Let's Play Estra: Interactive

[Blayze]

Latest Update (Cross-Counter)

Latest Comics

Ahma: Add subtext to your words that make them suddenly insulting by changing the pitch and saying them differently.

You attempt what you hope is a textbook example of unnecessarily cruel, spirit-crushingly masterful wordplay. But...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0077.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0078.png

It's funny. When the two of you were kids, you were always the one to calm Yezzik down whenever he was about to do something he was going to regret.

Now you find yourself wanting nothing more than to crush her windpipe beneath your heel and see the terror on her face as she pleads for mercy, slowly asphyxiating to death.

It might be playing to the usual stereotypes of Orcish behaviour, but you don't care. That a single sentence -- a perfectly innocuous one, if used in any other situation and by any other person -- could set you off is almost certainly proof that you need some stress relief.

And here you have a potential punching bag, one that has what must be her greatest advantage -- her magic -- sealed away by the authorities.

But perhaps... perhaps, given the way she's in line to 'volunteer' for fire-fighting duty, perhaps you can make her life as miserable as possible without beating her up.

Or perhaps you might do both. Choices, choices...

What will you do?


Archive

Download it here (http://rcpt.yousendit.com/845299445/fb88e15febb53c0c3a4b9103674a0091).

[Blayze]

Comic 0005 -- Hard-Wearing Hardware



John: Investigate weapon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0005.png

This gun isn't yours, but you melted the energy pack in yours earlier today from continuous firing, rendering the entire thing worthless. Apparently this one was based on an ancient design, one revered in at least one of the sacred videos. That obviously makes it a holy weapon.

You aren't religious, but right now you'll take any advantage you can get. You have very little ammo remaining -- once your current, half-empty clip of STANDARD AMMO is spent, you have a single clip of RUNIC AMMO remaining. It'll work in a pinch, although you'd rather save it for any spellcasters you might happen to come across.



Codex added: Runes

What will you do?

[Green-Shirt Q]

This format looks interesting. So far the comics don't seem to be too interactive, though. :smalltongue:

[EDIT]What will I do? I duuno. Keep progressing and moving forward on the path, and stumble upon a plot point.

[BRC]

Good to see you back Blayze, and doing Estra again I see.

Investigate the blood-writing.

[Blayze]

Good to be back, Bloddy.

Comic 0006 -- It's Quiet...



John: Move forward and investigate the blood-writing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0006.png

The last, desperate act of the dying. Honestly though, you can't see the point. If you were injured badly enough to use your own blood as ink, you're certain you'd prioritise finding medical assistance over painting a message on the wall.

The blood looks dry. It's likely been there hours, perhaps since the start of this damn attack. If that's the case, then judging by the quantity of blood that you know for a fact doesn't belong to the elf, they'll probably have bled to death by now, whoever they are.

It just doesn't add up.



Not going to put "What will you do?" from now on, since it'll just start getting annoying for me to type and look at. ;)

[Fay Graydon]

Look around for a suitable exit route.

[Blayze]

Comic 0007 -- It's Not That Bad
Comic 0008 -- It's Actually Much Worse



John: Look around for a suitable exit route.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0007.png

Oh God.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0008.png

OH GOD.



Edit: As an aside, they were originally all going to be actual elves. Then I found myself unable to escape from the mental image of a psychotic, levitating, legless Kirby.

[BRC]

Try to gain some distance on the elves, then engage them from a distance.

[Blayze]

Comics 0009 through 0017 -- The Elvish Question



John: Try to gain some distance on the elves, then engage them from a distance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0009.png

Reacting quickly, you smack the leaping elf in the chin with the butt of your gun. The impact sends a jarring sensation through your arm, and you hear something in the elf's neck crack -- and hopefully break.

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The elf collides with two of the strange, floating elf heads, sending one flying. The third hovers overhead. You appear to have scared it into submission for now.

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You expend a single bullet on one of the elf heads. Hopefully it'll be enough to kill it.

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You beat a hasty retreat, attempting to put as much distance between you and the enemy as possible.

Some distance away...

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Come now, you didn't think it would be that easy, did you?

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The elf breaks its own neck fixing the angle of its head, but at least now it can see its prey properly.

[Fay Graydon]

Continue running whilst looking for a place to hide (a Dumpster or the Like would be ideal)

[Blayze]

Comic 0018 -- Choices, Choices...



John: Continue running whilst looking for a place to hide.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0018.png

You make the most of your head start, running off in search of somewhere to hide. You pass by a sign indicating how to reach various sections of the ship, and given the howling and sound of pounding feet echoing down the corridor from behind you, you'll only have enough time to check one place out. That is, if you decide to visit any of them and don't just decide to keep on running... or turn and fight.

[Blayze]

Comic 0019 -- Strictly Enforced Rules
Comic 0020 -- Something Afoot



John: Go to the Armoury in search of bigger guns.

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You decide to head for the Armoury. Normally you wouldn't be allowed in here, but you're sure the Captain would understand -- that is, if he's not already dead.

