ANTON PEAS: that’s your name, don’t wear it out! Originally a mild-mannered grilljockey, a botched demonic summoning brought you to ZORAL: a fantasy world shrouded in perpetual darkness!You get used to it!The memory loss and everyone trying to kill you? That’s the tricky part. See, your unexpected trip landed you in one Hell of a mess: not only did you lose a huge chunk of your memories, but you also forfeit your soul to RED--you don’t know the specifics, but essentially your summoning granted you some DEMONIC POWERS, so it’s not all bad! What IS bad is what you’re up to now: your hellish helper can restore your memories, but he won’t do it for free! The price: delivering the heads of THE FOUR LORDS OF ZORAL: tyrants and titans that rule the darklands with iron fists, claws, and… you dunno, tentacles, maybe? There’s a reason they’ve ruled for so long, however, and despite your platoon of pals and plentiful powers you can’t help but feel a little apprehensive about the whole thing!Exhibit A: ARCHMAGE TRIER. Arriving in UMBERAL: Zoral’s very own city of tomorrow, you were swiftly introduced to the TEKSOULS: menacing magitek that follow every whim Trier can think up… and you met the guy–he thinks a LOT!Not to be outdone, you also ran into THE SPICE CARTEL--not only is Umberal their home turf, they’re also running some kind of deal with the Archmage… as for what it is, well, you shudder to think!Your search for leverage over the Archmage took you to TRIMBAULT ACADEMY: Zoral’s most prestigious magical academy, and whole you managed to snag some goodies and teach a surprisingly-decent class (don’t ask), you didn’t manage to find notes other mages took on their Archmage adversary! Even worse, all signs point to The Cartel snatching them up for their own perfidious plots!Luckily you had an in: TZAH-TZIE, skilled songstress and your current beau, has an axe to grind with her musical rival LUTZA. Having saved the starlet from a kidnapping on the Umberal Skyrail, you earned your way into holding a concert in Umberal, and some of the biggest names in The Cartel just happen to be huge fans!You were just about to plot out the details at the glitzy CRYSTALMELT HOT SPRINGS LODGE when you ran smack-dab into The Cartel’s higher-ups… and the big cheese himself, VHALE NESSURMOS.Did we mention he’s also your girlfriend’s husband? And that she freezes up like a clam on Pluto at the mere mention of his name?Cornered by the Cartel, THIS is where your tale continues…https://youtu.be/1lR8VLt1Xlk>CONTD.
>>6322706Welcome to DARK QUEST! Leave your worries by the door with your shoes, ya’ ain’t gonna need ‘em! Socks optional!>Archive link to catch up with the last thread:https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dark%20Quest>Pastebin for INVENTORY, SKILLS, and MORE:https://pastebin.com/xdk5kHyA>Character and Other Info compiled by everyone’s favorite fuzzball! https://pastebin.com/YKhP6xCt>Twitter for updates, dumb art, etc.https://x.com/DemBonez3Rolls are handled by a 1(or more)d100--I take the BEST OF THREE ROLLS! 1’s are CRITFAILS while 100’s are CRITSUCCESSES! Certain boosts and maluses will be applied based on the situation and existing skills.PLEASE ONLY 1 VOTE/ROLL PER PLAYER! If it’s exceptionally slow I’ll ask for people to roll again!BEEP BEEP! NEW MECHANIC!!! Thank you to the brave anons that weighed in last thread to make it happen: BAD LUCK BALATRO: Every day you get ONE reroll on a LUCK-BASED ROLL (Bluffing, Acrobatics, Dodging... situations where BAD LUCK would make sense per the anon that suggested it! Swell idea, mac!) I will provide the prompt when appropriate!Describing your actions, write-ins, and GENERAL CREATIVITY are all APPRECIATED AND REWARDED--we like to keep things LIGHT and CHILL here, so come on in and have some fun! FAN ART, THEORIES, AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK ARE ALL VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!DISCLAIMER: THIS QUEST IS DARK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
“So,” He begins as if catching up with an old friend, “How’s my… blushing bride, hmm?”An uncanny silence blankets Lutza’s suite as the question echoes in your skull, the words violently crashing against it as if they were trying to break out! Ever the professional, Joplin the Manager and one of Lutza’s Skog Bodyguards stand between the mafiosos and his managee–the former’s stern expression even stonier as the room’s tension becomes thick enough to taste!Rolo and Sixface, however, remain bent in perfect bows, neither daring to speak over their boss.And Vhale?The Durher just stares you down, unblinking, his eyes deader than a shark’s. Borderline emotionless, but with a hint of amusement? You don’t sense ire in his gaze, you think, but you don’t sense much of anything, really.That’s what worries you.Though the mafia don is several heads shorter than you, the simple gesture sends a shiver down your spine as if you were staring down the barrel of a bootlegger’s shotgun…With a hair trigger.Vhale doesn’t repeat his question, but you get the burning sense that he isn’t going to let you go without an answer. But how do you respond to the man who nearly snuffed the whimsy out of Tzah-Tzie’s eyes? A monster so vile Tzah-Tzie forced herself to vomit all over to escape his… ‘touch’ on their expedited honeymoon? How do you respond to Vhale Nessurmos: Cartel Kingpin, Ally to the Archmage, and breaker of spirits?>She’s safe.>What does he care?>She’s upgraded, actually!>He’s not getting her back.>Spit in his face.>Stay Silent! He’ll think you disappeared!>Come closer and I’ll tell you.>ATTACK!>Write-In!
>>6322708>She’s safeI can't say I like him, but we can't kill him just yet. Not with Trier still around.
>>6322708>She happy now, if you really care.Some spite is appropriate.Welcome back, QM!
>>6322708>>6322744 +1
>>6322708>She's actually happy now.Spitepilled. Let spite fill your soul, Antard.
>>6322744Hey gurl heeeeyyy~>>6322744>>6322761>>6322767>She's happy now, if you really care>>6322721>She's SAFEWriting! Good to be back even if it was only a short amount of time
She’s happy now, you spit as you meet his dead gaze with a glare, if he cares, that is!“No..” Shrugs the Durher as if you’d just asked him how hungry he was, “But I’ll admit my curiosity was piqued when I learned she didn’t become Makaar fodder or some bandit’s plaything…” Vhale cocks his head to the side. “She is my property, after all.”Oh, you scoff with a derisive smile, is that what he thinks? “It’s what I know.” The Durher answers in the same lackadaisical tone. “Her dear parents came crawling on their hands and knees to my father and I with the marriage certificate already stamped with their seal… practically threw her at me, really.”Steel clinks at the Cartel Kingpin’s side as he crosses one leg over the other. “It matters not how many men she’s lifted her tail for–and I suspect that’s quite a number–but it’s the same principle as my blade, really: some knuckle-dragging invalid can swing it around all he wants. Drool on the hilt, rub it against his chin…”It’s only now that you realize Vhale hasn’t blinked once since his unexpected arrival.“But were they to make the assertion that my blade belongs to them, well…” A claw idly taps against the sword at his side with a rhythmic ‘tink’, “That would be a very, very ill-informed idea indeed.”Vhale’s gray eyes tremble briefly.“... Drafty in here.”The words scarcely leave the Kingpin’s lips before his subordinates spring into action!“T-take my cloak, sir!”“A-and my hat-”Vhale neither looks at or acknowledges Rolo or Sixface as they scramble over to offer up to him their belongings. Rolo’s Mzz’goe’virr femme fatales, however, stand like gargoyles behind your chair, both wound up like homicidal Jack-In-The-Boxes waiting to pop!“So!” The Durher announces with the faintest hint of levity in his droning voice, “Let’s talk. ’Anton.’”You blink. About what? Vhale doesn’t.“Your reward,” He replies as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “For returning my stolen property, of course.” His head cocks to the side once more. “Surely you didn’t come all this way just to sample my limitless charm and legendary hospitality…” His empty eyes briefly flick over to his cowed subordinates. “Or did you simply wish to embarrass my subordinates?” A few tsks leave Vhale’s lips as he dismissively shakes his head. “Letting a rampant arsonist like this wander Umberal unimpeded, Rolo? Sixface? Poor form indeed…”The Durher known as Sixface averts her eyes as Vhale’s wander over to hers. “I’m accustomed to Rolo disappointing me, but I entrusted City Affairs to you… as a treat.”“F-forgive me, boss, but–” Sixface stammers as an uncanny bulging occurs in her eyes as she stutters out an excuse, “B-but he… he’s been claimed by… y-you know…”>CONTD.
>>6322847Vhale yawns as his gaze shifts back onto you. “Is that right?” He leans forward to study what few features he can see. “That’s a shame.” He leans back as quickly as he shifted forward. “The Old Man’s grown a bit too comfortable claiming what’s ‘his’, it would seem…” A faint grin creeps onto Vhale’s dour face. “But that’s no concern of yours, is it? Anton~”Look, you begin as you stare Vhale dead in the eyes, you didn’t come here to collect on some deranged ‘finder’s fee’, okay? So he can-“I insist.” The Durher interjects, barely raising his tone. “I’m well aware that she’s here–your entourage was spotted long before you reached Crystalmelt.” An unnerving crackle comes from his shoulder. “Quite a few of you in your merry little band, aren’t there?” Vhale leans forward in his seat once more. “But we will collect her. You and your friends will be on the next train out of Umberal by the time she suspects anything. The question is,” His voice hangs on the last word causing it to come out like a hiss, “What. Is. Yourrrr….” The Durher pauses for almost playful effect, “... Price?”“B-boss…” Rolo mutters under his breath, “T-the Archmage’ll be pissed… a-and he bu-”“Busted your toy Casino in Crossroads, I’m aware.” Purrs Vhale, his unblinking eyes not leaving yours. “My heart bleeds for you, Rolo… but when this transaction concludes, so too will our… disagreements.” Your Poker face falters, if only for a moment. Is he seriously trying to bury the hatchet?“So,” Vhale repeats, “How much is the whore worth, hm?”What say ye? What is Tzah-Tzie worth?>You want to know how to kill Trier.>Bells. More bells than you’ll ever be able to spend.>You want her to play a concert. With Lutza.>You want a way back to your home plane.>You’ll have to think about it.>Fuck you.>Fuck you.>Write-In!
Whoops, forgot a few options that are less... dealy.Inventory: https://pastebin.com/xdk5kHyA>Reach into your BIISII'S BAG!>Ask to use the bathroom!>BLASTCAPS!>Burn the floor and signal Oti!>
>>6322849Man, I don't wanna throw away this whole plan we had to kill Trier and have a cool fight...but it's definitely gonna happen if we make Vhale Flambeé
>>6322873I'll say one thing and then shut up:Toppel and a few other folks mentioned that Vhale doesn't die that easy..
>>6322873But on the other hand telling him to fuck off is certainly an option too. Okay now I'll seriously shut it
>>6322874The issue is that even if he did we wouldn't be able to do it.>>6322871Screw it,>BISII BAG
>>6322849>You want her to play a concert. With Lutza.Gives us lots of time to plan a double-cross with our boo.
>>6322849>You want her to play a concert. With Lutza.Let's not unleash the bag upon him just yet.. We must as well try to get something out of this.
>>6322883>BIISII'S BAG>>6323003>>6323014>CONCERT!Will write tomorrow! Sorry, busy Friday!
The word he uses to address Tzah-Tzie slaps you in the face like a rotten fish. Your teeth clench. Fists ball up at your sides. Your temples heat up and a vein throbs on your forehead as every voice in your head tells… no, SCREAMS at you to wipe the smirk off of this asshole’s face with two handfuls of hellfire!It’s more than he deserves… and yet you hesitate.She has a name, you spit as you lean forward to meet Vhale’s stony gaze with one of your own, and she wants to play a concert with Lutza. That’s why you’re here in the first place!Vhale doesn’t flinch at your request, nor does he seem too threatened by it. “Names are for those that warrant them.” He shrugs, leaning back as his eyes dance over to his subordinates. “A concert, hm?”“Y-yes, sir…” For the first time in what feels like ages, Lutza speaks up from behind her bodyguard bulwark! “We began planning on the Skyrail--sh-she can play well an-”Her first and last public performance…” Vhale sighs as the corner of his mouth curls up into a crooked grin, “Fitting.” His dull eyes jerk back over to yours. “So that’s it, is it? You gain nothing, she gets one last desperate gasp of freedom?”That’s right, you nod, holding your Poker face together as best you can, and that’s that.“And that’s that…” Vhale purrs as his claw clinks against his blade a few more times. “Send her up.”Hastily rubbing at her eyes, Sixface leaps to her feet for another swift bow. “O-of course, boss!”Hey, you begin as Sixface darts out the door, she doesn’t-“She does.” The Kingpin interrupts as one of his fangs pokes out from between his lips, “Would you rather we keep it a surprise? That’s cold, Anton…” His gaze drifts over to Lutza once more. “Where and when do you intend to hold this… ‘bash’?”“Tonight.” Answers Joplin, the Gnok Manager stealing a glance your way that almost says ‘just trust me’. “Here in Crystalmelt.”“Interesting venue choice.” Remarks Vhale, claw still tinking away at his blade, “Why not have it at the estate?”“For the sake of everyone’s privacy and safety we found it prudent to choose a more public area,” Joplin adds, earning a nod from his managee, “The crowds my client attracts tend to be rather large… and unruly, at times.”Before you can discuss it further, you hear a pair of familiar pitter-pattering feet enter from the front of the suite! “LUTZA~” Chirps and all-too-familiar and chipper voice, “Better start practicing, beca-”Skipping around the corner, Tzah-Tzie freezes up at the sight of Vhale, her words screeching to a halt in her throat with a violent choking noise! As the color and life drain from her features, the Kingpin takes a long, hard look at the girl as if inspecting her for damages.>CONTD.
>>6323272“Well, well, well…” He purrs, relishing the reaction he receives as he slowly rises from his chair, “She’s finally come home.”Betrayal and confusion clouds Tzah-Tzie’s eyes as they frantically flit around the room in search of an exit… but despite the abject terror in her features, the girl doesn’t dare move… not even when Vhale closes the gap between the two and lifts her chin with a claw.“So.” He remarks, his bride trembling as his hands begin to wander around her body, “Music, hm? You never showed me your singing voice.”Tzah-Tzie’s on lockdown. No vitriol leaves her lips, no bites meet their mark… it’s as if she’s a completely different person–or an animal, rather. Trembling in place, she doesn’t respond or react to Vhale as he takes his time planting a kiss on her pursed lips.“You’re nervous. Don’t worry–we’ll have lots of time to get… reaquainted.” Vhale’s sharklike eyes drift back over to you with an almost teasing glimmer. “Anton and I had a long talk… and he settled on quite the finder’s fee for your return.”She doesn’t have to say anything to show her betrayal. As her eyes whip over to yours you see it plain as day: confusion. Anger. Despair.And Vhale? He’s just lapping it all up.You meet her gaze and mouth the words ‘trust me’, but you’re not sure if they hit their mark or not. Tzah-Tzie’s no fool, you know that better than anyone, but sometimes she’s almost too good of an actress…“In return for Anton and company’s safe passage out of the city, you and Lutza will be playing at a concert tonight,” Vhale continues, earning an uneasy snigger from Rolo, “Here at Crystalmelt.” He makes a show of rubbing his chin in mock contemplation. “Think of it as… a going away party.”TT doesn’t respond, but Vhale does. A sharp CRACK rings across the room as he brings his claw across her cheek! Lutza gasps. Joplin and her Skog bodyguard flinch. Rolo and his girls stand stoic. And you? All you can do is gnaw on your cheek to keep yourself from tackling the bastard to the ground…“What do we say when someone does something nice for us?”Tears begin to trickle down Tzah-Tzie’s trembling face. “... Thank you…” She stammers, her eyes burning into the floor. “Thank… you…”“Good girl.” Giving her shivering head a pat, Vhale shifts his gaze back your way once again. “A deal’s a deal, Anton Peas.” He turns to face Joplin. “Tell the concierge what you need. We’ll foot the bill.”The Gnok nods in silent assent as the Kingpin’s gaze falls upon a still-staken Lutza. “Break a leg, hm? This is my wife’s big night, after all…”Vhale doesn’t even acknowledge Lutza’s wary nod as he takes the first few steps towards leaving the suite, but pauses.>CONTD.
>>6323276“Ah.” Turning to face the still-statuelike Tzah-Tzie, a sharp whistle escapes his lips prompting Rolo’s floozies to scoop your girl up in their arms!“We’ll take care of her until ‘Showtime,” Explains Vhale as TT hangs limply in the Mzz’goe’virr girls’ grasp, “My mansion has plenty of quiet rooms to practice in.” That crooked smile creeps onto his face as he turns to face you. “Wouldn’t want her getting… distracted, now would we?”For the briefest of moments Tzah-Tzie’s terror is replaced by something else… you can’t quite tell what it means, but her eyes meet yours as she changes. What could she mean?“Was there anything else?” Mutters the Durher, eyes still unblinking as he lingers by the door. “Rolo, track down Six before we leave. You know how hungry they get.”“Righto, boss…”Anything else? This might be the last time you get to talk to Vhale or TT for a while…>TT stays with you!>If he even THINKS of hurting her…>Him and Trier–what’s the connection?>Trier’s not going to intervene, is he?>What guarantee do you have that the cartel will stop hounding you?>Fuck you, Vhale.>Let’s shake on it.>ATTACK!>Write-In!
>>6323280>Trier’s not going to intervene, is he?We might as well get some info. I trust TT to know we've got a plan, anyway.
>>6323280>TT stays with you!He can have her back after the concert if he's still alive, which at this rate he will not be but until then, she stays with us and our friends. This is her last desperate gasp of freedom. THAT is the deal.
>>6323284Knowing we have a plan is one thing, but leaving her in the clutches of her abusive husband is another.
>>6323291Do you think he's going to accept that?
>>6323293If he has the sort of mindset where he thinks we're being legit with this deal to begin with, why not? If he genuinely thinks we're trading TT to him, he might just think we want one last roll in the hay before she goes away, or to try to apologize.And if he deosn't accept, I'm afraid we must flambe him.
>>6323294I'm pretty sure he'd think we just want to find a way to escape with her. Even if he agreed he'd get a lot more guards on our tail.
>>6323296I'm personally more confident of our ability to operate with his guards watching us than I am in leaving out chinchillathinge in his claws, alone and without back-up. He is exceedingly rapey.
>>6323297That's cool but I still think he's not gonna let us. Plus, we kinda have to leave her alone when it's time for the showdown and we have to go somewhere else.I get that you don't wanna leave TT alone but I really don't think that he will accept it or that it would make things better.
>>6323301Then we cook him. That's my vote, anyway. We'll see what others do, but I won't vote to leave TT alone with her rapist and his goons. Blame the QM for getting me invested in her well-being.
I'ma keep this open a little longer and then roll for it!
>>6323280>TT stays with you!Ah, should've voted a while ago, was distracted. TT is with US.
>>6323533Works for me!>>6323284>TRIER>>6323289>>6323533>TT'S WITH YOU, BITCHWriting!
Yea there is, actually! Taking a confident step towards the Durhers, you try not to smile as Tzah-Tzie glances up at you like a puppy being rescued from a well! She’s staying with YOU.She doesn’t even wait for permission before tackling your midsection and burying her damp face in your robes! By the time you feel her trembling head pressed against you, however, Rolo and his goonettes already have you in mangling range!“Oh?” Vhale remarks as lazy amusement trickles into his tone, “What gave you that idea?”YOU did, you reply, not even dignifying Rolo or his floozies with a glance as you hug Tzah-Tzie closer! How’s she supposed to rehearse if she’s locked up in a dungeon?! Just look at her–she’s terrified!Vhale gives her about half a second of a glance. “I fail to see how that’s my problem. She’s getting her little concert, what does it matter if it’s good or not?”TT is still trembling as you dare to take a step past the Mzz’goe’virr towards Vhale. They don’t stop you. He has the rest of his sad, sad little life to torment her, you snarl, causing your favorite furball to peek up at you from her robe refuge, so you’re taking her off his hands til’ tonight!By the time a sharp whistle leaves Rolo’s lips, his goons are already at your sides! Feeling a blade on each side of your face, you can’t help but let loose a sardonic laugh! You don’t care how many goons tagged along on their little spa-date, you begin in a low, but angry tone… you’re taking her with you! And you’ll bulldoze any Spice-scented shovelhead that gets in your way!You didn’t do too well in your High School Physics classes, but if the tension in the air was dense before, it’s definitely DOUBLE-DENSE now! Rolo stands like a statue, face contorted as he waits for permission to tear you limb-from-limb! Following their boytoy’s cue, his girl’s blades sink deeper into your flesh! Lutza watches with reddening cheeks from her seat as Joplin and the Skog bodyguard prepare to throw down too!And TT? She just squeezes you tighter.Vhale, on the other hand, looks……Delighted?You brace yourself for an attack that never comes–not from him, nor from his cronies, the latter clearly as befuddled by the outcome as you are! “Bold, Anton…” Purrs the Kingpin with the faintest glimmer of a twinkle in his dead, unblinking eyes, “Refreshingly bold.” He jerks his head towards the suite’s exit, prompting his entourage to leave you where you stand. “The whore is yours… for now.” He adds as Rolo’s glare burns a hole through your skull, “Enjoy her while you can.”Vhale departs as abruptly as he arrived–no fanfare, no last-minute threats from his lackeys… just a Durher leaving the suite like he owned the place followed by his humbled henchmen. >CONTD.
>>6323629Even as the door shuts behind them, no one in the room dares to make a peep… until Tzah-Tzie breaks free of her spell and collapses into a sobbing mess at your feet.“I’m… I’m sorry…”Ten minutes later, TT is still inconsolable as she buries herself in Volka’s embrace. Lutza’s apology is swallowed up by the gang, but no one seems eager to accept it. “That brute Rolo has a habit of accosting Ms. Lutza without an invite,” Joplin adds as the Tiito Triplets guard the door with renewed vigor, “I assumed your arrival would hasten his departure…” The Gnok’s steely gaze slips floorward. “... But nothing could have prepared us for… him.”Oh, well that makes it all hunky-dory, then, you snarl! They couldn’t have given you a warning!? Not even a ‘Hey, watch out: SPICE CARTEL’S HERE!’?!“P-please, Anton…” Lutza pleads, lip trembling as Joplin opens his mouth to retort, “If you have to blame anyone, blame me–I made the call. Not Joplin.”“So we should roast you then?” Rezzie remarks, idly picking between her teeth with a claw, “Just say the word, Anton.”You nearly take her up on the offer–seeing TT bawling in Volka’s arms like this awakens a primal anger in the deep recesses of your gut. Not demonic, nor magical… just…You.“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t smuggle someone inside their manor… their eyes will be painted on us until the concert…” Morook begins, pausing as he realizes something in his speech. “E-erm, n-not to be grim, of course-”“Let’s be realistic then: our enemies have no obligation to honor the agreement.” Oti interjects with the usual irritation in his tone, “This concert is our shield, and a flimsy one at that. The minute we step out of the public eye we’ll be dealt with.”His eyes flicker as they fall upon you. “And if you still intend to infiltrate their home during the festivities, there’s no longer a guarantee that Trier’s… ‘interest’... in you will keep you safe.”“AAAannd there’s no guarantee Vhale won’t gut you like a mudpoke at your next encounter.” Toppel helpfully adds.“I… I mean I know he’s scary, but,” Volka begins, her voice softened so as not to disturb the Durher seeking refuge in her lap, “But what’s stopping Rezzie or Anton from, y’know… toasting him?”“As I mentioned in our… first encounter...” Grumbles the sorceress with a sigh, “Vhale Nessurmos is… well, very difficult to kill, to put it bluntly.”“Most crime lords are…” Replies Morook with a hint of cheekiness in his tone.“I meant it literally.” Toppel adds with growing ire in her orange eyes. “I never had a lapse of judgement big enough to convince me to antagonize the man, but from what I’ve gathered here in Umberal, there have been attempts. Many attempts.” >CONTD.
>>6323630Her eyes sweep the suite like a camper telling a campfire ghost story. “Blades. Bombs. Swords. Sorcery. They say he was beset upon by a mob of mercenaries at a dinner party once–they waited until he imbibed some Vibertooth venom and descended upon him like a pack of Makaar…”… And?“And when the cries settled… only he remained.”Fantastic, you growl, so you’ve got not one, but TWO assholes that refuse to die easily! Does anyone have any ideas that aren’t just ‘oooOOoh NO OnE EvER BEaT ThEmMmM!!!’?Rezzie raises her claw almost immediately. You think. Stupid darkness. Yes, Rez?“If this Val idiot stole the notes from this Tier moron, they probably don’t like each other, right?”You open your mouth to respond, but your tongue gets tied! Y-yea, you reply with a slow nod, probably…“So why don’t we just tell that dumb wizard guy that the dumb crime guy is trying to kill him?” The devil continues with a derisive sigh! “Rend two souls with one claw.”That’s… is that what the saying is? Rezzie answers by crossing her arms and groaning. Guess so.“It’s… not ideal,” Morook begins as he cautiously steps around Rezalith’s suggestion, “But she might have a point… we can’t do much until the concert without being watched… and that BOMB still needs to be retrieved…”Right, the Anti-Magic Bomb you asked them to order… you totally forgot! Well, you sigh, none of this is ideal, but Rezzie has a point: if anyone would know what’s going on with Vhale, it’s him.“But…” Volka mutters as she strokes the still-trembling TT, “H-he said he was going to send for you, r-right? If you bother him now, do you think he’ll…?”You don’t know what he’ll do, you fire back, and frankly you don’t really care--a showdown with that deadeyed dick is inevitable and you wanna be ready for it when it happens!Volka nods as she digests your answer. “Yea… yea, fair enough…”“Whatever you intend to do, I’d suggest you do it now.” Joplin interjects with a polite cough. “They’ll be scheming, no doubt–that should give you some time before the concert. I’ll delay it as best I can as well.”Jop, you begin in a softer tone, thanks. The Gnok nods.“I, err…” Volka mutters, not daring to get up, “I should… I mean, I can stay here if-”Before she can stammer out a response, the Spinner stirs in her lap with damp, reddened eyes and renewed determination on her face.“I’ll be fine.”TT, you begin as relief creeps into your tone, s-she doesn’t have t-“I do.” She snaps as she peels herself out of Volka’s hug, “And I will. If there’s anything… ANYTHING I can do to help put that pompous prick in the ground any faster, I’ll do it!”>CONTD.
>>6323632Still sniffling as she strides over to where you stand, Tzah-Tzie stares up at you with big, emboldened eyes. “That… bastard can’t be allowed to survive the night, Anton… I won’t let him hurt anyone else ever again.”Let me guess, you mutter as a wry grin slips onto your face: another ‘Tzah-Tzie Guarantee’?She wipes the wetness from her eyes and matches your smile. “Damn right it is!”Giving the girl a nod, you can almost feel something scraping at the back of your mind… a faint, simple word on repeat:”sOoN…”You get the feeling you won’t be waiting long to chat with the Archmage… good. You could use his input. Until then, however, what’s the next step?CHOOSE ONE:>Speak to someone in the gang! (Who?)>Talk shop with Lutza and Joplin about the concert!>Travel somewhere else in Umberal! (Destinations provided if voted for!)>See if anyone here can train you while you have some downtime! (COMBAT? MAGIC? STEALTH? DIPLOMACY?)>Investigate that mental itch NOW rather than later…>Write-In!
>>6323633>Talk shop with Lutza and Joplin about the concert!If I remember exactly, a spicy stole the immortality secrets right? It's clear they're doing something. Maybe we can get Trier to take out the bastard. Then we blow him up. Actually, if we had the bomb already I'd blow both of them up. At once. But we don't...
>>6323636The Cartel seems to have stolen the notes compiled on Trier by the Trimbault Academy Mages, yea... secret to immortality? Maybe not. Stuff that could probably waste the Archmage? Maybeeeeee~You also recall that there's definitely some kind of deal between Trier and The Cartel: The Cartel provides bodies, living or otherwise, and in return they get... something.
>>6323640Well, it don't matter why they want it so long as we can convince the schizophrenic technolich that they're up to no good and that he should kill them.
>>6323640It sort of counts. Trier's secret to immortality is not being destroyed by whatever the notes say can waste him.>>6323636+1, let's make this count. I like your plan, anon, but also>Talk shop with Lutza and Joplin about the concert!we can't let Vhale ruin TT's big comeback grudge match mega-concert. he's caused her enough pain, and this was a big deal for her.
>>6323633>Talk shop with Lutza and Joplin about the concert!Total Vhale Death.
>>6322706Woooooooo we are so back!
>>6323636>>6323654>>6323657>CONCERT TALK!Writing!>>6323741Hell yea we are, questie
Letting the ominous warnings in your head slip for the time being, you focus your attention towards something you HAVE some semblance of control over:The concert!“I’ve already spoken to the staff here at Crystalmelt,” Joplin begins with a twinkle in his steely eyes! “There should be no problems holding the event here tonight, especially with the… financial aid we’ve been granted.”W-wait, you sputter, how did he talk to them already?! We just finished meeting wi-“Magic.”Oh, right, he can do that ‘Mind Talk’ thing… okay, you shrug, so that’s one detail settled, but-“The performance will be held on the roof to discourage attacks and… eager fans. The Triplets have already informed me of an escape route from the roof to the hot springs in case of fires or other emergencies–it should suffice for our purposes. My contacts here in Umberal coupled with Cartel word of mouth should provide adequate advertising,” He continues, turning to his client and earning a nod. “And for added chaos we’ve opted to waive any kind of ticket fee.”Tzah-Tzie’s damp face widens into a manic grin! “Th-the whole CITY’S gonna be here! It’s gonna be a MADHOUSE, Ant!”And… that’s okay with Lutza, right? The starlet answers with an extra-saccharine smile!“The Cartel offered to foot the bill–it’d be rude not to accept their hospitality~” Her smirk stiffens. “Vhale’s… Captain... receiving the same punishment will be more than enough of a payment.”The realization hits like the final piece slipping into place on a jigsaw puzzle. Something about her dumb contract forbids Lutza from speaking about it, but the answer is clear as day:She wants ROLO dead too. Fine by you…“It goes without saying, but if you intend to handle any unfinished business I’d budget yourselves some time to return here before sundown.” Joplin adds, earning a few murmurs of assent from your team. “The city’s Speakstones announce every hour, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”“As for the setlist,” Lutza purrs, eyes lighting up with naked anticipation, “I’ll start with a few of my ‘not-as-popular’ ballads to get the crowd warmed up… that’ll get them to stick around for the good stuff!”Time’s of the essence, you explain, so the longer they can keep everyone entertained, the better!“Oh, I think we can make that work…” Giggles Lutza from her seat! “A few technical difficulties before showtime, a few short speeches–” Her eyes light up with almost Tzah-Tzie-esque mischief! “... Maybe a few words from Vhale himself…”“Prick’s about as social as a Bull Makaar,” TT spits, “But he’ll jump at any opportunity to make himself seem bigger than everyone else…”>CONTD.
