A mages dilema

This is it Fern! You have really messed up this time! You thought a small injury was the worst that could happen but clearly you were wrong. Now you have a small disaster on your hands. You knew better than to experiment with magic when your master was away, but you just couldn't contain yourself. It was supposed to be a simple scrying spell, not opening a portal to another plane of existance for invaders to come through! But what can you do? [[//Guess I should survey the scene//->wreckage]]

You look around the room. This place is a mess. More so then usual too! The roof has been blown off the tower and the floor is scorched and covered in rubble. Torn papers litter the floor and the door leading to the lower levels is barely on the henges. The desks have chunks from the blast taken out of them and and the walls look like they had been inside a warzone. You are amazed you survived, and unscathed too. What should you do next? [[//I'll Examine myself. I may be more hurt then I think//->Examine self]] [[//I need to try to figure out excatly how bad the damage//->window]] [[//I'll head downstairs//->pain]]

You carefully look at your body. to your amazement, you are both unscathed and clean. Your wand is also perfectly undamaged. But your head feels fuzy as if something wasn't right. You feel overwhelmed and a little light headed. You also noticed that your wand is glowing white at the tip, the affect of ongoing magic. [[//I'll investigate my wand//->wand problems]] [[//I need to clear my head!//->headache]]

You look out the window at the town below. It's complete chaos! Villagers are fleeing in terror as demons, imps, zombies, and all kinds of other unnatural creatures are chasing them through thr night. Some houses are on fire and you can hear the screams from here. The guards and militia are doing their best to hold back the tide, but without magical support, this will clearly be a lost battle. And its all your fault! [[//I need to go down and help them!//->pain]]

You run downstairs as fast as you could, quickly getting to the base of the tower. As you step out into the fresh night breeze, you are met with horror as a large demon is about to consume a young woman in guard armor. We need to save her. We can either completely blast him or try to absorb him and his power. [[//The more power the better, lets absorb him//->and then there were three]] [[//Nah, ill trust in your power alone, lets do this.//->icy]]

You twirl the wand around trying see if you notice anything off about it but it looks like it's just your normal wand. Nothing out of the ordinary. You however, have no idea what this spell is and what it does. But clearly your wand is doing something. [[//Just cancel my spell//->Dispell]]

You sit on the floor and put your hand to your head. Something feels wrong. Has it always felt this crowded? Did you always use to think in the 3rd person? [[//No I didn't! something is going on! Who is in my head?!//->my head]]

Please don't! [[//What? please don't what? What do you mean? Who are you?!//->my head]]

I'm your spell. Well I'm you. And I'm also something else. But don't worry about that. Just know that I am here to help you and you're going to need me to get you out of this mess. You see, I can lend you my power to aid you. I'm great with ice! [[//I guess your right. I can use all the help I can get//->moving on]] [[//This is crazy! You Invaded my head. get out!//->escape the head]] [[//I don't like this, but you seem nice enough so ill worry about it later//->moving on]]

You aren't happy with this decesion but if you must work with it now, it's fine. You need to get downstairs because you have wasted enough time. [[//you run downstairs//->downstairs]]

I can't, we are stuck together. I don't know a spell to remove us and I know you don't either. Trying another spell will be dangours for both of us. so for now, just forget about it and move on. [[//I'll take your help for now and worry about it when my master gets back//->moving on]] [[//No way. Get out of my head! I'll try to dispell it//->Fight the head]] [[// Ya right! I know just the spell to remove you//->head damage]]

You begin running towards the door as fast as you can but stop dead in your tracks and fall to your knees. The pain in your head is killing you. [[//Ugh my head//->headache]]

No wait, it won't get rid of me. If you do that, it will make it much harder for us to work together. If you dispel it, I won't be connected to your wand. Ill only be in your head. Then I can use any spells for you or discover what your spells are doing. [[//That sounds perfect, one step closer to getting rid of you//->dispell..like actually]] [[//Ok fine, I'll leave you be for now//->moving on]]

No you fool! You are trying to use a spell to jumble ones brain. It's not going to split us. It's going to stir-fry our brains until we are a vegatable. Wait STOOOOOO-- [[//...//->you are dead]]

You have died.

