>>18859
Put that shit in your pocket.

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)12:23 No. 18876 ID: c01408
File 124906819644.gif - (12.53KB , 800x600 , 274.gif )

Income will flow more steadily when adventurers begin falling within the Vault, when we're able to siege towns, and when my minions begin establishing their own money-making ventures under my purview.

>>18862
>>18863
These questions can be better answered with an introduction of how a Monster Portal actually works.
You see, each Monster Portal is unique, attuned to the area it occupies. On the other side of this fantastic gateway is another realm, a place of holding, where magical and demonic creatures rest and prepare for the time they are called. It is a near-unfathomable dimension, full of horrors and wonders alike.

Creatures summoned out of this dimension are pure soul, bound by magical contract. As such, they require absolutely no monetary or physical compensation, and their loyalty is beyond question. The perfect soldiers.

There are two significant limitations:
First, monsters summoned through the portal require an initial expenditure of MANA, or raw lifeforce, in order to bridge the barrier between worlds. The more powerful the creature, the more mana the summoning ritual will require. After this, however, they require no salary.
More importantly, the portal can only summon types of monsters to which it has been attuned, and this can only be done with the use of imbued MANNIKINS. The mannikins provied the blank template which becomes empowered by the souls that are summoned. A single mannikin can hold untold many creatures of its own type.

>>18876
Make sure to keep a watch out, bossnya~

>>18876
Boss, does that mean that we can only use _one_, unos, Mannikin with our portal? Or can we have several types of Mannikins and use whichever we want at the time?

>>18876
Okay, that is pretty awesome. I assume you need to sacrifice creatures to get Mana? Or is there a less violent way to do it?

And also, what type of Mannikins do we have available? If we can get an Earth Element it would be perfect for setting up our dungeon. A Stone Elemental would dig through rock with ease.

Boss, just wanted ta tell you that this is awesome, and you are awesome. Also quite cute.
Keep that in mind, chief.

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)12:37 No. 18891 ID: c01408
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>>18882
No, of course not. A monster portal can be attuned to any unlimited number of mannikin types. It can just as easily summon Serpents as Elementals, should it be attuned to the necessary materials.

I don't know what types we have available. I'll have to see what Red Fang imbued the Portal with before I start summoning in my loyal minions.

MANA comes in a variety of places. It has been said that any grand act stirs the fabric of being and blesses those present with its power. Mana is also present in certain powerful magical and alchemical items and artifacts. Anything sufficiently arcane and divine will contain at least a faint trace of Mana.
Of course, because it is raw lifeforce, it is also present in every living thing. Upon shattering the bond any soul has with the mortal coil, that Mana is freed.

In short, I can stockpile Mana any time I rend a Mana source, do something amazing, or kill something.
Seems simple enough.

>>18891
You can stockpile it? Did you get any when you killed Red Fang? That was lethal AND amazing.

>>18891
That's good boss. Do we already have any Mana in store? Killing Red Fang was pretty amazing, boss. You should totally have gotten Mana for that.

(wordfiltered xp to mana)

>>18889
>ID: fb5d8e
Take it to WeaveReaveQuest, dude :|

Sounds like we need to attract affluent adventurers rather than, say, the kind who spend all of their cash on equipment and then get it banged up (IE: we and every other adventurer ever).

Should we advertise?

>>18911
Let's see about summoning some minions first.

Then we'll kidnap a princess and kill all the plumbers that try to rescue her. Plumbers are loaded with coins.

By "advertise," I of course mean "very visibly send monsters out to raid."

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)13:09 No. 18933 ID: c01408
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Normally, Mana is a less than tangible concept except in the hands of the proper diviners.

But with my compartmentalized mind, it's easy to make a mental summary of the Mana I've accumulated.

>>18933
Seems servicable. Let's wait till Finesse gets the portal back up and running, the little dear. She certainly seems the most capable of your current minions.

What will your duties be, Muschio? Certainly you can't just sit around in Red Fang's room all the time.

>>18933
Meaningless until we get an idea of the 'prices' of summonings.

I think we have a pretty good run-down at the moment. Give Finesse the gem. Also... Whoops. We should have bought a pillow while in Sepia town.

