Coffee... Black

Talwa does agree to cut herself in order to pay for her drink and bagel, seeming unbothered by it. The rest of the group end up ordering things as well with Talwa's cut seemingly paying for the whole table. Yulia learns Unlock as Maple, Lemiel and Talwa, in between sips of drinks and bites of pastry discuss the necromancy staff and magic in the Tower.

"The necromancy staff is a constant mana drain which as we've seen nullifies God's Light and presumably if you run out of mana the undead would deactivate, so creating a maximized army, even if we could immediately refill our mana would mean that we'd lose the entire army after a single command. That being said as long as a single command would leave us some mana we'd be able to refill and sustain that army indefinitely though it would mean having to top up constantly," Lemiel explains.

"Indeed. The lower mana resulting the more likely we'd lose our whole army at once if anything else were to drain our mana as well. It would be a good idea to leave a slight buffer, with a standard mana pool, I'd say an army of ten undead would be a large amount with enough mana left over to prevent any accidents that might ruin all our efforts," Talwa suggests.

"Even that might be a bit conservative. With the exception of a major shock or trauma, mana is pretty easy to keep stable as I understand it and losses from external forces are unlikely to drain too much. It would be most likely safe to even leave a simple 10-20% buffer allowing between 16 to 18 undead at one time and of course as suggested, Lemiel's unnaturally high mana pool would double whatever number we end up going with," Maple corrects and Talwa and Lemiel both look thoughtful.

"You have a point, as for corpses, the tomb might have some. We can ask. The temple disposes of corpses on a pretty regular basis. The disposed of corpses are simply left in the desert, but there's no telling if the Tower would let us access the Desert Graveyard, they might if we really argue for it, let us... Make use of some of the prisoners in the dungeon, but I'm not sure that's something we'd be willing to do," Talwa explains.

"There's definitely no usable corpses in the Hungry Sands itself... Bai'zebul doesn't let things die in it's realm," Lemiel responds gloomily.

"So, what do we think about the ideas of using the Necromancy Staff on Yulia or the Mummies?" Maple asks.

"Not even worth trying. The spell is a familiar one, not in the sense that I have direct contact with it, but in the sense that I know of it. It can only control undead that it has animated. Worse there's a possibility that depending on how powerful the spell is it might de-animate an undead in order to reanimate it for the spell which would mean that using it on Yulia or the mummies could essentially kill them and reanimate them as a weaker undead subject to our mana. We don't want to even risk that possibility," Lemiel clarifies gravely.

"Are you saying that someone with a suitably powerful reanimate spell could potentially kill Yulia with a single use and take control of her?" Maple asks and Talwa and Lemiel both nod.

"Yes... Undead are extremely susceptible to quite a few spells, it's actually somewhat of a miracle this hasn't come up already, the fact no one, but us know she's undead might be the only reason she's still here. Back in the Tower Below the voices even saw how easily a caster could deal with an undead. Yulia herself used a simple cast of cure to de-animate an undead friend of hers created by Levateinn. Cure can be used to deactivate magic animating an undead, heal in some cases can gravely harm an undead though that doesn't seem to be a concern regarding Yulia. If we run into any kind of necromancer they'd likely have any number of ways to not only identify Yulia as an undead, but snuff her out or take complete control of her. It would be a disaster," Lemiel explains.

"Wow... That's terrifying. Luckily I suppose our odds of running into a necromancer on these remaining two floors are likely mercifully low right?" Maple asks and Talwa and Lemiel glance at each other.

"The last floor might be a bit of a problem..." Lemiel admits.

"What?" Maple asks nervously.

"We're likely to run into any or all of the Tower Functionaries on the final floor and while they probably won't be hostile at least not immediately, we can't rule out the possibility they might be and that at least one of them might have necromantic abilities," Lemiel explains.

"I get the feeling this is less theoretical than you're trying to make it seem," Maple pushes and Lemiel sighs.

