Maybe it has something to do with your black mageness. It's really strange though, she should be targeting other people too. Do your sister now, enter her dream.

maybe she can only use it on one person until they go down? you are her target and she may be unable to pick someone else until she gets you.

Could have something to do with physical contact. You're the only one she has touched.

>>149138
>>149139
>>149140
Your theories are all valid, but we won't know for sure until we find out more about her. It's really sad that 7 years ago, I know almost nothing new about her since what I already know. And I really don't want to go into my sister's dream again. Remember? That was very awkward.

>>149141
Well you won't be finding out more by just staying there. It might be time to go to the mage academy and see if you can gain access to their library.

>>149142
I can't just go without Rojo and Carg. They're still sleeping. If I go missing, they'll worry about me.

>>149143
Yes well there are preparations to be made and precautions to take. And naturally you need to bring along Rojo. Carg might not be able to make it though.

Lets go through the village and see what you have planned in the way of defenses.

What happened when you entered your sister's dream?

>>149144
>>149147
What? You spirits forgot stuff again? What's the last thing you remember?

You... exiting Rojo's dream?

>>149148
Sorry. No memories of defenses or your sisters dreams.

Really it would be great if you could describe the layout of the village as well as your planned defenses.

>>149148
Wait, whose dream did you just exit? Your sister's? The last thing we remember before that was little Rojo in her dream saying she wanted to be friends forever.

>>149155
Um, I'm not really sure when that was. Sorry.
>>149151
The tribe now carries and know how to make bows and arrows and simple pitfall traps. Arkan is also here to help the village. He entered the tribe about 7 years ago. The tribe should be able to defend itself now.

>>149159
So what is Carg doing these days? Last thing we remember from him is that he went back to the Lich.

>>149159
Wait.

SEVEN YEARS?!

Okay, then the last day we remember is when Rojo came back from having Magun destroy the Lich's phylactery ring. You know when that was, right?

Can you get Rojo or someone to take a look at us? We're missing out on alot...

>>149160
>>149161
Ooh boy... I wish you weren't so forgetful. Carg is in the tribe now. He says he quit. Rojo and Carg now get along. After Rojo returned from destroying the phylactery, a weird-

I wake up. That was a very weird dream.

>>149164
It was indeed. So tell us. How old are you and what are your plans right now?

>>149165
Um, I'm 5 years old. Or 12 years old. I can't tell right now. That dream was so real. My current plans are to finish making beds for the tribe. There's about 2 left. I'm confused.

Find Rojo.

>>149169
Ok, has Carg gotten there yet with the Lich phylactry?

I don't think Nir's gonna be able to answer our questions very well right now.

Best to find someone else to tell us what the current situation is.

>>149171
I haven't seen Carg since he left with Rojo. I think.
>>149172
>>149170
I go outside my hut. Rojo looks like she's patrolling the tribe. I walk over to her.
Rojo:"Hey, Nir. What's up? You look like you have something on your mind."

Ask her how old you are.

And if she dreamed of anything recently.

>>149175
Nir:"Have you dreamed of anything recently?"
Rojo:"Yes... I dreamt that you comforted me as a child. It was a really nice dream."
Nir:"How... how old am I?"
There's a short pause.
Rojo:"Uh, your 5 if I recall correctly. Why do you ask?"

Oh whew, we didn't miss alot. Tell her "no reason" and give her a hug.

>>149178
Nir:"No reason."
I hug Rojo's leg. She bends down and hugs me back.
Rojo:"Nir, can... can you do me a favor?"

>>149179
Uh, sure, what is it?

Say "anything for you"

>>149180
>>149182
Nir:"Anything. What is it?"
Rojo:"Can I... Can you call me your mother?"
What? I already have a mother.

Oh she wants to adopt you. Nothing wrong with that I guess, but ask her why she wouldn't rather be your friend?

It's kinda hard to adopt someone when they already have a mother.

Your mom is still alive, isn't she Nir?

Maybe if Rojo thought of another name for it. Or maybe you could call her Aunt Rojo?

>>149187
Nir:"What's wrong with being my friend?"
Rojo:"Well... I... I love you. Like a child."
>>149189
Nir:"My mom is still alive, but how does Aunt Rojo sound?"
There's a short pause.
Rojo:"That sounds wonderful. Thanks."

Excellent. Now you can still set her up without feeling awkward. Speaking of, where's Armi?

>>149192
Armi is taking care of the garden of food.
Rojo:"Someone's coming behind us."
I look to see who it is. I can't see the person.

>>149194
Ask your new aunt if she can tell who is coming. Hmmm, I wonder if she wants to be the aunt of Armi as well.

Hey Nir, have you ever thought about setting up a school in your village so that your people can benefit from some learning?

A school is a kind of game where one person who knows something talks to many people who do not know that. You win by teaching everyone to know that something. Nobody loses.

The reason for school is it's easier to teach something than to figure it out. So each person only has to figure out one thing, then teach it to the rest. That way if there are 9 people playing school in your village, you will be able to figure things out almost 9 times faster.