Lets get that crystal back to Finesse, she will be ever so happy with it~

>>18933
Hmm, boss, can any mana type be combined with any mannikin? If so, we have a lot of options, don't we boss?
It seems we have a lot of pain mana, boss. Is that from our run-in with the spear trap or killing the old occupants?

>>18933
Got a lot of luck and pain mana there, boss.
I'm not looking forward to getting more of that after all those stabbings we received.

This is outrageous! Only 1 for mind?! According to this we've just been getting by on our luck and an ability to ignore pain!

>>18943
Well... yes?

>>18935
We can if we are going to practice our evil laugh.

>>18933
Ahahaha! Pain. Pain is just weakness leaving the body, right?
I wonder what we could do with Mana entirely created from pain?
...
Speaking of which, does it matter at all what kind of Mana we get?
That is to say, would the creatures we summon be at all effected by having only the usage of Pain Mana, as opposed to Luck or Mind?
Would it alter their form? Their powers? Would we be limited to certain types? This is the sort of ponderance that could drastically change how we do things.

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)13:24 No. 18957 ID: c01408
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I re-enter and make my way to the monster room, where I'm sure Finesse must be repairing the portal. But as soon as I step into the antechamber, Babrakus emerges from the storage room, beckoning me excitedly.

>"Boss! Hey, Boss, welcome back! C'mere, I gotta show you somethin'!"

>>18957
Well, ok, Babrakus. But show more respect next time please.

>>18957
Uh-oh, bad vibes boss, bad vibes.
We need to get on top of this before it blows.

>>18957
Follow him with the hope that it's his penis.

>>18959
What do you mean, he called us Boss! The man is fine.

Follow the boldling, see what he has to show us.

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)13:31 No. 18963 ID: c01408
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Babrakus leads me into the storeroom, where a small carpenter's workshop has been constructed in the corner.

>"Look, I built this as you was out! Not bad, huh?"

>Babrakus has constructed SMALL CARPENTRY SHOP.
>Babrakus will generate a small continuous income in the form of TRADE GOODS.
>Muschio can now buy furniture and wooden items from Babrakus at a very low commission!

>>18963
Congratulate him, Boss. He's earned it.

>>18963
Service him sexually in reward for a job well down.

>>18963
Fantastic, income already!
That guy needs a pat on the back, boss.

Praise him for his innitiative and craftsman ship, we want to keep morality high!

then ask him where our Finesse is~

>>18963
Sweet! Compliment your minion - this was exceptional initiative!

(Note to self: beware of initiative, this could lead to trouble down the line.)

>>18963
Congratulate Babrakus on his construction work and his initiative. He's done something good and deserves praise. He should also get to work at first convenience to start making goods.

Also talk to Finesse and give her the gem. Hope that she's not doing anything weird with Tislomer.

>>18963
Oh. Well.. that's very nice, actually.
Granted, we'll probably want something a little more regal than kobold crafts for our boss room, once we're rolling in dough.
But for now, it's a nice start. And some form of income is always good.
Compliment the kobold! He shows good, loyal initiative.

>>18969
Excellent work. I say we start with a bed. Just as soon as we can figure out a place to put it.

...Say. Did we ever figure out what the grated passage in the ceiling of the antechamber is for?

>we want to keep morality high!
inigomontoya.jpg

Excellent work, Babrakus. I'll want to inspect this later in detail, but right now I must see Finesse. Again, excellent work.

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)13:55 No. 18993 ID: c01408
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I congratulate Babrakus on his success and compliment his initiative. He seems genuinely flattered.
>"Gee thanks boss. Just doin' what I do."

I briefly consider buying a bed, but it can wait. Asking the carpenterbold, he informs me Finesse is in the other room, working on the portal, as I had suspected.

I enter to find her kneeling and chipping at a runic band running down the Portal's stand. She notices me and wipes the beads of perspiration off her forehead.

>"Welcome home, Master. Good timing. Just putting the finishing touches on this thing."

>>18993
Good work, Finesse. You are a model goblin. Please, take this gemstone for the portal.

>>18993
Say, "I've a finishing touch of my own," and produce the gem.

"I trust the experience did not disappoint?"

Hand over the portal gem and watch the lightshow that's bound to happen once this thing's complete.

>>18993
Excellent, Finesse. You've made very good time. You'll be happy to know I've managed to procure a Portal Gem for our use. *give it to her*

>>18993
Produce portal gem.
Doodle a penis on the chalkboard while she is busy with that.
Leave.