"Rumours abound in some parts of the tower that there is a Tower Functionary who's job is specifically to create monsters... Most objects in the tower after all are natural, but some of them aren't and it's unclear where they come from. The theory is that it's a functionary who populates the Tower with these extra threats... Creatures that don't belong there and exist only as a challenge to the chosen," Lemiel explains.

"Records of various chosen talk about creatures who's inclusion especially in the areas described baffle people. Especially on the earliest two floors when the Chosen is still in the Tower Proper. Undead monsters, creatures made of slime, golems, various hostile animal life have all been reported in a location that is not the natural habitat of... well anything. If such a functionary exists, it is clear they must have some way of either creating or controlling these monsters in order to set them up in these places which given that includes undead beings, does mean it's possible they might at least have some necromantic abilities," Talwa confirms.

"Okay... But we don't know this person exists and we don't know they'll be hostile even if they do exist," Maple says and Lemiel and Talwa both nod.

"That's the hope I suppose. It would definitely be a terrible thing to have Yulia de-animated right at the end of her quest," Lemiel says and all three nod in agreement.

"On a cheerier topic... What about Unlock?" Maple asks.

"I think the voice is onto something. There's a reason access to magic in the tower is randomized. At the higher levels spells can be absolutely terrifying. If a chosen could just blitz their way up a spells upgrade tree directly they'd be far too powerful far too quickly, especially if they're willing to deal with Dahlia. Someone having something like a lvl 5 Fireball equivalent by floor 2 would... Well likely struggle to cast it given the mana cost is considerate, but if they could they'd likely sweep the next few floors with ease and even be pretty on par with the later floors with little extra help. Magic in the tower is designed to be a slow, dangerous but extremely rewarding path for a Chosen to follow," Lemiel explains.

"Indeed... Firestorm took me a long time to even learn, but it's a devastating spell with a cost to match... and it's only the level 3 spell of it's branch," Talwa confirms.

"So, you're saying that the idea Unlock might be absolutely broken at level 4 is... Possibly not reading too much into it, but intended?" Maple suggests and both nod.

As that conversation ends the rest of them finish up their food and drinks and Yulia stands and approaches the scorpioness who glances at her with a look of distaste.

"What do you want?" she asks.

"We have currently cleared the temple of the Desert Mother and The Tomb of the Restless of the monsters bothering them, we understand that a creature called The collector haunts the Hive, we'd like to know how much The Hive would offer in return for dealing with this monster?" Yulia offers.

"Hmm... What kind of payment were you hoping for?" she responds.

"Safe passage through the Hive to the exit to the next floor," Yulia answers immediately.

"If you can truly rid us of the monster, we might be willing to make such a trade," the Scorpioness answers after a few seconds of thought.

"Glad to hear it, also can you tell us... about these wasps and their relationship with you Scorpions?" Yulia asks and the Scorpioness raises a hand to her mouth as she laughs.

"Oh ho ho! You wish to know about these slaves. It's simple, we Scorpions are glorious, powerful and brilliant. It's only right that all lesser beings serve our whims," she explains eagerly, "these wasps are best as our soldiers and bodyguards while creatures like you are best as breeding stock. It is only right, you would be serving your proper purpose in this world," she adds.

"They're clearly being controlled in some way," Yulia pushes, choosing to ignore the rest of her comment.

"Yes well... They didn't always understand their place. Once they thought themselves superior, they preyed upon our kind, but with the assistance of our lesser cousins the Tarantulas we showed them the error of their ways and now they serve, bound to our will. A fitting price for their insolence and the damage they caused," the Scorpioness explains.

As this conversation occurs Isalia and Goma speak with one of the mummy waiters about acquiring corpses.

"Oh yes we have a number of corpses, but if you want them you'll have to ask the queen after all we are using those corpses," the mummy answers.

"Using them, how?" Isalia asks and the Mummy chuckles.

"Where do you think we come from?" the Mummy asks and Isalia's eyes widen.

"Oh right... You're made from corpses... That... Makes sense," she says.

Lemiel listening to this freezes, "Oh... I didn't even consider the Queen of the Tomb of the Restless might also be a necromancer... Someone had to animate these mummies after all... We should be sure to not get on her bad side," she mutters.

