Demon-Quest, #1

>Swirling darkness
>Emageht
>by the sea

>>947955

Keep in mind, your appearance is bound by nothing, and you could manifest in any form you choose. These are only suggestions, it is not mandatory nor necessary that you follow them. Feel free to go into as much detail as you wish, there's no need to bind the entirety of your appearance to one overwhelming detail.

>>947928
>Darkness
>Q'Asmoke
>In the mountain

>>947928
In that case.
>Our appearance is humanoid but heavily distorted a barely discernible figure cloaked in darkness our shape continously shifts and changes under the darkness never straying from a humanoid template but always shifting in proportion and visage.

>>947958
I like the idea of a swirling mass of darkness, even the slightest of light rays posing as a serious threat, and hence we would have to bond ourselves an armor, or hide under a robe to even remotely reach the appearance of a human or just simply bind ourselves to items (dagger, shield, book, etc), or jump from armor to armor, to take a more physical form as we rise to power.

>>947997
>>947955
these are good for me

but make the pure darkeness be able to wear things to pass as a human

>>947966
>>947997
>>948007

You're a vaguely humanoid mass of swirling darkness and shadows.

What is your name, and where is the village located?

>>948015

That was me.

>>948017
>Emageht
>by the sea

>>947955
this

>>948091
>>948105

Then it's settled. Update soon.

Bytun is a small, peaceful coastal village, numbering perhaps thirty souls. The people here are discontent with their lot, and their spark of hatred might yet become an inferno, given time.

In the open pastures surrounding the hamlet, the night's darkness stirs, flickering and shifting in unearthly, unknowable patterns, before coming to rest in an almost human shape.

With a profane whisper, a cloak of pure shadow coalesces to cover the figure's visage. It gazes into the radiant, star-filled heavens and utters a word of total, unbridled hatred,

"Emageht!" An aura of unthinkable evil emanates from the being, and miles away, the people of Bytun shudder.

[THE DEMON EMAGEHT HAS AWOKEN]

Emageht has awoken, and he hungers. He contemplates the dreams of Bytun's people, and is pleased with their disdain, though the ardent faith of several disgusts him.

> What should Emageht do?

-Enter the village, pretending to be a simple traveller.
-Camp outside the village, and corrupt the dreams of the inhabitants
-Camp outside the village, and sneak in at night to hunt the villagers
-Do something else.

> Name: Emageht
> Physical Might: 10, (you are as physically strong as 10 average humans. A well-trained human, with the right equipment could best you.)
> Mental might: 10 menminds (You have the mental power of 10 (average) humans. This is equivalent to a highly trained human- an archmage, or somesuch)
> Followers: 0 (wlling mortals- follow you in exchange for power, or for not being eaten)
> Slaves: 0 (unwilling mortals- you have broken their minds, if not their bodies)
> Servants: 0 (monsters under your command- be they mutated mortals or lesser demons)

>>948345
>Enter the village, pretending to be a simple traveler.

Find out what we can. If there isn't a religion already in place, start preaching bullshit. That might get us some followers.

>>948345
>Enter the village, pretending to be a simple traveller.

>>948345
>Do something else.
If possible, disband the human form for now and linger in dark corners in order to gather information

>>948493
this, disregard mine. People are less likely to trust a traveler, but if they don't think that anyone's listening, they won't keep any secrets.

>>948345
>Enter the village, pretending to be a simple traveler.

>>948363
>>948493
>>948498

2 votes to remain hidden in the shadows.

>>948469
>>948571

2 votes to enter the village disguised as a traveler. I suppose I'll flip a coin, HEADS, shadow-sneaking it is.

>>948599

Again, that was me. My computer's been on the fritz recently, and I've been having some time-continuity issues.

Byrut's is filled with shadows, both in the hearts of its people and the corners of its houses. Emageht disperses into the night, with no trace that he was there at all. A short while later, a strange presence comes to rest on Byrut.

((I'll be rolling in the updates, to speed up the thread.))
[18+5=23]
((+5 because Emageht is literally one with the shadows.))

Using his Evil sorcery, Emageht is able to completely hide himself from prying eyes, and with an open ear and a peek or two in thoughts of the weak minded, soon learns the following.

-Byrut is part of some kind of kingdom. A war's been going on, and the kingdom is losing, the people are angry at their rulership's incompetence and their high taxes.
-The local preacher, an old man named Terk, is truly righteous, but his health is ailing, and many begin to doubt the power of the gods. There is no other villager with the knowledge or faith to succeed him as priest, and many are worried.
-The merchant's that dock here occasionally whisper of vile rumors, Necromancers, bandit hordes, plague, and famine. This world isn't a good place, and every day, more and more turn to darkness.
-No villagers spoke of this, but you peered into the mind of a peasant man named Otun, and discovered that he lusts after the mayor's wife, and wishes for power. He's quite intelligent, though he doesn't think things through.

>Hmm, how does Emageht act on this information?