Great, you dispelled it? Do you feel better? Because I am still here and can no longer lend you my power. Now how do you plan on dealing with this? You can barely cast a light spell without causing a catastrophe. [[//I didn't need your help anyway. I'll go downstairs and handle this myself//->downstairs alone]] [[//It didn't work. Guess ill just have to try something different//->alone i fail]]

You run downstairs as fast as you could, quickly getting to the base of the tower. As you step out into the fresh night breeze, you are met with horror as a large demon is finishing consuming its poor victim. A shame you weren't faster. It turns its head to look at you, clearly still hungry. [[//There is no way I can take this, i'm out of here!//->run]] [[//Its time to help and show the voice in my head what an young mage can do.//->fight alone]]

I wouldn't. We both know how bad your magic skills are. Random spells got us into this mess. Using a spell on your own brain isn't wise. Please put the wand down. Think about it before you do this. Just st-- [[//...//->you are dead]]

You barrel past it heading towards the bunring houses in the distant and the guards that you know lie behind them. Alone there is no way you can take that creature, but maybe with the help of everyone else. You look back to see if it is chasing you but instead a fireball it had lob seconds from hitting you. [[//I need to cast a defensive spell//->defense alone]] [[//No time, ill just have to take it//->I WILL SURVIVE]]

You raise your wand as it slowly waddles closer. You know to defeat this you are going to need a very powerful spell, the likes of which you havent ever casted before. You summon up all your magic and let it rip. A huge stream of blinding light erupts from the tip of your wand, completely consuming the demon. Great job! you defeated it. But soon you realize the peril you are actually in. Unable to stop the stream it grows and grows until its eventually burst your wand, consuming your who-- [[//...//->you are dead]]

You cast the first spell that comes to mind. Sadly it wasn't a defense spell, and was instead a weak firebolt which instead increases the power of the one already coming at yah. Maybe it would help if the first spell that came to mind wasn't the one you were looking at. The much large fire ball crashes into you nearly insta-- [[//...//->you are dead]]

You do your best to get out of its way but are still hit by the blast, blowing you back, and scorching your cloths. Still, you are alive, and well enough to keep going. And it doesn't seem like you are being chased. You take a second to consider the town. By now, must of the houses are on fire and the remaining villagers have huddled in the guard barracks further ahead. The creatures are slowly making their way towards them as the survivors dig in for the fight. The trees of the forest surrounding the village are mostly unscathed, meaning the woods are proably clear of demons. [[//I should go. I'm not good enough at magic for this and ill be no help. Eventually word of this will get out and the imperial mage army will clean this up//->woodland escape]] [[//They will need my help. I got to get to the survivors//->rush to the barracade]]

You run towards the woods, not looking back as the sound of screams dies down in the distance. I am stuck in the head of a coward who could not even deal with their own mistake. But we are alive, and that counts for something...

You run so fast that it a wonder you took up magic instead of competeting. As you leap past demons and burning homes, you noticed that there doesn't seem to be many left. All the zombies and imps seem to have been dealt with by the militia, but the larger demons are still alive. You make your way past the barracade and into the guard house with the remaining survivors. As soon as you enter they all freeze and look at you with a glimmer of hope, recognizing you as a mage. [[//I have come to help, how can I assit you//->assist]] [[//I have come to save you, everyone listen to me//->lead]]

A tired guard looks up at you. He informs you that he is the acting leader after their young captain failed to return back. Apparently she went looking for help at the mage tower but never return. You wonder if she was the unfortunate victim of the demon that was waiting outside for you. He asks you if are a mage like they hope of if they have you mistaken. [[//Of course I am. I offer my magic to help//->magical assitance]] [[//I better say no so I don't get their hopes up.//->the way to ordinary]]

Everyone stands up, clutching weapons to their chest and putting on brave faces. Your declaration has rejuvenated them and they are prepared to listen to your common. You have complete control over this group and the pleasure you take in this newfound authority is very apparent on your face. The demons begin to close in as they look to you for orders. One great strategy or a display of your great power will proably be enough to boost their morale high enough to win on your own. [[//I show them that we can win with my power//->they followed the fool to victory. ]] [[//I'll guide them in this battle agaisnt the demons//->They followed the fool to death]]

You step out the door and over the barracade, wand raised to the sky, and unleash a massive bolt of lightning into the clouds. Immediately rain begins to fall and massive lightning bolts crash down, obliterating the nearest demon before jumping to next and the next until there are none remaining. The crowd of people erupt into cheers! you have saved them! You raise your hands as their cheers drown out the lightning crashes behind you. Pleased that your mastery of magic has finally saved the day you fail the notice the sound of the lightning until it is right upon you, seconds from annihila-- [[//...//->you are dead but you won]]

You have died. But you saved the village, without any help. As far as deaths go, this one is pretty good.

