Chapter 100 Summary! from ch 76-99. I need to do this occasionally or I forget what I wrote lmao
Please note, the time/days follows The Slayer's story. Sometimes the timing does not match perfectly with the two characters.
Characters:
The Guide, The Blessed One
A young man whose entire village has been destroyed by The Lunatic Cultist at behest of The Resistance to fuel The Hero's summoning ritual. His lineage is tied to a derivative of The Moon Lord - The Wall. He is a compassionate soul, but increasingly finds himself needing to make harder and more dubious decisions. Rational and capable, he leads The Slayer in their series of misadventures.
The Slayer, The Monster Knight, The Terrarian
A ruthless half-terrarian who fights with a bow and a sword. (Ranger/Melee). Boasts a great number of supernatural abilities which indicate his unnatural origins. A by product of The Lunatic Cultist's summoning, He was at one time proud and utilitarian, but after being humbled, has mellowed out considerably. Has close relation to The Guide, who he considers a precious authority and confidant. Much of his thinking is childish, but he realizes this, and as a result behaves himself in a cautious manner for fear his own ignorance will be his downfall. Is sometimes subject to fits of infantile rage where he cannot be reasoned with.
The Hero, Faze
A magic wielding Terrarian of tremendous strength. His equipment is far more powerful than The Slayer's as are his innate abilities. An immensely proud entity, he was created to fight on behalf of The Resistance, but rankles at the idea of submitting to authority. Has a strange relationship with The Lunatic Cultist - who he refers to as his 'teacher' and advisor. After a serious of difficult trials, he finds his magic entirely locked away by a mysterious, perhaps hallucinogenic, entity he calls 'Doppleganger'.
The Sea King, Amidas
The King of R'lyeh: an underwater city that, after being destroyed by Calamitas, is now known as The Sunken Sea. He is one of the founding members of The Resistance with a grudge against King Yharim and the Calamitas. Allies with The Lunatic Cultist, as both have the ambition to raise The Moon Lord, he is a sly and ruthless tactician.
The Party Girl, The Spy, The Agent
An agent of Yharim's Clandestine Corps. She is a fearsome warrior who is devoted above all else to The King and his cause. She has temporarily allied with The Guide and The Slayer because of their potential usefulness to her mission. Unbeknownst to her, her lack of contact with central command has caused her to fall into delinquency with her organization.
Braelor, The Resistance Commander
A powerful fighter who leads The Resistance. His goal is to maintain The Coalition of small armies that have gathered to fight Yharim. It was he that had commissioned The Hero be created.
The Lunatic Cultist
A powerful and high ranking mage previously in Yharim's service. Defected to The Resistance and is the 'summoner' of The Hero and The Slayer. A worshipper of Cthulhu and an ally to The Sea King, Amidas. He is the object of The Guide's revenge.
The Archmage
An old sorcerer who was once an old resistance ally, but his opposition to their methods led to a wedge between them. He is a powerful mage who was imprisoned by Yharim as Cryogen. Freed by The Hero.
The Dryad
An ancient forest sprit with a poor memory but a great deal of arcane wisdom. Her primary goal is to battle off The Moon Lord and its derivatives.
The Stylist
A pink haired woman who has been blessed by The Dryad. She has an indecisive personality.
Summary:
Chapter 76: A Clear Advantage (Day 15, Afternoon)
The Party Girl is recovering from her injuries inside in one of The Terrarian's houses having procured healing potions & other equipment from him. Had convinced The Terrarian not to bury The Guide immediately, having noticed the body was not traditionally dead despite the effects of Amidas's curse. She decides that ultimately The Guide's survival was none of her concern, and instead goes searching for any resistance secrets The Demolitionist may have left behind (As The Demolitionist is an officer that oversees trade routes/Supply chain - this was the original reason The Party Girl was chasing him). She goes and finds The Terrarian, who is killing time building something useless, and he tells her The Demolitionist was in Amidas' Castle. The Party Girl is shocked to hear the name 'Amidas' and goes to investigate The Castle.
The Original Merchant (the one who died after escaping The Crimson, the second NPC to arrive) has respawned and cannot for the life of him understand what happened to him. Remembers how he was attacked by Crimson monsters, remembers falling on The Terrarian's doorstep, and even The Guide - but not The Terrarian at all- as if those memories were erased entirely from his head.