> Name: Emageht
> Physical Might: 10, (you are as physically strong as 10 average humans. A well-trained human, with the right equipment could best you.)
> Mental might: 10 (You have the mental power of 10 (average) humans. This is equivalent to a highly trained human- an archwizard, or somesuch)
> Followers: 0 (wlling mortals- follow you in exchange for power, or for not being eaten)
> Slaves: 0 (unwilling mortals- you have broken their minds, if not their bodies)
> Servants: 0 (monsters under your command- be they mutated mortals or lesser demons)

>>948636
Was thinking about it, and here's what I think our strat should be.
Create a plague of nightmares. Dreams of tentacled abominations drawing thenselves from the depths, wreaking havoc on the town.
Do this for a couple weeks, make the whole town lose sleep over it.
Then we apoear as a holy man, and tell them that our 'god' can end these night horrors, if they begin worship of him.

As we turn the town, we loosen up on the dreams. Maybe even add in some spearibg rays of light smiting the creatures in the dreams.

>>948666
Then we can take over as holy man, have otun's ear and guide him to mayorship, and potentially down the line, start a peasant revolt, and found a sovereign kingdom with us as a sort of pope

>>948666
this

>>948636
>>948666
This but I suggest killing off potentially troublesome individuls such as Terk. I also suggest killing the mayor early on in a particulary gruesome manner to scare them first.

>>948666
>>948686
>>948692
>>948716

This is certainly possible, and being a Demon, Emageht literally feeds off of Evil. The more senseless, petty, and destructive, the better. Worship fuels you, as does fear and terror of your name. Also, if Emageht is a demon of darkness, it might not be wise to convert the villagers to the worship of a god of light.

Also, what is the name of this false deity?

>>948763
>might not be wise to convert the villagers to the worship of a god of light.
Good point. Call ourself a god of the night. Use spears of pitch black in the dreams, and that way, if we appear in our true form, the swirling blackness makes sense.

As for name, I'm thinking mix some latin with our true name, either Emnocht or Nocgeht, unless anyone has a better idea

>>948763
How about 'Akheilos'?

>>948798
I'm thinking something simple like "Malam" even if it ain't Latin

Emageht decides to lurk in the shadows for the time being, corrupting the dreams of Byrut's people.

[9+4=13]
((+4, due to Emageht's overwhelming mental prowess.))

Over the next week, the people of Byrut are plagued with horrific nightmares of unthinkable aberrations, each worse than the last. A few villagers dismiss them out of hand, though several are deeply disturbed, and they begin to pray to the Gods for aid. The village's five children are beginning to sleep in the Temple, though it does little to help. After a few horrific nightmares, and the pleading of his sleepless neighbors, Terk blesses the village. This will make future attempts to corrupt Byrut's dreams slightly more difficult, though for a being of your power, it's certainly not insurmountable.

Byrut seems to believe that evil spirits are attempting to curse their homes, though Terk claims that it is the punishment from the Gods for their faithlessness. Byrut is shaken, a week or two more will see greater results. For now, the undercurrent of ambient fear makes for a delicious appetizer. Despite this, Emageht begins to hunger, and his physical form grows weaker.

> How should Emageht continue his corruption of Byrut?

-Continue corrupting the dreams of the entire village.
-Focus his efforts on corrupting the dreams of a select few,
-Cease his efforts at dream corruption and attempt something else entirely.(write-in)

> What should Emageht do about his hunger?

-Openly attack the village, consuming the bodies and souls of anyone who looks filling.
-Kidnap a villager under the cover of night, and consume them, body and soul.
-Rob Byrut of a few chickens, and consume them. This won't fill Emageht nearly as much as consuming a villager, but won't alert them, and might stave off his hunger.
-Ignore his hunger for now, he's got more important things to attend to.

> Name: Emageht
> Age: 1 week
> Physical Might: 9, (-1 Hunger)
> Mental might: 10, (+.5 Ambient Fear)(-.5 Hunger)
> Followers: 0
> Slaves: 0
> Servants: 0

>>949761
>Kill Terk and burn the temple.

>>949761
Well, we need to get Terk out of the way for the rest of this plan anyways.
I vote kidnap and consume him.

>>950008
Oh, right, and continue the corruption of dreams.

>>950004
>>950008
Yeah, this.

>>950004
>>950008
>>950017
>>950082

So, the consensus is to consume Terk's body and soul, burn the temple, and continue the corruption of dreams? Alright, update soon.

Emageht hungers for mortal flesh, and who better to serve as his first meal than a priest? None, and Emageht shall have him, one way or another.

[14+5-2=17] VS [2+2-4=0]
((+5, as Emageht is literally one with the shadows. -2, due to weak blessings.))((+2, as Terk is a priest, -4, as he is elderly.))

As night comes over Byrut, the village prepares to sleep in spite of their nightmares, and on the second floor of the village Temple, Terk says his nightly prayers to the Gods, and prays that they show mercy upon his kin and home, so that they might venerate their names with renewed faith. He goes to sleep on a small, cot-like bed, with a ragged cloth blanket. He is sickeningly humble, and this will end soon.

