[Burichan] [Futaba] [Nice] [Pony]  -  [WT]  [Home] [Manage]
In memory of Flyin' Black Jackson
[Catalog View] :: [Quest Archive] :: [Rules] :: [Quests] :: [Discussions] :: [Wiki]

[Return] [Entire Thread] [Last 50 posts] [Last 100 posts]
Posting mode: Reply
Name (optional)
Email (optional, will be displayed)
Subject    (optional, usually best left blank)
Message
File []
Password  (for deleting posts, automatically generated)
  • How to format text
  • Supported file types are: GIF, JPG, PNG
  • Maximum file size allowed is 10000 KB.
  • Images greater than 250x250 pixels will be thumbnailed.

File 127873105981.jpg - (25.19KB , 1000x765 , 0-1.jpg )
205612 No. 205612 ID: bc1727

“Every.”

“Single.”

“One.”

“All of you demihumans - For each one of you that FOOL allows to stay here, two of our own will die, if not more. You can’t even fathom how much danger you monsters put us in!”

“You in particular…”

Help me. Please, anyone...
Expand all images
>>
No. 205613 ID: a594b9

Okay. Who are you?
>>
No. 205614 ID: 8ce2bf

Try not to die.
>>
No. 205615 ID: 8e2486

we'll try.
>>
No. 205617 ID: 0b2a05

Oh boy. Hey, are you alright?
>>
No. 205618 ID: bc1727
File 12787315027.jpg - (226.75KB , 963x632 , 0-2.jpg )
205618

“I can demonstrate everything you need to know about magic using only this,” Teacher says with a dramatic pause, holding out his hand to reveal, “This tin can.”

Some muted laughter comes from my classmates.

“Alright, stay with me - this can is kind of a tradition in this class. It represents something we all universally hate. Yes, this here in my hand is a hulking, merciless, armed-to-the teeth sentry.”

“Oh no! I’m doomed! From a distance I’m outgunned…From up close I’m mangled brutally…Whatever shall I do? Okay, so let’s think of this behemoth in terms of an um - a tin can. What do those two things have a common weakness to? What PROPERTY would make it as harmless as a tin can?” he asks, scanning his students.
>>
No. 205619 ID: 6faf8a

>>205618
Being dead?
>>
No. 205620 ID: 8e2486

they are both metal?
>>
No. 205622 ID: 8ce2bf

>>205618
Acid?
>>
No. 205623 ID: a594b9

>>205618
Magnetism. Or electrical conductivity.
>>
No. 205624 ID: 9d05d7

Magnetics?
>>
No. 205626 ID: 0b2a05

Crushing?
>>
No. 205628 ID: 8e7d2a

Lack of weapons, sir!
>>
No. 205629 ID: ee8200

They're metal? Magnetism? Conducting heat/cold easily? Not providing protection against non-physical attacks? They're slow? If you can weld/lock the joints of the armor they can't move? (Yes, this is a crapload of ideas. Just throwing out everything I can think of. Maybe we can pick out the best/right answer?)
>>
No. 205631 ID: b71223

...
They both can't move on their own without considerable effort?
...
It's a trick question?
...
Umm... they both contain things?
>>
No. 205632 ID: 620bfb

A tin can can't move? Or is the size of a tin can? Iunno.
>>
No. 205633 ID: 892345

Poe wrote on b-
Er, wrong riddle.
>>
No. 205635 ID: cd1936

Extreme oxidation. Just the thing to a useless husk. Or Strong gravity field. Crush it under it's own weight.
>>
No. 205636 ID: cd1936

>>205635
Gah, meant to say just rust the thing to a useless hulk.
>>
No. 205638 ID: bc1727
File 127873274951.jpg - (141.75KB , 997x511 , 0-3.jpg )
205638

Magnets…Elecricity…Heat?

“Magnetism?” a classmate says with obvious uncertainty on their breath.

“That, my young friend, is an excellent answer. Creativity like that will get you far - don’t be afraid to think up wild ideas. More often than not, those are the good ones. The answer that I was looking for, however, was RUST. A magnetic field would use too much mana to get a big enough effect to take down a large sentry. Not to mention that it doesn’t matter how big or small, rust is an equal-opportunity killer,” Teacher explains.
>>
No. 205641 ID: bc1727
File 127873323343.jpg - (141.84KB , 1224x960 , 0-4.jpg )
205641

“Okay, so I am now going to use that knowledge to defeat this sentry: first I need to summon enough mana for the effect. Now there is mana in all of us, but we can’t use it directly; we refer to it as being soulbound to us. Think of it as less a mana pool so much as it is muscle that you can use to pull mana out from the earth,” he continues, dramatically gesturing with his hand on the word “pull”.

“When you do that you are left with free-floating “rogue mana” waiting to be used. From there, you need to will it into the shape you want. I am going to will it into the shape of this sentry here. Just use your imaginations here; mana is not visible to the naked eye in most cases,” he continues.
>>
No. 205643 ID: bc1727
File 127873352784.jpg - (167.24KB , 844x499 , 0-5.jpg )
205643

A colorless energy imbues his can with power unseen to the other students.

“Now that the sentry is endowed with mana, I can use my willpower to give it any property I wish. I am now free to turn this sentry into a rusted, worthless piece of junk!” he stresses each syllable at the end of his speech before smashing the rusted can into the ground causing a few to jump. Teacher grins.

“Any questions?” he offers.

Questions…
>>
No. 205645 ID: 8e7d2a

Was there any food in that can? I'm hungry.
>>
No. 205646 ID: 8e2486

how much mana would you need to rust a behemoth enough to stop it?
>>
No. 205647 ID: cd1936

>>205643
Do you have to know the process by which the change happens, or only the final result?
>>
No. 205649 ID: c4c313

How do two humans die every time one demihuman lives? Is there any way we can reduce the danger?
>>
No. 205650 ID: 8e7d2a

What's my name, teacher? I forgot.
>>
No. 205651 ID: 7c97d9

This is probably a "common sense" question, but do ask him if proportionalized amounts of mana are required to magically configure different elements, big and small.
>>
No. 205653 ID: 8e7d2a

How do we "color" the mana to make it have the effect we want? Once our soulbound mana is inside the object, can we do anything to it? Or do we have to pick an effect before we cast the mana into the object?
>>
No. 205660 ID: f44349

Can you imbue something with multiple effects at once?
>>
No. 205674 ID: a594b9

>>205660
I like that question.
>>
No. 205679 ID: a513df

How does size relate to difficulty? We all know that a sentry is a fair bit bigger than a simple can.

Also, what if the metal has been made to be rust resistant?
>>
No. 205682 ID: cd1936

>>205679
Yeah... a field, like the mana field I think using, is in theory flat or can be modeled as flat. An object trying to infuse is a solid... fields are governed by area therefore square of side... but a solid would be governed by cube of side...
>>
No. 205685 ID: 8e2486

>>205682
... what?
>>
No. 205687 ID: cd1936

>>205685
Long story short it might be that energy needed to influence something larger grows much faster than the amount of mana that would be generated by dragging up a larger amount.
>>
No. 205692 ID: e2d0a6

>>205643
can liquids be given solid forms?
Can there be a liquid/solid hybrid monster. Liquid exterior, solid interior? A thing who's other part counters the other's weakness?
>>
No. 205693 ID: bc1727
File 127874039419.jpg - (96.19KB , 736x605 , 0-5-1.jpg )
205693

>“Was there any food in that can? I’m hungry,” the boy nearby says. Some stifled laughter follows.

“No, that can won’t be providing anyone food again anytime soon,” Teacher responds light heartedly.

>“How much mana would you need to rust a sentry enough to stop it?” the human girl asks.

“It would take quite a bit more than you’re likely to ever to be able to summon on your own. Fortunately, there are ways to augment your soulbound mana so that you can cast greater effects - that’s a lesson for another time. For the record, though, rust on sentries is a tried and true method among us HUNTERS with the talent. Should you have to face a sentry yourself, though, you’ll be the one needing to make the call. Don’t forget that,” Teacher answers.

>”Do you have to know the process by which the change happens, or only the final result?” the demihuman girl asks.

“Ah, yes. Manipulating mana is all about WILLPOWER. I hate hearing this, but if you believe it, you can make it happen. The more complex the effects, the more difficult it will be for us to make it happen. We can do it by adding more effects to a single mana charge. Don’t worry about any of that YET. Experimentation is the key; theory can come later,” He responds.

>”Are proportionalized amounts of mana required to magically configure different elements, big and small?” asks another human boy.

