Democracy

Cherchiel hesitantly touches the ring to test and indeed she pulls her finger back and covers her mouth to keep from crying out. She then nods to express that indeed it does seem to be warded against her.

Other than that there seems to be some contention on whether or not they should try to sneak past Monarch. The group retreat a bit to talk.

"I can say with certainty that the Yulia who first entered this tower, would be all for trying to sneak past, it isn't until this moment that I noticed I've somewhat forsaken my personal ideals. I was something like a pacifist when I first arrived, but I've killed... Quite a few people and things now. I don't... necessarily like how resigned to killing things I've become in this accursed tower so I'm for the option that gives us the chance for a peaceful resolution," Yulia states.

"While I respect Yulia's decision not to want to kill, I can't in good conscience agree. To me this feels like a trap. The tower is trying to trick us into wasting our surprise attack on a futile attempt to sneak past in the hopes of avoiding a fight. Even if it's not a trap, I feel like risking our advantage is far too dangerous a gamble anyway," Cherchiel responds.

"I'm a bit torn... On the one hand... Monarch is a dangerous and deadly foe and the Deep would probably be safer without him, on the other... He basically just stays here and the only people he's a threat too are those who come in search of him. There's also the fact that we don't understand his role in the Deep's ecology very well. Removing him might have dire consequences we can't predict..." Isalia reasons, looking nervous and uncertain.

"Goma scared of big bug. Goma not want to fight," Goma answers looking down at her feet.

Hearing Goma's decision Isalia sighs, "I guess I'm gonna side with not fighting," she decides.

Cherchiel seems annoyed, but nods, "alright... It seems I'm outvoted, but I have a condition before we go through with this. Once we pass to the next floor, we'll likely get a chance to rest, so wasting some magic isn't a huge deal. I want you to energize me before we try to sneak over there, that way if it does suddenly become a fight at least we're somewhat prepared," Cherchiel demands and Yulia nods.

"I can agree with that condition," Yulia says and casts energize on Cherchiel. Cherchiel places her shield on her back and holds the boar mask in her hand, ready to put it on at a moments notice.

Goma keeps the horn at the ready as well and Yulia places one hand on her rapier and the other on a mana potion as they prepare to try and sneak past The Monarch. Isalia going in front to check for any traps that might be in their path.

They travel around the coiled bulk of the creature, giving it as wide a berth as they can, practically clinging to the caverns walls. The going is surprisingly easy, while the cavern is crudely carved, seemingly by Monarch itself, the result is fairly flat, simple planes with minimal clutter, as well the relative darkness ends up lending credence to Liax's words as in the dark Isalia seems to become nearly invisible. Of course this doesn't effect the rest of the party, but it lowers the chance of being spotted even if Monarch does wake up, by a full quarter. Luckily their travel does not disturb the sleeping beast and they reach the gate. A simple use of Unlock does indeed open the lock and the gate opens as well, giving access to the stairs.

"Time to go..." Yulia says and begins walking forward, but as she does, something happens. A portal appears directly in front of the stairs. It is made of a soft pink flesh and is disturbingly vaginal in form with an oozing red mass in the center that makes up the portals gateway, "I... I can't stop!" Yulia cries out as she tries to stop herself, but she continues to move forward towards the portal and soon vanishes inside. Her allies hesitate for only a few moments before hurrying after her into the portal and on the other side...

A stairway descends in a twisted void and the four women find themselves on it. The stairs continue downward towards a shadowy portal. A cold wind whips through the void, blowing at the clothes of the four women, Yulia descends the stairs unable to stop herself and the others follow her, determined to be with her to face whatever awaits as screams echo out from the dark on all sides.

Skill Check: Sneaking Past monarch.

Difficulty: 20

(Sneak isn't a specific stat, so just using intelligence and treating this like a trap check)

(You know might as well inform you all now, Yulia is High intelligence, Isalia is High intelligence, Cherchiel is Medium intelligence and Goma despite her manner of speaking is High intelligence. Most of the party is made out of nerdy women. Of course Boarchiel's intelligence is Low.)

Intelligence -3

Black Leather Armor -5

Final Difficulty: 12

Yulia's Roll: 13

Result: Close Success

(Health: 100%

Mana: 10%

Equipment: Ceramic Beaked Mask, Reinforced Monastic Scapular, standard bra, Standard Panties, 3 poison gas grenades, 3 healing kits, 1 syringe of poison, 1 syringe of adrenaline, 1 syringe of poison antidote, 1 sewing kit, 1 vial of strong aerosolizing aphrodisiac, 8 days worth of rations, 3 two liter water jug, 1 health potion, 7 mana potions, A boar mask, 4 vials of sticky white liquid, Ornate Rapier (-3), 4 arrows, Quiver, God's Favour (Halo. Prevent **** one time), 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Apples), Bone Spear (-1), Ash's Quiver, 6 charm arrows, Smithing Ingredients (6 steel ingots), 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Vegetables), Grenade Launcher, Empty Bandolier, Silver Staff (-2 added to the effect of all spells), Spidersilk gown, Smithing Ingredients (1 silver ingot), 13 silver throwing knives, twenty feet of Spidersilk rope, 1 sack of Cooking Ingredients (Fish), an Onahole, a shard of Illustone, A tarnished Silver Ring, A Demonic Spellbook (Puppet?).

Spells known: Great Heal (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Great Cure (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 15%)

Energize (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 25%)

Icicle (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 15%)

Unlock (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 10%)

Repair (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 5%-20% depending on factors)

Undermine (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 25%).

Life Drain (lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 2% per 1 Hp healed)

Blizzard (Mastered, cost: 5%)

Fetish: Bondage Rank: 2, Masochism Rank: 1, Lesbian rank: 1, Submission Rank: 1, Incubating Rank: 1, Large Insertions Rank: 1

Status Effect: Permanent increase to physical attribute. Combat level raised to medium

Atrophied: Permanent Decrease to Physical Attribute. Combat Level lowered to weak. (Countered previous Permanent Increase)

Psychosexual Break: In order to deal with her trauma, Yulia has begun to subconsciously fetishize her experiences.

Deflowered: Virginity Lost, sexual experience changed to: Inexperienced, non-virgin.

Marked by The Abyss: The Abyss Welcomes You.

Companion: Cherchiel, Goma, Martin, Isalia.

Cherchiel Equipment: Ultra Durable Spear( -5, -10 with Boar Mask), Ultra Durable Shield (-5, -10 with Boar Mask), Solanium Reinforced Bodysuit (add -1 to all physical actions).

Cherchiel Status Effect: Divine Grace. Combat Level raised to High

Goma Equipment: Runed Dagger (-2, -5 with boar mask), Hunting Horn (-2 for each ally affected), Reinforced and Nethicite Augmented Thick Hide Outfit (Negate most physical damage)

Goma Mana: 50%

Goma spells known: Heal (Mastered, 15%)

Isalia Equipment: Isalia's Sword (-3), Isalia's Shield (-3), Black Leather Armor

https://forum.chyoa.com/threads/the-tower-of-voices-voting-thread.3460/ )