>>6323825And it’ll ensure he’s onstage while you snoop around in his house, you add with a smile! You’ll definitely think about it…“As for, erm… your entrance…” Lutza adds, uncertain eyes drifting over to Tzah-Tzie, “We… we don’t have to do this now, Tzah-Tzie… especially with the Cartel an-”“Pfft, backing out on me already?” The Spinner laughs, earning an embarrassed grin from her opponent, “Not on your life, sister–I’m gonna school your butt in front of the whole city… Cartel and all!”“I was hoping you’d say that…” Lutza nods with renewed flame in her eyes! “You can make your grand debut when the crowd calls for an encore… I trust you can improvise for a song or two?”“Tch, I eat improvisation for breakfast!” You can’t help but smile at TT’s renewed pep–all the more reason to put the guy who makes her so damn upset on ice! Which reminds you…Vhale.“We… should probably operate under the assumption that he won’t stay for the whole thing,” TT begins, a faint tremble in her voice. “And that he’ll assume we’re up to something.”“Your friends were right before,” Lutza agrees as she casts a sympathetic gaze over to Tzah-Tzie, “There’s something protecting him… and it may very well have to do with The Archmage…”Then you’ll just have to ask him, won’t you? Silence falls over the room as your rhetorical question falls flat! And hey, you add, maybe you can even get him to kill Vhale FOR you!“That’s…” Oti begins as he slips into the conversation, “Very unlikely, but…”“But you can bet his Teksouls’ll be there,” Tzah-Tzie remarks, face scrunched up in thought. “So if you COULD somehow put a splinter between them, well…”Dude was crackling and croaking on repeat about how much he loves Umberal, you shrug, so if you can play on that, well…“It goes without saying, Mr. Peas,” Begins Joplin with another polite cough, “But I want you to know that whatever happens, on my name, honor, and integrity as a manager, we won’t allow anyone to lay a finger on Ms. Tzah-Tzie.” He punctuates his declaration with a bow.If all goes well, you reply with a reassuring smile, he won’t have to worry about that at all!“Anything else we should clear up while we can?” Lutza asks, prompting TT to look your way too. “It’ll be hard to reach us when we’re performing, so…”Is there?>What’s the plan for after the performance?>You wanna adjust something.>You wanna know exactly what security’s plan is!>Who should you talk to if something goes awry?>Nope, sounds good to you!>Write-In!
>>6323826>Nope, sounds good to you!I can't think of anything at least.
>>6323826>What’s the plan for after the performance?I sort of suspect we'll be making hasty exists, so we should know where to regroup. Volkir's old pad again?What I'm thinking is we find the notes, read them, leak them to a Teksoul and say some cartel guy dropped them, and that might be enough for Trier to attack the concert.
>>6323836+1
>>6323826>>6323836 +1
>>6323831>NOPE>>6323836>>6323859>>6323951>AFTER?Writing! Expect delays, feeling like hot garbo today
There is one thing, you answer with a touch of uncertainty creeping into your tone. Suppose we need to beat a hasty retreat–“As I mentioned before, the roof has an Escape Route-”No, totally, you interrupt with an apologetic laugh, but you mean, like… AFTER. Even assuming everything goes peachy with the concert, you’ll probably need a quick route out of town… or at least a place to hunker down!“Ant’s right,” TT adds with a small groan, “Ritzy as this place is, it won’t stop an army of crazed fans…” She blinks. “Oh. Or Spicys… Or Teksouls.”“I’ve already arranged for a few safehouses scattered around Umberal,” Joplin answers with a fraction of a shrug. “Comes with the territory. Leaving Umberal, however, is another story-”“WAIT!”Lutza’s soft-as-the-seaside voice jumps to an alarming volume that spooks everyone in the vicinity! She, however, looks happier than a clam in a… clam resort? Whatever, she looks excited!“Rolo, he…” She stammers, her face scrunching up at the sound of his name, “He didn’t take a train to Umberal…”Yea, you snort, the thing woulda’ buckled under his weight if he did! Up top!“You’re right,” Mutters Joplin as Tzah-Tzie slaps you some palm, “He wouldn’t stop bragging about his ‘Flying Machine’... called it ‘tip-top’ and wouldn’t stop gushing about how comfy the beds were…”“Wha-wha-WHAAA!?” Sputter TT, eyes wider than a Chytree’s, “D-did you say a ‘FLYING MACHINE!?’”What SHE said! Is it here!? Here in Umberal!?!“Oh it’s here alright…” Murmurs the musician as she shuffles around awkwardly in her seat, “Docked and moored at the Nessurmos Estate. Rolo’s been too paranoid to sleep anywhere else. It would certainly explain how he arrived so swiftly.” Her jade eyes flicker with mischief! “If we could get our claws on it we’d be out of Umberal long before anyone could catch us…”“Not to mention ruin that bastard’s day a second time…” Purrs TT, not even trying to hide her enthusiasm! “Oh… but how does it work? Any ideas?”Lutza answers with a befuddled grin. “Wish I knew… but it was built in Umberal and if flies. It’s gotta be magical…”“As excited as you may be by the prospect of adding the theft of an extremely high-profile vehicle to your grand escape, Miss Lutza, I would highly advise weighing other options as well.” Joplin replies, earning a round of annoyed groans for his trouble! “They’ll pause Skyrail transit, I can almost guarantee it, but there are maintenance trains that won’t be hindered…” His brow furrows as he weighs your limited options. “Worst case scenario I know a back alley telemage or two. They could get us out of the city for the right amount of bells.”>CONTD.
>>6324286We don’t need to figure it out now, you add, still totally out of your depth, but if they need a place to lay low you’ve been given free reign over an apartment in the city–one with some pretty decent magical wards, you think!“... You think?” Lutza asks, the look on her face clearly not inspired.Yea, you nod, Volka’s dad put ‘em together and he’s… well, he’s really old, but knows his magic! TT, where’s the address again?As Tzah-Tzie relays the info to the starlet she spent whole threads threatening to annihilate, you turn your thoughts to other, less-green pastures… and even those are put on hold when you hear a demure knock on the door to the suite followed by a less-than-demure appearance by the Tiito Triplets!“Z’Crystalmelt Staff, Miss Lutza!”“Askin’ fer’ Mister Peas, Miss Lutza!”“Says he’s bein’ called to the lobby, Miss Lutza!”“Thank you, boys.” The Durher replies, putting goofy grins on each of the Skog’s faces! “Leave Tzah-Tzie with me, Anton. I’ll keep her close.”“H-hey, I’m no princess, alright?” Stammers the Spinner as she swoops in and wraps her noodly arms around your waist! “And as for you:”Climbing your trunk like a lovestruck squirrel, TT plants a big, warm kiss on your lips… and a few more for good measure! It’s only after you run your fingers through her hair and tickle her ears a bit that she begrudgingly pulls away!“Guess our Umberal date might have to wait…” She sighs, gently caressing your cheek. “...Don’t pull any punches tonight, okay?” She requests, a mixture of worry and longing lingering in her lime-green eyes! “I want us to be able to laugh and boast about whatever happens tonight…” Her cheeks get a few shades redder as her bashful eyes fall groundward. “... for years to come…”Any last remarks to TT? Or anyone else?>You promise!>She needs to be careful tonight!>Knock ‘em dead at the concert!>Write-In!This meeting might take a while… Who will lead the Bomb Pickup Squad?>Volka!>Morook!>Rezzie!>Oti!>Toppel!
>>6324287>Knock ‘em dead at the concert!You gotta win.>Morook!He's the one that promised the payment for the guy right?
>>6324287>Knock ‘em dead at the concert!>Morook!
>>6324287>Knock ‘em dead at the concert!>Morook!He's literally the only ine with a healthy sense of caution and tact... No offence to Volka, who wiuld be great if we were going loud.
>>6324294>>6324379>>6324401>KNOCK'EM DEAD!>MOR!Writiiiiiiiiiiing!>>6324401>Implying Rezzie isn't THE BEST at, among many, MANY other things, CAUTION and TACT
You give your favorite fuzzball another tender peck on the lips before answering with a reassuring smile. Don’t worry about you, you add as you squeeze the girl’s small shoulders, just worry about knocking ‘em dead at the concert tonight! Give these Umberal punks a night to remember!THAT makes her smile. “Oh you know I will… and… and I know it’s dumb, and selfish, and impossible, but…” A nervous giggle leaves her lips as her grin droops. “... I wish you could be there to watch me…”You give her hair a playful tousle! Just keep playing, okay? You’ll make it to the encore! Her eyes shine like emeralds at your vow, lips trembling as she nods in assent!“Y’know… you’re just crazy enough for me to believe that…” Gulping down the lump welling up in her throat, the Durher wipes her damp eyes on your robe and plants one last smooch on your cheek before disembarking!“I’ll be looking for your eyes in the crowd, Ant…” She adds as a forlorn, but soothing smile forms on her face, “I’ll spot ‘em… I mean it!”You never had a doubt in your mind… giving her hair another tousle, you bow in thanks to both Lutza and Joplin. Take care of this one, you add with a laugh in your voice, she can be quite the handful!“Tch, never heard you complain…” Grumbles TT with a wry grin.“I’ve forged a career wrangling… ‘problem cases’...” Adds Joplin with a rare twinkle in his eye, “Consider it an occupational hazard.”“I’ll keep an eye on her too, don’t worry!” Giggles Lutza as she crosses over to her rival and wraps an arm around her shoulder! “Just call me ‘Big Sis’!”“H-hey…” Stammers your team Spinner with a fresh blush on her face, “W-we’re still enemies, y’know…”Leaving them to their rehearsal, you make your way over to the rest of the team as they put their planning on hold! Mor, you begin, he knows where to pick up the bomb, right?“Aye, cap’n.”… He uh… he doesn’t need to call you that… The Chytree’s eyes dull.“Understood, cap’n.”… Is he comfortable leading the team to pick it up?“Perfectly, Anton.” He replies in a tone that could either mean confidence or just the usual Chytree drone, “The Spicys got off easy last time… any more underhanded tricks and the Teksouls’ll be scraping their remains off the street.”“FINALLY!!!”You try not to smile at Rezalith’s outburst. And fail. Good man! You move to give the Ranger a pat on the shoulder, but a claw intercepts your hand and grips it tight!“You do realize,” He adds, voice low and eyes glowing with fresh excitement, “That pulling this off will shake Zoral by its very foundations?”You answer him with a smile as you squeeze his claw right back! That’s the plan!>CONTD.
>>6324443“Viisla favors the cautious,” Morook drones with flickering eyes, “But they have a soft spot for the bold, too.” He lets your hand go with a steadfast nod. “Good hunting, Anton. Shall we meet at the safehouse before the concert?”Good call! No sense in playing your hand too early… and there’s no telling how long this meeting will go. Speaking of, you leave the rest of the crew with a wink as the Tiito Triplets open the door to the suite for you.“Tusks forward an’ head high, Mister Peas!”“Leave the worryin’ ta’ us, Mister Peas!”“Ain’t no one gettin’ their claws on Miss Tzie, Mister Peas!”Thanking the boys as you exit the suite, you meet the Lodge Staffer with renewed confidence in your step and pride on your face… to which they’re pretty indifferent, unfortunately.“P-please… th-this way, Mr. Anton…”You don’t need to be that alcoholic sleuth you’re not supposed to serve at work to realize something’s rattled this staff member, and when you follow them down to the lobby it doesn’t take you long to understand why!”TARgeT IDeNTIfIED…”The declaration comes in triplicate, albeit spoken in different cadence and pitch by the Teksoul trio lingering in the lobby. Bracing yourself for an attack that never comes, it takes you a moment to let your guard down! Errr, yea, that’s you…The constructs’ unseen limbs form a barrier around you like a very confused python… a dull tingle forms in your teeth as you sense magic seeping from their ever-glowing eyes!”STanD BY foR TRaNSPOrtaTION… DO. NoT. MOve.”A few days ago you would have been rattled by teleportation’s roller coaster-esque jerk, but now?Now it’s just Tuesday.… Is it Tuesday? What day is it in Zora-PERSPECTIVE CHOICE: WHO’S UP NEXT?>ANTON!>MOROOK!>WRITE-IN! JUST KIDDING, THOSE TWO ARE YOUR ONLY CHOICES! DON’T PICK THIS OPTION I SWEAR TO GOD YOU GUYS
>>6324444>MOROOK!M-Dawg's time to shine.
>>6324444>WRITE-IN! JUST KIDDING, THOSE TWO ARE YOUR ONLY CHOICES! DON’T PICK THIS OPTION I SWEAR TO GOD YOU GUYS:)
>>6324459That's it quest over I've had it up to here with your shenanigans
>>6324444>WRITE-IN! JUST KIDDING, THOSE TWO ARE YOUR ONLY CHOICES! DON’T PICK THIS OPTION I SWEAR TO GOD YOU GUYSThis quest needs to end right here, I have too many stuff I've been putting off to read and if I don't have any new stuff I might start getting my backlog done.
>>6324444>MOROOK!
>>6324444>WRITE-IN! JUST KIDDING, THOSE TWO ARE YOUR ONLY CHOICES! DON’T PICK THIS OPTION I SWEAR TO GOD YOU GUYSDembones>MOROOK!
>>6324457>>6324514>>6324638>MOROOOOOOOOKKK!!!!>>6324459>>6324512>END THIS FARCE ALREADY PLEASE QM>>6324638>DEMBONESDEMBONES: that's you! Your shoulders creak and your eyes burn as you struggle to shake the sleep off of your gnarled, wretched form. Licking your chapped lips, you dump the lukewarm remnants of your coffee thermos down your parched throat in a vain attempt to fill the void in your core with something... ANYTHIOkay okay let's just roll with Morook. Writing!
>>6324727Your boots splash through icy puddles as you lead the way through Umberal’s labyrinth of winding alleys and crowded thoroughfares. You’re MOROOK, of course, and you don’t think you’ll ever get used to a place like this.‘City of Tomorrow’? You hope not…With Anton off to meet the Archmage, you thought it prudent to check in on your ‘order’--the sooner you can get off the streets the better, you think as your trek leads you to the canals–the roar of yachts and clanking of colossal machines dipping their cold appendages into it like River Friilkas doing little to soothe your unease.Your foes took you by surprise before–this time they won’t be so lucky. The plan, as it was before, is simple:Find the bomb. Take the bomb. Bring the bomb to the safehouse. One, two, three.Easier said than done, however–as if the city clamor wasn’t enough, the magical contamination is nigh-overwhelming here in Umberal… and though you can’t use magic you can’t help but feel the arcane weight in the air around you press down on your shoulders and make your head heavier! If this is how you feel, then how does Oti manage it? Hells, what would Lila think?… There’s probably a reason you don’t see any Veeti in these cold, cold streets, but you’d be lying if you said you wouldn’t appreciate her company.For all the wonders Umberal holds, there’s no shaking it from your mind:Something is profoundly wrong with this place!It matters not. You’ve a job to perform, and you don't make a habit of betraying expectations! Come sorcerers or Spicys, you’ll be ready for them all–Umberal’s a lot less frightening when you liken it to a jungle…Who did you bring with you anyways? Did you opt for a smaller, quieter group, or did you prepare for WAR?CHOOSE ZERO OR MORE!>Volka>Rezalith>Toppel>Oti>Obber
>>6324775>Volka>RezalithGotta take Volka, and we can't trust the other ones to trust Rezdawg
>>6324776Toppel trusts Rezzie... she trusts Rezzie hard...
>>6324779Toppel has an restraining order and is not allowed to be within 100 meters of Rezzie.
>>6324775>Volka>RezalithPartly because I also do not trust Rezalith unsupervised.
>>6324776>>6324945>REZ-DAWG>VOLKA-CHANLocked in! Will probably write the update tomorrow--feeling a bit under the weather for the last few days
With Anton off at his meeting and Tzah-Tzie prepping for her big debut, your squad choices were a bit more limited than before–not that you mind, of course. In any other situation you’d be operating solo, but after what happened earlier, well…You can never be too careful, can you?Volka trudges at your side with her thick tail swaying behind her and big yellow eyes darting after every person you pass. At first glance you’d assume she was 100% focused, but the way she grinds her teeth intermittently tells a different story. You might be of different ages and species, but you know Volka better than almost anyone…And you know she only grinds her teeth when something’s on her mind. Something besides the task at hand.Rezalith, on the other hand, skips a few feet ahead like a pet Makaar being taken out for a hunt! She’s even humming a tune, too!“Kiiiillliiiing! Kiiiiilliiing! Gouging, stabbing and kiiiiilllliiiing~”Rezzie, you groan, do you really have to ask her again? The demon sends a glare your way that could freeze magma!“Tch… fine, FAT EYES…” Her skip turns into a dull trot as her sunny expression darkens. “ANTON would’ve let me sing the song…”You hate to break it to her, you mutter, but you aren’t him.“Yea. NOTED.”“Rezzie…” Volka chides in a motherly tone, promptly defusing the feisty fiend. “Where we headed again, Mor?”SOUTHWESTERN SNOWMELT CANALWORKS OFFICE, you recite, just like you’d been doing over and over in your head the whole afternoon, in some tool shed around the corner.“Right, right… yea…” The Skog nods, biting her lip in quiet assent. “Tool shed…”The Buumot bumps and grooves carved into the road at your feet tell you you’re on the right track–you just hope Obber The Machinist has already dropped off the hardware by the time you arrive.… Funny how many Gnoks are named Obber, now that you think about it.What do on the way to the office?>Check in with Volka!>Try to talk to Rezzie!>Double-check your Slinger.>Listen to the world around you!>Just keep walking and stay sharp…>Write-In!
>>6325284>Listen to the world around you!Gotta be careful.
>>6325284>Just keep walking and stay sharp…
>>6325290>STAY A WHILE AND LISTEN!>>6325293>KEEP WALKING!Fuck it we'll blend 'em together. My bad for making them so similar!>Roll me 1d100((+5 Devil Senses, +4 Ranger Senses, -7 AUUUUGGHH CITIIIIIEEESSSS!) to see what your Chytree senses can sense! Best of 3!
Rolled 24 (1d100)>>6325429
>>6325431>>6325451Ha, do I hear one more 24?
Rolled 20 (1d100)>>6325429
>>6325537Awww so close to a triple
>>6325538And no better for us either way. Poor Team Morvolkalith.
>>6325431>>6325451>>6325537>HIGHEST ROLL: 26!Welp time to kill Morook, Volka, and Rezalith. Will write this up tomorrow--sorry for the slow updates. Think I'm not sick though, so that's a relief!
>>6325550RIP, half the main cast. :(
In moments of unease like this, you fall back on your old standby: letting nature speak. Try as you might, however, you can’t quite seem to find the right ‘frequency’. What normally comes easily to you in the wilds, and what you could even manage in certain parts of Crossroads, seems outright impossible even on the canal’s rim… Too much noise, you think as you struggle to drown it out with your own thoughts, just too much noise…“Alright there, Mor?” Volka asks, breaking from her own wariness for a moment to offer you a reassuring smile! “Constipated?”You’re fine, you reply, waving her off with your tone of voice, just… keep sharp, okay?“Righto…”You’re not fine, actually, but you don’t bother relaying that to your scaly sibling. It’s not the clanks and hisses and groans and chatter that picks away at your head like a miner’s chisel, no… it’s the perpetual feeling of precariousness you can’t shake from your head that’s been following you ever since you arrived in this wretched burg!It’s like standing on the edge of a vast pit… or showing up uninvited to a funeral. It’s grim and foreboding enough without the sense that you don’t quite belong, and the feeling’s only grown since you arrived.Continuing along the canal, you silently hope whatever Anton does gets you out of Umberal. The sooner the better!To your surprise–and concern–the front of the CANALWORKS OFFICE is remarkably quieter than the rest of your stroll–nestled at the back-end of a short alleyway, the office is located in what seems to be a small cul-de-sac along with a Shipping Guild Office and some nondescript warehouse. Nothing out of the ordinary for a Crossroader. “Tch…” Rezzie grumbles as she samples the air with a few sniffs, “Smells like mold and guts back here.”… She’s mad about the guts? The demon shrugs.“Makin’ me hungry…”“Where’d, uh… where’d you say the stuff would be again, Mor?” Volka hisses as her eyes trace the building rooftops.Round the back, you mutter as you switch out your city-stepping for your practiced ‘Ranger-Walk.’ Umberal might be kept sunny and clear through magical means, but you still make a point to step heel-first and far away from the many puddles dotting the ground. With each step you take, you take a moment to listen, but try as you might, well…Yep, too much damned noise. Persistent, too.Finding the building’s corner with your claw, you pause for a moment just to be safe… and when you hear nothing but the distant clank of a windmill on the roof and the toot of a canal skiff, y-“AAAAAAUUUUUUUGH!”For a fraction of a second you feel hot, panicked breath on your face that reeks of booze, meat, and poor dental care! By the time its owner stumbles backwards wide-eyed and mortified, you’ve already got your Slinger trained on where his heart should be!>CONTD.
>>6325758A Gnok, you swiftly realize, and a familiar one too!“Obber?” Mutters Volka as she swiftly sheathes her blade, “W-weren’t you stuck in that trap in your workshop?”The Machinist answers your sister with a wide-eyed stare! “The fuck ye’ onnabout!? I made the darned thing–I ken get meself out!” Scarcely do the words leave his lips before another thought arrives in his head–one that tinges his shock with anger!“A-and what the HELLS d’ya think yer’ doin’, askin’ me ter’ come out here again!? I paid my part of the bargai–”Hold on, you interject as calmly as you can, what does he mean ‘again’? “Zackally what it sounds like ‘again’ means, again!’” He sputters in growing disbelief! “I dropped off the ‘toy’ like you asked me to, an’ I barely got back to the shop when ye come in an’ tell me ta’ pick it up an’ move it!” You hear something jingle near his cloak pocket. “So here I am movin’ it! Bright-eyed bastard…”“H-hang on,” Volka stammers as her claw returns to her blade’s grip, “He did? Morook?”“No! Some completely identically yeller-eyed Chytree that knew about our arrangement did!” Scoffs the Gnok with growing unease! “YES, HIM!”You and Volka exchange a worried glance while Rezzie merely stands there with the usual frown. Look, you quietly begin, whoever came to him, it wasn’t you.Obber looks ready to dispute that claim, but after searching your steely gaze for a moment, his anger gives way to something else…Concern. Yep, that’s the one.“Wh-” He grunts as his eyes flit around the alleyway, “Th-then..”Silencing him with a sharp hiss, you cautiously turn around to find the alley bare behind you! Unsure of what the game is, you know one thing for certain: you probably have a moment or two before the puppet master realizes you know something’s up!What do?>Send Rezzie to scout!>Run for the canal!>Address whoever’s watching you… if there IS someone!>Double back deeper into the alley Obber came from!>Make a distraction!>Write-In!
>>6325759>Send Rezzie to scout!GO GO GADGET DEMON THING
>>6325759>Send Rezzie to scout!REZZIE, LISTEN. LISTEN REZZIE. IF YOU GET HIM IN 15 MINUTES OR LESS, WE'LL LET YOU EAT **ALL** THE GUTS YOU WANT.
>>6325765>WE'LL LET YOU EAT **ALL** THE GUTS YOU WANTDamnit anon, now she's gonna be too full for dinner.
>>6325766It's worth it, trust me, fifty million IQ play here.
>>6325767It's not gonna be worth it when she spoils her appettite.
>>6325761>>6325765>REZZIIEEEEEEEYea guys I don't wanna railroad but Rezalith's totally gonna ruin her appetite and won't want ANY dinnerHERE GOES SOMETHING!>Roll me 1d100-2 (+5 Devil Senses, +4 Ranger Senses, -4 Unideal Positioning, -2 Loud Obber, -5 They know how you work now) to see how Rezzie does! Best o' three!
Rolled 16 (1d100)>>6325829Roll
Rolled 98 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6325829I sincerely doubt Rezzie will ever, ever turn down the opportunity to eat someone.
>>6325870The dice seem to agree.
Rolled 33 (1d100)>>6325829
>>6325833>>6325870>>6325884Yea okay it looks like bribing Rezzie with treats works. Will write this bad boy up midday on Friday! Thanks for playing, all!
No time to think on it–you’re encased by buildings and there’s only one way back out to the canal! For the briefest of moments you sense a flicker of magic activating above you, and that’s all the info you need to make your move!Rezalith, you bark in a firm, but hushed tone, can-“Yea, yea… ‘Stay quiet, don’t touch anything’, blah blah bl-EEH?!”You cut the diminutive devil’s regularly-scheduled sarcasm short by placing your claws on her shoulders! Rezalith, you repeat as your eyes lock with hers, can she check the rooftops for enemies?“Y-yea…” She mutters, unsure how to respond. And if they’re an enemy, you continue, eyes glowing brighter with every word, you want her to–You’ve never seen Rezalith light up like she does at that moment, but when she does, well…It’s almost endearing?“S-say it…”Eliminate them, you add with a hint of satisfaction in your voice! However she sees fit!The girl freezes for a moment… her face frozen and her expression perplexed as she tries to puzzle out the obligatory catch in your request… but once she realizes there is none, well…“Give ‘em Hell, Rez!” Volka’s encouragement is all the permission she needs! Taking to the sky with a menacing cackle, the demon is immediately beset by a hail of the same sharp-edged Slinger Darts you nearly got acquainted with back on Smith Street!“HELLS!” Sputters Obber as he slips behind Volka for cover, “They’re gonna tear her ta’ shreds up there!”No, you reply with a smile in your voice, not exactly!https://youtu.be/go_imOL6wgwRezalith’s taken to flying in the darkness rather well–twirling through the cloud of darts as gracefully as a barbwinged Shuuk, the demon dives towards one of the unseen shooters with menace in her eyes!A panicked shriek rings out across the alleyway as you sense the shattering of a magical shield, followed by another sequence of wet, unintelligible cries and a few other noises you’d rather not describe! Showered by a gory mist, you dart further down the alley as a few darts embed themselves into the pavement at your feet! “Think she can handle it by herself?” Volka asks as the sound of roaring flames rip across the rooftops followed by terse, foreign orders! Duuric, you think as you wind up your Slinger and load a few darts of your own, pity you never learned the language.The language quirk Anton received when summoned could probably decipher what they’re saying, but you get the feeling it isn’t anything important. Still, there sounds like there’s an awful lot of them up there… and while some Snipers focus on the flying fiend, you know it’s only a matter of time before they draw a bead on you and the other landwalkers…
>>6326085What do?>Encourage Rezzie some more!>Cover fire from below! Suppress the Snipers!>Try to find a way up with Volka!>Sibling Sling! Have Volka toss you to the rooftops!>Escape in the chaos!>Write-In!
>>6326086>Sibling Sling! Have Volka toss you to the rooftops!
>>6326085>Sibling Sling! Have Volka toss you to the rooftops!TRUST IN THE FLOW.
>>6326088>>6326089>>6326162>>6326166>SUPER SIBLING SLING!Damn, lookit that synergy! Can't promise a wealth of updates today given it's Spooky Time, but we'll see what we can do!>Roll me 1d100+2 (+5 Volka Strength, +3 Snipers 'Suppressed', -4 Uncertain Landing, -2 Nasty Snipers) to see how you land! Best of 3!
Rolled 68 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6326180
Rolled 30 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6326180AIEEEEEEEE
Rolled 69 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6326180
>>6326192>69>on a sibling rollWhat did the dice mean by this?
>>632619671, anon. For our sanity, it must be read as a 71.oh god they're stepsiblings too
>>6326200MOROOK ONII-CHAN I'M STUCK
>>6326181>>6326182>>6326192>HIGHEST ROLL: 71!... I go to buy some candy corn for one minute and I come back to DEGENERACY. You'd better all find a corner and think about what you've done while I write...
>>6326213Are you telling me Morook doesn't hug his imouto? For shame...
>>6326221Of course he hugs her, even Morook knows Volka gives the best hugs. She's like a twelve-foot scale-covered teddy bear
Rezalith’s a tough one–fast too–but you remember all too well what these Snipers were packing during your last dance! Another dart slamming into the floor next to your boot is all the proof you need to confirm what you already know: they’re dipped in BEDCAP. One prick from those will paralyze you for hours… and two or three will take down even the toughest Skog!You’re not sure how many they’ll need for Rezzie, but you don’t plan on giving them a chance! Whipping your head around to your scale-clad sibling, the words come out of your mouth almost on instinct!Volka! SIBLING STRIKE TWENTY-THREE!The Skog’s eyes light up as if a spell was just broken! “RIGHT!”Muscle memory kicks in as you curl into a ball while Obber watches in naked confusion! Before can ask or anyone can get shot, Volka lumbers over and scoops you into her empty hand before skidding around the corner and into the center of the fray!Darts shower the ground around you both as Volka’s powerful legs pound across the paved road! Reaching terminal velocity just as a cackling Rezalith strafes another rooftop with Hellfire, you press your Slinger close to your chest and inhale as your sister brings her arm back like a catapult…She skids to a halt. Always does. Your breath leaves your mouth just as you feel your body leave Volka’s arm, and with the grace of a Glaivehead carving through a Winter current you sail through the air and scan for targets!The Snipers on the roof you’re headed towards are too busy trying to tag Volka to notice you–silly mistake for a pack of cold-blooded mobsters, but they won’t live to regret it. It’s a good thing you coiled your Slinger before your flight–while Volka pirouettes and weaves through the Slinger storm you aim your weapon at your first quarry…‘SLLLUNK!’The dart sails from your Slinger like a leaf on the wind–you filed the trigger down yourself, after all. Though you didn’t have time to coat your darts, it doesn’t matter much–your shot strikes true and…Hm. Not quite. You weren’t wrong earlier–Rezalith’s flames definitely wreaked havoc on a few magical shields. Unfortunately for you your target wasn’t one of them! Nevertheless, your shot wasn’t totally meaningless–a burst of magical resonance tickles your jaws as you load another dart… and by the time you’ve spun your Slinger for another shot, you can hear your target struggling to contain their heavy breathing as they pick themselves back onto their feet!‘SLUUUNK!’They try to dodge, of course–even with the moss padding on your weapon it still makes a considerable bit of noise when firing–but you don’t go hunting without expecting the game to bolt. Your dart hits its mark a few strides away from where the Sniper began, and your reward is a pitiful yelp followed by one of your would-be assassins tumbling onto their face!>CONTD.
>>6326242You know this, of course, because you land right next to them. Your boots muffle your arrival, but the other Snipers are definitely on the alert now! A well-timed swoop from Rezalith, however, puts their search for you on hold–great timing, too, because you know all-too-well that Durher Snipers never work solo.There’s a Spotter nearby, you’re certain of it!Ducking behind some bulky machine, you spin your Slinger as quietly as you can before a peculiar noise rings out from the other side of your cover!Gurgling. It’s weak, but still audible. The Durher’s dead, no doubt about that, but the shot wasn’t clean–if they keep making noise they’re bound to draw their partner.The question is, do you shut them up now? The rules are the same here as they are in the wilds: Noise is death…What do?>Shoot them from cover. Quiet.>Get close and finish them off with your Ankle Dagger.>Let them gurgle. See if it’ll attract their Spotter.>Throw something–try to lure another Durher into your sights!>Write-In!
>>6326244>Throw something–try to lure another Durher into your sights!
>>6326244So much for "Lamplighters never kill," huh? Well, desperate circumstances...>Throw something–try to lure another Durher into your sights!
>>6326265Hohoho, Morook ain't a Lamplighter! Also those are Rubber Darts, or something
>>6326267
>>6326267Gurgling in his own blood? Uhh, no, Morook just sent him TO THE DUNGEON
>>6326250>>6326265>>6326410>>6326415>THROW SOMETHING!>Roll me 1d100+3 (+5 Ranger Senses, +3 Snipers 'Suppressed', -2 Uncertain terrain, -3 Trained Snipers) to see how effective your trick is! Best of 3!>>6326276Morook sent that second-rate Sniper with a second-rate Slinger to the SHADOW REALM
Rolled 3 (1d100)>>6326479
Rolled 35 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>6326479Watch and learn.
Rolled 39 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>6326479
That one anon who always pines for more failure must be having a blast, kek...
>>6326491i am, thank you very much :-)
>>6326480>>6326481>>6326490>HIGHEST ROLL: 42!Welp, time to kill everyone. Writing!