“I’m glad you asked that. To answer directly, yes; the more complex the effect and the more effects imbued with the same mana charge, the more mana is required. More to the philosophy of magic, though, don’t think of magic as a matter of elements. It’s a matter of PROPERTIES. The floor is sticky. The can is rusty. The arm is stronger. The legs are faster. You can combine properties to come up with any conceivable effect with practice and creativity. For example: you can scry ahead by enchanting a naked mana field with the sight property. Don’t concern yourself with that, though. Enchanting and manipulating bare mana is a lesson for another day,” he says.
>>
No. 205694 ID: 4fae23

>>205687
Buh?
>>
No. 205696 ID: e2d0a6

>>205693
yeah... but can something be made which has seperate parts which counterbalance each other
>>
No. 205698 ID: 8e2486

think that's all for now.

PLOT: happen.
>>
No. 205699 ID: bc1727
File 127874148427.jpg - (79.58KB , 576x594 , 0-5-2.jpg )
205699

>”How do we "color" the mana to make it have the effect we want? Once our soulbound mana is inside the object, can we do anything to it? Or do we have to pick an effect before we cast the mana into the object?” the joker from earlier asks.

“I don’t know exactly what you mean by “color”, but I can tell you that you are not using your soulbound mana directly. It is simply your means from pulling mana from the earth; your ultimate source of mana. If you were somehow capable of putting your soulbound mana into another object, you’d be dead. Mana is quite literally the glue that binds the spirit to the body. Before anyone asks, no, you can’t TAKE mana from another living person either. That’s terrible. You should be ashamed if you were thinking that,” he says. My classmates giggle to themselves.

“Anyway, you can choose the effect after you summon the mana. Once it’s summoned, you can do whatever you want with it, whenever you want with it, assuming you’ve got the inner willpower to do so,” he continues.

>”Can you imbue something with multiple effects at once?” the human girl asks.

“I think I answered this one, but yes. Don’t try at this point. It’s a waste of mana, and you’ll likely fail spectacularly. Don’t worry though, even if you did, to go back to my analogy from earlier, it’s like straining a MUSCLE. The more you work it out, the stronger it’ll get. If you work it too hard, though, you’ll get exhausted. You won’t die though, and what doesn’t kill you…Well, you know the rest.”

>”How does size relate to difficulty? We all know that a sentry is a fair bit bigger than a simple can. Also, what if the metal has been made to be rust resistant?” the demihuman girl says.

“Bigger objects and LIVING things are much more difficult to cast effects on. The bigger the object, the more mana must be summoned - this is a matter of feel - don’t concern yourself too much with the physical dimensions of an object. You’ll know when enough is enough. In fact, you’ll usually overshoot. Also, magic is a trump-all. No physical augmentation to a metal, or what have you, can resist a magical effect. An object can be imbued to resist magic effects, though. If that’s the case you’ll have to overcome the enchantment with your willpower,” he responds.

>”Can liquids be given solid forms? Can there be a liquid/solid hybrid monster. Liquid exterior, solid interior? A thing who's other part counters the other's weakness?” a human boy asks.

“Ahh, let’s see. Well, as for “monsters”, I’m not sure how to answer that - I’ve seen a LOT of weird shit,” he says, followed closely by more giggles. “You can enchant water, yes, and you can make it solid. In my experience, it’s such a tricky process to get your mind wrapped around that it’s a waste of concentration in heated situations. There’s no reason why you couldn’t give walking on water a try, though. Just don’t try it on a raging river and kill yourself, eh?”

“Any more questions?” he offers, as the questions begin to die down.
>>
No. 205705 ID: 8e2486

PLOT: happen
>>
No. 205706 ID: a594b9

>>205699
Is the property 'living' possible to use? How about 'healthy'? Or 'dead'?
>>
No. 205714 ID: bc1727
File 127874497621.jpg - (242.39KB , 1000x727 , 0-6sm.jpg )
205714

He waits for attention to return to him, “All the complicated theory and intricacies are worthless if you can’t do that, so that’s exactly what I want you to do. You can practice in your quarters or the study - we have no shortage of cans for you to play with. Master this and you’ll be well on your way. If you need any help, find me.”

“You’re all free to go.”

“How did I know I’d find you here - passed curfew, all by yourself in the study? I told myself, “Jol, don’t bother raising your blood pressure.” No one is there. Why, oh why do I never listen to that voice? I have to ask: do you -really- enjoy pissing me off?”

…No.
>>
No. 205719 ID: 8e2486

uhhh...
==>
>>
No. 205721 ID: 620bfb

Good job showing that can who's boss.
>>
No. 205723 ID: bc1727
File 127874543491.jpg - (83.07KB , 1040x796 , 0-7.jpg )
205723

“You know, being a hunter is about being a part of a TEAM. Do you think fiddling in the dark with the little tricks they teach you will make you less of a - a disaster? Get it out of your head! You’re going to be the end of all of us!”

…Please stop. I wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“I swear, one day - one day they are going thank me for making sure you things are put in your place.”

What did I do wrong?
>>
No. 205725 ID: 8e2486

you did nothing wrong, the wrong one is him. run to your teacher and hide.
>>
No. 205729 ID: bc1727
File 127874637326.jpg - (86.49KB , 813x729 , 0-8.jpg )
205729

“You are all…” he says while approaching me.

>you did nothing wrong, the wrong one is him. run to your teacher and hide.

I can’t move. I can only hold my breath and clutch the seat of my chair. I don’t want to be here anymore.

I hear his heavy, hateful footsteps grow louder...closer.

“Disgusting,” he spits.
>>
No. 205730 ID: bc1727
File 127874644065.jpg - (53.41KB , 1040x796 , 0-9.jpg )
205730

Someone - help…please help me.


End of Prelude 0
>>
No. 205779 ID: 620bfb

We tend to be better at helping those who help themselves, really.
>>
No. 205800 ID: c4c313

Switch to Jol
>>
No. 205821 ID: 8e7d2a

Switch to Tin Can
>>
No. 205836 ID: ed2827

Admit it, Goat Boy: You ate that can.
>>
No. 206394 ID: bc1727
File 127888543983.jpg - (24.54KB , 1040x796 , 1-1.jpg )
206394

A persistent electric hum harmonizes with a subdued chorus of far-off voices - rooms away.

Nnnh…So weak…I feel like I’m floating through the void without a body…I can barely even think.

Gods. What happened?

I have to find my thoughts…

>>
No. 206395 ID: 51c610

from what we saw you were beaten up. hopefully you are okay and only have some minor bruising.
>>
No. 206396 ID: a594b9

>>206394
You got the shit beat out of you, and now you're in the nurse's office I bet.
>>
No. 206403 ID: 8e7d2a

Alright, if it hurts that bad, let's check ourselves for brain damage.

What's our name?
What's the last thing we remember doing?
>>
No. 206427 ID: e973f4

>>206394
Focus on your self. (Space intentional.)
>>
No. 206429 ID: bc1727
File 127888765454.jpg - (82.40KB , 915x700 , 1-2.jpg )
206429

> >206395
>> 206396
>> 206403

I have the strangest feeling I’ve been stuck in a dream…Why can’t I remember it? Okay...think.

…I’m Wedgie. Yes, I still have my name. What else...?

>>
No. 206430 ID: 8ce2bf

>>206429
Maybe it would be better if you didn't have your name.
>>
No. 206434 ID: c4c313

You are a demihuman, half man half goat. You have the incredible ability to rust cans. You are a "HUNTER" whatever that means, and one of your former teammates got all racist and beat your ass. I say former because you're either going to get them kicked off the team or kill them in ritual combat, however your system of justice works.
>>
No. 206436 ID: a594b9

>>206429
You're in a magic academy. You were practicing how to use mana to rust a tin can.
>>
No. 206445 ID: 8e7d2a

I'm not sure. I remember a scene from school. But I don't know how long ago that was.

Can you feel your body yet? If you're in a dream, can you imagine a light or something?
>>
No. 206448 ID: 701a19

>>206429
WAKE.
UP.

>>
No. 206450 ID: bc1727
File 127888950041.jpg - (58.44KB , 915x700 , 1-3.jpg )
206450

>> 206430
>> 206434
>> 206436

No…This is wrong! Why can’t I get my thoughts straight?

Okay, I’m Wedgie. I was…Oh! I was in a human settlement. I had just finished a job - I was looking forward to having a break from action for a while…

Ugh, it feels like I’m coming out of a coma. Hey, I think I felt my tail move! Thank the gods, I’m starting to get feeling back in…



Oh no. No. No. I’m fucking naked and chained. This can’t be happening - can’t be happening.

You’ll pay. You’ll pay. You - will pay…

Hrrgh...Calm down. Please. Just gotta keep my mind off it. Just think of something else until you can move. I’m okay. Let’s see - I’m cuffed at the neck and wrists. My weight is supported by my arms, so I can breathe alright at least.