Come to think on it us voices are like the opposite of school. A bunch of guidance spirits who know many things, all trying to teach one person.

Also tell Rojo you had to ask about your age, because you had a vivid dream of the future. If it's a portent, then you can be assured that the next 7 years will be very boring.

...vivid means "so real"

>>149194

Oh uh, I mean, be on your guard. Mana balls!

>>149216
Nir:"Rojo, can you tell who's coming?"
Rojo:"No, I can't."
>>149224
Okay, I'll tell he-
>>149224
I mean, I ready some mana balls. The thing steps out. The thing looks very weird.
???:"Is this the kobold village I was sent to protect?"

>>149282
Ask who sent it and why.

>>149285
Nir:"Who sent you?"
???:"My master sent me to protect this kobold tribe."

>>149287
Not very informative. Ask it who its master is.

And could you describe it for us?

>>149288
Nir:"Who's your master?"
???:"My master is the one who told me to protect this tribe."
The thing has 6 red legs. It has grey arms that turn red with weird looking fingers. It has a weird looking head with sharp teeth. There are 2 arms coming from it's chest. It has 6 eyes.

>>149294
Ask it to describe it's master.

Say you think it might be the right tribe. Ask what its master's name is.

this may be the village, but i must know who your master is to confirm. if i do not know them then you must have been sent for a different village.

>>149295
>>149296
>>149298

Nir:"This may be the correct tribe, but I need to know more. Can you describe your master? What's his or her name?"
???:"My master is a lich. His name is Nirblilm.

>>149299
wait

what

>>149299
Ok.... that's fucking odd. Send the weird looking thing on it's way and tell it this isn't the village it's looking for. Damn lich constructs are not to be trusted.

WHAT.

Uh, no. Yeah, no.
Tell it this isn't what it is looking for.
Point it in some random direction AWAY from civilization and tell it to go that-a-way.

No no, if we send it somewhere else then it might cause trouble for another tribe.

We're going to have to ask Carg what the lich looks like. If it was a kobold at some point, well... that would mean... uh

Ask it what *its* name is.

>>149305
Nir:"Uh, what's your name?"
???:"My name is Arkan."
>>149300
>>149303
>>149304
I'm just as confused as you spirits. I really don't know what to do.

>>149307
Ask it how it was ordered to protect the tribe.

Like, what is it going to protect the tribe from?

you already know this thing
>The tribe now carries and know how to make bows and arrows and simple pitfall traps. Arkan is also here to help the village. He entered the tribe about 7 years ago. The tribe should be able to defend itself now.

it also seems like we spirits are going on a time-travel adventure.

>>149307
Just because it was there in your dreams doesn't mean you should trust it. We already know that the Lich has followers that can mess with your dreams.

If you think you can manage it then kill it. If not then send it away in some random direction. Possibly towards Magun so he can kill it or whatever he feels like doing with it.

or maybe state that you are Nir, and you are not a lich.

>>149308
>>149309
Nir:"Why were you ordered to protect the tribe?"
Arkan:"Master said he'd do anything to protect the tribe. He must really care about it. It also means I can get to tear the guts out of your enemies. I can barely wait."
>>149313
Nir:"My name's Nirblilm. I'm not a lich."
Arkan:"...Wait... but... your Nirblilm... and... wow, this is confusing."
>>149312
I don't know how to. You're going to have to help me out.

oh wow, we confused it. it seems you are the master but seems confused why you are not a lich.
ask why it thought you were a lich.

>>149318
Nir:"Why'd you think I was a lich?"
Arkan:"You, I mean Master... um... he looked like a skeleton."
I look at Rojo. She looks very confused.

>>149314
I wonder if Mary Shaw was acting independently?

Ask him if the skeleton was your size and shape and everything.

Magun is from the future... I think maybe something like that happened here.

I think maybe the guidance voices that take over from us and cause our the lost memories... are us. From the future, normally helping the lich.

Strange... oh well, at least your tribe has another protector now. Ask him if his master ever told him how he became a lich.

Wait. Instead of asking him questions that might lead to a time paradox... if this is even related to time travel shenanigans...

How about you send us to him?

>>149323
Nir:"Was the skeleton my shape and size?"
Arkan:"Yes, it was."
>>149325
Nir:"Did your master ever tell you how he became a lich?"
Arkan:"No, I was created yesterday."
>>149326
Okay, I'll send you to him.

...

...

Maybe... Maybe this is Master's doppelganger? I could rip out his throat if he is... But what if he isn't?

Hi, we're guidance spirits. Do you really think your master would send you here to meet his doppelganger and want you to kill him without telling you to? He obviously must know, and if all he told you was "defend this", he probably doesn't want you killing off the denizens.

>>149334
Nope, not a doppelganger. I think that Nir was sent back in time or summoned accidentally from the future. Something like that. So basically your master IS Nirblilm, and he sent you here to make sure Nir doesn't die. If this version of Nir died, then your master would cease to exist. Time travel and stuff.

What were the exact words that your master spoke to you?

