“No… no, please! NyAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHG–”You jerk upright to the sound of a woman being torn apart, almost losing your breath in the process. A string of drool drips from the drips from the corner of your mouth into the growing puddle your hand currently occupies on the cold flagstone floor. Shaking the sleep from your tired eyes, you glance around trying to ascertain the source of the blood-curdling shriek.Well, you try to, at least. It only takes a few moments of careful inspection to realize you’re in no position to be helping out screaming girls, let alone yourself–as the musty scent of mildew tickles your flared nostrils and a frosty breeze kicks the remaining weariness out of your body, it dawns on you just how DARK it is in this room… Like, wow.Blinking a few times just to be sure, your mind drifts to other more pressing matters when you come to another chilling realization:You have no damn clue how you got here!Throat buzzing as if you’d spent the whole day yelling and your ears ringing like church bells, you feel scraps of details flutter around your dazed mind like confetti at a party–innumerable and a pain in the butt to clean up.Mentally snatching one of the pieces out of the air, you feel an important detail come back to you… and as you sit up to digest the info properly, you recall that you are…>Male>FemaleAnd your name is…>Write-In Your Name!
>>6095278>Male>AntonI'm gonna be honest, I have no idea for the name.
>>6095278>Male>Pariah
>>6095278>Female>Noah
>>6095278>Male>AntonI like Anton.
>>6095279>>6095288>Anton>>6095281>Pariah>>6095285>NoahAnton it is! Let's get this ball rollin'! Writing!
Anton… yea, that’s your name. Feels pretty familiar now that you let it leave your dry lips a few times… Anton…… wait, do you have a last name? Is ‘Anton’ a pseudonym? Crap!Shaking your head in frustration, you feel your shaggy, matted hair flop around on your shoulders–you must have had a rough sleep based on how sweaty and tired you feel. Grabbing a handful of what feels like one of your oversized sleep shirts, you air out your stomach as you give your butt a lazy scratch.With your name now plastered back into the surface of your brain, you’re free to follow other worthy pursuits, chief among them the fact that you’re STILL in a cold, dark, musty room that smells like black mold and ozone. You don’t even know what the hell ozone is, but you’re pretty sure you can smell it!Rising to your bare, shaky feet, you flinch as your heel comes in contact with a pool of warm liquid–one you’re pretty certain ain’t drool. Drawing on your immense well of masculine power, a falsetto ‘EEEEH!’ escapes your drool-caked lips as your reflexes carry you out of the puddle and onto what feels like a line drawn in…… CANDLE WAX? Who can say?This would be way easier if your damn eyes adjusted already–you never paid much attention in science class, but you vaguely remember that your eyes are supposed to adjust to low light eventually… that or your eyes are supposed to transform. Your memory’s still foggy.In any case, the dark room doesn’t answer any questions you have, instead remaining content with judging you in a way only a drafty, impassive room can.What do?>Call out for help! If this is a prank then it sucks!>Inspect the wax a bit closer!>Check out that gross puddle on the floor! It’s still warm, eeeeeww!>Scour the room for loot and items… maybe there’s a clue in here?>Try to unearth some more memories!>Write-In!
>>6095335>>Check out that gross puddle on the floor! It’s still warm, eeeeeww!
>>6095335>>Try to unearth some more memories!Backstory time.
>>6095335>Scour the room for loot and items… maybe there’s a clue in here?
>>6095335>Try to unearth some more memories!
>>6095353>Ponder the puddle>>6095367>Ransack the room>>6095364>>6095369>Mine up some memories!We'll get to the other two in a sec, but it looks like reminiscing is first on the docket.>Roll me 3d100 to see how clear you can get! Best of 3, that means 1d100 per player!
Rolled 98 (1d100)>>6095379
Rolled 94 (1d100)>>6095379Occult summoning gone wrong? Who can say?Us, hopefully.
Rolled 61 (1d100)>>6095379Let's remember EVERYTHING
>>6095383>>6095389>>6095393Jesus Christ, save some good rolls for the rest of the quest you goddamn maniacs.Writing!
Rolled 51 (1d100)>>6095395>save some good rolls for the rest of the questno!
>>6095395I plan on having every roll be a good roll from now until the end of the quest. It’s a flawless plan.Assumptions? What are those? I clearly can’t have them if I don’t know what they are!
>>6095411exactly. i dont know what "ignorance" is and i dont intend to find out.
As much as you’d like to say you’re no stranger to waking up in strange situations, you know that’d be a complete and utter lie. This is definitely a first for Anton…… Anton… Peas…. yes, you DO have a last name! You knew it! Spurred on by your success in remembering your name, you dare to delve a little deeper! Donning the most contemplative face you can muster under duress, you rack your fuzzy head trying to remember any detail you can about how you came to… wherever this place is.You were definitely sleeping when this happened, that much is certain: you wearing one of your finest SLEEP SHIRTS makes that clear enough… but the lack of gunfire outside and your roommate playing video games tells you this can’t possibly be your apartment! By all accounts it’s an improvement.Suddenly some wires connect inside your head with a little help from the wax on the floor and the scent of ozone in the air (Whatever that is): your memory whisks you back to late last night… or maybe this night… you were in your bed tired from a long shift at… your job? It was hot in your room, that much was certain… hot enough for you to want to get some water from the bathroom faucet. As you tumbled out of bed, however, you found yourself falling as if in a dream… and the next thing you knew–Your mind closes like a steel trap on what happens next and rewards your introspection with a throbbing headache and another mortifying realization:YOUR JOB! YOU HAVE A SHIFT TOMORROW MORNING!Panic settles in as your bare foot scuffs the flagstone beneath you–how could you forget your shift at GREASE MONKEY: YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR DEEP-FRIED EVERYTHING!? Lars is gonna KILL you if you’re late again… he might even have to wear…...The Suit….You’ve gotta get out of here and fast. Wherever you ended up sleepwalking it’s definitely not in the same area code as your job. Maybe if you can track down your phone you can scamper home and change?Rising to your feet with newfound motivation, you turn your attention to what you can see:Nothing. You can certainly feel, however, and as you gingerly take a few steps over to where your bare foot dipped into the warm puddle, you cautiously plop your least favorite finger into the mystery fluid…Warm. Semi-viscous. Reminds you of the oil that always leaks underneath the deep fryers at work. You allow yourself a brief smile as you come to the conclusion that the liquid isn’t piss–if your pee felt like this you’d have bigger problems…Well, unless this is someone else’s pee, in which case they have bigger problems.Moving in to get a whiff, your leg is suddenly assaulted by a CRAMP that sends you tumbling head over heels into the puddle… and something ELSE!>CONTD.
>>6095649Soft, feathery, and human-shaped–that’s your appraisal as you tactlessly fumble into the object. Scrambling to get off whatever you landed on, your blood goes ice-cold when your hand connects with the source of the liquid… a jagged, meaty cut where something used to sit between two very shoulder-like protrusions!Scurrying away as quickly as you can, you slam your head against a cold, solid wall of stone. Whatever the hell it was you touched, it’s dead--unless it can survive without what you assume was its head!As the gravity of the situation slowly weighs down upon you, you can’t help but wonder who it was that performed the butchery in the room… or what!Moreover, is it still here with you? Did… did YOU kill it!? You’re starting to freak out.Taking a steadying breath, you creep back over to the corpse and give it a thorough examination. The body is taller than you, give or take, and while it seems pretty human, you can’t get over the sparse clumps of feathers on the body’s slowly-cooling forearms and legs. Whoever this was is wearing a PLUSH ROBE covered in wood trinkets and baubles giving you the image of some kind of LARPER! The thought sends a shiver down your spine.Amidst the forest of gizmos and geewgaws sewn onto the soiled robe your hand brushes against some PARCHMENT poking out from one of the garment’s many pockets! Snatching it up in your hand, you immediately drop the paper when your thumb and forefinger come in contact with something hot! Your second try goes a little better–ensuring you don’t grab the toasty end, you bring the parchment close to your eyes and begin to read it!Or you would if it wasn’t so damn dark. Cripes, this is gonna be a problem, isn’t it? Just as you start to feel sorry for yourself, your fingers brush against a particularly BUMPY section of the parchment and it clicks–this is some weird paper they’ve got here.With no pockets to utilize, you jam the SMOLDERING BUMPY PARCHMENT into your boxer short waistband for the time being. You briefly consider pilfering the PLUSH ROBE too until you remember it was worn by a LARPER--you don’t want to catch something.As you rise to your feet once more, you feel your toe bump against something cold and hard on the floor… something metal. Picking it up, you nearly cut yourself on a sharp edge. A DAGGER!Man, these guys were really roleplaying, huh?Stowing the LARP DAGGER next to the SMOLDERING BUMPY PARCHMENT, you rub your eyes a few more times just to be sure you haven’t gone blind. No dice.A frigid breeze blows from the far side of the room…What do?>Call for help! There’s been a murder, probably!>Take the PLUSH ROBE anyways!>Try to glean some more info from the SMOLDERING BUMPY PARCHMENT!>Sneak into the next room!>Listen to the wind! Are you alone?>Write-In!
>>6095650>Take the PLUSH ROBE anyways!>Sneak into the next room!
>>6095650>Try to glean some more info from the SMOLDERING BUMPY PARCHMENT!>Listen to the wind! Are you alone?
>>6095650>>Take the PLUSH ROBE anyways!>>Sneak into the next room!
>>6095655>>6095704>ROBE>SNEAK>>6095663>LEARN>LISTENLooks like grabbing THE ROBE and sneaking wins it! Late on my end so here's the last request for the night:>Roll me 1d100+5 (+5 STEALTHY OUTFIT) to see how much your stealth pays off! Best of 3 rolls, please!In regards to updates, expect weekday updates to happen around 6pm Mountain Time! Seeya then and thanks for playing! Enjoy some concept art in the meantime.
Rolled 87 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6095770Roll
Rolled 1 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6095770
>>6095810Shit yes, first Nat 1 of the quest! Going forward 1's and 100's will be Crit-Fails and Crit-Successes, so watch out for those. This time around I'll just make it a not-as-chaotic-fail so long as no one rolls a 100. Watch out!
Rolled 27 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6095770
>>6095810Well, this is going to be some early 'excitement'. At least we're getting it out of our system early, right? Hahaha...
>>6095778>>6095810>>6095872>HIGHEST ROLLS:>NEVERMIND, FUCKIN' CRITFAILWriting!>>6096213>Out of our systemAnon... you saw what happened in Slice..
>>6096481>what happened in Slice...Oh, you mean when our partly my repeated critfails almost killed bestgirl? Haha, ha, well, what are the chances THAT could happen again?
With each passing second you spend in the room with the mysterious corpse, you find yourself wondering more and more where the murderer could be. You’re no detective, but you’ve played a few detective games…… okay, they were detective dating sims, but the point still stands. Based on how warm the body is as well as the blood oozing out of it, you’d wager whoever did this is relatively close.Whether it’s due to anxiety, some odd sense of practicality, or just your run-of-the-mill panic, you get to work stripping the corpse of its PLUSH ROBE and immediately regret your decision when you find it to be marinated in blood.Bloodborne pathogens are the least of your concern right now, though, so being the paragon of sympathy you are, you pull the robe over your head and leave the corpse headless and pretty much naked. You don’t have the heart to loot the body’s underwear.The garment is a little big for you, but you’d be lying if it wasn’t PLUSH! Waving your hands around a few times just in case of magic, you abandon the endeavor when nothing happens. At least no one can see you fooling around!As you ponder your next action, some motivation comes in the form of a sound in the next room over… at least, you think it’s the next room over. A low growl, by your estimation, followed by something akin to when your neighbor feeds his dog leftover chili.DAGGER in hand, you creep as quietly as your bare feet can take you towards the source of the sound. As you do, however, you take a step into a patch of something that burns your foot like embers off a campfire! A surprised yelp escapes your lips as you stumble and stub your toe on a stone doorframe, and with both feet in pain you tumble head-over-heels into what you can only assume is the next room!STUBBED TOE COUNTER: 1Flopping into yet ANOTHER pitch-black room like a tumbleweed through a nail salon, you land in a heap on top of a nice, fuzzy cushion and take a moment to tend to both your burned and stubbed toes. Maybe this was a lounge of some kind?Your answer comes in the form of a trio of sounds straight out of your nightmares: deep, aggressive click-clacking not unlike a dinosaur would make. Y’know, like in that movie!Sitting up from the fuzzy chair, you feel hot breath wash over your face as its owner greets you with a menacing CLACK of a beak of some kind, prompting two other clicks to follow suit!Diving to the floor just in time to feel one of the clickers pounce at where you just were, you grip your DAGGER close to your chest as you bump against yet another corpse–this one in the process of being eaten!Looks like you interrupted a feast…As you struggle to regain your footing, you hear a trio of beaks clicking around you…>Roll me 1d100-10 (-5 Flatfooted, -5 Dark) to not get got! Best of 3 Rolls!
Rolled 17 - 10 (1d100 - 10)>>6096511
Rolled 23 - 10 (1d100 - 10)>>6096511
Rolled 27 - 10 (1d100 - 10)>>6096511
>>6096513>>6096517>>6096529>Highest Roll: 17!Well this was a fun quest! Thanks for joining, guys! Writing!
>>6096511
Rolled 21 (1d100)>>6096532Trying again
>>6096531
>>6096531Glad to be part of it! I’m looking forward to DARK QUEST 2 with ANTOINETTE BEANS as the sequel.
Bracing yourself for the inevitable attack, a thought occurs–maybe if you play deaAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYea no that didn’t work. Sinking its beak into your tasty arm meat, the creature wastes no time in sampling your flesh and blood not unlike your aunt’s macaw used to do. Granted, Cinnamon bit you all the time, but it never hurt THIS bad! Putting way more effort into your shriek of pain than you did a strategy, you totally forget about the DAGGER in your hand and start punching your biter in the fuzzy, matted body!Panic is one hell of a drug.Not to be outdone, the monster’s pals each take one of your legs and start gnawing on them too, prompting you to go into WHIRLWIND MODE, aka where you flail about until something lets go.It works, to a degree… somewhere in the middle of the fracas one of the beasts nips another, prompting the two to get into a quick turf war. The two tumble into the one still latched onto your arm, dislodging its serrated beak from your flesh just long enough for you to scramble away like a coked-up hamster!Bloodied, bitten, but not beaten, you feel something awaken inside you as you steady your grip on the DAGGER... some kind of hidden potential you never knew you had!… no wait, it’s just crying. You’re crying.At the very least the beaked baddie’s dispute has afforded you a little time to strategize! What do!?>Stab ‘Em!>Try to slink away in the confusion!>Light ‘em up with some of that invisible fire on the ground!>Call for help!>Loot one of the corpses for something useful!>Write-In!
>>6096551>Light ‘em up with some of that invisible fire on the ground!Invisible fire... I wonder if we're just blind?
>>6096561>LIGHT 'EM UP!Let's see some more rolls, folks! >Roll 1d100-7 (-5 Dark, -5 Injured, +3 Follow the Flames) to see how you do! Best of 3!>>6096561>BlindGonna have to live long enough to find out!
Rolled 6 - 7 (1d100 - 7)>>6096607
Rolled 24 + 7 (1d100 + 7)>>6096607WATCH THIS AHHHHHHHHHHH
Rolled 77 - 7 (1d100 - 7)>>6096607>Gonna have to live long enough to find out!These rolls aren't making that look too likely. You might legit need to switch to a quest with an undead protagonist or start again with a new character, kek.
Rolled 87 - 7 (1d100 - 7)>>6096607Let's see if someone can't salvage this.
>>6096615Anton Peas doesn't die THAT easy, damn it! We barely know anything about him, but I know that much!>>6096609>>6096613>>6096615>HIGHEST ROLL: 70That'll do! Writing!
Your foot still stings from your encounter with the flames by the entrance–the ones that didn’t seem to illuminate the room at all, but had no trouble toasting your toes! They felt real enough, sure, but what’s their deal anyways? Could they be…GHOST FLAMES?!The paranormal investigation will have to go on hold for now. Following the faint sound of crackling and the heat, you manage to locate another pile of burning debris and snatch some up in your hand! Flinging it in the hound huddle’s general direction, you allow yourself a quick fist pump when you hear the alpha dog yelp in surprise! Chucking the rest of the burning bric-a-brac at your assailants, your persistence pays off when you hear them scamper off into what you can only assume is a hole in the wall…As the chamber goes quiet again, your victory holler is cut short by the post-adrenaline pain in your wounds! Clutching your still-oozing arm, you press your PLUSH ROBE against it and rise to your feet.The beaked bastards may be gone, you think to yourself, but they’ll be back… you add a little nod to the end of your statement for good measure before continuing onward. As you move to see where your attackers went, however, you stub your toe on something even BIGGER and MORE METAL than your DAGGER!STUBBED TOE COUNT: 2Stumbling like a drunk at a wedding, you’re just about to regain your balance when you stumble over ANOTHER object: This one made of some kind of LEATHER! You don’t even bother trying after that–letting gravity carry you forwards, you ultimately lose your footing when you trip over a THIRD obstacle–one very similar to the one you encountered in the previous room!You’ve had quite a few goofy pratfalls today, so getting up and recovering doesn’t take you much time. Still clutching your robe’s sleeve close to your wound, you take your time investigating the stuff you tripped over…>CONTD.
>>6096644All bodies. All humanoid like the last one. The biggest difference is the state of the corpses–if you had to guess you’d say the monsters that just tried to eat you did quite a number on these guys… that said, you’re not sure how those beaky bastards could decapitate everyone… given your performance in your last scrap, however, you’re glad you haven’t run into anyone else yet.One body is covered in thick armor–the kind made from a bunch of metal SCALES woven together. You give it a little shake and it jingles in response… a little armor couldn’t hurt right now, but it is a little noisier than your current ensemble. As you lift the stiff’s arm, you feel something resembling a HILT at his side… a quick patdown reveals it to be some kind of CURVED BLADE! You feel some kind of HANDLE too, but as you pick it up you feel some intense heat near your knuckles… guess someone torched the SHIELD.The next body is… different, to say the least. Not in the sense that it was decapitated, of course, but that while the owners of these bodies seem to have clawed hands and patches of feathers on their bodies, this one, well…Based on the design on the leather armor’s chest region you get the feeling this might’ve been a lady… that assumption checks out when a further assessment confirms that this outfit is lacking coverage of the thighs. Still, LEATHER ARMOR is leather armor, and as you continue to examine the gear, respectfully and tactfully, of course, you find countless THROWING DAGGERS stuffed into the armor’s many pouches!The last corpse boasts a robe similar to your own, but hidden away in its pocket sits a few BELLS–ABOUT 10 to be precise. Giving them a little jingle, you can’t help but smile at how they all make the same exact tone. Weird stuff! You also find some more of that wacky BUMPY PARCHMENT. They must really like this stuff.As you shamelessly loot the bodies, you feel another draft blow in across the room and away from where the beaked things departed. Things still don’t seem to be getting any brighter, but at least you’re making progress, right?… you’re gonna be so late for your shift…What’s next on the docket?>Call for help!>Put on the Scale Mail!>Wear the Leather Armor! No one’s gonna see you!>Investigate where the Beak Monsters went!>Follow the wind!>Head back to the other room!>Write-In!
>>6096646>Wear the Leather Armor! No one’s gonna see you!
>>6096646>Wear the Leather Armor! No one’s gonna see you!Bet the bumps are braille or something.
>>6096649>>6096652>The Rogue's Gambit!Writing the last update of the night! Should have more on Wednesday around 6pm Mountain Time--seeya then!
>>6096681Thanks for running, QM!
Hey, any port in a storm, right? Manhandling the corpse with your now usual amount of delicacy and care, you unceremoniously flop the body out of the LEATHER ARMOR and strap it on. You’d be lying if you said it was the most comfortable thing you’ve ever worn, but once you snag the owner’s LEATHER BOOTS you feel a little better about the whole thing. You didn’t even have to shake that much corpse muck off of the stuff! Score!Gathering up the remaining items in your many pockets, you ponder your next course of action. You’re a bit better armed now than you were before, but there’s no telling how long it’ll be before those BEAK FREAKS come back. You could take the fight to them, of course, or you could see if this place has an exit… or a room that isn’t pitch-goddamn-black!The wind outside wherever you are picks up in speed…What do?>Call for help!>Wait… Put the Scale Mail on!>Investigate the Beak Freak hole!>Follow the way the wind is coming from!>Retreat to the other room!>Write-In!PASTEBIN UPDATED:https://pastebin.com/xdk5kHyA>>6096684Thanks for giving it a try!
>>6096691>Wait… Put the Scale Mail on!
>>6096691>Put on plush robe over the leather armor!Big pimpin.>Follow the way the wind is coming from!
>>6096691Seconding this>>6096706
>>6096691>Investigate the Beak Freak hole!
>>6096706+1
>>6096697>WAIT, SCALE MAIL>>6096706>>6096715>>6097057>Antons have layers>>6096717>Seek the BeakWriting!
Letting your PLUSH ROBE fall to the floor, an idea hits you after a moment of concentrated contemplation: wait a sec, you think aloud, you can LAYER this crap! Tugging the robe over your head once more, you can’t help but give yourself a nod of approval: all the benefits of LEATHER ARMOR and none of the awkwardness! Not to mention how comfortable you are!Satisfied for now, you stride with renewed confidence in the direction the wind is blowing in from–the breeze scented with faint hints of coniferous trees and dampness characteristic of a coming rain squall.At least it’ll be brighter, you retort to no one in particular. Using your CURVED BLADE as a walking stick, you carefully make your way up a long, winding staircase that, were you able to see anything, would probably tower over your head like the canopy of a vast, stone jungle.The climb is rough thanks to the weathered steps–each one varying in shape and size making each step something of a guess rather than a regular motion. By the time you’ve reached what you can only hope is the summit of the staircase, you’re panting like a… well, a not very athletic guy after climbing a mountain of stairs.You knew you should have signed up for that martial arts class…Catching your breath, you can almost be certain you hear the sound of claws scratching from far below. Motivation restored, you beat a renewed retreat in the direction the wind is blowing from. As you continue, however, you feel a tile depress beneath your now-booted foot… followed by a dull ‘SHHHUNK’ from the wall!>Roll me 1d100+1 (-5 Dark, +3 Leather Armor, +3 Renewed Motivation) to duck and weave whatever it is you just activated! Best of 3!
Rolled 75 + 1 (1d100 + 1)>>6097437
Rolled 54 (1d100)>>6097437I’m sure our PLUSH ROBE will let us glide through these arrow traps(?). Not even steel-tipped arrows can penetrate something of this comfort!
Rolled 23 + 1 (1d100 + 1)>>6097437
>>6097458>>6097459>>6097467>HIGHEST ROLL: 76!That's the ticket! Writing!>>6097459Everything's worth trying once, right?
A smarter man would probably connect the dots here and recognize the correlation between stepping on the tile and the ‘SHHHHUNK’ coming from the wall. You are not a smarter man.As the last few minutes of your misadventures have shown, however, you’re a pretty lucky man all things considered! Granted this whole situation you’ve found yourself in is pretty unlucky, but… well, you get the idea.So rather than avoiding the remaining trap triggers, you instead just sprint as fast as your robed legs can take you across what you can only assume is a gauntlet of every nasty trap in the book… and a few that got stapled on later!Arrows, darts, axes, large rocks, rotten fruit, you feel it all whiz past with killing intent as serrated blades lap at your heels and just overhead! A lick of flame and a spray of hissing fluids tickle your sides, but neither get a clear hit in! Ducking as you hear the creaking of a massive spiked ball on a chain, you allow yourself a quick sigh of relief as you hear it slam into some other trap creeping up behind you!You sprint for what must be minutes before you realize the traps stop coming… part of yOW!STUBBED TOE COUNTER: 3Damn it… erm, part of you almost wants to look back at everything you dodged, but your head still sitting between your shoulders is enough of a reward!… also you couldn’t see the damn traps if you wanted to. Man, what IS this place anyways?! Are you still indoors?!As if listening in on your inner thoughts, your whole body is buffeted by a mighty gale, one that nearly sends you tumbling back into TRAP-O-RAMA! Steadying yourself on the wall, you quickly yank your hand away when it connects with another plume of flames! Where the hell are these COMING from?!Nursing your hand, you take a few tentative steps out onto what you assume to be some kind of entry landing–a wide open, wind-worn space that must look pretty impressive… but as you take the first fresh breath of air you’ve had in a while, the small bit of solace you gain is drowned out by the sheer confusion you feel when your next few steps take you to the edge of a bluff…And the view?Pitch. Black.Knocking a pebble by your feet over the edge, your fears are realized when you hear it impact on a rock shelf far below. You don’t want to believe it, but it’s hard not to at this point:It’s not just the room you were in. It’s the whole goddamn world!>CONTD.
>>6097524As you struggle to come to terms with just how utterly fucked you are, the sound of creaking wood takes you out of your self-pity sesh. Following it to its source, you nearly trip over the edge next to an ancient wooden bridge–the ones that always break apart in the movies.Your options, you realize, are pretty slim–you can head back the way you came, of course, maybe try to find a way out past those BEAK BASTARDS... or you can take the bridge.Call it selfish, but your arm still hurts from its brief stint as a chew toy.You probably grip the rope handrails for one second before you appraise just how old they are–flecks of rope come off in your hand with each movement you make, each ‘kiss’ making your palms itch. Taking every step as if it were your last, you don’t put your entire weight on any wooden plank until you’re certain it’ll hold, and even then you find yourself skipping a few.Slowly but surely getting into the ‘rhythm’ of the swaying bridge, you begin to hear the faint rush of water far below… maybe if you’re lucky you won’t hit any rocks when this death trap falls apart!You’re just about to send a loogie on the raddest flight of its life when you hear it–something you haven’t heard in hours… something you had pretty much given up on since you arrived in… wherever you are.“OI!” Snarls a rough-and-tumble voice from far ahead, “Moron! This bridge is officially CLOSED!”Following the smug voice to its origin, your eyes meet with another pair idling next to what you assume is the end of the bridge–blood red in color and dotted with almost reptilian irises…“Now be a good little cult boy and scurry back into your little temple, hm?” Continues the owner of the eyes in a singsong tone, “An’ make it quick-like fore’ I roast ya like the others!”The first girl you’ve met and she’s already threatening to kill you. The more things change, the more they stay the same, huh, Anton?What do?>Listen to her! Head on back, forget it!>Keep going. She’s bluffing!>RUN FOR HER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE!>Introduce yourself! Start a dialogue!>Uhhhh COMPLIMENT her!>Get her talking… maybe ask who the hell she is?>THROW A DAGGER!>Challenge her to a DUEL!>Write-In!
And on that happy note we're gonna call it for the night! Should have more for ya tomorrow around the usual 6pm Mountain Time! Sorry for the delay today--wind ended up fucking a gate up and I had to fix it. See ya next time!
>>6097526>Introduce yourself! Start a dialogue!I'm not in a cult! I think I maybe got kidnapped by one, though. My name is Anton Peas.>Get her talking… maybe ask who the hell she is?Who the hell are you?
>>6097526>>Introduce yourself! Start a dialogue!Keep it civil, they can see and we can't.
>>6097526>Introduce yourself! Start a dialogue!
>>6097526>Introduce yourself! Start a dialogue!>Sit down next to the bridge and get comfy. You work in fast food, she stands by bridges you can’t see. You’re both fluent in KILLING TIME DURING DOWNTIME. Probably.We may be the most interesting thing that’s happened to her today. As long as we’re not an asshole we can probably get through an introduction spiel and say things like>I have no idea where I am.>My home had a lot more light. Thanks for yelling at me, I could have walked next to the bridge instead of on it.>Please don’t take advantage of that, I want to keep my insides inside.>I got this from someone else. They, uh. Won’t be needing it back.>Can I get directions to somewhere for the clueless? I’m pretty clueless right now.
>>6097545>>6097619>>6097634>>6097661>>6097678>>6097993>DIPLOMANCE!>>6097993>WITH EXTRA DEETS, PLEASE!Writing!
Your track record for winning fights isn’t so hot as of late, so you decide to take the path of what you hope is the least resistance and lean against the rope handrail. Hey, you begin, my name i-WOAHSHITOkay, maybe leaning on the rope isn’t a good idea. As you regain your balance, your introduction is met with a derisive snort!“How interesting! Say, let me file that interesting factoid under ‘THINGS TO FORGET IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I DON’T CARE!”The girl lets loose a derisive laugh that actually makes you feel kinda bad. Your name is actually Anton Peas and you have no idea where you a-“Ah-ah-ah!” Tsks the girl as she probably wags her finger, “What did I just say about not caring? Are all of you cultists this stupid, or are you a special case?”Wait a second, you stammer as you shake your head in growing confusion, cult? Is… did you wake up in a cult-“That’s right, you REALLY screwed up this time, moron!” Snaps the bridge bully, “I bet you and your little playmates thought you were going to have a little fun… drink some wine, bark at the moon, summon a devil… well you didn’t summon ‘a devil’, worm!”She pauses for a moment. If you could see her finger, you’d assume she was pointing it at you. Dramatically.“You, my knuckledragging nincompoop, summoned the mighty REZALITH: DEMON QUEEN AND SCOURGE OF CHAAT’TAI! Look upon my form and DESPAIR!”It’s hard to look upon her form and DESPAIR when you can barely see your hands, but based on where her eyes are you get the feeling her form isn’t very tall. You don’t tell her this, of course.>CONTD.
>>6098336Look, you sigh, you don’t know who she is or where she came fr-CHAAT’TAI! THE RED PLANE!Right, right, Pad Thai. The point is, you continue in a placating voice, you’re a newcomer here as well and can barely see-“Save the backstory for someone who’s buyin’ it, MORON!” Snarls Rezalith with a click of her impressively-shiny teeth, “I can smell that crummy cult robe on you from a mile away, and guess what?! Your BINDING RITUAL didn’t work!”You blink. Binding?“Dwuuhhh, bwouuwwndwiiing??? Duuuhhhrrr?” She retorts in a voice that definitely doesn’t sound like yours, “Do you SEE me cooped up in a cramped little summoning circle?”Well like you said, you can’t see much of anythin-“Do you SEE me NOT slicing your boyfriends into ribbons and torching your dumb little clubhouse!?”Ohhh, you nod with a laugh, that was her-“I’m a FREE DEVIL now, fool, and I don’t care who asks, the only person I’m gonna serve from now on is ME, ME, and ME!”Fair, you reply, but how about-A mischievous glimmer forms in Rezalith’s eyes. “Y’know, you’re acting awfully annoying for someone standing on a rickety bridge… maybe you should stop blathering and start worshiping, hm?”Punctuating her suggestion with a cheeky wink, the devil makes a show of scratching what you can only assume is one of the bridge’s posts with either a very large blade or a very nasty claw.You’re not sure which possibility is the better one, but this girl is right–she’s got you in a nasty spot right now!What do?>Call her bluff! She’s not really a queen, is she?!>Tell her to check you out–you’re not a damn cultist!>Bring up something only a foreigner would know!>Compliment her! You can’t really see her, but you can probably think of something!>Just back away. You can find another way down.>Stay quiet. Maybe she just wants attention?>ATTACK while her guard is down!>Ask her about herself! She seems to like that topic!>Maybe you can make a deal! Devils LOVE deals!>Write-In!