>>
No. 206455 ID: a594b9

>>206450
Alright. Look around. You could Rust the chains to get out of them, but if you're dangling above a deep pit or something that would kill you.
>>
No. 206457 ID: 8e7d2a

Wait. Am I correct in guessing that whatever you do, it's likely to get you in trouble? If so, didn't you ever make a contingency plan if caught?
>>
No. 206461 ID: f44349

I think it's quite clear that you need to
WAKE UP
Just focus. Calm yourself and focus on opening your eyes.
>>
No. 206467 ID: bc1727
File 127889144353.jpg - (47.07KB , 915x700 , 1-4.jpg )
206467

>>206455
>>206457
>>206461

Fortunately, I’m blindfolded. I’d scry the room or break my chains, but I’m just too weak right now. I do know that I’m awake now, though I’m wishing I wasn’t.

…I feel so exposed. I wish I could at least cover myself with my tail…Maybe - maybe I can -


With some effort, I shift my weight enough to get into a more comfortable position on my knees. My tail doesn't seem to want to cooperate.

Well, that’s a little better I th-

“Mun,” I hear, “I think it’s awake,” says a man, somewhere nearby.

Fates, fuck me! Someone’s in here!?

“Great, maybe we can finally get the hell out of this cell. I’ll go tell the boss,” replies another man, apparently named Mun.

“Hey, I rhymed,” he continues. The sound of boots on tile flooring takes his voice further away from me, likely towards a door.

“Hey, don’t forget to mute the room on your way out this time; that thing doesn’t need to hear what we’re saying!” calls out the first man.

“Ah, screw you - this isn’t our normal job. I don’t try to tell you how to stand around and look scary, do I?” Mun replies sharply.

“Will you just f-“

Without warning, sound stops. Not even my heartbeat or the subtle whoosh of fluid in my ears can be heard - only pure, complete and unnatural silence.

Ah! Gods, mute spells give me the creeps. And I can practically taste the wasted mana - what an amateur. They couldn’t have even found a willer with knowledge of runecarving to capture me? So embarrassing…

Alright, keep calm. If they used a sleep effect on me, it’s wearing off. I just feel drowsy now. I think I have just enough strength for a little scrying. Let’s see what I’m up against here.

>>
No. 206472 ID: 08b2da

be careful, they may have a countermeasure set up but with how bad they are at it they may not have.
>>
No. 206498 ID: c4c313

>>206450

Maybe I was scrying when they caught me. That could get my thoughts a little mixed up. Magic academy? A goat man? What was I thinking! Maybe I was scrying on a goat man? Best be careful if I try to do it again. I haven't got time to get my thoughts in order!
>>
No. 206501 ID: 08b2da

>>206498
[shut up dumbass what the hell are you talking about? we are the goat person thing, you are just going to confuse them]]
>>
No. 206504 ID: c4c313

>>206501

[[I shouldn't insult myself it's not good for my self confidence. The goat person thing was clearly in the prologue, and this is chapter 1. There's nothing that says I'd be connected with any goat boys in any way whatsoever.]]
>>
No. 206509 ID: 701a19

Scry the room, then the people.
>>
No. 206687 ID: bc1727
File 127891414378.jpg - (241.94KB , 1295x963 , 1-5.jpg )
206687

In a flash, I can see again through mana fields enchanted with sight. I scan the cramped, ceiling-lit white room. There is only one man here now: a tall, sturdy looking human standing guard beside the metal cell-door.

Really? A human!? As if this weren’t degrading enough…Sigh, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Huh, that’s weird. This doesn’t look or smell anything like a jail cell; if anything, it seems more like…something is supposed to be displayed…here?

On second thought, maybe I’m better off not thinking about it too much.

Egh, I'm not quite myself yet. While I recover, I'd better come up with a plan and hope there aren't any more surprises.

>>
No. 206693 ID: 8e7d2a

Since mana works off concepts/properties, can you feel/scry the "concept" of this room? Like, what sort of room it is?
>>
No. 206695 ID: 40df7a

can you make him sleep? if you can then do that. and only a single link in a chain needs to break to make the whole thing useless. rust the links closest to you on each of the chains, try to do them all at the same time.
>>
No. 206700 ID: 8ce2bf

>>206687
So hey goat buddy what gender are you?
How old are you?
You might want to not try an immediate escape, you have no idea what the rest of where you are is like. Can you scry further than the room you're in?
>>
No. 206701 ID: c4c313

>>206687

Hah, nice horns, goat boy. You almost had me convinced there. Which is weird because that would mean I was fooling myself. Anyway let's get to rusting that chain link!
>>
No. 206704 ID: 8bdb6a

>On second thought, maybe I’m better off not thinking about it too much.
That depends. What's your age and gender?

Pretend to pass out again, while gathering your strength to rust your way free.
>>
No. 206705 ID: 83f110

make sure the guard is incapacitated before rusting the links, if he sees you then you are done for.
>>
No. 206708 ID: f44349

>>206687
if you think you have the energy for it, incapacitate the guard.
Sleep, like everyone said, sounds good.

If you don't have the energy try and scry as much as you can.
Just outside this room and perhaps a view of the whole building so you know where you are would be a good place to start.
>>
No. 206713 ID: a594b9

Ah, I've got it. Deafen the guard while the room's still muted so he doesn't notice when you unmute the room. Then you should be able to get a better idea of what's going on here.
>>
No. 206723 ID: 7c6c46

>>206713
oh that is clever.
>>
No. 206899 ID: 22f0f6

>>206713
If this person is a willer, they may notice having their attributes changed. Also, directly affecting another living person is mana-intensive. They may also notice your use of mana.
Focus your attention on the inner workings of the shackles you're in. Maybe we can open them without any visible damage.
>>
No. 207777 ID: bc1727
File 127913762072.jpg - (97.85KB , 493x414 , 1-6.jpg )
207777

>>206693

The only things I’m interested in knowing about this place are where I am and who’s going to regret putting me here.

>Rust the chains.
>Put the guard to sleep.
>Deafen the guard.

If I deafen the human and cancel the mute effect in the room, they’ll notice they can’t hear one another the second they try to talk, so I’m not sure how that’d help me. The rust and sleep plan sounds like a good idea. Hell if I’m going to let them off THAT easy, though.

>>206899

The willer that muted the room left. Humans can’t naturally sense mana currents like I can anyway and I doubt he has a detect up. Call it intuition.

>Age and gender.

...Do I really have to think about this now? I’ve been unsure my whole life; I doubt it’s going to just come to me at a time like this. I’ll think it over when I have more time.
>>
No. 207784 ID: 54aa3e

well then, since this room is silent and you want him to be worse off how about you set him on fire and rust the chains?
>>
No. 207786 ID: c4c313

>>207777

Rust one link in the chains far up the chain. Then snap the chains dramatically as if you were strong enough to do so at any time. Then use your newly equipped wrist chain flails to beat the living shit out of your guard.
>>
No. 207793 ID: 78ce6e

Wish the man out of existence.
>>
No. 207801 ID: 22f0f6

>>207786
Zeek's got noodle-arms, attached to a noodle body. I dont think the chain-whip thing is a good idea. He could probably swing one, two-handed, but it wouldn't cause much harm and would tire him right back out again.

Better he completely free himself from the restraints so they don't interfere with his concentration, then magic the hell out of his captors.
>>
No. 207845 ID: a6e87d

>>207777
don't stoop to their level. If you hurt them, you will fulfill their expectations of your species.

Best case, let them off as easily as possible. If done right, they'll think someone else helped you out. A traitor in their midst.
>>
No. 207892 ID: c2c011

>>207777
Use your mana to block off blood flow to the brain on the human, just enough to knock him out so you can interogate him afterwards. Then rust the chains and break out of them. After that there is going to be some imaginative interogation going on.
>>
No. 207968 ID: bc1727
File 127915282018.jpg - (591.57KB , 1309x1202 , 1-4.jpg )
207968

My train of thought is cut short as two men enter the room; the soundlessly opening door makes the silence all the more poignant. I recognize the blue robed man as the likely willer from before judging by the mana crystal around his neck.

I guess this must be the boss…why does he look so familiar?

The well-dressed man clears his throat with unnatural abruptness as the muting enchantment is dropped from the area. A salesman’s smile draws a crease across his pudgy face as he begins to speak.

“Long time no see. Well, you know what I mean,” the man says in his annoyingly charismatic tone. I say nothing. He feigns sadness.

“I’m Derrek Mattani. I worked with a contact of your last employer. You know, when I first laid eyes on you I knew we’d meet again. I have a good intuition,” he says. “I’m not here to taunt you - I just needed to ensure that my men caught the right demihuman. I’ll be leaving you to your chains, now,” he says. He turns his attention to his guards, lowering his voice. “Why is it moving around so early? They’re usually catatonic for at least another day,” he asks.