>>149335
>>149337
Gwuh? Guidance spirits? This is new. I really can't understand that time travel stuff. The exact words my master spoke to me were 'You must go to this kobold tribe and protect it from all it's enemies with your very life.' So I'm here to rip some heads off of people if they threaten this tribe.

Interesting... Okay, sounds good. So tell us about yourself.

>>149341
What do you mean? I was created to protect this village, and that's what I'm going to do.

>>149342
i believe he wanted to know what you are capable of. like how string and how fast you are.

No, I mean you, personally. Do you like cookies?

The doppleganger isn't the tribe's enemy. I think Nirblim created him in order to seem like he was in two places at once. However, there was an ogre snooping around here who might show up, and then you'll have some heads to rip off. I don't know how many heads ogres have.

>>149348
I haven't been in any fights yet, but I know I was designed for fighting. And ripping. And tearing. It sounds very fun.
>>149350
Um, I don't know what a cookie is. Is it some kind of fighting technique?
>>149351
An ogre? Cool, I can't wait for it to show up so I can drink it's blood. It'll be so tasty.

>>149358
Well it depends on if it is actually hostile or just passing through.

Anyway, you seem legit so I guess you can stick around and guard the place.

>>149362
Well, I really hope it's hostile. That way I can play with it's dead corpse once I kill it to pieces. So what can you tell me about... um... this not-master Nirblilm? Or this foxfolk?

>>149363
Well, Nir's a self-style black mage. The foxfolk is Rojo, a white mage.

You can like, introduce yourself to her, so we don't have to repeat stuff.

this Nir is a black mage, and the foxfolk is a white mage. would say that other then you they are the only ones who can really fight at all. the other kobolds are rather meek and will at first be frightened of you. but they will soon realize you are here to protect them.

They're really nice, just don't get on their bad side. Hey, did your master ever give you a hug?

>>149364
>>149366
I don't know what a self-style is. Is it like a fighting technique you develop on your own?
Arkan:"Um, Rojo, I'm Arkan and I came to protect this tribe."
Rojo:"But... Your from the lich, right?"
Arkan:"Yes."
Rojo:"Then... then you came to kill the tribe."
What's her problem?
>>149366
Okay, I won't. What's a hug? Some sort of fighting technique? Sorry, but fighting is all I really know how to do.

>>149370
Erh. Send us over to Rojo.

>>149358
Part of protecting the tribe is protecting its interests. Try not to break anything. Even the sticks you see here might be used as tools.

Also, you should understand that, to most creatures, you look terrifying. Some may seem hostile because they are afraid of you, not necessarily because they want to hurt the tribe.

If you are not skilled in capturing without killing, learn it for your tribe's sake.

Oh yes, there is some confusion about the lich. You are definitely here to protect this tribe of kobolds though, don't worry, we'll sort out everything else. Send us to the foxfolk.

>>149373
Capturing enemies? That seems to be against his bloodthirsty nature. I think he would be more satisfied with a few guidelines instead. Kill anything that is unwilling to cease hostilities. Warn them before using lethal force.

>>149373
>>149376
I'll try to remember this. But I really hope something attacks this tribe soon.
>>149372
>>149374
Okay, I'll let you guidance spirits sort this out with that foxfolk.

...

...

He has to be lying. There's no possible way that lich is named Nirblilm...

We're confused too, he definitely thinks he's named Nirblilm. He wants to protect the tribe... Be wary, but he seems to be on your side. Maybe there's more than one lich?

>>149379
Well, it could be a coincidence. Or an ancient family name. Your Nir could just be the lich-nir's great-great-great-grandson or such. The creature also claims that the lich is a Kobold skeleton in appearance. This could, of course, simply be part of an elaborate deception, and the beast itself may not realize it's here to cause trouble until it's ordered to.

we think time-shenanigans are happening. also, more then one lich exists. just because we know of a lich doesn't mean it's the same one. also, we were just in his head. he is a creation with a rather simple setting of 'not ally of tribe = kill'.

>>149379
We can double-check it with Carg, as far as the lich's name is concerned. I think we can trust this thing to do what it says it's going to do. It's not smart enough to lie. It is very eager to fight enemies though. A bit bloodthirsty.

Besides if the lich wanted to send something to attack the tribe, it would just... attack the tribe. What use would it be to send something so suspicious here, and just have it try to enlist as a guard?

If the lich wanted to send a spy or an assassin, there are easier or more convincing ways to do that, too. A shadowbeast sent in the night makes a deadly assassin, and a shapeshifter or something would make the best spy.

This insectoid thing makes a good guard. That's it. Can you describe it for us? Nir tried but maybe you can do a better job.

My theory about the lich involves time travel. I think Nir will eventually become a lich and then get summoned by someone in the past, or otherwise wind up back in this timeline. It makes sense that he would want to protect the tribe; if Nir dies, then the lich gets eaten by a time paradox.

>>149379
...He doesn't exactly seem cunning -or even SMART- enough to lie like that.
This whole thing is way too confusing, but I'm kind of inclined to believe him?
He seems a bit bloodthirsty but he is on our side for now, I suppose.