... Did somebody redraw the chalkboard?

Look at her, boss. She's so gentle and hardworking. She'd make a perfect wife, a perfect queen to your empire.
Maybe not right now.. Maybe not tomorrow.. But don't let her out of your sight. She might become your greatest treasure yet.

>>18993
"My my, you certainly look... Hot."
*Point fingers at her like guns while wearing sunglasses and grinning*

>>18993
She looks absolutely exhausted! That poor girl. Once she's installed the gem, tell her to take a breather. Be sure to compliment her. She's really outdone herself!
... after she's installed the gem, of course.

>>19001
>>19002
NO SIR. NO SEX WITH GOBLINS. YOU'LL CATCH SOMETHING.

>>18993
Didn't we clean off the chalkboard already?

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)14:14 No. 19015 ID: c01408
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>"Did you get the piece?"

I hand over the Portal Gem with a flourish.
"But of course."

Her normally deadpan deadpan breaks for the first time into something more excitable. She turns the gem over in her non-antitropic hands manipulating it with care.

A building, wicked laughter shakes from the Tinker as her eyes seem to glaze.

>"Ohhh ho ho ho ho ho... oh Master, you've really made my day. I'm going to power this thing up right now!"

>>19015
Whoa, steady girl.

>>19015
She's so cute when she's acting all Mad Scientist.
It compliments our megalomania nicely, don't you think?

>>19015
*DRAWN OUT INSANE LAUGHTER*

>>19015
>"Ohhh ho ho ho ho ho... oh Master"
"say that again"

>>19015
Well, we know what gets HER gears grinding now.
Stay around to cackle.

>>19015
Struggle with building sexual tension

>>19024
>Acquire AWKWARD BONER

"Finesse, can you construct us a beam weapon with which I could write upon the moon in letters of arcane fire? Would you like to try?"

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)14:30 No. 19036 ID: c01408
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That exchange left me feeling a little uncomfortable, but I can't place exactly why.

Finesse sets the gem in the portal base and it immediately begins to swirl with arcane energy as the runes come to life.

Through the crackling vortex of ethereal energy, Finesse laughs with a very pleased-sounding tone, rubbing her palms together and watching the magical display with wide eyes.

[animated]

>>19036
Awesome, Boss!

>>19036
Well now. Time to discuss with our resident goblin the workings of the portal. Which mannequins do we have access to? What is the portal capable of generating? How much mana does each monster cost, and of which types? Does she have any mana to contribute?

Also congratulate her on getting her first monster portal working. There may be many more.

>>19036
*hold out hands like you're grasping something and laugh like a madman*

>>19036
Say "Yesssssssss."

Place your fingertips to the portal to establish dominance.

It's allright, chief. Don't worry about that tingly little feeling. You'll find it to grow into a blazing fire in time, but it's nothing to be afraid of.
Let the goblin know she did a good job, and that you appreciate her hard work. Don't be scared to show a bit of your personal side. It's okay to live.

>>19036
CACKLE AND ASSUME 'WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY' POSE.

>>19040
In addition, tell her that if she feels the need for it, she may take a rest for the remainder of the day. She has accomplished much.

Of course, she is welcome to watch our first summoning to see her work in action as well.

>>19045
Punch portal in snout, etc etc.

>>19036
TIME TO SUMMON OUR FIRST MINION.
... How do we do that.
Where are the Mannikins?
Where's the Owner's Manual?

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)14:41 No. 19055 ID: c01408
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>>19041
>>19049
The laughter spreads like a contagion. I decide to join in.

Finesse grins wickedly.
>"Master, I gotta see this thing in action right away. Gimme a mannikin!"

[animated]

You're just taking a liking to her, nothing wrong with that.

esspecially concidering what a cute little thing she is~

Suggestion 2009/07/31(Fri)14:43 No. 19057 ID: 4e0411
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>>19055
"WHAT? You mean it needs new ones?"

"Yes. Let's see what sort the previous owner used..."

Try the SMALL TOY SWORD and the STONE IN SMALL CASE. If those don't work, seems we're going back to town AGAIN.

>>19055
...We have a Mannikin right?

>>19055
A Mannekin?
What do we need to get a Mannikin?

Can the carpenter make one of wood, for wood golems and the like?