“Yell at the guys you sent. I can’t vouch for the strength of their spells,” says Mun. Mattani mutters something under his breath about needing to fire someone on his way out the door.
>>
No. 207969 ID: bc1727
File 127915299160.jpg - (66.51KB , 500x370 , 1-8.jpg )
207969

“I’m going to go reserve a spot for us upstairs, Torra. Think you can handle this all by yourself?” Mun asks, sarcastically.

“To hells with you; at least mute the room on your way out - you forgot. AGAIN,” The other guard scoffs.

The blue-robed Mun steps out of the room with a rude gesture and another suffocating zone of silence. I wait for the right moment - Torra lazily wanders over to me, looking down on me with a look of disgust. When he’s close enough, I counter the mute in the room, which drops with hardly any effort.

“Don’t get any ideas,” I say, slicing a clear path through the previous silence. Shock sends Torra tripping back a few steps in utter surprise.

“What th-…Tch, damn it Mun. Your spells are utterly useless,” he manages to spit out dismissively. An awkward silence looms for several long seconds. I remain still. “…You’ll be out of here and out of my hair soon enough. Not a moment too soon, either. I don’t get paid enough to stand guard over merchandise for hours on end. Especially not some demihuman garbage like you,” he grumbles. I stand up.

“H-hey!” he says, on guard.

…I’m losing control. I really don’t want to kill anyone, but I don’t know if I can stop myself at this point. What should I do?
>>
No. 207972 ID: a6e87d

>>207969
tell him your not garbage, and that you'll comply if you're treated with respect

which you won't in the end, but it'll keep you from getting beaten and set you a good situation eventually
>>
No. 207973 ID: 54aa3e

knock him out. rust off your restraints. send your scry to look into the hall before going into it. knowing what's in front of you is important.
>>
No. 207977 ID: 2f5ee4

'Watch your words, humie, or you won't be leaving here by your own power. I got a bloodlust ready to kick and I don't want to indulge it."
>>
No. 207978 ID: c2c011

>>207969
Knock him out, rust off the restraints. Then it's time for asking some questions, and he had better answer them or things might get nasty.

Then depending on his answers you should either hold him hostage while making your escape or kill him and make your escape.
>>
No. 207979 ID: a594b9

>>207969
"Bigot. Slaver. Be glad I don't like killing."

Put him to sleep, rust out of your chains, then break his fingers to let off some steam. Oh yeah, also steal his pants.

Scry ahead so you don't get caught off guard.
>>
No. 207990 ID: f44349

>>207969
>>207979
This sounds about right.
Except you don't have to be nearly as nice as putting him to sleep. Just make sure whatever you do, you do it quietly.
>>
No. 208411 ID: c5933f

>>207969
Can you use some of your magic voodoo jubjub skills to mind control the guard, could be slightly more useful than killing him.

If there's no other option just kill him, the less people chasing you the better. I recommend boiling his blood if you decide to go fancy, or crushing the brain stem for a quite quick, quiet death.
>>
No. 208414 ID: c4c313

You don't want to kill anyone? o.O

Hey hey, did you know they burned your tail? Imma start calling you stubby okay
>>
No. 210506 ID: bc1727

Next update:

This Thursday. 15:00 CST (afterschool)

P.S.: Sorry for the sporadic update schedule. Studying for midterms soaked up more time than expected.
>>
No. 210508 ID: 0b2a05

>>207979
Seems the best. Make sure you put him to sleep fast though, he might have some kind of alarm trigger.
>>
No. 210535 ID: 8ce2bf

Don't say anything to him before sleeping him, you don't need to give him further warning.
>>
No. 211066 ID: bc1727

Got home late. Quest still happening tonight.
>>
No. 211095 ID: 67c611

Can you set him on fire? Set him on fire.
>>
No. 211113 ID: bc1727

I apologize for the constant delays. Incoming cut-scene to tide you over; I promise a true update will happen as soon as it's finished (tonight and ongoing tomorrow).

I'm experiencing a major learning curve using GIMP (which I've never done before to this degree). This is why:
>>
No. 211114 ID: bc1727
File 127984222964.gif - (84.31KB , 520x398 , Untitled.gif )
211114

...
>>
No. 211807 ID: bc1727
File 127999426650.jpg - (375.62KB , 927x796 , 1-10.jpg )
211807

[i].........................................[i/]

Renewed vigor rushes into my once tired muscles. I step from the wall, towards the now thoroughly confused guard.

“It’s still supposed to be knocked out...What the hell, Mun...” Torra mutters to himself. My chains give no resistance as I step from the wall - they snap impotently at rusted links and limply clank behind me in raucous failure.
>>
No. 211809 ID: bc1727
File 127999448557.jpg - (280.56KB , 875x649 , 1-11.jpg )
211809

My guard’s eyes widen with shock, but he instinctively jumps into a combative stance.

“Shit!-...Mun!” he yells.

He rushes me - far too slow. Before he gets two steps in, my chain wraps around his arm and I effortlessly move aside. I step right past him, yanking his arm with me. Severely off balance, it's all he can do to turn with me to keep his arm from coming out of its socket. I double around and apply a heavy offensive chain to his head.

He falls.

I’ll never forgive you. I’ll never forgive you. I’ll never forgive you. I’ll never forg-

I hear the door swing open behind me. “What the hell is going on he- woah!”

I’m going to kill them all…Please stop me!
>>
No. 211810 ID: 8bdb6a

>I’m going to kill them all…Please stop me!
No.
>>
No. 211811 ID: c71597

>>211809
Don't really feel like stopping you now. Do what needs to be done.
>>
No. 211812 ID: 8c0848

>>211810
Kill them. Kill them all. It's dangerous to let them live.
>>
No. 211814 ID: 70d9eb

How about you throw some mana at your legs to make them faster, clothesline that guy, and get the hell out of here.
>>
No. 211816 ID: 67c611

Set the dude on the floor on fire. The screams while he is burning alive type fire. Walk towards the exit and say "Out of my way.". If they don't move, kill them.

A question. Is freedom what you want?
>>
No. 211817 ID: e8c549

Don't kill them just yet. They could possibly be of use to you.
>>
No. 211818 ID: f44349

>>211809
Focus on escape.
Killing them won't change anything.
If you really want to stop this you need to escape and regroup.
So you can strike at the source of this foul business.
>>
No. 211833 ID: 0b2a05

Fuck that, do not kill them! Make them sleep, both of them. Knock the guy you're holding out and jump the other one, do not kill either of them.
>>
No. 211842 ID: 788388

yes, SLEEP them, DO NOT KILL!
>>
No. 211975 ID: a594b9

>>211809
Go nonlethal. Knock them out, break their limbs, leave them in extreme pain, crippled... Stop short of death.
>>
No. 211985 ID: bc1727
File 128002536326.jpg - (119.28KB , 428x570 , 1-12.jpg )
211985

>>211814
>>211817
>>211818
>>211833

His crystal comes first...

I rune-accelerate my body so that I can instantaneously close the gap between me and the willer. He instinctively grabs for his crystal, so I take his hand between mine. He freezes completely; Beads of sweat dot his face. I can feel the resonance of his crystal like a million voices. Their power sings out like a haunting chorus to my ears - or so it seems.

It’s been a really long time, hasn’t it?

I absorb it all, breathing it into my body, through my hands. I can’t help but wonder if he feels it too, although I know mortals can’t. I sort of pity him for that. I step back from him - my hand leaves a trail of blue mist in its shadow, but only I can see it - the rage inside of me quiets significantly and I don’t know why. The willer nervously breaks his stand-still by slowly looking down to glance at his crystal. His mouth gapes a bit as the realization hits him. His source of power is now just a rock.

“How…” he wonders aloud…What in the hells are you?-” he asks. I blink him to sleep. I blink his partner to sleep as well, though I don’t know when or if he’ll be waking up. He’s alive at least.

They’re both alive - I did it...I didn’t kill anyone.

I take a deep breath and sigh in great relief.

And this power! Haha, I haven’t eaten mana from a crystal in…I don’t even remember - I almost forgot how…filling it is. I feel amazing. I could tear this place down brick by brick and not break a sweat. Alright, excitement will have to wait. I gotta get the hell out of here - but not before finding out why I’m here to begin with.

What first?

>>
No. 211987 ID: 0b2a05

Nice job. What's your name, anyway? Push them into a corner and shut the door, look out into the hall.
>>
No. 211993 ID: 788388

yeah scry up a quick map of the area. no point in rushing things.
>>
No. 211995 ID: 70d9eb

>>211987
Its name is Wedgie.

Scry just outside the door to see if there's anything outside and just run out there if there's nothing. If there's two ways to go, make one end of the hallway slippery and run the other way.
>>
No. 212001 ID: a594b9

>>211985
Heal your tail. Use... uh, 'healthy' for that? Then... the guard you manhandled? 'Awake' him so you can interrogate him.