Either way something weird is going on here.
I hope it's not time travel.

>>149383
Oooh, the lich being an ancestor is something I didn't consider. That would give a good reason for him to want to protect the tribe, without involving time travel.

>>149382
>>149383
>>149384
>>149388
>>149390
Timetravel? Gods damnit. Time travel is confusing. I don't even want to think about it. As for the creature, it looks like a shark combined with a crab. I still don't trust it. I hate to admit this, but I'm going to have to ask Carg if he knows about this thing. Gods damnit, the very thought of asking for help from him is disgusting.

>>149401
I think you're being too harsh on him. At any rate we have no way of contacting him right now. Gonna have to wait until his next visit.

Let's just let the crabshark guard the tribe.

is he a crab-shark or a shark-crab? anyway. i say we can trust him to not eat any kobolds.

>>149409
>>149411
Gods damnit... He's going to attack the tribe while they're asleep. I just know it. And he's a shark-crab. I guess I have to let him guard, but I'm not going to look away from him for a second.

Don't get paranoid to the point of hurting yourself, that's our job. A little extra guarding wouldn't be all too bad though...

>>149413
You can't do anything but talk to a single person at any time. I can at least do something about it. Sorry, guidance spirits, but it's the truth.

i don't know... what's stopping us from splitting and talking to more then one at a time?

[attempts to split off from the group in rojo and enter Nir]

>>149422
You already tried that before the phylactery was destroyed, and it didn't work.

Okay you're right, but before we made our presence known in his mind he mentioned that the lich's name was Nirblilm.

>>149442
Maybe... Maybe the lich is lying to us. He wants us to drop our guard, and this is the perfect opportunity for us to do so. Think about it. We now gain a big thing that was ordered to 'protect' the tribe, so that we can let our guard down. I don't like it at all. But I don't know what to do about it. If I attack him, he might be able to resist the poison arrows and attack us. If we leave him alone, he'll kill us in our sleep because he was ordered by the lich.

Put a bell on him. A big dingly bell. So any time he moves around it makes a heck of a lot of noise.

But what if he's legitimately on your side? He looks bad, worse than bad, but if he's actually on your side, you're fighting a friend. Don't let your guard down, but if you treat him like a monster, you might make him become one.

>>149452
And definitely give him a cowbell.

>>149453
Gods damnit... I guess your right... I hate having to put up with an enemy.
>>149452
I really don't know of any place near here that might have any cowbells available.

well... reason Nir asked you how old he was because he had an extremely realistic dream of 7 years in the future, and Arkan was in it. that's why we are thinking time travel is involved.

>>149460
Noted. What else was in the dream? Or is it not important?

well carg quit working for the lich... somehow. not sure how you quit that. and the whole tribe was good with bows.

>>149462
I thought Carg was already working for the lich?

Also Nirblim remembered how important it was that he went into his sister's dreams as much as possible.

>>149467
More like the opposite of that.

Rojo, we didn't get very much important info from that.

>>149470

Now now, no reason to lie. We can't change history after all.

Well yes, Nir will eventually check out his sister's dreams. Just... not more than once.

>>149462
>>149463
>>149470
>>149505
>>149510
Well, we don't know that for sure. What if the dream was only prophetic or something and not the exact future?

You should test it. Have you tried entering his dreams?

>>149461
Well you and Nir seemed to share a bed. He had just exited her dream. He was still being targeted by Mary Shaw. Which is really fucking odd if the Lich is actually him trying to protect his tribe. But I guess a decent way to protect Nir would be to make him a mindslave and then lock him into some safe room.

I definately don't trust that thing either. I don't think it will kill you in it's sleep. But I do think that if the Lich sends over his guys to round up the tribe then Arken won't do shit about it, and may actually try to stop anyone from resisting.

>>149513
if you can make it so the kobolds are better off then 'good with bows' do it. in fact let's see about getting a palisade up. but be warned that at some point we may try to convince you not to build it, we have lost track of time several in instances and Niir remembers us still being there but not 'US' being there. these OTHER spirits even mentally attacked Xom and we had to apologise to him for what they did. so if they try to make you conform to the future and you deny them be ready to send them away as they may get hostile.

>>149513
I guess you have a point. Also, the future could be flexible. We might not need to worry about paradox.

>>149515
No, I haven't.
>>149516
>>149517
I'll try to teach the tribe what I can.
???:"Rojo? Nir? I have to fuckin tell you something! It's important!"
Ugh... that voice sounds like Carg's. He's going to attack the place. Should I ready my bow?

>>149522
Haha no. You're a bit jumpy right now, huh? See what he wants.

Look, we know you're trying to keep people safe, but you have to curb your blood lust. He's on your side, if he wanted to attack the tribe, there are much better ways to go about it.

>>149523
>>149524
Alright, alright... I'll listen to him.
Rojo:"What do you want?"
Carg:"The fuckin lich has- woah... Fuckin crab-shark. Who the fuck are you?"
Arkan:"I'm Arkan. I was sent here by the lich to protect this tribe."
Carg:"Never fuckin seen you before. And protecting this tribe is my fuckin job. S- So I can fuckin sell them off later, of course."
Arkan:"So you want to endanger this tribe, huh?"

