Ashen Oath Chapter 4: Coven Path: Difference between revisions

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She's twisted beyond what she was before in a grotesque form of a wolf.|{{SBBS|Kora! Don't hurt her!|4_8c}}}}
She's twisted beyond what she was before in a grotesque form of a wolf.|{{SBBS|Kora! Don't hurt her!|4_8cc}}}}
{{PageNumber|10c}}
{{PageNumber|10c}}


Revision as of 03:20, 19 October 2025

Chapter 4 of the Ashen Oath storyline begins on October 25th as part of the Halloween Spectacle event. This final branch of the storyline will only appear for you if you doubted Namir and helped Kora in Chapter 3.


Depending on the choices made in this chapter, you made jump between this storyline branch and the Kora storyline branch. For this chapter to make the most sense, we strongly recommend that you click the storyline buttons to be taken to the next page for a specific branch, rather than scrolling.

Wind lifts the fur along your spine, and you feel a sense of urgency come over you. The air has shifted and the energy of the world hums with anticipation--it is time.


You smell a familiar scent on the air and follow it. Namir sits impatiently, looking as though you're wasting his time.


"It's about time! I was beginning to think you'd never show up. Saligia says things are ready--it's time for the ritual."
Page 1b
The following page appears if you clicked "I was busy" on Page 1b.
"Doing what? Say anything other than training and I'm leaving," he snaps.


When you offer no excuse, he snorts and turns without a backward glance, headed for the grove.


It doesn't take long, and your fur begins to prickle and stand on end. The energy pouring from the grove is the strongest you have ever felt. The electric currents sizzle through your body and you feel as if you can take on the world.
Page 2b
The following page appears if you clicked "I'm here now" on Page 1b.
"A minute later and I would have left you behind, pup. Early wolf gets the prey and all that. Let's get going already."


He strides toward the grove without a backward glance, expecting you to follow.


It doesn't take long, and your fur begins to prickle and stand on end. The energy pouring from the grove is the strongest you have ever felt. The electric currents sizzle through your body and you feel as if you can take on the world.
Page 2c
Namir smiles.


"Oh, yes. A taste of what we have been waiting for. It won't be long now, [Name]."


You enter the grove to to the excited pawsteps and eager, hushed words of the witches as they prepare for the ritual. Saligia oversees as her sisters gather various ingredients and place them in specific spots. Saligia turns when she hears your paw steps, her expression brightening.


"[Name}! You're here!"


Saligia bounds over to you, fur bristling in anticipation. She looks genuinely happy to see you--to her, you're a kindred spirit.
Page 3b
Saligia looks fit to burst, nearly dancing in place.


"Nearly, yes! I need your help once again. We need a few last minute things."


You need the following ingredients to continue:


• 1 x Boneset

• 1 x Dandelion

• 1 x Ginger

• 1 x Oregano

• 1 x Spoonwood
Page 4b
When you present Saligia with the items she scoops them up and immediately hurries over to one of her sisters, directing her on where to place the items.


"Perfect...just perfect." Her gaze sweeps around the clearing, resting on you and Namir.


"It's time! Come, [Name]. Come, Namir. Our wonderful apprentices, it is time for you to receive your gift."


She strides to the middle of the grove, situating herself at the head of the circle. Her sisters follow suit, stationing themselves an even intervals where the ingredients have been placed.


"Step forward, apprentices."
Page 5b


Both of these options will bring you to the same place. However, for clarity, we have split each option into the two sections below.


Hesitate

Hesitate

You hesitate, suddenly unsure. Saligia frowns, confusion clouding her features as she looks at you. What gift? A sense of foreboding tugs at your chest, and you feel rooted in place.


"[Name]! Step forward. You want to be a witch, don't you?"


Namir sighs aggressively and rolls his eyes, clearly impatient.


"Don't be a chicken, idiot. Let's get this over with already."
Page 6b
Saligia laughs, not unkindly.


"You are but a sprout at the base of a tree. You have power, yes...but with this ritual, you will be opened to a flood of power you have never known before."


She sits beside you companionably, trying to reassure you.


"When the ritual is complete, there will be no creature that poses a challenge to you. Nature itself will recognize your power, rendering you invulnerable. Flames will shrink back from touching you, and turbulent waters will spit you out to protect you from drowning. You will rise as a legendary leader, guiding your pack. Your heart will beat in harmony with ours, allowing you to become like us. An all-powerful being...a witch in full."
Page 7b
With a laugh she shakes her head.