The winning move, as you’re already aware of, is to make some noise! Far away from your hiding spot, but just within your firing range! Scooping up a hefty chunk of debris off the ground courtesy of Rezzie’s rampage, you ready your Slinger in your other claw before lobbing your stony distraction a few strides away!It bounces once. Twice. Rolls for a second or two… and then?Nothing. It’s hard to tell if it was even heard over the sound of Rezalith tearing apart the burning roof across from you and everything on it, but if you could hear the pebble then surely a Durher co-You almost don’t sense it–lingering magic at your back! With too little room to shoot, all you can do is whip around just in time to feel a thin blade rake across your lower back!A muttered curse confirms what you already know: you’ve got company! Small, angry-eyed, Durher company, that is! He might’ve whiffed the first stab, but that doesn’t stop the Sniper for long–a flurry of swipes encroaches upon you as you back away and dodge using the sound of the blade for guidance! It keeps you from getting stabbed, of course, but every moment you spend dodging is one you don’t spend drawing your own blade!Feeling your back press against a wall, you seize the opportunity and kick off the surface to deliver a kick at the furball’s face! They duck it, of course, but you use the opportunity to hop over their blade and escape the corner!Stooping low to retrieve your close-quarters weapon, a hiss escapes your mouth as you feel the Durher’s knife scrape the chitin just below your left eye! Punishing the attempt with a headbutt to his skull, you groan inwardly as the Spice Carteler shields his face with his forearms and whips at your eyes again with his tail!Ducking below the attack, you use the opportunity to draw your blade and slash at the Sniper–it’s a bit too slow and wide to connect, but it buys you some distance… and distance is what you need the most!Squaring up with blades drawn, the two of you circle each other like two Makaar fighting over a fresh kill… the footing is fraught with bits of rubble and puddles of molten glass and metal, but neither one of you seems keen on making any mistakes!For a while you let your blades do the talking–and you hate to admit it, but this Durher’s got some moves! Even your quietest movements are picked up long before they land, and it takes every ounce of concentration you have to hear where his strikes are coming from!You kick some rubble his way–he sidesteps it! He ducks below your blade? You slam the guard into his cheek! You snatch him up by the ears? He BITES!You’re almost ready to call it a draw when you hear it–the flapping of massive wings and the uncanny tingling of infernal magic forming above you! You and the Sniper’s eyes both dart away for a second to see what’s happening, though you already have a hunch…>CONTD.
>>6326640“KYAAAAAAHAHAHA!!!! BEST! DAY! EVERRRR!!!!”It’s going to be your LAST day ever if Rezzie torches your rooftop again! You indulge in an inward sigh of relief–it’s Rezalith! She knows you’re not an enemy! She’ll put the flames away once she sees you…Um.Okay, the flames in her hands aren’t dissipating. You and the Sniper exchange a concerned glance as the happy hellion prepares to flash-fry the rooftop!>Roll me 1d100-2 (+5 Ranger Senses, +3 Forester’s Footwork, -3 Panicked Sniper, -7 I Love The Smell of Hellfire In The Morning…) to GET OUTTA THERE! Best of 3!
Rolled 9 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6326641
Rolled 23 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6326641I AWAKEN.WATCH THIS
Rolled 26 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6326641
Rolled 90 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6326641
>>6326784Just a few seconds too late
>>6326644>>6326779>>6326783>HIGHEST ROLL: 24!Watched. Writing~
>>6326786>>6326849
Taking a brief time out from killing each other, the two of you break into a sprint as the fiend flies your way with a rooftop’s-worth of Hellfire in her claws! It doesn’t stay there long, however–manic laughter echoes across the rooftops as Rezalith unleashes her fiendish fury, setting the area around you ablaze in a festival of flames!You don’t know why you get so poetic in life-or-death situations. Curious.In any case, the rubble at your feet doesn’t slow you down much–the years you spent chasing game through the wilderness made for good practice! Neck-and-neck with your opponent, the two of you barely exchange a glance as another Sniper sails over your heads and down to the street below! With luck Volka will catch them, but-‘SPLRKKKCKSH!’… Guess not.Hurdling a chunk of hissing metal, you can’t help but stumble a bit as the building beneath you quakes under the Hellish assault! Imminent death is pretty motivating, and with one last burst of speed you reach the edge of the rooftop, take a steadying breath as the world slows down around you…And LEAP!It’s not a leap of faith–not exactly. Amidst the chaos and carnage around you, you heard the flames and the ‘fwiip’ of Slinger darts from the adjoining rooftop long before you leapt! Landing’s gonna be the tricky part!Listening to the way the wind changes as you descend towards the next building, you tuck and roll just in time to cushion the fall–your chitin protecting you from most of the burning and melted debris!Coming to a rolling stop just by the edge of the new rooftop, your opponent skids to a halt next to you as well–their light and fuzzy frame barely making a sound on impact! Before hostilities can resume, the two of you turn back towards your old battleground and watch in wide-eyed shock as the whole building crumbles into a burning ruin! Meeting eyes with the Sniper, the two of you pause for a moment before sharing a relieved laugh!The moment passes when the Durher delivers a surprisingly-powerful tackle to your center of mass that sends you tumbling over the side of the building. Fair, honestly. As you tumble through the ash-choked air like the Sniper you heard splattering on the pavement just a few moments before, your mind wanders to a not-as-pressing issue:Where’s Obber in all this? Does he have the bomb?Oh right, you’re falling to your death. Right on cue, however, you feel a pair of musclebound and scaly arms snatch you out of certain doom’s clutches!“HaHA!” Volka exclaims with a triumphant grin, “Hadja’ scared, didn’t I?”Terrified, you laconically reply. What happened to the other one who fell?“Oh, her?” Volka asks, her eyes darting over to the alley where you left Obber, “I caught her too! Just takin’ a nap!”… You heard something splatter...>CONTD.
>>6326891“Oh yea… they had some kinda jam jar in their cloak.” The Skog stammers as she strides back over to cover with you in tow, “Can’t kill on an empty stomach, I guess!”So true… As you return to the alleyway, Obber The Machinist greets you with the usual wide-eyed and incredulous glare.“Damn it all, I shoulda’ crushed my head back in me Workshop! The Hells’re we supposed ta’ do now!?”Good question, you remark as Volka gingerly places you next to the snoring Sniper on the ground, Rezalith’s already torched a building, so it might not hurt to leave before reinforcements ar-As if on cue, a fleet of the creaking, hissing contraptions that nearly intercepted you all before near Smith Street skid into the alley! Boots pour out of the vehicles like Tottas escaping a sinking ship, and a few of the owners grab your attention immediately:No sooner do they squeeze out from the contraption’s cramped confines do a pair of Skogs take turns stabbing each other with blades! A look of growing concern etches into Volka’s eyes as the Skogs begin to tremble and froth at the mouth!“Mor…” She stammers as you watch their pupils shrink, “They’re going Berserk…”You noticed. Even as Rezzie strafes the convoy with a volley of flames, the Skogs and their Slinger-strapped supporters barely react! Before YOU can react, you feel the Tinkerer shove a hastily-wrapped package into your arms!“Ye want it so bad!? THERE! Now get me outta’ here!”Easier said than done–the Spicys have the exit alleyway blocked now, and Rezalith’s still busy melting the Snipers above! The reinforcements don’t seem keen on talking, either…What do?>Steal a vehicle!>Have Rezzie make you an escape route!>Introduce these City Slickers to NATURE! FRUUM CALL!>Have Volka smash a way through!>Try to find a way back to the rooftops!>Write-In!
>>6326892>Introduce these City Slickers to NATURE! FRUUM CALL!
>>6326892>>Introduce these City Slickers to NATURE! FRUUM CALL!KILL.
>>6326905>>6326906>>6326958>FRUUUUUUUM!Oh shit son>Roll me 1d100-1 (+7 Nature Knowledge, +2 Rezzie Support, -10 Inferior Numbers) to spook 'em! Best of 3!
Rolled 3 - 1 (1d100 - 1)>>6326986
Rolled 78 - 1 (1d100 - 1)>>6326986
Rolled 21 - 1 (1d100 - 1)>>6326986EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>6326995>>6326998>>6327002>HIGHEST ROLL: 77!Writing! Later today, that is! Happy Monday, all!
This is their turf you’re on, that’s for certain, but despite all of their city-slickin’ there’s one thing you’d bet they’ve never had to tangle with…Vol, you mutter hastily under your breath, follow your lead!You put your plan into motion long before your sister can assent. Good thing, too–those Skogs are about two seconds away from flying off the handle! But if they’re too angry to think clearly…Spreading your jaws as far as they’ll go, you gather a menacing gurgle in your gullet before letting loose with a fierce, rumbling cry into the city sky that bounces around the cul-de-sac with a beastly timbre!The surrounding buildings prove to be more useful than you’d thought–even burning, they still manage to amplify your voice, turning an admittedly-second-rate Fruum call into a roar that even manages to get Rezalith’s attention! While the Cartel reinforcements falter for a moment, their berserkers react like any beast would! Gnashing their teeth and stomping in response, the Skogs shower the alley with drool as their glowing eyes dart around in a vain attempt to locate the threat!Amidst the confusion, one lucky rooftop sniper takes the opportunity to draw a bead on Obber… not that you notice outright, of course… It's only after you hear the dart slip from their Slinger far above that you realize what’s happening!And that’s all the berserkers need to ply their trade!Something about the noise sets them off, prompting the two tusked titans to tackle each other like a pair of Niiski fighting over a mate! Most of the reinforcements dart out of the way, but a few unlucky mobsters are caught in the clash and are subsequently bowled over!One of the contraptions they came in on goes next–while the wrestling match rages past the parked vehicles, the non-berserk baddies take aim your way! By the time they prepare to fire, however, you’re already three steps ahead!What do!?>Run for it!>Use the confusion to assault the Cartel goons!>Steal a vehicle!>Slip back the way you came and hide somewhere until they leave!>Write-In!Sorry for the wait, all--remember when I said I didn't think I was getting sick? I think I might be getting sick. Pardon my slowness in advance!
>>6327470>Run for it!
>>6327470>Steal a vehicle!Asset acquired,
>>6327470>Steal a vehicle!YOU'RE GETTING SICK? WE MUST DO SOMETHING SICK.
>>6327470>Steal a vehicle!
>>6327471>RUN, SCOOB!>>6327524>>6327529>>6327627>GRAND THEFT AUTO: UMBERALWill write it up later today! Pardon the wait!
>>6327738No worries, QM. I hope you're feeling better?
>>6327743A little! Takin' 'er easy for now, but thanks for the concern
Your legs carry you on swift, long strides towards the nearest Cartel Member before leaping into the air! Hurtling towards the Slinger like a glowing-eyed missile, you deliver a dropkick into their center of mass that sends them flying across the pavement!Luckily Volka gets the message you don’t have time to send–loping over with the comatose Carteller slung over one shoulder and a very befuddled Mechanist over the other, a cheeky grin spreads across the Skog’s face as…… she too dropkicks a Durher, this one skipping across the alley like a rock across a pond! “Safe travels!”Vol, you hiss as the berserk Skogs barrel through another squad of Snipers, the contraption! Taking a moment to weigh your words, an apology creeps into your sister’s expression as The Machinist’s face lights up from her shoulder!“Oh! Good call, Mor!”It doesn’t take long for you to understand why Obber’s so excited–as the three of you–err, four if you count your hostage–scramble over to the nearest, non-tipped-over vehicle, the Gnok wastes no time in slipping into what you assume is the driver’s seat!“GET IN!” He roars, prompting the Spice Cartel to riddle the gizmo with Slinger Darts, “NOW!”“OI!” Snarls a Sniper as he fires a shot just over your head, “THAT’S OURS!”Not for long, you reply with a flicker in your eye! Slipping into a shockingly-comfortable leather seat next to the Gnok, you can’t help but wince at the sudden sound of shrieking metal above your head!“Sorry!” Volka chirps as she hefts what remains of the vehicle’s roof like a shield, “Ain’t built for tight spaces!”Before you can slam the door shut, one of the Cartel Goons has the bright idea of holding it open! “SIXFACE says ‘hiya’, cree-”‘Hiya’, you reply back as you deliver a firm chop to their throat! Falling to the ground in a gagging heap, they do little to stop you as some unknown gadget roars to life on the front of the vehicle, causing the whole thing to tremble!“H-hey…” Volka stammers as she fends off a few more darts with her new shield, “You know how ta’ use one of these things, yea?”“Not at all!” Cackles The Machinist as you feel the ‘thing’ move beneath you! “Hang onto something!”The contraption screeches out of the alleyway just as Rezalith bombards it with fresh Hellfire! Through some divine providence The Machinist doesn’t manage to crash the damn thing either, and by the time you skid back out Canalside you can already feel your claws trembling from how FAST you’re going!“Hells, Hells, Hells…” Grumbles the Gnok as your ride weaves back and forth like a drunk on their way home, “How’s a man supposed ter’ navigate this derned thing…”As if on cue, a disembodied voice fills the cabin!’TekNav online! Where can I direct you today?’>CONTD.
>>6327882A dart embeds itself in the back of your seat with a muffled, but menacing ‘thmp!’ prompting The Machinist to glance your way with a pleading stare!ANYWHERE BUT HERE!A garbled squawk echoes through the cabin in response!’Understood! Next stop: Umberal Skyrail Station! Please follow the Directional Taps to-’Your driver doesn’t pay attention to the instructions, not that you blame him much–no sooner did you escape the alley ambush do three other Cartel Contraptions dart out after you–each one filled to the brim with hardfaced hoods!Speeding around the corner, it doesn’t take long for you and your pursuers to CRASH into one of Umberal’s busy thoroughfares, much to the crowds of pedestrian’s chagrin!“M-move!” Sputters Volka as Obber straightens the vehicle out, “L-Lamplighter Business! Nothing to worry about!”As your pursuers gain on you, the left side of the vehicle emits a series of rapid taps strong enough to make your eyes rattle! “GUH!?”Recoiling on instinct, Obber The Machinist makes a hard right, causing the contraption to crash through some kind of-“FRUUUUUUIT CAAAAARRT!” Sputters Volka as she wipes the fresh-squeezed juice from her eyes!’Wrong Way~Please follow the Directional Taps!’“DON’T TELL ME WHAT TER’ DO, WOMAN!” Snarls the Gnok as he slaps a claw against the driver’s wheel!’Acknowledged. TekNav disabled. Drive safe!’ The voice scarcely disappears before your getaway vehicle crashes through another vendor stall-“OOH! Meat skewers!” Chirps Volka as she stuffs a few in her mouth, “Keeb hitting thosh!”“ACK!” Babbles the Boilermaker, “D-DO TELL ME WHAT TER’ DO! PLEASE!”As the TekNav comes back to life with a chime, your pursuers approach from behind! “No fair!” Volka snarls as she preemptively raises her roof shield to bear, “We’re the ones blazing a trail an’ they just hafta’ follow us!”It’s bad, you reply with a shrug, but you might be able to use it to your advantage too! Leaning in to address where you think the TekNav’s voice comes from, you announce that you’re gonna need directions to somewhere ELSE!’Where can I direct you today?’Well?>The Canal! Let’s see how well they drive next to some water!>Smith Street–lots of Industrial equipment there, you remember…>Crystalmelt Lodge! Those mountain trails can be awfully treacherous!>Just find me a (Write-In a place you could lose these mooks in!)
>>6327887>Smith Street–lots of Industrial equipment there, you remember…We will trick them into running into some poor wagies carrying a giant sheet of glass across the street
>>6327887>Smith Street–lots of Industrial equipment there, you remember…
>>6327887>Smith Street–lots of Industrial equipment there, you remember…BREAK THEM WITH OUR MACHINES....
>>6327887>Smith Street–lots of Industrial equipment there, you remember…Leading them right back to Crystalmelt seems like an awful idea, and >>6327897 is as good an idea as any other.
>>6327882Wow, Bones that Tekcruiser looks pretty cool>>6327887>Smith Street–lots of Industrial equipment there, you remember…
>>6327897>>6327906>>6327937>>6327941>>6328085>SMITH STREEEEEEEEETTT!Writing later!>>6328085Preorder the Official Dark Quest Concept Art Book now to get this and MORE!
Smith Street, you answer in a much calmer tone than the first time, Industrial Sector!You’re about to ask your driver if there even is an Industrial Sector near Smith Street when your navigator responds with a cheery blip! ’Understood! Next st-’The confirmation is cut short by a chunk of vendor stall crashing onto the road next to you! Stealing a glance behind the vehicle, you watch in shock and awe as a pair of familiar glowing eyes and drool-spackled teeth gain on your getaway gizmo!“Crud!” Volka exclaims as the tusked terror gets closer, “Berserkers are here, Mor… and they’ll be able ta’ catch up, believe me!”You never doubted her! Poking your head out the side of the cruiser with your Slinger at the ready, you confirm what Volka already did for you:Both Skogzerkers are hot on your tail and catching up by the second! Most of the pedestrians manage to dart out of the way, but the ones who aren’t so lucky are torn from the path and hucked your way as projectile weapons! Even worse, three cruisers full of Spicy Slingers make up the rear!“We’re never gonna make it ta’ Smith Street at dis’ rate!” Whines The Machinist as a Durher lands on the front of the vehicle with a muffled ‘oof’ before rolling off the side! “Do somethin’!”He’s not wrong–between the bystander bombardments your ride is still being peppered by Slinger Darts… and if they’re loaded up with the same paralytic agent the Snipers used, you and the others won’t be able to shrug it off!Weaving through the marketplace in a vain attempt at following the TekNav’s tapped directions, you send a furtive glance skyward–no sign of Rezzie yet! Hey, you remark as another dart punctures your seat from behind, what ARE we going to do about Rezalith?“Oh, don’t worry ‘bout her!” Volka laughs as a few more darts and a young Chytree bounce off of her ceiling shield, “She always tracks us down–she’ll come around once she’s had her fun!”You just hope she does before you get ripped to shreds, you laconically reply. In any case, you’re on your own for now, and the Teksouls you speed past don’t seem keen on interrupting the chase! It all falls down to you…You need TIME! How do you slow ‘em down!?>Hit the brakes! It’ll ding up the cruiser a bit, but it’ll surprise your pursuers when they slam into it!>They want to throw pedestrians? Volka–give ‘em a taste of their own medicine!>Slinger time! Focus on the drivers!>Slinger! Try to disable the Skogs!>You just smashed through two market stalls–surely there’s something you can use here as an obstacle…>Write-In!
>>6328245>Slinger! Try to disable the Skogs!>>Use some of the paralytic darts stuck in our upholsteryAfter all, "One prick from those will paralyze you for hours… and two or three will take down even the toughest Skog!"
>>6328362+1
>>6328245>Slinger! Try to disable the Skogs!
>>6328362>>6328366>>6328368>SLINGER THOSE SKOGS!>PARALYTIC DARTS!Nice thinking, anon! That'll only help you when I ask you to...>ROLL ME 1d100+2 (+4 Ranger Senses, +3 Paradarts, +2 Big Targets, -5 Berserk Skogs, -2 Slinger Suppressed!) to stun those Skogs! Best of 3!
Rolled 5 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6328373
Rolled 27 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6328373
Rolled 82 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6328373Oh god, these rolls...
>>6328515At least you saved us
>>6328374>>6328502>>6328515>HIGHEST ROLL: 84!Drat, and here I was so excited about KILLING EVERYONE... okay, writing...
Volka can handle the shooters… probably. She seems to be having fun deflecting their darts, at least. A few shots slip by her shield and slam into the chassis around you, however, which startles you at first…… but also gives you an idea!Plucking what you can from the mess of bent and broken darts around you, you manage to scrounge up about FIVE BEDCAP DARTS! You can probably fix a few of them in a bit, but for now, well…You’ve got some HUNTING to do!Loading a recycled dart into your Slinger, you zero-in on the closest Skog to your getaway vehicle. Not that it’s difficult, of course–berserk Skogs might be stronger than a Mother Fruum and twice as vicious, but stealth isn’t really their specialty!The glowing eyes make for a good landmark–drawing a bead between those, you methodically trace downwards to where the neck meets the head, making sure to adjust a bit in case your quarry has an unkempt mane, of course. The tip of the throat–the Skog sweet spot. You’d learned it long ago wrestling Volka for the last piece of Solemnday Salt Candy–tough as they are, even Skogs have some soft spots… and while that fiasco culminated with you frantically apologizing to a sobbing Volka for hours, this one might just end on a good note!Your claw tugs against the trigger–not too hard, of course, just enough to ready the shot–and with a firm exhale you poke your head out the side of the cruiser and let the dart fly!You don’t even wait to see if it hits its mark before loading another dart–the Spice Cartel shooters catch on to your game almost immediately, so much so that one of their cruisers slips between you and your Skog target before opening fire once more! The plan’s abandoned long before it matures, however–still berserk, your quarry body slams his allies out of the way before renewing the chase! Another dart sails past the flurry directed at you, and while your first shot got no confirmation, the second one does! A pained bellow rings out from behind you as the Skog visibly staggers… but it’s just like you said before: Skogs don’t go down that easily, especially when they’re raging!Another dart whizzes past your eye as you lean out to take another shot. Then another! And ANOTHER! Ducking back inside, you feel a few more darts puncture the back of your seat and sigh–what is this thing made of?You’ll find out later. As the cruiser skids around a corner, you spot your Skog as they lope after you panting profusely. With the other cruisers still around the bend, you take a gamble and take a shot!Time slows to a crawl–for the Skog at least–as your dart finds its mark: three bullseyes, you think as the tusked titan’s gait becomes sluggish, not bad!>CONTD.
>>6328759With a baleful groan, the pursuer stumbles to the side of the road and lands in a heap next to what seems to be a pair of Durhers! The smaller one, a female, you assume, stiffens in fear as the Skog’s eyes become clearer.“AAAAIIIIEEE!!!! MOSSORI, HEEEEELP! A SKOOOOOG!”“Wha… where am I…?” Mutters the Skog, more confused than anything!“GET AWAY FROM MY MATE, YOU BOOZE-SWILLING BRUTE!”You’re too far away to watch the aftermath, but the tingle of magic you feel in your eyes tells you that Durher was a mage… Your theory’s confirmed when an arcane eruption rocks the street behind you and an unidentified limb slams against your ride!“W-well!” Stammers Volka as she gingerly nudges the Skog scrap onto the road with her tail, “G-guess these Umberalans incant first and ask questions later…”Guess so, you shrug as you steal a glance at the still-comatose Sniper hostage Volka threw in the back. Better him than us.“... Right…”’Approaching Smith Street Industrial Zone~’ chirps the TekNav as the acrid smell of smoke and burning steel hits you like a wood paddle!“Now what!?” Grunts Obber The Machinist as he accelerates! “And before ya’ ask, NO, we ain’t hiding out in my workshop!”You weren’t going to suggest that, you fire back with a hint of ire in your tone, y-Your answer is cut short by a volley of darts whizzing over your head as your pursuers resume the chase–minus one Skog! Returning fire with your Slinger, you try not to fall out the side of the vehicle as Obber makes a hard right down a bumpy, foul-smelling road!You can feel your brain rattling around in your head as the cruiser clatters across what might just be the worst path you’ve ever blazed… and you’ve climbed the Skyraker Range! To make matters worse, it isn’t long before you feel the vehicle begin to slow down…“Scheckt!” Snarls Obber as he slams his fists on the steering wheel, “Road’s full of it!”As he struggles to get you out of the gunk, you watch in growing concern as the Cartel Cruisers skid onto a parallel road and prepare for a broadside attack! The remaining berserker, however, has no qualms about following you into the muck, nor does he seem too inconvenienced trudging through it with raw fury in his burning eyes!“Mor!” Volka whines as her eyes dance between the shooters lining up their shots on the perimeter of the scheckt pit and the approaching berserker, “Any ideas!?”A few, yea… you only have TWO BEDCAP DARTS, but the cruiser’s still moving… albeit slower than before! If you could knock the Skog over, he might have trouble freeing himself…What do?>Back the cruiser into the Skog!>Volka, wrestle him!>Distract him, Volka! You’ll gather some more darts!>Lure him into the crossfire yourself!>Dip some darts in scheckt–then fill his face with ‘em!>Write-In!
>>6328760>Distract him, Volka! You’ll gather some more darts!>Dip some darts in scheckt–then fill his face with ‘em!Both? Both.
>>6328848+1
>>6328848>>6328850>VOLKA, DISTRACTION!>SCHECKT DARTS!So be it! But first... a QUESTION:Are you guys trying to use the distraction to get more BEDCAP PARALYTIC DARTS, or are you using the distraction to cover the Berserker's face in Scheckt Goo?Whatever it is...>Roll me 2d100! 1 for Volka, one for darts! I'll do the math on my end...>ROLL 1:+0 (+5 Skog Strength!, +4 Volka Footwork, -7 BESERK SKOG!, -2 Sniper Suppressed!)>ROLL 2:+1 (+4 Ranger Senses, +2 Scheckt Darts, +2 Big Target, -5 Berserk Skog, -2 Sniper Suppressed!)Best of 3 Rolls! Will probably write the update tomorrow!
Rolled 20, 68 = 88 (2d100)>>6328908THE FIRST EVER CHECK TO HAVE DOUBLE NAT 1S
Rolled 70, 84 = 154 (2d100)>>6328908Goo-darts seems more immediately practical, while Volka run inetrception. That was my intent, at least.
Rolled 97, 58 = 155 (2d100)>>6328908
>>6328925>HIGHEST ROLLS: 97 & 85!Well shit, okay! Like I said, I'll write the update later on Friday, but let me know if you plan on using the distraction any differently otherwise I'm just gonna roll with >>6328916 ' s rad plan.>>6328915>double nat 1'sNot today, Satan
Your mind races as you struggle to put a plan together–Volka’s shielding has done a good job of keeping you from being skewered, but if you had to choose between what to get rid of first, you’d pick the berserker any day! Your encounters with them have been thankfully slim and for good reason–you know exactly what a berserk Skog is capable of in close quarters…One thing’s for certain: the results are never pretty!Vol, you shout as you take a handful of fresh darts from your pack, stall him! Your half-sister reacts about as well as you expect:“Leave it ta’ me, Mor!”What did you do to deserve her? Leaping off the back of the cruiser with the roof in tow, Volka lands in the scheckt seep with a dull ‘splutch’ as a few more darts ding off her makeshift shield! Giving it a few lovetaps to get her berserk counterpart’s attention, she strides through the muck between her opponent and the cruiser while keeping the shield ready to deflect!She doesn’t have to wait for long–the berserker rushes her immediately with wide eyes and flared lips! Lunging at your sister, the Skog nearly stumbles as she effortlessly pirouettes out of the way… but not before a trio of darts whizz past her head!If she’s worried, she does a good job of not showing it–while she dances around her new partner and Obber tries his best to keep the cruiser rolling, you begin dipping your darts in the ooze! It’s slow-going as you try not to get any goo on the dart shafts, and the potshots taken at your eyes don’t help either, but by the time a dart nearly clips your throat you duck back into your ride with a clawful of GOO DARTS!Is it enough? You’ll have to see! Aiming in the direction of the rampaging ruffian, you line up your Slinger as best you can on the berserker’s face! If you can just sink one of these into his mou-‘CLANG!’Hold that thought. Ducking just in time to avoid another volley of darts from the cruisers across the scheckt from you, your hesitation is met with the usual compliments from The Machinist!“DO SOMETHIIIIING!”You’ll have to thank him for all the encouragement later. As another round of darts riddle the side of the cruiser, you rise into a firing position just as the Skog seems to get the better of your sister!DUCK!It’s a good thing the berserker isn’t in his right mind right now, and even better that Volka is! Ducking just as your dart leaves the Slinger, the girl watches from below as your shot sails into her opponent’s face and impacts with a resounding ‘SPLUTCH!’Volka’s eyes light up as the sudden shot makes the Skog stumble, but the victory is short-lived–ripping the offending ooze dart AND a tusk from his face with a gut-wrenching RIP, the berserker continues to menace Volka as she scurries away on all-fours!>CONTD.
>>6329216No time to lose now–as darts pepper your position you load another one into your Slinger… and this time you dare to take your time!‘SHWWWIP!’A dart rakes across your chitin-clad shoulder as your own attack slips free from your Slinger! While you’re left with a close shave, your target isn’t as lucky–as the faintest of tingles spreads throughout your shoulder, a sudden strangled sound leaves the berserker’s lips as your ooze-caked dart slips into his open mouth!VOL, you roar as the Snipers continue to add holes to your cruiser, c’mon!“W-WAIT!” Braving the berserker’s mad flailing, Volka’s tail whips across his ankles and sends him tumbling into the gunk… but not before she guides him into falling on his side!“Your NOSE!” She pleads as the scheckt around her is riddled with fresh darts, “You gotta… j-just breathe through your nose an-”Her request is answered by a swipe at her face! Eyes wide in shock, Volka barely reacts as the claw is sent reeling by one of your last few scheckt-covered darts!MOVE!!You don’t need to tell her twice. Striding through the muck back to the cruiser, she gives the vehicle a silent shove that sends you squealing back onto more-solid land!“HAHA!” Roars Obber as his claws drum against the wheel, “We’re alive again!”Swell, you huff as you help your sister back into the cruiser, now let’s GO!Your unconscious Sniper hostage stirs in the backseat, blissfully unaware of everything happening around her as the cruiser picks up speed again! Sensing your impending escape, the Spice Cartel Cruisers rejoin the chase as well as your driver takes you down a road into somewhere warmer and far more crowded!Workers of all shapes and sizes dart out of the way as you plow down the road as the sound of massive machines hum just above your heads!“Smelterworks!” Reports Obber with a snide laugh! “They’d hafter’ be mad ta’ follow!”“And, erm,” Volka stammers, still shaken by the rampaging Skog, “Why would they be mad, exactly?”As if on cue, a chorus of shouts rings out across the path as some smelter workers lose hold of something BIG! Leaving it where it lands, they run for the hills as the air fills with a dull hiss emanating from where they just were!“More accidents round these parts then there are Durhers in Umberal!” The Gnok explains as you speed past! “Like I said, they’d be crazy to-”‘TUNK! TUNK! TLINK!’>CONTD.
>>6329217… Guess they’re crazy, you drone as the Cartel Cruisers gain on you from behind, their seemingly-endless supply of darts ricocheting off the back of your ride! As you exchange a few darts of your own, you notice their shots widen little by little… until eventually you realize they aren’t aiming at you anymore!“Errr,” Volka stammers as her big yellow eyes lift towards the sound of colossal, clanking machines overhead, “I’m guessing they aren’t just giving up…”As if on cue, a loud ‘KWAAANG!’ rings out across the way as something SNAPS overhead! What follows is a dull hum as something OOZES onto the road from above–the heat from the discharge hot enough to make your eyes burn even from the safety of the cruiser!“HELLS!” Obber roars as he skids around the piping-hot perimeter, “They’re tryin’ ta’ cook us!”Well, you groan as more and more ‘TWANG’s fill the air above you, don’t let them!>Roll me 1d100-2 (+3 Obber’s Home Turf, +2 Slow Ooze, -7 Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Goop!) to not get globbed! Best of 3!
Rolled 16 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6329219
Rolled 34 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6329219
Rolled 32 - 2 (1d100 - 2)>>6329219
>>6329217Volka is such a cinnamon roll.>>6329222>>6329230>>6329231But this, this is a lot less sweet...