(Health: 100%

Mana: 100%

Inventory:18 EMP grenades, 17 Aphrodisiac Grenades, 17 incendiary Grenades, 17 fragmentation grenades, 18 flash grenades, 17 smoke grenades, 3 healing kits, 1 sewing kit, 8 days worth of rations, 1 two liter water jug, 3 two liter jugs of Lemiel's Milk, 2 empty two liter water jugs, 12, mana infused health potions, 2 health potion, 12 mana infused mana potions, 3 mana potions, 8 vials of Semen, Quiver, 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Apples), Ash's Quiver, Smithing Ingredients (3 steel ingots), 1 sack of cooking ingredients (Vegetables), Grenade Launcher, Grenade Bandolier with 1 grenade, Smithing Ingredients (1 silver ingot), twenty feet of Spidersilk rope, 1 sack of Cooking Ingredients (Fish), an Onahole, a shard of Illustone, Gloves of Harvest (-3, heal for all damage dealt), modest two piece swimsuit, Binding Bandages, golden bangles, silk gloves, Siren Queen's black heavy armor, black bikini bottoms, Smithing Ingredients (98 metal plates), 12 mana infused cure potions, 1 cure potions, Shutdown Gun, Necromancy Staff.

Yulia's Equipment: Simple black one piece swimsuit(currently removed). Ceramic Beaked Mask (currently Removed), Reinforced Monastic Scapular (currently removed), standard bra (currently removed), Standard Panties (currently removed), Ornate Rapier (-3), Silver Staff (-2 added to the effect of all spells), A tarnished Silver Ring of clear mind (warded against demons and angels, can bind a Demon or Angel), Cloak of Turbulent Waves (immunity to ranged attacks and offensive magic), Demon Horn Hairband (-2 to all ice magic, currently removed), tech armor, tech bodysuit (Core upgrade: speed, Special Upgrade: Light Module, Arcane Flux), plasma rifle (-10, 5 remaining charges.).

Spells known: Great Heal (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 25%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 12%)

Great Cure (Lvl 2, Mastered, Cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

Energize (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 25%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 12%)

Icicle (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

Open (Lvl 3, Mastered, Cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

Repair (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 5%-20% depending on factors, Cost currently halved rounded down: 2%-10%)

Undermine (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 25%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 12%)

Life Drain (lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 2% per 1% Health healed, Cost currently halved rounded down: 1% per 1% Health healed)

Blizzard (Mastered, cost: 5%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 2%)

Lightning Strike (Lvl 1, mastered, Cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

Identify (Lvl 1, mastered, Cost: 10%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 5%)

Fireball (Lvl 1, mastered, Cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

**** Lance (Lvl 1, mastered, Cost: 15%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 7%)

Cloak (Lvl 1, mastered, cost: 10%, Cost currently halved rounded down: 5%)

God's Light: (Mastered, cost: none. Passive ability. Fully heals mana and health outside of combat)

Fetish: Bondage Rank: 3, Masochism Rank: 3, Lesbian rank: 4, Submission Rank: 3, Incubating Rank: 1, Large Insertions Rank: 2, Degradation Rank: 2, Exhibition Rank: 1, Anal Rank: 2, Breathplay Rank: 1, aphrodisiacs 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)

Faithless: Yulia gains no effect from support spells cast on her, but offensive spells cast by her double in effectiveness. Lasts until faith is restored or replaced.

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.

Trauma Rank 1 : Costs of all spells doubled for the remainder of the floor. (Caused by **** involving aphrodisiac ****)

Calm

Not Thirsty

Cool

Companion: Cherchiel, Goma, Martin, Isalia, Lri, Lemiel, Maple, Sally, Talwa'Ish Renni.

Cherchiel Health: 100%

Cherchiel Mana: 100%

Cherchiel Equipment: Ultra Durable Spear( -5, -10 with Boar Mask), Ultra Durable Shield (-5, -10 with Boar Mask), Staff (-1), God's Favour (Halo. Prevent **** one time), Bikini(currently removed), plasma Sword (-10, five charges), Tech Armor, Carapace Armor (Currently Unequipped), Aspect of the Apex.