The place is likely to have been plundered of all the good stuff by higher-ranking soldiers, but even the mediocre stuff might prove to be an improvement over what you currently have.

You can hear noises coming from within -- noises that even the heavy steel double doors can't muffle completely.

John: Investigate noises.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0020.png

You look inside, noting that all the guns are gone -- except the ones identical to yours, of course. That's no help to you at all. You spot a woman lying on the floor, possibly unconscious or dead. Though you can't tell for certain from this distance, she doesn't appear to be bleeding or injured at all. If she's dead, you don't know what the cause is.

Suddenly, you recognise her. She's one -- or rather *was* one -- of the elite soldiers you've seen swanning around the ship like they own it. Super-powerful spellcasters, or something like that.

With that recognition comes suspicion. Assuming she didn't just die to something completely mundane, then something else had to have killed her -- something capable of taking down a super-powerful spellcaster.

And since her clothes and body haven't been torn apart, it clearly wasn't an elf -- they're not subtle at all. No, it had to have been something -- or someone -- capable of getting the drop on her, given the way she looks like she just *died* without even attempting to fight whatever it was that killed her.

You hesitate, hearing the screaming and pounding of footsteps that can only be that damn elf still chasing after you.

[BRC]

Get inside and shut the door.

[Blayze]

Comics 0021-0023: Lockdown



John: Get inside and shut the door.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0021.png

After shutting the door and pushing the corpse out of the way to make sure you don't trip over her, you gather the armoury's remaining stockpile of guns and hole up in the corner of the room.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0022.png

It's not as if you're a civilian. You can hack this "waiting" lark for as long as it takes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0023.png



Dun dun dun!

[Blayze]

I'll be tweaking the first post somewhat later tonight. All those spoiler tags are beginning to drive me mad.

(I have this same comic also posted on the MS Paint Adventures forum, and I'm using suggestions from both topics to craft the adventure)

Latest Comics: 0024-0030: Enter Rugar



John: AUGH THERE ARE HANDS COMING OUT OF YOUR HEAD!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0024.png

You really need to get a handle on this paranoia of yours. You're starting to hallucinate things. At least, you hope that's a hallucination.

John: Wrestle the sword thing away from it with your manly strength.

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Before you can reach the weapon to display your manly strength, you endure a devastating blow to the fundamentals.

John: AHA! Its somebody who is invisible! Shoot at where its body should be!/Kick the invisible person where you think their nuts are.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0026.png

Faced with two amusing and vengeful ideas, you decide to compromise. You bend down to pick up your gun, socking the invisible person in the groin at the same time.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0028.png

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With predictable results.

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You are now Captain Rugar Cairne. For the past few hours, you've had nothing but bad news. First your airship came under attack, then enemy spellcasters somehow made their way aboard and unleashed an army of killer elves upon you and your crew -- and now the damage control systems have been damaged.

HOW AMUSINGLY IRONIC.

What will you do?

[MethosH]

This ship is doomed. Better be safe than sorry. Go for the auto-destruction and after that go to a escape pod.

[Fay Graydon]

Rip off shirt in manly fashion and make a break for the bridge.

[Blayze]

Comic 0031: Budget Cuts



Rugar: This ship is doomed. Better be safe than sorry. Go for the auto-destruction and after that go to a escape pod/Punch the monitor in your anger/Rip off shirt in manly fashion and make a break for the bridge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0031.png

Not the answer you wanted to hear, but it wasn't as if you had much of a choice in the matter. The harsh economic climate demands sacrifices from everybody. Indeed, you had to sell your favourite chair -- your *captain's* chair -- to help pay for the fuel to keep this rustbucket in the air last month.

You're not sure why you suddenly had the urge to strip half-naked and display your incredible manliness to the rest of the bridge crew, either. Not only would that be a sure-fire way of getting sued by somebody for indecent exposure, but you're also sure your wife would have something to say about it.

Besides, this *is* the bridge. The lack of furniture -- in other words, your beloved chair -- might kill the mood somewhat, but this is still the most important place on the ship for you. You're not going to lash out against what remains of the fixtures and fittings, no matter how angry you get.

Also, it's the only place you're legally allowed to push buttons any more.

...besides, you sold the escape pods too.

[smuchmuch]

Take a split second to think that in retrospect you should have thought through those budget cuts a little more thouroughly.
Ask to whoever it's relevant for a security repport and try to evaluate (quickly) how much time you have left. Ask for a distress signal to be set in a loop, if that's not already done (and assuming you didn't sold the telecommunication equipement.)

[MethosH]

Think of mankind first. Set the ship into a crashing course and arm yourself to go kill some freaking elfzombies. If you kill them all you can put the ship back on course... If not.. You die a hero.

[Blayze]

Comics 0032/0033: Your Work is Unacceptable, Me/Dialogue Wheel



Rugar: Take a split second to think that in retrospect you should have thought through those budget cuts a little more thouroughly. Ask to whoever it's relevant for a security repport and try to evaluate (quickly) how much time you have left. Ask for a distress signal to be set in a loop, if that's not already done (and assuming you didn't sold the telecommunication equipement.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0032.png

You give yourself a *thorough* mental dressing-down. You throw yourself at your own mercy, but you refuse to relent. Your punishment will be severe indeed, and you'll see yourself in your office if you both survive this.