>>6329222>>6329230>>6329231>HIGHEST ROLL: 32!https://youtu.be/uJV-pfsx_UMAlright here we go
Your cruiser weaves through the molten minefield effortlessly at first–even without the TekNav’s aid, Obber manages to keep you far from the sizzling snares through sheer instinct alone!But as you’re painfully aware, instinct can only get you so far… and your pursuers have plenty of targets to bullseye! All it takes is one overcompensated turn before your driver realizes his mistake, but before he can straighten the wheel out you feel the vehicle SPLASH through a gummy glob of goop!“AAAAUUGH!”Something sprays Obber through the windshield, and while it doesn’t kill him outright, it does cause him to lose hold of the wheel! Reaching over the writhing Gnok for the wheel, you do your best to correct your course… and suddenly YOU’RE the one driving!“Hang in there!”Scooping up your predecessor in her tail, Volka gets to work tending to his burns as you slip into his seat! Levers and buttons cover the surface just below the steering wheel, and that doesn’t even begin to describe the jungle of pedals at your feet!That’s not what worries you though–as your boots brush across their many options, your foot comes across one pedal that remains depressed even without your aid! Prodding at it with your toe, you recoil immediately as it comes into contact with something hot and hissing!“I… I think he’ll be fine!” Volka chirps as a sigh of relief creeps into her shaky voice! “Heyyy, I didn’t know you could drive one of these!”You CAN’T, you groan, but you’re open to learn! Gripping the wheel in your trembling claws, you try your best to focus on the sound of the tipping buckets above to predict where more ooze will fall… but it’s only a temporary solution! You need to escape!Easier said than done, however… The ride wasn’t smooth before, but after Obber’s incident you can definitely tell one of the wheels is half-melted!To make matters worse, all you can do is flinch as your cruiser crashes through some kind of guard rail… and you get the feeling you’re not headed anywhere better!Where do you end up?>A forest of crashing pistons big enough to crush a Thunderwalker!>A steam-choked cistern with narrow walkways!>A maze of gargantuan grinders showering the path with sparks and debris!>The Food Court!
>>6329273>A forest of crashing pistons big enough to crush a Thunderwalker!
>>6329273>A steam-choked cistern with narrow walkways!We can abandon the vehicle and disperse if need be!
>>6329273>A steam-choked cistern with narrow walkways!RUN. RUN INTO THE STEAM.
>>6329273>A steam-choked cistern with narrow walkways!
>>6329299>>6329308>>6329423>STEAAAAAAMMMM>>6329297>PISTONS!Writinggggg>>6329308The Stanley Parble method. I dig it
Your rough landing sees you splashing into a shallow puddle with a sharp, metallic groan! Showered by a wave of hot, acrid-scented water, you shake it off as you continue down the path ahead of you full-speed ahead!“EY!” Shouts a bewildered Molegg worker as you fly past, “YOU SHOULDN’T BE DOIN’ DAT HERE!”“SORRY!” Volka cries back with an apologetic smile, “WE DON’T HAVE A CHOICE!”“ALRIGHT…”He doesn’t even bother warning your pursuers, but based on how fast the Cartel cruisers are going, he probably wouldn’t have appealed to them either! The worker isn’t wrong, though–you get about a few seconds of regular road before it gives way to the telltale rattling of metal catwalk… You couldn’t say what it’s built over, but one thing’s for certain: the minute you drive over it the whole vehicle becomes a steambath!Your Sniper hostage grumbles a bit at the sudden increase in humidity, but Volka’s a bit more preoccupied with the Snipers you HAVEN’T captured yet!“HELLS!”A salvo of darts ricochet off of her ceiling shield as one of the cruisers takes the opportunity to approach your vehicle’s flank! Greeting them with a bestial roar, your half-sister swings her shield at their cruiser, prompting the party to add some distance between you!No time to breathe, though–while one cruiser backs away, another SLAMS into your flank, sending the vehicle into a swerve! Frantically tugging at the wheel, you struggle to maintain your composure as both Volka and the injured Obber cry out in shock!Not hard to find out why–Snipers on both sides light up your vehicle, both of them just out of bumping range! Just as you’re about to throw caution to the wind and press down one of the pedals not welded to the floor, however, a violent hiss rocks the catwalk as a massive plume of steam erupts from beneath you!A metal guiderail squeals and shrieks as you swerve out of the thick of the cloud, but some of the Spicys aren’t as lucky! A sharp wail rings out from one of the Snipers–one of the few that didn’t duck back into the cruiser, you wager–and as their Slinger clatters to the catwalk they tumble out of the vehicle and land safely on the gantry above the ste-‘SCCCRRRRLUUUTTCCH!!!’… Only to be mulched by the third Cruiser. Reap what you sow…There’s plenty more Slingermen where that came from, though, and as you continue to race across the catwalk with no turn in sight, it becomes increasingly clear that you need to get rid of these pursuers… FAST.What’s the plan?>Drop Volka’s shield–the catwalk’s narrow enough to become a roadblock!>Have Volka chop the chains holding the catwalk segments up!>Scrape the guardrail to reduce speed, then bump these cruisers off the edge!>Grab your people and bail out of the cruiser!>Volka! Boarding action!>Write-In!
>>6329642>Drop Volka’s shield–the catwalk’s narrow enough to become a roadblockNOOOOOOO NOT RANDOM CARTEL SNIPER #6
>>6329656+1, let's send the dearly deceased Durher some friends in the afterlife.>>6329642RIP Bozos
>>6329656>>6329687>ROAD'S CLOSED!>Roll me 1d100+2 (+5 Ceiling Shield! +5 Skog Strength!, -8 Speedy Spicys!) to block these punks! Best of 3!
Rolled 18 (1d100)>>6329722
Rolled 55 + 2 (1d100 + 2)>>6329722
Rolled 40 + 2 (1d100 + 2)I'll just do the last one then
>>6329725>>6329777>>6329778>HIGHEST ROLL: 57!Writing the last update of the night!
One thing’s certain: you need a solution! You’ve got a hostage who’s bound to wake up any moment, an injured Machinist who isn’t fit to drive anymore, a ‘go’ pedal welded to the bottom of the cabin, and a roof-wielding Skog who’s currently the one thing between you and getting skewered!What’s worse, every attempt you make at dodging darts from your persistent pursuers sends you slamming into a guardrail–and you don’t need to hear the sparks fly to realize the path’s getting slimmer by the moment! With your problems increasing and solutions diminishing, you turn to Volka with the only thing you can think of!Vol, you bark as you struggle to hold the cruiser steady amidst a dart shower, the roof–DROP IT!“Huh? But what about the dar-” Her eyes light up as you manage to gain a little more distance from the Cartel! “OH! Sure thing! Sheesh, why didn’t I thinka’ that… silly Volka-”NOW, PLEASE!As Volka drops the ceiling onto the catwalk, you can’t help but steal a glance behind you to observe the fruits of your labor! You’re almost glad you did, too–as the roof shield clatters onto the catwalk, both cruisers trailing you act simultaneously!One simply tries to barrel through… and for a moment it seems like it’ll work! Lurching forward as the roof of your cruiser crunches under whatever’s propelling the vehicle, the Cartel Cruiser gets about a few strides before violently JERKING forward and tumbling like a pebble down a hill!For several seconds, a series of metal crunches fill the air and don’t stop until the cruiser does… and as it tumbles its last, its interior becomes deathly silent!Cartel Crew #2 isn’t too lucky either–skidding to the side in a vain attempt at dodging the massive obstacle, only panicked shouts and screams leave the vehicle as the driver loses control… and in his desperate attempts to straighten the wheel, he sends himself and his peers crashing through a guardrail and down to the massive steambath below!Where two cruisers fail, the remaining one succeeds–breaking through the barriers formed by their crashed comrades and the roof that caused it, the Cartel Goons lose a bit of speed after an unsettling ‘CRUNCH’ rings out from the front of their cruiser! Nevertheless, they persist, but now you’ve only got one last group to deal with!… and no shield...… and no idea where you’re headed.As if on cue, a series of reverberating ‘CLANG’s ring out in front of you as you feel your cruiser cruise down a rapidly-declining slope!“Errr, Mor-”You know, you calmly reply as your claws scrape divots into the wheel, and you’re thinking!Your pursuers aren't slowing down either, but it’s do-or-die time now! The question is, what DO to NOT DIE?>Keep driving! Don’t stop!>Try to grab the hostage and Obber and bail out!>Just bail!>Shout for Rezzie!>Crash your cruiser into the side to stop!>Write-In!
>>6329899>Try to grab the hostage and Obber and bail out!
>>6329899>Shout for Rezzie!REZZIE SAMAI KNEEL.
>>6329942>>6330068>Grab and bail!>>6329955>REZZZZIEEEEE!!!!Will write this out later on Monday! Today got busy, apologies!
Gizmos are replaceable. Lives aren’t. Abandoning your grip on the wheel, you stoop down and scoop up your Sniper prisoner in your claws before sending a terse glance Volka’s way! Picking up on your meaning almost immediately, she hoists the injured Obber over her shoulder like a sack of siiqbeans and leaps in tandem with you out the side of the cruiser!Your chitin takes the brunt of the impact–good thing, too–Durhers are known for a lot of things, but being durable isn’t one of them! Hugging the hostage close to your chest as you roll across the dipping catwalk like a barrel, a spike of pain shoots through your back as you slam into the base of a guiderail with a resounding ‘CLUNG!’Volka slams against the catwalk’s border with a groaning Gnok Machinist in tow–your half-sister just a hair’s-bredth away from being rolled over by your pursuer’s remaining vehicle!While their cruiser continues down the rapidly-dipping catwalk, a few Snipers bail out for one last attempt at bagging you. Fortunately you don’t need two claws to fire a Slinger… and Volka doesn’t need any to bat them away with her tail!You still have the bomb. You still have the others… but a low groan in the catwalk around you suggests that won’t be true for much longer! Scrambling to your feet, you lead the charge up the steep incline as you feel the path around you sink with every step! Just a few more strides, you think as your eyes pulse wildly, just a few more–… Strides.Fate proves to be impatient today. Giving up the ghost with a head-splitting shriek, the metal catwalk crumbles beneath you like a piece of rootcake, sending you, Volka, and your rescuees tumbling downwards to join your would-be interceptors in the sea of steam below!Volka shouts your name, but you don’t respond. The hissing pit below you reminds you of the Kii’raverr Saltpools located in the Northern Skoglands–natural phenomena caused by volcanic geysers intertwining with natural salt deposits carried over by countless hairline streams.They say the water in those pools reverses aging. Cures illnesses. Rejuvenates the soul.You wouldn’t have minded seeing them, you think as the hissing beneath you grows louder. Just once.Cities, you think as a hint of laughter creeps into your thoughts, those things’ll kill ya…>CONTD.
>>6330646You’re Anton Peas, and you feel like you’ve been standing here for ages!Still finding your balance from the post-teleportation jitters, it didn’t take long to realize you’re back in Trier’s Tower…Nor did it take you long to notice you’re in a completely different room than before. No Inner Sanctum, no creaks and squeaks surrounding you like some kind of clock factory run by rats, just…Bubbling. A sharp, medical odor that pricks your nostrils, frigid air nipping at your fingers, and nonstop, incessant BUBBLING.But what really gets your attention isn’t the symphony for your senses, no… it’s what you see:Eyes. Massive, misty, lanternlike eyes towering over you in triplicate glowing like skyscraper windows on a foggy night. Rows and rows and rows and rows of unblinking, unwelcoming eyes!Teksouls. Thousands of them drifting and bobbing like carrots in a boiling stewpot–”TEksOULsSSssS….” squawks a familiar voice you’d hoped to not hear again any time soon from behind you, ”ANAAaAAlysISssS?”It’s only after a few more mechanical bleats and clicks leave his lips that you realize he’s asking you a question.ARCHMAGE TRIER has summoned you once more… and it sounds like he’s asking you for…Feedback?What say you?>They’re impressive…>Could use some work…>They’re horrible…>You’re not sure, really.>FREAKY.>Stay Silent! He’ll know you’re still there!>Deflect! You wanna ask him something!>ATTACK!>Write-In!
>>6330647>FREAKY.Dey freaky, son.
>>6330647>FREAKY.>Could use some work…Freaky, evil things. Yucky. No good.
>>6330653>>6330664>FREAKY!>>6330664>COULD USE SOME WORK!WrrrrRrRRRITTTTIIIIINNnNNGNGGGGGGNGG
>>6330647>They’re impressive…but>FREAKY.
You take a moment to sample the goods a little longer–as certain as you are that they’re in, like, maintenance mode or something, you can’t shake the uncanny sensation of being watched... and not just by the Archmage looming over you!Teksouls… where do you even start with these things? They’re controlled by Trier, that much is certain, and the jury’s still out on how exactly they’re put together, but you’re pretty sure it’s a bit more involved than hitting up a Forge-A-Friend Workshop! And even if they were given life by breathing a wish into their ear or something, that doesn’t excuse the fact that the Cartel fits somewhere into the equation… no amount of snuggles can omit that!Are they convenient? Probably? You’ve spent more time running from them than you have availing yourself of their amenities, though, so y’know… kinda biased! But could you see them becoming popular? Widespread?… Not really.. But there are folks who still eat the ’From the Fathoms of the Fryer’ value pak at GREASE MONKEY, so maybe you’re just an outlier.If you’re really being honest with yourself, the things put your hair on-end. Every time you look in their spectral eyes it’s like staring down a crusty old animatronic… or one of those greasy fairground workers in the big mascot suits!Freaky!Your answer elicits another metallic squawk deep within Trier’s towering form! ”ASsESSmenT SUgGEStS LImITeD COMPReHENsiON…”Has anyone ever told him that if he doesn’t have anything nice to say he shouldn’t say it? The Archmage doesn’t respond, not that you expected him to. Drifting from Teksoul to Teksoul like a menacing balloon, the wacky wizard falls silent as he inspects his magnum opuses… More like magnum DOPEuses!… man, you wish Volka was here. She’d appreciate that one!”INEffECTT-TIve… InSuFFicieNT…” States the sorcerer, each stunted syllable raking out of his throat like a rake shoved through a rusty food processor, ”IN. COM. PLETE…”Yea, well, you sigh as you give the air an idle kick, if everyone got it right the first time around life would be dull, ri--ght?One blink later you find yourself stuffed into a containment tank of your own! But unlike your Teksoul neighbors’s setups, the oversized jar lacks the goop they bob around in like glowing stew meat!”SOLUtioN… UNknOWWWN…” Groans the Archmage, his eyes flickering as he presses them against your cell like a kid peeking into a fish tank, ”... UnTIL… NOw…”Your blood runs cold as something else presses against your tank: a vial, you think, given the faint clink it makes tapping against the glass, but inside, well…>CONTD.
>>6330818You can’t see it, hear it, or smell it, but the answer comes to you as clear as a crisp Spring morning:There’s a piece of you in that vial, you realize with growing unease, a piece of your… youness!When the HELL did he collect that, you snarl, fists beating against the inside of your enclosure!”INItiaL COnTAct…” Trier replies as an unseen appendage brings your sample closer to his eyes, ”SAMpleSSSS… COLlecTED… TesSssTS… triALSss… YEEEeeEeeeSss…”Super, you groan as Trier drifts deeper into the darkness, and what, pray tell, did he figure out from his little science fair project, huh? Your Blood Type?”VItaE… OVErWHElmING…” Trier gurgles, eyes appraising you from the shadows! ”UnPReCEdeNTED… InCOMPaRAblE…” His face approaches you once again, inky eyes lit up like a Halloween decoration!”UN..REfIIIiiined… YEt… LIMITlesssss POteNTiAl….”You can’t help but blink at that… your… ‘Vitae’ has limitless potential? That’s not what your Little League Coach said! What the Hell’s a ‘vitae’ anyways? And wait a sec… Why is he TRAPPING YOU!? K-KIDNAPPING! KIDNAPPIIIIIING!”ViTAe ANAlySISsss preSenTssSS COmplICATIOnSs…” Trier hisses, casting a wary glance at the shadows around him! ”OTheRrs WIlL ComE… SssSEEk itSS PowErrr…” The grim glow in his eyes goes even greyer. ”SOlutION: IsSOlAte. ConTAin. SEqueSssSter… DUraTIOn: indeFFFinaTE…”You scoff–what other response is there? He… he wants to contain you? Forever? In a HERMIT CRAB TERRARIUM?”ComPLIaNCE ISssS…” Trier begins, eyes dimming as another thought seems to force its way into his head, ”... ENCouraGEd…”Confusion seeps into your skull. What, you respond with a forced laugh, he can’t force you? The stony stare you get in response tells you everything you need to know. Cool, you answer with a shrug, then you refuse! Bye!… Oh right, you’re stuck in a tank thing. Can he, like, magic you up a ladder or someth-”RElINquISHmeNT… IMPerRrATIvee…” Trier persists, clearly making no attempt to conjure up any Laddermancy, ”ImPuRITiES… FlAWs…YyyeeEeEssss…”Your first instinct is to tell him where to shove his impurities, but then it hits you:You have bargaining power! Whatever the Hell it is he wants, he wants you to offer it willingly! What a MAROON!>CONTD.
>>6330822Something wriggles within the folds of your consciousness. ”Thinkin’ what I’m thinkin, hoss?”Probably not, you shrug, but you could probably come up with a thing or two! What’s the play here?>Tell Trier you need more free time! To, uh, prepare for imprisonment, or whatever!>Probe Trier for more info about your ‘Vitae’!>Your friends… what about them?>Tell him about Vhale’s plans!>Make him an offer–you want something in return!>Refuse! You’re not just giving your soul or whatever over!>Use the opportunity to attack! Get ‘em, RED!>Speak to RED! What’s his take on this?>Write-In!
>>6330824Internally:>Speak to RED! What’s his take on this?Out loud:>Tell Trier you need more free time! To, uh, prepare for imprisonment, or whatever!We still have the concert and the heist to sort out.
>>6330844This is good but we should tell him about Vhale. Perhaps something like>See I would love to work with you but the Cartel is making it hard. BTW did you know they stole papers on your immortality? Curious."
>>6330856I think we should try to get access to those papers, first, before we tip him off... We need a way to bypass his immortality, too, after all.
>>6330824>Speak to RED! What’s his take on this?
>>6330824>>6330844 +1
>>6330844>>6330924>SPEAK TO RED!>YOU NEED MORE TIIIIIIME!>>6330896>SPEAK TO RED!Writing! I'll see if I can't mash all this together
You never thought you’d admit it, but you’re almost glad RED’S sharing your headspace–now if only you could distract Trier long enough to have one of those ‘Thoughtversaitions’--”unitSss 228 THrRougH 301: RECAlibrATE SeCCCtOR 8 SwEEP refEReNCINg…”Oh! Perfect! RED, you begin as you subconsciously turn away from your gracious host, what’s his take on this?Something cackles from beneath your mind’s folds. ”My take? We hit the JACKPOT, pard!”You run your hand across the cold, slick surface of your tank. Yea, he’s gonna have to explain THAT one…”What’s there to explain? You heard him, didn’t ya?” The demon snickers to himself as if remembering an old joke, ”Poor bastard needs us to WANT to hand over the goods! We’ve got him right where we want ‘em!”Sure, you shrug, but what exactly ARE the ‘goods’ anyways? Your soul? Blood? Mojo?”Soul, if I had ta’ guess…” The Archdevil replies, prompting a pang of worry in your gut! ”But don’t worry, kid–nothin’s gonna happen to your soul… not if I have anything ta’ say about it!”You feel better already, you reply with a Rezzie-worthy eyeroll. So that ‘impurity’ crap–”Think of it this way, amigo:” RED interjects as you feel a disembodied claw clasp your shoulder, ”Say yer’ takin’ your ladyfriend to the steakhouse for her birthday… you orderin’ skirt steak… or VEAL?”… Is… is that a euphemism, or…?”It’s a question, kid–a rhetorical one!” He answers as Trier drifts away to yell at the wall. ”Guys like us? We like our meat JUICY!”You’re, uh… you don’t eat steak much, you reply as you force an apologetic laugh in for good measure. Why is veal superior again?”Whoof… we’re gonna have to get you some meat, friendo…” The devil sighs, sympathy slipping into his voice! ”Nevermind that–point is, some folk’ll die before accepting anything less than perfection… and this Trier fella? He strikes me as a perfectionist!”But… is that normal? For humans, you mean? RED borrows your shoulders for a shrug.”Don’t take this the wrong way, Ant, but I’ve had plenty a time ta’ appraise your soul… AND that sweetheart Liz’, to be transparent-like…”Call it clingy, but you’re not a big fan of how liberally he talks about examining your ex’s soul…”And I gotta say, pard, HUMAN SOULS? Didn’t know they made ‘em that finger-lickin’ good!” You try not to shudder as the sound of disembodied lips smack within your psyche. ”Deal’s a deal, course… an’ I don’t get high on my own supply… not during work hours, at least! HAR!”>CONTD.
>>6331217So he wants to EAT your soul, you ask incredulously, not bothering to wait until RED’S raspy laughing fit concludes! ”Aaahhh, I doubt it… reckon he’ll just use it fer’ somethin’. Couldn’t tell ya what that is, but-Your eyes meet with your new neighbor’s, and you’d be lying if you said a Teksoul wasn’t something of an improvement–somehow you doubt these guys blast Nightcore at 3am… Strange… they might be machinelike, but when you stare at them long enough they almost seem…Actually, you mutter in your mind, you think you might have a hunch as to what he’d be using you for!”What?! Whatwhatwhatwhat? Don’t leave me hangin’, kid!”The Teksouls, RED! They’re run on PEOPLE! Or, like, a PART of people, probably! That’s why the Cartel’s giving him the living and dead… and THAT’S why they seem so damn eerie all the time!”Huh… hey, that’s a pretty good idea, now that I think of it…”Sure, you shrug, but that seems like a waste, doesn’t it? What good would you be in one Teksoul? And why would he go through all this trouble just for that?”... Maybe he’s not gonna use you in just one?”The Archdevil’s words put you into pondering mode–is… can he do that? You’ve never sliced up a soul before, but-”Oh sure ya’ can! Slice ‘em, squish ‘em, stir ‘em up and slurp ‘em…” RED explains like your granny sharing a recipe, ”Plenty a ways to prepare a soul… Now splitting one? Shoot, that’s beginner stuff, now that I think about it!”He’s pretty chipper for someone who’s about to get his investment stolen. Another raspy laugh leaves RED’S unseen lips!”Have a little faith, Anton… I didn’t get to where I am today by rolling over for the first jumpy wizard that comes along!”See, he SAYS that, you think back pointedly, but he was trembling in his britches the last time you met Trier!”True, but now we’re back… and we hold ALL THE CARDS!” Snickers the Satanthing! ”Shoot, we really oughta’ capitalize on this, pard! And don’t worry about this whole ‘soul’ thing none… I got me a PLAN…”Can’t WAIT to hear it….”Oh ye of little faith… don’t you worry, RED’s got this all under control, you’ll see~”Yea, that’s what WORRIES you! That said, if RED’S feeling fine about all this, well…Maybe you DO have some bargaining power. Trier hasn’t mind-controlled you yet or anything, so who knows?He also hasn’t come back over to spew crazy at you for a while. Guess the man really is busy!What’s next?>Ask more about souls!>Inquire about Liz!>Pry his plan out!>Get Trier’s attention!>Write-In!
>>6331219>Pry his plan out!The rest is interesting, but this is priority numero uno while have the time and Trier is occupied.
>>6331227That seems smart but again I really want to try to get Trier to take on the Cartel. He's our best tool to deal with Vhale.
>>6331219>Pry his plan out!Alright, RED, hit us. Hit us with your SPECIAL SAUCE. Your SPECIAL REDNESS.
>>6331219>Pry his plan out!
>>6331227>>6331243>>6331336>PRY OUT HIS PLAN!WrrrRRRrrRRRITINGGGG!>>6331243>rednesspicrel
Nuh-uh, you think as Trier continues to bark orders at nothing like a mad vagrant, you want specifics on this ‘plan’ of his! The devil squirms within your psyche.”Fine… but you might not like it…” He warns with apprehension creeping into his tone!You don’t like anything he does.”Whaaa? C’mon, pardner! What about that KEEN HAT I whipped up for ya?” … Alright, that was pretty cool, actually. What’s it made of anyways?”Would you believe it was ‘ethically sourced’?”You would not.”In that case… you’re better off not knowing!” RED chirps, prompting your eyes to flit over to your NIFTY HAT resting on your head! ”But anywho, the plan… let’s talk about the plan!”Yea, let’s! He said you might not like it–why?”Well I know how SQUEAMISH you get about me, uh… ‘takin’ the reins’...” Mutters the maledict like a kid getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar, ”But try this on fer’ size, kid: Trier wants our buy-in, yea? So we buy in… AFTER naming our price, that is!”Okay, you shrug, but-”Not TOO much, mind–he’s a powerful mage, never been more sure of somethin’ in my life–and while he seems open to negotiatin', we don’t wanna push him into desperation, y’hear?”That’s… that’d be bad, huh?”I reckon so. Hell, if it were me I’d just lock ya’ in THE VESTIBULE OF VIOLENCE for a few millenia until ya’ warmed up to me! Bet he can do something similar if he were so inclinated!”Well THAT puts your mind at ease! So we ask for something-”But not TOO much!”… But not TOO much… maybe a little more freedom for the concert, maybe some stuff on Vhale?”It’s what I’D do!”… And then what? You’ve never traded your soul before.Willingly.”And let me again say how so, SO sorry I am about that being sprung onto you! But it’s a matter of perspective here, Tex! Y’know, your gal pal didn’t take long to warm up to the ide-”You’re not Liz. RED answers with a raspy chuckle.Trust me, I’m WELL aware… which is why ya’ ain’t gonna like what I have ta’ say about Step Two…”You steal another glance at Trier, the wizard staring blankly at one of the many Teksouls housed in the containment facility. The Archdevil’s right, but you aren’t too keen on sticking around HERE for eternity either…The plan. Lay it on you!”Atta’ boy. So here’s the idea:” Purrs the possessor from within your head, ”When agreement time comes, let ME take the wheel. I’ll agree, I’ll shake on it. Even-Stevens!”>CONTD.
>>6331504You can’t help but blink. That’s… how the heck is THAT supposed to work?”By way of semantics, amigo, they’re the lifeblood of deals like this!” Cackles the demon!But… won’t that, like, surrender HIS soul to-”HA! ME?! A soul!? Bless yer’ heart, you’re as fresh in the head as a newborn heifer, ain’tcha?”When you don’t respond, the devil clears his intangible throat. ”It’ll work, friendo. Trust me, I know my way around a Faustian Deal… and I’ve got too many plans for your soul to hand it over to some twitchy twit like Trier! And I know ya’ ain’t a fan of it, but I want ya’ ta’ TRUST me this once!”His voice lowers as the traces of mirth drain from his tone. ”It’s the best chance you’re gonna get…”That’s what he said about being able to deal with these Lords, you pointedly fire back! Remember when he told you to not attack at all? You do!”Beating this guy and navigating a bad deal are two different rodeos, buckaroo… and one of them will most certainly lead to the other!”Words, words, words… you just hope he can back them up! Before you can pry further, your tank is enveloped by a bright, spectral sapphire glow!”AlLoTTed ConSIDeRAtioN TIme ExxXxpireD… ReITerAAAte: SuRReNDEr VITae… W-W-willINGly… ApPRoVe TranSactiooOn. APPRooVE…. YeeeEEessSSSs…”Trier’s eyes bore holes into your body amidst a symphony of mechanical chitters and squawks! Guess he’s done waiting…Well? What’s yer’ offer? Choose one or more, but don’t get TOO greedy!>You have questions first!>Destroy the Spice Cartel!>Vhale. Whatever protection he has on him, you want it gone!>You want freedom until dawn!>The Teksouls… you want them gone and everything FREED!>He knows about demons, right? You want to know how to sever a contract!>You want a way back to your own plane!>The other Lords–how would one defeat them?>Magical artifacts! You want one!>Bells! Lots of bells!>You want your friends to be protected!>Magic! He can teach you some!>Write-In!
>>6331506See, this is why I wanted to talk to him about the cartel going behind his back. I don't wanna have to spend our offer on getting him to murk Vhale...Obviously, the best would be to find a way to sever a contract, but it's hard to do that when RED is around listening. In fact, it'd just ruin the chances of it working.I guess we could ask him a question and then just tell him, but would that count towards the whole "offer" limiter? Hmm.
>>6331511Questions will not, no! Trier's just, uh... not very socially-conditioned, as I'm sure you're aware of already
>>6331512Alright, then.>>6331506>You have questions first!And then we tell 'im about Vhale. Either we convince him to kill him, or it helps him be swayed enough to actually help us evaporate the cartel.
>>6331506>You have questions first!
>>6331506>You have questions first!YOU LIKE KNOWLEDGEWE LIKE KNOWLEDGESEE??? WE'RE ALREADY BONDING, YOU AND ME, TRIER-SENPAI.WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS...
>>6331515>>6331537>>6331560>QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS...Writinggggg!>>6331560Ya love ta see it, folks
Actually, you reply, struggling to stand tall under the burning glare of the mage’s three glowing eyes, you have some questions that need answering first!Something between a buzz and a click prefaces the mad mage’s answer: ”DEniEEDD! DENiiED! INsuFfICIEnt REasONING! IrrELEvAAAANT! IRRelEVANT! YIEld! SUbmiT! SURrrENDErRr!!!”The air itself around you seems to twist and tumble like a forming storm, but the tek tantrum only bolsters your confidence! You’ll submit, you retort, hastening your speech as you notice the glimmer in the wizard’s eyes at the magic word, IF he satisfies your curiosity… AND agrees to your conditions!Trier takes it about as well as you expect. ”INSuboRDInaTION BOrrrDERinnnG TtTREaSssOOOOn! AnaLYsIs: REbelLiON FUeleD BY InORDiNATE IGNoRANCE!”A few seconds of guarding your face later, you realize he doesn’t plan on making your head explode. Hey, he took it better than you expected! Just as relief washes over you, your body is rocked by a massive explosion across the chamber! Your bones ache and your eyes sting as you recover from the shock, but Trier isn’t shook in the slightest–guess he’s the one who did it.A muffled whine and a series of clicks echoes from behind his eyes before the incensed sorcerer finally follows up!”... IF iT wiLL WITHholD VItAE PENdinG EXchANGe, THEN ExECUte DISSScourSE… STaTe QuerIEsssSS…. YesSSs…”That ‘YesSSs’ didn’t sound half as enthusiastic as it usually does–you can tell the dude’s pissed. Still, pissed doesn’t mean uncooperative–guess you have the floor! The question is… what to ask? And will he even bother answering?What do you ask Trier? He probably only has enough patience for THREE QUESTIONS at most!>What does he plan to do with you?>The Lords. You wanna know more.>He said he CAUSED the Darkness–what HAPPENED!?>The Cartel… you want to know all about their deal!>Vhale–how is he protecting Vhale?>Demons–what does he know about stopping them?>You want to know more about Nuugal and the Khorrozeh Empire!>Why does he want to sack Crossroads?>What would ‘yielding’ to him entail, exactly? Will you die?>Your friends–what does he plan on doing with them?>Why did he show you the Teksouls?>What’s next in his master plan?>Write-In!
>>6331597>What does he plan to do with you?>The Lords. You wanna know more.>Write In - Does he know that the Cartel recently just stole papers on his immortality?
>>6331597>WRITE IN: HEY THE CARTEL STOLE YOUR SHIT, YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?>The Lords. You wanna know more.>What would ‘yielding’ to him entail, exactly? Will you die?
>>6331606+1>>6331597
>>6331597>The Lords. You wanna know more.>Write In - Does he know that the Cartel recently just stole papers on his immortality?>What would ‘yielding’ to him entail, exactly? Will you die?