Also, take off your blindfold. Intimidating as it may be to keep wearing it, you're burning mana by seeing through it.
>>
No. 212008 ID: dad664

>>211985
You appear to be a mana-eater.

Do you have any knowledge of beasts that eat mana?
>>
No. 212009 ID: 70d9eb

>>212001
Its tail is normally like that.
If we awaken the guard we might end up getting false information or just wasting time if they're not very pliable. We don't know when anyone will be back, we want to roll with the element of surprise as best we can.
>>
No. 212146 ID: c71597

>>211985
Find another human to ask some questions. Use magic to make them tell you the truth.
>>
No. 212176 ID: 67c611

Rust the chains off and walk out like nothing happened. Don't bother with explanations. Sleep anyone who tries to stop you.
>>
No. 212188 ID: 99988a

How about a pair of pants? You'll have to make a tail hole of course.
>>
No. 212309 ID: bc1727
File 12801038868.jpg - (149.85KB , 807x581 , 1-13.jpg )
212309

>>211993
>>211995

Right, a map. Here I go - Oh… Well, it’s definitely bigger than I expected. I know what everyone was focused on at the moment I saw them. I also see my target.

>>211987
>>211995

That’s way more careful than I need to be at this point.

>Interrogate
>Don’t interrogate

There’s only one person here I have any interest in talking to, and he’s the red dot on the second floor.

>>212176
>>212188
>>212001

These shackles are heavy and uncomfortable, but they’re improvised armor and better weapons than nothing. As for pants…as much as I hate being naked, I’ll pass on stripping someone to get them. I noticed a locker room on the first floor. That can be a priority after I pay Mister Mattani a visit. Sneaking in and out of places with nothing is what all my training has been for…This isn’t what I had in mind, but I have the advantage and then some.

Hm, this isn’t my blindfold. Mine is much bigger than this. I’m not sure why they didn’t just leave it on. I guess it’s just their procedure. Why would I take it off, though? I barely got out of that last situation without killing anyone. Any eye-cover keeps me calm...Usually. The last thing I need is to go into a rage and kill the guy I’m trying to get information from. Besides, I have mana to burn.


>>212008

I can do it because I’m half dragon. I’ve never met another like me, but to say that there couldn’t possibly be anyone else would just be me lying to myself. There are much better times for me to be thinking about this, though - it’s safe to say that no one in this human compound have half the abilities I do, and that’s what matters.

Anyway, I surveyed my surroundings. It’s time to move. Where to first?

>>
No. 212311 ID: f5c8dc

hmmm... that human in the other cell is interesting. perhaps he can be a temporary ally.
>>
No. 212313 ID: 0b2a05

...Amazingly I'm going to say go without him, first check the small room filled with stuff nearby the cells, then go to the room upstairs.
>>
No. 212316 ID: 67c611

>>212309
Holy shit are you fucking kidding me? You pulled up a map with which doors are locked and peoples' fields of vision?

Oh, sorry, right, objectives. Walk out. Don't bother with the three guys in the side room. Take out the two doors seperating you from what appears to be a security checkpoint. Do whatever you want with them. Skip the stairs to the boss. Bust out the window straight in front of you and climb up to the second story and smash in a window and enter. That lets you bypass 2 locked doors and 1 person.
>>
No. 212321 ID: c717de

>>212316
a giant commotion is not what we need. someone could hit an alert button and send out an SOS and then we have a huge group on our ass.
>>
No. 212324 ID: e8c549

First check on the other cell room with inmate. Then go to the first unlocked room and take care of those guards and take the lift up. If it doesn't cause too much of a commotion it could be the most quiet way to the boss.
>>
No. 212326 ID: 70d9eb

>>212316
I would say do this except seal the unlocked door to the side room you pass shut to be safe, along with the locked door past the two humans you'll run into.
Deal with the humans by sleeping them, preferably from outside the room if you can do that.
You can prevent any commotion with a mute when you break open the glass. When you get to your target, grab him and hurl yourself out of the window you came in, making the spot you land on the ground softer. Or just land on him, it's only the second floor after all. Enchant yourself with speed again and get out of there with him, you can interrogate him somewhere safer.
>>
No. 212423 ID: a594b9

>>212316
Climbing in through the window is an ace plan, and I support it.

I am quite curious as to why there's a human prisoner here, though. We should go see who it is first.
>>
No. 212560 ID: a14ff9

It looks like we can either head up the stairs or take the room next to the cells which leads to a lift to the main hall.

Go to the door before the stairs and scry inside. Find out what kind of room that is.
>>
No. 212566 ID: 20801a

Can you do that at will or is it draining? Certainly give us the advantage.

Ok, I'm assuming a locked door isn't going to slow you down much, so you can make a beeline straight for your target and you'll only need to encounter two people. Looks like they are watching television so you may be able to sneak right on by using that silence magic.

But it looks like there's a prisoner down the hallway. It'd certainly make it difficult to get through quietly, but you could probably save them.
>>
No. 212568 ID: 70d9eb

If the prisoner is someone you know bring them along with you, otherwise leave them.
>>
No. 213195 ID: bc1727
File 128033719426.jpg - (232.93KB , 665x797 , 1-14.jpg )
213195

>Human prisoner?

Whoever it is, they are in a cell with no field of vision - out cold, blindfolded or both. It only makes sense that they’re a prisoner here, but I can’t explain why the place is so empty. I can only guess this is a slave trade operation - maybe every other slave was sold...Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out.

>>212316
>>212566

Heh, I guess I have come a long way in scrying. When my consciousness passes through a door I can tell if it’s locked or not without looking twice; a far cry from barely being able to get a crude understanding of my surroundings in the same 5 to 10 minutes of scrying - if even that. The field of vision thing is really only useful for me to know where that person may have been headed. It still takes a while to scan the area, so it’s not like I can instantly update where everyone is. Ugh, come to think of it, I forgot to check for items and places of interest - I guess I’m showing my stress...I’m not used to being captured like this. Oh well, my maps will never be perfect anyway - I glazed over a few empty bathrooms and forgot where they were. That bunker to the right was definitely much bigger than this map makes it out to be and had more vehicles in it. A lot of things will change as I actually get up to them in person.

Fortunately this isn’t a mission - I just want info, clothes and I can move from there. Nothing I find in here would be of any help to me, so checking every broom closet is pointless. Even if I found a gun, I’d never use it, so it’s okay that I didn’t search for them to begin with. When I get out of here I can worry about fine-tuning how I make my mental maps. With a little tweaking they’d be a much greater advantage for me.

Anyway...


>>212560
>>212324
>>212316

[i]So either stairs or lift for the basement, then either stairs or window for the first floor. Well, I’m closer to the lift, so I’ll take a look there first. If I see an exploitable time to move, I’ll do that. Otherwise I’ll bust through the three security doors and take out the guards. A bit of a pain, but I’m raring to use some of this power.[\i]
>>
No. 213196 ID: bc1727
File 128033723351.jpg - (268.66KB , 1004x800 , 1-15.jpg )
213196

>>212566

The closest guarded room to me is, judging by what I’ve seen, the room where slaves would be taken in and out - I’d find it hard to believe that they just bring them through the front door. The security checkpoint ahead is a surveillance room. It seems like the cells themselves aren’t monitored, but I’d bet the hallway is. I can deal with that.

I take a deep breath and a moment to mentally prepare for my next move, and then I get to work. I scry the hall from behind the cover of the door. I see what seems to be a camera and I carve a rune of darkness over it. In a calm, steady pace, I exit my cell to a few doors down.

This is it...oh.

The door is locked, so I pass a spherical mana field straight through the mechanism and superheat it - it punches a perfectly circular hole through the lock. Asides from the sound of some popping components, it’s a quiet entry.

On any other day, brute force magic would be a waste, but boy is it fun when I have the stuff to burn!

Surprisingly, the prisoner looks up at me. Well...towards me.

“You’re not my captor...” the human girl says in a low, timid voice. She seems to think for a moment, but it’s hard to read. “Tell me we’re escaping!” her voice begins to rise. “Oh, gods we’re going to be free soon! Did everyone else get out alright!? I don’t understand, I didn’t hear a thing! What happened?” she says, struggling against her chains.

...
>>
No. 213197 ID: bc755f

>>213196
First off, tell her she needs to be quiet. If she makes too much noise, she may draw attention.
>>
No. 213200 ID: a594b9

>>213196
Is she blind? Magically or naturally? We should be able to get her out of here easily in either case. She can follow along in your wake as you disable guards and escape. She doesn't have to do anything except stay out of your way and keep out of sight. You might have to lead her by the hand if she doesn't have any magic ability though...

Tell her to be quiet; if she seems to be a jabbermouth you can just Mute her.