You bark orders which they immediately follow, taking up battle positions along the barracades that you recommended. As the demons approach you have great faith, up until they tear through the line and quickly storm in. You were training as a wizard, not a battle strategist. But you won't have time to regret your mistake as the demons all surround you and you pass out from fear. [[//...//->you are dead]]

His eyes light up as he tells you about a brilliant plan. Basically, you will be in the back of the barracks in the center of the room, everyone else will be on the sidelines trying to line up the demons. Once they all get inside you are to just blast through all of them in one quick swoop. The others will line them up for you. Are you in [[//Thats a great plan. All I have to do is fire one shot. Easy enough//->laser sight]] [[//I have a better plan. Listen to this//->They followed the fool to death]] [[//I'm sorry, I'm not actually good enough with magic for that, But I can help in other ways//->the way to ordinary]]

He looks at you sadly but nods and explains the new plan. He thinks that they have a leader and if the leader was destroyed, the others would flee to the woods. He wants every able-bodied fighter to instead charge past the current demons and aim for the large one in the center. And thats exactly what you and a group of others do. They poke at him with their spears and slash with their swords, but he tosses them aside like nothing and sets his sights on you. Either you defeat him now or its lights out for this city. You pull out your wand [[//I have to end this. The strongest spell I know should do it//->magic in the end]] [[//ive come this far without magic. And it created this mess. Maybe it's time I give up this pursuit. If I destroy my wand, it will realse all its stored up power which should be enough to do it.//->a new goal]]

You agree with his plan and take your position. Just like promised the poke and jab at the demons as they pass through the baracade until they have lined up infront of you. Then as planned, you unleash a spell. What you didn't plan was that the spell would actually fill the entire room with water. You also didn't expect it to be this hard to cast another spell when you cant breath. [[//...//->you are dead]]

You close your eyes and summon up your power, feeling it build up within you, then you calmly release it as a warm glow encompasses your body and the energy explo-- [[//...//->you are dead]]

You don't need magic anymore. It has caused you nothing but harm. You fling your wand at the demon with all your might. It shatters on impact, releasing a blinding flash as crackling energy rushes forth and consumes the demon. When the light dies down, there is nothing left of him. You turn around to see that like planned, the other demons are fleeing. You have saved the village, and decided on a new path for yourself, one away from magic.

You hold up your wand and release your magic, letting me pick the spell. A blizzard forms around the demon swirling in closer and closer until the beast is completly constrained. But it continues to shrink, shrinking the demon with it. Finally, it condenses into one small mist which flows into your nose. [[//alright, did it work//->threes a company]]

You hold up your wand and release your magic, letting me pick the spell. A large ray of blue light erupts from the tip of your wand, pouring over the demon and freezing him solid. He won't be going anywhere anytime soon. But we should still be able to absorb him. [[//you know what, lets do it//->threes a company]]

Your head feels funny again, as if it has became even more crowded. I think it wor--WHAT IS THIS NEW PLACE! Your head rings as a new voice erupts from within. YOU FEEL YOUR GROWING ANGER AS YOU REALIZE WHAT HAS HAPPENED [[//I thought I would recieve its power not its conscious!//->orginal sin]] [[//I don't have time to worry about this, I need to go see if that guard is alright//->worry so]]

YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD ABSORB MY POWER. YOU ARE BUT WEAK AND A FEA-That is how you ended up in this situation to begin with. You cant just use a spell to absorb power. It is contained within the crea- I WILL SOON CONTAIN YOU-ture. When you tried to do that with me, I just ended up in your head, and the doorway left open for others to follow. [[//He is annoying but its too late now//->worry so]]

Accepting your mistake AND A BIG MISTAKE IT WAS, you rush over to the injuried girl. She seems to be alright -LET ME GO FINISH HER OFF- slowly rishing to her feet. She informs you that she is the captain of the guard (which stuns you because she hardly seems much older then yourself) and she has come to get your help. Apparently she alone has set out to destroy the leader of these beast and wishes for your help. [[//Of course ill help. I made this mess so I need to clean it up//->lets take the fight to them]] [[//shouldn't we be trying to protect everyone and get them out of here//->plan b]]

You agree-BECAUSE YOU ARE NO COWARD- and follow her as she begins to run back towards the town. As you look around you see -THE CARNAGE OF MY BRE- many of the houses have burned and the streets are -FILLED WITH THE B- deserted of the towns folk as they have all -BEEN DEVOURED-holed up in the barracks. In front of you, you can see -LORD DENASTOR-a large demon, at least triple the size of the other demons. But before you can worry about him, two imps pounch on you, striking from the shadows of the trees. We need to find them off my power is slow and -DELICATE AND WEAK-but more percise and specfic. His is -FAST AND POWERFUL-and...well ya, but also uncontrollable. Not as badly as yours but keep that in mind. [[//ill let our new friend handle this. He talks about his power so lets see if its as good as he says//->light in the dark]] [[//Some of your ice should have them frozen in their tracks//->its cold outside]] [[//I think ill take this one//->you thought wrong]]

She informs you that there isn't enough time-FOR THOSE COWARDLY LITTLE CREATURES- to escape. There are too many injured left. The fastest way is to end the leader. [[//alright, lets do this//->lets take the fight to them]] [[//Then we can escape and get help. Lets do that instead//->woodland escape]]