>>19055
Well, this is just for a test run, right? Can we cobble one together with the materials at hand? Maybe some string and bits of wood could make something good enough.

>>19055
"Just a moment, I'll fetch one."

NO WAY IN HELL LET HER USE IT.
NO FUCKING WAY.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE TO USE THIS PORTAL.

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)15:00 No. 19074 ID: c01408
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A mannikin is like an ethereally-imbued totem. It requires a level of artificing far beyond the skills of most mortal men. There's absolutely no way I can just throw one together out of bits of cloth and wood.

"Well... I don't have one. I was thinking to start we'd just summon some of whatever kinds of creatures Red Fang had already attuned the Portal to."

Finesse's look of excitement disappears in an instant. There is a long and awkward silence as my Tinker stares at me.
I begin to feel very uncomfortable.

>"Master. The portal BROKE. We had to put in a completely new portal gem. This is a NEW portal. There's absolutely nothing attuned to it right now."

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)15:01 No. 19075 ID: c01408
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>"I'm going to bed."

Alright boss, uhh...

Breathe in.. Breathe out.. Then see if Red Fang had any unused mannikins. If not, we'll have to work from there.

>>19074
Blush.
Sigh.
Head back out to town tomorrow.

I bet for a minute there you thought this was going to be easy, huh Boss?

Don't worry, I'm sure we'll be able to find one tomorrow.

>>19075
Ok boss, minor setback.
Check again what loot we got from Red Fang. He must've had a mannikin around here somewhere. Possibly that junk in the chest?

>>19075
Right, I do believe we know our next goal:

Get some manniken and farm some monsters.

Check Red Fang's quarters again. See if there's any unused mannakins. ~nya

>>19075
FFFFFFF
... she was really into us for a few...
Ahem. Inform her that we'll be going out to get some Mannikins first thing in the morning.
FIRST THING.
... let's just go to bed.

Muschio 2009/07/31(Fri)15:05 No. 19084 ID: c01408
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God damn it.

>>19074
Woman, you need to tell us this shit BEFORE it becomes a block in our plans.

Maybe we should tell her we didn't intent to get her hopes up.


Either way, where are we supposed to get a mannakin for the portal from?

TO EVERYONE SAYING "CHECK THE CHEST" OR "LOOK FOR ITEMS":
Muschio has already cleared the dungeon. Muschio has ALREADY gone through the chest.

A complete inventory of everything inside the dungeon was ALREADY tallied up and can be found here:
>>13656

If you're looking for a specific item, check that list. If it's not on the list, it's not in the dungeon.

Serious Suggestion: Marvel at the Job finesse did on the Portal. Go to her, in the morning, exclaim how pleased you are at the fact she got it working again, and the quality of the craftgoblinship. Offer her the permanant opportunity to execute any "MAD SCIENCE" ideas she may be working on, in her head, with you as her funder and benefactor, as long as they'll advance the lair, defend the lair, can be used to conquer, or be used to induce industry.

So, it seems obvious to me that we should bring the curiosities from the list to the portal, as they have the best chance of being mannikens.

It might work.

Consider our "Curios" items. Are any of them likely to be mannekins? They seem at least similar to the examples shown in the explanation page. Ask Finesse about it tomorrow.

Otherwise, probably have to go see if High Roller has more.

Any other locations that might contain abandoned or "relatively" unguarded Mannikins?

Any NATURAL Mannikins? Like Fairy rings or Standing Stones?

Would natural gateways function as Mannikins?

The animal skull and the stone in the box, show them to dear Finesse.

I think a better question would be, how can we tell if something is a mannikin

>Small case w/ stone
That's a fairly fey thing. It might be useful in the creation of a new mannikin.

If we end up having one created, we should use the following things:

1. the Flyssa, for offensive capability
2. the pickax, for utility
3. the skull, for aesthetics

Didn't he say that new mannikins can not be constructed?

We need to figure out what can be a mannikin, and then find one.

>>19371
no, he said they can't be created by normal people. That means we could have one made if we find a suitably skilled individual who can be coerced into working for us. Theoretically, it also means we can do it ourselves if we become skilled in the craft, but that seems like more trouble than it's worth at the current moment

In ur thread, bumping it.

I hope you aren't too pissed off with us, please give us chapter five. We promise not to be such idiots in the future?