Oh, and watch out; the men in the surveillance room will have realized something's wrong when their camera went dark. Expect guards to come check on it.
>>
No. 213216 ID: 8bdb6a

Tell her to wait and be quiet. You'll be back to rescue her.

Run in through the only available green door and disable all the dudes inside. It's probably a security station and you can use it to open doors without having to waste mana.
>>
No. 213228 ID: 0b2a05

She's human, she can't have magic, right?

Ask her if she can maneuver by herself.
>>
No. 213233 ID: 732129

Break her shackles and collar. Tell her that they already moved everyone else, that the only prisoners left are just you and her right now, and that escape is the priority. Ask her name and give yours.
>>
No. 213236 ID: e5618d

You need to make this girl realize that she needs to shut her hole. Ask her what happened, etc.
>>
No. 213259 ID: a7a85a

Yes, ask her for the most abridged possible story of why she's here and possibly why you're here. Be calm but stern to imply the need for brevity.

After that tell her to keep quite and behind you if her freedom is important to her.
>>
No. 213267 ID: 530d5a

ether all the others were sold or the men here 'forgot' to sell her. she is currently desperate and will probably cling to you, at least hasn't been broken though.
>>
No. 213286 ID: 9f5a08

>>213196
You're going to have to respond now since she's aware of your presence. Normally I'd recommend making her stay put until you've finished your business but the situation calls for a different approach. Leaving her in the cell will work against you if someone comes by to patrol, what with the lock being broken.

As far as what to do with the girl, well, verify that she's competent enough to move and move silently. Explain your intentions--you're going after someone, the saving people thing is secondary (unless that's also your perogative). If she's too much of a risk then put her to sleep. Having to look after her as well is too much of a risk given the circumstances and leaving her conscious of your presence but left locked up could mean her broadcasting your recent freedom.

If you have to keep her in the cell, can you repair the lock? Better that than burning mana to power through conflict you could avoid otherwise due to extra baggage.
>>
No. 213290 ID: e973f4

>>213196
If you haven't got any personal objections to the concept, I guess you might as well help her. :V
>>
No. 213342 ID: 67c611

Is she going to be an asset or a liability? Oh who am I kidding? Nobody here puts their own survival ahead of the survival of others. Whatever. If you decide to rescue her tell her to shut the fuck up and stay hidden.

If she were anywhere near as powerful as you she would have broken out by now. So she's a weakness. You are going to have to babysit her to make sure she doesn't die. Just like the followers in Fallout 3. Damnit Jericho if you die again I swear to god I'm not reloading the game to get you back. All you do is slow me down, attract the enemy's attention, and die constantly. We don't need a Jericho on our team.
>>
No. 213350 ID: 70d9eb

>>213196
Rust her chains off and tell her to stay quiet and stay behind you. If she isn't prompt about following your orders put her to sleep and move on.
>>
No. 214122 ID: bc1727
File 128055723431.jpg - (57.63KB , 522x262 , 1-15-2.jpg )
214122

>>213216
>>213197
>>213200
>>213228
>>213233
>>213236
>>213259
>>213267
>>213286
>>213290

It seems as though a million thoughts echo through my mind, but not one tells me what I could possibly say. My heart sinks; I do what I always do in situations like these.

I move to her side and free her from her shackles without a single word. I keep alert for sounds of any guards that might have gotten suspicious - I hear nothing.

“You’re not human...” she says, her voice lowering. Her head drops. “They didn’t get away... Did they?...” her face turns towards me, but her eyes focus on nothing. I see now why they didn’t bother to secure her as well as they did me.

“Stay quiet and stay close to me. Can you do this?” I say quickly, clearly and without emotion.

“Oh, s-sorry,” she responds meekly. Tears stream freely down her face. My heart sinks further. “I can do that.”

Gods, I broke her. Why am I so terrible at this?!

Sensing a lingering, but mostly faded sleep spell on her, I quickly go to work canceling it.

“Your strength should have returned. Move,” I say.

She slowly stands, but braces herself against the wall. Some relief comes to her face - I’m glad to see it.

“Thank you - whatever you did, I feel a little better. I’m just...so weak. I bet they didn’t feed you either, did they?” she asks quietly. I simply shake my head no - forgetting for a moment that she’s blind. “No,” I reply.

I’m hungry too, but she must have been here much longer than me...

>Ask for her (abridged) story.

No...now isn’t the time. I’m really not good with words anyway...it’s best I stay quiet and professional...
>>
No. 214123 ID: bc1727
File 128055734745.jpg - (175.04KB , 980x581 , 1-16.jpg )
214123

While I move towards the door she calls out to me. When I stop, she cuts herself off and freezes, as if suddenly unsure of herself.

“Wait, I - ...What is your name? I’m Cris,” she eventually asks, finally departing from her wall.

“...Wedgie. Enough questions - Stay in this spot until I call for you,” I respond. I pass through the door. I still hear nothing.

Cris follows awkwardly with her hands out until she finds the doorframe where I was standing. I wait until she does to move further.

“Wedg- really...?” she says under her breath. Although she looks utterly confused by my answer, she abides by my request for silence.

Hm, that could be a problem. What could I get to make this easier for her? I doubt there’s a cane lying around...Oh well. Wait...of course!

I turn and approach her. She doesn’t seem to react.

“Do you want to see? It wouldn’t be permanent,” I ask her, point blank.

She seems unfazed by the question. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

“I’m blindfolded, but I can still see without my eyes - I’m scrying my surroundings. I can do the same for you, but the spell won’t last forever. Do you want to see? ” I repeat. She stares ahead blankly; I can’t read her expression.

“Do it, please,” she says, without hesitation. I imbue her with mana and enchant it with sight.

I hope she can control it. Even for someone without the talent, it shouldn’t be that hard...
>>
No. 214125 ID: bc1727
File 128055753860.jpg - (272.91KB , 1032x594 , 1-17.jpg )
214125

I can’t immediately tell if it worked or not, but she parts ways with the door frame. Her head turns rapidly from side to side and her arms drop to her sides. She turns to face her cell. I can hear her breathing become more rapid. She swings around and faces me. I can see her mouth words, but she isn’t saying anything. She steps up and puts her hands to my face abruptly, but gently - as if by instinct. I don’t react. She examines my face with her hands, then she caresses my cheek.

“I’m...sorry. All I’ve ever had...All I ever knew of a person’s face was touch...” she pauses. “You’re so beautiful...Is-is this what I’ve been missing?”

...

I feel her try to lift my blindfold. “Why on earth are you wearing this? Let me see your eyes!” she says, excitement returning to her voice. I grab her wrist. She gasps.

“Enough. Let’s go,” I say. She looks down; embarrassed but still smiling.

“Right...I’ll be waiting.”

I finally leave her at the door frame and proceed with my plan, but now I’m distracted. I seriously wonder if that was a good idea. But that’s not all I’m distracted by...

...Beautiful?
>>
No. 214126 ID: 4d81ad

yes, you are beautiful, but too many humans are blinded by hatred to see that. ironically a blind girl could see you more clearly then they.

and it was a good enough idea. as long as she stays quiet and follows your directions she should be no trouble.

now let's go knock out/ maim some more guards.
>>
No. 214134 ID: c00244

>>214125
Call me foolish, but I'd want to check B2 for anything interesting before moving past the guards. Also discover what the small room at the end of the cell hallway is. It should only take a short while to go glance over there, you can rust through the door hinges or something with mana to get through without a problem and little power loss.

After that, beeline for the security office, take out everyone in your way as fast as you can hit them so that no one is behind you. Then retrieve prisoner girl and take the lift up.
>>
No. 214135 ID: e3f578

>>214125
Yeah yeah kindness and shit is what she mostly cares about. Also, she probably likes your exotic figure if you want to go in a literal sense.

Obligatory you have a great ass comment is probably going to happen. Choose whatever belief you want. Inner self, the exoticism, or the ass. Still keep moving forward, maybe go into B2 since to see if we can find some clothes of some sort, at least for the girl. She's probably more embarrassed or bothered by her nudity than you are. It looks like a storage room and there aren't any people in there.
>>
No. 214140 ID: 0b2a05

You're pretty beautiful, from everything we've seen. Kindly remind her that as wonderful as sight is, you still need to get out of here now.
>>
No. 214142 ID: 8bdb6a

Attack the guard house, through the unlocked door. Hopefully you can open more doors from there without having to waste even more magic.
>>
No. 214144 ID: e8c549

>>214135
Yeah.. a normally blind person embarrassed by nudity and with an opinion on body shape. Makes total sense.

Anyway, leave the girl there until you can secure the closest room and then bunny-hop with her from place to place when all is clear. May as well not leave her completely behind.
>>
No. 214160 ID: 445c48

Kiss her, you fool.


No I'm kidding, remember to find some extra clothes for her though
>>
No. 214164 ID: a594b9

Clothes can wait. Escape is the first priority.