The Hero argues with The Lunatic Cultist about eating a life fruit. The Hero does not like that he is locked up in the library and handed upgrades. Is filled with a strong sense of wanderlust, and wishes to go find weapons and upgrades on his own. He cannot defend his position logically, and whines to The Lunatic Cultist about having to eat fruit.
Chapter 77: A New Mission (Day 15, Late Afternoon)
The Party Girl ponders the mystery of The Compound as she investigates Amidas's castle. Concludes that The Guide and The Terrarian are not affiliated with Yharim, but they don't seem to be affiliated with The Resistance either. On the other hand, they had apparently hosted The Sea King - even going as far to build him a castle. The Party Girl finds one of The Sea King's fallen bracers, and bemoans that she does not have a blood hound handy (for tracking). She finds the unconscious body of The Stylist.
The Terrarian is disturbed from his project by The Party Girl dragging The Stylist out of Amidas' Castle. She questions him - and he ignores her until she mentions that if he helps her find Amidas, she will recommend The Guide to the Capitol hospital. (She knows they will be unable to do anything). The Terrarian demands that they first find his arm before travelling to find Amidas. They start on The Arms Dealer's trail.
Chapter 78: Siblings (Day 15, Late Afternoon)
The Party Girl and The Terrarian trek through the forest - during which time they engage in an entirely on sided conversation (The Terrarian gets the Nickname bitchface). He is following The Arms Dealer's trail, she is using her heat-sensing vision to scan the undergrowth for the heat signature of a dismembered arm. As they search, The Party Girl suddenly realizes that there is something tremendous stalking them and, still injured, demands The Terrarian help her escape. He identifies the threat as 'The Travelling Merchant' (The Remains of Crimson that he sliced off himself and went to posses The Travelling merchant's corpse) and goes to attack it. He does little to it, missing an arm and with sloppy swordsmanship. The Monster chases The Party Girl off a cliff and into a lake. It does not attack The Terrarian, because they shared flesh.
The Original Merchant arrives in The Compound and gets the feeling that he had died here before. Is overcome with terror as he feels something looming over him. It is The Dryad.
Chapter 79: Seen but not Heard (Day 15, Late Afternoon)
The Hero has been called into Braelor's throne room in order to be given orders. He has been commanded to go to The Dungeon (to extract the bulk of The Lunatic Cultist's project) but decides to stand up against authority. He comes to the realization that he doesn't really care about Yharim, nor The Resistance, nor anything else really. He just wants to go exploring - but The Resistance won't let him because they need to keep him as a soldier. He declares boldly in Braelor's court that he will no longer take orders, and wishes to leave. He is shocked when Braelor grabs his scythe and stands, having been told so many times he is the 'precious hero' that he can scarcely imagine that Braelor will actually attack him. Paralyzed as Braelor - who is also trying to hold together a coalition of armies - determines to force The Hero to remain obedient.
The Party Girl and the malformed crimson-Travelling Merchant fall off the edge of the cliff into the deep lake. She - having several aquatic modifications sinks to the bottom and finds The Slayer's arms strapped to rocks. Meanwhile the Travelling merchant flails in the water as The Slayer throws dynamite at it, blasting it to bits. The Party Girl retrieves the arm and swims to shore.
Chapter 80: The Old and The Young (Day 15, Evening)
Braelor is the leader of The Resistance. It is under his banner that the many different coalitions have come together to fight Yharim. If his power is called into question, The Resistance coalition may splinter. As they are in the midst of war, Braelor cannot afford that. However, at the same time, it is only because The Resistance has boasted of having an 'invincible soldier' that the many different groups joined together in the first place. He cannot let The Hero leave, because if he does - The Coalition will splinter. He cannot simply dispose of The Hero either, as they need him to keep the Coalition intact. Braelor makes the decision that he must publicly show control/power over The Hero, and likewise beat him into submission. However, he finds this more difficult than he originally imagined - as it appears in the midst of Battle, The Hero had no fear. Braelor resolves to have him killed/tortured/anything to make him obedient and resolves to kill him right now. The Hero parries a few of Braelor's strikes before his weapon is shattered. He is then bisected and dissolves, leaving his armour in a heap.