Son of a... Send us to Arkan would you.

>>149528
AHH

Better tell Arkan to wait a moment. Carg isn't being honest. His stupid pride is going to get him killed one day...

or tell carg that arkan is programmed to kill anyone who endangers the tribe. slavery is viewed as a danger.

It's alright, we can just tell him he's undercover, it's true.

>>149528
You're free to kill whenever you feel like for me. I never liked the guy.

But he has information that could be useful now. So as funny as it would be to have him ripped apart limb by limb by a big crab shark I think we should tell him to not ever threaten the tribe while Arkan is around.

>>149532
>>149533
Rojo:"Arkan, wait a moment. Carg, Arkan is programmed to kill anyone who endangers the tribe."
Carg scoffs.
Carg:"Slavery ain't a fuckin danger to anyone."
This isn't going to work out. I'll have you guys keep Arkan behaved.

...

...

I can't wait to eat this nedynvor's heart.

>>149537
It's too bad he's lying. He's a thief that we made friends with, but he doesn't want to admit that he's gone soft. So he makes the excuse that he's just protecting the tribe until he can find a buyer.

Threaten him with severe bodily harm. Like, pin him to the ground and put your claw on his neck. That should get his mouth running in a different direction.

>>149537
Well sadly you can't do that. It would be fun. But we need him to keep the tribe safe. He has information that is needed and he is preforming a vital task of infiltration.

>>149539
>>149541
Alright, I'll pin it to the ground. I quickly get inn close to him and use one of my legs to trip him. He hits the ground, and I put my open claw around it's neck. I can feel his fear. I can hear his heart beating. I can barely contain myself. My claws are thirsty for his blood.
Not master Nirblilm:"Freeze! Let him go!"

Well there's your proof he's a good guy at least. But you're kinda frozen now, so how does he expect you to get off him? Send us over.

>>149547
Aw, Nir's messing up my plan. Can you still move? If so... just say "He's a threat. You heard him say what he plans to do."

yes, send us to Nir, we will explain.

>>149550
I can move. I'm resistant to magic.
Arkan:"He's a threat. You heard him say what he wants to do."
The kobold looks shocked. He makes a black ball out of nowhere. The black ball then disappears.
Not master Nirblilm:"He didn't mean that. He's my friend."
>>149548
>>149553
Okay, I'll send you to not master Nirblilm.

...

...

I have to protect Carg. He's my friend. I need to protect him no matter what.

Noserub him. That should get the message across. Ask if he's alright.

just tell carg to tell the truth or you will unfreeze arkan and let him finish. trust me, carg will not be hurt but we need him to stop lying to you.

>>149557
This is interesting! We've got a magic-resistant creature on our side.

Of course we need to get him to either fully understand that Carg is lying, or get Carg to stop lying.

Try telling Carg to tell him the truth, and stop letting his pride endanger his life.

>>149559
I start to noserub Carg.
>>149561
>>149562
Nir:"Carg, please tell the truth. I don't want you getting killed because of a lie."
There's a pause for a moment.
Carg:"O- okay... I'll tell the fuckin truth. I don't want to fuckin sell the kobold tribe. I... I want to fuckin protect them... because I fuckin care about them. I... I fuckin care about Rojo as well, because she's my fuckin friend. Now please don't fuckin kill me."
After a moment, Arkan releases his red hand from Carg's neck.
Arkam:"I'm confused. Is he an enemy or what?"

NO JEEZE WE JUST TOLD YOU THAT LIKE THREE TIMES

Tell him that Carg is not an enemy.

>>149567
Nir, remind him we told him like three times, alright?

>>149567
>>149568
>>149569
Why are you yelling at me? you didn't tell me anything three times already.
Nir:"The guidance spirits are yelling at me for some reson, but I think they wanted to yell at you instead. They said they told you 3 times aready. He's not an enemy."
Silly spirits.

It's frustrating being physically impotent, Nir. We don't recommend it.

>>149583
You mean not having a body is frustrating? I think I can imagine why. Carg gets up.
Carg:"I also have another thing to fuckin confess... You see... I'm... uh..."
What's he going to say?

We're gonna let him tell you.

>>149589
I'm not entirely sure what he's about to say.

>>149590
>>149596
Okay, I'll wait.
Carg:"Um... m- my fuckin favorite color is pink."
There's a long silence. Carg smiles.
Carg:"Yes, my fuckin favorite color is pink."

What a trooper. Send us to him, we want to congratulate him personally.

>>149598
Okay. Have fun congratulating him.

...

...

Good. Crisis averted. I fuckin hope.

What the hell was that?

Wait why did you ask Nir to send us to Carg?

Uh, yeah it's okay man, you don't need to tell us any more secrets or anything. Ignore the other, nosy spirits.

>>149603
Oh fuck! It was nothing!
>>149607
Yeah, see? You don't need to fuckin know any more of my fuckin secrets! Nobody else fuckin needs to either!