YES, MY POWER BURNS!as you unleash a massive burst of fire upwards at a blinding speed. It engulfs the imps, turning them to ash in an instant and incinerating the nearby trees. The blast is so UNSTOPPABLE, FEEL MY RAGEthat the guard beside you has to jump back and guard herself agaisnt it to avoid it consuming her too. You understand now what it means to use this power and should proably be more careful. However two more leap after you from different sides, taking advantage of your lose attention. [[//Easy. I've trained for spells for just this situation//->doubt]] [[//This big stream of fire seemed to work before, let's do it again//->nah]] [[//The situation seems delicate. Perhaps it's time for ice//->a clever strike]]

you raise your wand as the temperature in front of THE WEAK COWARDbegins to drop. Sadly, it doesn't drop quick enough. It freezes the first imp, but the other one crashes through and swings his claws. But he wasn't fast enough as the guard captain blocks it with his sword, and lobs of his head. From the corner of your eye you see six gleaming eyes as some more imps lunge at the captains back, hoping to run her through [[//Quick look out, I'll save you with my new spell//->doubt]] [[//Let's freeze them in their tracks//->sometimes you gotta burst]] [[//They grouped up and made it easier to incinerate them//->burn baby burn]]

WHAT ARE YOU DOI- No no no, not that spe- [[//...//->you are dead]]

no you haven- [[//...//->you are dead]]

MY POWER IS ABSOLUTE. MAKE THEM BURN!is what you try to do as you redirect another massive torrent at the imp to your right. But the blowback actual propells you into the imp on the left who is waiting for you with his claws outstreatched for you to land in- [[//...//->you are dead]]

You quickly lower your wand and allow the magic to flow through you. Two ice spears launch from either end of your wand, hit the imps and launching them into the tree. Nice - VICTORY IS OURS! [[//great! let's move on//->proceed]]

Both you and your compainion are impressed with your show of power. She informs you that the demon is just up ahead and that once you are there, he is all yours. She instantly leaps ahead, drawing the attention of everything around and running off, leaving you alone, face to face with the monster. [[//Alright guys, I'll take it from here//->why do you even bother]] [[//Some large firepower is just what we need. I'll hit him with that flame thrower again//->big bang]] [[//freezing worked well before. I don't see why it won't again//->icy tomb]]

You launch a spike of ice, nailing one imp to a tree as a second one does the same to your guard companion. You then do the same to him with another ice spike as the third imp approaches and returns the fa- [[//...//->you are dead]]

You raise your wand and UNLEASH MY POWER, LET THOSE FEEBILE IMPS FEEL THE BULK OF MY STRENGTH SO THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN NEVER AGAIN EVEN DREAM OF OPPOSING ME.The stream of fire annhilates the line of imps, flying far past them into the forest and burning through the line of trees, leaving a path of scorched earth for miles to come. [[//that was intense, let's hope it works in the final fight//->proceed]]

You raise your wand and prepare a ANOTHER POOR SPELL! which instead of killing us all simply transports us about 10 seconds back in time. [[//...//->proceed]]

You unleash A TORRENT OF MY HELL FIRE! the demon who is caught off guard and thrown back as the flame surround him, but he eventually is able to get on his feet, slowly warding off the flames until they died down. This won't work. You need a better idea. Maybe something less direct then overpowering. Something different. And you haven't much time as he start barreling towards you. [[//We can take him if you two combine your powers//->together]] [[//I know it's proably not best, but for this I actually do know a spell which may save us//->a final trick]]

You unleash a similar beam of blue light which immediately evenlopes the demon. He tries to struggle HAHA, THE WEAKLING!before he is completely consummed. However, it only lasts momentarily as he SHATTERS YOUR PUNY MAGIC LIKE A FLY!This wont work. We need something different, something unexpected. Not just raw firepower. As you speak he begins to charge at you, making it clear that he intends not to be frozen again. [[//Trust me this time. I have one more plan which may save us. No more brute force//->a final trick]] [[//We can overpower him if we do this together//->together]]

You let the power build up in you as WE UNLEASH OUR COMBINE MIGHT, slaming into the demon as he struggles agaisnt it. It slowly pushes him back as we give it everything we have. But everything isn't enough he SWATS OUR POWER ASIDE AND CHARGES THROUGH US RIPPING OUR BOD- [[//...//->you are dead]]

Brute force won't work. But you have a feeling this might. You ready your wand, without our help, and we wait as you cast a spell whichIS MEANT TO MAKE US EXPLODE! ARE YOU TRYING TO DESTROY US TOO. WHAT DO YOU THINK YO-but as the demon is upon us you release the spell. But instead of us exploding as intended it instead produces an explosion of energy. The power is so strong it shatters reality infront of you, making wormhole which the demon runs right into. That wasn't what you expected to happened, but you didn't die so you will take it. You turn see your guard friend and notice she was correct. Without their leader, the remaining demons begin to flee leaving victory yours to claim.