You'll court martial yourself later, but for now physical violence will have to suffice. You punch yourself in the chin as a means of establishing who's boss.

As for getting your hands on a security report, you need to find your second-in-command Ahma for that. That should be her coming up in the lift now.

Rugar: Put the Council on screen Joker.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0033.png

Fiona von Parfu. Chairwoman of the Council of Magic, most powerful spellcaster alive and functionally immortal. She isn't your superior -- you're a member of the Durrollian military, the Council is a separate superpower -- but the four elite Elementals currently on board your ship report directly to her.

As your daughter Vae is one of those four, you offered the services of your airship to help ferry them to their destination for whatever top-secret mission they're currently on. Sadly, you may not get the chance for any father-daughter bonding if the current situation isn't corrected soon.

[Blayze]

Comic 0034: Brickhouse


Rugar: "Sure, my ship got boarded by a whole bunch of freaky magic elves and the whole thing is broken and now we are all gonna die because there arn't any escape pods."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0034.png

You attempt an explanation, but are cut off before you can begin. She evidently didn't intend to let you explain in the first place. If there's going to be any you-not-dying done around here, you're going to have to be the one to make sure it happens.

Ah, Ahma's arrived. A fantastic XO, that one, if stubborn and blunt at times -- although having your wife for a friend seems to have helped her relax somewhat. Pity you can't say the same for her brother, who for all his power has proven himself a bit of a loose cannon.

[MethosH]

OH MY GOD! YOUR FACE IS GREEN!
*pull the gun*
Are you sure you aren't a zombie?

[smuchmuch]

"You mean worse trouble than the man eating elves rampaging on the bridge ?" then listen to her repport before doing something stupid.

[Blayze]

Comic 0035: The Choice

Rugar: "Yes, I am well aware we have trouble, did the invading army tip you off or was it the ship falling apart?" / "You mean worse trouble than the man eating elves rampaging on the bridge ?"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0035.png

Ahma evidently doesn't appreciate your snark at the moment -- which is strange, it usually takes a good few minutes of back-and-forth sarcasm before she threatens you with violence.

You go for your gun, just in case -- and also decide to stow the 'zombie' crack for a later time, hopefully when she's in a better mood.

[Cizak]

This looks cool. How does it work? Do I just write what I want the character to do and then you draw that?

[smuchmuch]

Scarry as she may be at the moment, shooting your second in command is probably not the best idea right now (and if she was somme evil doppleganger assassin or something of the like; she would have already killed you ten time since she enteres the room, you don't look like much of a fighter). So just take the repport and read it. You may occasionaly wince and groan as you read just how bad the situation is.

[MethosH]

This looks cool. How does it work? Do I just write what I want the character to do and then you draw that?

That's pretty much it. You write your ideas for the main character actions

[Blayze]

Text Update 0001: Reporting In

You read through the report. Most of it is the usual fare -- hull breaches, things blowing up left right and centre, enemy numbers and locations, unit status, that sort of thing. One of the medical reports catches your eye, though...

Report of Non-Crewmember Death

Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no. As if this situation couldn't possibly get any worse -- now it's a political matter.

You read the entire death report. The deceased? Ayanna Gribbe, elite agent of the Council of Magic -- and direct subordinate of the annoying woman still on the bridge's vid-screen.

The deceased's corpse has been heavily burned and melted, though the burning only occured after her death. Cause of death unknown, initial magical autopsy reveals posthumous burning caused by A-Rank Fire magic.

Oh, this just gets better and better. A-Rank magic is the sort of stuff only a group of spellcasters -- or a single one with a few days to spare -- could manage...

...unless one happened to be an extremely powerful spellcaster -- the sort that can't be reached by skill and practice alone. The sort that requires one to be... rather unique. You can think of only one person who could fit the bill...

...Yezzik Oren, Ahma's younger brother -- the living embodiment of Fire magic, and an agent of the Council.

[Lyinginbedmon]

Nice to see a little thought going into magic mechanics elsewhere than Remember :smalltongue:

That report is definitely not a high note in this fiasco though...

[Blayze]

Comic 0036: Tempting Fate



Rugar: Decide you don't care, it's not as if you're going to survive this anyway.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0036.png

You give up. Things couldn't possibly get any worse. No sooner do you think that fate-tempting sentence, than the video feed of the Archmage cuts off -- and you hear the irritating, incessant beeping of an incoming emergency call.



This looks cool. How does it work? Do I just write what I want the character to do and then you draw that?

That's exactly how it works.


Nice to see a little thought going into magic mechanics elsewhere than Remember

Thank you. I do my best to avoid "EXPELLIARMUS SAVES TEH DAY AGAIN".

[smuchmuch]

Accept the call.