As your spirit guides, we won't say anything to anyone, we respect your privacy.

But as your friends... please stop hurting yourself Carg.

>>149612
I told you before, you're not my fuckin friends. But... thanks any-fuckin-way.

>>149612
We're not his spirit guides though. We're Nirs spirits and we should be serving his intrests first and foremost. Even if he doesn't always know what's in his best intrests.

>>149614
So what the fuck did you come here to tell us? Any fucking news about that cocksucking faggot fuck of a lich? Is he by any chance very small, like kobold small?

You're a master of diplomacy, Carg. Just remember this ...thing can understand you, but it's really simple minded and is really single minded. It wants to kill people and drink their blood, but it is only allowed to do so to people trying to "endanger" the kobold tribe. If it gets bored, the definition of endanger might become quite broad indeed. But if you need anyone killed, I'm sure you can figure out a way to convince such a simple creature to recognize an enemy of the tribe.

It told us that it was created by the lich Nirblim. Obviously Nirblim here isn't a lich, but I figure he's a doppleganger or something. Either that or the lich is the doppleganger and Nirblim is just screwing with us all. If you have seen a skeletony version of Nirblim though it is very important to know.

>>149624
>>149655
Now that you fuckin mention it, the fuckin lich does have a fuckin shape as a fuckin kobold. I'll try not to have this fuckin crab-shark thing fuck us over. And I almost fuckin forgot to tell everyone about Mary Shaw. She said she fuckin quit. She's fuckin freelance now! I was going to fuckin invite the entirety of the fuckin tribe, but I can see that's kind of fuckin unneeded. And thanks for the fuckin compliment.

>>149659
Hrm? You were going to invite the tribe to the lich's group? Why?

>>149660
I thought the fuckin tribe wasn't fuckin safe anymore now that Mary Shaw was roaming around fuckin unchecked. You know what? If you fuckin accept my invitation, tell everyone except for that fuckin crab-shark that I'm capturing them for the fuckin lich, okay?

>>149671
Still not trusting that Lich. Set up a meeting at a spot of Nirbilms choice and after they have had a little face to face we might decide.

>>149675
Okay, I'll need to fuckin talk to Nir then. Uh, Is this thing going to be fuckin private to you?

>>149690
Would what be private?

>>149691
Fuck, you should pay more fuckin attention to what I fuckin say. What I fuckin meant to ask was this: Should only Nir fuckin know about this or not?

>>149694

I didn't know you cared about keeping Rojo from worrying about the little guy.

Hey if you tell the crab-shark you're taking the tribe to the real Nirblim, to protect them, it'll probably help.

Let's not say anything to Arkan right now.

Rojo is a bit paranoid but you should let her know anyway. It will make her feel better to be included on it. Also she'll be less likely to follow you there in secret. If she did that she might get jumpy and start shooting arrows.

>>149695
I guess I fuckin do.
>>149696
Carg:"Rojo, Nir, I need to fuckin talk to you privately."
Rojo:"I'm not going to fall for that."
Carg:"Fall for fuckin what? This isn't some fuckin trap! Just stop being fuckin paranoid for a fuckin second and fuckin listen to me!"
It's silent for a fuckin second.
Rojo:"Fine, but I'm keeping my arrow trained on you."
She pulls out a fuckin bow and draws a fuckin arrow at me. We walk a bit into the fuckin woods.

Ask Nir to tell Rojo that you're on her side.

>>149712
How would that fuckin help? Rojo would just fuckin think I'm pleading Nir into fuckin falling for a fuckin trap. Seriously, the fucker is really pissing me the fuck off with her fuckin paranoia.

Well tell them what you need to, maybe it'll make her calm down.

Give it to her straight. Tell her you're not gonna fuck around or try to convince them that it's a good idea. Ask if they've got any better ideas for finding out if the lich is really a bad guy.

Wait, do you know if he's a bad guy or not? What is his group's goal?

>>149718
>>149719
Carg:"Look, just fuckin listen to me. I don't even fuckin care if you think my idea is a fuckin bad one. Mary Shaw quit the fuckin lich's group, and I came over here to have the entire fuckin tribe join the lich. I fuckin think Rojo isn't fuckin liking this idea, and that's why I fuckin suggest meeting the fuckin lich in a secret spot first, so you fuckers can get a fuckin better idea."

Sorry, but I have no fuckin clue what the lich's fuckin goal is, but he isn't fuckin bad.

>>149722
After what seems to be about 5 fuckin minutes, Rojo speaks up.
Rojo:"I don't like it, but I'll give it a chance anyway."
Carg:"Good, now can you please put that fuckin bow and arrow away?"

Mary Shaw is just psychotic then... who was she talking about if not the lich?

>>149733
What was Kasparov's deal? I feel a little bad about getting him killed without knowing if he deserved it or not, now.

>>149734
I have absolutely no fuckin clue.
>>149736
I... I honestly don't give a fuck about the lich's group. I only fuckin care about myself. And my friends.

So where were you thinking of meeting him?