>>6098337>>Compliment her! You can’t really see her, but you can probably think of something!>"My what sharp teeth you have?"
>>6098337>Write-In!"Look, Rezdog, I'm not a cultist. I'm pretty sure I might be, I don't know, a sacrifice or something. And any enemy of yours is an enemy of mine!">Ask her about herself! She seems to like that topic!"So, what kind of demon are you?">>6098340+1"I can tell you're obviously the fearsome kind by those teeth of yours, but why'd these idiots summon you? Slaughtering their enemies? Wisdom from beyond? Really like the color red? Spill, girl."
>>6098337>Compliment her! You can’t really see her, but you can probably think of something!>Her EYELASHES are rather vivid. Des she do anything to bring them out?>Her TEETH are very bright and sharp. How does she maintain that? It’s a good routine.>Her RED EYES are rather striking. Everyone where we’re from is real samey with white sclera and a small colored part.How bad would you have to screw up a ritual to summon people from two planes? I’m guessing that’s what happened to us.
>>6098340>>6098347>>6098350>COMPLIMENTS AND QUESTIONS!Writing!
It’s never worked for you before, but maybe this time will be different? Clearing your throat, you start off with what little details you can see.Does she sharpen her teeth or something, or do they just have really good toothpaste in Chatty? Because those chompers…my oh my!The devil gives you an impassive glance, but she does let her fangs poke out a little further.“... go on.”This is usually where the pepper spray comes in! You’re doing great! Fueled with renewed confidence, you dare to take a few cautious steps further up the bridge!A-and those eyelashes, you add, does she do anything to, like, bring them out, or?“All natural.” She grunts, batting her eyelashes your way. “But good for you to notice… for a cult-loving MORON, anyways…”Ignoring that last jab, you go for the kill: and her EYES!“... what about ‘em?”So STRIKING, you reply! So BOLD! why, where you come from is just kinda samey… we have a white part and a little pupil-“Getting bored. Try harder, stupid.”Damn it, you thought ALL girls liked getting complimented on their eyes! Err, they’re very… pointy?“Hmm… I’ll allow it~” She purrs, her stony expression slowly warming up again. “You know, it’s too bad you and the rest of your merry band of morons tried to bind me… I could certainly use a guide around this place. And a slave.”She shrugs. Probably.“I was planning on cutting your head off and hanging onto it as a snack for later, but-”Look, Rezie, you begin as you take a few more bold steps forward, you’re not a cultist, okay? You may smell like a cultist, kinda look like a cultist, and are wearing the leather leotard of a cul-“Wait, what?”ROBE of a cultist, but you’re not! In fact, you add, you’re pretty sure you were summoned here from your own world just like she was! And by accident! So uh…You pause mid-speech when you realize the devil queen’s eyes are lit up like bloody Jack-O-Lanterns. Guess she didn’t like ‘Rezie’.>CONTD.
>>6098423What you’re trying to say is, you sputter, is that you’re on the same side here!Covering your face to protect it against the inevitable fireball, you peek through your fingers after you realize you aren’t dead yet. ‘Rezie’s’ eyes have relaxed, somewhat, but you can tell she’s still a little testy. Like a cat that can’t decide if it wants to bite you or let it pet it.“Hmmm…” She remarks, studying you like a chef about to gut a fish, “You DO have a slightly different scent than the other mouthbreathers… and you’d have to be especially dumb to race after me after seeing what I did to your friends…”Exactly, you agree with an emphatic nod, you’ve been screwed over too! So if she wants to get revenge together-“Hmmm…. No way in HELLS!” The devil hisses with a frown, “I can barely see you, but I can already tell you’re a weakling. You’d probably sprain your wrist the minute you picked up a dagger.” Hey, that’s not true! You’ve been holding a dagger this whole tOW!Her expression turns smug once again.“... but I could certainly use a good SHIELD in case some torch-bearing rabble waylay me. You’ll do in a pinch, I suppose.”Progress, you mutter under your breath with a stealthy pump of your fist! So uh… what kind of demon is she, anyways?“A QUEEN. Of an entire plane. Don’t think about it too hard–you’ll hurt yourself.”Sure, but… like, is she red? Does she have horns? Wings? Tail?You’re answered with a derisive ‘PSSSSH!’“Sorry cult boy, I’m not a SUCCUBUS. Not that you could handle one. Virgin.”Your pride urges you to continue this argument, but a rare case of common sense getting through to you tells you it’s not worth the fight. She can still kill you, after all.>CONTD.
>>6098424Okay, you sigh, how about this then: any clue why someone would try to summon her in the first place? Slaughtering some enemies? Wisdom from beyond? Big fans of the color red? Spill, gurl.“The only things I’ll spill are your pathetic guts if you keep talking to me like that.” She snarls as an unseen claw ‘thunk’s into the bridge’s support post. “And how the HELLS should I know what they wanted? They were dumb and now they’re dead. End of story. Roll credits.”Right, you retort, but isn’t she curiou-“Nope! I’m free now. That means I don’t have to care about things like that~”The way she ends her sentence makes her sound kinda proud. You can’t help but be a little impressed, but it doesn’t help you out much.“Quit staring at me like that. I still might kill and eat you, y’know.”Right, sorry.Another thunk in the support. You take another cautious step towards your new best fiend.“Oi, pervert.”Anton.“Autist. Your QUEEN has a question for you.”Oh? Sure, ask away!“You claim you aren’t a cultist–that you aren’t from this world.”Exactly, you reply with another nod, you’re not from here! You come from the town of-“I wasn’t finished. Shut up.” She snaps with a click of an unseen claw. “I don’t choose my slaves lightly, nor do I tolerate failure. So,” Rezalith adds with a clap of her claws, “What do you have to offer me in exchange for my continued tolerance of your presence? Tell me of your uses–surely you’re good for something besides a midday snack.”Well, you begin, mind already aching from what might be the most important question of your life, you…CHOOSE 1!>Can be really sneaky! Once no one noticed you for a whole week! (+Stealth Checks)>Know how to get on people’s good side! Once there was this customer… (+Charisma Checks)>Take a lot of damage! There was this grease fire at work once, and… (+Willpower/Stamina Checks)>Know a lot of cool stuff! See, there’s this thing called the ‘Internet’, and you basically spend most of your time… (+Intellect Checks)>Are stronger than you look! You once moved a whole fryer by yourself when no one else showed up… (+Strength Checks)>Are able to dislocate your shoulders on command! (+Dexterity Checks)>Once held your breath for like… ten minutes! (Can hold breath for a long time!)>Don’t believe in ghosts! (Doesn’t believe in ghosts)>Can eat without ever getting fat! (Can eat a lot of food)>Play an instrument! Kinda! (Choose an instrument. You can kinda play it.)>Write-In (Something reasonable, but neat)
That's it for tonight, folks. Should have more for ya tomorrow at the usual time! Expect that unless I say otherwise. Seeya then!
>>6098425>>Take a lot of damage! There was this grease fire at work once, and… (+Willpower/Stamina Checks)
>>6098425>Kill everything you touch! Inadvertently. Plants, animals, you name it. (+Bad Luck Aura)
>>6098435+1
>>6098427+1
>>6098425>Take a lot of damage! There was this grease fire at work once, and… (+Willpower/Stamina Checks)
>>6098425>>Take a lot of damage! There was this grease fire at work once, and… (+Willpower/Stamina Checks)Tank Build Let's go
>>6098425>>6098435+1Just a mild bad luck one. Wouldn’t want our new boss to think we’re any more of a liability than we are now.
You know what? I like both of these. Damn fine write-in! Gonna update later, obviously, so the vote's still open, but would y'all want to have both +Willpower/Stamina AND this neat +Bad Luck Aura? >Yes, give us both!>No, Only the Willpower thing, Bones!
>>6098535>Yes, give us both!This can only go well!
>>6098535Fits well together, we're tough because we are unlucky
>>6098535>Yes, give us both!I read the bad luck aura as a “we’re lucky until we really try to plan something out in detail” since we got through the traps fine.As long as we don’t need to water or feed Rezalith regularly she should be fine. Probably.
>>6098535>Yes, give us both!Loving the way the quest is going! You’re a great writer.
>>6098581I read it as the same way a black cat is unlucky.Not itself, but others? Well...
>>6098535>No, Only the Willpower thing, Bones!
>>6098535>Yes, give us both!
Let's rock then. >>6098427>>6098448>>6098453>>6098456>WILLPOWERRRRRR>>6098435>>6098445>>6098528>BAD LUCK AURA!Writing!
You can take a whole lot of damage, you begin as your voice takes on a whimsical tinge and your scars start to itch, see, there was this grease fire at work once an-Over ten posts worth of flashbacks are swiftly shot down by a rock crashing against your jaw at sub mach speed! If you hadn’t chosen this bonus you’d probably be crying right now.“Hmm… I guess that’s useful…” Purrs your new boss as you hear a few more rocks drop to the ground next to her. “What else? MY slaves have to have at least TWO skills.”Erm, you stammer as you scramble to think of something else, well you’ve got a sunny personality-Another rock gets intimate with your face. Still not crying!Okay, you sputter, you… you’re like a BLACK CAT, okay!? Things tend to be pretty, well… unlucky around you!The rock barrage is put on hold. For now. “... I have no idea what that means. Idiot.”Like… like if you’re taking care of a plant, 9 times outta 10 it dies, okay? You barely work with any other coworkers anymore because of how often they slip and fall into the fryers!“I understood the luck part, moron,” Chides Rezalith as she gives the bridge post another long scratch, “I have no idea what this ‘BLACK CAT’ is you speak of.”Your eyes widen a bit. Wait, she doesn’t know what a cat is?“I don’t make it a habit to do or know things that don’t concern me!” Snarls the devil with another scratch! “That’s what I have SLAVES for, duh-DOI.”How uh… how many slaves has she had, anyways?“How many times have you hurt yourself trying to think, hmm? It must be around that number.”Is she always this abusive, you begin, or is today just a special occasion?“A VERY special occasion indeed!” Cackles Rezalith with a swish of an unseen claw! “Today I am finally FREE! Free to do what I want, when I want, and how I want it! These dark lands shall QUAKE at the sound of my name!”With what you can only assume is a dramatic flourish, ‘Rezie’ pauses with wide eyes as the two of you hear the sound of something creaking…… She chopped up the support post, didn’t she?“... You’re the one who said he spread Bad Luck. That means that you dying in a moment isn’t my fault at all!” She counters, sticking a forked tongue out at you as you feel the brittle wood beneath your feet buckle! “This wouldn’t have happened if you had WINGS or something. Idiot…”Rezalith’s award-winning empathy does little to comfort you as you feel gravity take hold of you! Mustering one last-ditch jump, you leap off the crumbling bridge and over to safety!Wait, no, you just slam your face against a cliff. Tumbling into the inky blackness below, the last thing you hear before you black out is a derisive snort from your would-be partner.At least she’s amused…>CONTD.
You awaken what feels like a week later on your back, your pilfered clothes damp against your body, but warmed thanks to the comforting sound of a crackling fire just to your left and a warm fur wrapped around you like a tortilla in a chimichanga. Rubbing your eyes, your heart sinks a little bit when you still fail to see anything, but the area around the campsite is loud with the chitter of unfamiliar chitters and cheeps… bird and bugsong denoting a warm evening. The sound of a nearby rushing river tries in vain to drown them out.As you mull over the last hour’s events in your still-reeling head, you feel a warm towel slip off of your forehead and onto the dirt below. Huh, you mutter, did Rezalith develop a conscience or something?Before you can ponder ‘Nice Rezalith’ any further, a series of heavy footfalls in metal boots tromp over from the camp’s border! Freezing in place like a hot dog in a pack, you can’t help but let out a quiet whine as a yellow-eyed figure that must be at least twice your size stoops down to leer at you, a pair of tusks nearly poking your face!Neither of you say a word, though you can both see each other’s eyes. You’re just about to piss yourself when your visitor breaks the ice with a surprisingly brash, but amicable voice!“Well well, you certainly dozed off! How’s your head, stranger? You were a real mess when we found you!”Errr…“Oh Mitaar, what a relief! Morook’s going to be so pleased!” The stranger sighs, rising to her dizzying height again in a symphony of clanks from her unseen armor, “Don’t worry–he just went to grab some meat for the stew. You just rest, okay? Leave everything to Volka!”Your caretaker winks one of her giant yellow eyes as she takes a seat next to the unseen campfire and throws some more fuel in. “Now I don’t usually pry into other people’s business, but it’s rare to see a Gnok out here by themselves, especially going for a swim!” Leaning closer, ‘Volka’ prods your arm with a leathery claw that feels bigger than your head. “Especially one with no feathers! What were you thinking venturing out here alone anyways? Morook’s going to chew your horns off when he sees you’re awake, y’know! Fair warning!”How do you respond?>What are you?>Where am I?>Try to explain your predicament!>Gnok?>Who’s Morook?>Did you see a devil around here?>PANIC>Run!>Write-In!
>>6098721>Write-In!>I'm not gonna lie, I have no idea what you just said. Can you tell me a bit more about what the fuck is up around these parts?
>>6098790>What the fuckYea that'll encapsulate a lot of this stuff! Writing!
Maybe you’re still adjusting to the lack of light. Perhaps your brain is trying to untangle itself. It might just be the meteoric pace at which this quest is going. Whatever the reason, you find yourself having trouble parsing what your new friend(?) said to you, not that you had any trouble hearing her talk.I’m not gonna lie, you begin, giving your temples a well-deserved massage, I have no clue what you just said.“Oh?” Volka replies with concern leaking into her peppy voice, “Well that’s okay, stranger–which part was confusing for ya?”All of it, you reply. Can she just, like, start with the basics, please? You’re still on Post 1 here.“Wow,” begins your armored ally in a tone usually reserved for a parent about to explain the Birds and the Bees, “You must have been underwater for a while to be this confused! If we hadn’t dredged you out you’d probably be Jhekk chow!”See, that’s what you’re talking about right there, you interject, pointing a finger at what you assume is her direction, she’s talking like an extra from that old show ‘Space Trip’. “Show?”Forget it. Just… where ARE we right now? What is this place? “Mitaar’s light, you’re really confused, aren’t you?”Make it as SIMPLE as you can, you reply as you pick up the warm towel from earlier and give your forehead a dab.“Where do I even start?” Volka asks as you hear a claw scratch something rough and leathery. “Well you’re in Zoral, of course… though most folks call it the Darklands. You know, on account of the-”The DARKNESS, you interject with a sagely nod, yea, you noticed. Is that-“Normal? Well for most people, yea…” Volka replies in a slightly less-sporty tone. “Some folks were around before light went bye-bye, but a lot of them are really old… or crazy.”And why did it go bye-bye, exactly? You hear a clatter of metal around the girl’s shoulders far above you. A shrug.“Plenty of theories to choose from,” she sighs. “Some people think Mitaar The Sun God got angry with us. Others think someone just sealed all the light away…”What does she think happened?“Aww, I’m not too good at that philosophical stuff…” Volka replies bashfully. “But my dad has a lot of theories about it–maybe you can ask him!” She pauses. “If, erm… you didn’t plan on swimming more, at least.”Yea, you’re not exactly jazzed about doing that again, you reply. And it wasn’t because you wanted to–you were on a bridge and some devil cut it loose-“Woah woah WOAH, a DEVIL??” Volka interjects with a laugh in her voice! “Now I KNOW you’ve been breathing water! There’s no devils in the Darklands!”“What’s this about devils?”>CONTD.
>>6098846Both your eyes and Volka’s snap towards the new voice and find themselves staring at… well, at first glance they look like a pair of yellow disco balls!“Morook!” Volka announces with a smile, “He woke up! Your medicine did the trick!”“That remains to be seen…” Mutters the quieter voice belonging to the disco ball eyes. “You picked a strange place to swim, friend.”You didn’t pick ANYTHING, you groan! You’re not FROM here, okay? You were… summoned, or something! By some weird cult!Both of your saviors pause to appraise you for a bit. Finally they’re starting to LISTEN!“... I think he’s deranged, Mor.”Damn it! Morook, as he was called, doesn’t reply. Though nowhere near as tall as Volka, he still stoops to a knee to address you.“A cult?”Well for starters they were wearing these robes, you begin as you shake your accoutrement around, letting the trinkets sewn onto it jangle, and when you woke up you were in some cave full of traps… and beaked monsters!“Beaked?” Volka asks.“Makkar.” Replies the newcomer in a matter-of-fact tone. “Common and bold in these parts.”As you wrack your brain for any other proof, you remember the pieces of PARCHMENT you pilfered from the cultists! Handing them over to Morook, you cross your arms and wait as he examines them closer.“...These aren’t your usual incantations, that’s for sure…” He muses as you hear the parchment shift hands to Volka. “Would Master Volkir recognize these, you think?”“It’d be weird if he couldn’t…” Volka replies with a click of something tongue-like, “You’re right, though:weird choice of runes for an incantation…”Magic, you begin with awed disbelief in your tone, they’re… are they talking about magic?“Not as common these days with the world going dark, but not uncommon.” Nods Morook as he rises to his feet. “So you’re no Gnok then… that explains the smell.”No, you sigh, you’re not a ‘Gnok’. You’re a human, okay? At least… you think you are. The details have been pretty sparse.“Human…” Volka repeats in a tone that almost makes it sound sacred, “What a funny word!”“Surprising amount of similarities between you and a Gnok, though…” Morook observes with a hint of bemusement, “I was curious where your feathers and horns were when I examined your wounds.”Wait a sec, you stammer, he… examined you?“Well I started...” Volka replies with a touch of embarrassment creeping into her tone, “But when I realized you weren’t a girl, well…”“Don’t worry, I didn’t find any permanent damage.” Morook steps in with a smirk, “Which makes you quite a lucky person if you truly fell from a bridge. Nothing but crags and cliffs in this neck of the Darklands.”>CONTD.
>>6098847Well you DID fall, you grumble, and there was someone else with you too–some devil girl named ‘Rezalith’.Both of your new pals go silent for a moment before Volka speaks up. “That’s… hard to believe…”She doesn’t need to believe it, you retort–just follow the river back to the broken bridge! The devil’s probably still there laughing!“No, I don’t doubt that…” Volka explains with a hint of concern, “It’s just that the Temple Guard are usually on top of snuffing out devil rituals long before they occur…” She pauses, then adds “Err, Temple Guard of Mitaar, that is.” In an apologetic voice.“One question if I may…” Morook begins as his disco ball eyes burn holes into you, “What is your name and where are you from?”“Huh?” Volka asks, cocking her head to the side.Your name is Anton Peas, you reply, and you’re from-“Wait, what did he say?” Asks the girl as she pops a squat next to you. “He said his name is Anton,” replies Morook, “And he did it in an ancient Chytree dialect.”You blink. What’s a Chytree?“I am.” Morook explains, “But the dialect I just used is long gone… but if that’s not evidence of your story being true, I don’t know what is.”When both you and Volka reply with a confused “Eeeh?”Morook strides over to the campfire and places something above the flames with a gentle ‘hiss’. “No one speaks that language anymore, least of all non-Chytree. Mages, maybe, but I can’t really imagine what use they’d have for it apart from novelty.” Turning towards you again, the Chytree clicks some unseen claws or mandibles intently.“If I had to guess, I’d say your summoners added in some kind of language spell. Magic’s not really my forte, though.”“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Mor! I’m not good at it either!”“It wasn’t a putdown, but thanks, Volka.” Smiles Morook. “As for you, Anton, I’m sure you have a lot of questions given your current predicament.”That’s an understatement! How the hell do you get back home anyways!?>CONTD.
>>6098851Morook clicks in thought. “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to that, but I know where you can find someone that might…”“Crossroads?” Asks Volka.“Precisely.” Replies her friend. “It’s a trade hub, Anton–probably the biggest in the Darklands. I’m not overly fond of cities, but you’re certain to find answers there if you don’t mind some footwork.”A city in the dark, huh? Sounds like a great place to get mugged.“No need to fear: Volka’s here!” Announces your armored friend! “Erm… well what I mean is I’d love to show you around, Ant, but-”“Leave the ingredients gathering to me.” Interjects Morook with a twinkle in his eye. “It’ll probably be faster if I’m on my own anyways.”“Are you sure?” Asks Volka with a tinge of disappointment, “I mean… it’s my dad who wanted the goods…”“Don’t worry–the wilds and I are old friends.” Morook explains with what passes for a wry grin in his voice, “Just send someone after me if I don’t catch up in two days. Maybe I can look into this cult temple too.”That’s… that’d be really cool of him, you reply. Thanks!“When all is dark, it’s our character that defines us.” Recites the Chytree with a bow of his head. “And don’t thank me too much–Volka will be your travel partner.”“Heeeyy….” The girl snarls through sharp teeth, “If I didn’t know you better I’d toss you in the river, Mor.”Heading over to the campfire, Morook kneels and gives something metal a few taps. “I’m going to head back out, but please eat some stew before you depart. Comforts can be few and far between in the Darklands.”As Morook turns to leave, your new chaperone Volka turns to you with a reassuring smile. “No rush, Ant. Leave the worrying to me, okay?” Her smirk deepens. “... and the warrioring. Ha!”Anything else before you depart?>Ask Morook something else!>Ask Volka a question!>Snag some stew!>Rest a little bit!>Head to the river!>Call out to Rezalith!>Nope, let’s hit the road!>Write-In!
>>6098853>Ask Morook/Volka something else!>>So what’s the deal with devils here? Rezalith mentioned something about GAD FLY, THE RED PLANE. Does that mean anything to them?>What’s there to worry about, by the way?
>>6098875>The devil in the details>Worry?Writing!
Morook just dropped a truckload of knowledge on you–clearly he’s not a guy you want wandering off into the darkness… not yet, at least!Wait a sec, Mor, you begin before turning to Volka as well, you guys mentioned that devils get hunted down by the Temple Guard–“And devil worshippers. And devil priests. And devil ritualists.” Volka’s face scrunches up in thought. “...And since we’re on the subject I’d also loop in demons, deovals, daemons, and fiends too.”“Mitaar’s Temple Guard is nothing if not thorough.” Nods Morook. “They’ve had a lot of time on their hands since light disappeared.”No kidding, you remark as you kick a stone from one patch of darkness into another patch. How do they do that, anyways?“I don’t know the finer details, but even with light gone Mitaal Worshippers still have tools and spells designed to track down… uninvited guests.” Morook explains. “As for what they do with them once they’re found, well…”“Dad has a library with stories all about fights against devils in the past…” Volka adds with a slight wistfulness in her voice, “Can’t really read ‘em anymore, but dad knows some of the stories by heart and used ‘em to get me to fall asleep.”Did it work?“In a way!” The warrior snickers, “They certainly helped him fall asleep, in any case.”“There’s a temple in Crossroads if you care to ask yourself.” Suggests Morook with a shrug in his voice. “Careful, though: many Mitaar worshippers can be somewhat…” He pauses, searching for the polite words.“Intense!” Volka concludes with a nod. “But don’t worry–they’re part of the good guys!”Can’t wait to meet ‘em, you reply, grateful that you’ve got some allies to look forward to in the city! >CONTD.
>>6099003Say, Rezalith, err, the devil you met was mentioning some sort of ‘RED PLANE’... pretty sure it started with a C... Ever hear of other planes in those stories your dad used to tell you?Volka drums some claws against some flat metal at her side… a shield, perhaps?“Hmmm… I heard a lot of names…”It had to be… CHATTY, or something.“CHAT’TAAI…” Morook utters with a frown. Yea, that one! Good call, Morook!“Oooh, I remember that one!” Volka exclaims as Morook fails to notice your attempt to high-five him. “Yea, a lot of demons come from that place in the old tales… they all had seriously creepy names, too! And how they looked?” The warrior shudders. “I still get nightmares sometimes!”As you imagine the tusked amazonian getting nightmares, Volka clicks her tusks a few times in further thought. “Y’know, though… I don’t remember there being a Devil Queen... only a Devil King... can’t remember his name, though…”Wait, wha? Is she suuuuure?“Mhm, I always remember getting a little annoyed at that.” The woman replies with a nod. “I bet a Devil Queen could do a good job too!”“Extraplanar Politics aside, use caution, Anton:” Morook interjects with a pointed tone, “You’re a newcomer here–don’t draw too much unwanted attention by shouting in the streets about devils.”“Yep, that’s a great way to get some unwanted attention!” Volka adds with a nod. Man, Rezie’s gonna have an interesting reception waiting for her, huh?Eh. She’s probably fiiiine.>CONTD.
>>6099004As the three of you converse, you can’t help but pick up on strange noises in the air around you… clicks, howls, squeaks… if you didn’t know better you’d think you were summoned into a zoo!“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Remarks Morook as he cranes his neck skyward and sighs. “When you aren’t distracted by sight your senses are treated to an entirely different symphony…”“Morook knows the land like the back of his talons,” Volka hisses conspiratorially into your ear, “But all that solitude can make you a little… kooky…”“Trust me: I was kooky long before I became a ranger.” Adds Morook with a smirk in his tone, prompting a yelp from Volka.He knows a lot about the land, right? Not that you’re ungrateful, but what should a guy look out for in these parts anyways?“Well you already had a run-in with Makkar…” Morook begins as if listing the creatures on his talons, “Pack hunters. Easily startled, but packs never make the same mistake twice. It’s best to cull them the minute they attack a caravan.”“They also make for some good eatin’!” Volka adds, “And the beaks are a crunchy snack if you boil and spice ‘em!”What else, you ask as you gulp the contents of your stomach back down your throat.“Ziib are irritating.” Adds Morook as he takes a step towards the campfire, “By the time you hear them it’s too late–they track you down by smell, so make sure to wash regularly–they won’t find you if you smell like grass or natural water.”“They’re more annoying than anything else…” Shrugs your bodyguard, “They can barely get through scales or chitin to begin with, so at worst you’re left with a few nasty wounds…” She gives you a playful nudge with an elbow bigger than your head. “Gotta love natural armor, right?”Yea uh… you don’t have that.“Oh! Yea, they’ll probably devour you in minutes then.” Volka stammers as Morook massages the space between his eyes. “... Sorry…”>CONTD.
>>6099006“There’s plenty more to worry about, obviously, but the biggest threat are the other wayfarers you’ll meet on the road…” Says Morook with a grave tone. “Oh boy, here we go again…” Groans Volka. “Mor, you’re gonna have to trust other people even-”“You don’t need masks in this gloom, Anton.” Warns the ranger as his eyes bore holes into yours, “You got lucky with Volka and I, but beware who you trust. Not everyone has your best interest in mind, least of all strangers.”Foreboding! Still solid advice though! “Stay informed, stay alive!” Morook replies with uncharacteristic cheeriness in his tone. “You’ll have to tell me how you fared once we meet in Crossroads.”“Hah! He’ll have nothing but good things to report, you can count on that!” Chirps Volka as she rests an arm on your back that nearly crushes it! “As expected of the CROSSROADS LAMPLIGHTERS!”Morook’s groan prompts you to dive deeper. Lampli-“Don’t worry, she’ll tell you all about it.” He sighs with the energy of a man who’s heard it all before. “Trust me.”A rumbling wind brushes past your campsite, prompting the ranger to glance skyward. “Best leave soon–if the weather holds you’ll get there by this evening.”Any last questions before grabbing a bite and venturing forth?>One more for Morook!>One more for Volka!>Nope, we’re good!>One more check for Reza?>Write-In!
>>6099007>…how can you tell the time of day if there’s no sun?
>>6099064+1, for whoever will answer it.>>6099007also,>Are there any lights at Crossroads? How does anyone navigate this darkness without torches?
>>6099007>>6099064 +1
>>6099064>>6099085>>6099099>How can you tell the time, hmmmm>Lights or anything in Crossroads?Writing~did a little yardwork this morning so expect a slow update or two
Wait, you yell, WAAIIIIIT!“I haven’t departed yet.” Morook states in a dry tone, “Was there something else?”It’s just uh, you begin with a smirk as you rub your finger along your chin, it’s just kinda funny that you can tell the time of day… without, y’know… light and all.“... Is that suspicious?”“Actually I was wondering how you did that too, Mor.” Adds Volka with renewed interest in her voice. “I thought you didn’t like magic!”“I don’t.” Spits the ranger. “But it’s not magic… here, follow me.”Beckoning you both with a few low clicks, Morook leads you away from the campfire and down a small grassy embankment. So plants still gro-AAAAH!“Watch your step.” Morook warns a few seconds after you pick yourself up from a puddle at the bottom of the hill picking pond scum out of your teeth. When the three of you have ventured far enough away from the safety of the camp, your guide pauses and hushes Volka and you with a hiss.“What are we doin-”“Don’t speak, just feel…” Morook whispers as he deftly interrupts the warrior. “Take note of what you smell. Taste. Hear. Feel.”It takes a moment to get comfortable in the darkness, but Morook hasn’t let you down yet. Taking a deep breath, your focus immediately shifts to the distant howls of the local fauna…But then you feel the breeze… the type you feel nipping your cheeks as you walk to work in early Fall. That crisp chill that signals the end of Summer… and then you feel something else–the tickle of something warm tousling your hair and kissing your face like a flock of butterflies.Sunlight. So it’s not gone, it’s-“Perhaps.” Shrugs the ranger as you continue to bask in your senses, “It could also be a substitute conjured up by mages, or the lingering effects of what once was–like a phantom limb.” Morook sighs. “Nature’s a good teacher provided you stop to listen. You’ll notice too once the sun’s phantom departs for the day.”“Yea well…” Volka begins as she stretches, shattering the silence with the creak of metal, “I’ll leave the timekeeping to you then, Ant, because I didn’t get anything except for a little nap...”Just great–whisked away to a fantasy world and you’ve become a glorified clock.>CONTD.