[Blayze]

I tried doing this as a comic, but there was too much text. Therefore...

Text Update 0002: Lost in Transcription


The following is a transcription of an audio-only conversation that took place on 24/09/2774 between Captain Rugar Cairne, Executive Officer Ahma Oren and Tiger Squad Leader Jerel duPlen shortly before the Bloodhammer lost air worthiness.

This is not the original automatically-created transcription file, this is the cleaned-up version. The original contains proprietary information belonging to the Durrollian government, and is not available for external viewing. If you need access to it and don't already have said access, you have no business viewing it.

Any attempt at subversion or illegal acquisition of either this or the original file will be met with legal action and excessive force.

---

[Connection established: 2774.24.09//0731]

Jd: Captain!

RC: Jerel, report.

Jd: We found a [indecipherable]gineering. Reque[static]

RC: Jerel? What did you find? Repeat!

Jd: [static] bomb. Captain, you're br[static]

AO: I'll find Lem[static] Squad and tell them myself, Captain. I don't [indecipherable, static] the message to get [static]wise.

RC: See if you can get Kerena to [static] the communi[static] too, while you're at it. In the meantime, I'll[static]

Jd: It gets worse, Captain. [static] found that Pyro[indecipherable] messing with [static] bomb, think he set it. Got him pinned [static] in the reactor room, need [static, radio silence]

[Connection failed: 2774.24.09//0734]



Comic 0037: Cold-Blooded Killer



You are now Jerel duPlen, Squad Leader of Tiger Squad -- the Bloodhammer's security forces.

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You and your men have surrounded one of the ship's current 'passengers'. You didn't trust them when they boarded, and were you a lesser man you might have considered the possibility of not being right.

The Council might profess to being a neutral entity, but they're as much a superpower as your own beloved Durrol. No doubt those agents are on a mission to destroy this fine vessel, which means that his allies are working against yours elsewhere.

No matter. You're too cool for such worries. Your men have this one penned in, there's nothing he can do. You do know, of course, what he can do -- you always have a plan to kill everyone you ever see, let alone meet -- but he'll find it difficult to melt your bullets when he learns you're all using laser weaponry.

While you wait for your men to bring him in -- or kill him, you don't care either way -- you decide to pose in an awesome manner with a spare gun you brought along. Not that fighting with two rifles is impossible for you, but it just makes the rest of the squad look far too inferior by comparison.



Replicas of ancient gun designs that look strangely identical to guns we know from real life? Bestial Elves, normal Orcs and now lizardmen? Yep, that's Estra alright -- say hello to the Salamanders.

[Blayze]

Text Update 0003: Cry Havoc



Jerel: Continue looking cool.

You maintain your maximum level of coolness. You're pretty sure you can keep this up perpetually if need be. The only problem, though, is that you don't appear to have an audience -- all your men are busy dealing with the traitor in the reactor room. It seems they've even been too busy to radio in updates. You haven't even heard any radio chatter, they've been so busy...

...a thought just occurred, as thoughts are wont to do -- and it's not a good one.

[smuchmuch]

Thinking ?! who need thinking ! Just dash handsomly into that room and deal with that guy yourself.

[Blayze]

Comics 0038-0041: Showdown

Jeren: Thinking ?! who need thinking ! Just dash handsomly into that room and deal with that guy yourself. / Run into the room prepared to shoot somebody.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0038.png

You don your finest manly glare, one known for its ability to incite jealousy in men and swooning fits in women, and charge toward your destiny.

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As you pass over the threshold, the RUNIC AMMO contained within one of your rifles reacts to the presence of an Arcane spell -- possibly an illusion, which would explain why you weren't able to hear anything coming from within this room.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0040.png

It must have been an illusion -- the exit behind you appears to have vanished. No matter, you'll deal with disbelieving that properly as soon as your mission in here is over.

You don't even need to look to deal with scum like this. You're a Salamander, you're a magical being -- you can sense magic, even if you can't use it yourself. Detecting other magical beings is a piece of cake, whether they're Elves... or Elementals, if the extreme level of magic you sense in front of you is anything to go by.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0041.png

Kerena's been busy. She's even fitted a scrolling sign to the reactor to provide a constant update as to whether or not the ship is about to blow up at any given moment. There's no sign of your men -- or of the traitor, for that matter -- although you have found a sports bag. It's one of those cheap and nasty knock-offs, an "authentic copy of an original fake", as it were.

[Fay Graydon]

Rip off shirt in a manly fashion and give a battle cry!

[Blayze]

Comics 0042-0044: Confrontation

Jerel: Quickly disbelieve everything in the room so you can see what is really happening. Or if, say, the reactor was about to explode or something. / Rip off shirt in a manly fashion and give a battle cry!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0042.png

CENSORED FOR FATAL LEVELS OF MANLINESS.

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You combine your two current urges in the only way you know how -- the manliest disbelieving of an illusion ever.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0044.png

Wait... that light...

[smuchmuch]

That look a lot like a laser pointer and that would be the sign to duck and run for cover very fast.