The Dryad finds The Guide's unconscious form. She identifies him as one of the people her race had 'blessed' to keep The Crimson at bay. A hundred years ago, The Dryads had chosen a small village along The Crimson Border to bless. They would propagate and cause the blessing to become more potent through the generations. The Guide's blessing is quite powerful due to his lineage, but not strong enough to keep all of The Crimson at bay. He is only enough to keep WOF back. Should he die, The WOF will be released from its prison. She resolves to flush The Eldritch magic from The Guide's system to revive him.
Chapter 81: Land of Punishment (Day 15, Evening)
The Slayer and The Party Girl Return to The Compound. The Slayer has retrieved his arm, but has not been able to reattach it as it seems to be rotting & healing at the same time (the iron Heart prevents all healing) Becomes depressed that he has not only lost The Guide, but also his power as well. He likens himself to the monstrous Travelling Merchant who he blasted to bits on the lakebed. Carries The Party Girl home and wonders what he will do next.
The Hero is killed. He is filled with terror, rage and shame as he's defeated by Braelor. Respawns in The Crimson (his original spawn point, his birthplace, the centre of the summoning circle) and wonders at the landscape. Has no equipment/armour. In a rage, he attacks the surrounding fleshy landscape with his bare hands and feet, and succeeds in lifting some of the fleshy crimson overgrowths to read the summoning circle beneath. Immediately realizes that he must have been a summoning, and the summoning was conducted by the Lunatic Cultist. Unfortunately, The Hero's tantrum was sensed by The Perferators, and they approach over The Horizon. Defenseless, The Hero begins to run.
Chapter 82: The Flesh that Hates (Day 15, Late Evening)
The Comatose Guide Dreams of The WOF, and tries to convince himself that he isn't dead. He sees the faces and 'souls' of his family and villager friends, and realizes that he is about to be consumed by The Wall. Is whisked away and is revived by The Dryad's power at the last moment.
The Hero is getting spawnkilled by The Perferators. Because he has no weapons or armour, he has little hope against them. He has already been killed 20-30 times, and has neither means of defense nor escape. He thinks back with regret on his actions in Braelor's court, saying, he wanted 'freedom' but certainly not this sort of hell.
Chapter 83: A Blessing (Day 15, Late Evening)
The Dryad answers some of The Guide's questions concerning the nature of his blessing. She reveals that they are merely containers for the blessing that keeps disaster at bay, and he has been linked to The Crimson since birth by his lineage. The reason The Crimson has suddenly started spreading and The Brain & Worms became active (EOC has eluded the Dryad Bindings) was because The rest of The Guide's village died. When Lunatic Cultist killed them all, he unknowingly killed the containers for The Dryad Blessing, letting loose everything except The WOF. (The 'extra energy' of The Dryad blessing was used to create The Slayer). The Dryad brings up that it is sad for Blessed ones to lead short lives, as they are immediately sent to be eaten by The Wall. This causes The Guide to throw a fit, as he sees The Blessing as nothing more than a sentence to hell for himself and all those he loved. At this moment, he resolves to shift his attention off the Lunatic Cultist and towards The Crimson/WOF Primarily.
The Lunatic Cultist Appeals to Braelor to hurry and send some people to retrieve his project from The Dungeon. However, LC is no longer in favor with Resistance brass after what The Hero pulled. Braelor says that he had better go fetch The Hero and whip him into shape, or go make a new one before The Resistance will get The LC's Moon Lord Project.
A mysterious note (sent by Amidas) is received by The Goblin Army Commander, bribing him with gold to send a detachment down to The Slayer's compound and kill The Dryad & Slayer. Amidas knows that only Dryads can break the spell he had placed, as only dryad magic can oppose eldritch magic. Fears that the spell he thinks was cast upon The Slayer is now undone.
Chapter 84: Heartfelt Reunions (Day 16, Very Early Morning)
The Lunatic Cultist arrives in The Crimson to fetch The Hero. Is shocked to find The area has been consumed by Crimson, and regrets not coming sooner, realizing what sort of torture The Hero must have suffered here. The Hero had all the fight beaten out of him, and was no longer trying to run nor fight against The Perforators. The Cultist reasons that he will likewise not have the will to fight against Braelor either, and will meekly follow orders. They return to The Resistance fortress.