>>6099369One last thing, you add as the three of you trek back to the campsite, this Crossroads place… is it dark too?“As dark as anywhere else, yes.” Morook confirms in a tone usually reserved for a mother answering a toddler’s question.That must be absolutely bananas then, right? How does anyone find their way around?“They get creative!” Volka replies as she gently places a bowl of stew in your hands, its contents tickling your nostrils with savory, spicy goodness and tickling your eyes with steam. “Just because you can’t see doesn’t mean you can’t get around!”Well yea, you shrug, bringing the bowl to your lips and sipping, but-oh damn, that is GOOD! “Thanks!” Snickers Volka, “I call it The Trail Special.”“She’s gotten very good at avoiding toxic ingredients.” Adds Morook as he too takes a sip. “But yes, being a trade hub there’s quite a few innovations present, though most of them hail from UMBERAL.”“That’s a city to the North!” Volka helpfully adds. “A lotta Mox and Durher live there, so they come up with all kinds of crazy machines and contraptions!”The ranger pauses as if remembering something worrying.“... I would stay away from there for now. For all of Crossroads’ faults, it’s also probably the safest place in Zoral.”Pause for a sec–Mox? Durher?“Oh, they’re tiny, but really smart!” Volka explains with the tact of a grade-schooler. “Mox are kinda like Skogs in that they have scales, but they like to be around wet stuff like lakes and the sea. Durher are kinda fuzzy and cute, but don’t say that to ‘em–they get real mad!”Uhuh. And what’s a Skog? Volka’s yellow eyes light up like Christmas trees!“Why, ME am-err, I mean I am! We’re big and tough and we also do a lot of interesting things!”… Like?“Well…” She begins, drumming her claws against her shield while Morook watches with a bemused look in his eyes, “We can march for DAYS. And we’ve come up with a lot of ways to fight without seeing… there used to be a lot of Skog cities in the South, but they’re all gone now… um… oh, and Skog food is THE BEST. Sorry, Mor.”“It’s fine–my people don’t really ‘do’ flavor.”Good to know…>CONTD.
>>6099371“Anyways,” Volka continues, her voice even more confident now that she’s educated you on the many facets of Skog culture, “Crossroads is still really nice too! There are these boxes that tell you about shops and sales, and there are roads that feel different when you walk on them to tell you which way to go!”“Yes, always walk on the left side of the road.” Morook adds. “It takes some getting used to, but-”“I just forget sometimes, okay!?” Volka pouts with a clank of her unseen armor, “And it’s usually fine as long as you say you’re sorry afterwards!”“Here, take these back.” You feel your PARCHMENT get pushed back into your hands. “This bump writing is known as ‘BUMOT’--a collaboration between Gnok, Mox, and Durher. Everyone can read and write it, so you’ll have to rely on a guide for the time-being.”Thanks, you nod, but why’d he give these back right now?“Because the roads in Crossroads are all carved in Bumot.” Morook explains, his disco ball eyes glimmering. “If you read with your claws as you walk you’ll know where you’re headed.”“Some of the characters are pretty similar, so watch out!” The warrior laughs. “Not for me, though. I know Crossroads like the back of my claw!”“You’ll do fine.” Adds the ranger, his eyes shimmering reassuringly. “Oh, that reminds me…” You feel something metal and damp slip into your hand. A moment of fiddling with it tells you it’s some kind of RING...“This is a RING OF ECHOS. Try it on.”As you slip the jewelry onto your favorite finger, every sound seems to LEAP at you! The crackling fire, the faint creaking of Volka’s armored joints, the whispering in the wind… and you can almost see the sounds too!Woah…“It’s a bit overwhelming in cities, but these rings draw attention to the sounds around you, however small they may be.” Begins Morook in a slightly amplified voice. “It should help a bit if you get separated from Volka or run into trouble.”“Not gonna happen~”“Just be sure to take the ring off if something loud approaches–brigands, monsters, Volka…”“Y’know, some people like how loud I am!” Volka retorts as you instinctively remove the ring, “They find it comforting! Like the smell of a home-cooked meal... or a warm fire!”“You’ll have to introduce me to these people one of these days…” Replies Morook as he cocks his head to the side.>CONTD.
>>6099373He’s really just giving this to you then? That’s… What do you owe him? The ranger responds with a series of clicks. Laughter, maybe?“Just give it back to me when you’re done with it. Frankly I don’t use it much anymore–I’m just glad your questions reminded me about it.”“Lucky you, Ant!” Volka remarks with a low whistle, “I’ve known Mor for years now and he NEVER gives me gifts! You must be pretty special~”“He is a stranger in a strange land, Volka.”“Still.”Anything else?>Nope, that’s it!>One more question, Mor!>One more thing, Volka!>Call for that devil!>Write-In!PASTEBIN UPDATED:https://pastebin.com/xdk5kHyA
>>6099377>Nope, that’s it!
>>6099377>Write-in: Thank you for the assistance! I owe you for this, big time, and no amount of brushing it off is gonna convince me not to repay someday.
>>6099387>>6099428>Thanks, let's hit the damn road!Writing!
Pocketing the ring for now, you smile at the ranger until you remember he probably can’t see the gesture and opt for a friendly nod instead. You owe him for this, big time, and no amount of brushing it off is gonna convince you to not repay him!“We’ll see. I’m very good at brushing off repayments.” Morook replies with a twinkle in his bulbous eyes. “Volka, are you prepared?”“Rmmhrm!” Replies your guide as she finishes off the remaining stew. “Jusht reev it tr mrrh.”“The path is about eighty strides ahead,” the ranger explains as he turns his gaze ahead of you. “Stay on it for an hour or so and you should reach the main road into Crossroads. Tread lightly and trust Volka–it’s what I’d do.““Gee, you’re really painting a fancy picture of me, Mor…” The warrior laughs with a sheepish look in her yellow eyes. “You take care of yourself too, y’hear?”“I’ve got it down to an art by now, thanks.”Morook’s gaze fades into the darkness as you and Volka make your way to the aforementioned path, the periodic creaks and clanks of her unseen armor making her easy to follow. True to his word, Morook’s instructions guide you out of a sea of tall grass and onto a flat, but narrow, dirt path. The choppy winds buffeting your face tell you you’re on a bluff of some kind… too bad you can’t get a glimpse of the view from here.“Alright, Crossroads here we COME!” Announces your guide with a triumphant laugh! Adding your own spirited ‘Hell yea’, the word ‘yea’ nearly dies in your throat as you feel something pick you up by the scruff of your robe!“Woah, sorry!” Sputters Volka after you let loose a gut-wrenching shriek, “It’s me! It’s ME!”You can hear that, you reply, but why is she carrying you!?“Oh uh…” Volka begins in a bashful tone, “I just thought it’d be easier for you since you don’t have much travel experience… and you’re pretty light…”Yea, well, you sputter as you once again realize just how big Volka is, she could at least ask! You thought you were getting taken by a giant bird or something!“Sorry! Sorry!” She repeats with growing embarrassment, “I just get so used to doing it, that’s all! My dad’s a Durher and he’s getting old, so…”Okay, you sigh, but does she carry Morook?“Well no, but he’s forgotten more about the Darklands than you or I will ever know!”Taking a few more steps along the path, Volka’s metal boots come to a halt after an awkward silence settles in between you.“Do um… would you prefer to walk?”>Yea, let me walk!>No, it’s fine… for now.>Write-In!
>>6099449>No, it’s fine… for now.Have we found best girl?
>>6099449>No, it’s fine… for now.>We can be the SPOTTE-oh, right…Her stride is probably longer and if we have to run to keep up with her then bad things are going to happen, I’m sure. This is all new to us, not to mention we’re still used to seeing things.
>>6099511>>6099531>No, It's alright....Writing!
You know what? It’s fine. This is fine!“Oh? Well enjoy the ride then! I won’t drop ya, that’s a Lamplighter Promise!”Say what you will about her, Volka doesn’t seem to let things bother her for very long. With the initial awkwardness nothing more than a distant memory, the girl hums a quiet, but soothing song as she carries you down the road like a very confused purse.You’d be lying if it wasn’t kinda nice, though…Passing by a babbling brook, you take the time to consider your new traveling partner. Bigger than Morook, by far, and built like a tank based on the armor you keep getting smacked against. Funny thing, though… the stuff she’s wearing seems to be different from the mail you saw on that cultist corpse–while that um… ‘Gnok’, if you remember correctly, wore something that felt like a solid piece, Volka’s seems, well…Like multiple pieces connected together. It makes sense that different races would have different clothing, you reason, but just what kind of crazy place did you stumble into anyways?Your thoughts are interrupted by something thick and scaly smacking you in the face.“Whoops, sorry! Tail’s got a mind of its own!”As the two of you head downhill, you can’t help but wince a bit at how much your guide is clanking… whether that’s on purpose or not you can’t really tell, but you can bet your trip would be a lot different if it was just you and Morook…“Nothing quite like a nice stroll, is there, Ant? I bet you humans do this all the time in your world! Do you have light there? Oh right, you probably do otherwise the Darklands wouldn’t seem so dark, would they? Ever been on a mountain before? Do you like hot weather or cold? I like the rain, myself, but sometimes I like to stretch out on the roof when it’s hot… Volgir doesn’t like that, of course, always waving his cane and ranting about ‘crashing through the roof’, but that only happened a few times and I’ve always built it back nice an’ strong, so… oh, Volgir’s my father, just so you know. We aren’t related either, I bet you were confused when I said I was a Skog and he was a Durher… odd combination, right? You wouldn’t be the first to say it–why, once when I was stocking the shop for him-”To her credit, Volka stops ranting a few minutes later when she realizes you haven’t responded at all…>CONTD.
>>6099596“Whoops, there I go again! Sorry, friend, my jaw gets a little loose on the road–Morook HATES it whenever we travel together, but of course he does–he’s always on about ‘letting the senses feast’ and ‘embracing nature’s music’, whatever the Hells that means… he’s like a brother to me, Morook, but he’d take trees and moss over people any day…”She pauses for the first time in minutes.“You’re a little bit like him, d’yknow that? It’s like talking to a patch of grass with how quiet you’ve been!”Not by choice!“Relax, Ant–don’t have to be sneaky on these roads when Lamplighter Volka’s on the watch! Just gimme something, okay? My mind is going to eat itself if I can’t talk a little bit… and everyone knows travel’s more fun and fast when you’ve got good company!”You can see why she’d drive Mor mad, but you also see her point. It’s not like you’ve got any scenery to enjoy, and if this tail hits you one more tOW!“Sorry!”What do? Choose 1!>Just let her hum or something… you’re still processing stuff!>Ask Volka about herself!>Tell her about YOU!>Inquire about Mor!>Question her about her Father!>Grill her about Skogs!>Query about the Darklands!>Write-In!
>>6099599>Tell her about YOU!I’d like a bit of backstory myself, if we can remember anything else.
>>6099599>Ask Volka about herself!>Grill her about Skogs!So is she, like, a dragonwoman, or what? Spill, gurl.
>>6099613>>6099626I said choose 1, but I just can't seem to say no to you guys... so let's do BOTH!>Tell her about YOU!>Ask Volka about HERSELF!>And SKOGS!Writing!
>>6099599>Ask her why eyes are still visible.
>>6099691I can answer this one! It's kinda like how Sam Fisher's goggles can be seen in the Splinter Cell series: artistic license! Fuck if I know, I've been drinking Halloween Wine!
>>6099693>EYES are a WINDOW to the SOUL>WINDOWS let light pass through>People talk about an INNER LIGHT>SOULS must emit an INNER LIGHT that is visible in a world of TRUE DARKNESS through the WINDOW of the EYES.Why not?
Here’s a question, you begin with renewed interest: is she some kind of dragonwoman or something? What’s a Skog anyways?“A dra’ghon?” Volka replies as she tries the word out a few times. “What’s that?”It’s a mythical creature from where you’re from, you reply–they’re these really big, scaly monsters with massive wings and tails, nasty teeth, like to hoard gold… oh, and they can breathe fire!“Oooh….” Volka remarks as she puts together a picture in her brain, “I guess Skogs are sort of like that! Never met one that could fly or breathe fire, though… but you never know!” She adds with a conspiratorial wink! “These draygins… do they help humans?”Ermmm, not exactly, you shrug. Most of the time they eat ‘em and burn villages.“Oh.” The air grows chilly as a silence forms between you. “Ant?”Yea, Volka?“I um…” She begins, slowly piecing the words together in her head, “I don’t know how long you plan to stay here, but you might meet some Skog that, well… aren’t very nice.”Shit, you did it again, Ant… you always know how to make the ladies feel appreciated…“The truth is, most people just think Skogs wanna hurt people.” Adds your guide in a very un-Volka tone, “And steal, and destroy… and I’m not gonna lie to you–a lot of Skogs DO do those things! Hells, the Western Lands are ruled by Skogs… and they aren’t nice, Ant… so when people see a Skog, they think…well..”But not ALL of them are bad, right?“E-EXACTLY!” Volka nods, shaking you around in her excitement! “And I know I probably seem really scary when you don’t have scales, or horns, or fangs… but, well…”She pauses again in thought. “... I don’t know what point I’m trying to make here, but… just trust me, okay? Don’t be afraid.”Okay, you nod, sensing this is more of a sensitive subject than Volka’s leading on, you will.“G-great!” She laughs, her tail nearly whipping you in the face again, “Glad to get that off my chest!”But just to confirm, you add, Skogs ARE pretty good in a fight, right?“Oh Hells yea!” Volka giggles, “Once Mor had a bit too much Ruupaa to drink and he challenged me to a wrestling match–poor guy needed a solid potion regimen for weeks before he could talk again!”Note to self: don’t wrestle Volka…Anything else you wanna ask her in particular?>Where’d she learn to fight?>So her and her dad, what’s the story there?>What’s this Lamplighter thing?>Does she have many friends besides Mor?>What does she do for fun?>Tell me more about Skogs.>The West… what’s it like?>Nah, that’s enough.>Write-In!
That's it for tonight--Halloween Wine be hitting me HARD, pals. Seeya early on Sunday, Mountain Time. Be nice to Volka, now!
>>6099715>What’s this Lamplighter thing?
>>6099715>What does she do for fun?
>>6099715>Does she have many friends besides Mor?
>>6099715>Tell her a bit about your world if she’s interested. You might not have magic, but you still have airplanes and video games. That’s pretty cool.>She said most of the people who remembered light were old, crazy, and maybe both. Does she want us to describe… seeing things? How everything has color, that people wave to say hello, stuff like that?She likes to talk, but maybe we can tell her some things as well. Kinda like a story, and she does seem to enjoy those.We can’t get too technical since we didn’t roll intellect, but that’s fine.
>>6099744>>6099801>>6099840>LAMPLIGHTERRR>FUNNNN>ANY OTHER FRIENDDDS?Writing!>>6099887Definitely gonna keep this in my pocket for when Ant talks about himself! Scrumptious write-in!
>>6099887+1>>6099698I enjoy this rationale.
>>6099916I'm really enjoying this quest so far!That said, despite the scaly tail and the eyes being the wrong color, I can't help but think of picrelated when I see those tusks and that cute smile.
Having deftly steered the conversation away from race politics, you decide to aim for a lighter topic: fun!“Ooh, I love fun! Can’t get enough of it!” Volka replies with a wag of her massive tail!Yea, you do too, you nod, but what does she do for fun anyways? Besides carrying people around like luggage, that is.For some reason THAT’S the joke that nearly makes Volka drop you as she doubles over laughing. Pausing to catch her breath, the girl’s armor pieces jangle as she struggles to get herself back under control!“Hoo…. luggage! I should start a business, ey? Okay, fun, fun, fun… well I enjoy laughing, as you can plainly see,” She begins, her stomach still quaking with the remnants of laughter, “And I like cooking, but I told ya’ that back at camp…”Bringing you up next to her tusked face, Volka leans in with a conspiratorial tone. “My father can’t cook at all… and he runs an apothecary! Can you believe it!?”He can probably whip up a mean poison though, huh? Oh boy, here it comes again…“HA! You’ll have to tell him that when you meet him!” She snickers, body shaking with resounding laughter once again! “Ahh, you’re a funny one, Ant…”You get that a lot. So she likes cooking, and…?“Swimming! Loooooooove swimming!” The amazon replies with a shake of her tail! “I’d spend my whole life in the water if I could–there’s nothing quite like a dip after a long day! And it’s good exercise!” She pauses for a moment and gives you a gentle shake. “You exercise much, Ant?”Oh yea, you nod, e-every day!“Uh-oh, sounds like I’ve just found a challenger! Next lake we find! I won’t go easy on ya!”That doesn’t seem even remotely fair…“Ain’t about fair, it’s about fun!” Volka chirps.Who even taught her to swim anyways? Her dad?“HAH! No, I fell into the canals a few times when I was a whelp!” She giggles. “They’ve put up walls since then, but let’s just say I got plenty of practice!”Huh. Well it’s good that she engineered a social change… “Not enough!” She frowns, “Those walls are still way too short! And flimsy!”Ah.>CONTD.
>>6099992The road becomes a bit flatter as you continue along–the air filled with the pungent aroma of what must be fungi… or your apartment bathroom.“I hope Mor’s okay by himself… he always is, but I can’t help but worry. That’s a rule for you to remember, Ant,” Volka begins as she kicks a rock the size of a BBQ out of your path, “Never roam alone. Promise me!”It’s a little early in your adventure for a promise, but you respond with a semi-committal ‘uh-huh.’ She and Mor are pretty close, then?“Mhm! We go way back!” Your guide responds with a wistful tone! “Found some street toughs beating him behind the shop one day–once I took care of ‘em I had father patch him up and we’ve been friends ever since!”The brief introduction you had with Mor makes it difficult to imagine anyone getting the drop on him, but people change, huh?“Hah! Yea, you could say that… once father realized he wasn’t planning on stealing me away or anything he warmed up to him really quick! We were actually running a job earlier when he came across you. Talk about lucky, right?”Seriously… so does she have other friends besides Mor? The girl goes quiet for a moment as you ask, but you can’t tell if she’s pondering or…“Well a few of the neighbors and I are on good terms!” She replies, quickly recovering her pep, “And they know me at most of the taverns… OH, and there’s the LAMPLIGHTERS! We’re thick as thieves, we are!”Mor’s warning resonates in your head as you hear the name again… taking a steadying breath, you ask your guide what the Lampli-“I’MSOGLADYOUAAAAAAAASKED!”>CONTD.
>>6099993You barely manage to brace yourself before Volka leaps into a pose you can’t even see–the sudden movement and jangle of armor nearly sending you sailing into the stratosphere! “The Lamplighters are the lights keeping the darkness at bay! The last bastion between innocents and the forces of chaos! The shining blade carving through the shadows!”You’re pretty sure you knew a girl like this in High School… Wonder where she ended up. So these Lamplighters, you begin with cautious excitement in your tone, they protect people?“Hah! That’s like asking if fire warms you up!” She laughs, puffing out her broad chest with pride! “Yea, the Lamplighters protect people, but they do so much more as well!”Like?“Well we patrol, we greet everyone we see, we pick up trash, we make sure roads are in working order…”So they’re a Neighborhood Watch, then.“No, no… you’re thinking of the Bellcounters–they’re the watchmen employed by Crossroads! We don’t NEED payment!Ah, so vigilantes.“If that means ‘passionate home-grown heroes’, then yes, we’re a pack of raging vigilantes!” Nods Volka with pride! “Gotta protect your home, y’know?”Seems pretty cool, you admit, do they get into a lot of fights?“Weeeeelll the fights tend to find us,” Shrugs the amazon with a wag of her tail, “But don’t worry–our big rule is to NEVER KILL! That way they get a chance to amend their ways!”Cool! So how do they do that? With magic?“Nnnnno, usually we just knock them senseless. It’s worked so far!”Your face starts to ache just thinking about Volka knocking anyone senseless. “Now I know what you’re thinking: how can I get in on the action, right? How can I get a piece?”You weren’t, actually, but she sounds excited about it so you make a grunting noise instead.“I’m not gonna lie, Ant, it’s an exclusive brotherhood… and the path to becoming a TRUE Lamplighter is paved with blood, sweat, and krutze…”You blink. Krutze?“Yes, blood, sweat, and krutze…” Volka repeats in a solemn tone, “But you’re in luck, because you happen to be speaking to the one… the only…” She pauses to throw her arms out to the side, nearly hurling you into the abyss in the process! “LAMPLIGHTER GRAND MARSHALL!”You give your guide a polite clap, unsure of how to respond. It seems to work. “Yes, yes… hold the applause please…”>CONTD.
>>6099997As the Lamplighter Grandmaster takes the time to bow, a thought occurs…Volka, you begin, how many Lamplighters are there, exactly?“Sizing up the competition, ey?” She snickers in a smug voice, “Well don’t get too intimidated–there’s only four of us right now!”She pauses.“Oh wait, three. Forgot about Damius… poor bastard…”What happened to Damius?“Anyways, it’s just three of… I mean, an ARMY OF THREE! Myself included, naturally! It doesn’t sound like a lot, I know, but every great organization starts with a few good people!”A sly look forms in her yellow eyes. “So whaddaya say, hmm? Care to be one of those few good people, HMMMM??”You always knew you were destined for greatness, or at least some kind of quasi-legal mob, but you know how this kind of thing goes… what exactly do you have to DO if you join up?“Patrol, greet everyone you see, pick up trash-”But do you have, like, a schedule or anything? Because figuring out how to get back home is still pretty high on your ‘To-Do’ list…“Come now, Ant! Our organization prides itself on treating its members right and respecting their busy lives! Let’s just say you’d be put on a… flexible schedule. How’s that sound?”It sounds better than your current job, and potentially safer too…“It’ll be great! We can patrol together, end the night at the tavern drinking ourselves sick and telling tales… and we can even get you your own unifo-” Volka pauses mid-pitch. “Wait, no, that got melted… well we can get you a HAT–wait, that was eaten…” Drumming her claws against her chin, she snaps a finger as an idea pops into her head! “A WHISTLE! I can definitely scrounge up a WHISTLE for you!”Still sounds better than your current job!“So whaddaya say, Ant? Want to join? No pressure!”There’s definitely pressure–this girl could crush you like a grape. Still, you just got here–no need to commit immediately, right?>JOIN THE LAMPLIGHTERS!>GET BACK TO HER LATER ABOUT THE LAMPLIGHTERS!>DON’T JOIN THE LAMPLIGHTERS!>WRITE-IN ABOUT THE LAMPLIGHTERS!
>>6099989She looks adorable and could probably kick all of our asses (not unlike our favorite Skog)! I'd say going forward the characters look like whatever the heck you imagine they do--I'm not gonna give away anything, but I'm glad people already have images forming in their heads!
>>6099998>JOIN THE LAMPLIGHTERS!She seems nice...
>>6099998>>JOIN THE LAMPLIGHTERS!
>>6099998>"I'd like to say yes, but I have a tiny problem where everyone I work with tends to get involved in horrific and entirely random accidents. I'm a bad luck magnet! It's better if I don't bring that to the lamplighters."
>>6099989I have no idea who this busty dogbold is, but it seems appropriate. Even is Rezie is bestgirl.>>6099998She's making a strong case to be in contention, though.>JOIN THE LAMPLIGHTERS!Not like we have anywhere else to be, and staying close to the dragonwoman seems as safe as anywhere else...
>>6099998>WRITE-IN ABOUT THE LAMPLIGHTERS! Ask if they have dental insurance; at the rate this is going you feel like you're gonna need it.>>6099999>>6100005She comes from a very good roguelike I've recently discoveredIt's called "Some Heroines Climb Up a Tower to Ask God Why the Game Has a Name That's So Long" (yes that's the real name) though I'll note it's very NSFW. It's in beta but is being worked on pretty regularly.>>6100000Nice quints
>>6100000>>6100003>>6100005>JOIN THE LAMPLIGHTERS!>>6100004>DON'T JOIN THE LAMPLIGHTERS (BUT FOR GOOD REASON)>>6100064>ASK ABOUT DENTAL INSURANCE OF THE LAMPLIGHTERS!Writing!>>6100064Gotcha--I was like "woah, this anon works fast on these drawings!"
Your past is still a little foggy, but you distinctly remember being a guy who doesn’t commit to things easily, especially when they require work. Still, you’ll probably need all the allies you can get in this new world, not to mention it’ll help you get the lay of the land.Alright, you nod, you’ll do it.Volka lets out a resigned sigh. “Okay, I understand–just thought I’d float the ideWAIT, WHAAAA???!!?”If you were wearing your RING OF ECHOS your head might have exploded just now–instead your ears just start ringing. Y-yea, you stammer over the fresh batch of Tinnitus, you wanna join!You’re still not certain what a Skog looks like, much less Volka, but the high-pitched squeal that escapes her lips is neither something you expected nor thought possible for a girl her size. The Grand Marshall, it seems, is full of surprises. And energy.Leaping up and down like a dog about to get a treat, Volka clasps her massive claws on your shoulders and spins you around like a very confused Hammer Thrower! “ICAN’TBELIEVEITI’MSOEXCITEDWE’REGONNAMAKECROSSROADSSUCHAWONDERFULPLACEANDEVERYONE’SGONNALOVEYOUANDYOU’REGONNADOGREATI’LLTEACHYOUEVERYTHINGYOUNEEDTOKNOWANDALLTHEGREATTRICKSNOWMOROOKMIGHTJOINANDAAUGHI’MSOEXCIIITEEDD!”By the time she stops twirling, your lungs, heart, and a few other organs have made their way down to your feet! With no horizon to focus on, all you can do is bite your lip and try to point your still-spinning eyes at Volka’s beaming face…“You won’t regret it, Ant… or should I say ROOKIE?” She adds with a mischievous giggle! “Us Lamplighters stick together through thick or thin!”Shwell… jusht one thing, zho…The amazon blinks and cocks her massive head to the side. “Hmmm?”It’s just that, you begin as your organs slosh back to their usual stations, everyone you work with tends to run into horrific and totally random accidents… you’re a bad luck magnet, is what you’re saying.“Oh pshaw!” Volka remarks as she unhands one of your shoulders to wave your explanation away, “You’re not bad luck, Rookie…”The last time you explained this the bridge you were standing on collapsed and you fell off a mountain, you retort. Not to mention every cultist in the temple you woke up in died screaming and snacked on by a pack of freakish BEAK WOLVES and a bratty devil queen.Your Grand Marshall digests your explanation for a moment before shrugging her broad shoulders. “Trust me, Rookie–that’s just a regular day in the life of a Lamplighter!”… How many Lamplighters have there been anywa->CONTD.
>>6100109“So don’t worry your tiny little head about it, okay? Besides, skills like fighting, footwork, and staying calm when covered in acid can all be taught! You know what can’t be taught?”Luck?“HEART,” She replies as she nearly pokes your eye out trying to place a claw on your chest, “You can’t. Teach. Heart.”One more thing, you add as you dodge her razor-sharp claw, do they offer dental?“Dental? Like… teeth?”Yea, you nod, like keeping them clean?“Hah! Worry not, chum–teeth grow back!”Um-Giving your nose one last poke, the girl gives you a gentle shake before continuing down the unseen path with renewed spring in her step. She probably gets about four notes of her humming in before another thought distracts her.“Say, Rook–since we’re comrades-in-tail now until we die, I just realized I don’t know anything about you!”Yea, you reply sheepishly, your mind’s been pretty foggy ever since you arrived here… you’re still piecing things together yourself!“Oooh, how INTERESTING!” Volka laughs. “You’re gonna have to fight off hordes of ladies with that mysterious air about you, Rook!” You take an elbow to the face that was probably supposed to be a playful nudge. “Just kiddiiiiing~” Clearing her throat, the amazon swings you back and forth like a toddler would a lunchbox. “Really though, I’ve been jabbering for far too long! Tell me about Anton! Who is he? What is he? Where is he… erm, from?”What do you tell her?>Tell her about where you’re from!>Tell her about yourself!>Tell her about humans!>Tell her about your dimension!>Write-In!
>>6100111>Tell her about your dimension!>Tell her about humans!In keeping with our mysterious air, let's talk about everything but ourselves.Besides, she will come to know the LORE if we stick together.
>>6100111>"I'm a member of the F.B.I. on Earth. The Federal Boob Inspectors. It's incredibly important work."
>>6100111>>6100118I’ll support this
>>6100134This is too stupid not to also include!Seconding it
>>6100111I had the stuff up in >>6099887 that may as well go here. I’ll support >>6100118 as well.For >>6100134, clarify that breast cancer awareness is a pretty big thing where you’re from. You’re happy to play your part in finding it. Noooot sure if it’s a concern here though, what with no humans anywhere we know about.
>>6100134Fucking kek>>6100118>>6100134>>6100135>>6100142>>6100157>Tell her about your dimension, humans, tech, color...Also you're a member of the F.B.IHere goes something! Writing
>>6100118>>6100134+1>>6100111
It’s no small feat to package the entirety of human innovation and history into a few posts, but if anyone can do it, it’s ANTON PEAS! You may not remember much of who you are, but you can give Volka the broad strokes, right?The girl hangs on every word as the path once again departs from the fungi-scented trees and into a winding, rocky path assaulted on all sides by winds that feel strong enough to blow you away! Your guide holds firm, however, and her eyes light up with childlike excitement as you tell her everything, especially when you mention trains!“And this ‘Innt’uurneht’... it can find anything you want?! Answer any question!?”Yep, you nod, just another one of humanity’s greatest inventions!“And these ‘Cats’... they just live there?”No, you frown, you’ve been over this–the stuff on the internet is just an image… a copy. But, you add with a shrug, there was a cat somewhere... That’s the only way the picture could have been taken!“I get it now…” Volka nods, most likely not ‘getting it’, ”Wow… so getting a picture taken means you basically live forever…”You didn’t really think of it like that before, you reply, but you suppose so! As you finish your response, the amazon comes to a halt with a look of determination on her face. “Such a weird place… so much information… and so many people arguing… forever…”Hey, it’s a bit more complicated than that, you add, a little hurt at her simple breakdown of the greatest invention ever, people also insult each other too!“Rookie,” Volka begins, “This ‘Intoornit’ of yours… we should MAKE it!”You do miss it, you nod, but-“It would change all of the Darklands! For the better!” Gripping you by the shoulders, Volka brings you close to her face, her eyes wide and glittering like gemstones! “How do we do it!? Tell me!”Well uh, you stammer, you’re um… you’re not sure. Volka’s expression visibly deflates as she cocks her head to the side. “B-but… but you humans made it…”Yea, well… someone ELSE made it, you explain in an apologetic tone. You just uh… use it. For stuff.“Like what?”A chill runs down your spine as you realize what corner you’ve backed yourself into! Important stuff, you mutter! For work!“Oh yea, you haven’t mentioned anything about YOU yet!” The amazon nods, already forgetting the last hour or so of exposition! “Do you work at one of those ‘Zooz’ you told me about? I hope so!”You open your mouth to give her the grim truth, but something causes you to stop… something WICKED!The truth is, you begin in a grave tone, you work for the FBI...“What’s that? Is it like the Lamplighters?”Almost, you nod. You’re a… Federal Boob Inspector…>Roll 1d100+15 (+5 Volka Gullible, +5 Volka Trust +5 No Sense of Right or Wrong, Apparently) for reasons! Best of 3!
