the size of a small hill.

***

A. Investigate Crete. Trees and black tendrils remind you of Gieloth, and any such presence is always worth checking out.

B. Investigate Olympus. From what you know, your enemy is probably gathering strength there. You should find out what is going on before it is too late.

C. Do neither, you busy yourself organizing your supporters for an inevitable rebellion. It would not be hard, as with every harsh step the kingdoms take they push the people further into your arms.

D. Do neither and keep your organization peaceful and helpful to everyone. LOVE AND PEACE! You’ll show everyone that the way to world peace is through cooperation and goodwill to all.

 

[Baltika9]

Tenebrae brought to you news of Crete. On the uninhabited island ravaged by an undead outbreak a decade, a tremendously large tree had sprung up in the middle of the island. Fishermen noticed it from leagues away – from afar, they had first thought it was a mountain. Though sirens now populated the waters around Crete, a few brave men had managed to venture onto the island. Even fewer returned, and those that did told tales of strange fruit that devoured any that walked close with black tendrils.

The World-Eater Tree. Oh shit!

Meanwhile, something strange had been occurring in the wastelands of Greece. According to Dario, the miasma, ever present for three thousand years, had vanished overnight. With its disappearance, the land could be seen again, and from atop the Wall of Korinthos an oddity had been noticed deep in the wastelands; a strange, smooth, white structure that did not match anything seen in nature. Every day, the structure seemed to grow larger and taller, and now it appeared to be the size of a small hill.

In hindsight, it may not have been the brightest idea to go bravely diving into the mind of a creature you barely comprehend, with powers you have yet to test. Your brutal, unskilled assault on the thing's psyche works, fragmenting it into a million pieces, but in the process a psychic backlash travels back along the pathway you have created for your attack. Before you can put up a defense of your own, a flood of mental activity gushes into your brain. Terrible, unknowable thoughts fill your mind. You see rapid flashes of weird and twisted scenery, with structures that seem to twist around themselves, defying comprehension. You see pillars of light rain down from the heavens, destroying the twisted towers with fire. Strange and horrible creatures live, grow and die. Their tendrils stretch towards a big, blue marble suspended in an endless void.

Oh Fuck!

A. We are way too underpowered to go charging into Zeus' realm, although it would be lulzy. Staying with these guys just means the cosmic occurrences will continue to grow, unknown, besides which peasants make uneffective allies.

On the other hand, contacting the Gieloth Collective has distinct advantages: DEVOUR SOUL!!!1! being one of them. Also, securing extra time before massive ITZ and maybe, just maybe making us some allies (we were nothing if not friendly to the GIeloth so we have nothing to fear on that front; Sek's siblings were killed in self defense, so it wasn't our fault).

 

[m4davis]

A

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

A - If we deal with the gieloth the masters and Naram might be willing to spare the planet from annihilation - which is probably what the white thing will end up doing. Retarded choice we made with Dio lead to them being able to build the tree. What did the guns end up doing anyway? Anything?

Missed the hill part I quoted below. I'm still thinking we need to visit the gieloth first. They may have a way for us to fight the sphere. Otherwise we can hop on board their tree thing and escape another 3000 years of torture...

edit:

You began to feel your hunger again, as did the Successors. One of your group, a man by the name of Joshua, was the first to go. He went berserk in a shelter, tearing apart three refugees before he was stopped by his brethren. Reports of others – Skane, Gallo-Britannian, Imperial - feasting on humans began to flow in from all over the continent. Blasphemous stories abound of the Successors being products of the First Emperor mating with trolls. Those who tasted human flesh without preparing themselves would lose their mind immediately at the ecstasy and the way it filled their empty hunger, as Joshua did. You did your best to guide them best as they could, but you could see that at times their willpower wore thin. Thankfully, in their dealings they worked with the more benevolent part of humanity, reducing their risk of being overwhelmed by their desires, and you lost no more Successors after the first one. The other factions were not so lucky, as in their fights quite a few succumbed and either fled into the wilds in their insanity or were put down.

Ha ha, and B turned out to be the right choice btw (between A & B). Had we picked A they would have lost it in combat and run wild. We were able to slowly introduce them to feeding - maybe, in time, they'll learn control and the whole devour village plan might work - though it doesn't look like treave is going to give us time what with the tree and this white thing.

edit2:

Meanwhile, something strange had been occurring in the wastelands of Greece. According to Dario, the miasma, ever present for three thousand years, had vanished overnight. With its disappearance, the land could be seen again, and from atop the Wall of Korinthos an oddity had been noticed deep in the wastelands; a strange, smooth, white structure that did not match anything seen in nature. Every day, the structure seemed to grow larger and taller, and now it appeared to be the size of a small hill.

Wait. A hill? A rounded smooth white object of massive size. What if it's a sphere?

edit3: Flipped to B. That sphere could end up being the size of jupiter and hopefully, as E said, going there will unlock some memories about how to fight them.

 

[Stygian Lurker]

A

 

[Storyfag]

A. Maybe we can convicne the Gieloth to help us defeat the sphere. Or at least to not siphon Earth's resources rapidly to escape. Which I doubt. They entered an agreement of sorts with the Chinese Immortals, and grew ever more human during the 3000 years that passed, so I believe they'll be open to negotiations with us. And I want to finally learn the mysteries of Concordiat.

Also, I really, really hope the sphere will be fighting Naram-Master, and is not already controling him. Remember that the Master that came through Sek's portal was different ? Well, I sure hope it was not sphere-different!

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

There's another option. Possibly. The gieloth are somewhat vulnerable in the tree form, from what I remember. (edit: they're in a "vegetative mode" as treave put it - though obviously not without some defenses) We could devour the gieloth - us and our successors. We'd gain immense power very quickly and then go and stomp Naram and eat his immortals too.

edit: TOME Remember, the gieloth can devour a planet in as little as 5 years - growing bigger all the while. And they're probably rushing things now because of the sphere. Every moment we wait from now on means earth's resources are drained more and the tree grows larger and stronger. They're vegetative now and the tree has probably just matured to the point it can drain the planet. We may just be able to take them, should it come down to it, though other options besides fighting may also present themselves.

 

[TOME]

I would rather not go to the gieloths just yet. We have been away for a long time so our powers are not at their peaks and that tree thingy is more powerful than ordinary gieloth. We might not make it if it comes down to fighting. Going to Olympus right away is even more foolish.

C.

A.