Spoiler

Then again the mark is a Soul Magic concept and Quatach'Ichl is one of the characters most likely to be able to interfere with it, since he's the one who originally threw Zorian into the loop.

 

I don't think this needs a spoiler, but I didn't think the post above me needed one either. So.

Spoiler: Well...

The Lich will have to know that the mark exists before he can interfere with it. From the descriptions of Soul Perception, it's more of an extrasensory feeling than something you can see. Also, I get the feeling that the mark is not like an obvious tattoo. The Lich will have to be consciously diagnosing Zach and Zorian's souls to find that it exists.

An argument can be made, of course, that he will notice when Zorian tries to trigger the restart. But, again, I get the feeling that it is an instantaneous thing. Zorian wants to trigger a restart, he triggers the mark. Sort of like, I want to close my eyes, I let my eyelids fall.

Hope that makes some sense.

Even so, I agree that Quatach-Ichl has the distinction* of being one of the most horrifically dangerous enemies they will ever face, in or out of the time-loop, if for different reasons.

*Where as the other horrifically dangerous enemies they might encounter tend to lose some of their 'horrific-ness' inside the loop.

 

This updated again here.

 

Ichl is exactly the kind of the big bad that a loop adventure needs. Old and experienced with plenty of ancient magic to back him up making him almost unbeatable even after decades of fighting against him.

 

He's a much more credible threat now. "So you've both been alive 10 or so more years than you ought to have by now? That's neat. Guess how old I am?" He's basically a situation where the third time traveler (and missing antagonist) had been looping for centuries and had amassed way more experience and knowledge than them. We definitely needed this. But also... the whole conversation was kind of a let down in a sense, it demystified him and made him seem too reasonable and logical of a foe.

 

While it’s true the Lich has lived more than them a constant theme of the story is how modern magic is more useful in most cases. Past that Zach and Zorian have been learning much more rapidly than just the time they’d have spent in the loop. They’re still at a disadvantage, but they’re not the better part of a millenium behind.

 

In general, yes, but we've already been given several precedents that certain things need and use time to form. From things such as the first way soulsight is supposed to be obtained (by that one plant that only forms every few decades or something), to the Lich's (spoiler) divine blessing, there are clearly plenty of things that just can't be acquired by anything but time. And the Lich has had a lot of time.

 

This updated here.

 

My favorite spider, Novelty, got a mention. The Lich being overly theatrical also amuses me.

And the high priest at the end!

 

A nice chapter, but Ichl joining Z&Z in their quest to get the dagger should be even better. And for a long time I said they should get him as their mentor as did the Red Robe.

 

Damn. Fucking cliffhangers. As much as I enjoyed Qatal, it's getting tiresome how much of a Villain Sue he is and he even isn't central to the plot like his inspiration, Xykon (I'm 99% sure of that and I will fight anyone that says otherwise) is.

 

Play dangerous games and get burned, I suppose.

That was a pretty satisfying ending to briefly working with Ichl.

 

That blast may cost them few restarts when they really can't afford it. Though a small sub quest with Zorian, or even Zach, getting his mark damaged and in a need of replacement or repair within one loop could happen too.

The question is whether they will decide to work more with Ichl. On the one hand it's dangerous like nothing else they do in the loops. On the other, they need to figure out how to get his treasure and interacting with him may give them more clues. I suppose, they already meet him at his most desperate and he probably can't surprise them with even more dangerous spell.

 

Pretty sure the Lich stapled himself to the loop somehow with that last trick.

 

Nah, he just blew himself up to spite them.

 

I suppose there is a possibility of Ichl having a last resort plan that involves him detonating his soul to get its pieces on a soul of someone who managed to defeat him and then possess him.

More likely he did it just to get at them for tricking him into helping them.

 

Updated again.

Ramifications of the soul attack were interesting - and again the limited loop concept is paying off. A single attack hurt them for 20% of their remaining time. They're continuing with Ichl interactions too!

 

Anyone else would like to have holidays loops as a side-story after the main one is finished?

And dragons. That's one thing Zorian has yet to meet and fight.

 

Eh, I have come to accept these chapters where nothing really happens. They show up at the end of every story arc to control the pacing and set up the next arc. It sucks when you have been waiting three weeks for an update and get filler, but whenever I do a reread I don't even notice them.