[Blayze]

Comic 0045: CAPSLOCK


Jerel: That look a lot like a laser pointer and that would be the sign to duck and run for cover very fast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0045.png

He's holding that rifle steady -- the targeting laser isn't even quivering. It would probably be best not to move. You're not sure where your guns are -- in your haste to display your manliness with a battlecry, you may have accidentally... thrown them away.

Oops.



Edit:

In other news, I'm currently working on an information bible for all of Estra -- ever. It will be available once I get it up to date, for those who might want a glimpse into my thought processes. I'll warn you now, it's full of snark and cynicism.

[Blayze]

Text Update 0004: Now is the Time


Jerel didn't dare move -- his manly physique and peerless brain would do him no good were they splattered on the wall behind him, thanks to his enemy's rifle. What trick is this? he thought. Something about a bomb...

Then he heard it -- a raucous, immediately offensive tune that seemed to come from nowhere. For an instant, the gun-wielding man seemed distracted. His phone! Jerel thought.

NOW IS THE TIME
WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[smuchmuch]

Leap to the engine and take cover against it. then swiftly move around, reach the crazy mage and neutralize quickly before he fries you (if you can leave him alive for questioning later, it's probably better)
Hope very hard the bag is empty and he was bluffing about that thermonuclear thing.

[Blayze]

Comics 0046-0050: Justice



Jerel: Leap to the engine and take cover against it. then swiftly move around, reach the crazy mage and neutralize quickly before he fries you

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0046.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0047.png

You leap for cover, aiming for the other side of the reactor.

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You are now Yezzik Oren. You-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0049.png

-barely have the time to react before the demented salamander is upon you.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0050.png

Once again, you are now Jerel du'Plen. You have overpowered the criminal responsible for the murder of your entire squad, as part of a terrorist attack. The hows and whys are unimportant at the moment -- all that matters is the question of your revenge.

The Council will no doubt want him for questioning, but he could always be made to have an unfortunate *accident* while nobody is around to see.

[smuchmuch]

Okay, here as a player, I'm not sure what to do
I guess it would perfectly current character to kill the mage right on the spot, but I get the impression the long term consequence of that would be dire (and more importantly, we'd miss somme of the story later if we kill that guy now))

[Blayze]

If you kill him, his impact on the story stops -- that is, his direct impact. Nothing stopping someone saying 'Hey, remember that dead guy?', but that's about it.

[Blayze]

Comics 0051-0052: CRISIS



Jerel: Consider ramifications of murder.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0051.png

While your desire for revenge struggles with your desire to not get courts-martialled, your target stirs. Evidently he's tougher than he looks.

He speaks slowly and carefully, resting one hand on your gun. Your flying dropkick probably damaged his jaw, yet you're surprised he can still actually talk properly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0052.png

Suddenly, a blast of extreme heat envelops you, seeming to emanate from his hand. You are almost blinded by the light that accompanies it.

You know this spell. Corona, a mid-level fire spell. In the hands of even a B-Class Pyromancer, it's nothing special. In the hands of one who is the literal source of all Fire magic, however...

Were you not a Salamander, a being born of Fire magic and thus of fire itself, you would be fried instantly. Even so, you have precious little time to act before your body starts melting.



WHAT DO YOU DO?

[smuchmuch]

Leap backward to safety. While doing so, somehow break this guy neck with your foot (hey it's not like you didn't give him a chance)

[Blayze]

Comic 0053/Text Update 0005: Let it Begin



Jerel: Leap backward to safety. While doing so, somehow break this guy neck with your foot (hey it's not like you didn't give him a chance)/Pull the trigger.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0053.png

You don't even need to jump to end this scum's miserable life. You kick out and crush his neck with one foot, shooting him in the head for good measure -- and making sure not to shoot yourself in the foot. That would be a stupid thing to do.

With Yezzik dead, there is nobody to keep his Corona spell together. It fades away, and the temperature starts to fall to its usual level. It would seem as if he was somehow -- God only knows, being an Elemental-type and not an Arcane-type -- responsible for the illusion that affected this room.

You spot bloodstains everywhere, as well as piles of ash and dust. You can't say for certain, but you believe you know what happened to your squad. He's lucky he's dead, you just wish you could kill him again -- slower, this time.

Thanks to Jerel's actions, the Bloodhammer Incident finally came to an end. And yet it was only the beginning, for every cause has consequences...

[PROLOGUE -- END]

[ACT I -- BEGIN]

Now, the story diverges. Pick one of the following stories to form Act I, please.

(1) Damaged Goods

With recent events turning public opinion against magic, the technologically-advanced Krenyan Empire increases scientific funding in an attempt to find new ways to protect its citizens in case of magical assault. They call it...

...Project Spellbreaker.

(2) Outcasts

With recent events turning public opinion against magic, the Council of Magic attempts to win the hearts and minds of the general public. Yet the worst is yet to come, as with their fear and distrust of magic comes a fear and distrust of Orcs and "sentient nonhumans" in general...

...including Elementals.