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

Not Thirsty

Cool

Goma Health: 100%

Goma Mana: 100%

Goma Equipment: Ritual Knife of Escaping Threads (-1, -3 with boar mask, automatic -5 when being used against tentacles, webs or other binding methods), Hunting Horn (-2 for each ally affected), Reinforced and Nethicite Augmented Thick Hide Outfit (Negate most physical damage, Currently removed.) Tech Armor (currently removed), Swim Trunks (Currently Worn), tentacle dagger (-3), Plasma Rifle (-10, five charges).

Goma spells known: Heal (Mastered, 15%), Puppet (Mastered, 10% per active command)

Goma Status Effect: Atrophied: Permanent Decrease to Physical Attribute. Combat Level lowered to weak.

Not Thirsty

Cool

Isalia Health: 100%

Isalia Mana: 100%

Isalia Equipment: Isalia's Sword (-3), Masterwork Trident (-3)(Unequipped), Isalia's Shield (-3), One Piece Swimsuit (Currently removed), plasma rifle (-10, five charges), Tech Armor, Tech Suit (Core Upgrade: Speed).

Isalia spells known: Life Drain (lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 2% per 1% Health healed)

Isalia Fetish: Submission Rank: 1, Domination Rank: 1.

Isalia Status Effect:

Not Thirsty

Cool

Lri Health: 100%

Lri Mana: 100%

Lri Equipment: Twin Daggers (-3), black swimsuit (currently removed), Blood drinker, tech armor (Sans helmet), tech suit (Core upgrade: speed), plasma rifle (-10, five charges), 3 EMP grenades, Veil of Hidden Depths, fishbowl of Illusions.

Lri Status Effect:

Not Thirsty

Cool

Lemiel Health: 200%

Lemiel Mana: 200%

Lemiel Equipment: Angelic Visor, twin magic blades (Summoned, -10, take 5% mana to summon), Tech Armor, Tech Suit (Core Upgrade: Strength, Special Upgrade: Arcane Flux), plasma rifle (-10, five charges).

Lemiel Spells Known: Angelic Rays (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 20%), Heavenly Soothing (Lvl 1, Mastered, cost: 25%), Retribution (Lvl 1, Unmastered, cost: 100%, unusable, triggers automatically at 0% hp if Lemiel has enough Mana to trigger it), The One True God's Judgment (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 100%), God's Light (Mastered, cost: none. Passive ability. Fully heals mana and health outside of combat)

Lemiel Status Effect: Divine Grace. Combat level raised to high.

Not Thirsty

Cool

Maple Health: 100%

Maple Mana: 100%

Maple Equipment: Tech armor (Helmet removed), tech suit (Core upgrade: Speed, special upgrade: Conversion), plasma rifle (-10, five charges), targeting helmet, rail gun bow (-10 when used ignores evasion abilities or resistances), 8 cross bow bolts.

Maple Status Effect:

Not Thirsty

Cool

Sally Health: 100%

Sally Mana: 100%

Sally Charge: 100%

Sally Equipment: Ultra Durable tech metal shield (-4, unequipped), Ultra Durable Tech Metal Club (-4, unequipped), Mirror Shield (-4, reflects all damage and spell effects to the caster/attacker), Needle Mace (-5, Inflicts hit targets with a deadly poison, potency increases with each hit)

Sally Status Effect:

Not affected by heat or cold.

Does not require hydration or Nutrition.

Talwa Health: 100%

Talwa Mana: 100%

Talwa Equipment: Bustier, Glasses, Prism Staff, Potion of Libidinous vitality.

Talwa Spells Known:

Magic Armor (Lvl 1, Mastered, Cost: 10%)

Firestorm (Lvl 3, Unmastered, Cost: 50%)

Great Fireball (Lvl 2, Mastered, cost: 25%)

Fireball (Lvl 1, Unmastered, Cost: 15%)

Talwa Status Effect:

Calm

Not Thirsty

Cool

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