"Not quite, my friend. Nearly, but practice still makes perfect, after all. Now then." She rises to her paws and turns to you expectantly.


"Are you ready, [Name]? True power waits for no wolf."


You feel the pressure of her gaze and annoyance radiating from Namir as she waits for your answer.
Page 8b
The following page appears if you clicked "I guess I have to be" on Page 7b.
Without a word she turns, and you follow her to the center of the circle. Your pawsteps are uncertain, but there's no turning back now. It's time for the ritual.


Sit opposite one another in the center. Listen well: repeat my words and let the energy of the Earth consume and fuel you. Soon, all will be as it should."


Saligia closes her eyes and begins to howl the words of the ritual, and her sisters join in.


The air crackles and you feel your pelt rise. The flow of energy is enough to make you gasp and twist your stomach as the corruption begins to spread. The feeling isn't pleasant, but the hum of power beneath it is enough to make it feel as though you're drunk.


The power in the grove thrums and pulses as corruption begins to spread over the land, and--


"Monster!"
Page 9b
The following page appears if you clicked "Yes, I'm ready" on Page 7b.
With a nod, she instructs: "Sit opposite one another in the center. Listen well: repeat my words and let the energy of the Earth consume and fuel you. Soon, all will be as it should."


Saligia closes her eyes and begins to howl the words of the ritual, and her sisters join in.


The air crackles and you feel your pelt rise. The flow of energy is enough to make you gasp and twist your stomach as the corruption begins to spread. The feeling isn't pleasant, but the hum of power beneath it is enough to make it feel as though you're drunk.


The power in the grove thrums and pulses as corruption begins to spread over the land, and--


"Monster!"
Page 9c
A blood-curdling shriek rips across the grove as the twisted form of a wolf descends upon Saligia and cuts her howl off with a sickening choking noise. The rush of power suddenly leaves you and causes you to slump on the ground uselessly.


Namir is in much the same state, and he struggles to get to his paws as the sound of fighting clatters across the once quiet space. You squint through blurry eyes to see what had interrupted the ritual, and see a familiar flesh of horny growths as Kora tangles with Saligia.


She's twisted beyond what she was before in a grotesque form of a wolf.
Page 10c


You try in vain to call out to the she-wolf, but your voice is stuck in your throat. Namir shoves you roughly onto your paws and leaps toward Saligia to help her.


"[Name]! You must help her!" Namir barks out, and you find yourself staring as he leaps onto Kora's back and pulls her to the ground.


The rest of the witches are regaining their composure and begin to move to help their leader. Kora may be alone, but in her corrupted state she is ten times as strong as both Namir and Saligia combined--it will not be easy to take her down.
Page 8c


With the exception of "Refuse to move", the choice you make here will solidify your ending of the story. Selecting "Refuse to move" can lead you to either of the paths listed below, depending on your choice made in the next step.


If you select "Jump into the fray", you are guaranteed to receive the below items, and you will not be able to switch your path again.


Marking Set Applicator [Notches]
Forest Clearing
Saligia


If you select "Help Kora Instead!", you are guaranteed to receive the below items.


Marking Set Applicator [Notches]
Forest Clearing
Corrupted Kora


Since each of these paths is a final story ending, they will be separated into individual sections below, after the "No Hesitation" section.


No Hesitation

No Hesitation

With a nod, she instructs: "Sit opposite one another in the center. Listen well: repeat my words and let the energy of the Earth consume and fuel you. Soon, all will be as it should."


Saligia closes her eyes and begins to howl the words of the ritual, and her sisters join in.


The air crackles and you feel your pelt rise. The flow of energy is enough to make you gasp and twist your stomach as the corruption begins to spread. The feeling isn't pleasant, but the hum of power beneath it is enough to make it feel as though you're drunk.


The power in the grove thrums and pulses as corruption begins to spread over the land, and--


"Monster!"
Page 7c
You try in vain to call out to the she-wolf, but your voice is stuck in your throat. Namir shoves you roughly onto your paws and leaps toward Saligia to help her.


"[Name]! You must help her!" Namir barks out, and you find yourself staring as he leaps onto Kora's back and pulls her to the ground.


The rest of the witches are regaining their composure and begin to move to help their leader. Kora may be alone, but in her corrupted state she is ten times as strong as both Namir and Saligia combined--it will not be easy to take her down.
Page 8c


With the exception of "Refuse to move", the choice you make here will solidify your ending of the story. Selecting "Refuse to move" can lead you to either of the paths listed below, depending on your choice made in the next step.