(3) Dirty Politics

With recent events turning public opinion against magic, the Bloodhammer's surviving crew are reassigned to keep them "out of trouble" as much as possible while repairs take place on the airship. Yet the military is ruled by big business in Durrol, and big business is all about appearance and PR...

...which equals problems for any "embarrassments".

[smuchmuch]

Do we get to do them all eventually (asuing the game last this long that is), or are they mutually exclusive ?

[Blayze]

As many as you want.

[Blayze]

The archive now has a new format -- it's a single Word document with pictures, which allows me to trim the first post down further.

Available here (http://rcpt.yousendit.com/845299445/fb88e15febb53c0c3a4b9103674a0091).

So far, we have one vote (On MS Paint Adventures) for Outcasts. Looks like that's going to end up being what gets done first, which is good since I've been working on character stuff today.

[smuchmuch]

personaly my preference would go to dirty politics since we're already familira with part of the crew of the bloodhammer, I kinda took interst in them, but if you have started with Oucast, then please by all mean, go with it.

also a question to other eventual readers:
Am I the only one on these forums who is still interested in this IW ? I mean it actualy has chraracters (admitedly thair life esperance has been pretty short so far), a complex world, a storyline and it regulary updates. I'm surpirsed there aren't more people posting

[Blayze]

It's a tie for now, it seems.

As for the vote, this whole world is really just one big excuse to waste time at work typing stuff into Notepad open and call it a "writing exercise". I'll gladly write whichever.


I'm surpirsed there aren't more people posting

Possibly lurkers, possibly not. Guess I'll just have to improve and see what happens. ;)

[Blayze]

Right, let's get to it. I flipped a coin. The winner?

Comics 0054-0056 (Jumping the Shark)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0054.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0055.png

You are once again Jerel duPlen, sole survivor of Tiger Squad. Having just avenged your men by killing the man who slaughtered them, you seem to have taken out the illusion covering the room. As a result, you can see things you previously couldn't -- such as the ashen remains of your men and their blood smearing the walls and floor.

For metagame purposes, information is key. At any time, you may request information on: Your character's STATUS and physical wellbeing, their available ABILITIES and spells if applicable, their carried INVENTORY and/or their MAP of the known area. You may also opt to CHANGE character, if you find a particular scene boring.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0056.png

If I am at home, I can whip up a picture in Inkscape to provide you with said information -- if I'm at work, pure text will have to do.

STATUS is your character's overall physical condition, and provides information on any injuries or debilitating effects they may have acquired somehow.

INVENTORY is whatever your character is holding, wearing (Minus their normal clothing) or storing on their person. Maximum inventory storage space is theoretically only restricted to what the character -- in this case, Jerel -- can stuff in their trousers.

ABILITIES is a list of specific maneuvers a character is known to have. In Jerel's case, he has two: Dynamic Entry and Magesight.

What do they do? You'll have to ask those questions yourself. :)

Anway. You are now Jerel duPlen. You have just avenged your squad, but that may not be the end of the matter. What will you do?

[smuchmuch]

-Kick the corpse once again. It won't resurect your men but it will definively make you feel a lot better.
-Second, check that bag you saw earlier. While it may have been part of the ilusion casted by the mage, you dodn't really see while he would have made thart storry about a thermonuclear engine up.
-Three contact those pansies up at the bridge, if you have a radio or there is an intercomm or something similar near, and inform them about the situation.

[Blayze]

Comics 0057-0060: GO TIME



Jerel: Kick the corpse once again, check that bag you saw earlier and contact those pansies up at the bridge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0057.png

It's just not as theraputic when they can't scream. Ah well, you'll take what you can get--

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0058.png

--which in this case is a mobile phone. It's nowhere near Kerena's level of craftsmanship but it'll do.

Anyway, it's time to take a look at the reactor.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0059.png

...oh God, not this again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0060.png

That does it. It's time to get MANLY.



Edit: Forgot bloodstains (That makes twice tonight).

[Blayze]

Comics 0061-0073: What Now?



Jerel: Shoot everything.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0061.png

If you're going to die, you're going to take down as many of these Elves as you can. You take careful aim, not wanting to waste any bullets unless necessary...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0062.png

...It would appear you are out of ammo. Ah well, this model also fires lasers. You'll be fine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0063.png

That is, if that blasted Pyromancer hadn't taken the energy pack out *either*. Seems he gets the last laugh in this little situation.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0064.png

Doesn't matter, though. If you can't use it as a gun, you'll use it as a club.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0065.png

You greet the first Elf to reach you by slamming the stock into his chin, with enough force to knock him off-balance.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0066.png

Looks like the reactor might end up taking revenge on the Elves for you.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0067.png

Too bad this isn't a case of disarming a bomb he may or may not have been bluffing about -- this is something technical, beyond your manly gruntiness.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0068.png

This is the Durrollian military airship called the Bloodhammer, flying along a mountain range.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0069.png

It has just lost power -- and as a result, altitude.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0070.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0071.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0072.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0073.png

You are now controlling Executive Officer Ahma Oren. It has been a tiring day so far, what with your brother attempting to kill you and everyone around you, and it's not even midday yet.