>>6331602>>6331606>>6331643>>6331761TtAlLy CccOUnTeD. DIsPlAYInG ReSUlTSss, YeeEESsss...>Plan for you: 1>LORDS: 4>Cartel stole your shit homie: 4>Yielding? What's that mean actually: 3QuErIEs WRrrITTen AnD CaCHeD... coALLAtinG ReSPonSEs...
>>6331847First of all, you begin as Trier’s eyes bore into you like lights in a dentist chair, assuming you do ‘yield’--”yieLLlD! YessSSsS…”Hey, you didn’t agree to it yet! ‘Yes Means Yes’!To his credit, the mage backs off with a respectful nod. Good for him, man! Anyways, you continue, what would that process mean, exactly? You don’t really wanna die, so-”AssEsSMEnT InCorReCT… DEaTH DeTRimeNTAl TO VitAE EXxxXTRActiON PRocESs!”Wait, really? Cool!”MORtaL ExPIrATIOn SeqUEnCeee: ViTAE CasST INto GrEAt CyCLE… REwaRDs… PuniSsHMEnTssS… REBIrth. ASsESSmENT: SySTEm InEffICIEnT. SOLuuTION: PosSStpoNE DEaTH INDEfinITElY, YyEsSss…”Alright, you were kinda happy when you heard he wasn’t planning on killing you, but when he puts it like that it almost sounds li-wait, you blink in confusion, he knows what happens when you die!?A dull whirr leaves the space beneath Trier’s eyes. ”WE aRE AWaRE. QUEry IRrELeVANT. ProCEEd!”Okay, okay, sheesh! Sorry you’re a little curious about one of life’s biggest questions!”ApolOGY ACknOwlEDGed.”So what, you frown, he’d just… keep you here? Collecting ‘vitae’ or whatever like tree sap on a maple farm?”SUmmARy SuffICIEnT. PRoJECTed LOsSEs OvEr TIme–CaUSE: HuSK DEgrEDatION–OptIMAl SOlUtiONS: FacILItaTE ‘SpEcIEs X’ BrEeDINg viA CLonINg oR NAtuRAL MAte.” The sorcerer’s eyes burn into your as they search for a question you couldn’t answer even if you wanted to:”HuSK OrIgINATInG PLAnE LOcaTION UNknOWN. MEmORIEs CorrRUPtED. SOluTION: AMpLIfIED PSyCHIc PRoBING SuppLEMEnTED bY PEriODIc SPIriTUAl InTerrRrrOGatION sEsSIonS…”You weren’t really onboard with this process before, but you certainly aren’t now! Still… ‘corrupted’? You just thought being summoned, like, summoned your memories elsewhere! Does that mean RED could fix them for you?Speaking of, Trier’s a LORD... and while he talked a little bit about his peers the last time you chatted, you didn’t really grill him on information… Maybe he knows something that’ll help you deal with them?Those, uh… other LORDS, you begin, wh-The mage bristles at the word like a cat facing down a vacuum cleaner! ”THIEvvES! TyRAnTS… ParAsSSSIIttES…. theY CONSsUMe… WE CreATE…”Okay, no love lost on them, huh? Something tells you he doesn’t wanna waste much breath on them… that and the buzzing sensation in your ears. Maybe you should stick to one?Who do you ask about?>KHODRA: SKOG WARLORD OF THE WEST!>SYSSKA: FUUXI BROODMOTHER IN THE EAST!>MIKK: MYSTERIOUS THING TO THE SOUTH!
>>6331943>MIKK: MYSTERIOUS THING TO THE SOUTH!Probably the one we'd know the least about.
>>6331943>MIKK: MYSTERIOUS THING TO THE SOUTH!MYSTERY BOX.
>>6331943>MIKK: MYSTERIOUS THING TO THE SOUTH!This is the perfect time to add some specificity to that description.
>>6331943>MIKK: MYSTERIOUS THING TO THE SOUTH!BOX
>>6331956>>6331994>>6332068>>6332077>MIKKSTERY BOXSplendid choice! Will write this up later on Friday. Apologies for today's delays--was a little busy even after work!
MIKK. The more you hear about it, the more you’re convinced that nobody actually knows what the damn thing is! Only one constant comes up when you hear about this secretive sea-dweller:They rule the Southern Seas… and people are spooked enough to give the whole cardinal direction a wide berth! What the HELL is its DEAL anyways!?Something changes in Trier’s perpetual stare as the thought crosses your mind… right, Wizard. Dude’s probably perusing your thoughts like a Kiddie Menu at a family restaurant.”MIKK….” He intones, his voice hosting a jarring amount of… reverence? ”prIMOrdIAL ChAOs… STiRrER OF minDS… OrDERrr’S AnTITHesSISss…” He pauses for a moment as if the creature in question was sharing the room with you!”DANgerOUs.”‘Stirrer of minds’? Feels like everyone has psychic powers around these parts…”AsSEsSMEnT INCoRReCT: REpLACeS. reVISEs! REWoRKS…” Mutters the mage with a scowl in his voice! “EmERgED FRom the DEEpesT craCKs ANd CRaGS BeNEAth the blACK, YesSsSsss… COUlD NOt DefEND AgaINSt MenTAL InT-Tr-TRUsIONs DIsCOUrSEs… MAnY…”For a moment Trier holds stiller than a statue, his glowing eyes staring across the workshop like a lighthouse in the fog.”... SIlENt NOw. AsSESSMEnT: UnPREcIDEnTED AbsEnCEe… AddENDUm: ModIFicATIOnS NotED iN CoAsTAL PoPUlAtiON BY TekSOul scouTSSsS… RecOrdED RIsE in DOciLITy… AdDEnDUM: NoTEd HOsTIlITY DiRecTEd AT OutSIdDE EleMENTSsss… InCReASEd AggREssION BetWEEn LoCAL FactIONS. SElF-PResERvaTION of MOdIFIed: PriOriTY: MinIMUm.”You blink. So the people on the coast are, what, chill until strangers come by?”INDeeD… AsSEssMENt: DetriMEntAL tO TrAde anD RepuT-t-tTation. ProJEcTEd LONg-tERM SurVIvAL of ComMUniTIEs: UnLIkELY…”If what he’s saying is true, you muse as you gently drum your fingers against your tank, then what does MIKK gain from that? Granted, they sound like some kind of monster, but-”AsSESSmeNT disPLAyS IGnoRAnCE. TerM: ‘MonSTER’ INAccURaTE. AdDEnDUM: MIKK BeHAviOR SugGEsTs F-fOcUs On Sh-sH-SHOrT-TerM GAinS. LogIC InConcLUsiVe…”Yea, seriously… wait, what exactly did he mean by ‘modifications’? Is it just their behavior, or-”InVaSIVE AugMEnTAtiONS PReSSssENT In reTriEVeD BoDIES. FeW SImiLaRitIES to TradITIoNAL TechNolOgy. AdDENDUm: DaTA IMplIES unKnOWN OriGIN. PoTenTIAL unDoCUMEnTEd SenTIEnCE. ImpLiCaTIonS MyRiAD.”Trier’s eyes flicker with… excitement?”SolUTION: DisPATCH GReATER TEkSOUlS OnCE TranSAcTION IS AccEpTED. ObsErVe. CollECt. DIsSEct.A pause.”ZoRaL CHAnGeS. WE AdaPT. WE SubSIst. We GRoW.”
>>6332319That’s… not ideal. Deciphering Trier’s schizobabble isn’t easy, but you don’t need to be a mindreader to deduce that there’s something big happening by the coast… and if Liz is down there, well…… Not like you can handle it right now, though. You still have that Skog siege in Crossroads to consider too!Anything else you wanna ask about MIKK? Something tells you the Archmage is growing impatient. CHOOSE ONE:>Nah, you’re good for now!>What does he think made these ‘modifications’?>Why would MIKK go silent?>Has he fought MIKK before, or are they buddies?>What can he tell you about this ‘Non-Modified’ faction?>Write-In!Excuse me while I bash my fucking head in with a mallet for fucking up formatting for the eighty-th time
>>6332320>Nah, you’re good for now!We still haven't told him about the Cartel...
>>6332321Don't worry, my pet, we'll get there. This ole' dog hasn't forgotten yet ;)
>>6332320>Nah, you’re good for now!Whoops, forgot to vote, here we go.
>>6332321>>6332549>NAAAAAHHHHSo be it! Writing!
That’s enough about MIKK for now. If something big’s happening down South, you’ll just have to see it for yourself–and you’ve got enough on your plate with Trier as-is!Trier… where do you even begin? Dude shoved you into a fish tank with barely a thought, multitasks running the CyberGestapo, Umberal, and whatever else he’s doing like nobody’s business… and you still don’t have a clue to what’s keeping him alive and ticking! I-Is he ticking? You don’t know!Those notes the mages compiled might be your only shot at taking him down… no small wonder why Vhale and his cronies filched them. The Cartel and Trier’s administration might be in kahoots, but you get the sneaking suspicion they don’t hang out on the weekends and BBQ…Wait a second… they… they aren’t pals, are they?As you ponder their partnership, you feel something foreign slip between your thoughts like a pipe cleaner… CRUD! He’s a WIZARD! Of COURSE he can read minds! Seeing your chance, you beat the mage to the punch:He knows Vhale plans to kill him, right?Trier stares you down for what can’t be more than a minute before answering with a flat ”wE ArE AwARe, YEs.”… any… any thoughts about that? The sorcerer’s eyes flicker in thought.”StATISTICallY ImPRObABLe. AsSESSmENT: ProBaBIlITy OF NEsSUrMOs ElImINATION: FAr GreaTER. IT ConTINUeS TO EXIsT SOLeLY BeCAUSE WE PERMIT IT.”But, you continue, knowing all too well you get more intel when you act like an idiot, but HOW? The Cartel’s really strong… and Vhale? That dude freaks you out even though he’s a fuzzball!Trier’s eyes gleam as if he were relishing a particularly tasty morsel. Jackpot! ”ITs ViTAe iS KEpT in STaSis. MOrtAlITy PosTPOnEd… ViTaE FOr VITaE… YeeeEEssss….”So.. if he DID have an actual plan to screw over Trier-”MorTAliTY… ResUMEd.” A pause. ”AdDENDUM: RebELLioN UnLIKElY. UnPRoFITaBLE. FOOOOOlISSsSSH…”You can’t help but shudder a bit at his response, both out of excitement AND concern! Trier’s SO convinced he can’t be killed that he’s practically giving you the perfect layup here!… Touchdown? Full House? You never were a big sports guy…What if you told him, you tell him, that there were reams of notes on Trier compiled by-”TrImBaLT’S ‘PrOFeSsORS’. We ARE awARE.”GUH! S-so, he knows that-”ConCLUsION: MAgIC BUILt on BLooDSHEd. NuUGaL ModEl, YesSSs… BeHaviOR RatIOnAL GivEN cirCUMSTanCES. PowER EarNED, NoT DISSssPEnSeD.” Another flicker appears in the sorcerer’s eyes. ”AnAlySIS: CuriOUS Of OUr OrIgIiiiINSss… CurIoUS OF OuR EmPIRe… buT CuRiOsiTY ComES NoT WITHouT ITs COnsEquENcESssS….”An image is placed in your mind: an eyeless Mox roaming the halls of the Khorro’Zeh Wing back at the academy with a rictus grin on its face!>CONTD.
>>6333317”WE aRE TrimBALt… WE ArE UMbEraL… WE PerSIsT… yeSssS….”So he knows you were there… then he knows that The Cartel had those notes stolen, right?”We aRE AWaRe.”And he’s not bothered about that? At all?”nO.”But what if-”TheY LacK necEsSArY PoWEr. LaCK NecEsSARy COnVictIOn. LaCK. LACk. LACK. ElImInATinG US WoulD COsT THEm EVErYTHInG. ElImInATING THEm WoulD CoSt Us NOTHinGgGG.”RED stirs in your head like some kind of parasite! ”Necessary power, huh? So if someone DID have the power…”Keep it down, will ya!? He can hear him, probably! You’re not exactly crazy about how blase Trier is about this whole situation, but there is one bit of silver lining here: he doesn’t seem to have any qualms about turning on the Spicys if sufficiently motivated…You can work with that.”DIsCoURSe COnCluDEd.” Drones the mad mage as his eyes burn into yours with renewed intensity, ”YIeLD. TO. uS.”Okay… haggling time! Choose one or more, but don’t get TOO greedy!>Destroy the Spice Cartel!>Vhale. Whatever protection he has on him, you want it gone!>You want freedom until dawn!>The Teksouls… you want them gone and everything FREED!>He knows about demons, right? You want to know how to sever a contract!>You want a way back to your own plane!>The other Lords–how would one defeat them?>Magical artifacts! You want one!>Bells! Lots of bells!>You want your friends to be protected!>Magic! He can teach you some!>Write-In!Sorry about the wait, all--I drew some 'Visitors From Outta Town' Aggro and it took up a whole bunch of my weekend. Should return to regular updates this week!
>>6333320>Vhale. Whatever protection he has on him, you want it gone!>You want your friends to be protected!and>You want freedom until dawn!One night to let us save our fave furball from her abusive ex, then he can have all the vitae he can eat!But not really, let's steal those notes, use Red's power to make the most of them, and kill Trier before he can collect.
>>6333320>Vhale. Whatever protection he has on him, you want it gone!>You want your friends to be protectedThese two are the most important to me. The rest, eh.
>>6333384>>6333427If we're going to take out Vhale, does 'needing our friends protected' even count? How does that even work?
>>6333475Teksouls are everywhere. They can now be turned to the defense of our friends against, for instance, falling to their imminent demise or being shot by cartel snipers.
>>6333475Last I checked, removing his protection doesn't mean Vhale is going to immediately die and his crime empire collapses in a millisecond. Just because Vhale isn't protected anymore doesn't mean...They won't still be in danger? We still need to deal with him, we're just removing his safeguards.
>>6333478>>6333479Okay well I don't particularly trust this guy's definition of "safety". For all we know he'd consider keeping them in a box "safe"
>>6333496We could be specific about it if that's what's bothering you. We can just phrase it that we want them free but still able to move around. The TEKSOULS could just be their bodyguards.
>>6333500+1 to specificity. >>6333496 raises a good point.>>6333384>>6333320
I'll keep this open til Monday, but one quick question:>>6333502Do you wanna keep the>Freedom until dawnRequest in this amended vote?
>>6333427>>6333685I'll just say that I'm going to add>You want freedom until down!To my vote. Since I was kinda expecting YWS to vote by now.
>>6333685Yes, I would prefer that still.
>>6333320>Vhale. Whatever protection he has on him, you want it gone!>You want your friends to be protected!>You want freedom until dawn!
>>6333427>>6333688>>6333733>Vhale. You want whatever protection he has on him GONEZO>You want your friends protected. No getting hurt or any more Sniper bullshit!>FREEDOM UNTIL DAAAAAAWWWWNNNNWe writing, folks. We writing.
A defiant grin slips onto your face as you meet the mage’s stony stare! You will, you reply, sending a jolt of life flickering through Trier’s eyes, on a few conditions!For the briefest of moments you feel an uncanny smothering sensation–almost as if something had dropped a mountain on your skull for a fraction of a second! A blink later, however, and it’s gone… and Trier looks none too pleased!”... PRoCEeD witH… NEGoTIAtiONSsSs….”D’aww, see? He CAN play nice! First thing’s first you begin with renewed confidence, your friends! You couldn’t care less about what happens to you, but them? You want his guarantee that they’ll be able to move around without getting gunned down in the streets! No assassination attempts on shopping trips! No murders in the lavatories! And if they want to leave Umberal, well, they’d better be allowed to! No ifs, ands, or buts about it! Hell, maybe he can get a few Teksouls to cover them while they-”AppROVeD.” Drones the wizard in machinelike assent! O-okay!Next, you add in a slightly shakier tone, you know he’s keeping Vhale alive… and if he wants your power–unfiltered and all–he’s gonna have to revoke that! No more special Spice Cartel treatment!”APPrOVED.”Well too bad, you croon, because if he doesn’t agree then neither will y-Wait a second… Did he say ‘yes’?”SemAnTIcS: APpROVED.” Hisses the mage as a gutwrenching ‘CRACK’ echoes from his back! ”YIEld.”Errr, sure, hold on a sec, you stammer, trying not to focus on the fact that you didn’t even need to pass a contrived dice roll to convince the mage, you… you have one last request!Trier’s eyes burn brighter at your response, no doubt fueled by his rapidly-dwindling patience! ”...PRoCeED…”You want the rest of the day, you reply, fists balled at your sides as your face is once more flooded with determination! Until DAWN!”DEnIED!” The mage roars as his unseen head violently rocks back and forth with growing displeasure! ”UnAcCEPtABLE! IT SlINks! iT StEALs!! DEnIED! DENIEdddd!”The sudden shift in his demeanor knocks you off-balance, but you trip and tumble all the time… you know how to catch yourself! FINE, you snarl back, then the deal’s OFF! Does that compute in his freaky head, huh!? OFF!Trier’s head reels back as an earsplitting HOWL shakes the chamber–Teksoul tanks included! Eldrich explosions rock the room, some even eviscerating a few Teksouls caught in the crossfire! Despite his fearsome fury, however, the Archmage leaves you and your cell unharmed…>CONTD.
>>6334027As the last burst of magic fades into an uncanny silence, the wizard’s eyes fall upon you once more–their owner deathly still as he regards you like a cat peering into a fishbowl! Gritting your teeth under his blinding gaze, you stand firm and prepare for whatever’s coming next…”... AppROVed.”The words linger in your ears for what feels like minutes before you finally dare to release the breath you didn’t realize you were holding. He’s… he agrees?A blink later finds you back on the cold, chemical-scented floor far from your prison looming several dizzying stories above your head! ”It’S PoWEr…” Croaks the conjurer, a series of cracks springing from his unseen, but clearly VERY gangly arm as it extends in your direction, ”ShALl IllUMinAte UmbEral.. ETERnAl….”The chamber falls silent as you sense it: a gnarled, dessicated claw reaching out for your hand, the smell of potions and poultices barely covering the persistent scent of rot emanating from its creaking tree limb-like surface.Trier creaks once more as his uncannily-tall form stoops lower to facilitate what he asks for one last time:”YiELd.”This is it. RED’S time to shine, you think.What do?>YIELD.>One more question…>Actually, there’s one more condition…>Write-In!
>>6334028>YIELDWelp, let's do it. I'm sure it'll end horribly.
>>6334028>YIELD.yeah i'm not going to push my fucking luck here.
>>6334030>>6334031>YIELDWhat could possibly go wrong!? Writinggggg~
>>6334030I fully believe in Red... At least when it comes to this. he wants our soul, and he wants our crew to kill the other lords.
>>6334184Listen boneheads we've already established that RED'S best girl
The decision sits with your stomach like a month-old tuna and yogurt sandwich. Even with RED’s little plan, you can’t help but hesitate a bit as you reach out to take and shake Trier’s claw–he’s too calm, you think to yourself as you try not to let your uncertainty leak into your expression, too aloof.Is Trier really as powerful as he makes himself out to be? Or is he just accustomed to not being challenged?Your hand clasps around a rough, crack-covered appendage whose surface seems to hook and yank at your palm’s smooth flesh. It’s cold, whatever it is, like a twig left to rot in a freezer!The hairs on your arm stand on-end as you feel a trickle of magic work its way through your pores. You really, REALLY hope it’s the latter!”Hokay, pard,” Sighs the Satan living behind your psyche, ”Showtime…”You can hardly wait… steeling yourself for the handover, you grit your teeth as you feel your ‘self’ slip away like a candy wrapper in the wind…And then?Nothing.Darkness intertwines with silence, wrapping you in oblivion like a noise-canceling spiderweb! It’s almost peaceful, seeing nothing… hearing nothing… feeling nothing…For a time, at least.Just when you think you’ve stopped thinking, a particularly odious one slips in uninvited:What if this is it? What if RED leaves you here? What if this is the rest of your life? And your afterlife?You’d feel chills if you could still feel. All you can do is drift in abject numbness, each moment maybe a minute… or a month!Stupid RED. You bet HE doesn’t have to deal with this… he probably has a 24/7 feed hardwired into everything you do, the cad! Whatever happened to privacy!? Dignity!?Spending a few moments testing if you can somehow manage to scratch your butt, you’re interrupted by a… …Something.You only notice it when it’s practically on top of you–not directly, of course–the presence lingers just outside of your perception like when someone’s peering over your shoulder at work… or standing a little too close on the bus!Whatever the presence is, it’s weak… faint like a dollar store Walkie-Talkie!The question is, do you acknowledge it? Is it some kind of plaything RED left lying around? A shard of your psyche? G-g-g-GHOSTS!?What do?>Wait for it to address you!>Ask what it wants!>Stay silent!>Introduce yourself!>Write-In!
>>6334189>Introduce yourself!Could be another soul our 'pardner' ate.
>>6334189>Introduce yourself!
>>6334189>Introduce yourself!Do you have a...name? Weird speck ghost thing?
>>6334194>>6334276>>6334310>INTRODUCE!Writing! Later!
Whatever it is, it’s no excuse for you not to be polite! Wrenching yourself free of your potent paralysis, you force a charming smile onto your lethargic face and introduce yourself!ANTON PEAS: that’s your name, don’t wear it ou-’KNOW… YOU….’The voice is weak. Quiet. Yet strangely familiar… A welcome softness after having Trier’s stunted speech rake across your eardrums! They know you? Well, uh, you sheepishly stammer, they’ve got you at a disadvantage, then-’LITTLE… TIME…’ The voice pleads, prompting your mouth to slam shut instinctively! ‘DISTRACTED… FOR NOW…’Who is? You? Oh, do they mean Trier, or-’DEMAGOGUE… AND DEVIL….’ The voice explains, straining with all its might to be heard! ’LITTLE… TIME….’Okay, okay, you sputter, eyes wide and full of worry! What… What do they want? What do you need to do!?You can almost feel a grateful smile on your back. ’DELIVER… LIGHT…. LORDS… END….’Y-you’re working on that, you plead! But… but it’s hard! Trier’s a FREAK! Your protests are cut short by the faintest sensation of arms wrapping you in a weak, but warm embrace… ’FAITH… TRUST…’Trust WHO though, you fire back, your dry throat stinging as you struggle to address the disembodied voice!’THE LAND…’Your response dies in your throat as the warmth spreads through your body. Who-’BANISHED… BUT NOT GONE….’ The voice’s tone is rueful, but a droplet of hope seeps into the tail-end of their words. ’FREE US… ANTON… CLOSE NOW…’”thE COvENAnT IS seaLED…”Trier’s croaking, reverberating tone crashes through your unexpected serenity like an orangutan driving a sixteen-wheeler through a jewelry store! Did that happen in your area? You feel like you saw it on the news once…Oh right, you’re back. Trading the mysterious voice’s warm embrace with cold sterile air nipping at your cheeks, you try not to look too befuddled as a far more familiar voice fills your skull with a cheeky, raspy laugh! ”Done deal, scout! How ya’ feelin’, hm? Soul still intact?”Y-yea, you mutter wearily, earning the archdevil’s intrigue.”S’matter? Constipated?”N-no, you reply as you force a laugh out of your lungs, you’re just… you’re not used to him doing that, is all!”Hey, not MY fault you’re so skittish about it…” The Archdevil grumbles as Trier mumbles to himself like a vagrant on the subway, ”You could learn a thing or two from your better half, y’know! She’s nowhere near as squeamish around me!”So he keeps saying, you ruefully reply. Did she get that message you asked him to pass along?”Mhm!”… any… replies?>CONTD.
>>6334494”The minute she sends one along you’ll be the first ta’ hear about it, pard!”… Swell. Well despite fate’s best efforts you don’t seem to be dead or soulsucked… and as you struggle to regain your equilibrium, Trier temporarily breaks from his spirited schizobabble to address you once more!”A SiMPlE GeASs, YyYeSssS… At DAwN IT Will Be ColLEcTED, YesSssSs….”Great, you shrug, you’re really happy for him! So does this mean you’re free to leave, or?”IF it WilLS It…”Does it ‘WiLS It’?>Yep, get me outta here!>Hold on, you have some more questions!>’Talk’ to RED!>Write-In!
>>6334495>Yep, get me outta here!buh bye
>>6334495>Yep, get me outta here!Oh cool, we finally got a second voice in our head.
>>6334495>Yep, get me outta here!GET ME OUT OF HEREI WANT MY CAT WIFEI WANT MY CUTE AND FUNNY DEMON
>>6334503>>6334532>>6334559>YEP!Loud and clear, folks! Writinggggg
>>6334559+1, also our sweet cinnamon bun troll friend.
You can’t get your answer out of your mouth quick enough. You don’t plan on adhering to Trier’s Fairy Godmother-esque agreement to be back by dawn, but it doesn’t make the situation feel any less tense! If your haste offends the Archmage at all, he doesn’t show it–a dull flicker spread across his many eyes is the only sliver of emotion you get!”iT Is DisMISSed…” Croaks the conjurer as you once more feel the tingle of magic dance around your form, ”but NOt foR LonG….”Trier’s warning lingers in your head and comes along for the ride as you’re whisked away from his vile lab and deposited…AAAAUUUUUGH!!!!SPLAAASH!“OI!” Snarls a gruff and gravely voice, “Ye’ can’t be swimmerin’ in that pool, lad! It be a GEYSER!”Heeding the snarling stranger’s words, you wade out of the foul-smelling pool in his direction and are given a rough, hempen rag for your troubles!“Ach…” Groans the Gnok with a shake of his head, “Tourists… think the whole blasted place be a bath’ouse…”N-not your intent, you shiver as your wet robes are beset on all sides by the brisk mountain air, you were just trying to get back to CRYSTALMELT-“Aye, ye’ succeeded!” Grunts the Gnok as you gratefully give back his rag, “Though this be the backyard! If’n yer’ here for that blasted Spinnerin’ tonight it’ll be upstairs, mind!” Spitting into the rag, his eyes shift towards the distant sounds of equipment being set up!“GALOCK!”Bracing yourself for a spell, you relax a bit as the Gnok next to you tenses up! A cluster of eyes come rushing up the hill towards you both belonging to a very distraught-looking Mzz’goe’virr lass!“G-GALOCK!!!”“Aye, aye, me ears ain’t THAT far-gone yet…” Galock grumbles as he turns to address the newcomer, “What be the problem now, ey?”“It’s dreadful! Horrible, really! There’s-” Before she can finish, the addled employee’s eyes fall upon you with recognition growing in her gaze! “E-erm, e-excuse me, ser…”Who, you? Woah, you’re a ‘Ser’ now!“You’re with the performing party, correct?” She adds with a demure tilt to her tone! Yea, you nod, with Lutza, ri-“Y-yes! Her!” The Mzz’goe’virr mutters as her eyes frantically dance across your surroundings! “There’s, erm… W-well there might be a, um… there’s-”“Koral’s Horns, girl, spit it out afore it KILLS ye!” Groans Galock with a spirited shake of his head!“Y-yes, right!” The Mzz’gal’virr nods! “There’s… a situation in one of the baths… w-we heard shouting and…”You don’t even bother listening to the rest before starting down the hill! She can take you there!>CONTD.
>>6334592It isn’t hard to follow the six-eyed girl, even if she does rush ahead on fleet feet! Following her close, however, you manage to duck and weave most of the Crystalmelt guests idling in your path, and the ones you jostle earn a quick apology from you as you scamper by!“I-It’s through there!” She sputters as you hear the muffled, but still noisy commotion she described just a few rooms ahead! “Th-they might just be a little drunk, but-”You don’t even wait for her description–you recognize one of the raised voices immediately, and that’s cause enough for you to dart through the dressing room!“I-IT’S CUSTOMARY TO STRIP DOW-”NO TIME! Bursting into the bathhouse, you barely manage to LIMBO beneath a fireball aimed at your head! As it tears through some kind of bamboo-esque feature behind you, you order its thrower to stand down! It’s YOU!“Huh? What the HELLS are you doing here?”Nice to see you too, Rezzie. Before you can interrogate the demon, you feel something slink over to your side! T-Tzah-Tzie?!“Wrong, try again!”Ah, Toppel. Still a Durher, you see-OW!“Keep your voice down!” Mutters the magess as she remains behind you with a wary look on her tiny face! “There’s--”Before she can finish, the water in front of you ERUPTS as something HUGE leaps out with a beastly roar! Snatching you up in its sinewy arms, they’re about two seconds from putting you into a crocodile deathroll when their big yellow eyes realize who they’re dealing with!“... Rook!?” Volka sputters, still dripping as she stares you down with visible confusion etched into her features, “The Hells are you doin’ in the Girl Baths?” A vacant blink leaves her equally-vacant head. “... You ARE a male, right? I never really asked-”“HAH! If he’s a male then I’d hate to see a FEMALE human!” Croons Rezzie!“SHHH!!!!” Toppel hisses as her claws dig into your leg!Can everyone CHILL for a moment!? You were brought here because the attendants heard a racket, so what’s the big dea->Roll me 1d100 just for fun! Best of 3! For fun!
>>6334559>>6334572Don't worry, gang, you favorite gals are safe. Probably!
Rolled 33 (1d100)>>6334593
Rolled 86 (1d100)>>6334593
>>6334594Well, two of three (and Toppel) seem fine so far, so...
Rolled 48 (1d100)>>6334593The ANTON AURA will make up for this impromptu faux pas.
>>6334595>>6334600>>6334602>HIGHEST ROLL: 86!Lucky duckies! Writing this afternoon--got a few meetings, unfortunately!>>6334601Toppel certainly doesn't mind being in the baths with Rezzie, no>>6334602So Goddamn True, Questie
The big deal, whatever it is, LEAPS from the water with a faint splash, sending an arc of fine-scented bathwater across your cheek!It’s all the motivation you need to LIMBO, and good thing too–bending backwards puts you juuustt out of reach of something thin, but sharp–sharp enough to whistle as it whizzes through the space your face just occupied!“DON’T MOVE!”You’re not exactly ‘jazzed’ about taking orders from Toppel, but you acquiesce anyways! To your surprise, the attacks end there, leaving you to stand in the waist-deep bathwater with soaked robes and confusion etching into your expression!What… was that?“Magi’bah….” The sorceress hisses as she lingers on the side of the bath, “Water Element. Small one too, I think… and more than one, most likely.”Okay, you frown, follow-up: WHY is there a Magi’bah in the Girl’s Bath?“Why indeed!” Scoffs Rezzie as she flicks her damp hair with a groan, “Probably some pervert after a lock of my luxurious hair…” A sly grin forms on her face as her red eyes fall upon you. “Probably taught you everything he knows!”You… don’t know about that theory…“Tch… you could fill a LIBRARY with things you ‘don’t know’...” “If I had ta’ guess,” Volka guesses as the poor girl struggles to keep her tail still and above the bath, “I figure it’s those sneaky Spicys again! But this time they ain’t even bothering sending a meat-n-blood assassin!”“Not after how I handled the last ones…” Rezzie cackles! “Oi, AnTARD. I’m hungry. Go get me some food, peasant.”“W-WAIT!”You don’t know what you’re more disappointed about: that you nearly moved after Toppel told you not to only a moment ago, or that you moved because Rezzie ordered you to.“It’s tracking your movement in the waterrrrr!!!” Toppel whines as she shoots an uneasy glance around the room! Okay, you sigh, so why did Volka drag you in?“I uh…” The Skog stammers, her cheeks adopting a beet-red hue as she struggles to avoid your pointed gaze, “I thought you might’ve been the conjurer, so-”She was underwater–how could she have known? Also, you add, WHY was she underwater in the first place!?“Oh, that’s easy!” Grins your Superior Officer with a twinkle in her eye, “Can’t see Magi’bah too well, so ya’ gotta use yer’ senses! Figured I’d sniff it out!”… Under…water?“Hah! Yep, didn’t really think that one through, did I?”You don’t bother answering that one. So, you sigh, any ideas on how to handle this? “Whallop the caster, of course!” Volka suggests, earning a few murmurs of assent from her fellow females. “‘S the whole reason we’re in here in the first place–Toppel an’ Oti picked up some magic outside the suite and guess what we found?”… A mage?>CONTD.