Outside, a malign shadow lurks, peering in through the glass. It enters the room, effortlessly shifting through the cracks in the glass. The shadow seems to wince as it passes into the Holy place, though it continues, sliding through the air itself to rest over the elderly priest. Without a sound, a spiked tendril of pure malice strikes from the shadows, piercing the innocent man's heart.

As he gasps in panic, Emageht descends upon him. His mental defenses were powerful indeed for such a lowly priest. Unfortunately for him, he was taken completely by surprise, and his feeble efforts were nothing more than a candle before the wave of a dark tsunami. His soul is DELICIOUS, everything Terk was, is, and aspired to be, distilled into one nourishing, metaphysical delight, his faith shattering, and his entirety condemned to an eternal oblivion within a torment of shadows... To Emageht, this is nothing short of ambrosia,

When the former priest's soul has been consumed, the shadows make short work of the body, leaving nothing behind, save the holy symbol on his necklace. On an impulse, Emageht decides to light a fire in the Temple, and soon black flames spread. As he's leaving, he hears the panicked cries of burning children, suddenly remembering that Byrut's youth were sleeping in the Temple, and that in his kindness, Terk had barricaded the door to protect them.

[+1 PM, +1 MM]

Oh... The brutal, evil Irony is wonderful. Emageht listens to the crackle of the Temple, the screams of torment from the burning children, and best of all, the cries grief, rage, and blasphemy from their parent. He truly feels the Evil permeating the air, and trembles with ecstasy as the Pure Evil flows into him.

When dawn comes, the black flames still burn despite the villager's efforts to extinguish them. Many villagers are openly and hysterically profaning the Gods and begging them for succor, often in the same breath. Others stand blankly staring into the dark flames. After several, tearful, amateurish funeral services held by the stuttering mayor, night falls, and the villagers go to rest. For now, Byrut is shocked and in mourning, but soon they'll get their act together, and send for the aid of a nearby village.

> What does Emageht do?

>>950656

> Name: Emageht
> Age: 1 week
> Physical Might: 17, (+2, Ambient Fear)(+4, Glutted with Evil)
> Mental might: 17, (+2 Ambient Fear)(+4, Glutted with Evil)
> Followers: 0
> Slaves: 0
> Servants: 0

Note, Emageht's physical and mental might increases with the consumption of souls. Normally, it would take two or three peasants to gain one point, but Emageht is only a fledgling demon, and the souls of pitiful mortals are worth more comparitively. The glutted with evil and ambient fear bonuses will persist only temporarily. The best time to act is now. Keep in mind, power may be expended to corrupt mortals and/or summon minions from Emageht's Evil itself.

>>950659
Does the village being seaside mean that the village is near a beach, or on a cliff beside the sea?

>>950790

It is on a beach near the sea.

>>950812
Ah, okay. Would it be possible for Emageht to, like, make a big show of making a message in the sand? Maybe leave a message made in glass?

>>950823

Absolutely, though it might have a temporary cost of 1 Mental Might, possibly more if you wanted it to be overtly supernatural.

>>950838
Temporary cost is fine, especially if it's that cheap. I vote for Emageht to leave a message to the village, saying that the priest and the children were smitten by the gods, and that gods as wrathful as those aren't worthy of their faith. Not only have they abandoned the village, they've now turned on the village, as well. That's all the message should say.

>>950838
>>950853
idk, I think that we should let those thoughts fester on their own, perhaps encouraged by more nightmares.
Leaving a big blatant-propaganda message in the sand will just make people suspect that someone/thing is messing with them.

Maybe it's time to use our nightmares to encourage Otun while weakening the mayor so that we can feed on the delicious love-affair drama where the mayor walks in on them and his wife poisons his food.

>>951210
That would cause some good turmoil, but a mayor dying doesn't have the same impact as a good man and several children being smitten by their gods, for no apparent reason. If the townspeople just think that it's a tragic accident, they'll move on, but if they think it might happen again, and to any of them, at least some of them will begin to panic, which could lead into the townies doing something more drastic.

>>951210
>>951327
Actually, disregard that last message.

>>950656
>>951210
Yeah, we should stick with subtlety for now. But, save that message in glass trick for when the time is right.

>>951210
I like this, but we need to try to keep our bonuses from falling too much due to inaction. We should encourage Otun and the mayor's wife in tandem, so she won't spurn his advance. Maybe go through the town and burn any other holy symbols, crosses, etc. with the same black fire, to send a message and prevent any more of that "blessing" business.

>>951210
>>951327
>>951331
>>951417
>>951637

So the plan is for Emageht to continue corrupting the dreams of Byrut's people, burn all holy symbols left in the village with the same black fire, and encourage Otun and the mayor's wife to commit adultery? OK.

>>952196
sounds good to me.

>>952196
Sounds pretty good.

>>952196
yes