Rolled 21 + 15 (1d100 + 15)>>6100204
Rolled 2 + 15 (1d100 + 15)>>6100204
>>6100210>>6100224We have one more shot at this, FBI Anons.
Rolled 36 + 15 (1d100 + 15)>>6100204
>>6100210>>6100224>>6100230>HIGHEST ROLL: 51Writing, you Satans...
>>6100245I’m happy we only have a marginal success at best. I didn’t want her taking it too seriously.
“‘Khaahn-Xer:’ there’s no potions that can cure it?”No, you reply with a shake of your head, the best treatment is to catch it early… and that’s where YOU come in!“Wow…” Remarks Volka as she digests what you told her, “Those poor human women…”It’s tough, you sigh, but it’s really for the best. You’re not sure if the disease in in this world too, but-Before you can continue this weird joke/sham you pulled out of your ass, you feel yourself being lowered to the ground before a pair of metal pieces land on the path with resounding ‘CLANG’s.Volka, you mutter, what’s going o-You hear the gentle giant kneel next to you, a look of genuine concern in her yellow saucery eyes.“I know it’s silly, but…” She stammers, genuinely biting her lip to stave off fear, “B-but can you… ch-check?”Part of you is disgusted. Disgusted that you abused Volka’s trust, that you capitalized on her whimsy and curiosity.Another part of you, however, is fuckin’ STOKED.+1 DEVIL POINTSOkay, you stammer as you attempt to feign professionalism in an area you have practically zero experience with, let’s uh… let me just-You feel something snap inside your chest as a pair of claws firmly, but gently grab your wrists and guide both of your hands towards-Dear LORD...“C’mon,” Groans Volka with fear in her voice, “Really GET IN THERE!”The next few minutes are a total blur, even more so than your memories. More chipper than ever, Volka continues to carry you along the road humming her song louder than ever!“Yep, nothing like a clean bill of health, right, Rook?” She asks in a singsong voice! “You’re just full of surprises, y’know that?”You gurgle a response, mind still occupied by what just happened. Even with the scales it was… she is…All you can do is gulp. Size… shape…They defied any and all explanations–they simply… were...Maybe ending up here wasn’t so bad after all…>CONTD.
>>6100291It takes a while before you recover from what very well may be a memory you’ll never forget, but once you do you realize you’re still walking. Where IS this Crossroads place anyways?“Should arrive on the main road soon!” Reports Volka without any hint of tiredness in her voice. “Why, getting tired of me already? Just kidding~”Quite the opposite, in fact… say, you begin, she mentioned before that most people don’t remember the world before light went away, right?“Yep!” Your guide nods, “My dad wasn’t around before that happened, but he read a lot of books and knew mages who DID exist back then! He says once upon a time everything had a ‘color’... Y’know, like you mentioned earlier! Gee, I hope I can see a firetruck one day… red seems like a great color!” Thinking of the truck with a smile on her face, Volka looks down at you with a curious expression. “What color do you think I am, Rook? I bet you’re something neat… like GOLD or something!”Her color, huh? Well when you think of scales you think GREEN... that’s the color of grass… trees…“HAH! Can you imagine!?” The amazon laughs, her tail swishing with mirth, “I’d look like a big mound of GRASS! Scary, right?”Well there are different shades too… it’s hard to explain without any examples, though.“Well I guess you’ll just have to show me one day~” Shrugs Volka as her armor pieces continue to clank like some strange wind chime. “And we can take a picture, too!”Sure, you smirk, once you find a way home you’ll be sure to leave the way open!“Orrrr maybe if light ever returns here…” She retorts with a resigned sigh. “You’re right though–we need to get you home. Your family and friends are probably worried sick!”Neither come to mind as you mull over Volka’s words… you’re not sure if you’re happy or upset about it.“Hey, Rook… what’s your FAVORITE color?”>RED>BLUE>GREEN>YELLOW>ORANGE>PURPLE>WRITE-IN!Also...>Roll me 1d100-3 (-5 Loud, -5 Distracted, +7 Volka Senses) for reasons! Best of 3!
Rolled 13 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>6100292>REDMy personal favorite. Though I also like GREEN (Green Ranger was the coolest Ranger) and PURPLE (color of royalty, for reasons ANTON likely doesn’t know).
Rolled 32 - 3 (1d100 - 3)>>6100291I mean, anyone can feel for lumps, and she asked, so...Yowza>>6100292>RED
Rolled 65 - 3 (1d100 - 3)>>6100292Cowards, the lot of you! Rerolling.
>>6100298>>6100301>>6100326>HIGHEST ROLL: 62!Writing!Also just something I forgot to mention: Let's keep the rolls to one per player, okay? I forgot to bring it up in the first post, but just wanna make sure everyone gets a chance. I'll count it this time though since it's Sunday and I wanna get some posts in before work tomorrow!>>6100298>RED>>6100301>spoilerShe's a swell gal!
>>6100335It’s a tough choice, you murmur, face scrunched up in thought, but if you had to choose you’d probably pick RED...“Like the firetruck, right!?” Asks Volka as she connects the dots with a smug grin on her face! “Good choice, Rook… that’s a good choice right there! I like red too!”No need to pick right now, you warn with a smile on your face, she hasn’t even seen it yet, maybe!“Hah! All or nothing! No second guesses!” She fires back! “Red though… I’ll have to remember-”Dropping into a wide stance mid-sentence, your guide doesn’t say a word as she brings her sword close to her chest before swinging outwards like a samurai chopping bamboo! You’re fast enough to grab onto her shield arm, but the unseen target isn’t… a quiet ‘SPLUT’ is all you hear before a pitiful whine sailing through the air culminates in a ‘CRUNCH’ several feet away!Before you can react, Volka drops you behind her and creates a barrier between you and your attackers with her muscular tail!“Stay close–no sudden movements.” Before you can ask, your answer comes in the form of a familiar series of clacking beaks… at least FIVE if your ears are working correctly! Relaying the info to Volka, you feel her feet shift a bit to adopt a more solid position. Despite her usual boisterous manner, the Skog becomes a statue when facing down the beasts–the only noise coming from the quick, deliberate swipes of her blade… swatting another beast out of the air that leaps at her side, Volka keeps you close as she pivots to face the pouncer–the beaked baddie winded, but not injured!“You see one sneaking up, gimme a tap.” She hisses under her breath. “Breathe, Rook.”You do, but only after her reminder! FIVE beasts remain, and it looks like you’re not leaving until they’re all done and dusted…Just gotta listen, right?>ROLL 1d100+5 (+3 Ring of Echos, -5 Noisy Pack of Beasts, +7 Volka Senses) to spot! Best of 3!
Rolled 30 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6100358Ears open!
Rolled 17 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6100358>ROLL 1d100+5 (+3 Ring of Echos, -5 Noisy Pack of Beasts, +7 Volka Senses) to spot! Best of 3!The noisy malus should reduce as the beasts die. That’ll be good.
>>6100375So far my plan of only rolling successes has been hard to implement. What could I be missing? It’s only one step!
Rolled 29 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6100358
>>6100395>>6100375>>6100364Never have I been so sorry to be the MVP of a roll-off. Yikes.
>>6100364>>6100375>>6100395>HIGHEST ROLL: 35!Writing!>>6100381It is a mystery...
>>6100407At least we can take some punishment…
The Makkar spread out around you, the menacing of their clicking beaks staggered to hide their numbers. Though outnumbered and outflanked, Volka holds strong…As for you, well, you’re not exactly as confident. Even with your CURVED BLADE and a few THROWING KNIVES at the ready, you know all too well what happened the last time you squared off with these things… Hell, your arm still hurts! As you try to focus on just one of the clickers, one of the bastards leaps at Volka’s back before you can call it out!To her credit she’s able to bat it away with her shield… but while the beaked beastie wasn’t ready to get smacked upside the head with the tempered metal, you weren’t either. Feeling the shield collide with the back of your head with all the force a big, scaly truck can muster, it dawns on you just how strong your bodyguard is when you’re launched like a golf ball out from her tail and into the air!Icy air nips at your face as your skull throbs with pain only a shield to the head can provide, and though you land safely in a patch of what feels like swampy peat, you can already hear the Makkar baying like wolves at your sudden flight!“ANTON!”The beasts don’t give Volka any wiggle-room… based on the clanging you hear, you can only guess that some of the critters are keeping the Skog busy… while at least two monsters click their beaks menacingly as they circle your prone form…Feeling them close in, the pain in your head grows into a persistent whining in your ears and a burning in your eyes… you just need some help, you think through your muddled mind, it’s not FAIR...>Roll me 1d100 for reasons! Best of 3!
Rolled 79 (1d100)>>6100425Maybe we can be bad luck for THEM, since they're near us? Come on, bird-killing coincidence!
Rolled 59 (1d100)>>6100425Are we summoning help?
Rolled 82 (1d100)>>6100425
>>6100426>>6100427>>6100536>HIGHEST ROLL: 82!Aw hell ye you guys I was gonna go to bed and feel bad about leaving things on a roll, but you GOT there! Writing the last update of the evening!On an unrelated note, CAPTCHA was 'NMSTD'. Peculiar.
Anger courses through your blood as the ringing in your ears becomes a rumble! So this is it, huh? Ganked by a pack of stupid monsters you can’t even see moments after you managed to grab a handful of scale? No adventure, no excitement, just a tumble off a bridge followed by feeding the animals?! You never had a goddamn chance… not a CHANCE! you weren’t even supposed to BE here, damn it! Why couldn’t you be a hero just this once!?Your heart skips a beat as you hear a pair of screeching horrors leap for your stomach. You don’t even bother closing your eyes…Lucky you. Just when you feel the air shift above you, your hands erupt with an explosion of glowing RED power that sends both of them flying! Blinking in utter confusion, you glance at your palms and nearly let your jaw drop into the moors when you see it…Both hands burning red hot… and completely visible, no less! As you study the phenomenon, you feel something itching from within your skin yearning to break free… something that wants to FIGHT! To WIN! Just like you!Why on Earth would you ever say no?From the depths of the light bursting from your hands, you see it:>A long red CHAIN, each link spiked and impossibly strong!>A jagged BLADE, its edge impossibly sharp and dripping with otherworldly energy!>Motes of FLAMES on your fingertips–each one dancing from digit to digit just yearning to be THROWN… to be USED!>GAUNTLETS of molten stone–their surfaces cracked and hissing with impossible heat!
That's it for tonight! Seeya around 6pm Mountain Time, folks!
>>6100558>GAUNTLETS of molten stone–their surfaces cracked and hissing with impossible heat!
>>6100558>>Motes of FLAMES on your fingertips–each one dancing from digit to digit just yearning to be THROWN… to be USED!Fire magic is cool and we could be cheeky about it.
>>6100558>Motes of FLAMES on your fingertips–each one dancing from digit to digit just yearning to be THROWN… to be USED!We'll perch atop our mighty grand marshall and act as a literal beacon of hope!
>>6100558>Motes of FLAMES on your fingertips–each one dancing from digit to digit just yearning to be THROWN… to be USED!Fire is an origin of hope, of control, and most importantly, light. More so than any of the others. I wonder if we can make a permanent light source with this?
>>6100558>>Motes of FLAMES on your fingertips–each one dancing from digit to digit just yearning to be THROWN… to be USED!
>>6100558>Motes of FLAMES on your fingertips–each one dancing from digit to digit just yearning to be THROWN… to be USED!I wonder if others can see the magic here like we can. Will it freak them out, seeing something when so many are used to a world without light?Unrelated to the above, maybe we shouldn’t use fire judiciously until we’re sure we won’t catch a forest on fire. Are we still on the rocky path? If not, we may want to use the ring to listen for where the ground isn’t grass and get Volka over there, or mix it up at closer range by smashing fireballs into their faces.
>>6100568>>6100580>>6100636>>6100639>Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire!>>6100592>>6100564>Gauntlet: Dark LegacyWriting!>>6100686You're gonna have to tangle with HIM
>>6100992He got retired and replaced by someone's pokemon fox oc
>>6101002The lung cancer from all those wildfires probably caught up with him.Poor Smokey. If only our health system weren’t so fucked, you might have stood a chance.
They skip across your glowing hands like sparks off a campfire–their warm, crimson hue almost comforting as you stare mesmerized by their dance.The eerie light they give off should hurt–your eyes should be stinging… but as the flames scurry to your fingertips, all you can do is smile and bask in the warmth they impart… and the PAIN they’ll bring to your enemies!One of the Makkar you launched comes back, this time spinning through the air based on the whining. Coating you in a thin shower of blood as it goes, you hear its lower half impact somewhere to your left. Guess Volka’s keeping busy.The beak beast’s compadre, however, would rather try his luck on you! Racing across the mud with a menacing shriek, the monster’s feet betray their owner when you hear them leave the ground! With a flick of your fingers, you send a fireball the size of your fist sailing towards the beakwolf and give a grim cheer as your assailant’s body erupts in a blinding conflagration!The monster tumbles to the mud crackling like a marshmallow that fell into the flames. Whether it’s the sight of their friend sizzling or just the sight of the roaring red flames amidst the yawning darkness, the remaining pack members scamper off into the dark yelping like puppies!It’s only after you make your way over to the impromptu bonfire that you realize you haven’t breathed. Gasping for breath, you drop to your knees as you watch the flames slowly die out…Only the sound of creaking armor breaks you out of your trance. “Mitaar, Anton…” Sputters Volka, her yellow eyes still wide from the spectacle that just unfolded, “I’m so sorry… I-I mean, that was AMAZING… I mean, are you oka…wh-what the HELLS was THAT?!?”Dropping to her knees next to you, the Skog’s eyes slowly shift from the dying embers of your BeakBQ over to the glowing red outline around your hands.“That,” you pant, “Was the color RED....”Volka blinks her saucer eyes in recognition.“... interesting claws ya’ got there, Rook…”Bringing them closer to your muddy face, all you can do is slowly nod in response as the red fades away. No kidding…>CONTD.
>>6101063Does she get it now?“Mhm! Clear as a crystal!”But she's never seen a crystal, right?"Mhm!"Whatever. Humans… “... do NOT normally have FIRE POWERS.” Volka concludes with a nod. “Unless they have a flamethrower! Or a bomb!”Ooooorrr?“Oooor they’re a MAGICIAN!” She concludes with a triumphant laugh!Perfect, you smile, she’s got it!“Damned right I do,” the Skog announces with a bellyful of laughter! “Rookie?”Yea?“Question: what the Hells was that?”That, you reply as you rub your chin in thought, is a very, VERY good question… one you don’t really have an answer to.“Hmmm…” Volka ponders as she scratches something on her unseen face, “And you never did that before? Even before you arrived in Zoral?”No, you frown, If you had ever done that before you definitely would have remembered it. You definitely wouldn’t be working at a Deep-Fried Everything joint…“What’s a Deep-Fried Everything joint?”Err, nothing, you mutter, just something you remembered.She’s not ready for fried food yet…“Do you at least remember how you made it happen?” She asks as she cocks her puzzled head to the side. “Can you do it again?”No and no, you growl as you through your no longer outlined hands up in frustration! Man, and it was so useful too!“Well whatever it was, you shouldn’t have even needed it…” Growls Volka as she smacks her head against something metal, “If I’d have just done my dumb job...”Hey, you frown, it wasn’t her fault… it was those lousy players and their shitty dice rolls! Blame THEM!“No, it was me…” The Skog groans as she smacks her head again, “Big Dumb Volka, can’t even scare off a pack of Makkar…. If they had gotten you….I…”Hey, you retort with a smirk, it’ll take more than that to kill ANTON PEAS, alright? Giving your bodyguard a reassuring pat on the shoulder, you take a few steps in the direction you think the road is and look back at her. Come on, you begin, we’ve got a road to gAAAAUUUBLBLPH>CONTD.
>>6101065After a few minutes being extracted from a surprise sinkhole, you and Volka hit the road again… and by you and Volka you mean Volka carries you!“Should reach the main road soon!” She reports with renewed confidence in her chipper voice! “Start thinking of what you wanna do in Crossroads first, Rook!”Before you can answer, you feel a cool, wet glob hit your cheek. Then another. And another.“Oh NO...” Groans your guide as she tries to shield you with her body, “Talk about poor timing…”You get your answer long before you can ask: a rumble of thunder rides across the unseen sky as the sprinkle becomes a shower! Pelted with drops as big as softballs, all you can do is curl up as Volka lumbers along the road as fast as she can!What now, you sputter as a drop splatters against your face!“We keep going!” Replies the guide, her voice fighting a losing battle against the rain and thunder! “Not to Crossroads, though–too risky to travel through this!”Then where, you reply as your robe starts to weigh you down, a cave or something!?“Better! There’s an INN just down the way!”Stomping her boot on the road, the girl laughs a bit! “Road’s got writing on it! ‘The Far Throw Inn’ dead ahead!”Sounds great, you nod, sending water trickling down your face, you can use a drink after everything that’s happened!“Just ONE?” Scoffs the Skog, “You wish!”Scampering through the storm like a pair of rats through a leaky pipe, it isn’t long before you hear the faint sound of revelry in the distance–laughter, cheers, the trills, thrums, and toots of unfamiliar instruments!“Well pop in until the storm lifts, yea?” Asks your walking umbrella as she shakes a layer of rain off her body.Right, you nod with a professional tone, just until the storm lifts.>CONTD.
>>6101066Compared to the yawning wilderness outside, The Far Throw Inn feels like a whole other planet! After a few decent attempts at yanking open what must be the heaviest door in Zoral, you let Volka take the wheel and try not to look too annoyed when she gets it open in one shove.Like a chihuahua in front of a fire hose, you’re LAUNCHED backwards by a gale-force combination of body heat and noise that sends you tumbling into Volka’s leg!“Careful, Rook,” She warns in a good natured voice as she picks you up and places you back on your feet, “Getting trampled in an Inn is the leading cause of death in the Darklands, y’know!”What’s the second one?“SHADOW ASSASSINS,” she replies with nary a beat, “But don’t go waving that name around.”Riiiight, you nod, you’ll try to be carefOW!“Watch it, freak!”Sticking to Volka’s side like a child in a supermarket, you manage through some divine providence to find a free bench… placing you in a seat like a purse, Volka sits next to you and raps her knuckles against the wood!“Boy are YOU in for a treat!” She remarks as you hear her rummaging around in one of her side pouches, “The first human to try RUUPPAA!! Lucky you!”What’s that supposed to be? Some kind of drink?“Ambrosia of the GODS, Rook. I won’t spoil the surprise!”Before you can dig deeper, you hear a pair of small feet scamper over to your seat!“Welcome to The Far Throw, hon! What’s yer’ poison?”“HAH! No poison for me, thanks!” Volka replies with a booming laugh that definitely gets the attention of a few other patrons, “Me and my friend here could go for some Ruuppa… and maybe a bite to go with it!”“Oh! My apologies miss, didn’t notice ya!” Apologizes the waitress with a sheepish look in her eyes! Actually, you begin, you’re a guy-“Two Ruuppaas, then? As for the food, well, we’ve got a FRY, a SIMMER, and a ROAST--all served with side shrooms an’ tuber jam.”Well, you begin, what’s uh… what’s your recommendation, Volk?“Food is GOOD!”Great…Whatcha order?>FRY!>SIMMER!>ROAST!>Just Booze!>WRITE-IN!
>>6101067>ROAST!
>>6101067>FRY!
>>6101067>>ROAST!Also our eyes turned red when we used our powers, that could mean something.
>>6101108>score a devil point>eyes go devil-red like RezzieHmmm
>>6101082>>6101086>>6101108>ROAAAAAST!>>6101088>FRY!Writing the last update of the night!
>>6101067>ROAST!My personal fave again.>>6101108>>6101109We were summoned at the same time Rezzie was. We probably got cross-contaminated with another devil due to magic fuckery.Which means the Mitaar Temple Guard may well kill us if they see our powers. I would very much like if they DIDN’T do that, so maybe we should be on best behavior around them?
The ROAST sounds good, you respond as you sniff the warm, savory, buttery-rich tavern air and find yourself drooling, what’s in it?“Well I can’t really give you specifics, sug,” Replies the waitress, “but I can say with absolute certainty that it’s meat and it’ll taste SCRUMPTIOUS!”Huh, you reply with an eyebrow raised, secret recipe, huh? I getcha!“Oh no, I just can’t really give you specifics on what goes into it.” She clarifies with a sweet smile! “But it usually turns out good!”“I’ll get one too!” Adds Volka with her usual enthusiasm! “Oh, and before I forget…” Reaching into one of her many pouches, she pulls out a clawful of jingling trinkets and deposits them into the waitress’ apron! “Don’t run too far now, okay?”“Wouldn’t dream of it, hon!” She replies as she pockets the baubles and skitters away to grab your order. “Don’t worry, Rook–dinner’s on me tonight!” Announces the Skog as she nearly caves in your clavicle giving it a good-natured pat! “On second thought, eat it on the table! Much less ticklish! Just kidding~”What was that you gave to the waitress, hm? Some kind of money? Volka responds by producing another one of the objects out of her pouch and jingles it next to your face. “This, my friend, is a ONE-JINGLE BELL. It’s what we use to pay for things around here!”As your bodyguard gives the bell another shake, you notice that it rings at the exact same tone as it did before! “You can tell it’s a ONE-JINGLE by the sound it makes!” She adds with a conspiratorial wink! “They’ve got TEN-JINGLES, FIFTY-JINGLES, ONE-HUNDRED…”Woah, you remark with wide eyes, can she show you a One-Hundred?“Nope, don’t got one.” Replies Volka flatly.What about a Fifty?“Nyyope.”“Ten?”You hear her rummage around in the pouch. “Eheheh… m-maybe we’ll just open a tab…”Day 1 in Fantasy Land and you’re gonna spend it doing dishes... Grody…>CONTD.
>>6101141“Here you are, kids!” Announces the waitress as she places a pair of metal tankards in front of you! “Food’ll be out in a shake of a tail!”“Dooohohoho~ you’re in for a TREAT, Rook!” Giggles Volka as she snatches up her mug, sending sweet-smelling frothy liquid all over the table! “This is RUUPPAA: the best drink you’ll ever forget you had!”Cautiously scooting your tankard over to your side of the table, you give the concoction a whiff as an effervescent mist tickles your nostrils with a fruity tingle!What’s, uh… what’s it made of? Can she tell you that?“Distilled Ruupp fruit!” The amazon replies, as if that explains everything. “They grow this stuff all over Zoral, but the real hotspot’s in the North! Something about the soil up there, I hear.” She concludes with a shrug. The soil?“Drink it while it’s warm, Rook!”Wait a sec, you sputter, aren’t you gonna toast first? Volka stares at you as if you’d just grown antlers.“... Rook, why the Hells would I want to toast my drink? Did you hit your head falling down that sinkhole earlier?”Actually it was her shield, but you don’t tell her that. It’s a human thing, you begin, you basically say something you’re drinking to and then click glasses with your friends!“Huh!” The Skog remarks, “So like… you’re dedicating the drink?”Yea, you nod, exactly like that! It makes it more… memorable, kinda?“OOH! Let’s TOAST!” She shouts, slamming her tankard against the table excitedly, “Let’s make the toast!”“Wuz’ this aboud’ a doasd?” Asks the person sitting next to Volka!“Aye, Salty Suutz be wantin’ ter’ toast too!” Adds the gruff guy sitting across from you!“Don’t forget me, bright-eyes~” Adds a high, but sultry voice belonging to a stout stranger standing next to you!“What are we toasting, Rook?” Volka remarks, prompting everyone to look your way!Well…>TO NEW FRIENDS!>TO NEW BEGINNINGS!>TO CURING BREAST CANCER!>TO MITAAR!>TO HUMANITY!>WRITE-IN!Also..>Roll me 1d100(+5 Stamina, -5 First Time Ruuppaa) Just for reasons! Best of 3!
Rolled 1, 2, 2, 2, 1, 3, 3, 2, 5, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 3, 5, 1, 3, 4, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4 = 68 (25d5)>>6101143>TO NEW BEGINNINGS!We only really have two and a half new friends so far, and only know one well, so this one.
Rolled 29 (1d100)>>6101143>>6101147I wish I could see what weird character I must have typed in the diceroller to generate that by accident. Bizarre!Trying again.
>>6101143>TO NEW FRIENDS!
Rolled 25 (1d100)>>6101143>>6101154Forgot the roll
>>6101148>>6101155Oh sweet Mitaar, we're going to be so drunk.
Rolled 72 (1d100)>>6101143>WRITE-IN!>TO BETTER ROLLS!
>>6101143>TO CURING BREAST CANCER!
>>6101143If there’s still a tie by the time qm gets back, I’ll change my vote >>6101191 to support >>6101263
>>6101143>>6101191Supporting. To better rolls for us and our friends, to shitty rolls for our enemies, and may fortune and her disciple the RNGesus ever smile on the rest!
>>6101143>>6101147Is me, and I'll swap to>TO NEW FRIENDS!Over the neta one about dice or taking the FBI gag too far, lest QM start facing us with the consequences of lying to every female alien we know to cop a feel.Though the green-eyed shortstack seems like she might want to get it.
Rolled 54 (1d100)>>6101143>>TO NEW FRIENDS!FBI joke has run its course
>>6101191SecondingRegarding the booba jokes, maybe don't make it the only trait of Anton. Us being a perv can be fine if it's not the ONLY thing of note.Besides, with our tendency to break stuff naturally, I do believe there'll be plenty of opportunities for shenanigoogles involving ripped clothes.
>>6101191>>6101472> Anton is schizophrenic and thinks a bunch of people watch him and decide his life with die> he is actually right
>>6101478oh, also +1
>>6101154>>6101320>>6101346>TO NEW FRIENDS!>>6101191>>6101289>>6101472>>6101480>TO BETTER ROLLS!>>6101263>TO CURING BREAST CANCER!>HIGHEST ROLL: 72!Writing! Got some stuff done earlier today so it might be posted sooner than ya think! GET READY!
Raising your tankard high above your head, you smile as you make what might be Zoral’s very first toast!TO BETTER ROLLS! For us AND our friends! And SHIT ROLLS to our enemies!You can’t help but feel a little bit hurt when the toasters don’t put a lot of heart into it, but hey, these changes and trends take time to root, right?“What’s a roll?” Asks the green-eyed gal as she leans in closer."It's a human thing!" Explains Volka with a dismissive laugh! "Anton here's a human! That means he's from another dimension! Funny stuff, really! Y'know, before we came here my pal Morook took me aside and says to me, he says: 'Volka, it's super important that you don't go around telling everyone that Anton's not from here--it could put him in unnecessary danger! Remember the Slavers, Volka?' and I DO remember the Slavers, so I tell him 'Of COURSE I remember the Slavers, Mor, how could I forget the Slavers? They're Slavers!' And he says 'Well that's just a taste of what could happen--Anton's the only human in Zoral which makes him very valuable to the wrong kind of people, so make sure to keep a lid on it for me, okay?' And I said 'Psssh, no problem!' And Mor grabs my shoulder and gives it a shake which is how I know he's serious because he's a LOT shorter than me and he says 'Volka I NEED you to keep a lid on this. I NEED you to.' And midway through explaining this to all of you I realized I might have made a mistake, so uh, just pretend I'm drunk! And I'm rambling! Drunk and rambling! Yep! Glug glug!"Yea, you nod as you hear Volka spill half of her tankard all over herself, you're not a human! You're a uh... a Mzz..goe...virr! Yep!!"For true?!" Replies the gritty voice belonging to the many-eyed guy who introduced himself as Salty Suutz, "Salty Suutz be a Mzz'goe'virr too, y'know! What bein' the odds?""Hmmm, nope! Not buyin' it! You definitely smell more... exotic~" Chirps the green-eyed girl next to you. "Anton, right? Er.... y-yea?"Now that IS a strange name," continues the green-eye with growing interest, "Where'd ya get it, hmmm??""Oi," Warns Volka in an uncharacteristically un-sweet voice, "You heard 'em: he's a Mssisslgoo!""What part of Oubous be ye' from, boy?" Inquires Salty Suutz with renewed interest! "I'm bettin' you bein' a Rytztoer, aye? Lovely country, t'is!""I havend god any attentiond..." Mopes the other guy who doesn't even have a name, "I'm impordand doo...""C'moooon~spill the shroom tea...." Chides the green-eyed girl as she leans against your shoulder with a fuzzy arm, "What's a human, hm? Do they lay eggs? I bet they lay eggs!"Look you snap as you hide behind your tankard, it was a JOKE, okay!? You're just... you're just a normal.... guy! And you're gonna drink now, so just go back to doing background character things!>CONTD.