>>149749
It's not my fuckin choice. But if you want my fuckin preference, It should be at night, so the fuckin tribe doesn't get the fuck out. Maybe the fuckin shrine place as well.

The shrine would be good. For being a shrine to us guidance spirits, we sure don't see it very often.

>>149764
Okay, I'm going to fuckin go back to the lich to tell him that. Now who do you want to fuckin talk to?

Rojo.

>>149819
Okay, Rojo it is.

...

...

I wonder what kind of trap he's setting us up on.

Why don't you trust him?

>>149829
I don't trust him because he's working for a lich. All liches are evil and so are the people who work for them. Plus he's lying and incredibly rude.

are the lich's because they are evil or evil because they are lich's?

>>149841
They're evil because they're liches. You told me that.

>>149844
not 'ME' one of the others may have but i don't believe in that. it all depends on why the became a lich. someone who does it for selfish reasons would indeed be evil. but what of the mage who wanted to protect something forever?

The only reason we thought the lich was bad was because Shaw tried to kill Nir, and we heard her thoughts and they were... disturbing. But if they aren't actually tied, we could be under a misinterpretation.

And there's something weird with his name... and form...

>>149846
>>149850
...Gods damnit. I... I guess I have no choice but to talk to the lich. Or die by his hand.

That won't happen. You're too awesome.

>>149856
I'm not that good. I'm not the best shot, and I'm still in training for my white magic. Does that sound awesome to you?

>>149865
white magic is the weakness of undead things. just spam heals or something at him.

Give him a hug. A healing hug. And don't forget that you won't be alone anyway.

>>149870
I know that, but I'm still in-training. Do you think someone who's not even considered a white mage can take down a lich?
>>149872
Healing hugs? That's bizarre.

I meant that if you don't like it, you can fake accepting.

Amazingly enough, a lich is a form of undead that can be created and maintained without any form of brutality, unholy human sacrifice, or anything like that. Though one of the most powerful forms of undead, they do not need to consume brains to sustain their zombie rampage. They do not need to drain the blood of nubile virgins, nor do they transmit their condition by any form of contagion.

Liches have a few powers that set them aside from the average being (do not let one of them touch your flesh), but for the most part the reason everyone is so scared of them is that they are wizards. Old wizards. Very old wizards with many lifetimes worth of experience. Fighters weaken as they age, but wizards only grow more powerful, and for a lich there simply isn't any limits. That's why becoming a lich is a tempting prospect for any wizard, good or evil. Some even become liches out of obligation, as the only way they can find to protect something they love long beyond the mortal limits of their lifespan.

So yes you should be fucking terrified of a lich, merely because in being a lich they are guaranteed to be an old old wizard. But are they evil? Generally liches are evil, because good wizards feel obliged to obey their mortal restraints, and are generally grossed out by the idea of being a (well preserved) emaciated corpse. But that's not a hard and fast rule. But just because Nirblim (the lich) isn't evil, if he is in fact not evil, you still might have good reason for concern.

>>149876
>>149877
I already accepted. I hate the fact that we're walking head first into an extremely obvious trap.

Maybe you can set a kind of trap of your own, just in case.

>>149884
A trap for them sounds like a very good idea, but what trap should I make?

Is there any way you could put white magic into something?

>>149890
I don't know. I never tried.

Experiment a bit. You live in the forest, what kinds of traps do you know how to make?

try craming white magic into the arrows.

>>149894
I know some traps. Pitfalls, snares, and tripwires. That's all I know.
>>149897
I grab an arrow and try to put white magic into it. I think I can see the arrow glowing a bit.

>>149909
I try putting a bit more white mana into it. Yes, I think it's definitely glowing. Or, shimmering. I'm running low on mana.

>>149947
Rest up and see if the mana in the arrow disspates or remains constant. If it's constant then see how much mana you can cram into it.

>>150146
I see no problems with this. Hey, if you can cram in more, try shifting it into something else. Like maybe yourself.

>>149947
Well, it's a start.

When did we tell you that liches are all evil? I checked our memory, and we never told you. Perhaps it was our 'other' selves.

We asked Magun about this very issue. He said that they're not all evil. He'd know better than us, right?

At any rate, those white magic arrows should be effective, if he does turn out to be evil. When the meeting happens, we'll start off in your head, okay? We'll tell you if you should shoot or not.

>>150148
I try doing that. Nothing happens. I think.
>>150146
I wait about half an hour. The arrow seems to still be shimmering slightly.
>>150151
Noted. You directly told me the lich group was all like Mary Shaw. And you starting off in my hed is fine.

Excellent that arrow should be perfect for fighting undead. Should anyway.

If that arrow won't stop him, bear traps probably won't help.

>>150153
We said it was very likely that since Mary Shaw was part of his group, the rest were evil too.

However, she's gone rogue. That leads me to believe that the lich does not actually approve of her actions. Thus, probably not evil.

I feel a little bad about getting Kasparov killed without knowing more about him. However, he wasn't actually supposed to be in the city anyway according to Carg so maybe Kasparov was also planning on betraying the lich? We desperately need more information.