You two are an interesting pair... One who chooses to be robbed of sight, and one who longs for it.
>>
No. 214287 ID: a14ff9

Ordinarily I'd say the slave-handling room would be less dangerous but if they can see us blanking the cameras we should head through security and disable it before an alert can be raised. Taking the lift might also be a huge liability here.
>>
No. 214308 ID: 70d9eb

>>214144
That is completely normal for a normally blind person. They still want to look good and are embarrassed by nudity, being blind doesn't change that.
Clothes are not a priority, you would need to go out of your way or strip someone to get them. And she thinks you're beautiful, I'm sure she would want you to go without clothes.
Now that you have someone to protect slowing you down it will probably be best to take out that security office through the unlocked door. Sleep seems like a good way to disable them, especially if you can do it from a distance. If possible, unlock the doors you intend to go through and lock every other door from the security room. When you're ready to take the lift go pick up your new buddy and mute then break a window leading outside, telling her to wait against the wall for you to come for her so no one spots her from a window. You can pick her up when you grab the target and bail out of the window, imbuing your limbs with mana.
>>
No. 214315 ID: c4c313
File 128061428334.jpg - (76.79KB , 807x581 , directApproach.jpg )
214315

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say check out B2 before going on. You should have a few minutes before anyone notices your guard is missing, and it looks like there's a bunch of stuff down there. Maybe clothesbetter armor!

After that, first right and take out those two humans. If you wake up the third guy he should still be in his pajamas, so easy to just sleep. One of them should have a key to the door that leads to the lift. If you can operate the lift (maybe the girl can) then get yourself up to ground floor. Immediately go out the window to the left, and scale the wall, busting in the window on the second floor, where only an unlocked door stands between you and your target.
>>
No. 214409 ID: 2131c2

Don't think to hard on her calling you beautiful. She's probably been blind most of her life (if not all), and to a blind person any color is beautiful. I imagine to her you've given her quite the gift by allowing her to see for a while.

While I think scaling a wall is more risky than we should be doing, no matter what the longer term plan is the first goal is to take out the security station. They'll know something is up and raise an alert if blacked out a camera, so you should make it a priority to move to the security room quickly and incapacitate the guards there.

I can't tell from the scry which is the security room. The unlocked one on the right looks like a break room, but there are things that look like monitors. The one up the stairs behind the locked door looks like a security, and there are two people watching what looks like a console, but that might be a television.
>>
No. 215317 ID: bc1727
File 128088286368.png - (537.32KB , 1410x621 , 1-20.png )
215317

>>214126
>>214135
>>214140
>>214144
>>214160
>>214164
>>214409

My mind races - I move down the hall to the corner, but my thoughts continue to buzz. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself.

…Okay, focus. Focus.

>Check B2

Didn’t I already decide to move forward? I’ll never get anywhere if I don’t make a plan and stick with it.

>Security room
>Slave Handling room
>Lift

I’d really like to take the lift if possible - better cover, but once I really start disabling every camera I come across, those security guards will start getting suspicious. For the lift to make any sense, I need to avoid the security room without fooling with the cameras.

>>214315

Hmm, it’s really tempting to just get straight to Mattani’s office like that but for all I know there’s a busy street right outside - Scaling the building would definitely make a scene. I could just say “fuck it” and area sleep the whole building. That’d burn through all this mana I managed to get my hands on, though…

Wait - that gives me an idea I think will solve all my problems at once. I'll have to thank that human for his crystal's power later. Hehe.


I carve a rune to blink myself invisible to natural sight. When the rune fades, I proceed unhindered down the hall to the slave transfer station. Luckily, keeping on task seems to put my mind at ease somewhat. I begin to hear unintelligible yelling as I reach the room. The sound seems as though it has to pass through several walls to get to me. As I peer through the glass of the sliding-door, I notice only one of the humans that were present before. He fills out paperwork; a pair of headphones drowning out the distant ruckus as he works.

Lucky me - there must be a distraction back there. Whatever I’m going to do, now’s the time.
>>
No. 215318 ID: 969e74

>>215307

I hope that distraction isn't your new friend.
>>
No. 215321 ID: 0b2a05

Put him to sleep, make it look like he nodded off.

Make sure the human isn't seen by the cameras.
>>
No. 215340 ID: a594b9

Could you modify the camera feeds so that they repeat the same footage of... nothing happening? Then you could just leave the cameras on, and nobody would ever know that something was wrong.
>>
No. 215364 ID: 67c611

Are you familiar with the blood choke? It doesn't cost any mana.
>>
No. 215431 ID: f16b80

Best quest.
>>
No. 216002 ID: bc1727
File 128114950079.png - (242.54KB , 1022x458 , 1-21.png )
216002

>>215321

Done.

His body slumps over - My hand is waiting to catch his forehead. I gently lower him to his desk in hopes that it seems like he passed out from exhaustion. Hopefully no one was looking closely. Patting him down uncovers a set of keys, some gum, what seems to be a few scraps of note paper and a pen; I recall with disappointment that there was a card reader by the lift.

Damn, he was useless. Now what?

The persistent yelling escalates between the two men in the back room - the men’s restroom if I remember correctly. I begin to feel as though I did this man a favor, putting him to sleep.

>>215340

I probably could if I had access to the security feed, but I already decided to avoid the security checkpoint.

>>215318

I suddenly get a bad, albeit unlikely feeling that Cris could somehow be in trouble. With some difficulty, I try to push my worries to the back of my mind for the time being - I have work to do.
>>
No. 216007 ID: 0b2a05

Can you scry her really fast, make sure your fears are unjustified?
>>
No. 216008 ID: 70d9eb

Will you be able to make Cris invisible as well when you need to get through here with her?

You're going to have to check out the bathroom with the two guards. Bathroom's unlikely to have cameras so you don't have to be as careful, you could sleep one while you blood choke the other to save a bit of mana. Drop him once he goes limp and you won't kill him.

If neither of them has a card for the lift we might be in a bit of trouble, but if they do we can go grab Cris, make her invisible, and bring her to the female bathroom to hide and wait while we clear the next portion.
>>
No. 216034 ID: a594b9

>>216002
Hm. Scry a little to see what they're yelling about.
>>
No. 216039 ID: 49a137

>>216008
We might be able to magically carry our voice to the appropriate place for her to hear it, without needed to backtrack personally. If a ventriloquist can throw their voice across the room, we can throw ours down a couple corridors, around some beds, and through a couple doors. Because we're awesome.
>>
No. 216516 ID: bc1727
File 128133265864.png - (369.33KB , 768x1024 , 1-22.png )
216516

>>216007

The feeling of dread grows in the back of my mind, but I try to focus.

>>216008
>If neither of them has a card for the lift…

There’s only one way to find out.

While maneuvering around a desk to reach the restroom door, one of my chains collide with it causing a loud rattle - It doesn’t slow me down, but the once rowdy conversation abruptly lowers to a hush - not a good sign.

Oops.

Not particularly concerned by the threat of two confused humans, I enter anyway. I pass into a small hub, complete with flowery paintings lining the walls prior to the bathrooms proper. As the argument seems to escalate again, I shake my head with a sigh; they are perhaps not as perceptive as I had given them credit for. With a deep breath, I prepare to enter.

I flash my consciousness in and out of the bathroom to get a basic idea of the enemy layout and shove my way through the door. The two males cry out in cowardly unison as the door swings open. Their unexpected outcry even gives me pause; a deathly silence falls upon the men’s restroom.

“W-who the…Who’s there? C-can’t you tell we’re busy in here!? Use the other lavatory!” the angry man brusquely orders towards the door. I recognize his voice as belonging to the primary agitator of whatever argument was previously being held here. The other human speaks up as well, obviously taking the chance to lighten the prior mood with a nervous chuckle, “It…it’s gotta be the guys messing with u-”

“Shut up! Don’t you hear that?!” the first one interrupts with a dismissive raise of his hand.

I approach my now fearful quarry, but my chains loudly object to my stealthy approach.

The angry man’s face goes pale and he presses himself against the tiles of the back wall…I slow my pace and ominously advance.

“Fuck! What - what the Hells is…You hear that too, don’t you!? Tell me you hear that!” the angry man wails pathetically. “I hear it! I hear it…” the other man yelps with exasperation, seemingly more afraid of his superior than of my ghastly approach. That seems to change as I draw ever nearer - their whimpers become more shamelessly panicked as I go. When I am within reach, I stop. I hear their breathing halt in comical unison.

I snatch the angry man from the protection of his wall and pull him into a stranglehold. He appears to be dragged towards the exit by an invisible force, straining out what cries for help he can all the while. The other man stays frozen, mouth agape. By the time I am midway through the room, the human can no longer hold back his flight response and the darts for the door, almost flying into a stall in the process. I trip him with the thick of my tail and order him in no uncertain terms, “Don’t. Move.”