You don't know where you are, the Council agents who arrived to take those blasted Elementals home refused to help and -- last you heard -- the ship was on fire.

What do you do?

[smuchmuch]

Take a few seconds to comlpose yourself (understandably, you have a lot on your mind) then go organise the crew in order to estinguishy the fir and save what's left of the ship

[Blayze]

Comic 0074: Taking Stock



Ahma: Take a few seconds to compose yourself (understandably, you have a lot on your mind) then go organise the crew in order to extinguish the fire and save what's left of the ship. Also, stare at the sun until your eyes hurt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0074.png

You're not sure where the urge to blind yourself came from -- what good would that do you, exactly?

Either way, though, it seems you've stumbled upon the one person best suited to help you at the moment, whether with help putting out the fire or borrowing the use of her special goggles: the Dwarf Kerena Nogard, the Bloodhammer's self-professed "Technical Warlord" and something of a mechanical and electronic savant.

She's busy handing out what look to be fire extinguishers -- probably some of her own creations -- to a queue of crewmembers. They seem to be milling around waiting for something to happen -- possibly for someone to take charge of the situation.

Having left the Captain to do whatever it is he's going to do, you could begin herding these metaphorical cats if you wish. If not, there's certainly other ways you can help out around the crash site. As long as you can think of a way of helping out, the sky's the limit.

Well, that and logical physical limitations. They always seem to crop up whenever they're not wanted.

[Blayze]

Comic 0075: Recruitment Policy


Ahma: Order them to help put out the fire.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0075.png

As the most senior crewmember present, you take command of the situation -- as well as a fire extinguisher. Kerena offers you her special goggles to help you. You'd ask her about them, but fear she will blind you with science.

It also seems that a prisoner of some sort has also survived the crash. From the heavy iron chains restricting the movement of her arms and legs, as well as the rune-inscribed ball attached to said chains, you gather she must be a dangerous magical criminal.

You didn't even know there was a prisoner on board. She must have been captured by Yezzik's team. Why the Council agents who came to collect them ignored the prisoner, you don't know. Perhaps they forgot about her, or assumed she was dead. Either way, it appears she's either volunteered or been forced into helping put out the fire.

What will you do?

[Blayze]

Comic 0076: Research



Ahma: Be passive-aggressive to the violent criminal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0076.png

While not the most logical or reasonable thing to do, it certainly might make you feel better given the circumstances. However, how do you wish to go about it?

[Blayze]

If I haven't made it clear before now, this comic includes extreme violence and violent extremes.

Comics 0077-0078: Cross-Counter



Ahma: Add subtext to your words that make them suddenly insulting by changing the pitch and saying them differently.

You attempt what you hope is a textbook example of unnecessarily cruel, spirit-crushingly masterful wordplay. But...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0077.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Blayze/0078.png

It's funny. When the two of you were kids, you were always the one to calm Yezzik down whenever he was about to do something he was going to regret.

Now you find yourself wanting nothing more than to crush her windpipe beneath your heel and see the terror on her face as she pleads for mercy, slowly asphyxiating to death.

It might be playing to the usual stereotypes of Orcish behaviour, but you don't care. That a single sentence -- a perfectly innocuous one, if used in any other situation and by any other person -- could set you off is almost certainly proof that you need some stress relief.

And here you have a potential punching bag, one that has what must be her greatest advantage -- her magic -- sealed away by the authorities.

But perhaps... perhaps, given the way she's in line to 'volunteer' for fire-fighting duty, perhaps you can make her life as miserable as possible without beating her up.

Or perhaps you might do both. Choices, choices...

What will you do?

[smuchmuch]

Do a curtain call Then explain the plot if you feel like it maybe ? Because from what I read In the Q comic review thread this comic is going to end.

and just to say, I personaly enjoyed this intertive comic. (Pretty much for all the reason aother people didn't apparently). I loved how the character felt like they had an already established personality rather than being blank slates .while the story wasn't riveting it felt like at hjas potential for devellopement. It also felt like there was a a real world behind to eventualy discover through the action of the characters.

(And the carnivorous elves didn't particulary bother me. Felt original.)

So yeah loved it.

[Blayze]

I was going to explain the plot -- or rather, what I had plotted out, since it was all capable of changing based on reader decisions (Hence why it was an interactive comic).

For example, when Jerrel killed Yezzik, that cut Yezzik's direct influence on the story as a result. ;)

However, I'm not going to give in -- I'm going to write the entire damn thing out. Here's a preview -- this is what I've written today, and it's not all filled in yet.



Prologue
Aftermath

Negatus, a prison designed and built specifically to contain a certain type of criminal. Deep within the fortified walls of this monster of a facility, down miles and miles of twisting, labyrinthine corridors and past countless reinforced and guarded doors, stood an underground section of the prison so secure that not even movies could explain how to escape.