>>6101568Taking a swig of the drink before anyone else can get a word in, you nearly fall off the bench as its contents hit you like a... like a..."FRUIT CAAAART?" Asks Volka as she chugs the rest of her tankard in one swing, "How is it, Rook?"It's.... delicious, you sputter, eyes wide as the fruity drought tickles your cheeks and throat! Warm, spiced, and flavorful, it feels like someone stuffed your mouth with plums... and then set them on fire! With cinnamon and brown sugar! And a whole barrel of Everclear!Taking a few more sips, you take a moment to relish the flavor as it slowly makes its way down to your stomach. That, you exhale with a dreamy tilt to your voice, is gooood..."Knew you'd like it!" Chirps the Skog as she taps her tankard against the table, "Must be nice being small--I need a whole orchard's-worth to get buzzed off of this stuff..." Raising an eyebrow as she watches you drink, your guide smiles and nudges your side, eliciting an unpleasant CRACK in your ribs and nearly sending you tumbling out of your seat! "Eeeyyy, you didn't throw up yet! You sure you're not part Skog, Rook? Ehh? Eeehh? Part Skog?"Nope, you smirk as you puff out your chest, just a regular ole' human!"Hu...man.... gotcha..." Mutters a familar voice as she taps something out on a tablet of some kind. "Say, how many tails do you humans have again? Just curious!"Oh goddamn it. While the other extras seemed to have taken the hint, the green-eyed gremlin loitering next to you hasn't.Can you help her?"Why yes you CAN, my good sir!" Chirps the pair of green eyes as they start to twinkle! "Y'see, I'm a Spinner by trade-""Oh Hells, here we go..." Groans Volka as she raps her empty tankard against the table, "Look, you, we don't want any tales told, ballads belted, or songs sung, so go find someone who's interested, okay?""Well I'M someone who's interested!" Counters the Spinner in a tone dripping with smugness, "You can go back to drinking, Tusks, I'm just chatting with my new friend Antoooon~""HA! IThat's what YOU think!" Volka retorts with a haughty laugh, "I CAN'T go back to drinking because my replacement DRINK isn't here yet, so th-oh! Thank you~" Chirps 'Tusks' as the waitress slips in and delivers another drink. As Volka follows the spurious Spinner's advice, you're left cornered by the fanged fiend, her green eyes boring holes into your booze-flushed face!"I just wanna taaaaalk! You humans can do that, riiiiiiiight?" She asks with a bat of her eyelashes.If pushy had a face.... what do?>No! Put an egg in your shoe and BEAT IT!>Who the hell are you anyways?>What's a Spinner?>Maybe if she bought you a drink...>Just stay extremely silent and still! Maybe she'll lose track of you!>Get to the point: what do you want?>Volka, a little help?>Salty Suutz and the other guy! Get 'er!>WRITE-IN!
>>6101570>Maybe if she bought you a drink...the options below this one is very funny, but getting to know people sounds more interesting in the long run
>>6101570>>Maybe if she bought you a drink...Getting drunk sounds like a great idea
>>6101570>Maybe if she bought you a drink...>...And who are you anyways?
>>6101572>>6101581>>6101606>MAYBE A DRIIIIINK?>>6101606>Also who are you?Writing!
You’ve dealt with girls like this before… the kind that just won’t leave you alone no matter how much you brush them off…Yea, no, that was a lie. You’ve never dealt with a girl like that before, not in real life anyways, and while the attention you’ve received for simply being a human is welcome and kinda exciting, you know you’ve got to do the right thing here:You MIGHT talk to her, you retort as you cross your arms, if uh… she wets your whistle a bit!“You want to wet yourself?” She asks as her foxy grin falters a bit.No, damn it, you groan, you could use another DRINK! If she gets you a drink-“Oho~not a problem at all, Anton, at least for a Durher of MY standing…” Snapping her claws for the waitress, the Spinner maybe tries for a good minute before grabbing your tankard and slamming it repeatedly on the table!“Want another, hon?” Inquires the waitress as she seemingly emerges from nowhere!“Oh he WILL! Put it on my tab, if you please!” The girl replies as she gives you a wink!“... do you have a tab open, sweetheart?” Your interviewer’s eyes bug out.“Erm… I would… like to open one, actually! Yes, that’ll do me just fine!” She adds, rolling her eyes with a derisive ‘pfft!’“Name?”“Oh, er…” Leaning in close to the waitress, the Spinner mutters something that gets the waitress nodding in recognition! “Ohh, I’ve heard of you! You’re the one w-”“Y-yep, yep, that’s me!” Sputters your benefactor as she nods her head so fast you can hear her neck crack! “Less recognition, more serving, please!”As the waitress scuttles off, the Spinner lets out a quiet sigh before turning back your way with renewed confidence on her face! “Ahhh… fame… what a curse, am I right?”You polish off the rest of your tankard and respond with a stony look on your face. Yea, no. Who the hell is she anyways?“Oh, little ole’ me?” The girl retorts with a polite chuckle, “My name, dear Anton, is TZAH-TZIE MOLEVOY: Esteemed Spinner and, if you act now, one of your dearest and most trusted friends!”“Ohoho, I KNEW I recognized you!” Exclaims your bodyguard as she slams her freshly-empty drink on the table! “You’re the one that gets all of her patrons ki- oh, much obliged!”As your bodyguard helpfully gets back to boozing with a fresh drink, you raise an eyebrow at your potential ‘dearest and most trusted friend’. What’s that about getting all of her patrons ki-?>CONTD.
>>6101686“KISSED!” She interjects with bulging eyes! “Ooh, uh… once people hear my songs they just can’t help but fall in love with my patrons! When was the last time you’ve been kissed, hmm, Anton?”You don’t remember, you say proudly, and not because you’ve never been kissed, but because you can barely remember anything about yourself! So HA!“Well stock up on breath potions, stud, because I just so happen to have an open schedule for the all-foreseeable future… and this ‘Human’ thing you’ve got going for you, well… I think it’ll sell like a box full of Tusk Oil in a Skog den!”“Oh yea, I gotta buy more of that…” Mutters Volka in between double-fisting tankards.So wait, you frown, she wants to what… write a song about you? Tzah-Tzie nods as a toothy grin forms on her face!“Anton, my dear, where’s your imagination? I want to IMMORTALIZE you! To make your story a legend sung in every corner of Zoral!” She leans in a little closer. “With all exclusive rights, naturally.”Okay, you laugh, but you’re just a visitor… you haven’t done anything noteworthy yet save for nearly dying a few times and surviving that mushroom Volka dared you to eat!“And MODEST, to boot! The people are gonna loooooove that!” Chuckles TT as she taps away at something in her unseen claws! “Let’s get down to brass tacks, Ant–what’s your game here, exactly? Lift the darkness? Slay evil? World domination? C’mon, gimme something to work with here!”What, like goals?“Yea, goals!” She nods as she leans in closer! “Let’s hear ‘em–no better time to workshop than now, right? When we’re all comfy?”What ARE your goals!?>I just wanna go home, dude.>I mean… I guess I could lift the darkness!>Fortune and glory, kid.>Kicking evil’s ass seems pretty appropriate!>Right now I just wanna get to Crossroads.>Apparently I have flame powers now, so…>To find TRUE LOVE!>Make BANK!>The pursuit of knowledge, maybe?>I’m still working on those, to be honest…>Write-In!
That's it for tonight, folks--dinner went a little late and I might be getting sick! Should have some more for ya at the usual time tomorrow! Thanks for being patient and seeya at the next one!
>>6101688She gets all her patrons killed, huh? I guess we’re fine as long as we don’t give her any money then.>So we’re just workshopping, right? So what sounds good…>I don’t remember EVERYTHING about who I am. I need to fix that.Play the mysterious angle>Magic’s pretty cool, so I want in on that!Play the power-seeking angle>I’m part of the LAMPLIGHTERS now so I guess I gotta help them.Play the selfless angle.>I just wanna not die and do better here than back home.The real angle. But that doesn’t make for a cool story.
>>6101688>I just wanna Grill, for god's sake!
>>6101688>I’m still working on those, to be honest…>Right now I just wanna get to Crossroads.oh and I guess...>I’m part of the LAMPLIGHTERS now so I guess I gotta help them.
>>6101688>>6101694+1
>>6101688>>6101723 +1
>>6101694+1
>>6101694>>6101776>>6101845>>6101993>Memories, Magic, and Militia!>>6101713>Grillslaveeee>>6101723>>6101796>Still working on it>Crossroads!>Lamplighters!Writing! And Posting because I got shit done at work!
Workshopping, huh? "That's right! No wrong answers! No inhibitions! Let's get it all out on the table!" Just when you're about to get it all on the table, a heavenly aroma of gravy, spices, and savory goodness slowly sashays past your nostrils..."Hope you've got an appetite, hon," Chirps the waitress as she places a steaming bowl in front of you, "Because this one's just for you! And for the lady...""Oh HELLS yes..." The other bowl doesn't even touch the table for a second before Volka snatches it and dumps the contents into her waiting mouth! Washing it down with the remainder of her drink, Volka doesn't even have to ask as the waitress plops a pair of replacement mugs in front of her. They're gonna run out of tankards at this rate!"Dishish da' lifgh...." Mumbles the Skog as she keeps the party going. Thoroughly inspired, you move to try some of your own food, but blink in confusion when it isn't where you left it! What the Hell!?"Sho," Continues Tzah-Tzie as she licks her chops, "Goalsh?"Did... is she eating your food??"Jusht checkingh it fer' poishun!" She replies with a wink as she takes another sip, "Y'nrbbr gnow... Mmm, thash good..." Clearing her throat, the Spinner holds your bowl hostage with a cheeky grin on her face! "Phew! C'mon, make with the goals already! It's getting cold!"Well, you huff, not bothering to hide your growing irritation with the whole situation, ever since you've arrived you've had trouble remembering who you are, so getting your memories back is pretty high on your To-Do List."Ohoho, mysterious~" Remarks the Durher as she taps away at whatever she has in her paws. "Yea... yea, that's good! I can work with that!"You also just learned that magic's a thing here, you add, making sure not to let slip about your little 'episode' you had earlier, so you want in on that! "A human in pursuit of power... a new twist on an old classic!" TT raises an eyebrow your way, intrigued. "But how curious... they don't have magic in your plane?" Nah, you respond, well... not unless you count making things disappear and pulling rabbits out of hats."Rabbits?""Ooh!" Volka grunts, eyes wide in recognition, "Magicians!"Never mind... Can you eat the food you ordered now?"Of course!" The Spinner replies before snatching the bowl away again, "AFTER one more goal! Threes are lucky, y'know~"Yea, you'll bet... >CONTD.
>>6102158Well, you sigh, you uh... you joined The Lamplighters recently-"Lamplighters?" Replies the green-eyed girl as she cocks her head to the side, "In Crossroads, right? The vigilante group led by that insane Sko-oh. Oooh...."As the realization settles in for TT, Volka lets out a low chuckle as she slams her tankard on the table. "That's right! Say hello to our fif-err, fourth member!""Didn't you used to have six?" Asks the Spinner, eliciting a sudden coughing fit from your Grand Marshall, "Ohhh, so THAT'S why the guards cordoned off the canals last week.... y'know, they found a LOT of organs-""Y-yea, well..." Stammers Volka as she drains the rest of her replacement drinks, "Big talk from a Spinner who's only famous for getting her patrons killed!"TT's eyes widen as the table around you quiets down. "That's SLANDER and you know it! Why would I willingly get my patrons killed, hmm? Lousy business model for a professional who relies on PR!""You tell me!" Counters Volka with fire in her yellow eyes! "I lost some good drinking mates thanks to your little grift--same story every time I ask around! 'Oh, he went off with that Ta-Tee girl! Said he was gonna strike it big!' Please...'" She scoffs with a derisive snort!"It's a dangerous occupation!" TT counters as she haughtily sticks her tongue out! "What, are you gonna blame the Waitress if you drink yourself to death!? The Innkeeper?!""HAH! Not possible!" Boasts Volka as she rises from her seat to her full, hulking height and gives her bare stomach a loud slap! "I've got an iron stomach!""And a hollow head!" Snarls the Spinner as she bares her fangs!"You're gonna LOSE yours if you keep barking!" Roars your guide, the sheer volume sending your hair on end!"Wait til' you see my BITE!"Politely sipping your drink between the two ladies, you quietly contemplate if you should go for your Roast or not. Part of you wouldn't mind seeing these two fight, especially if it involves wrestling, but the kinder and far more boring parts know you should probably stop them before they break something... or someone. Like you.Now that you think about it, you can't really watch them, so what's the point?What do?>Nothing. Let 'em hash it out themselves! You've got food to eat!>Distract them!>Cool it, TT, or the deal's off!>Both of you CHIILL!>Volka, simmer down!>Salty Suutz! Other Guy! Get 'em!>Write-In!
>>6102161>Distract them!let me get this straight: all 3 of us have a track record of being having and aura of misfortune? great. i hope it balances out. otherwise we wont live to leave this place
>>6102170+1, but also>Get a couple bites of Roast after the line.>>6102161
>>6102161>Distract them!With some math!So Volka keeps losing LAMPLIGHTERS. TT keeps losing patrons. We keep losing pets, plants, friends, our home planet, maybe some other things we can’t remember.Do they think our collective bad luck for others around us is strong enough to cause this place to catch fire or something? Maybe we should leave. After we finish our ROAST, of course.AKA>>6102170+1
>>6102170>>6102176>>6102191>DISTRACT>ROAST!Writing! Sorry, was playing Star Fetchers. Shit's cash if you haven't checked it out!
>>6102161>Distract them!
Watching your new pals hiss and spit at each other like a pair of alley cats, a sudden realization hits you… you’ve got to do something!Quietly taking your bowl and moving out of the way of the inevitable fight, you bring the bowl to your lips… but find yourself hesitating. Guys, you groan as the two start to square up, you’re gonna get us kicked oooouuuuttt… and it’s wet outsiiiiidee….If the girls hear you, they sure don’t show it! Putting your bowl down as gently as you would a savory, steaming child, you situate yourself between the furious females and hold out your hands to separate them! Okay, you sigh, let’s simmer down a lOOF!Caught between a Spinner and a hard place, your eyes pop out of their sockets as your body is squeezed between the two girls like a chew toy!“AAAAHH! Anton!”“ROOKIE!”Snapping out of their collective stupidity, TT and Volka both rush to assist you as you crumble like an old candy wrapper onto the inn’s sticky, greasy floor!“Are you okay!?” Sputters the Spinner as she frantically smacks your face with her bushy tail! “Hells, why does this ALWAYS happen!?”“Wake up, Ant!” Stammers the Skog as she furiously smacks your face with her scaly tail! “Hells, why does this ALWAYS happen!?”That’s… a good point… actually… you reply, stuffing your eye back into its socket with your thumb as you unpeel yourself from the floor! All three of you have some pretty rotten luck, huh?“Eh?” Asks Tzah-Tzie as she cocks her head to the side, “What do you mean?”Everyone and everything around you tends to run into bad luck, you explain as Volka helps you to your feet, like REALLY bad luck.“Aw, c’mon, Rook!” Laughs Volka as she gives your back a gentle (for her, at least) smack, “It can’t be that bad-”You can barely remember the details of where you lived before coming here, you explain, but you can recall in perfect detail how your coworker smelled after falling into one of the deep fryers at work… it’s BAD.“W-well…” TT replies with a swish of her tail, “Maybe all of our luck problems will… cancel eachother out?”Before you can answer, your conversation is overshadowed by the sound of someone taking a tumble onto the ground with a deafening CRACK!“Oh nae!” Shouts Salty Suutz, “Thar lad what be beggin’ ta’ get attention from us! He broke ‘is arceptyx!”>CONTD.
>>6102266As the inn occupants scurry over to poke at the body, you and the girls exchange a worried glance. You’re no math wizard, you begin, but TT keeps losing patrons… Volka loses recruits… and you’ve lost who knows what… “What are you getting at, Rook?” Asks Volka as she takes a swig of someone’s drink.I’m thinking we should get outta here before our combined luck causes something really bad, you reply. “Bud schingk ofgh drh SCHTORIESH!” Mumbles Tzah-Tzie! “Enny bublishidy ish gud bublishidy…”She literally just said that her career hinges on PR. Also is she eating your food again?! The Durher gulps.“Don’t worry, it’s not yours!”That’s not what you’re worried about, but whatever… point is, this place might not be safe for much longer if we’re all here…“Not much we can do about it, Rook,” Shrugs your guide, “Crummy luck aside, you don’t travel during a storm here… no ifs, ands, or buts about it!” Taking another sip, the Skog’s eyes light up with an idea! “We can always take an early rest, though! Doze off until the storm ends!”“Orrrr we just wait down here!” Counters TT with a toothy grin! “Don’t have to pay for a room if you’re not sleeping!” Didn’t she just mention that money’s not a problem for her?“Y-yea, well…” She stammers, “N-nothing wrong with being frugal! Besides, stay alert, stay alive, right?”Not eager to make any more decisions, you instead decide to take a sip of your food… and it’s everything you expected it to be… and then some! Mushrooms, gravy, some kind of potato-like stuff soaked in spices that make your tongue wag… and the MEAT! The waitress was right… you don’t wanna ask what’s in this–it’d ruin the mystery!“So?” Asks Volka as she laps up the remnants of another tankard, “What’cha thinking, Rook?”What do?>Let’s call it a night. A room will be safer than here!>Let’s just stay here!>Nope, we’re going out in the storm, damn it!>Write-In!Last update of the evening, by the way! Seeya at the next one!
>>6102267>Let’s call it a night. A room will be safer than here!If TT wants, she can hang with us and we can tell her more stories about human stuff.
>>6102267>>Let’s call it a night. A room will be safer than here!Least Dangerous option
>>6102267>Let’s call it a night. A room will be safer than here!
>>6102267>Let’s call it a night. A room will be safer than here!How poor can we be?
>>6102267>Let’s call it a night. A room will be safer than here!>and you’ve lost who knows what… Well, our memories for starters!
>>6102276>>6102279>>6102310>>6102358>>6102513>ROOM, PLEASE!Writing!>>6102358Very
You're not exactly exhausted at the moment, but you'd be lying if you said the events since your arrival haven't worn you out a bit. Volka's got a point, you nod as if you know what you're talking about, storms are bad news! Let's turn in for the night!"How forward~" Snickers TT as she shoots you a smug glance, "We've only just met and we're already sharing a room, ey?"Uh, no, you frown, she's getting her own room! Volka too."'S for the best!" The Skog shrugs with a 'what-can-ya-do' grin! "I roll around in my sleep, so...""But isn't' it safer if we stick together?" Counters TT with a nervous smile! You answer the Spinner with a long, hard stare. She can't afford it, can she?"Can YOU?!"That's uh... well if Volka's reaction to her purse was any indication, you stammer as your guide silently, but frantically shakes her head 'no', look, let's just see what the rate is and we'll go from there, okay?"Swell idea, Rook!" Volka chirps as she lets another empty mug tumble to the floor, "How pricey could it be?""'undred bells." Grunts the Innkeeper as he practices the time-honored skill of cleaning a mug with a rag even in the dark, "No pets."Sorry, T."HEY!" Snarls the Spinner as she kicks your shin, "Do I LOOK like a pet owner? Do you know how much they cost!?"You don't want to explain your crappy joke, so you just drop it. 'Undred bells, you remark with a low whistle, bit steep, huh?"Welcome ta' sleep outside." The host offers with an unsympathetic shrug. "Rooms'r behind the bar--no one gets in wivout me knowin' 'bout it. Safest beds in miles. Clean, ta boot.""Sounds great!" Chirps Volka as she removes her purse from one of her pouches, "Well I've got TEN BELLS so we're definitely off to a good staaartt..."We’re not, but you can’t be mad at Volka’s boundless enthusiasm..>CONTD.
>>6102799According to the Pastebin, you've also got about some scratch currently sequestered away in your boxers... it's a wonder they haven't jingled at all, but maybe that's a testament to the fabric? Stealthily retrieving them and giving them a jingle, you inform the Innkeeper that you too have TEN BELLS!“Aye, I ‘eard em’ jingle.”Huh. Well uh… that’s twenty…Yep, you repeat, twenty…You and Volka stand at the counter for a few minutes like lost children before you clear your throat.“Getting sick, Anton?” Asks T with a hint of concern in her squeaky voice, “Y’know, some potionsellers will pay people to test cures for them! Easy spending bells!”“Yea, father stopped doing that after the last ‘test subject’...” Shudders Volka. “Poor bastard…”Okay, you groan, you’re not sure how they do it here, but where you come from it’s customary to help pay for a room you’re all gonna use!“Wow, you’ll have to tell me more about your world later! Very fascinating~” Tzah-Tzie remarks as she taps away at her mysterious tablet. “Paying… for… rooms…”… How much money does she have? The tablet tumbles to the floor as the Spinner tenses up.“Tons-”At this moment.“Well, erm…” She stammers as she flicks a bangle on one of her fuzzy (you assume) ears, “Look, Ant, none of it is liquid at the moment, buuuut-”Super. Can we put the room on our tab? The Innkeeper pauses his cleaning for a moment to consider it.“Not usually.” You treat yourself to a sneaky fist-pump… that means there’s still a chance!What do?>Ask if you can do anything to convince him!>INTIMIDATE!>TT, play a song or something! Do your job!>Volka, maybe you can help this guy out in the kitchen?>Anywhere we can stay with 20 Bells?>Forget it…>Write-In!
>>6102800>INTIMIDATE!
>>6102800>Wager a BET for a room. Twenty bells if he wins, a free room if you win. A FAIR game of COMPLETELY RANDOM CHANCE.
>>6102807>>Wager a BET for a room. Twenty bells if he wins, a free room if you win. A FAIR game of COMPLETELY RANDOM CHANCE.
>>6102799How can we tell Volka's shaking her head if it's silent? :P>>6102800>Ask if you can do anything to convince him!We're HEROES, right Volka?? maybe he needs a quest attended to?Also, pic related is unavoidably my mental image of TT.
>>6102800>>6102817Supporting. If that fails then I’d say>Volka, would it be considered very LAMPLIGHTER if we went into the storm, rescued people, and asked for money? Just checking.>Captcha: JAAMM0Sure, we could make some jam too.
>>6102817>Her tusk was totally scraping some of the wall!>>6102817She's definitely smug and POOR-looking enough!>>6102824You psycho you're gonna make her run into the storm like a loose dogGonna give it a little longer since we seem to have a tie... might update tonight, maybe tomorrow! We shall see!
>>6102831I mean, it sounds like we may not have a choice if we can’t pay…Also, deciding this by roll would be appropriate for the WAGER crowd.
Rolled 1 (1d2)>>6102853So True, Questie.>>6102804>INTIMIDATE!>>6102807>>6102816>PLACE YER BETS>>6102817>>6102824>ANYTHING I CAN DO TO CONVINCE YOU?Gonna roll and write whatever wins! 1 = WAGER2 = QUESTS?
A cocky grin forms on your face as you lean across the counter and into the Innkeeper’s face!No wait, he’s tall. You’re uh, you’re hoping it’s his belly. Well, you begin with a Cheshire grin, how about an unusual arrangement, you ask?“... Nah. Y’ain’t pretty enough.”You weren’t talking about that! Why do people always assume… no, you continue with barely contained exasperation in your tone, you wanna make a WAGER! A GAMBLE!The brash bartender responds with a noncommittal grunt. That ain’t a no! “Whas’ yer’ offer?”Simple, you smirk as you rest your chin on your palm, if we win we get to stay for FREE! And if we lose you win TWENTY BELLS!“ANDHE’LLWORKINTHEKITCHENFORTHERESTOFTHEDAY!” Snaps TT with a triumphant laugh! Yea, that’s riWHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOIIIIING?!“S-SORRY!” Sputters the fuzzy fiend as you grab her tiny shoulders and shake her around like a chew toy, “I G-GET EXC-CITED WHEN TH-THERE’S G-GAMBLING-”“No harm no foul, Rook!” Laughs Volka, “He didn’t accept it y-”“I accept.”An uncomfortable, half-laugh, half-squeak escapes Tzah-Tzie’s big mouth as you fantasize turning her into a fur rug. “N-no sweat, Ant… y-you’ve got this in the bag!”“Yea, just gotta make it a fair contest!” Smirks your loud, but far more reliable comrade with a wink! “So what’s it gonna be, huh? Arm Wrestling? Drinking? Drinking while Arm Wrestling? Wrestling?”Your eyes bug out as her question makes it to your braincase. Shoot! You didn’t think this far ahead!“I got an idea.” Rumbles the Innkeeper as he continues polishing the glass. “If’n yer’ unsure, that is.”No no, you stammer, you’ve got a GREAT idea!Crap…What is it?>Riddles!>Guess Which Hand!>Rap Battle!>Toss the TT!>Drinking Contest!>Handstand!>Write-In!>Okay, let’s hear the Innkeeper’s idea…Last update of the night, by the way! Seeya in the next one, folks, and thanks for playing!
>>6102920>Guess Which Hand!
>>6102920>Guess Which Hand!Pure, unadulterated luck. Which should work in our favor with THREE bad luck aura's on this guy!
>>6102920>Riddles!
>>6102920>Guess Which Hand!Honestly, our bad-luck aura would could backfire since WINNING is HIS worst option. Having us work in the kitchen would cause more chaos than going to bed.But we can still try to stack it in our favor. We have the Ring of Echoes to increase our hearing. If it’s too loud here then we can try to tear a small piece off our robe (or have Volka do it for us) to make shitty ear plugs. I assume the ring would be better than the ear plugs so we’d still be able to hear what he’s doing better.So would something like “throw a bell in the air, catch it, and guess which hand it’s in afterward” work for this? We could try and listen for the sound of a moving limb to snatch it if he does it. We just need to confirm he had hands first. And that we can account for all of them.
>>6103214well, if its our hands, we could just cheat. no one would ever see it coming.then it becomes a slight of hands roll instead of a coin flip.that said, if he finds out, we are probably getting scalped.
>>6102925>>6102932>>6103027>>6103104>>6103214>GUESS WHICH HAND!>>6102933>>6103049>RIDDLES!Writing! Happy Friday, Dark Dorks!
It’s SIMPLE, you reply, eyes gleaming with confidence as you twirl a bell on your finger, he’s-whoops“Don’t let it roll into a crack.” Murmurs TT helpfully. Yea, thanks!Like you were…nrf.. saying, you say as you hop back to your feet with the bell in hand, he’s gonna play a little game: FIND THE BELL!“‘S right there.” Drones the Innkeeper as you feet a claw beefier than you poke the bell! Not YET, you groan, you’ve gotta move it around a little first! Hasn’t he ever played this before?“Just now,” He grunts with the faintest hint of a smile in his tone, “An’ I won.”Just… just WAIT a sec, okay?! You’re gonna fling the bell around first… then he has to choose which hand it’s in–the left… You pause to snap the fingers on your left hand.Or the RIGHT!“Ain’t no wager,” The Innkeep grumbles as you snap your other hand, “I ken ‘ear it just fine.”“Yea… I know I’ve been established as the lovable airhead of the group,” Agrees Volka with a bit of concern in her voice, “But even I think this is gonna be too easy, Rook.”“It IS a pretty dumb idea, yea, but maybe he’s got a trick up his sleeve!” TT suggests with a glimmer in her eyes!“If you’ve got any tricks up yer’ sleeve I’ll rip yer’ arms off an’ eat ‘em.”Wow, you scoff with mock offense, Volka wasn’t kidding, Skogs CAN get a little nasty!“I’m a Moleg, pintsize.”“Yea, didn’t you see how his tusks arc downwards? And the musk?” Asks your bodyguard as she sends a hard glare your way! “C’mon, Anton…”“I’ll be sure to omit this from the final ballad…” Adds T with a scornful ‘tch’!You didn’t know what a Moleg was until TWO seconds ago, you sputter! Can we just DO this already!? You have a plan!“Do it.” Growls the Innkeep as he crosses his undoubtedly MASSIVE arms across his broad, unseen chest, “I gots orders ta’ fill.”Okay, you chuckle, just keep those ears peeled! And I mean REAAAAALLLY peeled!The trap is set, now you just need to hope he stumbles into it…>Roll me 1d100+2 (+3 Loud Bar, +2 THE TRICK, +5 BAD LUCK TRIPLE TROUBLE, -3 Innkeeper Senses, -5 Bell) to see if he picks right! Best of 3!
Rolled 88 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6103544Rollan
Rolled 41 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6103544
Rolled 92 (1d100)>>6103544
>>6103552>>6103569>>6103645>HIGHEST ROLL: 94!Writing!!
Okay, you begin as you take a steadying breath, don’t lose track of it now…A whole minute goes by in relative silence as you work your magic–the bell shrouded in complete and utter silence as the Innkeeper and your pals listen as hard as they can!Exhaling softly, you give your opponent a wry grin. So, you ask in a voice sweeter and smoother than honey, Left?You snap your finger.Or Right?Snap snap.“Easy,” Grunts the moody Moleg as he continues to polish his glass, “‘S the RIGHT. You didn’t move it none.”Hmmm, you ponder with mock concern, well if that’s his final answer…“I’da heard it if ya did,” He repeats, but his glowing eyes betray a sprinkle of uncertainty… “Nah… wait a minute…”Oh? You ask as you cock your head to the side, Having second thoughts?“NNgh… It’s the LEFT!” He groans as he jabs a massive claw in the direction your snap came from, “I dunno how, but…”“You’d have to be either really fast or really skilled to pull it off…” Mutters TT as she too leans in to examine the results, “Or both… Can… do humans do that kind of thing?”“I’d believe it!” Laughs Volka with a shake of her head, “Ant’s full of surprises, y’know!”That’s right, you nod with an even bigger, SMUGGER grin, so what’s your answer, Barman? Right? Or Left?“Yer’ trickin’ me…” He snarls, barely resisting the urge to grab your hands and peel them open, “R-Right! No… Left! Urrgh… Wait…”GO AHEAD! MR. BARKEEP!You can practically hear the veins throbbing in the Moleg’s temples as he struggles to stick with an answer! The glass trembling in his claws, he lets out one last snarl that causes the whole Inn to go quiet!“LEFT!” Roars the brusque barman, “FINAL ANSWER!”The whole establishment goes silent as his choice rings throughout the tavern! Snapping your fingers on your left hand, you invite him to check…And grin as his eyes go wide in shock!“Wh… HUUUUUUUHHHHHH!?!”>CONTD.
>>6103951“Buh…buh…” Babbles the Innkeep as the glass falls from his hands and crashes on the floor, “Buh…”‘Buh’-t how, he asks? You ask, making a flourish with your right hand and prompting a faint ‘jing jang’ from inside, it’s simple, really!“Well you’ll have to explain it, cuz’ I have no clue how it works either!” Remarks Volka as she stoops down to your height to poke at your hand. “What’s the secret, huuuh?”There are no smoke or mirrors here, you begin, nor do you have any special powers to speak of!“That’s fine, we’ll edit them into the final draft!” Chirps TT as she taps away at her mysterious tablet.“Then… then what was it?” Asks the Innkeeper with wide, still confused eyes! “How?”Easy, you grin, you just planted a little seed in his head! The seed… of DOUBT!Everyone goes quiet for a moment as what you say settles in. “You just made me second-guess myself?” Asks the barman. “Thas’ it?”Precisely, you nod, wanna hear how I did it?“Nope.”“Nah.”“No thanks!”“Nae.”Salty Suutz, you sputter as you whip around to face the newcomer, how long have you been there?“Not ter long, nae…” He replies in a voice crispier than bacon, “We be wantin’ ter’ order, but the Innkeep be a tad busy, he be…”Well shoot, you grumble, if no one wants to hear about the psychology of the whole thi-Your answer comes in the form of a key that has no business being as massive as it is crashing into your face! OW!>CONTD.