>>6335040“A MAGE!” Snorts the Skog! “Chased ‘em here, so they’ve gotta be nearby!”“Unless they slipped out already…” Toppel adds with a rapidly-drooping frown. “And for the last time: KEEP. IT. DOWN.”“We ARE, moron!” Rezzie barks as she flies to Volka’s aid, “These are our ‘Indoor Voices!’”Hey, Toppel’s a mage, you interject, can’t she sense the sorcerer? The Durher shakes her head.“The springwater here is rife with magical energy… good for the skin, bad for magical detection.” The sorceress pauses to study you for a moment. “Which reminds me: why are you wearing a robe in a bath? Are you stupid?”Is she saying they paused their pursuit to strip down? The girls answer with a cornucopia of coughs and non-committal noises.“I mean… it’s only proper, ain’t it?” Volka answers, shrugging her massive shoulders and showering you in magical droplets!You left them alone for a few posts… a few posts! Okay, Toppel, you add with a sigh, can’t she, like, blast the water with fire or lightning or something?”And cook you all? The thought HAD crossed my mind, but-”But she didn’t want to do that, you interject as you give your forehead a much-deserved slap, right…“Actually I didn’t want to offend my DARK LADY an-”But she DIDN’T WANT TO DO THAT, you pointedly repeat! Taking a steadying–and very pleasantly-scented–breath, you run through the facts one more time:There’s an elemental in the water with you–maybe more. They’re small, but you just got your head chopped off by one. Not ideal!If you move, they’ll notice. Couldn’t hurt to be quiet either.They’re sustained by a CONJURER hidden nearby… if they’re incapacitated or lose their focus, no more Magi’bah!The question is… what do?INVENTORY/SKILL PASTEBIN:https://pastebin.com/xdk5kHyA>Make a distraction! Toss something in the water!>Get Toppel to blast you out with wind or something!>Pull something out of BIISII’S BAG!>Launch yourself outta the water with a HELLGEYSER!>Cast DISPEL MAGIC in the water!>Have Rezzie blow a hole in the bath–let it drain out!>Call Obber over! He can sniff stuff out, right?>Have Toppel fill the area surrounding the bath with nasty magic! Foul-scented fog! Ice! Something!>Rezzie knows magic! Freeze the water around everyone!>Stay Silent! They’ll think you disappeared!>Write-In!
>>6335040Wait, Rezzie has hair?
>>6335044Who knows! It might be a coral-like growth too!
>>6335042>Pull something out of BIISII’S BAG!I just wanna finally test out the bag. I mean, it's not one time use right?
>>6335047Nope! Go nuts!
>>6335042>Pull something out of BIISII’S BAG!The baaag
>>6335042>Pull something out of BIISII’S BAG!PRAY. PRAY FOR THE BAG TO HELP US OUT.
>>6335047>>6335077>>6335083>THE BAG! THE BAAAAAGGG!!!!!Okay you psychos, here's how it's gonna play out:>Roll me 1d100. That's it. Lemme handle the rest. : )
Rolled 5 (1d100)>>6335105
>>6335106GOOD! Writing!
>>6335044I maintain that she is a pterosaur, and thus has fuzzy integument according to the most current science.>>6335106Hoo boy...
They wanna play with magic? Then by Jove, you’ll play with magic! Hastily retrieving the ensorceled souvenir you snagged from Trimbault’s Magic Item Vault out from the dark recesses of your voluminous pockets, you hold BIISII’S BAG aloft like some hempen Excalibur!“Errr, Rook?” Volka mutters as she blankly regards the bag, “What’s that?”The solution to your problems, you reply with a grin! Granted you have no clue what this thing holds–all you got was a half-assed description written by someone who couldn’t write their way out of a paper bag–but you’re not exactly flush with ideas right now… and you aren’t about to mess around when you’ve got Water Elementals chomping at the bit to give you a very, VERY close shave!Your hand plunges into the sack and is immediately beset by a symphony of sensations: a swarm of tiny somethings nip at your wrist! Piping-hot vapor scalds your skin! And for a brief moment you feel something cold… but fleshy wrap around your wrist!“Are you actually gonna DO anything or did you just say that for attention?” Hisses Rezalith as Toppel takes a few more steps away from the bath’s perimeter! She’s one to talk! “J-just…” Toppel trembles, not bothering to whisper any longer as concern spreads through her foxlike face, “Just be careful with that-”Your hand is too busy being burned, stung, bitten, scratched, shocked, and possibly licked for you to listen, and once your hand DOES close around something, you don’t even wait to see what it is… you YANK!Your quarry emerges from the bag with barely any struggle, and it doesn’t take long to realize why! The item, or critter, or whatever it’s supposed to be daintily sits in your palm with a slightly prickly surface like some kind of sea urchin! But while those are prickly, this thing is… well, it almost feels like it’s made of thick, wet toilet paper!Needless to say, you’re ready to get rid of it when it starts to shiver in your hand… but before you can do anything, the pokething lets loose with a deafening SHRIEK as the area around it is bathed in enough magic to make your eyes shake!“R-ROOK, WHAT’S-”Volka’s answer arrives swifter than you’d anticipated–as your item fades into the aether, you feel an invisible force tug your body upwards… along with everything around it! Water, incense burners, chimes, the girls–all of it launches ceilingward as if the whole world had been turned on its head, turning the calm bathing area into a clutter cacophony!Thankfully your face takes the brunt of the landing-induced blow… but the minute you regain your equilibrium you’re already tumbling back where you came from! Slamming into the bare bath floor, all you can do is groan as the water joins you shortly after!>CONTD.
>>6335535Gasping for breath, you emerge just in time to watch Rezalith launch herself towards a corner of the bathhouse… and get launched away by a massive wave!“Th-THERE!” She sputters as she coughs up some of the attack, “Over there!”As if on cue, a distant cough turns into a laugh…“Go-ho… Go-Hoho! GOOOHOHOHO!”… A very distinct laugh. Its owner emerges from what you assume used to be a rock feature–the telltale six eyes of a Mzz’goe’virr looking your way… and their owner?He’s SMILING!“GO-HOHO! The rumors were true… you certainly are full of surprises… ANTON PEAS!”https://youtu.be/4GcksESdEqcToppel moves to cast something, but the Mzz’goe’virr cuts her off with a sharp ‘shh’!“Ah-ah-ah~” He croons with a lazy pirouette, “Cease your spellslinging, my sweet, or your friends shall be sliced into slivers!” Toppel frowns. “... They’re not exactly my frie-”“Anton Peas!” The Mzz’goe’virr exclaims as a floral, but spicy scent fills the humid air, “Allow me to introduce myself: I… am SUULOM SULOTZ... SIXFACE’S secondmost astute assassins… and I shall be entertaining you for the all-forseeable future! GO-HO~”That won’t be for long, you laconically reply, it’s one against four in case he can’t count! Why not surrender right away?“GO-HOHOHO! Out of the question, I’m afraid!” The Assassin smirks! “You see, even IF SIXFACE didn’t order me to eliminate your friends with extreme prejudice… AND if they weren’t especially-incensed at their daring escape from the canals-”“Oh yea, it was SWELL, Rook!” Volka gushes, eyes wide and grinning as if you weren’t all about to be killed, “We got into this huge chase, see, and Mor and I took a Spicy hostage! Oh, and just when we were about to fall into a deadly pit, Rez-Rez here snatched us up an-”“Yes, yes, commendable effort indeed!” Croons the killer with a snap of his claw! Volka’s smile dissipates immediately as something shifts in the water around her! “But even IF that didn’t happen, and I’m all-too-aware that it did, it wouldn’t change one very VERY important fact!”… Which is?“That I,” Suulom sighs, “Am a GENTLEMAN!” The water dances around you like a hotel’s fancy fountain! “And since it was oh-so-easy to lure your lassies into a tricksy trap, I issue to you… a CHALLENGE!”Toppel’s eyes widen at the words. “D-don’t-”“GO-HO!” As if on cue, a wave of water rises over Toppel’s tiny form–the pillar sounding large enough to engulf the entirety of that side of the room! “Mind your manners, my sweet! The men are speaking!” Shifting his eyes your way once more, the Mzz’goe’virr magician lets loose with another one of his kooky laughs!>CONTD.
>>6335539“GO-HO… But I digress! The terms are simple, Anton my Adversary: best me in battle and the ladies a-leave alive!”… And if you refuse?The Hydromancer’s many eyes narrow. “Then it becomes a game of chance, my friend! But know this… and know it well: the odds are NOT in your favor… Go-ho…”The guy’s confident, that’s for sure… the real question is whether he can back it up or not! Would one-on-one combat be better than just rushing him all at once? Those Magi’bah seem pretty fast, but Rezzie might be faster…What do?>Fine, you’ll kick his butt!>Nah! Get ‘em!>Stall him! Keep him talking! Maybe someone can creep up!>Ventriloquism! You’re already behind him!>Stay Silent! He’ll think you disappeared!>’Trip’ and try to swim over underwater!>Volka, toss me!>Introduce him to RED!>Write-In!
>>6335542Ah shit I totally forgot to vote >Ventriloquism! You’re already behind him!
>>6335542>Ventriloquism! You’re already behind him!YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD!
>>6335542>Ventriloquism! You’re already behind him!>Then bean him with something
>>6335622>>6335630>>6335647>VENTRILOQUISMWHO SAID THAT?! Here goes something...>Roll me 1d100+1 (+2 Illusionist Initiate, +2 All The World's a Stage, +2 Gravity Shift Grief, -5 Savvy Spice Carteler!) to see how your trick pays off! Best of 3! Will probably write the update tomorrow!
Rolled 82 + 1 (1d100 + 1)>>6335701
Rolled 64 + 1 (1d100 + 1)>>6335701IT'S ME! ico! I'M THE ONE WHO SAID IT!
Rolled 60 (1d100)>>6335701
>>6335703>>6335719>>6335736>HIGHEST ROLL: 83!Golly! Writing!>>6335719Uh oh, you gave yourself away
The odds might not be in your favor, but that’s never stopped you before! And based on Toppel’s protracted reaction, you get the feeling there’s more to Suulom’s challenge than meets the ear! A challenge, you ask as mock befuddlement clouds your expression, but why? “GO-HO~, why indeed!?” Scoffs Suulom! “Mayhap a demonstration is in order? Who shall my Magi’bah mangle first, I wonder…”“The feisty fiend?” He coos as Rezzie bristles at the sound of water lapping at her side!“The Meddlesome Mage?” Toppel puts on a bold front, but you can see her eyes trembling!“... Or perhaps The Gentle Giant?” You can almost hear a Water Magi’bah straining to extend up to Volka’s full height just a stone’s throw away from you. To her credit, The Skog’s narrowed eyes never leave Suulom’s!Hmm, you reply as you weigh your options, that’s a thinker! But… isn’t he forgetting someone?“Go-HO!” Laughs the assassin, “No, I don’t believe I am-”“IT’S ME! ICO-”Wide-eyed and flatfooted, the Mzz’goe’virr mobster spins like a ballerina as the sound of swift-running water intertwines with a dull ‘SCchCHTKSH!’“NOOOO!!!! Not ICO!” Volka shouts, eyes wide and voice ragged from shock!It’s a bitter pill to swallow: your good friend Ico knew the risks… and they knew you wouldn’t miss reaping the rewards! Seizing the moment you could have wasted with VENTRILOQUISM, you rush over to Volka and leap out of the water! Concern gives way to determination, and in one fluid movement The Skog plucks you out of the air and HURLS you like a javelin at the stupefied Spicy!https://youtu.be/fqF2JgMziOw“Go-HUH!?”A roaring wave rises to greet you, but you meet it in kind with a handful of HELLFIRE! Bringing your flaming fingers forward, you carve through the aquatic obstacle with one swift swipe, showering your face with a spray of steam!You fly fast, but your foe flees faster! Pirouetting away from your attack, the Water Mage sends you off with a wave in your wake!The wave gives way to drops, and the drops slip past you as sharp as darts! Twisting and twirling mid-flight as best you can, you ready another handful of HELLFIRE as you hear the gurgle and gush of a fresh wave forming in your flight path!“You missed…” The unneeded observation’s owner intercepts you on swift wings, catching your flying form in her fiendish fingers! “Would it KILL you to be any less pathetic!?”It would definitely kill you if you were a little MORE pathetic, yea! Hugging you close to her bath-scented and somewhat distractingly-bare body, Rezalith whips around in a tight loop in the air as the condensation around you explodes into bursts of razor-sharp water!>CONTD.
>>6335982Suulom’s ecstatic ‘GO-HO’s fill the room as your favorite fiend ducks, dives, and weaves through the gruesome gauntlet of dagger droplets and the Magi’bah’s tempestuous tentacles from below! One even grazes Rezzie’s wing as she divebombs Suulom’s platform, but not before you huck a few FIREBALLS his way!Showered with pokey precipitation, Rezzie slows down a bit as the projectiles let up! Before you can ask what happened, your answer comes in the form of several snowflakes caking your face! “Go-HO! Cryomancy… should have known!”Splitting his offensive between you and Toppel, the Mzz’goe’virr deftly dances through Toppel’s snowy assault, giving Rezalith enough time to hurl you at the sorcerer!>Roll me 1d100+4 (+2 Fleet Footwork, +5 Hellish Help, +3 Sorceress Support, -4 Menaced by Magi’bah, -2 Chilled) to hit this HUNK! Best of 3!
Rolled 81 + 4 (1d100 + 4)>>6335983
Rolled 51 (1d100)>>6335983
Rolled 66 + 4 (1d100 + 4)>>6335983
>>6335983Also>ripico.png kek
>>6335983Late to roll but I gotta say I'M FUCKING DEAD AAAAAAAA (kino, QM.)
>>6335984>>6335989>>6336053>HIGHEST ROLL: 85!Writing in a bit--still got errands to run but I'm still alive, don't worry!>>6336058https://youtu.be/qekHDIZbZP8>>6336124The Darklands ain't kind to no tenderfoots, pilgrim... I warned yas
Rezzie’s fiendish throw sends you flying like a burning brick through a window of water, and despite his best attempts, Suulom can’t quite seem to put a stop to your fleet flight! Frantically swiping at you like cats trying to swat a laser pointer dot, the Magi’bah fail to keep you from your final destination: the Mzz’goe’virr Mage’s smug face!Even with two fistfuls of HELLFIRE, however, your airborne assault is cut short by magical resistance–quite a bit, in fact! You can’t even keep track of how many shields you melt through, but just when you think you have him, the Aquamancer shrugs you off with a splash that sends you soaring back towards the bath!“Go-HO! Your aggression is exquisite, my friend, but can you keep up the pace?”Can HE!? You’re about to launch yourself back into his face with a well-placed HELLGEYSER when you hear it: a faint splash just below you! Adjusting your aim, you manage to shoot yourself ceilingward instead just as a trio of razor-sharp Magi’bah tendrils swipe at where your face was gonna be… but the celebration is short-lived!“Well fought, but you’re MINE now!”Sending Rezzie, Toppel, and Volka reeling with another roaring tidal wave originating around his tiny island retreat, Suulom snaps his claws in your direction, prompting a chorus of splashes headed your way!As the aquatic eviscerators approach with evil intent, you ready two more handfuls of HELLFIRE and put on your WARFACE! He can try to grab you, sure, but you’ve got a hot hand… and no matter how things turn out, things are gonna get STEAMY in here!… You don’t mean like, ‘sexy’ steamy though! Just so everyone’s aware-Your thoughts are cut short by the familiar tingle of magic at your back! A panicked yelp wriggles free of your lips as you slam into a massive, icy pillar! Wait a second–why would Suulom suddenly use ice to trap y-“USE IT, YOU DOLT!” Toppel screams as her eyes BLINK out of existence just in time to dodge another splash! Oh yea, huh!Trading a handful of flames for another HELLGEYSER, you grit your teeth and squint as Hell’s heat blasts forth from your palm and sends you hurtling back towards your obnoxious opponent! His lips curl into a wicked grin as his Magi’bah rush to greet you, but the gals are there first!Sailing through the air with uncharacteristic speed and guile, Volka leaps into the fray like a leaping crocodile swinging a Toppel-conjured ice cube into the constructs like they owed her money!Rezzie, on the other hand, ensures the bath remains hot by carpet-bombing the area around Suulom, prompting the caster to BLINK, dodge, and douse the flames instead of attacking you!>CONTD.
The water churns as the bathhouse becomes a battle… house! But it’s over long before it begins: charging up one last HELLGEYSER, you bring the sizzling strike upon Suulom’s last remaining shield! It puts up a good fight, but in between fighting three other combatants and directing a host of Magi’bah, you can’t fault him for letting his guard down…Which, as it turns out, is exactly what the Mzz’goe’virr does! Feeling the magical barrier crumble beneath your assault, you land in an awkward heap on top of the dazed mage and thank whatever Gods are watching that you decided to keep your clothes on… Rezzie would have never let you hear the end of it!Another handful of flames poofs into your hand just in time for another strike, but before you can deal the final blow, Suulom’s expression gives way to pure, unadulterated panic!“P-PARLEY! PARLEY, good sir, please!”You pause with a derisive snort. Did he really think that’s gonna work?“I think about many things, actually…” He hastily replies! Such as?“Like is love truly the most powerful force in the planes?” Asks the sorcerer with a wistful sigh!“Gosh, I hope so…” Volka remarks as she wades over to the defeated wizard’s side! “Sometimes it just feels like nothing but doom and gloom in this wacky world of ours…”“I’m in love!” Toppel swoons as hearts seem to form in her eyes! “And yes, it’s as powerful as they say~”“I see….” Rezzie nods as she lands on the decorative island in the middle of the bath with a sagely nod, “So engaging in love breeds power…”Did they all drink the bathwater or something? It’s a rhetorical question, but the bashful looks you get from Toppel and Volka don’t inspire much confidence…“It’s… supposed to be healthy and magical… right?” Mutters the Skog as her eyes skirt away from yours!“... Y-yea, I drank it because I thought it was healthy too… myep…mhm!” Toppel adds as her eyes skirt away from Rezzie’s!By the way, you ask in a desperate attempt to change the subject, where’s Obber? The dreamy look in Toppel’s eyes gives way to a derisive groan.“Oh, him... I told him to watch over Oti and the others, but-”“Oh, him? He’s been snuggling with me in the bath this whole time, the cheeky little punk!” Punctuating the explanation with a good-natured laugh, Volka retrieves a Maakar-sized something from beneath the water and giggles! “Playful fella just wouldn’t stop rubbing against my hindquarters! That’s Maakar for ‘We’re friends’, ain’t it?”Obber merely coughs up some bathwater as his sister stares daggers into his non-existent eyes. AAAAannnyways….“Alas! It would appear I’ve been bested!” Suulom sighs, still pinned beneath you! “Well, it was worth a try, I suppose…”Again, you sigh, did he really think this was gonna work out? The assassin shrugs.>CONTD.
>>6337311“Kind of? I expected to trap the ladies in the water with my Magi’bahs… but I didn’t expect ANTON PEAS to be BRASH enough to storm the Women’s Bath… or that other person I slayed!”They’ll be missed, you nod as you solemnly remember all the good times you and Ico had. But c’mon, you’re not about to abandon your friends! Even if it is the, uh… girl’s bath…“Yes, why are you here anyways?” Toppel asks, her head barely bobbing above the bathwater as she Durher-paddles over to your island! “You-”Look, you sigh, you’ll explain all this later! First thing’s first: what to do with THIS jackass!“Well,” Suulom begins as if reading off a menu at a new restaurant, “I’d obviously prefer it if you DIDN’T kill me, but as an assassin I’ll respect your decision if you choose to do so.”“Does eating him alive count as killing?” Rezzie asks thoughtfully. “Because if it doesn’t-”“He wasn’t the only one who attacked, Rook.” Volka adds with a stern look etched into her face. “The rest of the gang might still need our help…”“If you DO decide to kill me,” Suulom adds with an apologetic grin, “Would you mind keeping the killing blows away from my face? You’d be disappointing a lot of people if you ruined it, you know!”Where do they FIND these jerks? And where’s Tzah-Tzie now that you think about it? She loves baths!You’ll have to get the answers later. For now, what do?>Kill him. This guy’s a Spicy–he’s totally up to something!>Take him with you to the others! Hostage time!>Knock him out and leave him here. No time to lose!>Interrogation! What does he know!?>Write-In!Also dear lord, sorry, all! This weekend got CRAZY BUSY and I didn't even expect it! I'll try to keep everyone in the loop better going forward--sorry for all the waiting!
>>6337312>Knock him out and leave him here. No time to lose!We're too busy.
>>6337312>Knock him out and leave him here. No time to lose!Punch him REALLY hard in the face. He said to keep the KILLING blows away from it, not the KNOCKOUT blows.
>>6337326+1 to slugging him the the shnoz, but also>>6337312>Write-In: Knock him out AND take him with you as a hostage!
>>6337312>Write-In: Knock him out AND take him with you as a hostage!
>>6337326Ehhh, I'll back the WRITE IN if it's doable, just to prevent a tie.As long as we punch him in the shnoz, it's all good.
>>6337343>>6337425>>6337533>KNOCK OUT AND TAKE HOSTAGE (Just make sure we punch him in the shnoz)>>6337314>KNOCKOUT AND LEAVEWorks for me! WRITINGGGGG
You don’t have time to play ‘Twenty Questions’ with this kook–not while the rest of your pals could be fighting for their lives against countless other flamboyant hitmen! You only have one thing to say to him, you smile as you bring your fist above your head!The Mzz’goe’virr smiles back! “Is it ‘I will let you go’?”Nah, you snort, it’s ‘GOODNIGHT!’https://youtu.be/3FR7shpgmB0?t=122Your fist comes crashing down onto Suulom’s leathery face!“... Ow! Was I not CLEAR about the blows to my face!?” He whines with an incredulous look slipping onto his face! “What are you doing!?”Knocking his ass out, you fire back as you ready another blow! And he said ‘KILLING BLOWS’! This is fair game! Now, uh… ‘SWEET DREAMS!’https://youtu.be/3FR7shpgmB0?t=122“Shit… you’ll leave a bruise at this rate…”“Want me to take a swing at it, Rook?” Asks Volka as Suulom cradles his now-aching, but clearly still-conscious face! No no, you mutter with a dismissive wave, you got this!“OW!”“Tch… soft little AnTWERP... couldn’t knock out a paper bag!”That’s not even POSSIBLE, you snap after yet another attempt!“Would… would it help if I held my breath or something?” Suulom weakly croaks.“Can’t you use a rock?” Toppel adds with an impatient huff! “Plenty to choose from…”You just need everyone to be QUIET, okay? You’ll get it! Just… just go get dressed or something!“Ooh, what if you smothered me?! I think I stepped on a particularly-thick leaf when I was trying to kill y-”SSSSHHH!!!!You manage to incapacitate the assassin a few minutes–and several blows to the face–later. Choking him out might’ve helped a bit too. With the hydromancer limper than an overcooked noodle, you turn to Volka as she and the gals return from getting dressed! Can she carry this guy? You’ll want to talk to him once this all blows over!“Heh! ‘Can I carry this guy?’ he says! Can a Maakar fill out tax forms?”You blink. C-can they?“Click.”“Thanks, mate. Totally behind this year…” Giving Obber a pat on the head, Volka lays your hydrophilic hostage over her shoulder and gives you a wink! With that settled, the six of you scamper out of the bath, much to the befuddled bath attendant’s bafflement!“D-did the situation resolve itself, or..?!”Yep, you shout as you lead the charge down the hall, total misunderstanding, don’t worry!“That bath wasn’t relaxing enough!” Adds Rezzie with a sneer! “I’ll have you FIRED, girl!”“P-please don’t speak to my boss!” Mutters the Mzz’goe’virr, her shaky voice growing fainter as you continue down the hall! “Boss?” Frowns the fiend, “I was going to bathe her in fire…”KEEP MOVING!>CONTD.
>>6337597It doesn’t take you long to make your way back to Lutza’s suite, nor is it particularly difficult: just gotta follow the booms! Granted, the sounds reach your ears muffled by the thick walls around you, but by the time you and the others pile out of the elevat-“’SCENDOCHAMBER~’” Corrects Toppel as she ‘accidentally’ presses herself against Rezzie’s side.Right, that. Once you pile out of the ‘Scendochamber’, your nose is immediately met with the acrid scent of fresh smoke and ozone filling the quaking hall! “Okay, I know what you’re thinkin’,” Volka begins as another explosion rocks the whole floor of the resort, “But this? This looks WAY better than it did a few minutes ago when we chased that Water Mage punk!”A burst of magic cuts your rescue mission short, as does the Durher Mage that poofs into the hallway ahead of you with a cocky laugh!“Aha~bested Suulom, I wager? Why not try SIXFACE’S secondmost powerful assassin on for size, then? HAALSTI THE BLUR... and believe me… the pleasure’s all mine!”“Wait, wasn’t Suulom the secondmost whatever?” Asks Volka as she unceremoniously drops the comatose killer onto the floor! “Ha! As if!” Haalsti cackles! “Now then… DO try to keep up!”Damn it, you groan, now you gotta deal with frickin’ HAALSTI THE BLUR? You can already feel him whipping up a spell…>Roll me 1d100+4 (+2 Fleet Footwork, +5 Demon Support, +5 Skog Support, +2 Toppel Mage Defense, -7 Speedy Sorcerer, -3 Close Quarters) to catch this kook! Best of 3!
Rolled 95 (1d100)>>6337598Aaand another one...really wish we had Liz and her trigger finger here to go no bodycam mode on their asses.
Rolled 21 + 4 (1d100 + 4)>>6337598
Rolled 42 + 4 (1d100 + 4)>>6337598
>>6337600>Liz and her trigger fingerThe downside is she might shoot someone we like.
>>6337736I can't believe Liz turned out to be a yandere who shot TT in the face to get back with Anton...
>>6337600>>6337602>>6337733>HIGHEST ROLL: 99!!!Golly! Writing!>>6337600>>6337736C'mon, have a little faith in your cute ex! She really is a sweetheart once you get to know her!
>>6337740>once you get to know herThat's what I'm afraid of: that she'll shoot first and make small-talk later. She almost got Morook, and Volka is objectively a bigger threat at first blush!
>>6337740I don't WANT her to be a sweetheart because then I'll feel sad and wish Anton was back with her.
You’re already cooking up some HELLFIRE when a familiar pair of big yellow eyes shine through the gloom behind your new opponent!“Ah. That’s where you ran off to.”Haalsti whips around just in time to catch a blow to the face that puts his spell on hold indefinitely, and as the speedy sorcerer stumbles to the floor, his attacker follows with a flurry of blows!You and the gang watch Morook wail on the miniscule mage for a few minutes both out of silent respect and genuine awe. The sound of each punch reverberates through the hall like someone open-palm slapping a piece of baloney in a church, and it’s only after a few minutes giving your would-be attacker the proverbial ‘works’ that the ranger looks up to address you!“Welcome back, Anton. Glad to see you’re okay.”Errr, h-him as well, you reply as you steal a stunned glance at his half-sister behind you! Is everything okay on this floor? The Chytree answers with a shrug.“I certainly hope so. I left Oti to assist Miss Lutza’s entourage with SIXFACE’S secondmost powerful assassin, but-The wall adjacent to you ERUPTS like a volcano as a charred something comes crashing through with a few chunks of burning rubble! Through the newly-bored hole you spot Oti’s glowing green eyes alongside Joplin’s–the two mages huffing and puffing while the Tiito Triplets form a body barrier around their fuzzy employer!“Looks like they’re done.”“We can only hope so…” Oti grumbles as he floats through the hole over to you. “You’re alive. Good. That little stunt you pulled had me questioning your sanity.”You can’t help but frown at that. What, does he mean when you went to your meeting? And where the Hell is TT anyways?“He means when you rushed in to take her somewhere safe!” Toppel explains as she leans against a sighing Oti. “Is your memory THAT bad?”Took her somewhere safe?! You can already feel the tiny tendrils of panic start to burrow into your head as the question leaves your lips! Wh-huh!?“Don’tcha remember, Rook?” Volka asks as she playfully slaps your shoulder out of its socket, “It was a little after the attacks started–you scurried over trembling like a totta and practically dragged the poor thing outta’ here!”“Yea, you looked real pathetic.” Rezzie helpfully adds. “Moreso than usual, now that I think about it!”“It… DID seem a bit odd, yes…” The soft voice heralds Lutza’s approach through the suite’s new entrance–the starlet’s eyes wide with worry! “But before we could protest you’d already spirited her away…”Cool, you huff as reality builds a wall around you and starts to close in, so what if you told everyone that WASN’T you who took TT away?>CONTD.
>>6337824The whole hallway/suite combo falls silent as its occupants slowly realize you aren’t joking around.“That…” Morook begins, his droning voice catching as he struggles to capture the right amount of sympathy, “... Would not be good, no...”Super! Glad we got that established! What’s the next step!?>Walk me through what happened! Specifics!>Let’s start interrogating these hostages!>Anyone have any clue what might’ve happened here?>Try to find some clue of where TT and ‘You’ could have gone!>Write-In!>>6337757True, true... Volka's a bigger threat, but that just means there's much more to snuggle!>>6337759Well hopefully she'll be a bitch when you meet up with her then!
>>6337759Can't top TT.w who am I kidding, every Bones waifu is a charmer>>6337824I'm beginning to feel more and more afraid of whoever it is these guys are afraid to even fake-usurp as #1.>>6337826...And he's probably the one who nabbed TT, huh? FML.Anton and Oti:>Let’s start interrogating these hostages!Everyone else:>Try to find some clue of where TT and ‘You’ could have gone!
>>6337826>Try to find some clue of where TT and ‘You’ could have gone!We have to kill this faker....
>>6337833Yes... Ico would have wanted it this way, questers...
>>6337826>Try to find some clue of where TT and ‘You’ could have gone!
>>6337829>ANTON/OTI: INTERROGATE!>EVERYONE ELSE: SPLIT UP AND SEARCH FOR CLUES!>>6337833>>6337891>CLUES!Looks like Anton's gonna greta clue here... apologies to Split Anon!Follow-up question: who do you take on your search? PICK ONE OR MORE! Joplin and the others will be keeping tabs on Lutza, so they're out! Whoever you DON'T choose will focus on getting info out of your Three Hostages: Haalsti, Suulom, and Sniper Bitch >Volka>Morook>Rezzie>Oti>Toppel>Obber>Go it alone!
>>6337969>Morook>RezzieMorook is smart and Rezzie is great at catching people.
>>6337969>Morook>RezzieBest boy and best demon.
>>6337971>>6337972Groovy choices! Let's see how they play out!>Roll me 1d100+3 (+5 Devil Senses, +4 Ranger Senses, +2 Trail Warm, -5 Crowded Resort, -3 Where do we even start!?) to pick up a trail! Best of 3!
Rolled 19 (1d100)>>6338031
>>6338031
Rolled 1 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>6338031>>6338039Let's try that again...