The Terrarian has arrived back in the compound and finds The Guide's body is no longer where he left it. Panics and hears thumping and noises from upstairs. Wonders if The Guide had risen as a zombie. Resolves that he will need to kill him. Goes upstairs and kicks open the door - only to find The Guide quite alive. He is very confused, even imagining The Guide may be a ghost. Does a lot of crying and gets hugs, kisses and re-assurances in response.
Chapter 85: Daddy (Day 16, Very Early Morning)
The Guide comforts The Terrarian, and is pleasantly surprised to realize that he was very sorely missed. The Slayer makes him promise not to die again - a request that The Guide agrees to (lol).
The Hero has returned to The Resistance Fortress a complete mental wreck. Has been sitting in a cold bathtub for four hours seeing hallucinations of worms and crimson everywhere. Is haunted by his shadow and is terrified of his visions. The Lunatic Cultist comes in to keep him from drowning in the bath and demands he pull himself together. Is clearly annoyed, unwilling to sympathize with his mental trauma.
Chapter 86: Cleansing and Healing (Day 16, Afternoon)
The Party Girl wakes and is rather miffed that she'd been thrown in the grassy lawn in the compound. She goes into her house to find everything has been put in order. Wonders at the accommodations, and is immediately temped to get drunk. Instead decides to drink healing potions in order to continue her mission. Has decided that she must use The Slayer's nose to track where Amidas fled to so she can bring his head to Yharim and thereby also clear her own name.
The Terrarian visits The Dryad and requests that she break the spell on his severed arm in hopes it will reattach. She tells him she does not have the power for it now, as she is currently trying to purge the crimson from the land. She is unable to draw power from the corrupted soil, and her progress is nigh stagnant. The Terrarian requests some of her power in the form of purification powder, and duplicates it. The Dryad is overjoyed, and (still in her monstrous state) pickes him up and carries him into the night. They proceed to crisscross the landscape until the area is purged of Crimson.
The Goblin Tinkerer expresses his hatred of his species, as he has been forced to march to The Slayer's compound at the commander's order. Is planning on defecting from the movement, and is working his way toward the back of the crowd to slip away.
Chapter 87: Lie By Omission (Day 17, Early Afternoon)
The Guide joyfully awakes to find The Crimson purged from The Compound and his accommodations put in order. He amusingly finds the table in his room piled high with apples - and sees two objects hidden there. The first - The bloodstained report that he had commissioned from The Travelling Merchant. The Slayer had killed the merchant and looted the corpse for the documents. The Second, The Guide's own journal from the village library. Upon seeing it, The Guide panicks, wondering if The Slayer managed to connect the dots between his own birth, and the destruction of The Guide's village. Eventually, The Guide concludes that The Slayer is not smart enough to put the puzzle pieces together, and decides to keep this inconvenient truth hidden from him for the sake of their relationship.
A Memo is sent by Clandestine Corps Central Command concerning The Party Girl (agent #5534) saying she should be treated as if she had defected and killed on sight.
The Lunatic Cultist finds The Hero behaving psychotically, reading books in alphabetical order. Reveals that the only reason he even feigns any sort of sympathy for The Hero is in order to give him to The Resistance in exchange for help raising The Moon Lord. Now that The Hero seems to be broken, he no longer holds any inherent value. The Cultist briefly ponders creating a new Terrarian, but is interrupted when Braelor sends a letter outlining a suicide mission to free The Archmage.
Chapter 88: Drunk (Day 17, Afternoon)
The Dryad brings The Stylist out of a coma and 'blesses' her. Asks her to make children with The Guide in order that their offspring will have a powerful enough blood to stave off the Crimson. The Stylist in understandably offended and confused.
The Merchant recalls that he can remember everything prior to meeting The Slayer, but everything that has happened since he arrived has been so odd, he thinks he is losing his mind. He goes to speak to The Guide.
The Hero prepares for his mission through The Corruption and up to the plains of Permafrost. His wings have been confiscated, and he has been intentionally underequipped for the battle. It is clear that the intention is to dispose of him. The Hero spends time collecting all sorts of potions, and tattoos magic circles of pre-prepared spells all over his skin, all the while suffering all sorts of audio/visual/tactile hallucinations of worms and The Doppleganger.