>>6103954“Las’ door on the left, bes’ room in da’ house.” The Innkeeper leans in close–so close you can feel his hot breath on your face–”An’ keep the noise down.”“Thanks much!” Volka smiles as she gives your shoulder an ‘atta boy’ pat, “We will!”“Wait,” Frowns TT as she skitters after you, “No one wants to go another round? I bet we could make some REAL wagers if-”Ignoring the Spinner, you make you follow Volka as she guides you all down the hall to your room. It takes a moment to get the key and the door to operate, but eventually you’re let in with a triumphant creak!The air inside the room is musty–no surprise given you can’t see or hear the telltale signs of a window anywhere. It takes you a moment to stumble around the room, but after a few mishaps and pratfalls with your pals and the sparse furniture in the room (an UNEVEN TABLE and a SINGLE WOOD CHAIR) you manage to find the BED!STUBBED TOE COUNTER: 8Giving the mattress a few pats, you nod with approval at how comfy it is! Right, you announce, we’re gonna have to decide who gets the bed-“Don’t worry, Rook–I can sleep anywhere!” Volka announces as she collapses onto the floor with a crunch of wood! “Anyone wants to break in they’ll have ta’ go through ole’ Volka!”Turning to face TT, however, you find the Durher batting her eyelashes at you like a Southern Belle in a cartoon. T…“I have a condition, y’know!” She begins as she stealthily sits on the bed, “If I don’t sleep on a proper mattress my blood won’t circulate just right! You don’t want a girl like me to age prematurely, do you, Ant? Hmm?”She’s not gonna age at all if she keeps being this annoying… what do?>Claim the bed! You earned it!>You can share. Just nudge her over to the foot of the bed.>Volka can have the bed. Try and deal with her tossing and turning, T!>T can snuggle with Volka on the ground!>Just stay up for now–maybe T will doze off!>T can take the table or chair!>You’ll take the table or chair, screw it..>Write-In!
>>6103956>You’ll take the table or chair, screw it..Table. Flip the robe around and it should make a good blanket, and we can nestle the hood around our neck to form a pillow. It is pretty plush, after all.We’ll need them to be better-rested than us tomorrow. We’re the stranger here, we need effective guards.Or we could just be selfless. Up to anons!
>>6103956>Snuggle with Volka. She seems soft.
>>6103972Seconding this one if only so TT gets jealous and cedes us the bed just to avoid it
>>6103956>Snuggle with Volka. She seems soft.Safety before comfort
>>6103956>>6103972Supporting this. It’s a win all round.
>>6103956Alright, I’ll switch to >>6103972 as well. I very much doubt she’s soft, but the PLUSH ROBE should make it easier to lean against her and it probably is the safest place we can sleep.She might roll over on us, but we’re tough enough to deal with that until she wakes up and apologizes. Hopefully.
>>6103972>>6103977>>6103982>>6104017>>6104030>SNUGGLEHoly crap the hivemind is real. Writing! Had a few errands to run today.
The bed’s comfy, but not ‘three more updates of arguing’ comfy… besides, after today’s events you could probably sleep standing up! Wouldn’t be the first time!You know what, you sigh as you rise from the bed, she can take the bed!“Look, I’m painfully aware I don’t need beauty sleep, bu-wait, huh?” The Spinner pauses mid-excuse to eye you warily. “... r-really?”Yea, you nod with a smile, it’s all hers! Consider it an investment! TT’s eyes widen as your words make it across the dizzying expanse between her ear and her brain. “Wow! Thanks, Anton! Y’know, you humans are A-OK in my book! And they’ll be more than okay in my book!” Circling around a few times before curling up on the bed, the spritely Spinner dutifully taps away at her tablet for about a minute before she glances your way again. “Need something, or just admiring the view?”No, you frown, just uh… you’re welcome.“I am! That’s why I’m lying here!” She chirps with a wink! “Sweet dreaaaams~” This girl… Stretching your sore muscles, you weigh your remaining options and sigh–you’re not exactly jazzed about the furniture, but… wait a sec…Volka, you begin, weird question, but-Your intro is cut short by a bestial ROAR that sends your hair on end! A small ‘thump’ from the bed tells you TT must’ve been startled too! Bracing yourself for battle, you relax when the origin of the sound inhales a healthy gulp of air…Ah. She’s already out… guess she really can sleep anywhere. Welp, you shrug, it was a dumb idea anyways. Alright, Mr. TablAAAAUUUGH!While TT tumbles off the bed a second time, YOU tumble into something muscular, scaly, and… surprisingly soft? By the time you realize Volka’s rolled into you it’s too late: like a toddler snuggling a teddy bear, the Skog’s beefy arms ensnare you and pull you into the girl’s warm embrace! Panic settles in as you realize your situation, but as you struggle to break free of her vise-grip you notice something…She stopped snoring!Feeling her muscular tail wrap around the two of you, you abandon any escape plans you were scheming up and decide to get comfy instead. She’s no mattress of course, but Volka’s big enough to act as one! With the events of the last few… however many hours it’s been weighing your eyelids down, it doesn’t take long to drift into an uneasy sleep…Despite everything, you dream…What do you dream about?>Your Past…>Your Present…>Your Future…
>>6104176>Your Past…
>>6104176>Your pastIf we see the future it will be set in stone
>>6104184>>6104197>YOUR PAAASSTTTTWriting!
Drifting lazily away down the river of dreams, you trade the warmth of Volka’s embrace and the stench of mildew and stale booze for a more familiar sensation…The distant smell of burnt rubber and gasoline… The tepid blanket of humidity smothering you in your sweat-drenched sheets… The chirping of crickets… the whir of the desk fan you picked up at the DOLLARMART as it fights a losing battle…You’re home.“-llo?”You jolt at the sudden voice and send the phone in your hand tumbling flat onto your sweat-caked forehead! Y-yea, you stammer, voice weak and scratchy from the sweltering heat, you’re here…“Thought I lost ya.” The female voice crackles. “Barely get any reception here…” You glance at the caller ID–’DYLAN’. “How’s it going?”Errr, it’s going… tired, you reply, not daring to glance at the time.“Yea, that’s… oh. OH!” She replies as recognition swiftly creeps into her voice, “I’m SO sorry, Ant! I keep forgetting about the damn time zones and-”It’s fine, you smile, you were already awake! And, you add as you wipe some sweat onto the pillow you aren’t using, it’s been a while since you caught up…“Yea…” Dylan replies in a tone that could be interpreted in a number of ways, “It’s been busy, y’know?”Sure, you nod, not truly knowing. Never a dull moment at her job, huh?“Ha ha, no siree..” She laughs, before her tone becomes a bit more excited, “But forget that… how was graduation?”It… was graduation, you shrug! They handed you a degree and everything!“Yea, that sounds about right… I uh… dad told me about the college search…”You don’t really want to talk about that, you sigh, wincing as a spike of pain shoots through your temples. “Just think of it as a… as a gap year! Travel a bit! Find yourself!”Yea, the uh… the travel fund’s a little low, you reply as the sound of distant gunshots trickle in through your open window, you’re a RENTER now, so..“You moved out? Why?” Oh boy, here we go… You just couldn’t stick around mom and dad anymore, you groan, running your sweaty hand over your sweatier face. She knows how it is.“Why do you think I work out here?” Dylan retorts with a hollow laugh. “Where are you renting, then, Mr. Moneybags?”Bishop’s got an apartment, you explain, and his last roommate got arrested, so… here you are.“Well if you ever need a gig…”You’re not much of a scientist, you reply with a derisive snort, and besides, you have a few opportunities lined up!“Your loss… they’ll hire anyone here. Lots of boxes that need moving around…” Yea, well…>CONTD.
>>6104316As you continue to speak into the phone, you find yourself having trouble hearing. Tugging your earlobes, you’re rewarded by a low whine that only increases by the second! Feeling your vision swim and your head throb, your mind is yanked clear of your dream as an unfamiliar voice sneaks into your ear:G E T U PAs the foreign words pick at your brain, your eyes open once more into an inky, all-enveloping darkness..You’re back in your room at the inn. Volka and T continue to doze, the former still wrapped around you like a boa constrictor, as a cool breeze rolls across your face from the direction of the door…>Roll 1d100-4(-5 Sleeping, -4 Dark, +5 Volka protecc) for reasons! Best of 3!Last update of the night, by the way! Sunday might get busy so expect few updates. Have a good weekend and thanks for playing!
Rolled 55 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6104317Roll
Rolled 54 + 4 (1d100 + 4)>>6104317You forgot the -10 for our entire body being stuck in her massive bust.
Rolled 42 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6104317Slavers?
>>6104356Just so know for the future rolling negative modifiers means you have to type +- or it defaults to +, unnecessarily complicated I know
>>6104356It was negated by the +10 to anyone being able to hit us, on account of being surrounded by Volkams bust.Hopefully a 51 is good enough to notice we shouldn’t be feeling a cool breeze from the door if it’s shut properly, and it WAS shut properly.
>>6104326>>6104356>>6104360>HIGHEST ROLL: Wait a second...>>6104356Oh fuck you're right>>6104326>>6104356>>6104360>HIGHEST RWait a second...>>6104461Oh fuck you're right>>6104326>>6104356>>6104360>HIGHEST ROLL: 51!Just skidded by! Writing! Still got a lot of shit happening today so expect sporadic updates!
The cool breeze is a welcome reprieve from how stuffy the room is. Coupled with how warm Volka is, especially with her hugging you close like a human teddy bear, it takes you a moment to push past the pleasantness and realize what’s wrong with the proverbial ‘picture’…THE DOOR!Powerless against the might of Volka’s arms, you watch wide-eyed as you sense something standing in front of you…You open your mouth to yell a warning, but in your haste and genuine terror you instead let loose the loudest, and girliest, scream you’ve ever mustered! The figure freezes, clearly not expecting your reaction, and as you hear the faint sound of their hand rummaging around in their pockets, your salvation comes in the form of a dull ‘WHUMP!’ smacking against your guest’s unseen face!“CAN’T A GIRL GET A LITTLE SLEEP AROUND HERE!?” Snarls TT as she jolts upright in the bed with her eyes covered by what smell like fruit slices, “BED’S MINE! NO TAKESIE-BACKSIES!”T, you holler, we’re not alone! As you deliver the warning, the figure recovers from the pillow pelting and lets out a series of sharp clicks that carry out the door and down the hall! The sound of crashing glass and commotion travels back, arriving in the room just as you hear a blade being drawn from a scabbard…Ducking another pillow from the Durher, a shift in the air tells you that the intruder is lunging! Stuck in Volka’s death grip, all you can do is make a stupid face and wait to be perforated…‘THWACK!’You wait impatiently for the light you’re supposed to go into, your life flashing before your eyes… but all you get is the same darkness… the same musty air. By the time you realize you aren’t dead, your would-be assassin has stumbled backwards, his steps uneven and clumsy… meanwhile a familiar scaly tail wraps itself back around you and its owner… Rising from the ground with slow, steady breaths through her mouth, your bodyguard slowly staggers towards your assailant with a zombielike gait…“Hey Tusks! Wake up!” Snarls T as she leaps out of bed!I think she’s sleepwalking, you fire back! Speaking of fire, as the Skog lurches forward to deliver more pain unto the assassin, the intruder in question rummages through their pockets again, this time pulling out something that… sloshes?Chucking it into the doorway, your face is met with a rush of heat as whatever they threw bursts into an explosion of crackling flames! Ever the opportunist, T races to be the first out of the room, but pauses at the door with a yelp!“Ant, we’re TRAPPED!”Yea, you frown, you GATHERED!>CONTD.
>>6104764Hearing similar crashes around the rest of the tavern joined by the screams of other patrons, you try your best to squirm out of Volka’s grasp, but it’s no use…As the air fills with a layer of smoke and the smell of burning flesh and wood, you feel a familiar sting in your eyes… glancing down at your sides, you see a familiar RED outline around your hands!“Ant,” Remarks the Spinner as she stares wide-eyed at your palms, “Are you… okay?”Never better, you snap, but that’ll change if we don’t get outta here!What do?>Keep trying to wake Volka!>Find something to smother the flames!>No time to waste! Try to jump the fire!>See if T can find another way out of the room!>Shout for help! Maybe someone can assist!>Write-In!
>>6104765>Find something to smother the flames!>See if T can find another way out of the room!Divide and conquer. We'll try to put it out while she tries to find US an out, dig?
>>6104765>Find something to smother the flames!If there’s still a storm outside then punching a hole in a wall or ceiling would do it. We’d just need to get Volka to ram into the former.Although we can handle cire with our hands. If we do the flame trick, can we pick up the fire and either chuck it out the door or extinguish it? Are our hands immune to fire when the flames are ready, even if the rest of us isn’t?
>>6104769>>6104784>Find something to smother the flames!>>6104769>Get T to do some damn work for once!It's late and tomorrow's a work day, folks... gonna pick this one up later on Monday! Until then, though...>Roll me 2d100 (-4 Dark, -5 Trapped by Volka, -3 Smoky room, +7 Durher Senses) to cooperate with Tzah-Tzie and get outta here! Best of 3!
Rolled 74, 18 - 5 = 87 (2d100 - 5)>>6105015Isn’t it minus 5 in total? Rolling for that.
Rolled 44, 73 - 5 = 112 (2d100 - 5)>>6105015
Rolled 53 - 5 (1d100 - 5)>>6105015
Rolled 15 - 5 (1d100 - 5)>>6105054Woops only rolled one di so here is the second
>>6105039Yea, sorry man... I was goin hard on the Halloween Wine last night. I was getting mad spooky and I kinda rushed through the update. I'm good now, though--honest! And yea, there were two rolls--one for Anton and one for TT.>>6105039>>6105041>>6105054>>6105055>HIGHEST ROLLS: 69, 68!Writing!
You’re a little preoccupied, but you can still delegate! T, you command as the flames crackle louder by the second, find us a way outta here! One that isn’t burning!“With pleasure!” She fires back as she gets to work slinking around the room like a ferret! As the Spinner scurries off, however, she knocks something over next to the bed… something that pours onto the floor like sand! Sensing a mistake, Tzah-Tzie’s eyes go wide as she continues to make a show of looking around!Tzah, you frown as Volka continues to wander around the room with you in her clutches like a motherly zombie, what the hell was that?“Errr, j-just cosmetics!” The Durher sputters as she darts around the room! “Say, this wall feels pretty thin, Ant! Y’know, if you could get sleeping beauty to knock it down-”Yea okay, but seriously, you interrupt with a frown, what did she knock over? Does she just bring sand with her on journeys?“I… yes!” She nods with an incredulous look in her eye, “I… I like sand, okay? It’s a good exfoliant! Now are you gonna wake her up or what!? I don’t wanna burn because you were being a perv, y’know!”You’re not being a perv, you groan, you just… okay touche, but seriously-“AAAAUUUUUUGHH, OKAY! YOU WIN!” Roars the Durher as she tugs at her unseen ears, “It’s SALT, okay!? A big bag of SALT! Happy!?”Y-yea, you nod, that could probably smother the fire! The anger in T’s face quickly cools down as she cocks her head to the side. “... Oh yea… Hey, I guess stealing it from the back of the bar was a good idea, huh!”You’re eager to get out of here, you sigh, but you don’t think you’ll be able to focus on anything else until she answers this question: WHY did she steal the Inn’s salt?“Well, y’know…” The Durher mutters as she sheepishly twiddles her claws, “S-salt is a nice condiment to have when you can’t afford fancy stuff… and if you put it in boiling water it’s kinda like a soup-”You’re suddenly not convinced this girl is a renowned Bard or Spinner or whatever. You weren’t convinced before, but you definitely aren’t now. This girl has clearly never had money in her entire life. In any case, you shrug, she can use that to douse the flames! Go for it!“Don’t look at me!” T sputters indignantly, “Do you see these claws!? Do they look like they can lug a few bags of salt around!?”You respond with a blink. How the hell did she get them in here in the first place? And wait, there’s MORE!?“I dragged ‘em… and um… maybe took a few trips…”Maybe it’s for the best that this place burns down. >CONTD.
>>6105412In any case, T doesn’t seem keen on pouring the salt-“I gotta carry my instruments, okay!? I don’t see you offering to help! Not very chivalrous, y’know!”… which means you need to figure out how to deal with this before those assassins remember to come kill you.What do?>Break free of Volka!>Wake Volka Up!>Pressure T into actually doing something!>Have Volka smash through the weak wall!>Have T smash through the weak wall!>Write-In!
>>6105415>Wake Volka Up!She can haul sand. it's important we put this out for the sake of everyone else in the building. Invisible fire is deadly shit, indeed.
>>6105415>Pressure T into actually doing something!She has her instruments then, right? What’s the most aggravating sound she can make with them? Do it in front of the wall so we can>Have Volka smash through the weak wall!Even if she doesn’t wake up, we can hope she’ll charge the wall anyway out of reflex. We’ll shout when she starts moving so TT can get out of the way.I’d offer to do the salt thing instead but we’re still a little bound up here.
>>6105421I think we can merge our votes. If Volka wakes up we can have her put out the fire, and if she stays asleep and charges TT somehow then she takes out the wall. We can shout/struggle for our own part to wake her up. It’s a win-mostly win scenario!Sound like a plan?
>>6105427I can get behind this.>>6105415
>>6105427>>6105428>>6105422>>6105421>WAKE THE BEAST WITH YOUR GOLDEN LUTE!>Break the wall or haul the salt like DO something Volka jesusWriting!
Whatever your master plan is, it’ll only work if you can get your walking, scaly mattress to wake up! “Yea, what’s your problem anyways?” Asks T with growing concern as she hefts what sounds like a whole orchestra’s-worth of equipment onto her back, “I bit my lip for the last few posts, Ant, but you’re starting to seem kinda attached to this ‘being carried around’ schtick. Not a good look for the wider audience.”You can’t help it, you moan, every time you try to wriggle free Volka just squeezes you TIGHTER! You… you might die here, T…“Hm! Well y’know, death by hubris IS pretty well-received in art these days… people love a hero hoisted on his own petard!”As you brainstorm ideas on how to get Volka to crush the Durher, your master plan is body slammed with another, far more useful one!Tzah-Tzie, you exclaim, play something! Play something loud!The girl stares at you as if you just asked her to eat a plate of bugs. “Not really a good time, Ant–I don’t play for free and it sounds like our potential listeners are getting butchered out there.”THAT’S her issue!? What about the fire!?“Oh yea, huh.”Look, you hiss, just play something loud and obnoxious! You’ve got to wake Volka up!“Hmmm…” The Spinner remarks as she begins to dig through her collection, “I don’t know if I’m capable of ‘obnoxious’-”Sure...“But I can do ‘loud’!” Clearing her throat politely, the Spinner tunes the strings of something between a harp and a lute…OHDEARGODIT’SLIKEACATBEINGPUTHROUGHACHEESEGRATERAAAUGHNails on the chalkboard could learn a thing or two as TT scrapes away at her instrument like a madwoman! To her credit it takes a moment for the Skog to rouse from her slumber, but once she does she’s peppy as ever!“Aaahhh… Good Morning, everyone! Someone cooking something?” Volka mumbles as she rubs the sleep from one of her eyes and stretches her tail like a cat, “Smells great! Oh, hey there, Rook! D’aww, didja’ get cold, little guy?”No time for that, you mutter as the Skog gives you a playful noogie, there’s assassins trying to kill you… and everyone else, possibly!>CONTD.
>>6105462Gently placing you on the floor, the amazon draws her blade and strikes an unseen pose with a clank of her armor! “Sounds like a job for THE LAMPLIGHTERS! Point me attem!”Hold on, you interrupt as TT puts her instrument away,there’s a few bags of SALT over there she can use t-“Good idea, Rook! Let’s begin the AsSALT! Haha!”Sheathing her sword in favor of the salt, Volka bursts through the wall with sacks in hand and immediately clobbers an unlucky assassin that happened to be laying an ambush! As they crumble to the ground with a weak groan, some of the salt flies onto the flames enveloping the door and extinguishes them with a muted ‘hiss’!“Can’t fault her enthusiasm!” Remarks TT as you hear her slip a knife from an unseen sheath. “After you, hero~”Gee, thanks. Hands still burning with the energy you had earlier, you give Volka some space and instead rush over to the downed Assassin! Okay, you begin in the most threatening voice you can muster after inhaling so much smoke, what’s the deal, huh!? Why did he try to grab you!?The assassin merely croaks out a weak chuckle as you feel his body heat up! H-hey, you stammer, don’t get too excited-To your horror (and relief), the would-be abductor bursts into flames that nearly singe your fingers off! Taken off-guard by the sudden ferocity of the blaze, you nearly trip over TT as the two of you listen in horror!“Wh-what happened!?” She sputters as she hides behind you, “Did he drop another potion!?”You’re not so sure… daring to poke at the flames, your eyes widen as you feel nothing but ash where the assassin’s body was lying! What in the…Before you can ponder any further, the sound of a struggle in the tavern brings you back to the present! Judging by the manic laughter and the crashing glassware you get the feeling Volka’s doing fine, but the sound of crackling flames and crunching wood all over the Inn don’t fill you with confidence…“Welp, go do your hero thing, Ant!” Chirps TT as you hear her stuff a few plates into her bag, “I’ll be taking notes outside-No she won’t, you retort as you grab the pint-sized pilferer by the scruff of her fuzzy neck, she’s helping you!“D-do what!?”Good question!>Help Volka take out the remaining Assassins!>Grab some salt piles and put out the fires!>Check for survivors!>Yea wait… Let’s just leave!>Write-In!
>>6105463>Grab some salt piles and put out the fires!
>>6105463>Check for survivors!TT didn’t sound like a huge help with salt, and if the fire’s spread (sounds like it has) then I dunno if we can put it all out.Better to grab people and GTFO. If TT needs convincing then tell her legends aren’t any good if no one is around to listen to them so get to saving the audience!I hope Salty is safe.
>>6105467>>6105528>Get Salty!>>6105485>Check for Survivors!Gonna call it here tonight, but let's get a couple rolls to see how well the firefighting goes!>Roll me 1d100-5 (+3 Lotsa Salt, +2 Noisy flames -4 Dark, -4 ASSASSINOS, -2 Volka running around) to see how it works out! Best of 3!
Rolled 70 - 5 (1d100 - 5)>>6105535
Rolled 38 - 5 (1d100 - 5)>>6105535
Rolled 43 + 5 (1d100 + 5)>>6105535
>>6105561>>6105565>>6105591>HIGHEST ROLL: 65!Writing! Sorry, shit got really busy today. Let's see what we can cook up.
>>6105886Probably quite a bit given the nearby kitchen with ingredients and all the fire.
Put out the fires, of course! You can’t let the Inn burn down! The Spinner picks you apart with her eyes with a quizzical look on her face.“... why, though?”Because it’s the heroic thing to do, okay!? Think of all the cred you’ll get when you save this fine establishment!“It’s insured, but I won’t reject the ‘elp.” You and T leap into the air with perfectly-synched girly screams at the sound of the gruff, familiar voice! Innkeeper, you begin, are you okay, man?“Ahhh, this is nuffin’,” He grunts, his grizzled voice coming from the floor behind you, “Not the first time a wall of kegs fell on me an’ it won’t be the last…” He pauses for a moment as the three of you listen to fire crackling and Volka smacking assassins with salt. “I fink me leg’s on fire though, so if ye’d be willin’ ta’ ‘elp wivvat…”No problem, you nod! T, gather up some salt! Let’s fight these fires!“R-right!” She replies uneasily, “I think I saw some salt around here! H-hope no one took it!”She’s not fooling anyone, but you don’t have time to care about that right now. Following Volka, it doesn’t take long for you to snatch up a mound of salt off the ground, and with the condiment in tow you get to work putting out the fires!You can’t see them, but you can definitely hear them! Following the crackling all over the torched tavern, you make like a confused Johnny Appleseed and start dumping! After finishing one off, you turn around and duck just in time to avoid an airborne assassin sent flying by your bodyguard! As he crashes into the wall with a sickening crunch, another figure lunges from behind you!Your hand heats up with fresh flames, but just when you’re about to give your attacker’s face a flick he’ll never forget, you trip over a busted table! The assassin becomes another victim of physics, however–as his lunge takes him over to you, the clumsy killer stumbles over you and lands in another patch of flames!You’re about to douse the assassin with salt when he too fizzles into dust… either these guys are really flammable or they don’t plan on leaving any bodies!T, you howl, did you run away, or are you still here?!“O-Of course I’m still here!” The Durher stammers from the far end of the inn, “I was just putting out a really far fire!”You hear a knife sink into some flesh! T!“I’m fine!” She reports, “Guy tried to pull a fast one on me!”Just try to keep one alive, you beg as you make to douse another fire, you wanna see if they can talk!“What’s that?!” T asks as you hear her knife slip into someone else, “Got distracted, sorry!”Never mind…>CONTD.
>>6105931Feeling the heat die down around you, you turn and bump into another silent figure! Feeling a rough glove grab your shoulder, you instinctively bat at the glove’s owner’s face like an angry cat!In any other circumstance you’d be dead by now, but the surprise kickstarted a handful of flames on your fingers that set the hoodlum’s hood ablaze with otherworldly flames!“Wh-what the Hells!?” Sputters your Spinner friend from across the room! “It’s… it’s beautiful…”The guy you set ablaze doesn’t think so, unless his race or species or whatever communicates love and joy by screaming. Scampering around the inn like a headless chicken, the assassin bursts through the front door and lands in a heap outside where the storm seems to have subsided!You wait for another attack… another cheap shot… but nothing comes. Dumping your remaining salt onto a fire at your feet, you allow yourself a sigh as the sound of crackling flames is replaced with groaning wood.“Not bad, mate,” Grumbles the Innkeeper as he strides over and gives you a pat on the back that nearly pounds you through the floorboards, “As far as pub brawls go, that was one fer’ the songs.”“Way ahead of ya!” Chirps Tzah-Tzie as she begins to pluck away at her Harplute, “Now do we go with the salt, or say he rescued the maidens…”Yea, you shrug, but his inn is toasted… is he gonna be okay?“Best part of the Darklands roit there: no need ta’ repaint.” The moleg explains with half a laugh. “Lost me booze stores, though. That’ll set me back.”Yea, you’re sorry to hear it, you frown, but what about his customers!?“Plenny ran off once the fires started… the others, well…” You hear something grind in the Innkeeper’s undoubtedly broad shoulders. “S’ the way she goes.”“Don’t worry, doesn’t seem like the dead could pay their bills anyways.” Reports Tzah-Tzie as she sidles up next to you. How would she know that?“Err… j-just a hunch?”>CONTD.
>>6105932“Phew!” Sighs Volka as she trots up behind you and T and gives you both noogies, “Not a bad way to end a day at the pub, ey?”She can say that again, you nod, head burning from the Skog’s knuckles. Is she okay?“Hah! Never better!” She boasts as she puffs her chest out and sends her armor clanging like a wind chime, “Who were those guys anyways?”Her guess is as good as yours, you frown, but you get the feeling they were after you…“Seriously?” Scoffs T as the Innkeeper digs around in the rubble and pulls out a giggling Waitress, “We’re not at that level of infamy yet, Ant. But we’ll get there, don’cha worry!”So what, you snort as the Durher shoots you a wink, were they here for Volka? HER?“Wouldn’t be the first time!” T shrugs as if you’d asked her if she’d done laundry before. “Like I said before, it’s a curse being this popular…”Yea, you’ll bet. Taking one last whiff of the inn, you turn towards the Innkeeper’s glowing orange eyes. Is uh… is he good?“Yea, need any help?” Asks Volka as she cocks her head to the side! “I can carry beams like nobody’s business, y’know!”“There is somefin…” The moleg replies as his hand grinds against his unseen chin, “Take it yer ‘eaded to Crossroads, yea?”“That’s the plan!” Volka smiles as she gives your shoulder a bone-crunching pat, “Gonna take Ant here to meet my father!”“Congrats.” Remarks the Innkeeper, prompting Volka’s eyes to go saucer-sized!“N-not like that! Sheesh!” She stammers before laughing it off! “Ant’s new around here and could use some help, is all!”“Well if you’re in the neighborhood, take this to OBBER’S MILL in the DOCKS DISTRICT,” Explains the barkeep as he hands you a small metal chip covered in grooves and bumps. “Tell Obber I need an’ express shipment. Do that an’ you’ll never pay fer’ a room again.”“The last room we won nearly got us killed, though.” Huffs Tzah-Tzie with a frown.“Fine, I’ll pay ya’ too, but you’ll ‘ave ta come back.”“Ha-HA!” And we eat free, right?” The Durher asks as she leans in with a twinkle in her eye!“Don’t push it.”You agree, of course–seems like a relatively simple errand for a big reward. Pocketing the INNKEEP’S METAL, you turn to your companions and sigh. At least the storm’s passed.“Yep!” Nods Volka as her tail thumps against the floor excitedly, “Ready ta’ hit the road, Rook?”Good question…>Yea, let’s go!>Let’s look around a little more!>One question first… (Who ya wanna talk to?)>Write-In!That's also gonna be the last update of the night. Sorry, folks, it was a rough day. Should have more for ya tomorrow though around the usual time!
>>6105935>“N-not like that! Sheesh!” She stammers before laughing it off! “Ant’s new around here and could use some help, is all!”Volka's got me questioning whether Rezzie is still bestgirl...>>6105935>One question first… (Who ya wanna talk to?)TT, you coming with, or staying here, or what?
>>6105935>One question first… (Who ya wanna talk to?)TT, you coming with, or staying here, or what?
>>6105935>One question first… (Who ya wanna talk to?)TT, you coming with, or staying here, or what?>>6105958There’s not enough tall bestgirls on qst.
>>6105935>One question first… (Who ya wanna talk to?)TT I take it you're following us?>>6105958>Best girl>Tries to kill us immediately
>>6105935>>6105958Supporting. If she does join us, then I’d wait until we’re out of earshot of the innkeeper and then ask>So what else did you find right before you left, TT?If she stole salt, she probably stole other things. Not limited to the dead assassins either. But we can keep things innocent enough for Volka to overlook.