>>6338040
Rolled 6 + 3 (1d100 + 3)>>6338031
>>6338040https://youtu.be/uJV-pfsx_UMWRITING
>>6338040>>6338043
No time to lose–if someone put on a ‘You’ disguise and took Tzah-Tzie then they could be halfway to Mexico by now!…Or whatever the Zoral equivalent is. Do they have Mexicolikes here? Doesn’t matter. Snapping your fingers at Morook one one side, Rezzie on the other, you make a show of stomping towards the elevat-“SCENDOCHAMBER.’”… Right, SCENDOCHAMBER with determination in your eyes!“Wait,” Morook mutters as the rest of the crew watches in confusion, “Where… where exactly are we going, Anton?”Someone took Tzah-Tzie, you hastily answer, and they might’ve slipped up and left some tracks! You’re gonna need them to sniff ‘em out!“Sh-shouldn’t we interrogate the chumps here first?” Volka asks, exchanging an uncertain glance with Morook. NO TIME! The others can manage it!“But how are we supposed to send information your way if you’re chasing a lead?” Adds Toppel with a befuddled frown. M-magic, maybe!? Look, you don’t have time to answer all these questions–Morook and Rezzie are your best trackers, so-“So you need us to follow you…” The demon repeats in a slow, methodical voice, eyes narrowing as she warily stares you down, “Is that correct?”You stop just short of the Scendovator as her question settles in–not because you’re thinking that hard, of course, but because you can’t quite seem to find the buttons that control it. Errr, yea? Why, is there something wrong with that? “Not normally, no…” Rezalith replies as she continues to give you an appraising glare, “But this is exactly how you acted when ‘You’ retrieved The Snack earlier…”… Is she serious right now? Is she really thinking what you think she’s thinking!?“Depends!” Snaps the devil! “Do you think I think that you’re not who you think we think you are?”… You think?“Hmmm…” Morook hums as his glowing eyes sweep across the hall, “Oti, Toppel–do you sense any magic on Anton? Anything out of the ordinary?”“No,” Answers Oti after a minute of analysis, “But I didn’t sense much earlier either.”“What Otes means is,” Toppel interjects with a hint of satisfaction in her sultry voice, “If the intruder used a Glamour, we’d have sensed it!”“Indeed.” The Sorcerer nods. “There was plenty of magic being thrown around, but I’m confident in my ability to detect that kind of magic.” His emerald eyes pulse as they refocus on you. “But you’d have to be a rare breed of fool to attempt the same ploy twice.”“But…” Volka mutters, face scrunched up in ‘DEEP THOUGHT MODE’, “But what if the intruder DID try it again? I mean… we wouldn’t think of that, right? They’d think we’d think they’re too smart!” The hallway groans as the big girl flops against the wall with confusion sprouting in her eyes! “... I think?”>CONTD.
>>6338172Your friends stare you down like a pack of coyotes surrounding a fat chicken! They’re… are they SERIOUS right now!? TT’s in danger, you plead! You… you just wanted to go downstairs and look for clues!“WHERE downstairs, hmm?” Toppel inquires, earning a few murmurs of assent from the others!Y-you know… around! The lobby! Maybe some of the other halls! A-anyone could have noticed something! Your logic is sound–you know that much–but the details of the caper are too vague… and if Oti and Toppel didn’t sense any Illusionry, then… then what could have happened?Look, you begin with a forced laugh, this is getting everyone nowhere! Even if you WERE the one who took TT, what do they plan on doing anyways? Tie you up and interrogate you with the other hostages?!Your flippant suggestion doesn’t receive much criticism… in fact, even in the dim darkness you can sense the gears turning in your companion’s heads…“Huh.” Rezalith grunts, “I was gonna peel your skin off until you confessed, but I suppose that works as well!”Oti turns to the rest of the gang. “Objections?”“I… don’t like it,” Morook sighs as he sends an apologetic glance your way, “But it might be the best option we have…”WHAT!? Th-the best option would be to let you do your thing, you whine! Volka, she believes you, right? G-Grand Marshall!?You’ve only been pleading for a moment and it’s enough to make the Skog sniffle! “I… I…”“Don’t despair, my meaty ally,” Says Rezalith as she puts on a reassuring grin, “If he truly is AnTARD then we’ll let him go!”“Oh!” Exclaims Volka as her sobbing ceases, “That sounds great, yea!”“... And if he isn’t?” Adds Toppel in an uncertain tone!“Then we’ll let him go!” Shrugs the demon! R-really?“Off the roof!”Ah.In a frankly admirable display of teamwork, your party members seal the contract with a resolute nod and move to apprehend you! ”Friends like these, ey, Jefe?” RED snickers. ”I don’t mean to harp none, but don’t we have a deadline to keep?”He’s not wrong… and while you don’t want to raise any suspicions by fleeing the scene, you also don’t want to waste time getting grilled by your buddies! What’s the plan?>Surrender. Let them work through their questions and get this over with!>Flee! You’re pretty sure the Scendovator’s still on this floor!>Distract ‘em with VENTRILOQUISM!>BIISII’S BAG!>J’accuse someone else! (Who?)>Regain their trust… with LOGIC!>Stay Silent! They’ll think you disappeared!>Write-In!
>>6338174>Distract ‘em with VENTRILOQUISM!>Regain their trust… with LOGIC!You might not trust us, but you can trust ventriloquist Anton when he tells you something only Anton would know.
>>6338252+1. Also, looks, we can make hellfire! Because of RED living in our head!>>6338174
>>6338174>Stay Silent! They’ll think you disappeared!Who else would even try this
>>6338252+1.JUST LIKE THE ROLL WE GOT, OOO.we're so fucked aren't we
>>6338252>>6338393>>6338270>VENTRILOQUISM!>HELLFIRE!>STUFF ONLY THE TRUE ANTON COULD DO!!!!>>6338380I'm kinda bummed because this one not only made me snicker but also probably woulda worked too hahaAnywho WRITING
>>6338510I would've voted for it, trust me I would, buuuuttt then I would've made it a tie.And ties are NO GOOD.
I didn't see it either, but I would have totally voted for that idea if I did. I'm >>6338252, too.
Not eager to set off yet another twenty posts of contrived dialogue, you slow the gang’s proverbial ‘roll’ with a spirited ‘HOLD!’To your stunned surprise, they do!“H-how did he…?” Oti mutters, eyes flickering in disbelief!“Oh, Rook just has this… I dunno, je ne sais quoi that makes you wanna accept whatever decision he makes!” Answers Volka with a laugh and a shrug! “Bit funny at first, but ya’ get used to it!”“This double really is something…” Morook sighs, uncertainty still crowding his tone! “Psh! Yea! Something that ISN’T Anton!” Concludes Rezzie with a defiant scoff! “I mean, you should’ve seen how this one fought! The real Anton’s nowhere near as vicious… strong… c-cool~”Cool? Doesn’t matter–if your friends were certain you weren’t… well, you, they wouldn’t even be speaking to you right now! And if they need more examples, well…Listen, you begin in a diplomatic tone, if you were a copy or Glamour or something, would you be able to do…‘“this lookit me im anton the real one haha lookitme go”The sound of your projected voice behind them prompts your entire entourage to light the hallway UP! HELLFIRE! MAGIC! DARTS! A STOOL VOLKA FOUND! All of it and more rocks the hallway by its very foundations as you struggle to regain everyone’s attention! That–that wasn’t a real voice, you squeak in protest! It was VENTRILOQUISM!“Ohhh, y’mean when ya’ toss your voice around?” Volka asks with a sheepish laugh! “Hey, yea, that’s a pretty Anton-y trick right there!”… Why did they immediately attack it when it said it was the real Anton, then?“Pfft, big whoop!” Rezalith replies with a roll of her reptilian eyes! “Coulda’ used magic or something! Or they learned it in… Assassin School!”Toppel’s eyes pivot up to Rezzie’s haughty face. “F-forgive my harsh tongue, Dark Lady–”“I won’t. Idiot.”“W-well,” The Durher continues, “If it required magic we would’ve sensed it… and I didn’t feel a thing.”“Neither did I.” Oti nods, eyes flickering with growing interest! “Quite the conundrum indeed: No Glamours or Simulacra… I suppose we could always tear him apart to see if he’s some kind of construct...”Your favorite fiend’s eyes light up like a kid’s on HELL CHRISTMAS! “OOH! OOH! I WANNA DO IT! LET ME!”Wait… that’s IT! Calling upon your demonic powers, you conjure a few motes of HELLFIRE in your red-hot hands!“Ah!” Toppel exclaims, taking the opportunity to tackle Oti! “Th-that’s DEMONIC MAGIC, Oti!”“No doubt about it…” Mutters the mage with a solemn nod. “It’d be difficult to replicate that magic….”>CONTD.
>>6338624“Hey, yea!” Volka chirps as a smile returns to her face, “S-so this Anton’s the real deal, right? D-does this settle it?”“Can… can we still maim him a bit anyways?” Adds Rezzie as the enthusiasm drains from her face with the speed of a punctured water balloon… full of blood! “Just… just in case?”“It’s not conclusive evidence by any means,” Oti continues, not bothering to answer either question, “But ‘Anton’s’ demonstrations rule out a great deal of possibilities.”“Sorry about all the suspicion, Anton…” Morook adds with a hint of remorse in his droning voice, “We just-”It’s fine, you answer with a shrug, you’re just eager to get back on track! Before you can, however, another question wriggles into your brainmeats:If the imposter wasn’t using magic or a construct…“You’re asking who or what they might’ve been…” Nods Oti as he politely nudges his way into your statement! “I have my theories, but if we rule out magic we’re left with staggeringly few…”Is he certain it wasn’t magic? You’re in Umberal–isn’t this, like, Magicville?“As our earlier antics proved, Glamours aren’t foolproof…” The Chytree sighs as his eyes flicker with rapid thought! “But the Mages in Trimbault weren’t actively searching for us. As for the Teksouls, well…”So what’s left then? Did someone drink an Anton Potion or something? Do you have an evil twin?“All possible, yes,” Toppel interjects, tiny face scrunched up in thought! “Even long-term changes like polymorphs have their tells, howev-”“Keekulaaley…”The word leaves Morook’s mouth breathless… almost whispered! Errr, b-bless you?“No…” Oti frowns in an equally-reverant tone, “That’s… Highly unlikely…”“Keekuzzuh-whuzzuh?” Volka repeats, each syllable barely making it past her lips! “Sounds familiar, but-”“Forest-dwelling omnivores…” Toppel recites, her eyes lighting up at the chance to demonstrate her knowledge! “Zetsi folklore claims they emerged from the rich clay and silt found in fens around Zoral… used to be quite populous until The Coalition partnered with Viislan Rangers to thin their numbers out…”Fascinating, you sigh, but what’s that got to do with right now? The witch answers with a weary sigh of her own!“Nowadays the name’s more of a ‘boogeyman’ than anything else, especially to the East.” She replies as her bushy tail thumps against the floor. “In Zetsi it means-”“Shifting Clay…” Morook answers, eyes dimming as the words leave his mouth, “... Shapechanger.”Silence blankets the hallway as the words settle in to stay for a while. Rezzie, of course, is the first to break it.“So what, it can make itself look like Anton? That’s what did it?”>CONTD.
>>6338626“Hard to say. Keekulaaleys tend to stay far away from civilization–sensory overload.” Morook explains with a shake of his head. “But if Veeti can manage living in the city, then it wouldn’t be unheard of…”Great, you groan, so Tzah-Tzie got swept away by a friggin’ fairy-tale creature! Why?“It would be difficult to keep someone like that under wraps, especially in Umberal…” Oti remarks, pacing back and forth as he flings a few theories your way! “Any alchemist worth their salt would leap at the chance to dissect it for components… they’d need protection… or would have to be sufficiently strong on their own.”“Sorry ta’ interrupt thinking time,” Volka mumbles with an apology in her eyes, “But why not grill the hostages about it? Maybe they know?”“Worth a shot…” Nods Morook as he gives his sister a grateful pat on the elbow, “Unless they’re not aware of it themselves. Need-to-Know basis and all that.”At least you have an angle to take your questions now! With your identity more or less secured, however, the real question is:WHAT DO?>Original plan: take Rezzie and Morook to search for clues around the Resort!>Help interrogate some of the hostages!>Leave–head somewhere else in Umberal!>Check in on Lutza and Co!>Get advice from RED!>Write-In!
>>6338628>Original plan: take Rezzie and Morook to search for clues around the Resort!
>>6338628>Wait a minute...if we're dealing with a SHAPE SHIFTING DOPPELGANGER, we need to hash things out! Make sure everyone is who they seem to be by asking them for things only they should know! Then make a secret codeword to slip into conversations so that people know you're each still the real one! Like...the word Blue!>THEN do the original plan!
>>6338650+1>>6338628>Wait a minute...if we're dealing with a SHAPE SHIFTING DOPPELGANGER, we need to hash things out! Make sure everyone is who they seem to be by asking them for things only they should know! Then make a secret codeword to slip into conversations so that people know you're each still the real one! Like...the word Blue!>THEN do the original plan!
>>6338628>>6338752 +1
>>6338650+1
>>6338650>>6338752>>6338999>>6339044>DOPPELGANGER SAFEGUARDS!>AND THEN THE OG PLAN!Writing! Expect a LOT of delays--there's a bit of a holiday going on in the US today (not sure if you're aware or not) so yea! Might take a while!Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful that you all decide to take time out of your days to play my crap!
Before we do that, you begin, wasting no time in reclaiming your decision-owning privileges, we’re all in agreement that we might be tangling with a Keekee…Keeaku…… Shapechanger, right?Your question earns a round of murmurs of assent and a click. Groovy. So, you add, why not think up some countermeasures? They may try their tricks again!“Ooh! L-like a BUDDY SYSTEM!?” Squeals your favorite Skog, the floor creaking beneath her as she jumps up and down with excitement gushing out of her expression! “How many people can we have on our team!? Three? Six!?”Errr, sorta, you shrug! You definitely don’t want anyone going it alone, but you were also thinking of a keyword everyone could slip into their conversation… y’know, just to make it clear you’re the real McCoy!Oti’s eyes dim. “... Who is this McCoy you speak of?”“The real one?” Toppel adds with a quizzical expression! “Does this McCoy also live in fear of the Keekulaaley?”“I am no ‘Mee’khoy….” Rezzie snarls with a defiant flap of her wings! “I… am REZALITH! FUTURE QUEEN OF THE INFINITE PLANES! OWNER OF FRIENDS!”Morook sends a sidelong glance over to the Satanthing. “... Owner?”The fiend’s eyes go half-lidded as she winks at the Ranger. “Indeed, large-eyes. Care to swear fealty? You’re nowhere near as squeamish around slaughter as AnTARD here is… I like that!”“H-hey now…” Stammers Volka as her half-brother visibly sweats, “H-he’s-”You meant so that everyone can be certain you’re on the team, you pointedly interject! Something the enemy wouldn’t know!“O-OH!” Exclaims Volka, the girl clearly eager to move on, “Like a keyword, right? Sneaky-sneaky!”“Intriguing.” Remarks Oti as color seeps back into his eyes, “I propose ‘KRIITAMILLAMIGUS’, then. A rare, cave-dwelling species tha-”That miiight be a bit too conspicuous, you reply with an apologetic tilt to your tone! Why not, like, ‘BLUE’? How often does that come up in conversation?“True…” The mage replies with a surprising lack of ire in his response, “The discussion of colors is somewhat limited in this plane for obvious reasons… but not unheard of to those who recall the days before the darkness, be they via personal experience or written record.” He nods. “It will do.”Super… and your next idea has to do with just that: personal experience!“Oh, I know this one.” Remarks Morook, eyes flickering with enthusiasm that contrasts with his almost bored-sounding voice! “We think of something only we’d be able to do, right? It’s not that impressive, I know, but I’d be more than happy to share my knowledge of the diverse fungi species that grow around Crossroads-”>CONTD.
>>6339332Good idea, you interject as politely as you can, but you should keep things simple–don’t want to give an enemy an excuse to cast a spell or throw a dagger or something, right?“Ah. Good point.” The Chytree nods. “So if that’s the case-”You wanna stick to THINGS ONLY THE REAL YOU WOULD KNOW! The group stiffens in shock!“Y-you mean…” Volka stammers as recognition and terror seeps into her expression, “L-like an… ICEBREAKER ACTIVITY?”The very same!https://youtu.be/wiX8CJqt3FcA silent panic spreads through your team–their mouths silent and their eyes dancing around the hallway! C’mon, you sigh, it’s… it’s not THAT bad, is it? They don’t have to choose the most embarrassing things!“Tch, easy for YOU to say!” Toppel scoffs with a flick of her fluffy tail! “You know not of the secrets we hold!”You don’t, you fire back, but that’s why you want to know! So that if some freaky forest shapechanger gets them, you’ll figure it out! So, you sigh as you place a fresh smile on your face, who wants to go first, hm?…You didn’t know resorts could get this quiet.A-anyone? … If they go first they’ll get it over with…… Wh-what, do you have to go first? Sh-show ‘em how it’s done?No one responds, but the eyes burning into you tell you all you need to know. Fine, you groan, you’ll go first! But no lollygagging–you need to track down TT ASAP!What’s your DEEP SECRET?!>You have an ex named Liz!>You worked at a fast food restaurant before coming here!>You have a roommate named Travis!>Your sister… was named Dylan…>You wanted to be a magician when you grew up!>Write-In!
>>6339334>Write-inWhen you were a kid, you once caused an entire big-ass superstore to lose power by shoving a tube lamp on one of those lamp testing outlets. Nobody found out. Because it was pitch dark. Because the lights went out.
>>6339334>One time, you replied "You too!" When the waiter said to enjoy your meal! It haunts you even now.
>>6339334>WRITE IN >I said 'You two' when the waiter said to enjoy your meal. I was so embarrassed, I tried to leave ASAP.>I accidently tripped over a cord or something when I was running and the WHOLE restaurant lost power.Basically combining oSF and FqV's writeins.
Ehhhhh the "saying you too" to the water is so played out. I've seen it way too much.
>>6339338>>6339493>>6339496Don't worry, questies! I think I have a solution that everyone will be pleased with... and will be very Antony! Writing! Might see delays today due to holiday shopping, so apologies in advance!And hey, don't forget to type in 'LIMBO' at checkout to get a discount on that gift for your favorite fuzzball, tuskbabe, bigeye, hellion, gun gal, or whoever you're shopping for this season! Unfortunately all Bonesverse Merch is out of stock. Gomenasorry
A few ideas come to mind almost immediately: Liz. Travis. Even Dylan. There’s enough fragments in your mind to paint a few small pictures, but your trip through Zoral hasn’t exactly been what you’d call ‘subtle’--who’s to say someone or something hasn’t been watching you this whole time? Learning your secrets? Your mannerisms? Habits?”Havin’ trouble there, hoss?”Nah, you’re good–but you’ll need to share something specific. Something so undeniably YOU that not even a shapeshifter could suss it out entirely!Sifting through the sea of random trivia, workday snippets, and vague memories of your time with Liz, you finally come across a memory that might just fit the bill!One time, you begin, borrowing the tone of a scoutmaster about to tell a ghost story around the campfire, you went… to a RESTAURANT!“Did they serve meat!?” Blurts out Volka! “What kind!? WHAT KIND!?”Err, it was a barbecue place, you hastily reply! Called SLOPPERS. They put your food in a mini trough and-“... Like livestock?” Morook asks. Yea, exactly! “And humans…” Toppel adds, eyes wide with awe, “They… they subject themselves to this? Willingly!?”Look, you’re never gonna get to the big part if they keep interrupting! And yea, if she thinks that’s wild she should come with you to ‘BONE VOYAGE!’“... What’s-”Another BBQ place, you answer with an impish grin, but the chefs all cook on the level above you, right? And when your order’s up they just all shout ‘BONE VOYAGE!!!!’ and drop your meal and you gotta catch it on your plate!“Gosh…” Volka mutters with almost churchlike reverence, “Humans are on a whole other level, huh…”“Th-that… that doesn’t sound…” A trembling Rezzie hisses through clenched teeth, “Th-that… f-f-fun…”“Humans do seem to love their grilled meat…” Morook remarks, his head cocked to the side in thought. Yea, you shrug, it’s kind of a thing in your state… you think.Anyways, you and your roommate Travis were at ‘SLOPPERS’, okay? Celebrating him coming third in a local tourney or something.“You share a dwelling… with a warrior?” Oti asks with a fresh frown in his tone!“H-hey, that’s… there’s nothing wrong with that!” Volka fires back!Nah, it was a video game–UBER CLASH COUSINS, you think! You only remember because you came in eighteenth. ANYWAYS, your order was up, so you went over to the counter–The gang goes silent, save for a quiet ‘Click’ from Obber! Erm, no… Travis isn’t a girl… and not very cute either. Sorry..‘Click…’It is what it is…>CONTD.
>>6339758“Is there a point to this yarn you’re spinning?” Oti grumbles. “I was under the impression we were-”Sharing important details, yea, you’re GETTING THERE! So you went up to the counter to grab your food, right? And the girl working the register was pretty cute-‘Click.’No, Obber, you don’t know where he can find her… anyways, you were a bit enamored, right? But also kinda tired and really hungry, so-“You disemboweled her?” Asks Rezzie with genuine interest in her eyes! Err, n-no, you sputter, do… is that what they do where she’s from?“When we’re hungry, tired, or something in-between, yes.” Nods the hellthing! “It’s important to establish dominance–wouldn’t want to be disemboweled yourself because of a little sleepiness, would we?”No… no you wouldn’t… So when the girl told you to enjoy your meal, you, uh… you said ‘YOU TOO!’The gang falls silent as they digest your harrowing tale!“And… and then what?” Volka meekly asks. “I mean… that was nice of you, Rook! I’ll bet she enjoyed her meal even more when she ate it later on!”Yea, well, you didn’t really take it that way! Again, you were kinda tired and really hungry, but when you realized what you did, well, you turned and BOOKED IT!“Ah. Yes, that’s a bit more embarrassing.” Morook nods with sympathy in his tone. And in your flight, you add, you tripped over a shoelace and crashed into a power outlet–turns out it was powering the TVs, the jukebox, and a whole bunch of other stuff in the dining area… and you couldn’t untangle yourself without a little help from the staff..“HA! HAHAHA! AAAAAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!”You can’t tell if Rezzie’s laugh is genuine or if she was just waiting for you to stop sharing before bowling over with laughter. Either way, it hurts!“I, er…” Volka stammers, her face glowing a few shades redder as the words stumble out of her lips, “Wasn’t… always called ‘Volka’, actually…”“A-ha! I knew it!” Toppel croons, hopping up and down like some kind of leaping plushie, “That’s a DURHER name! Suspicious indeed!”“Riiiiight, you mentioned that in the past…” Remarks Morook with a flicker in his eyes! “Ma at the tavern called you-”“Kii’ttra…” The Skog sighs, shivering as the word leaves her lips! “Means ‘Princess’ in Skogat…”‘Princess’, huh…“Might as well go too…” Her half-brother adds, earning an appreciative nod from his Skog sis in response! “I… well, I don’t remember much about my earlier life–”“It’s because of that ‘New Life’ thing you were blathering about when we went to get the bomb, isn’t it?” Rezalith hisses with a derisive snort! “That’s weird. You’re weird!”>CONTD.
>>6339759“Moments ago you were just–forget it…” Shrugs the ranger with another sigh. “But if I’m being honest, the best dish I’ve ever tasted was the ROOTFRY Volka made me when Meister Volkir first took me in.” His globular eyes shift over to a very, VERY embarrassed Skog! “Every time I smell roots, they remind me of home. Thank you, Volka.”“Q-quit being so sappy…” She groans, trying to keep her eyes focused on the ceiling! “I totally burnt it to Hell and back, so…” Her sentence comes to a screeching halt as her eyes meet her brother’s. It’s only for a split second, but they do the job!“... Thanks, Mor…Sheesh…”“There are plenty of accomplishments I could share,” Oti interjects with a noisy clearing of his throat, “But for the sake of moving along I’ll cut straight to the point: my name is known throughout many circles-”Keep it simple, Oti! C’mon!“Eugh… very well then.” You don’t know if Chytree react much to sour foods, but Oti looks like he just downed a whole bottle of vinegar! “When I was… still a nymph… my younger siblings called me… a name that I’d rather not rela-”“TOO LATE!” Toppel giggles as she practically buries her face in the mage’s robes! “Come now, Oti, what’s the harm?”You never thought you’d see the day, but Toppel’s right! Spill it, dude!“.... ‘Treeracer.’ They called me ‘Treeracer’. And before you ask, it’s because I was skilled at climbing trees. There. Done.”“My turn then!” His beau cheers as she gives him another squeeze! “As you all probably know by now, Demonology is something of an interest of mine-”Yea, you nod, we can tell.“Eh?” Rezzie grunts as she looks up from setting a part of the hallway on fire.“W-well,” Toppel continues, “I’m not the only one in the family who does-”‘Click.’“QUIET, WORM! Ahem. As I was saying, Obber and I, well… we aren’t the only heirs to the Gransee name–I have a brother, if you can believe it. A demonologist!”Wait, really? Who is he? Maybe he can answer a few questions for you!”Yea, count me in too!” RED exclaims!“That might be more difficult than you think…” The sorceress sighs. “His studies take him all around Zoral… but perhaps I can sniff him out once we’re done with our… errands here in Umberal…”“Oh right! What’s his name, this brother of yours?” Asks Volka, her previous embarrassment completely eclipsed by fresh chipperness!“Obbher.”…Of COURSE it is.“It’s a common Gnok name!” The witch roars! “S-silence! I didn’t name the bastard!”‘Click.’Obber's right–you don’t have time for this! Does… do you wanna share too, Ob? Is that what you’re saying?‘Click… click click? Click CLICK.’ Explains the Maakar as he paces back and forth across the seared carpet! ‘ClickCLICK. Click!’>CONTD.
>>6339760“WHAT DID I TELL YOU ALL!? DEGENERATE!” His sister screeches as she kicks her brother down the hall!“I… c-can boys and girls… d-do that?” Volka sputters, eyes wide in horror! “S-should they do that?”“Huh. What’ll they come up with next?” Muses Morook! “I hope I can forget what I just heard…”“They do… something like that in THE HOUSE OF FLESH in CHAA’TAI …” Rezzie replies, the girl holding firm, but still trembling a bit as the words leave her mouth! “But it’s nowhere near as vulgar… a-and I’ve never been! Before anyone asks!”Yea, that was a bit TMI, you reply with a disapproving sigh and a shake of your head, but it’ll be hard for even the worst Shapechanger to mimic a story like THAT!Silence falls over the crowd after the initial horror and disgust conjured by Obber’s story dissipates. Well?“Well WHAT?” Asks Rezalith as all eyes fall upon her! “I already went!”“Pretty sure you didn’t.” Morook retorts in a diplomatic voice, “Though my mind IS still reeling from the last confession…”“C’mon, Rez!” Volka pleads as she takes the hellion’s claws in hers, “We’re all pals here! Try it out! It feels good ta’ share!”“Euch… w-well…” Grumbles the fiend, “I suppose I’m VERY powerful… and perhaps I might enjoy the art of cooking–”“They might know that already, Rez,” The Skog politely interjects, “You DID work briefly in that casino kitchen, so-”“UUUGHH, FIIIINE!” She roars with a violent flap of her wings! “I TAKE SOLACE IN WRITING DOWN MY THOUGHTS AND GOALS WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING! THERE! DONE! FINISHED!”Wait, you smirk, she… she likes writing DIARY ENYou black out for a few moments–a minute tops–before you find yourself being peeled out from a fresh crater in the wall behind you by Volka and Morook! As you’re wrenched free, a familiar pair of purple eyes steps through the hole in the wall leading to the suite!“Is… is everything okay?” Asks Lutza with growing concern in her already-worried face! “Tzah-Tzie’s been gone for a while… and if we don’t practice-”“This lapse in security is as worrying as it is damning.” Joplin adds, the Gnok manager following close in Lutza’s wake! “Mr. Peas, allow me to be the first to apologize for your abducted associate.”That’s not necessary, you meekly reply as he and the Security Skogs give you a deep bow! You were fooled too!“Don’t make it right, Mr. Peas!”“We guffed it all up, Mr. Peas!”“Downright foolish of us, is what it is, Mr. Peas!”You’ll never get used to Skogs speaking in unison like that, but you can’t blame the Tiito Triplets either! A shapeshifter’s no joke, you firmly reply, but you’re gonna track TT down–that’s a promise!>CONTD.
>>6339761“We can help.” Joplin replies with renewed steel in his stare! “If need be we’ll scrap the whole concert to assist in the search–we owe you that much.”“Joplin’s right,” Lutza quietly nods, “We might be rivals, but I can’t fathom performing knowing Tzah-Tzie’s in danger…”Stop the concert? You could certainly use some extra muscle, but wouldn’t a cancellation broadcast something’s amiss to the Cartel? To Trier?What say ye?>Yea, cancel it. Better safe than sorry!>No, proceed with the plan!>Keep the concert going, but could you borrow someone from Lutza’s entourage?>Could she say something during the concert? Maybe that’ll help!>We should proceed assuming the ‘duel’ between Lutza and TT won’t happen… Be ready for a quick exit!>Write-In!
>>6339762>No, proceed with the plan!The show must go on.
>>6339124Thanks for running, QM. It's always a grand old time.>>6339565Kek.>>6339332Volka 2cute>The discussion of colors is somewhat limited in this plane for obvious reasons… ...But eye color is one of the only ways people can distinguish each other, right?Also, the shared Chytree autism is strong. Click clack, roachman's special interest neuron is activated! Dispense lore! I like it.>>6339762>No, proceed with the plan!We WILL get Tzah-Tzie her rematch!
>>6339862Hey, thank YOU for playing!I meant it more in that yea, eye color is known, but color itself doesn't come up much in casual conversation. Like, do educated critters in Zoral know their colors? Sure! Even the dumbasses do! But a lot of 'em weren't around long enough to, like, see those colors apart from eyes and such. If that makes sense! Lotsa old farts who DID see the world in color, though...
>>6339332>REZALITH! FUTURE QUEEN OF THE INFINITE PLANES! OWNER OF FRIENDS!KEK>>6339498>Ehhhhh the "saying you too" to the water is so played out. I've seen it way too much..t waiter>>6339762>The show must go on.
>>6339762>No, proceed with the plan!I vote that when we find our doppelganger, we skin him alive.
>>6339983
>>6339984kek
>>6339765>>6339862>>6339929>>6339983>CONTINUE WIT ZE PLANAnton... what a showman! Writing! Expect delays though--got shit going on today as usual.>>6339862Volka's just doin' what she can!>>6339929What?! S-she has them now, okay!? She is a 'Friender'!>>6339984Stealing this, thanks. Also lol
You answer the small starlet’s question with a gentle pat on the head. You know what YOU can’t fathom?Joplin, Lutza, and the Triplets exchange a confused glance before the Spinner speaks up. “N-no?”Them cancelling this show, you answer with a grave look in your eyes! Tzah-Tzie would want you to continue… and you don’t even wanna think about what she’ll do if she finds out you called the whole thing off!“She… she DOES like to wave that POISON BLADE of hers around!” Volka adds with a clearly uncomfortable giggle! “TT’s always all, ‘Hey Rez, let me show you this knife trick!’ a-and I say ‘No, TT, that’s… that’s okay! You don’t need to-’ and then she says ‘Nononono just hold still, Volkie! Just hold still or you’re gonna miss it-”Look, meandering anecdotes aside, the show must go on! Lutza’s lavender eyes search yours for a moment before relenting with a nod. “... You’re right. Stopping the show would just complicate things.”You also want to be very, VERY clear that Tzah-Tzie WILL kill everyone if the show is called off! You know her well-enough by now to confirm that!“In that case,” The singer sighs, “Bring her back safe, okay? And… and be careful!” Wrapping her small, soft arms around your waist, she gives you a warm hug before nodding to her entourage. “We’d better get to it then.”You as well! Motioning for Rezalith and Morook to follow, you press the button to summon the SCENDOCHAMBER. Oti and the others are in char-“The hostages, right?” Toppel interjects with a mischievous grin! “Leave them to us!”“We know how to make them sing…” Oti adds with a grim glimmer in his eyes! Cool, you nod, just, uh… make sure that Bomb Dude’s okay too, alright?“He’s recoverin’!” Answers Volka with a flick of her tail! “Just go do your thing, okay? Leave the worrying ta’ us!”They don’t need to worry, you answer with a cheeky grin, you’ll have TT back LONG before curtain call!Piling into the SCEN-okay, the doors closed and Toppel’s out of earshot–ELEVATOR, you, Morook, and Rezzie share an uncomfortable silence! Bells for their thoughts?“I’m worried about Tzah-Tzie, Anton.” Sighs the Ranger with a brief glimmer in his eyes, “Crystalmelt’s a large resort… and I can’t even begin to wrap my head around what route a Shapeshifter would take out of the establishment…”“If they’re really acting like you, AnTWIT, they probably went the most cowardly way…” Scoffs the satanthing as she stretches her wings in the already-cramped chamber! Insults aside, she’s not completely wrong–if they were to leave, they’d have no reason to fight or make a ruckus, right?>CONTD.