This part of the prison held the worst of the worst, the most dangerous and unstable of their kind – that is, unless the rumours of yet another section, hidden even deeper within the earth, were true.

Negatus, the Prison City. Negatus, the Black Hole. Negatus, the Death of Magic.

--

"Mr. Oren, you're going to have to do better than 'I didn't do it.' Protestations of innocence don't work in court without evidence."

Alice Featherstone sighed heavily, leaning back in her chair and running a hand through her greying hair. It was the same story, every damn time. She couldn’t even begin to help her clients until they told her the truth, and they never did that until she broke through their stubborn attitudes and ‘I’m innocent, I tell ya!’ acts.

“Why not? There’s no evidence I did do it, but I still got arrested!”

Granted, she always got paid, but the money never seemed worth the hassle. As expected, this particular job was more hassle than normal, but also paid more than normal. It still wasn’t worth having to go through the same process yet again, though.

“You killed fourteen military personnel! Of course they’re going to suspect you of another murder!”

Her client this time was a… special case. One of a handful of super-powerful spellcasters, blessed with ultimate control over one particular type of magic, naturally he had been imprisoned here in Negatus. Alice was actually surprised – not that he’d been allowed a lawyer, but that she’d been allowed access to this part of the prison.

“They tried to kill me first! I was only defenstrating myself!”

The security checks alone had taken her all morning. No wonder Bob refuses to represent inmates here, she thought. I never want to have to come back here, ever again.

“By murdering them?”

Her client was a skinny Orcish lad, a rarity amongst his kind – yet his slight build looked more the result of malnutrition than genetics. Obviously, somebody in this prison had something against him – not that she blamed them at all. There was just something about him that rubbed her up the wrong way.

“If I leave my enemies alive, I’m directly reprehensible for everyone they kill after that. This isn’t a cartoon; saving the bad guy’s life isn’t the right thing to do. Ever.”

She’d had to deal with hostile clients before – it was just an occupational hazard in this line of work, just something her and her fellow lawyers armed themselves against – but never one who could kill with the power of his mind.

“So what you mean is that you considered your life more important than their collective lives.”

Alice didn’t trust the newfangled ‘runes’ engraved into every wall, door, floor and ceiling of this prison and supposedly restricted the inmates’ magic, but she did trust the guards and their automatic rifles, electric cattle prods and God only knows what else.

“There’s that, too, yes.”

At least her client had a sense of humour, albeit a sarcastic and self-depreciating one. That was an improvement from her last one, who had tried to strangle her.

“That’s… not good. The prosecution will cite precedence. All the evidence is circumstantial, but there’s a substantial amount of it.”

The casual way he justified multiple murders, as if it was the right thing to do, could only hurt his case. As long as she kept the subject away from ethics in court, however, she might be able to salvage something.

“So, what, enough circumcised evidence adds up to one complete piece?”

The biggest question, though, was whether or not he was taking the piss by replacing his words. If it wasn’t just something he was doing for effect, it could seriously affect any testimony he gave.

And if he was only doing it to annoy her, she’d have to backhand him for it.

“Effectively, yes. Look, I think you’d better explain to me exactly what happened to you that day. Can you do that?”

He sighed heavily, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose with the fingers of his right hand.

“…Yes.”

He sighed again.

“Boss told us to capture someone. Serena, I think her name was – didn’t really listen, assumed she’s dangerous if we were sent. Anyway, Vae’s dad works for Durrol, he’s in charge of an airship. She got him to give us a lift back, would’ve saved us quite a journey.”

Alice wrote in a small notepad as he talked, jotting down information and making notes at a blistering pace. “Who’s Vae?” she asked.

“Co-worker,” he replied. “A-Rank Hydro, Water Elephant. Nice girl. Used to work for Durrol until she Unleashed.”

“Unleashed? What do you mean by that?” Alice asked, idly tapping her pencil against the paper and consulting her notes.

“Sorry, industry termite.” He grinned sheepishly, the first time she’d seen him do anything other than scowl or look confused. “Normal casters have a Release. That’s the first clue they have magic potential. I tell you, Magesight’s confusing as hell the first time around.”

“And an Unleash?” she asked again, slightly irritated that he hadn’t answered his question.

“Getting to that. Unleashing’s what happens to Elementals. It’s called that because, well, our powers are slightly more devastating.”



“You mean dangerous.”



“I mean devastating. We literally wreck the encyclopaedia when our powers make themselves known. Anyone in the immediate area? Dead. My own Unleash melted a building and everyone in it in minutes.”



“That’s… unfortunate.”

Her client shrugged. “Ultimate power over all Fire in the body of sardine who can’t hope to control it? Not a good plan. There’s a very good raisin we don’t get good publicity.”

“And what happens when you die? What then? Where does all that magic go?”

He laughed bitterly.

“Stays in my soul. It’s too ‘weighed down’ by it, so to speak, so it can’t go anywhere. Apparently it chooses another newborn and obliterates their soul, taking over the body.”



Edit: Forgot something.

Thanks for sticking with me on this, everyone. ;)