>>6105958>>6106037>>6106044>>6106158>>6106469>TT, are you following us?Writing!>>6105958>Volka fighting RezzieNo TTtards in the thread, I see... or MorookMates...>>6106044There's tall and then there's Volka>>6106158To be fair she didn't try to kill you IMMEDIATELY! She hesitated for a few seconds!Anyways, fakken writing
While the inn remains a smoky sauna, the breeze sneaking in from outside is crisp and invigorating--that special blend of air you get after a storm subsides. You're a little worried about what awaits you on the road, but you'd be lying if you said you weren't eager to get some more answers!There is one T that remains to be crossed, however. Two, in fact! Shifting your gaze towards the Durher's frisbee-sized eyes, you ask if she still plans on coming with you. No pressure, of course! In fact you wouldn't even be mad if she decided to go on her ow-"Are you KIDDING?!" She exclaims with an excited hop, "We've only been together for a few hours and you're already battling evil, saving damsels, and throwing spells! Hells, this little episode alone is gonna be sung about for as long as this inn stands! Maybe even after they tear it down and build a good one! Oooh, they might even name a DRINK after you!"...Damsels?"Well there has to have been ONE damsel that survived..." Glancing towards the Innkeeper and his trusty Waitress, Tzah-Tzie puts on her best puppy-dog eyes. "Aha! See? You two! You're gonna name a drink after him, riiiiight?"The moleg gives her a noncommittal grunt, earning a shrug from your new PR Manager, apparently."We'll circle back to it!"So she's sticking around, huh? For good?"Rhmhrm!" Nods the Spinner as she munches on some unseen morsel! "Dish ish gonna be an amazing and VERY lucrative partnership, Anton--I can smell it!"YOU can smell table scraps, specifically the charred ones she's currently stuffing into her mouth, but if she isn't planning on leaving, well..."Nuh-uh. No way! You'd have to cut all my limbs off and chuck me into a bottomless pit to keep THIS gal away!" Tzah-Tzie proclaims with a determined glimmer in her eyes!You haven't reached that point yet, but it's good to have a plan! Gathering up her instruments and a few other things that you assume aren't hers, TT raises an eyebrow your way. "One question, Ant--that... stuff you conjured... the thing that made my eyes hurt. What was that?""Well I thought it was just a human thing, but apparently they can only do that when they have a bomb... or are a magician! But really-"Yea, you'll take it from here, Volk! Clearing your throat as the Innkeeper and the Waitress also lean in for an explanation, you inform your new friends that...>You have no clue. Seriously.>You're a special type of human with light powers. Watch out!>TT probably just ate some bad leftovers... you didn't see anything!>You have psychic powers and projected an image into their brains!>You were summoned to Zoral along with a devil... maybe this has something to do with that?>You're the Avatar of Aabaar the Fire God. Worship!>Write-In!
>>6106495>You were summoned to Zoral along with a devil... maybe this has something to do with that?
>>6106495>You're a special type of human, you are the main character
>>6106495>>6106502 +1, or>You have no clue. Seriously.if not. Anything but confessing to being rare, valuable, or demonic in mixed company. Or in front of TT, honestly, since she's a blabbermouth with a reputation for getting protagonists killed.
>>6106495>The thing that made your eyes hurt was the color RED. Colors are something you see when light gets involved. If you’ve never lived with light then you could see how making sense of it would hurt!>You kinda remember a book like that, thinking about it…Yes, I still remember The Giver from required school reading.>You were summoned to Zoral along with a devil... maybe this has something to do with that?Add on “tragic source of powers” to our tale since it’s bound to cause many, many troubles with the MITAAR temple folks.
>>6106511I would wait until we’re further away before telling her the truth. There’s a good chance she’ll “embellish” our powers along those lines anyway, better to tell her the truth in advance so she can embellish it in other, less dangerous directions!
>>6106495>I acquired these powers not long after I did my duty as an F.B.I member, so I suspect it may have something to do with that. There's only one way to find out for sure. TT? I need to check you for Breast Cancer.
>>6106521The worst part is that I can’t say you’re wrong. We did, in fact, get nifty fire powers after acquiring a devil point from taking advantage of an innocent, and I have no idea how linked that is. Damn science and its insistence on repeatable experiments!I’ll pass on this for now though. I’d hate to start tripping “Detect Demon” sensors until we have a better idea of what we’ll be doing here long-term.
>>6106496>I was summoned here with my pal Rezzie...>>6106502>>6106511>I'm the protagonist! But seriously no fucken clue mate>>6106512>COLORSSSS>RIDE THE SLED, JONAAAASSS>>6106521>HE'S AT IT AGAIIIINWriting!
Let’s uh… let’s get going first, okay? Before she can ask, you steal a sneaky glance at the Innkeeper and his serving wench. And another. And another. “Oooh, gotcha~” TT winks after the fifth time, “Yea, let’s get some air, you two! Can’t compose a ballad with all this smoke hanging around!”“Crossroads, here we come!” Announces Volka as she kicks the door open with a earsplitting crunch!“Door’s over there, y’big oaf.”“Whoops! Sorry!”Making your way through the new door Volka kicked in the wall, you can’t help but sigh with relief as the cool, post-storm breeze tickles your face! Not a bad place to grab a drink, you remark with an approving nod! Aside from the assassins. And the fire.“I give it less than a week.” Shrugs TT as she struggles to keep up with you and Volka. “No atmosphere and the food was weak.” Playing a few notes on her instrument, TT slinks up next to you and nudges the side of your knee with her hip!“Speaking of atmosphere, spill the shrooms, Ant! What WAS that crazy stuff back there, hmm?”Well, uh… you begin, unsure of how much you feel comfortable sharing with the mouthy musician, you’re just a special kind of human!“Ooh, do TELL!” Gushes the girl as her fluffy tail swishes like a fan behind her, “I knew you were special, y’know. I’ve got a nose for these things!”Yep, you nod, you’re a mythical being known only as THE MAIN CHARACTER: a superhuman entity that’s harder to kill than a cockroach!You wait for her to laugh, but it never comes. Err, T? That was a joke, you don’t actually know-“With a spring in his step and red flame in his hand… no blow could connect or attack ever land…” The Durher mutters as she plinks a few experimental notes. “That’s good... let’s go with that angle! ANTON THE UNDYING! Whaddaya’ think?”Stumbling through what feels like wagon wheel tracks, you shoot a confused glance at your guide. You think your legs are starting to hurt. Could we have ridden to Crossroads?“Course!” Volka nods with a spritely smile, “But caravans are mighty expensive around here… and Striders tend to scurry off if ya’ don’t tie ‘em down right!”“The best thing about caravans are the free audiences!” Chirps TT! “Sometimes they don’t even throw you off if you play well enough!”>CONTD.
>>6106560You’re more curious about these tracks, you frown as you give the muddy path a kick, these seem pretty recent, but there’s no one around…“Oh yea, forgot to mention!” Volka reports, “That Salty guy was gathering survivors up! Said he had a wagon to get ‘em all to safety in!”Good ole’ Salty Suutz, you nod, he really came through for you…“Oh, that guy?” Asks TT as she idly tunes her Harplute, “I wouldn’t want him rescuing me, that’s for sure.”He’s just a Mzz'goe'virr, T. Way to pass judgment!“No, no… I’ve got no problem with those guys!” The Durher replies emphatically, “I just don’t like his line of work, is all!”“What was it again?” Muses the Skog, her tail swishing and nearly smacking you in the gob, “He mentioned something about traffic…”A… trafficker? Volka snaps a claw as a broad grin forms on her face! “That’s the one! Didn’t strike me as a Caravan Master, but I guess professionals come in all sizes, ey?”So wait, you stammer as you skid to a halt, we just handed over a bunch of scared survivors to a TRAFFICKER!? Why didn’t anyone tell you!?“Uhhhh and miss out on an opportunity to stage a daring rescue!?” Counters TT in a voice usually reserved for mocking people who are WRONG, “C’mon, Ant! Think ahead a little!”“Rook,” Mutters Volka like a child walking into a fight between their parents, “A trafficker’s the person that drives a wagon for people… r-right?”Two Minutes Later…“AAACKPTH! SPTTHH! I’M SPPHPRRRYYY!”Having been carried by Volka for several updates, you’re not really surprised how easy it is for her to handle Tzah-Tzie. Still, you can’t help but be a little impressed as the Skog drags the Spinner through the mud behind her like a ratty old blanket.And admittedly a little scared.“Lemme carry you, Rook! Won’t catch up with ‘em at this speed!” Barks the amazon as she snaps her claw at you! “No time to waste!”>Roll 1d100 (+5 Volka Speed, -2 Muddy Road, -3 Caravan Speed) to catch up! Best of 3!
Rolled 78 + 0 (1d100 + 0)>>6106562Suutz won't see us coming
Rolled 51 (1d100)>>6106562
Rolled 22 (1d100)>>6106562
>>6106575>>6106593>>6106646>HIGHEST ROLL: 78!Writing!>>6106575>won't see usohyou.gif
You don’t want to piss Volka off, nor do you consider yourself much of a runner, so the choice is obvious. Swan diving into the air, you feel a surge of energy as the Skog grabs you by the scruff of your robe and kicks it into OVERDRIVE!Darkness passes you by like cacti on the side of the freeway. You aren’t sure if darkness can blur or not, but if anyone could make it happen, you reason quietly to yourself, Volka could probably manage it. Bumping along the muddy trail with her tail still held tight by your guide, TT alternates between apologies and squeaks all along the way!If it were you taking the wheel you probably would have fallen into a ditch by now, but thanks to your bodyguard’s speed and guile it isn’t long before you skid to a halt at the sound of roaring water up ahead!“Ackpth… oh thank the Gods…” Groans Tzah-Tzie as she hangs from Volka’s hand like a dead opossum, “Stop the world, I wanna get off…”“Trail splits off here!” Volka reports as she dips you close enough to poke at the ground. True to her word, the muddy tracks of a wagon seem to divert from what feels like the edge of a bridge towards a grassy hill leading to the riverside. Dislodging yourself from her claw, you give your associates a quick ‘ssh’ before leading the creep down the hill!Chirps, clicks, and the rushing river mask your approach as you use the divots in the grass to guide you, and before long you hear the crackly voice of a familiar pubgoer…“I cannae believe what I be hearin’--we be stickin’ to the plan!”“Plan’s changed, Many-Eyes.” Grunts a set of tall, yellow eyes–these ones far more grizzled and nasty than Volka’s.“We’re headin’ WEST.” Adds another similarly nasty-sounding voice!“Skogs…” Whispers TT with a hint of trepidation in her squeaky whisper… “Plural, Anton…”Yea, you heard…“Oti! Oi, OTI! Ye’ be ‘earin’ this codswallop!?”A lazy voice from outside the circle of eyes answers with an impatient scoff. “I DO be ‘earin this’... not that it helps me concentrate on this SLEEP spell…”A hiss that makes your guts crawl emanates from the area near the sleepy spellslinger–there’s something big over there, but you’re not sure what it is…“You three stooges better calm down–you’re spooking the STRIDERS.” Adds the mage in a chiding tone.“Aye, keep wavin’ yer axes an’ the ‘ole payload’ll be sailin’ down the river!”Volka rises to confront them, but you stop her with a hand on her thigh, earning a small shiver from the gentle giant. You can’t help it, she’s TALL!>CONTD.
>>6107071“Got a plan, Rook?” She asks as TT leans in too, mud still dripping from her fur! “I can keep ‘em busy!”“And I can sneak over to the caravan…” Adds the Durher with mischief in her eyes. “They can’t really traffic anyone if their trafficees are gone!”And if it’s locked?“Leeeet’s just say I know how to get past a locked door or two~” The Spinner replies as she fiddles with some unseen ornament on her head.Creepy, but not unexpected at this point. You weigh your options as quietly as you can–the riverside is covered in grass and ferns and a few trees if the rustling of branches and your sore toe are any indication…STUBBED TOE COUNTER: 10Ow, by the way. Still feeling FLAMES in your glowing hands, you shove them both into your pockets… but they could prove useful, non?What do?>Attack with Volka!>Help TT release prisoners!>Try to negotiate!>Make a distraction further away!>Scare off Striders!>Set a forest fire!>Listen for a bit longer… see what happens!>Take 'em down quietly (Alone/With Volka/With TT/With Both)>Write-In!
>>6107074>Scare off Striders!They’re near the river, right? Toss some flames at it and see if it’ll vaporize part of it into an explosion. The color alone might freak them out too.That should pull some of them away to chase after the striders, and Volka/TT can gank some of the remaining ones.A small distraction to make sure they look away would be appreciated though.
>>6107085+1>>6107074
>>6107085>>6107103>MAKE A SPLAAAAASH!A solid plan! Let's see how it works!>Roll me 1d100-4 (-7 Skog Senses, -4 Dark, +5 Big Target (River), +2 Unnoticed!) to heat things up! Best of 3! Probably gonna be the last update of the night, too, and maybe a lot of the weekend--got some people visiting from out of town so expect sporadic updates if any!
Rolled 51 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6107162
>>6107162Actually fuck, I'll change this roll to 1d100-2 because of the RING OF ECHOS!
Rolled 40 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6107162>>6107166
>>6107164>>6107170
Rolled 38 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6107166
Rolled 17 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6107166That means we need another roll, right?Right?
>>6107381Sure, why not! And hey, looks like we already have one in! Let's see how you di>15Oh. Well then. Can't update yet, folks, but might make something happen later this afternoon or evening! Gonna have senpai visiting all weekend. Will hopefully have a chance to update soon, but until then thanks for your patience and for playing so far!
>>6107569>senpaiI mean family. Stupid word filter.
>>6107571It's the worst. Does it still fuck with 'onions' too?
>>6107742
>>6107164>>6107170>>6107254>HIGHEST ROLL: 47!YOOOOWWWCH! Writing! Apologies for the lateness!
Yes… very useful, you think to yourself as a devilish grin forms on your face! Maybe it’s time to HEAT things up a little! Heheheh!“Are you okay?” Whispers TT as you sneer in Salty Suutz’ direction. “Is this a new bit? You need to share this stuff with me!”Don’t worry, you smirk, you’ve got a plan! Concentrating on your palm, you feel a faint tingling as motes of flame start to dance around your fingers and coalesce into orbs!“I dinnae care what you be wantin’--we ain’t trekking all the way to THE BITE!” Snarls Salty Suutz with a thin layer of anger barely hiding the fear in his eyes! “I be havin’ an arrangement with someone Crossroads–ye can’t-”Time for another TOAST, you hiss under your breath! Bringing your hand back, you hurl the fireball as hard as you can at the river! This oughta’ spook some striders!The orb sails across the inky blackness like a shooting star–its bright light grabbing the attention of everyone by the caravan!“What in the-”Before Salty Suutz or anyone else can get an answer, the fireball… well… okay, it keeps going.And going.Aaaaand going.Wow, you really put some muscle into that throw!“AAANT,” Whispers a very wide-eyed Spinner, “What the HELLS were you trying to hit with that!?”The uh… you were trying to hit the river, you explain as you sheepishly point towards the sound of rushing water mere feet away! You were gonna spook the striders….“Oh! And here I was thinking we were trying to make a flashy entrance!” Remarks Volka as she cocks her head to the side in a ‘what-can-ya-do’ manner! “Oh well, no harm done!”“Erm… J-Jury’s still out on that…” Raising an eyebrow at TT’s foreboding remark, it takes a moment to dawn on you that you’re being watched… by quite a few people, in fact!“OH!” Sputters Salty Suutz in surprise, “Th-thank the Gods ye be here, boyo! These two were going to steal me caravan an’ all the survivors we sto-err, saved! Go gettem!”Salty Suutz’ daring escape is cut short by the sound of a massive blade being drawn–two, in fact!“Stay where you are, Many-Eyes…” Grunts one of the Skogs in a low and rumbling voice like a lion’s growl, “Or we hunt you for sport.”Uh-oh.>CONTD.
>>6107821The other sniffs the air as your companions prepare for trouble–Volka stepping in front of you with her own weapon drawn, TT, well…Is she tuning her INSTRUMENT!?“Inspiration…” She trembles as she steps far behind you!“Hmmm…” Remarks the other Skog as if he’d smelled a wet fart, “Who tamed you, girl?”“Don’t know what you’re talking about, friend…” Snarls Volka as she stoops into a defensive stance, “But you’re not hurting anyone while I’m around!”“Pathetic.” The Skog scoffs, “Traveling with cattle. You’ve been poisoned by weakness. Waste of a fresh woman.”“Let’s suck it out of her...” Laughs his companion with a lecherous glimmer in his yellow eyes, “And eat the others…”“I will take the hairy one… and the strange thing…” Declares Skog 1 as his hateful eyes settle on you. “It smells exotic.”“They are yours…” Nods his friend as he readies his axe, “The Many-Legs and Glow Eye are mine.”“Still trying… to concentrate here…” Grumbles the mage–Oti, you’re sure his name was. “Hells…”A sharp breeze dances across the riverside as you feel something darting towards you–a Skog? No, his AXE!!>Roll me 1d100-11 (-7 Skog Senses, -2 Dark, -5 Burning Hands, +3 Spinner Song) to dodge the attack(s)? Best of 3!
Last update of the night, by the way--probably update again later tomorrow!
Rolled 42 - 11 (1d100 - 11)>>6107825Moment of truth time.
Rolled 37 - 11 (1d100 - 11)>>6107825
>>6107842One roll per player, bucko! Which is good because that would have sealed the deal on this roll!
>>6107842Also please don't delete rolls. If we roll poorly we roll poorly--let's keep it fair, yea?
Rolled 92 - 11 (1d100 - 11)>>6107825Hit him in the nuts!Assuming skogs have nuts!
>>6107832>>6107842>>6107854HIGHEST ROLL: 81!That's the ticket! Screw it, let's do one more update! Writing!
Adrenaline is one hell of a drug. Half-dodging, half-tripping backwards as the tusked terror darts at you, your hands scramble for something, ANYTHING you can use to defend yourself! As Volka rushes to meet your attacker with her sword, your palm finds purchase on some kind of rock on the grassy ground! Your mind and body quickly shift into autopilot as your head smacks the ground with a dull ‘THUNK’, and the best thing they can come up with is to slam your improvised weapon into where you think the Skog’s groin is!“GCKH!”The skog’s charge is halted more out of surprise than anything else, and as he reels at Anton’s interesting choice of attacks, he’s left completely open for Volka to chop into his midsection with a resounding CLONG!Armor–similar to Volka’s, you reason, scrambling out of the way just as Volka and her new dance partner begin to tango. Though she starts off strong, just the sound of feet moving and weapons clashing tell you her opponent’s got her on the defensive. To make matters worse, the other, clearly much more opportunistic Skog uses the opportunity to leap at your bodyguard from behind!Tail clashes with armor, and though the amazon avoids being downed, she’s clearly outnumbered! You need to help, yea, but how!?What do!?>Burn them! Just gotta watch out for Volka…>Have Tzah-Tzie cut their hamstrings!>You’ve got a blade or two–get in there and help!>You’ve got some throwing knives–use ‘em!>Try to knock the Skogs off-balance! That river sounds treacherous!>Write-In!Okay seriously that's the last damn update for tonight. Be good, folks!
>>6107869>Burn them! Just gotta watch out for Volka…
>>6107869>Try to knock the Skogs off-balance! That river sounds treacherous!I am afraid we have demonstrate such little accuracy at throwing magic fireballs in the pitch-black that we will cook our amazonian friend.
>>6107869>Try to knock the Skogs off-balance! That river sounds treacherous!
>>6107869>Write-In!>Get TT to help Volka, then attack the mage guy. I don’t like whatever he’s doing, and I don’t want to give him time to do it. Besides, only room in this town for one cool magic guy.
>>6108199+1The magic guy is more dangerous because we don't know what he will do, but he is also the most squishy, take out the weak link first
Rolled 1 (1d2)>>6107876>BURN THEM!>>6107877>>6107883>BOWLING!>>6108199>>6108221>Send in the Spinner/Mash the Mage!Looks like we got a tiiiiiiiiiieeeeee~Gonna roll for it.1=Knock Skogs off-balance2=TT helps Volka, Get the Mage!
>>6108244Brute Bowling it is! Here comes the rolls...>Roll me 2d100-7 (-7 Skog Senses, -2 Dark, -5 Burning Hands, +3 Spinner's Song, +2 Smacked 'em in the beanbag, +2 Distracted by Volka) to knock 'em into the river! Two rolls, one for each Skog! Best of 3! Beware!
Rolled 34, 40 - 7 = 67 (2d100 - 7)>>6108248lets see those 1s
Rolled 5, 97 - 7 = 95 (2d100 - 7)>>6108248
Rolled 98, 19 - 7 = 110 (2d100 - 7)>>6108248
>>6108252>>6108359
>>6108249>>6108252>>6108359>HIGHEST ROLLS: 91 and 90!Holy shit, you guys. Writing the last update of the night!
No time to waste on rational thought here–Volka might be good, but these guys have superior armor and probably training as well! Leaving TT to fend for herself, you race into the fray with your hands burning bright as road flares!Dueling like two giants, Volka and her opponent barely notice as you rush by–the one sneaking up on her, however, sees you as a prime target, and if you weren’t wearing your RING OF ECHOS you probably wouldn’t have even clocked the tail whip aimed at your knees!Leaping over the scaly scourge, you barely have time to duck as the Skog brings an axe the size of two Antons over to meet your neck! You feel the hairs on your chin and a few bangs get neatly bisected by the impeccably sharp blade, but your odd landing proves to have some benefit!Rolling across the damp soil like a dropped soda can, you turn to Volka and yell for her to aim for the river! LOG MANEUVER! As you quickly realize how many different ways she could misinterpret your plan, your bodyguard instead abandons her sword fight in favor of DROPKICKING her opponent like a pro wrestler!Another bone-shaking ‘KLONG!’ rings out across the riverside, but this time physics rears its ugly head and sends the Skog stumbling towards you! As you feel heavy footfalls approach, you clamp your eyes shut and wait for your head to be split open like a watermelon in a beach episode of those Japanese cartoons you love so much, but as per usual these days the bad luck belongs to those around you!Curled up in a ball, you somehow manage to make yourself just dense enough to be tripped over which sets up a chain reaction of unfortunate events for your would-be killers! With each uneasy step in the muddy ground, the Skog loses more and more balance, and by the time he reaches his friend he’s practically a rolling boulder! Tangling together like Christmas light strands, the scaly scallywags tumble head-over-tails into the river with a splash! Paddling with wide eyes as the current carries them to what you can only hope is certain doom, the Skogs somehow manage to keep themselves from being swept away… but only barely!Sheathing her blade with a ‘heh... guess you’re all washed up!’ that would make any protagonist proud, it appears Volka isn’t keen on being their judge, jury, and executioner. By the way Tzah-Tzie is looking at you, you’d guess she’s just fine being the judge–yours, to be precise.As for Salty Suutz and his pal Oti, well… the look in their collective eyes tells you they know they’re jumping out of the fire and into a frying pan…What do?>Finish the Skogs with some flashy blade work!>Toast them both.>Let them drift away on their own–they ain’t worth it.>Offer to help them!>Do nothing.>Write-In!
>>6108456>Offer to help them!
>>6108456>>Let them drift away on their own–they ain’t worth it.
>>6108456>Let them drift away on their own–they ain’t worth it.Better luck next time, losers!>Taunt them
>>6108456>Let them drift away on their own–they ain’t worth it.We're not a murderer
>>6108456>>6108676+1 wtf are consequences anyway
>>6107869>Try to knock the Skogs off-balance! That river sounds treacherous!Look, if we manage to miss aiming at the ground with our fireballs I’ll be impressed. Set up some hot zones to hem her “main” dance partner. Once his footwork gets fucked it should be easy for Volka (or us) to charge him into the river.
>>6109017Anon, you're like 40 hours behind. >>6108456 is the current vote.
>>6108456>Let them drift away on their own–they ain’t worth it.I’ll reflect the morality of our party members.>>6109020And here I thought the refresh would have caught me up. Good thing /qst/ was recently upgraded to use future votes to help break ties through the dice-rolling system so long as you remember to still future-vote after your choice wins a tie.That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
>>6108482>The Super Good Option in the RPG>>6108676>>6108710>>6108933>>6109025>IIIIII'M SAILIIIIIIING AWAAAAAAAAY>Also lol get rekt scrubs gg ezWriting!>>6109017I've got good news for you, anon: your vote WON! But it's been nine years...Writing! Senpai is heading home tomorrow, but work is happening too, so expect the usual not-so-frequent-but-still-slightly-more-frequent updates!
You’ve never been a very vengeful or bloodthirsty person–that’s what the scattered jigsaw pieces that are your memories tell you, at least. You could get mad, sure… definitely frustrated! But wishing someone would die?Yea, that’s a new one. As you watch your attackers cling for dear life to an unseen rock in the river, however, an unfamiliar sensation wells up within your gut–one that tickles you pink, imagining the two helpless Skogs bloating up: cheeks blue from lack of air and corpses bloated with water… all that strength and size, you think to yourself, and for what?Nothing.It’s only after you feel a dainty paw poke your side that you realize you’re drooling. Shaking the feeling off like a dog drying itself, you glance at Tzah-Tzie with the best ‘normal’ expression you can muster. Y-yea?“You uh… you okay?” Asks the Durher with genuine concern in her squeaky voice, “You look a little distant.”TT might have some faults, quite a few glaring ones, in fact, but the girl was definitely perceptive. Yea, you smile, just thinking of the best way to taunt those assholes! Turning your attention back to the Skogs, you cup your still-burning hands around your mouth and give them some swimming advice! Hey assholes, you shout, pausing to wink at Volka, don’t forget to kick with your legs!While the Skog in the back snarls in response, the one in front of him seems to contemplate your suggestion! W-wait, you-It’s hard to make out what happened given, well, the darkness and all, but if you had to guess by the cursing, splashing, and the Skog leaping out of the water like a coked-up bullfrog, you’d guess he used his friend as a springboard!Landing on the shore with a thud as his associate drifts away like a plastic wrapper in one of those sad ‘Protect the Ocean’ infomercials, you can’t help but feel a little concerned as the wet warrior’s eyes glow with pure, unadulterated malice!“Watch it, Rook!” Shouts Volka as she steps in front of you, “He’s going berserk!”Before you can ask what that means, the Skog rushes towards you blade drawn and foam tumbling off of his sharp teeth as a primal roar deafens you!Tearing the RING OF ECHOS off your finger, you watch as Volka is batted aside by the berserker’s unseen shield as he moves to chop you into mince! Okay, T, you sputter, it’s do or die time!You know better than to expect a response, but it still hurts when you turn to find the Spinner sprinting for the hills as she tortures her Harplute!Mere seconds from being torn apart by a pissed-off Skog, you feel an uncharacteristic calmness as you widen your stance a bit–the flames on your fingers dance even faster and brighter than usual, and though you stare at certain pain, something tells you that yes:You can do this.>Roll me 1d100-4 (-10 BERSERK SKOG! -4 Dark, +1 Spinner’s Song, +2 Footing +7 Luck?) to take care of him! Best of 3!
Rolled 38 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6109095+200 from no allies being in the way. We can afford to LET LOOSE a little!
Rolled 17 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6109095>his associate drifts away like a plastic wrapper in one of those sad ‘Protect the Ocean’ infomercialsYour analogies continue to delight and amuse, QM.> the Skog rushes towards you blade drawn and foam tumbling off of his sharp teeth as a primal roar deafens you!I'm definitely imagining it as the Disney Gargoyles roar.
Rolled 57 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6109095I'll pull our ass out of the fire again.
>>6109105>>6109108>>6109121>HIGHEST ROLL: 53!Gonna pick this update up tomorrow since it's been a long-ass weekend, folks, but thanks again for being patient! Should have more for ya Monday around 6pm Mountain Time! Seeya then!>>6109121Our hero
The Skog’s feral roar jostles your skull as you quickly smush the fire motes dancing along your fingers together as if making a very confused snowball! Coalescing into a sizable fireball, you bring your hands back beneath your shoulder before shooting them forward and releasing the pyrokinetic projectile directly into the tusked terror’s chest!You feel a quick tug on your chest as the flame connects, and with a teeth-rattling ‘THOOM’ you’re launched through the air like a clay pigeon! Landing with a less-impressive, but still painful ‘FWOOMP’ on what feels like either a well-placed mushroom or a funky-smelling bean bag chair, you roll off of your savior just in time to see a Skog-shaped inferno shambling towards you still screaming bloody-murder!Globs of burnt scales and sloughed skin tumble to the riverside with unnerving thumps as the berserker stares daggers at you with his glowing, throbbing eyes! Skogs going berserk, you think to yourself as your opponent hefts his flaming axe with murderous intent in his eyes, you’re not a fan!As you struggle to whip up some more flames under pressure, you hear a few heavy steps approaching the Skog from behind! Whether he’s too angry, too in pain, or too on fire to notice you’ll never know, but with the precision of a chainsaw-wielding surgeon Volka cleanly brings her sword in a perfectly straight line across your assailant’s knees and hews clean through them with a very impressive and VERY painful ‘SHHUNK!’Like a grocery bag placed too close to the edge of the counter, the Skog tumbles to the grass as his legs literally collapse under him! As your bodyguard moves in for the kill, however, the berserker flails both tail and axe around like a pissed-off gator–the former tripping Volka and sending her head-over-heels onto the ground! The girl is already scrambling to her feet, but it’s not fast enough! Now half the man he used to be, the Skog is just unburdened enough to crawl towards you like a spider–his path marked with burning scales and bloody spittle all the way!You try every hand gesture you can think of, but even with the Skog nearly upon you, you just can’t conjure up another fireball! As the smell of burning flesh and a bloody mouth closes in, you reach into your pockets and draw your CURVED BLADE! Leaping to your feet with as fearsome a roar you can muster given the circumstances, which unfortunately isn’t very scary at all, your toe connects with a rock and sends you tripping towards certain doom!STUBBED TOE COUNTER:11>CONTD.