>>6340019“Do you think Tzah-Tzie would’ve noticed anything amiss?” Adds Morook with a thoughtful click. “Maybe they didn’t get that far?”She’s a perceptive little fuzzball, you shrug, but it’s still hard to say… You doubt she’d have left the resort grounds without a good reason… or she was carried away!“Right… those cruisers…” Shudders the Chytree! “Well I would start by asking reception if they noticed anything amiss.”“Or we just head to the BASEMENT and look there!” Groans Rezalith! Errr, w-why would we do that?“Heard one of those dumb bath attendants talking about it.” The fiend continues with a roll of her eyes, “Said there’s some kind of Loading Dock down there or something where all the Staff Members pop in and out.”“Wouldn’t Tzah-Tzie and Anton stand out, though?” Counters Morook. “They aren’t staff members-”“I’m just sharing what I heard, MoRON! Tch… to think I thought you were interesting...”Well that settles that… as silence creeps back into the descending scendovato–wait, elechamb–CRUD!Look, where to first?>The Lobby!>The Back Garden (Where you poofed into after Trier’s meeting!)>The Basement!>The Front of the Resort!>Write-In!
>>6340022uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh>I CAST BIISII'S BAGWhen unsure, just pop tha shit. I'm sure it'll help.
>>6340022Hm. Well, the shapeshifter would act like us, and they would probably want to stay incognito, so I doubt they'd go to the basement?I'm going to go with my gut and say:>The Lobby!I imagine this is where reception is, correct? Also>I CAST BIISII'S BAGbecause funny.
>>6340022>The Lobby!
>>6340032>>6340035>BIISII'S BAG!You absolute maniacs>>6340035>>6340223>LET'S ALL GO TO THE LOBBY!PLAN ENGAGED! Next step...>ROLL ME 1d100! BIISII FAVORS THE BOLD!
Rolled 93 (1d100)>>6340368
>>6340371That'll do it! Might write the update early on Sunday. Big day today, kings. Seeya then!
Rolled 75 (1d100)>>6340368
>>6340375Oh, woops, misread. You only needed one. See you tomorrow, and thanks for running.>>6340371Damn good roll on a Bo1, anon.
>>6340388Oh, don't worry... it's not a 'Beat The Threshhold Roll'... it's a TABLE ROLL!!!!https://youtu.be/Z2K4GjdtkEk
>>6340389
The Lobby’s your best bet, that much is certain–if TT really was taken away by an Antonlike, any attempt at skulking about would not only pique the staff’s interest, but your favorite fuzzball’s too!At least… you think it would. Tzah-Tzie’s hard to read sometimes, and she doesn’t need much of an excuse to scurry off somewhere alone with you, even in the middle of an attack! You still can’t believe how much ‘mischief’ she was able to sneak in on the latter half of the train ride… whoof!The Scendovator doors open with a cheery ding as a fresh dose of normalcy is swiftly injected into your veins! Giddy tourists scampering off to spa treatments, chipper attendants, the calming trickle of multiple water features… you’d never know your friends had just been attacked if you hadn’t been there!“Wouldn’t it be funny if the floor turned into BOILING BLOOD right now?” Rezalith asks with an idle sniff.“No. No it wouldn’t.” Answers Morook, the Ranger already hard at work scanning the crowds. “I don’t want to get you down, Anton, but there’s quite a mass of people in here.”Too true… it takes you a few moments, but you’ve been in Zoral long enough to work your way around! Following a particularly plush path in the carpet directs you back to the reception desk… or rather the LINE to it!You thought it was just peak hours. You thought it might’ve been some kind of holiday… but taking a few minutes to listen to the ARMY of lineloiterers ahead of you tells you all you need to know:“A Lutza concert! HERE! Can you believe it!?”“I’ll bet it’s just a simulacrum, but I hope I’m proven wrong!”“Do you… do you think if I take a bath first she’ll invite me backstage?”“Buddy, I just met you and you know what? I think she will! Totally!”“I keep a few hairs from her tail in a box at home…”Idol fans. And you thought Trier was gross! While you and Morook take your places in the back of the line, Rezalith takes a parallel path, much to the chagrin of the linegoers!“HEY! Ever hear of a LINE, dumbass!?”“Yea! Did you trade your BRAINS for RED EYES!?”“Look, everyone! This FREAK doesn’t know how a LINE works! What a rube!”Luckily for everyone in the area code, you and Morook manage to wrestle Rezzie away from her future victims! Good thing she paused to give them a wide-eyed stare first–she’s… she’s getting better, guys! She’s learning!Unfortunately her little faux pas puts you and your entourage even further back in line when you rejoin it! Drat, you hiss through clenched teeth, it’s gonna take AGES to ask the receptionists if they saw anything!“It’ll take a LOT less time if we-”>CONTD.
>>6340656You cut the fiend off with a firm ‘NOPE’. You don’t even need to hear her out–something tells you she wasn’t going to suggest asking politely to swap spots…Maybe it’s boredom. Maybe it’s panic. Maybe it’s some sort of chivalrous notion knowing your galpal was taken away! Whatever the reason, your hand slips into your pocket and, after sifting through the junkyard’s-worth of stuff inside, slips into BIISII’S BAG!Once more your hand is thrust into an unfathomable odyssey–battered by miniature meteors, slipping past snakelike spines, and interrupting what sounds like the tiniest opera you’ve ever heard, your fingers finally close around a familiar shape before bringing it forth from your pocket:A glass. A drinking glass.The line moves at its painfully-plodding pace as the liquid in the glass tempts you more by the minute. The question is…WHAT DO YOU DO!?>Just wait in line!>Quaff the drink!>Give it to someone! (Who?)>Pour it on something!>Write-In!
>>6340657>Quaff the drink!Down it goes.
>>6340657>Quaff the drink!CHEERS.
>>6340665>>6340741UHH?>>6340657>Give it a sniffLet's see if it's even consumable by human beings, maybe?
>>6340665>>6340741>DRINK, PLEDGE!>>6340854>SNIFF IT LIKE A DWEEB!Lockin it in! Will write this bad boy up later on Monday! Sorry about the delay--big day today!
The bag’s contents helped you before–that’s the lame-ass excuse you give yourself as you empty the cup’s contents into your mouth! Granted, it did so by producing a freakish grub that turned the area around it topsy-turvy for a few seconds, but you passed the point of caution long ago! Tzah-Tzie is MISSING!“Erm, Anton?” Asks Morook with concern creeping into his monotone voice and dead-eyed stare, “What are… what was that?”“Heheh… probably–snrk–” Giggles Rezzie, the girl barely able to contain whatever sick own is about to come out of her mouth, “Maybe it’s his medication… his… his WEAKNESS MEDICATION! To maintain how WEAK he is!”You’re not even listening when you feel it–an uncanny itch deep within your legs–down to the BONE, you think! As you widen your stance to compensate, a panicked yelp leaves your lips as your knees buckle beneath your weight!You don’t fall, however–quite the opposite, in fact! As the itch spreads all over your legs, you try not to get dizzy as you start to bob up and down as if your legs were made of…Jelly?“Stop bouncing like that, you buffoon!”Rezalith deals with this new development the only way she knows how: petty violence! Smacking you upside the head sends you into a wobbling fit like one of those tube thingies outside a used car dealership! Scrambling and stumbling to regain your footing, your mad meanderings lead you into several linegoers and passerby, but one particularly-big collision into a Molegg’s broad chest sends you tumbling to the ground…Like a spring toy being pushed to its lowest, you feel the tension build up in your wobbly legs… and when that energy releases, it takes the rest of you with it!The crowd watches in awe as you rocket skyward and sail over their heads–even the receptionists pause to gape! Well, you think to yourself as your flight puts you on a collision course with the desk, at least you got their attenti-https://youtu.be/lRTCtL3Mlw0https://youtu.be/TqRIU34MHZQhttps://youtu.be/iDLmYZ5HqgM… Ow.“S-sir…?” Stammers a clearly out-of-their-depth Durher receptionist as you cling to the counter for dear life, “Do you need… c-can I help you?”“OI! Dis’ idiot don’t know nuffin’ about QUEUIN’ EITHER!” Croons a queue-goer with a derisive snort behind you! “Jus’ like ‘is friend, ey-”Further bullying is cut short by a violent ‘SQQQWUUeERLCH!’ near his chest no doubt related to Rezzie suddenly appearing behind him! “He’s ‘unconscious’.” She sniffs as she and Morook join you at the counter! No one dares try to correct her.>CONTD.
>>6341104“W-well,” The receptionist sputters, regret for coming in today burned into her expression like a brand on a steer’s hide, “How, um… can I assist you?”“This is going to sound odd,” Morook begins as you lie flat across the counter with your legs fully extended behind you to mitigate any more ‘launchings’, “But have you or anyone else seen anyone that looks like him in the lobby recently?”“I… feel like I’d remember if I noticed someone like him...” She mutters, trying not to stare as your head nearly reaches the other side of the counter. “Sorry…”What about outside? Did she or anyone notice anything peculiar happening out there?“Well…” The Durher continues as you start to slip off the counter, “We DID hear a few of those newfangled ‘Cruisers’ popping and rumbling out front–noisier than a family reunion, they are…”Crud, you hiss through clenched teeth, you assumed as much!“Any idea who they belonged to?” Adds Morook as Rezzie laughs at you clawing at the reception desk like a cat! The Receptionist answers by clearing her throat as her eyes wander elsewhere.“I, erm… we’re not at liberty to disclose that kind of information…”What about where they might’ve been headed? Did they get that?“... We’re not at liberty to disclose-”Just your luck. Was the shapechanger working with the Spicys? Did they leave with them too? You can’t tell if the Receptionist’s hesitance is out of self-preservation or genuine ignorance… and as your legs continue to wiggle, you contemplate your next moves: are there even any more clues down here? You just hope the interrogation upstairs is going smoothly…What do?>Try to pry more info from the Receptionist!>Check out the front of the resort!>Head back to the suite. See how the interrogations are going.>Screw this–track down Vhale already! You just know he has something to do with this crap!>Write-In!
>>6341105>Try to pry more info from the Receptionist!
>>6341105>Try to pry more info from the Receptionist!C'mon, lady, someone's in danger. We need this information.
>>6341126>>6341154Works for me!>Roll me 1d100-4 (+2 All the world's a stage, +2 Demonic 'Persuasion', +2 Just go away please, -4 Jelly Legs, -5 Spicy Influence) to pry some intel out! Best of 3!
>>6341170whoops meant 1d100-3 gomenasorry
Rolled 27 - 3 (1d100 - 3)>>6341170
Rolled 73 - 3 (1d100 - 3)>>6341170
Rolled 40 - 3 (1d100 - 3)>>6341170ANTON: JELLY LEGS: ULTRA DETECTIVE.
>>6341105>>6341176>>6341177>>6341182Just a thought, but couldn't we flag down a Teksoul? Trier promised to keep our friends safe for 24 hours.
>>6341189You certainly can, yes!>>6341176>>6341177>>6341182>HIGHEST ROLL: 70!Writinggggggg
The tension grows thicker than cheesecake as the other receptionists begin to realize you aren’t leaving! As for the line behind you, well, they don’t seem keen on charging your position yet–you can probably thank Rezalith and her ‘incapacitating’ that poor bastard… not that you will, of course!Look, you sigh as you tighten your grip on the counter and look the Durherceptionist in her big eyes, someone special to you is in danger… someone very, very special to you! And if you don’t track her down soon, you might…You might not see her again…The last few words don’t leave your thoughts, but something in the way your expression changes jostles the front deskateer out of her loop!“... I… really shouldn’t...” Whines the Durher as she leans in a little closer, voice trembling as she tries not to notice the glances sent her way by her coworkers, “But make it quick… please.”Your legs jiggle a little more softly as your posture relaxes somewhat. You’re looking for a Durher, you begin, green eyes, female, looks ready to bust out in song at any moment?The receptionist’s brow furrows in thought. Not enough?She would probably be with someone who, uh, who looks like you, you add, clearing your throat as you blink for emphasis! Blue eyes, Gnokish?The Durher’s eyes light up in sudden recognition as she gives you a once-over! “... Y-yes… No offense, sir, but you stand out…”None taken, you reply with a hasty shake of your head! So she saw them, right?! Where did they go?! Was the Durher okay?!Your witness closes her eyes as she ponders her answer. “... She seemed alright,” She answers, but her tone betrays her concern, “But I have eight daughters of my own… and the way she looked at her partner, well…” The Receptionist meets your gaze again with an apology in each eye. “She was wary of him… call it mother’s intuition.”A spike of anger drives through your skull as the image appears in your head! “Any other details you can provide us?” Morook asks, stepping in while you take a few deep breaths! “Even the smallest detail could help-”“E-err, y-yes! I can get you the manager’s info!” Chirps the receptionist, wide-eyed and grinning ear-to-ear as she stoops beneath the counter! “W-won’t take but a moment… sorry for the inconvenience!”Before any of you can protest, she reemerges and slaps something flat and heavy on the counter and taps away at it like it owes her money! “We here at Crystalmelt sincerely hope this won’t impact your opinion of our business or future stays~”A dull, grating scrape screeches out from beneath the tablet as the receptionist shoves it over to Morook! “N-next, please!”Hey, wait a->CONTD.
>>6341270“Rezalith, carry Anton, please.” The ranger requests, earning a befuddled blink from both of you! “Show off your strength.”“Tch… easy…” She’s nowhere near as small as Tzah-Tzie, but Rezalith’s petite stature doesn’t seem to give her much grief as she picks you up and carries you away from the front desk like a princess!Err, thanks, you begin as your perplexed gaze shifts from the devil to the Chytree. What was that about?“The tablet she gave me,” Morook answers, his dull voice barely raising above a whisper as he leads you across the lobby, “I didn’t want to read it out to you while we were the center of attention.”Why, you ask incredulously! Is it a spell? Naughty language?Steadying himself with a curt breath, the ranger turns to face you with sympathy in his eyes.“’Went out to front. Heard others. Others said a name.’” He pauses. W-well!?“’Rolo.’”You lie stretched across Rezalith’s arms in complete silence all the way to the Scendochamber… so much so that even Rezzie notices!“...You’re not gonna cry, are you?”You don’t understand, you mutter under your breath–where are all the Teksouls? The security? How did that fat FUCK get to her like that!?“It’s becoming increasingly obvious to me that we’re in enemy territory here…” Muses Morook as he tries not to meet your gaze. “It would certainly explain the lack of Teksouls and the ease at which they attacked our suite… not to mention why they agreed so readily to hosting the concert here.”Yea, you scoff, that would explain a thing or two, wouldn’t it? Rezalith’s eyes widen as Morook’s drift further away.“... I’m sorry, Anton… if I’d been more vigilant-”N-no, you stammer as regret swiftly spreads through your features, you… you didn’t mean to snap like that–and it’s not his fault that-“It is.” The Chytree chitters as his gaze drifts floorward, “You’ve got far too much on your plate as-is. We lowered our guard. That’s really all there is to it.”Rezalith audibly gulps as silence falls over the Scendochamber’s interior again. “She’s…” She begins, each word struggling to wriggle free of her lips, “She’s tougher than she looks, The Snack…” Your eyes drift upwards to the devil’s face. She doesn’t stare back. “It… it’d be foolish to think she’s lost for good… even by your standards.” Her fiery gaze meets yours, but in place of the usual venom you can almost pick up trace amounts of…… Hope?“Typical AnTWIT...” She mutters, trying and failing to keep a stoic expression as you feel a finger gently (by Rezalith’s standards) caress your head…>CONTD.
>>6341272The small gesture does more than put you at ease–it stokes an ember in your chest… one that only grows larger as you make your way back to the suite!“You’re back.” Oti observes as you shuffle back into your ‘home base’. “Let me guess: the culprit’s in your pocket?”You don’t bother reacting to the barb. How are the hostages?“Alive,” The sorcerer sighs as Volka emerges from one of the rooms with a weary look on her face. “Toppel and I have been softening them up.”With, like, truth spells? The Chytree answers you with a long stare.“... Indeed. We’ve already confirmed what we already knew:” He adds with a twinkle in his eye, “They’re Cartel… and they’re primarily under SIXFACE’S employ.”Right, you nod as Rezalith chucks you into a chair, that Durher…“Not just any Durher,” Oti continues as Volka joins you with barely-contained relief in her features, “An officer. Oversees several affairs here in Umberal.” The light in his disco ball eyes dims. “Especially wetwork.”A muffled yell slips through what you assume is one of the closed doors. Wetwork, huh?“Spying. Assassinations. Blackmail.” The sorcerer explains with a sigh. “And if these cutthroats are to be believed, this ‘Sixface’ sprung this kidnapping on them almost immediately after your ‘meeting’.”You blink. Can they be believed? Oti answers with a smug, singular laugh.“It’s in their best interest...”“What about the Sniper?” Morook asks, eyes flickering with thought. “I find it hard to believe that was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”“That’s the interesting part: it wasn’t.” Replies the wizard with an irked chitter. “Her group didn’t even know about a planned kidnapping. They were aware of your deal with The Machinist, however… and they apparently used that to lure you all into an ambush.”“But…” Morook mutters in growing disbelief, “But Obber The Machinist said I asked him to retrieve the BOMB and take it somewhere else…” The Chytree’s voice trails off as your eyes lock with his. “Do… do you think that was the Keekulaaley’s doing as well?”You wouldn’t put it past them, you answer with a sigh and a baby headache forming in your temples! It would certainly explain how they keep getting the drop on you!“There’s more.” Oti interjects. “Suulom and Haalsti were candid at first, but now-”“Now they say they ain’t gonna talk ta’ anyone but you, Rook.” Volka interjects as she sends an apologetic glance in Oti’s direction! “I’m guessing they’ll looking ta’ parley…”And why, pray tell, would you even entertain the thought of playing ball with them? “Self-preservation’s a hell of a thing, Rook…” The Skog replies with a shrug. “Tough assassin or not, I wouldn’t wanna be in the position they’re in right now either.”>CONTD.
>>6341275“Fortuitous.” Says the sorcerer with a smile in his voice, “We might be able to pit them against each other.”“Oh right,” Morook adds as he digs into his unseen pockets, “The Machinist–how is he?”“Fine, given the circumstances.” Oti answers with a dismissive shake of his head, “He’s resting in the far room. Nothing a few healing spells couldn’t fix.”“Good…” Morook sighs before placing something heavy in your hands! “I wanted to hand this off to you. Before I forgot.”The object in question is impeccably smooth, its ovaloid surface cold to the touch. Gossamer metal strands spiderweb its surface, and even with your bare hands you can feel the potent hum of energy encased within…“THE BOMB.” Morook helpfully adds with what you assume is the Chytree equivalent of a wink. “Had him alter the blast radius–still capable of knocking out magic, but won’t take out the whole city.”Morook, you begin with an awestruck smile on your face, thanks, dude! The Chytree nods.You still have hostages to tend to, but if the receptionist’s report is to be believed, Tzah-Tzie’s going to be in the claws of your old pal ROLO soon… but what’s SIXFACE’S role in all this? Did Vhale put them up to it?It’s raining questions in your head and time is running thin as you choose your next action:>Interrogate Haalsti the Blur!>Question Suulom the Hydromancer!>Quiz the Durher Sniper!>Talk to your team members! (Who?)>Speak to RED!>Leave Crystalmelt–track down a Teksoul!>Visit somewhere else in Umberal (Options will be provided!)>Get out of Crystalmelt–you’re gonna pay Vhale a housecall…>Write-In!
>>6341277>Get out of Crystalmelt–you’re gonna pay Vhale a housecall…Time to kill those bitches
>>6341277>Question Suulom the Hydromancer!Perhaps we can take advantage of his pomposity and vague air of honor?>Leave Crystalmelt–track down a Teksoul!See if someone can't do this while we're interrogating, though.Also: I suspect Sixface IS the Keekulaaley. "Sixface" is a good name for a shapeshifter, and it doesn't seem to make much sense as a nickname otherwise.
>>6341277>Leave Crystalmelt–track down a Teksoul!I agree with Sixface IS the Keekulaaley theory
>>6341277>>Get out of Crystalmelt–you’re gonna pay Vhale a housecall…
>>6341277>Leave Crystalmelt–track down a Teksoul!>Get out of Crystalmelt–you’re gonna pay Vhale a housecall…
>>6341284>>6341286>>6341386>>6341411>>6341460THE TALLY:>Visit Vhale: 3>Suulom: 1>Teksoul: 3I'm gonna put the Vhale and Teksoul decisions together! Time to SADDLE UP... WRITING
‘Parley’. The word leaves your mouth like a piece of gristle. What vital piece of knowledge could these assassins reveal that wouldn’t be a waste of time? You don’t need to be a mind reader to deduce what’s happening here: you made a deal with a Crimelord! And surprise, surprise: he BROKE it!Well you know what else was broken? Whatever dumb spell or protection Trier had over Vhale… meaning that dead-eyed fuzzball’s minutes are NUMBERED!No, you reply as you feel the ember in your chest grow into a flickering fire, you don’t have anything to say to those pricks! “W-wait a sec,” Stammers Volka as you make it about halfway to the elevator, “Where… where are you headed, Rook?”VHALE’S PLACE, you grimly reply, to get your Spinner back!“Alone?” Morook asks, exchanging a wary glance with his sister. You’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve, you flatly reply–Trier promised to protect your friends, and you’d be a fool not to cash in on that offer! Before you can finish your cool, slow walk to the Scendochamber, however, Rezalith practically TELEPORTS to your side!“Nuh-uh. No way. Don’t even THINK of going on a rampage without me!”“Or me!” Volka adds as she strides over with determination etched into her expression!“Or me.” Drones Morook with a mischievous glimmer in his gaze!“I can’t keep you out of my sight for a minute, can I?” Oti groans as he too joins in on the fun! “Toppel and her degenerate brother will wish to join too, no doubt…” His glowing eyes slip over to the back of the suite where the other rooms and, by extension, the hostages are. “Just need to decide what to do with the captives first.”As your eyes sweep across your squad, you feel a knot twist into existence next to the roaring flames in your chest! They… they don’t nee-“Course we do, ya’ big goof.” Snickers the Skog as her tail slaps against the floor! “Lamplighters stick together! It’s a rule!”“Someone needs to stick close to make sure you don’t blow yourself up…” Adds her half-brother with a shrug and a smirk in his voice!“And I go where I please!” Adds Rezalith as he meets your gaze with a haughty harrumph! “And I want to cook the fools who keep attacking us, so THERE!””Hohoho…. Round up the posse, kid,” RED cackles with the usual raspy voice, ”This’ll be a BLOOBATH…”He’s… he might be right–you’ll have Trier’s Teksouls at your side… do you dare bring your friends into the fray too?What do?>Alright, let’s go, gang.>Only a few of you. The rest stay back. (Who’s coming?)>You need them here with Lutza. (LONE WOLF)>Write-In!
>>6341621Well, gee, that's a tough question. I do love a good power of friendship, but at the same time, going full lone wolf slaughter mode is pretty damn BADASS.
>>6341621>Just RezalithNo offense to everyone else, but we may want to go literal "scorched earth" on these guys. That means only people resistant to hellfire.
>>6341634Maybe, but we'd need someone who could keep an eye on Rezalith if we brought her.
>>6341621>Alright, let’s go, gang.
>>6341634+1, sounds fun
>>6341621>REZALITH, HOW HUNGRY ARE YOU>BECAUSE WE'RE LETTING YOU EAT TONIGHT. A FEAST OF BLOOD AND FLESH.Or in other words, supporting ug2.
>>6341753>SADDLE UP, EVERYONE>>6341634>>6341816>>6341887>THE REZZENINGWriting! This oughta be fun
You don’t. The Cartel and underhanded tricks go together like GREASE MONKEY’S TWELVE-PIECE GREASESTRAVAGANZA and a heaping dollop of their patented FAT SAUCE... and while you’d appreciate any help you can get, you’ll feel a lot better if it’s Trier’s Teksouls taking the hits!There is one exception that comes to mind, though–someone who’s been denied a good slaughter for threads now…Rezzie. The demon perks up like a dog that just heard the word ‘Walk’.“Y-yea…?” She stammers, trying and failing to contain the growing excitement in her voice! “Let me guess–you need me to stay here while you TALK them all to death…”Actually, you retort, you don’t plan on leaving any of those Durhernappers standing… and you can only think of one gal powerful enough to torch the whole neighborhood!As your words slowly sink into the satanthing’s psyche, her face contorts into somewhere between confusion and… happiness?Is… is she about to cr-You’re tackled off of your still-wiggly legs and onto the ground as the feisty fiend flattens you into a hug that squeezes your heart into your throat like a tube of toothpaste!“Y-you really MEAN it!?” She sputters, eyes wide and twinkling like a kid going to a theme park! “I WILL kill you if you’re joking, AnT-” The name catches in her throat. “... Anton…”“But… Anton-”It’s fine, you reply as the confidence in Volka’s face gives way to concern, you’re gonna cash in on one of Trier’s favors too. It won’t just be you and Rezzie!“That doesn’t explain why you intend to leave us here.” Oti argues, eyes dimming with each word!It does, actually, you retort as your favorite devil continues to nuzzle your chest, if Lutza’s gambit works, Vhale might still go to the concert tonight… and even if he doesn’t you can almost bet they’re whipping up some foul play! Your eyes sweep across your teammates that didn’t make the cut.There’ll be innocents attending the concert tonight–you need them all here in case things go South… here and ready to leave at a moment’s notice!If any of your teammates have anything to say in response, they keep it to themselves. And Volka? The Skog merely lifts you and Rezzie off the floor and traps you in a boneshattering embrace of her own!“Just…” She sniffles, holding you tight enough to make your eyes bulge, “Just get her back… okay? Safe and sound…”That’s… that’s the plan, you wheeze, still sandwiched between Rezalith and Volka’s mighty bicep! When it becomes clear to her that she’s suffocating you, the Skog gently places you both back in front of the elevator with a sheepish grin.“Meet back here, then?” Morook asks, his voice barely changing after your rendered verdict.Yea, you nod and grin, just keep an ear out for the BOOMS….>CONTD.
>>6341952Leaving them with a lazy salute, you lead the charge towards the Scendochamber a-OOF!… Smack into the wall next to it face-first.“Would you like those legs fixed?” Oti asks as he regards you with an exasperated sigh. Y-yes please…“You’re fulla’ crap.”“That’s what they say about everybody that’s got a revolutionary idea!”“And what they say about idiots. Being idiots.”Even with Umberal’s magic-induced mild temperature, the air outside the Nessurmos Estate grows crisp with evening’s approach. A gentle wind caresses the road just outside the main gate as two Cartel Guards stand like talking statues just outside.“You’re seriously telling me you wouldn’t?” Asks the first guard–a tall Gnok with a chipped tooth.“I ain’t sayin’ I wouldn’t,” Answers the second, a gruff-looking Mox, “I’m sayin’ it’s impossible.”“Listen, there ain’t no rules or laws about it! I’m gonna keep a Shyppa as a pet and you ain’t gonna stop me!”“Yer right–the Shyppa will. Moron…”Amidst this scintillating conversation, you…>Approach the guards. Might as well talk to them a bit first, right?>Sneak in while they’re distracted!>Let Rezzie negotiate.>Collect on that favor Trier offered.>Warm them up.>Write-In!
>>6341954>Sneak in while they’re distracted!Let's try to grab them undetected. Though, I'd watch out, I wouldn't be surprised if Vhale was waiting for us to try to do that.
>>6341954>>Let Rezzie negotiate.
>>6341954>Sneak in while they’re distracted!
>>6341954Weird transition, so let me clarify: Y'all have with you:-Rezzie-Teksouls (If you want em)This is more just a question of how do you wanna get this party started
>>6341954>Sneak in while they’re distracted!SAVOR.
>>6341956>>6341994>>6342003>SNEAK>>6341958>'NEGOTIATION'Wow, okay! Thought you were gonna go guns-a-blazin'! Hope Rezzie isn't too peeved about this...>Roll me 1d100-4 (+2 Fleet Footwork, +2 Hellish Help?, +3 Sneaky Leather Armor, -5 Cartel Wards, -3 High Alert, -3 Spicy HQ) to slip in undetected! Best of 3!
Rolled 23 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6342090
Rolled 95 (1d100)>>6342090You'll get your slaughter soon, Rez.
Rolled 49 - 4 (1d100 - 4)>>6342090
>>6342094>>6342100>>6342135>HIGHEST ROLL: 91!Well shoot, guess I've got some more sneaking to write! Will probably get around to it later on Thursday--seeya then, hopefully!
The guards never see you coming.No, seriously! They don’t! While they continue their pet debate, you manage to clear the fence surrounding the compound with a little help from your flying friend! There’s a faint tingle of magic as you breach the perimeter, but if it triggers any alarm, you don’t see it!Rezzie remains silent as the two of you land in a patch of fern-like grass–good thing, too. No sooner do you touch down do you spot a patrol of presumably heavily-armed hoodlums round the bend!The pair of Maakar leading the walk click menacingly as the two of you shut your eyes, but their handlers continue onwards with grim looks on their stony faces! It’s only after the sound of chains jingling and heavy footfalls fade away that you dare open them again… and when you do, you find yourself alone in blessed silence!Lingering in the bushes just to be sure, you try to avoid the daggers being stared into your face by your hellish helper as you ponder your next move. The compound’s exterior is quiet, that much is certain, but whether that’s due to the concert happening later this evening or another reason totally escapes you.… Crud, is this even the right house? You assumed it was based on the guards posted out front, but–A sharp pain in your shoulder brings you back to the present: the present where you currently have a devil biting your shoulder! Shaking her off with an indignant glare, you mouth the word ‘SOON’ to placate Rezalith, if only for a few more minutes! Cathartic though it’d be to cut a bloody, burning swathe through the Cartel, you wouldn’t mind tracking down TT before the chaos commences!… And you’re still not 100% sure this is Vhale’s house. It… certainly smells like spice central, but… damn it, why didn’t you bring someone who could read!?Well for better or worse, you’re here. There’s a few guards idling in the front, but the irregular shadows covering their eyes tells you you might be in some kind of grove or hedge display… water trickles somewhere nearby–no doubt some kind of pond or water feature. Best not trip into that!The question is, how do you sneak in?>Try to find a chance by the front door!>Head around the side of the compound!>The roof! You might be able to slip in through a balcony or something if you’re careful!>What if the pond hides a way in?>Shadow a patrol for a while–see where they go!>Biisii’s Bag!>Write-In!