If you select "Jump into the fray", you are guaranteed to receive the below items, and you will not be able to switch your path again.


Marking Set Applicator [Notches]
Forest Clearing
Saligia


If you select "Help Kora Instead!", you are guaranteed to receive the below items.


Marking Set Applicator [Notches]
Forest Clearing
Corrupted Kora


Since each of these paths is a final story ending, they will be separated into individual sections below.


Jump into the Fray

Jump into the Fray

The following pages appear if you clicked "Jump into the Fray" on Page 8c.
You hardly need Namir to tell you to lend your claws. How dare Kora ruin the ritual? She's clearly mad in her current state. If she had felt the depth of that power that you had...perhaps she'd feel differently.


Without hesitation, you jump to Namir's side and go after Kora.
Page 9d
Battle Corrupted Kora to continue with the storyline.

Ashen Oath

Page 10c
With the last ounce of your strength, you pin Kora to the ground.


She thrashes wildly, her eyes filled with nothing but rage. There is no trace of the mortal wolf she once was.


Your only option now is to end it.
Page 11c
Her body falls limp, and you can taste the metallic, oddly twisted taste of her corrupted blood.


"At last!" Saligia crows triumphantly. "What a nuisance. Witches, return to your places. Apprentices, resume your post. It's time to finish this."


Without a backward glance, Saligia turns and takes her place at the head of the circle.
Page 12c
Strangely, you're already in the correct position. Kora had fallen almost directly in the center of the circle.


As you stand over her body and Namir joins you with a grim look on his face, you find yourself bracing for the worst as you wait for Saligia to begin.


But what could happen? The ritual will be complete and you'll have immense power, just as promised.


Saligia begins the chanting howl and you feel power rising up within you just as before. All you have to do is let it go, and the ritual will greedily consume it and be complete. After...after, you can drink from the well of that power.
Page 13c
You release your power, letting the ritual consume the last vestiges of your energy.


You're vaguely aware of slumping to the ground and the witches moving around you. You feel Namir beside you, also slumped to the ground. All is eventually quiet, and your sense of time is warped.


Minutes or hours, you're not sure which, pass before your senses return to you. You blink open your blurry eyes and look around the grove.


There's a chill in the air, and a hot, bitter taste at the back of your throat. The grove is oddly empty except for Namir beside you, and Kora's body in front of you.
Page 14c
Gathering your strength, you pull yourself to your paws and take in the new world around you.


The trees, the sky, the ground...it's all twisted beyond recognition. Once-familiar sights, sounds, and smells no longer exist and everything is foreign.


There is no trace of the witches remaining in the grove. It sits abandoned, without even a hint of what it was before. Where had they gone? And...why did you feel so...empty?


Namir stirs and stands beside you, shaking out his pelt in a stupor. He looks around, confusion clouding his features.
Page 15c
With a frown Namir paces around the grove, searching...but for what?


"They're...gone." His voice is gravelly, as if his vocal chords haven't been used in a long time.


Gone? But did that mean...


"They took it. They took our power for themselves. They never meant to give us anything."


Namir's look of horror as he stares, not looking at anything in particular, cause you to realize what that strange empty feeling is.


Your power is gone, and there's no way to get it back.
Page 16c
Namir slumps, as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders.


"The ritual was successful. The corruption was never meant to help the world...it was simply a way for them to gain more power. Now that they have it, they have no use for us or this land."


Kora's fur stirs in the wind, and you look down at her sadly.


She had been right all along. She had paid for it with pain and ultimately death--and now you and your pack faced the same fate.
Page 17c
With a grimace, Namir nods.


"Without anything to stop the corruption, it will spread to us all. Without our power, we have no hope of righting things ourselves."


He rises to his paws and with a last glance at Kora, he turns to the entrance of the grove.


"I must go. You are not the only wolf with a pack to protect. I must do what I can for as long as I can, and so should you."


He hesitates at the entrance an looks down at his paws before murmuring:


"I'm so sorry."
Page 18c
He disappears, and you are left alone in the grove.


Chest heavy and feeling as though your paws are trapped in mud, you pad to the entrance. Nothing remains for you here.


You head back to your pack, paws set firmly on the path before you.


You got a Marking Set Applicator [Notches], a Forest Clearing, a Saligia and +50 ME!


Page 19c


Refuse to Move

Refuse to Move

The following pages appear if you clicked "Refuse to Move" on Page 8c.


Help Kora Instead

Help Kora Instead

The following pages appear if you clicked "Help Kora Instead!" on Page 8c.


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