>>6109674Certain doom, it seems, belongs to your opponent–mid-fall and mid-shriek, you find your descent halted by your CURVED BLADE sinking into something tough, but still fleshy! Opening your eyes, you realize your sword is hilt-deep in the Skog’s braincase! Guess he wasn’t wearing a helmet! Or he just misplaced it in the chaos. Man,SALLY SAFETY: THE SAFETY SQUIRREL would be ashamed!“ROOKIE!” Sputters Volka as she rushes over to you with the speed of a frightened mother, “Oh HELLS, please tell me you aren’t dead!”You’re fine, you pant as the flames fade from your hands, but you can’t really say the same for the other guy…As the two of you watch the Skog slow-cook, you’re suddenly TACKLED by some kind of fuzzy medicine ball!“THAT. WAS. INCREDIBLE!”Oh, it’s Tzah-Tzie. Yea, you shrug, it was okay, you guess, you reply as you put every effort you can into not trembling from the ordeal.“Okay?! OKAY!?” The Durher snarls with eyes as wide as frying pans, “You just danced with two Skogs, my friend… one of whom was BERSERK! And you LIVED!” “Yep! Not trying to toot my own trumpet, but we Skogs are… well, known to do that...” Volka adds with an embarrassed grin. “But ya’ did good, Rook. Real good.”Thanks, you smile as you feel a scaly claw pat you on the head, but we’ve got some loose ends to iron out…Your two stalwart companions follow your gaze over to the eight red eyes frozen mid-creep. Why didn’t he just leave during the fight?“Ach! I, er… the thing about that being-” Sputters the trafficker as Volka approaches with punching intent, “Y-you wouldn’t hit an eight-eyed man, would ye?!”“Good point. Maybe I oughta poke a few out first...” Snarls the Skog on YOUR side! “WaitwaitWAITwaiT!” Blubbers Salty Suutz as he drops to what you assume are his knees, “I… I just…”Just what, you frown. Because he’s gonna be ‘just’ing a whole lot less in a few moments if he doesn’t explain what the hell just happened!“W-well, y-y’see…” He begins, eyes shifting and body chittering, “OTI! NOW!”His command is met with an annoyed groan that would do any teen proud. “What. Part. Of. ‘I’m concentrating on this SLEEP SPELL’ do you NOT UNDERSTAND!?”“I thought ye be tryin’ ta’ bamboozle ‘em inter a false sense o’ security!”“Yea, nope, sorry. No bamboozling.”Sinking to the ground like an eight-eyed balloon at the end of a party, Salty Suutz looks up at you with a mixture of fear, defeat, and embarrassment in his eyes. Man, you’re getting good at reading these guys!“Okay… the truth bein: them Skogs were seekin’ ta’ kidnap us survivors ta’-”Volka, you sigh, hurt him.“My pleasure~” She hisses with a grim smile!>CONTD.
>>6109675“OKAY! OKAY! The REAL truth! I… I be havin’ a contact in Crossroads!” Explains Salty Suutz with renewed fear in his tone, “I deliver the people, they give me bells an’ be tellin’ me ta’ scram!”“Who’s the contact?” Growls Volka as she and TT lean in, the former to look menacing, the latter to be a nuisance. “I cannae be tellin’ ye!” Stammers Salty Suutz with renewed resolve! “They’re wit’.... They be high up, they be!”“HOW high?” Volka snaps, her pupils shrinking into slits!“Th-th-TH-the SPICE CARTEL!” Moans Salty Suutz as viscous globs of foul-smelling gook ooze from his eyes! “Y-ye cannae say no to them! Everybody knows that!”You don’t, you reply, clearing your throat when you realize it was a dumb thing to say. Err, and what about his mage friend, huh? Is he on their spicy payroll, or something?“Nae, nae! Oti’s a good lad!” Counters Salty Suutz with a shake of his head! “A bit of a short fuse, aye, but he be havin’ nothin’ ta do with this charade!”“I owed the old bag a few bells from back when he had a boat.” Adds the bored-sounding Chytree over by the caravan. “Imagine my excitement when I found out this was how he wanted to settle the debt…”A boat?“Aye!” Nods the Mzz'goe'virr emphatically, “Used tae take her out on the Black on treasure hunts fer the Mox! Caught some mighty fine seafood too, I did!” The ex-sailor’s eyes darken a bit. “But when it was lost, well… all I had was this wagon…”And his first thought is to go into trafficking? Why not just be, like, a Caravan Master or something? Or a driver?“I was approached by the Cartel! I be sayin’ it again: ye don’t say NAE to them!”“Or ‘no’, for that matter…” TT adds with a knowing nod. “They can be… pushy.”Jesus Christ, you groan, is there anyone out here who likes her? The Durher responds by smiling and shooting you her best puppy dog eyes.Great…>CONTD.
>>6109676“Hm.” Grumbles Volka as her tail rhythmically thumps against the ground, “Doesn’t matter what the circumstances are–you two should be turned in to the Bellcounters.”“WAIT!” Cries Salty Suutz as he wraps a dozen hairy, chitinous limbs around your leg, “J-just let me go, aye? I be dead if I don’t deliver anyone! I’m beggin’ ye!”He could be dead right now, you frown. Balance that out on your abacus! T, you continue as you try to shake the salty sea dog off your leg, any thoughts?“Ya got me…” She sighs, her chipper face drooping as she ponders your question. “Those Spice Cartel guys don’t fool around… but I don’t want to collaborate with a Slavecatcher either–that definitely didn’t end well last time…”Wait, what?“Err… Slavecatcher: The Musical!” Squeaks the Spinner! “Y-yea! That’s it! Never again! T-too taboo a subject! Audience HATED it! Mhm!”“Listen, if you kill him can you at least let me go?” Asks Oti from over by the surprisingly-calm Striders, “I’m a victim too, y’know.”What do?>Ask another question–you need to understand!>Time to die, Salty Suutz!>Sorry Oti, you’re dead!>Just get out of here, both of you! Leave the caravan!>You’re going to Jail, Salty.>You’re hitting the slammer, Oti!>How about you give us all a ride to Crossroads?>Write-In!
>>6109677>You’re going to Jail, Salty.>Oti, you can do whatever, but what's all this about a sleep spell?
>>6109677>Time to die, Salty Suutz!>Sorry Oti, you’re dead!
>>6109693+1, let the legal system deal with this
>>6109677>>6109693+1. Also, >Think of it this way, salty, it’s not like the cartel will know you gave up - we beat you guys fair and square.
>>6109693+1>>6099997>But don’t worry–our big rule is to NEVER KILL!this was just yesterday kek. skogs gonna skog skogs i guess
>>6109843>this was just yesterday kek. skogs gonna skog skogs i guessPerfectly valid self defence on our part
>>6109847> attack camp> it was self defensei think we were in the right here, however we did just kill 2 men.maybe we should propose the idea of a mace to Volka. that may help with the no killing thing if shes serious about it.that, or just never bring up the topic
>>6109848We can't insist on solving everything peacefully, it is hard to stop a skog without putting them down
>>6109943not saying we should, i only tried to point out how odd this situation looks on Volka's part
>>6109843>>6109963Maybe it's more 'no executions'? We should probably clarify so we kno2 waht's expected of us, though.
>>6109693>>6109794>>6109842>>6109843>Salty goin to the SLAMMER>Oti tell me about this spell you've been trying to concentrate on>>6109763>Frontier JusticeWriting!>>6109843>Skogs gonna skog skogsHell yes we finally have our first racial statement of the quest! Let's GOOOOOOO>>6109848>Propose a maceBruh I don't want to lead votes or anything, but a mace is pretty lethal too>>6109963Volka's a wacky one, but we love her for it~Anyways let's WRITE
Your understanding of the legal system is spotty at best, doubly so for the wacky fantasyish world you’ve recently stumbled upon. She might’ve just chopped a guy’s legs off, but as far as your companions go, Volka’s the closest thing to a lawman… er… lawSKOG, so the decision is obvious.Salty Suutz, you declare in a grim tone, you’re going to JAIL. Trafficking people isn’t cool, especially after a freaky assassin attack!“Hey, YEA!” Snarls the aforementioned lawSkog as she picks the future convict into the air, “The assassins! Why’d you send ‘em after Anton, huh? TALK!”“GCHK!” Croaks Salty Suutz as he dangles from Volka’s claw like a grape, “Wh-why the Hells would I be tryin’ ter assassinate my product!? I had nothin ter do wit that!”“Trust me: he’s way too poor to hire assassins.” Adds Oti in a laconic tone. “And so am I.”“But…” Stammers Detective Volka as the menace slowly departs from her eyes, “But then… who did?”“Wasn’t me!” Tzah-Tzie quickly replies, “I don’t have-”Money, you interrupt with a nod, we know. Look, Volka, you sigh, you’re as curious as she is about those guys, but the disgusting slaver has a point–there are plenty of other ways to kidnap people without getting assassins involved.“Yea, like putting a paralytic agent in the booze!” Chirps TT with a helpful grin that quickly morphs into an embarrassed grimace. “Errr, I mean… hypothetically, that is!”“You’re riiiiight…” Grumbles the bodyguard with a pout on her face, “But I still wanna arrest this guy…”Then let’s arrest him, you reply with a smile! And hey, let’s take this wagon full of survivors to Crossroads too! They’ll love it!“What if they weren’t headed to Crossroads?” Scoffs the mage sitting by the Striders. Then too bad, you shrug, don’t get chased by assassins into some stupid sleeping spell! Speaking of, you add, what’s the deal with that anyways?“It’s a spell,” The Chytree replies in a tone drier than a desert in Summertime, “That makes people sleep. Need any other facts confirmed for you? My name? Current Guild Chairman?” Sending another derisive ‘tsk’ into the air, Oti shakes his head in disbelief. “Who the Hells are you anyways? It’s magic, you fool.”Well, you begin, you’r-“He’s a HUMAN! From another WORLD!” Dammit, Volka!“Oops…”“Ah. So you’re the one she was ranting about in the inn…” The green-eyed sorcerer stares at you intently as if trying to make you disappear. “Well this changes things...”Rising from his leaning spot against the caravan, Oti strides over and appraises you. “What’s your plan, anyways?”“He’s-”VOLKA!“That was TT!”“Nuh-uh!” Stammers the Spinner, “It was Salty Suutz!”“Please lemme down…”SHHH!>CONTD.
>>6110327Would people PLEASE stop asking you that!? You just wanna go home, you groan! And maybe learn magic or something! But home’s the priority!“Hm… can’t help you with the home part,” The mage begins as he strokes his unseen chin, “But that THING you conjured–now that I can work with.”“Work how?” Asks Volka warily.“I’ve got a lab in Crossroads–you agree not to turn me over to the Counters, I’ll run a few tests. Might even give you some more control over ‘em.”“Yea, no way!” Snarls the Skog as she steps in front of you and spreads her arms out with Salty Suutz still dangling, “Anton’s not your guinea pig… and you were perfectly fine working with a trafficker until we took care of your muscle!”“Well I think ‘Anton’ has a say in what he’s allowed to do.” Sniffs Oti as he glances past Volka and over to you. “Don’t you agree?”Yea, well-“Because I’m perfectly fine dropping my spell and getting out of here. Good luck explaining why everyone’s in a caravan and magically groggy.” He shifts his glowing gaze towards Salty Suutz. “Hells, blame it all on him, for all I care.”“I… I don’t like this guy, Rook…” States Volka under her breath.“You didn’t like me, but look at us now!” Chirps TT as she leans against the Skog’s leg and gives her a wink!“I… I still don’t really like you…” Volka replies in an apologetic, but still pretty brutal tone.“W-well anyways,” The Spinner sputters as she turns her gaze towards you, “More magic’s good, right? And we can work on a good story to tell all those survivors when they wake up outside of Crossroads!” Tapping away at her tablet, the girl mutters to herself in thought. “Now should it be two Skogs or ten...”It’s certainly an offer… but is it one you’d better steer clear of?>Just hit the road, man. Git.>You might drop by, sure.>Sounds GREAT! Let’s do it!>Write-In!
>>6110330>You might drop by, sure.We'll think about it.
>>6110334>Yea, maybe!Writing the last update of the night!
You’ve only been here for a few hours, maybe, and you’ve got more obligations than you did back home! Basking in the rare, but not unpleasant feeling of being popular for once, you pull your head out of the clouds before it gets stuck there.You might drop by once you get a few things taken care of, you reply with a genial smile! The look Oti gives you doesn’t have anywhere near the same amount of pep.“Oh of course--take your time! Sniff the mushrooms, wash your barbs, not like I have a schedule to keep to…”He’s helping an old creep kidnap people and just got caught, though–he seems pretty free to you!“Tch. Well if you might drop by then I might let you in…” The Chytree snaps, disco ball eyes strobing with what you’re pretty sure isn’t childish delight. “Ask around in SKINNER’S BLOCK for the FIREWORKS SHOP. They’ll know where I live.”Fireworks… in a world with no light? A mischievous glimmer dances across the mage’s eyes.“Exactly. Now leave me alone if you want these people to stay asleep…”Leaving the moody magician to his own devices, you turn to your other comrades and shrug. Shall we?“It’ll be nice to be carried for once!” Remarks Volka as a boisterous laugh leaves her belly! “Small comforts, yea?”“It’ll give me time to practice a tune or two!” Adds TT before her smile droops a bit. “... though this isn’t much of an audience when they’re all dozing off…”“Jus’ take er’ easy-like wit’ Speck n’ Daler!” Warns Salty Suutz in a tone more suited for someone not dangling from a Skog’s claw, “They be daintier then they be soundin’!”It takes you a moment and a horrifying shriek from the ‘Striders’ at the front of the caravan to realize who the trafficker is talking about. Right, you frown, you’ll be gentle!Chucking Salty Suutz into the back with his would-be slaves, Volka cocks her head to the side.“You wanna try your claws at driving, Rook?”Yea, you nod, what’s the worst that could happen? >CONTD.
>>6110464It takes you a few minutes of pathetic groping, but eventually you scurry like a crab up into the driver’s seat: a plush, well-worn number made of some kind of rough-hewn cloth or hemp! Pretty itchy, but still better than walking! As you get cozy, you bump a device that, upon further inspection, reminds you of one of the water guns your sister used to torment you with when you were young.Yea… you have a sister… DYLAN-“I want to get to Crossroads today, so let me just dispel some of the mystique for you:” Begins Oti, his impatient tone yanking you away from memory lane, “Fire the paste stream where you want to go. Don’t splash yourself unless you want to be a Strider Snack. Simple enough?”He doesn’t have to tell you twice–the paste shifting around inside the ‘gun’ reeks like old tuna and the clicking you keep hearing from the unseen beasties below you are reasons enough. As you locate the business end of the TUNA LAUNCHER, you’re joined up front by…>Volka!>TT!>Oti!>S-Salty Suutz!?>No one! What are you, a chauffeur?
>>6110465>S-Salty Suutz!?
>>6110465>Oti!
>>6110465>>Oti!
>>6110465>TT!Sutz is just gonna beg for mercy, we’ve JUST finished talking to Oti, and as much as I’d like to talk with Volka more, we don’t really know much about TT. Maybe we’ll get some backstory?
>>6110565+1
>>6110476>SALTY!>>6110496>>6110537>OTI!>>6110565>>6110588>THAT ANNOYING BARD THING!We've got a tie that's lasted pretty much all day and while I'm usually down to roll for it I think >>6110565 made a pretty reasonable point, so yea. Time to HACKFRAUD it up and make an executive decision!Writing!
You’re scarcely gotten the hang of the TUNA GUN before you hear something skitter into the seat next to you–its eyes wide with excitement as their owner begins to pluck at their instrument.“Ahh~nothing like the open road, ey, Ant?” Sighs Tzah-Tzie as she leans forward to catch some breeze on her face. “Infinite possibilities! Infinite stories just waiting to be told!”She knows you’re going to Crossroads, right? That’s a pretty finite possibility right there. The girl responds by nudging you in the side.“You know what I meaaaan… I’ll bet people in your world love to travel too–don’t try to deny it, now!”She’s not wrong, you shrug, but we get around a little differently than, well… here.“Oh?” The Spinner replies, cocking her head at a painful-looking angle, “Do tell!”TT gets the Volka treatment–all the details you can recall about humans, their inventions… everything you left behind and have no clue how to make. As the caravan trundles along the path, however, you notice that the Durher doesn’t interrupt you once, nor does she even bother writing anything down!In conclusion, you end with a sigh, that’s what you think about public transportation! “A land of lights and carts of steel…” The girl mutters under her breath as she rhythmically taps her foot on the caravan, “That’s… Anton, I don’t know what to say–it all sounds so…”Cool?“Unbelievable!” She replies, nearly leaping out of her seat in the process! “I mean the idea you had of replacing everything with tubes is nice and all, but to think you can fly through the air and ride for miles with machines… it’s…” Pausing to close her eyes and soak in all of your words once more, the Spinner turns your way again with a look of determination!“It’s settled! I’m going with you when you find your way home!”Cool your jets, hoss, you say with a good-natured laugh, you have no idea how you’re gonna do that yet!“Well once you do, and you WILL because you’ve got ME, you’ll take me with you! Got that!?” She concludes as she jabs you in the chest with a pointy claw! “I’m adding that to our contract!”Wait, when did we sign a contract? You get your answer in the form of a few loose notes off her Harplute that drift off the road and into… whatever it is you’re traveling past.“There’s always somewhere better than where you are…” Tzah-Tzie recites under her breath. “Just gotta get there first…”The conversation, and by extension the road, grow quiet as the Spinner goes back to strumming.Only after that does it dawn on you that you don’t know much about her at all.What do?>Just chill–let her practice.>Ask about TT’s family!>Inquire about TT’s instrument.>Query about TT’s life as a Spinner.>Ask her about the other people in your group.>Write-In!
>>6110896>Query about TT’s life as a Spinner.>And her life as a durr-hurr. What are they all about?Got to... Stay strong. Can't fall for the Pepper-alike all over again!
>>6110896>Query about TT’s life as a Spinner.
>>6110903>>6110908>HOW'S BARD LIFE?>AND TELL ME ABOUT DERHERSWriting probably the last update of the night!>>6110903>spoilerDon't do it, anon
So, you begin in a softer tone so you can still hear the song, why’d she become a Spinner anyways?“Because I like singing! And music! And dancing too!” She replies as if reading off of a shopping list. “Aaaaand as an added bonus I happen to be really good at all of those things! No training, either… you’re lookin’ at 100% all-natural talent!” Okay, you reply, not fully convinced, but still interested, but what made her… y’know, start doing it? Did she just decide to sing one day in a tavern? Was there a contest?“Y-yea! That one!” Nods the Durher emphatically! Which one?“The uh… the concert thing!” TT explains as she hits a note a little too sharply, “I signed up and won! Could hardly believe it at the time!”Your eyebrow slowly raises along with your curiosity. Where did she perform?“Oh, well…” She stammers, her tail flicking against the caravan, “It’s in Crossroads… but I think it shut down, so… goodbye memories, I guess! Haha!”She’s acting more suspicious than a horseshoe crab in a rainforest, but you’ve learned to expect a little weirdness from the pint-sized performer. T, you begin in a diplomatic tone as your caravan rattles across a bridge, she can tell you the truth, y’know.“You’re right… I can!” The girl announces, eyes wide in realization! “Nothing but! You got it, Ant!”It takes a few minutes and a bumpy ride through some potholes before you realize she isn’t gonna continue. T, you repeat in a less-diplomatic tone, the truth?“I toldja already, silly!” Giggles the Spinner as she playfully slaps your shoulder with a delicate claw! “Gee, you’re real curious all of a sudden!” Leaning in close with her eyes half-lidded, the girl gives her instrument another strum as she sends a Cheshire smile your way! “What’s your game, hmmm? Ya’ trying to write a song about little ole’ meeee?”You just want to get to know her a little better, that’s all! Especially if she’s gonna be sticking to you like a… like a stick!“Uh-huh. Suuuure~”Get your tail away from me!>CONTD.
>>6111019Okay, fine, you sigh as you prod TT’s rapidly-advancing face away from you with your finger, then can she at least tell you more about Durhers? You’re having trouble keeping up with all of these names and races.“Suuuure, I thought ya’d never ask!” Chirps the Spinner as she plays a few cheerful notes! “Well we’re nowhere near as big as some of the other races here in Zoral, obviously, but we make up for it in a lot of ways!”Such as?“Well we’re ADORABLE for starters~” She giggles as you feel a tail gently swat against your side, “But don’t let it fool ya–Durhers came up with a lot of inventions even before the light went away–Readable Roads, the Strider Guider, oh, and they say Durhers collaborated with Mox and Gnok to make that BUMOT writing system, but anyone can tell ya’ it was mostly us!”What about that instrument she’s been fiddling with? Is that a Durher thing too?“Huh? Oh, the STRIILI?” Asks the Spinner as she strums the instrument a few more times for good measure, “Funny you mention it–this is actually a Moleg instrument! They used to use ‘em to soothe Striders back when they all lived in tunnels underground.”You can’t help but smile imagining the Innkeeper belting out a sick Striili solo. Okay, you nod, you’re definitely learning a thing or two…“Careful~there’s gonna be a quiz later!” Chides Tzah-Tzie with a teasing laugh! “What else… oh, our fur kinda picks up movement and our noses are pretty strong… and we can’t regrow limbs like Skogs or Salty back there, but we can always regrow a tail! Wild, huh?”Good to know, actually! So if she ever loses hers-“Oh Hells, don’t even put that idea in my head!” The girl whines as she tugs on her unseen ears! “I mean… it grows back, yea, but it REALLY hurts! Don’t even THINK of yanking a Durher’s tail, bub! I mean it!”You weren’t planning on it, you shrug, but it’s hard not to think about now that she’s brought it up…“Oh, and we’ve got BIIIIG families!” Concludes the Spinner with a pluck of her Striili! “They say it’s because some tusked terrors kept rounding us up and eating us, but-”Tzah-Tzie’s eyes widen as she recalls her present company. “Err… anyways, strength in numbers, y’know?”You blink. She must have a pretty big family then, huh? Your question is met with an expression more suited for a deer about to get mulched on an interstate highway. Err, T? You okay?“Y-yea!” She nods with a forced smile, “Never better! And uh… that’s it for Durher trivia! And lucky you: the quiz is postponeeeeed~” Punctuating her statement with a nervous laugh, she goes back to playing her instrument as the road becomes a bit more solid. Must be getting closer to the city…Anything else?>Ask TT something else!>Talk to Volka!>Speak to Oti!>Bother Salty Suutz!>Just ride for now!>Write-In!
>>6111020So TT is a loser with a bad reputation where she has any reputation at all, and she's either not close with her family or they're all dead. Got it.Somebody pat this poor cat!>Speak to Oti!I still want to figure out if he's got any merit to him. When I voted to spare him it was mostly because I bought that he'd been pressganged somehow, but it seems like he was genuinely working with slavers. Does he REALLY not feel bad about that at all?
>>6111020>Speak to Oti!>>6111030Wizards have no sense of right or wrong
>>6111020>>Just ride for now!>>6111030Or taken as hostages/slaves and used as leverage to make her do whatever she does that gets het clients killed
>>6111020>Ask TT something else!How old is she? How long has she been in the spinning business?
>>6111030>>6111045>Speak to the jerk again>>6111073>I drive...>>6111085>TT A/S/LLooks like our new favorite mage/slaver wins it! Writing!
As it slowly dawns on you that you probably aren’t going to get any personal stuff out of your Spinner in Residence without booze, trust, or some sort of torture tools, you turn your attention to your second least responsive passenger on your little road trip! Hey Oti, you begin, got a question for ya!“What can I do for you, Anton?” Replies the Chytree in a tone that would definitely NOT pass the Grease Monkey Super Server Customer Interaction Checklist. Well, you begin as Tzah-Tzie continues to practice a song, you don’t want to point fingers-“What the Hells is a finger?”It’s… an expression, you sigh, rubbing your temples as you pass by what sounds like a waterfall. Look, you just want to know why he decided to work with Salty Suutz in his little scheme.“Because I clearly had nothing more important to do…” The mage scoffs with a roll of his glowing eyes. “I told you before: I owed him a lot of money. And still do, now that the deal’s fallen through.” His eyes narrow a bit as a faint buzzing sound emits from their segments. “I’m not sure if I should be thanking you or passing you an invoice.”You get the money, you retort, but… but slavery? He doesn’t seem very broken up about it.“Like I said, it was a lot of money.” The sorcerer sighs. “Suutz owned a boat a while back–I would charter it to search for undersea artifacts.”That… sounds dangerous.“Even the most seasoned sailors know not to underestimate the Black, yes…” Oti nods with a hint of reverence in his perpetually-irritated voice. “Doubly so when diving in the South. MIKK’S realm.”Now there’s a new name. Mikk?“One of the Four Lords of the Treaty, yes.” Explains the mage with an impatient nod. “Mikk rules the South–a land of cliffs and jungles, but also the largest expanse of unexplored ocean in Zoral. And for good reason, I might add.”Let me guess, you reply as TT listens in as well, sailors don’t come back from there? Your guess is rewarded by a slow golf clap.“Bravo. It’s a wonder you haven’t figured out a way home on your own with a mind like that!”So who are the other lords, anyways? And what’s this treaty, you add as you lean back a bit to hear your teacher better!“To the North lies UMBERAL, the City of Lights,” Oti begins as if telling a child a bedtime story, “Not that it has any, of course. It’s the capital of inventions, however, and is ruled by a supposedly undying Count and mage of considerable power named TRIER.. Shrewd even for a politician–and twice as mysterious.”Spooky, you whisper, feeling an icy breeze tickle the back of your neck like a spider…>CONTD.
>>6111647“In the East sits SPLIT TEETH: a vast wilderness of fungal forests and fetid fens… and deeper within sleeps SYSSKA: Mother of A Thousand Young. Her children stalk those unlucky enough to wander too deep into the woods, but hardier folk manage to thrive. I certainly wouldn’t mind the solitude, but…” Shrugging, Oti continues his explanation.“You’ve already met some envoys of the people to the West. The land’s called The Bite for several reasons, none of them good.”Why not?“It’s Skog country, first and foremost,” The Chytree explains, making no attempt to conceal his contempt in front of your Skog companion, “The whole frozen hellhole is ruled by a Skog Warlord known as KHODRA-”“They say he’s killed more people himself than everyone in Zoral combined!” Mutters Volka in a tone teetering between fear and reverence.“You can imagine his hospitality.” Smirks Oti. “Everyone living in The Bite follows a simple rule: ‘what’s yours is Khodra’s.’”So then this treaty-“Is something they came up with once the light disappeared, yes.” The sorcerer interrupts, clearly not as enthused about world history as you are, “To each their own, and nothing more, or else. And therein lies why Crossroads is so appealing: it has its share of cutthroats and cowards, yes, but it’s also safe from the ambitions of those so-called ‘Lords’.”“Some say they were responsible for the whole ‘light going away’ thing too!” TT adds as if telling a ghost story! “Or it’s punishment for their ill deeds in the past!”“Yes, storytellers never fail to break new ground in stupidity.” Replies Oti in a dry tone. “Back on the subject of my debt: Suutz was the only sailor dumb enough to poke around in the South, so his fees grew to be a bit… substantial.”“An fer’ good reason!” Snarls the sea dog from the back of the caravan! “I hope ye’ be rememberin’ what I done fer ye’ when ye be handin’ me over to the damned Bellcounters!”Seems like quite a debt if you’ve been doing this for a while, you remark with a probing stare!“Relax, this was my first and last time dabbling in slave trading. The old fool only contacted me because his previous mage…” The chytree turns towards his ex-partner with a quizzical look in his eyes, “What did you say happened to him again?”“Les’ just say he didn’t be farin’ as well as ye did against them Skogs I hired when e’ got inter a disagreement wivem…” Groans Salty Suutz as the memory replays in his head, “Knew I shouldnae hired from the bottom of the barrel…”“Yes, it didn’t seem like a good idea to cut and run with them around… But if you still have doubts about my character, consider this:” Oti concludes with a smile in his voice, “If it was any other mage, they would have disintegrated you all ages ago! How lucky you are!”>CONTD.
>>6111649As you divide your attention between your travel companions and keeping your caravan on what you hope is the road, you start to notice a change in your surroundings–the road is flatter, for starters, and in the distance you hear the creak of wooden structures amidst the breeze. Windmills, you think, not that you’ve ever seen one before. As you pass by one of the structures your ears are tickled by the faint song of wind chimes blowing in the wind, your nose kissed by the smell of fresh-cut grass.“Looks like we’re nearly there!” Announces TT with a triumphant strum of her Striili! “Welcome to the Outskirts, Ant!”“Should reach the City Walls soon!” Adds Volka from the back of the wagon. “Just keep it steady, Rook!”True to their words, the creaky chorus of windmills increases exponentially as you trek through vast tracts of unseen farmland marked only by the sweet smell of fruits and the tinkle of bells marking each row. You’d probably lose yourself in the unseen spectacle of it all were you not hailed by someone on the side of the road!“Hoi there!”Before you can react, Volka, Tzah-Tzie, and even Salty Suutz have already returned the greeting! As the caravan starts up a steeper grade, you raise an eyebrow at your comrades. Friendly people around here.“It’s just neighborly!” Explains Volka with a hint of teacher in her voice, “You always say hello to others on the road–it’s just how it is!”“They say it used to be an old rule y’know! If someone was creeping around and didn’t say hi, people assumed they were up to mischief!” The Spinner adds with a grin! “Now it’s just something people do!”“Just don’t expect someone to greet you if they want to put a knife in your arceptyx.” Adds Oti with the usual charm in his voice. “People around these parts aren’t as well-mannered when they want to kill you.”Awww…>CONTD.
>>6111650Speaking of, you begin, deftly sidestepping yet another tumbleweed of negativity from the Chytree, should you be worried about, y’know, entering the city? Your question gets four sets of stares: three of them blank, one of them irritated. You can probably guess who had that one.“There have been a bunch of guards at the entrance gates as of late…” Muses Volka as she scratches her chin in contemplation, “But maybe they’ll be more focused on the people we rescued?”“There are also a few other ways into town if you know where to look!” TT adds with a mischievous grin plastered on her foxy face! “I can getcha in while the others go the normal route…”“They’ve been cracking down on teleportations lately, so forget about that.” Sighs Oti. “I’m coming with you if you take an alternate route--goody two-shoes here can talk to the guards.” He adds before staring at Volka.“I ken also be helpin ye in if ye be lettin’ me go!”Think again, asshole!What’s the plan here?>Volka’s plan. Play the hero! You saved the people!>TT’S plan. Let’s not meet the guards yet.>Salty Suutz, tell us your route or Volka will hurt you!>Let’s just get this whole ‘From Another World’ thing over with. Be totally honest!>Write-In!That's it for tonight, by the way--got sidetracked by dinner and some SURPRISE OBLIGATIONS! Seeya tomorrow at the usual time, you lovely players, you~