Chapter 89: The Corruption (Day 17, Afternoon)
The Hero traverses through The Corruption, feeling abandoned but determined to persist in order to preserve his own life. He is well aware of how hopeless his situation is and regrets initially rebelling against The Resistance. He is suffering severe hallucainations, but knows he cannot get caught up - lest he die and be sent back to the Crimson & Perforators. He finds his flesh is infected with the corruption microbe, and it is weakening his constitution. He begins to run across the landscape towards The Plains of Permafrost in the distance, but encounters a series of (wormy) corruption enemies & The Eater of Worlds. Loses his mind - is temporarily possessed by Doppleganger - and blasts the entire area.
Chapter 90: Control (Day 17, Evening)
The Slayer is eavesdropping on The Guide's and The Merchant's conversation. Is filled with an irrational sense of childish jealously that he has been trying to battle back all day, but ultimately overcomes him. He begins to rationalize that killing The Merchant is the best way to deal with this situation. As the night falls, he resolves to kill The Merchant, justifying that he because his predecessor was a danger to the compound, so was he.
The Hero has drained all of his magic and begins to realize there is 'somebody else' living in his head as a result of his trauma. Continues on his way towards The Plains of Permafrost.
Chapter 91: Iteration 1 (Day 17, Midnight)
The Stylist sneaks out of The Dryad's castle in the middle of the night and attempts to run to her home through the freezing rain. On the way, she sees the silhouette of The Slayer murdering The Merchant in the window. He comes down to confront her whilst dragging the merchant's corpse. When she claims that she 'saw The Merchant run away in the middle of the night' he provides her lodging and allows her to go free.
The Guide is very concerned that The Merchant had resurrected - as he knows in order to kill The Wall, he will also have to die. His primary goal now is to destroy the wall, for the sake of all those who are now trapped there, and even for his own soul and that of his progeny should he survive long enough to have any. He ponders how he will get The Slayer to do this and resolves he will eventually need to kill himself to release The Wall at the correct time. They have resolved to travel back into The Crimson to take The Worms and The Brain, and WOF soon after. The Guide decides he needs to treasure these last moments with The Slayer, and wonders at how terrible this trial will be for him.
Chapter 92: Something Approaches (Day 18, Early afternoon)
The Party Girl is attempting to repair her communications equipment and enlists The Terrarian's help. She ponders as to how she will convince The Terrarian to track Amidas for her before realizing it had rained very hard last night, and the scent will have washed away. Panicked, she grabs The Terrarian and asks if he can still follow the scent, and in response, he tries to kill her. (After killing The Merchant and finding he respawned, he figures that any inconvenience merits death, as there is no net loss of life). The Guide stops him and demands to know where The Merchant is. The Slayer refuses to say, and when The Guide demands that they go search for him, The Slayer refuses, saying a Goblin Army is approaching.
The Hero is badly damaged by The Corruption virus. His magic has also been locked away since Doppleganger appeared in The Corruption Badlands. He has only his rogue weapon and his myriad of tattoos to fight Cryogen. His time is limited. He will either die from the corruption infection, or survive and be healed by the Resistance. He opens The Archmage's prison and summons Cryogen.
Chapter 93: Cryogen (Day 18, Afternoon)
The Hero battles Cryogen, becoming gravely injured in the process - but eventually achieves victory.
Chapter 94: Expendable (Day 18, Afternoon)
The Guide yells at The Terrarian, who sticks to his lie. He signals for The Stylist to convince The Guide that The Merchant has indeed fled, instead of being killed. The conversation is cut short by the invasion of The Goblin Army.
The Hero wakes inside The Archmage's castle being treated for his grave injuries. The Archmage is kind to him and asks who sent him here. The Hero decides to trust The Archmage in hopes he has some clout with The Resistance and tells him he was sent here on a suicide mission etc... The Archmage indicates he does not have a good relationship with Braelor, but his power and wisdom alone demand significant political weight. The Archmage takes The Hero under his wing and they plot together as the castle flies to the Resistance Stronghold.
Chapter 95: The Goblin Army (Day 18, Late Afternoon)
The Goblin Tinkerer is hiding in the hollow of a sky tree when he hears the army getting killed by The Slayer. Despite hating his species, he has a bunch of rocket boots that he thinks can help the battle. He tries to go - but his cowardice prevents him once he realizes his chances of survival drop with every body which hits the floor.