He remains trembling on the unsanitary floor, hands covering his head. I drag the angry man from the bathroom, laying him against a wall of the hub when he loses consciousness. I then return to finish the job - His cohort hasn’t moved a muscle since he fell. I grab him by the collar of his shirt and hoist him off the ground. His eyes go wide with terror and he squirms helplessly against my grip. Needing him to answer my questions, I drop my guise; I am now visible again.

“Y-you’re not!” he gasps. “I-I’m sorry! Please don’t hurt me! I just escaped a city with my family - The…We had nothing! This was the only job I could find and it paid enough to get us back on our feet! I know I should have turned it down anyway; I hate the idea of human trafficking! If you let me go I swear I won’t work here anymore…I was just about to get fired anyway! Whatever you are, please don’t kill me!” he blubbers all in one breath.

“Enough!” I raise my voice for a moment. He goes silent. “Where is the key to the lift?” I ask steadily.

“I-it…My s-supervisor has it! I mean, he’s in charge of it - if he doesn’t have it on him it’s in his desk, I swear! It’s a red card!” he says. That is all I needed to know. I blink him to sleep and shove him into a stall. As I return to his supervisor, I breathe a single sigh of a relief that I don’t have to listen to any more of that. Unfortunately, however…

Egh, it’s not on him.

I restore my invisible state and return to the slave transfer room. I deduce that the supervisor’s desk is probably the one with the computer terminal - overlooking that, one of the drawers finally yield a red card-key.

This must be it. Let’s give it a try…

I swipe the card through a reader on the door to the lift hallway. The light turns green for a several seconds and goes red again when I choose not to open the door. I let a pleased smile slip.

One step closer to getting the hells out of this place.
>>
No. 216518 ID: bc1727
File 128133293678.png - (153.09KB , 969x712 , 1-23.png )
216518

I return to the room where I left Cris…Oh. My heart sinks for a moment, but I try to keep calm.

Please be okay. She couldn’t have gotten far and even if she was captured, they wouldn’t hurt her, right? Nothing to worry about.

I search deeper down the hall, lowering my invisibility having re-entered the hallway with the disabled camera. The hall dips down into a stairwell, which thankfully is also a dead-end. Cris is there.

“I told you not to move,” I say.

“Sorry...you disappeared and I wasn’t sure what was going on. When you didn’t come back I started to explore a little. I’ll stay still next time, okay? Hey, what do you think is behind here?” she responds. I sigh.

It’s a good thing I took that camera out of commission…

I notice the door is locked with another card reader. Since I’m here, I swipe my card to satisfy the relentless bombardment of curiosity that I had prior resolved to resist. The reader’s light turns green and I go in. We descend into the lower basement level to a large, dark storage room.
>>
No. 216519 ID: bc1727
File 128133297729.png - (347.03KB , 847x568 , 1-24.png )
216519

“What in the world are those things?” Cris asks in amazement. “Cages. Probably what they brought us in with,” I respond, scanning the room for anything remotely useful - nope. Cris quickly loses her sense of wonder and frowns.

“How could those people do this to us? We were…” she pauses. Her fists clench tightly. “The world would be better off if this place just burned to the ground…” she says, her voice edging off and becoming tense.

Should I say something? …No, I’ll just make it worse if I do.

“Let’s go. There’s nothing useful in here,” I say while turning to leave.

“Yeah…” she responds and follows me out. “If I see nothing else, I want it to be the face of the monster responsible for all this,” she says, flatly - but then her expression softens. The door closes behind us with a mechanical whirr. “Thanks to you, I’ve already been able to see the face of an angel,” she smiles weakly. I cringe. My thoughts abuzz, I contemplate a response but can’t form the words.

I’m not an angel to anyone…I don’t deserve those words at all.

I clench my teeth and focus on moving on. I restore my invisibility and draw a rune on Cris as well. She gasps as she fades from visibility. A slight discrepancy in my plan occurs to me…

“Take my hand. If we come across anyone, I’ll take care of them, just do as I say and you’ll be fine,” I say. Fortunately I can still sense her presence through the rune I placed on her and I reach for her hand. “Don’t move. I’m coming to you.”

I take her by the hand and steadily lead her to the lift. In a few moments, we’re inside unhindered. The doors close.

“What will this do?” Cris asks. “I’ll take us up a floor. From there we’ll have to go up the hard way to reach Mattani,” I respond. The lift begins to move.

“How do you know all this…?” she says. “I scryed the building before I left my cell,” I answer again.

“I didn’t even have the slightest idea that magic could do so much,” she says as the lift slows. “Not many do,” I retort.

“You’re amazing.”

The doors open with a ping. I step out with Cris and the lift closes behind us. I can’t help but feel relieved to finally see daylight.

Well, this is it. This’ll probably be my last move before getting some answers out of that human upstairs.

What would be the best way for me to get there with Cris? I can’t forget that I need to use up the rest of this mana too. If I don’t use it soon, it’ll all go to waste - I don’t get the chance to do this often, so I might as well go flashy!

>>
No. 216523 ID: a594b9

Well, there's that dude behind that locked door in the room in front of the stairs. Let's put him to sleep as well... the flashy bit comes when we get upstairs. That guy in the checkpoint? Just disintegrate the door in front of him before putting him to sleep too. Then we can cut the next door in half... scry inside the main dude's office before paralyzing him.

We can use Mute in areas where we are to keep them from hearing any noise.
>>
No. 216525 ID: c4c313
File 128133791914.jpg - (75.47KB , 807x581 , flashy.jpg )
216525

phh, you want flashy? Blow a hole open in the ceiling here, and rise up through the falling debris like an avenging angel. Or demon, whichever you prefer.

Goat boy. c:
>>
No. 216526 ID: 2f0797

Hey... take the angel comment as a compliment. Angels are supposed to be things that cause fear at the very sight of them. Even when bringing good news, they have to tell people to calm the fuck down. Well, they'd probably use better language than me, but there ya go. Those cutesy flying babies aren't what they're supposed to be like.
>>
No. 216530 ID: 70d9eb
File 128134141860.jpg - (88.33KB , 807x581 , map.jpg )
216530

Security is probably keeping an eye on the main entrance, I would leave that guard alone. He probably will stay on that entrance even if you're detected.

With security so close to those windows and almost right below our target we should probably take the stairs, and then go into the unlocked room. Put up a mute spell enveloping the windows on the side of the building with the target, and then break through the window in the unlocked room. Set Cris down on the ground and edge over to the target's room and break in while sleeping him and grabbing him with mana strengthened hands. You'll want to bail out of the window with him and Cris and get to somewhere safer to interrogate him.

Or if you want to be flashy you could blast a hole through the wall to his room instead of going through the unlocked room's window.
>>
No. 216590 ID: 0b2a05

>>216530
Flashy is good, but in this case you should go subtle, at least until you get there. Follow this, though yeah, exploding wall could be good so long as you scry his location again to make sure the debris won't kill him.

...Is that another blind person near the restroom?
>>
No. 216771 ID: dad664

Create an armored suit made of crystallized mana, then outfit it with all manner of Mana-fueled weaponry. Mana-Repulsors in the palms, shoulder-mounted Mana Wave Cannons, Magick-Seeking Mana Missiles, maybe even a Mana Whip.
>>
No. 216772 ID: dad664

>>216771
Oh, and if non-violence is your thing, uhh...I guess the mana boolets could cause a taser effect or something. Nothing lethal, just give them such a shock.
>>
No. 216787 ID: c4c313

>>216771

Woah woah woah he got all this mana from about a crystal the size of a quarter. How's that translate to a full body of armor and weaponry made of the stuff? That'd be enough mana to like, level the city from blinking. Make your armor out of something a little more subtle and classy than crystallized mana.

How about solid diamond.
>>
No. 216806 ID: a594b9

Other options: Timestop, teleportation, and walking through walls. Or levitation.
>>
No. 216840 ID: 9618e3

Flashy might not be responsible when we have a character very dependent on us in tow. Keep playing it safe.

First put the two in the surveillance room to sleep. They seem to be close to the door on this side and it'll give us a lot more freedom to move around.

Next check outside. If it's somewhere Cris can hide and be safe make her wait there while you go back in through the 2F window and jump Mattani from behind.
If the outside is unsafe just go up the stairs and take her with you. There's one more person up there but it looks like it might just be a secretary.
>>
No. 217329 ID: bfa36f

If you are looking for flashy, how about a localized earthquake after you leave. Taking away the place they ran this slavery ring from would be a super smart move.
>>
No. 218659 ID: a594b9

Oh wait, I've got it. You can just bust through the ceiling and come up through the floor.
[Return] [Entire Thread] [Last 50 posts] [Last 100 posts]

Delete post []
Password  
Report post
Reason