The Stylist comes clean with The Guide, telling him that if he doesn't want her blood on his hands, he had better drop the topic of The Dead Merchant. (The Stylist knows that The Guide is too smart to be tricked, and also that she has been spared to bear false testimony. If she cannot convince The Guide, she will likely be killed). Outside, The Slayer is killing Goblin Army.
Braelor provides the justification for why he sent The Hero on the suicide mission. Now that they have ruined him through mental trauma (accidentally, mind you, The Crimson was not supposed to spread) he does not want an angry Terrarian on their hands. Resolves to break his spirit for good and maybe get him frozen or something. He needs a new Terrarian ASAP to keep the coalition together. Has already told The LC to work on it. There is a commotion as The Archmage's castle comes to rest outside The Resistance Stronghold. To Braelor's shock, The Archmage emerges and makes the announcement that Braelor had sent The Hero on a suicide mission, and that he had died to free The Archmage - producing a bloody helm as evidence.
Chapter 96: Corrupted Devotion (Day 18, Late Afternoon)
The Guide goes and talks to The Slayer while he chops up bodies and buries them. He recognizes that The Slayer's entire morality has slowly centralized over wheter The Guide was upset or not about what had happened. He truly didn't care about anyone else. The Guide berates himself, as this was what he wanted from the very beginning - being able to exploit The Terrarian for his own goals. He makes The Slayer promise not to kill anyone else without his explicit permission and commands that they leave for The Crimson tonight.
The Hero gets Unlimited Buffs Tattooed onto his shoulder and learns that Doppleganger may be a symptom of magical derangement. Insanity causes magic to become much stronger, but those mages who suffer from this must be stripped of their magic. Understandably, The Hero does not disclose he is suffering from exactly this. He is told to blend in with The Recruits and begin his infiltration of The Resistance.
Chapter 97: Fishy Business (Day 18, Late Afternoon)
The Goblin Tinkerer, enraged with the deaths of so many of his people, attempts to kill The Guide in an effort to hurt The Slayer. Almost succeeds, but The Slayer is able to deflect the attack. He knocks The Goblin Tinkerer out.
Braelor meets with Statis LC and Amidas. They discuss what to do with the current situation. They resolve to tell the masses that Braelor did not, in fact, send The Hero on a suicide mission. Instead, The Hero was suffering mental instability and had been well equipped to fight Cryogen. However it was his insanity that led to his downfall. Braelor is also going to go to front lines and Statis will take over in the meantime so tensions cool. The LC is told to go find The Hero and attempt to gain his favor as a parent. He is not partial to this idea by agrees anyways.
The Zoologist is showing a group of investors Draedon's project that attempts to create a being that can fight The Hero. It is project Nephilim, and there are only two living subjects (Neph1 & Neph2) which are for nothing more than show. The project is a failure as of yet and Draedon is continuing to search for a way to battle The Hero.
Chapter 98: The Strange One V2 (Day 18, Late Afternoon)
The Dryad has heard that The Guide wants to go into The Crimson. Decides she needs to stop him lest he get killed. She confronts him as he is running around packing things and they yell at each other for a little before The Guide gets KO by pollen. She threatens to tell The Slayer that The Guide is intending to kill himself.
The Hero interacts with some members of The Resistance recruitment (Bandit, Steampunker) and finds his knowledge of social cues and general information is sorely lacking. He had failed to prepare a name for himself prior to this interaction, so randomly chooses Faze, after mishearing a word The Steampunker says.
Chapter 99: A Follower, A Leader (Day 18, Evening)
The Slayer has dropped The Goblin Tinkerer's unconscious body far away, in hopes he will either get eaten by zombies or flee to another place. He arrives home to see The Guide sleeping in the grass, and goes to talk to The Dryad.
The Hero reviews his conversation with The Steampunker and The Bandit. He hears there is an expedition to The Jungle, and is excited to join. Is reminded that his magic is all but sealed by Doppleganger, and he needs to rely on rogue weapons alone. They are led The Tavernkeep and set off on expedition to collect reagents for The Lunatic Cultist and Life Fruits for The Hero. (The new recruits do not know he's dead yet, and the Tavernkeep is lying to them to keep them motivated)
ahhhhh finally. Well new year, here's to another 100 chapters!