>>150153
Try pouring more mana into the arrow. And get a few spares as well.

You could get a club too and infuse it with some white magic. Blunt force tends to fuck over skeletons pretty well.

>>150154
Noted.
>>150155
So your changing your mind? Gods damnit. I guess I have to accept that.
>>150158
I put the remainder of my white magic into the arrow. It flickers a bit brighter.

>>150159
How fast do you get mana back anyway?

>>150159
Rest up and replenish your mana reserves.

Excellent. You don't want to run dry, so rest up for the meeting. Take a bath, that should help.

>>150160
I have no clue. I haven't used up all my mana before.
>>150162
>>150163
Alright. I guess I'll take a nap until it's time for the meeting. Is there anybody you want to go to?

>>150164
Send us over to Nir. Maybe we can instill some paranoia in him. He is still way to naive.

>>150165
Okay. Please don't depress him, though.

...

...

I wonder what Aunt Rojo was doing staring at that arrow.

>>150168
She was practicing enchantment. That seems to come rather naturally to white mages.

Why don't you tell us a bit about the shrine area where the meeting is going to take place.

>>150168
Hey Nir, what do you think about this situation? Before, we thought the lich was evil because he had Mary Shaw in his group, and she's definitely not a nice person. Now, she quit the group. It's as if the lich didn't approve of her actions.

>>150169
Oh, it's a building with a cube-shaped rock in it. There are lots of symbols on the rock which I don't know what they mean.
>>150171
I think it's a good way to tell if the lich is evil or not. If the lich isn't evil, he could be my friend. Maybe.

>>150174
Ok time for some experimentation. Can you form a shield around the building?

Or maybe you could try floating. Hey, try teleporting?

>>150177
I try to form a shield around the shrine. Ugh... It's hard to do and it's not a complete shield. It's only covering 1 side.
>>150184
I try floating. I feel nothing happening. I try teleporting. It doesn't work.

Hmm. Can you try turning invisible again, but making sure your clothes go invisible too? Or have you already figured out how to do that?

Have you tried summoning up mana balls, and combining them? Instead of just making one big one, make several normal ones and shove them together.

>>150192
I try to turn both my clothes and myself invisible. I don't know if it's working or not. There's no reflection to look at around here. I make a couple mana balls and combine them into one. I end up with a larger mana ball.

>>150193
Hey, it works. Now if you practice doing that really quickly, it'll be just like you're summoning a big ball by itself.

>>150194
I absorb the mana and start trying to do it as fast as I can. Not very fast.

>>150195
Ok so you can't cover the entire shrine with a shield. But can you form it as a bubble around someone?

>>150264
I try to do that around me. It works, but I can't see anything past the bubble.

>>150266
try a combination of invisibility and shield to see if you can make it clear.

>>150267
I try and make the shield invisible. It works somewhat. Everything's blurry and dark.

it's something. if this meeting goes okay then you should practice these some more, practice will make you better at it.

>>150269
Can you make the shield around something else than you?

>>150271
It's still only daytime, so I have more time to practice.
>>150272
I try making a shield around a random kobold in the tribe. It works.

Heh, apologize for using it as a test subject.

Try making a solid object out of black magic, like a dowel rod.

Have you tried infusing your mana balls with fire or ice, or lightning?

>>150275
Nice one.

Have you tried to change the shape of your mana balls. Like make them into a mana blade or arrow thingy?

>>150276
I get rid of the shield and apologize to the kobold. I try and make a dowel rod. It's hard, but I made a tiny one.
>>150277
No, I haven't. I try all 3. None of them seem to work.
>>150278
I try changing a mana ball into a blade. It works somewhat. I try turning it into an arrow. Again, it works somewhat.

>>151476
Ok keep trying with the blade and the arrow. For the blade focus your energy into a thin edge. Think sharp and thin.

For the arrow focus all of your energy into a tiny point. Try to make the point as tiny and pointy as possible.

>>151477
I focus harder on what you said. Both work a bit better. I work on this for as little while, but I don't improve much.

>>151483
Don't worry about it. Nobody is an expert immediatly. Just keep practicing it when you can and see if you can manipulate it in different ways. For instance can you make it into a solid sword?

>>151487
I try to make a sword. It's not working very well. I'll practice for the rest of the day. Is there anybody you want to go to?

Probably Rojo... we might be able to help her calm down a bit.

...wait, is there anyone else we can even go to? I mean, Carg is still gone.

>>151497
Yeah Rojo sounds good.

>>151497
>>151499
Okay, I'll send you to Aunt Rojo.

...

...

Oh no... I lost Nir's trail. Gods damnit, I'm lost as well. Nir's put in the forest alone, and I don't know where he is. He... He could be dead by now!

>>151502
Calm down. He is at the shrine in the village.

>>151502
We just came from talking to him, he's fine. Where was the trail leading?

>>151503
No, he's not! We were headed to the lich's place and he got lost and so did I!
>>151505
I don't know where he is! Maybe if I scream out his name? Will that work?

awwwwww fuck, we time jumped again! god dammit.

last time we were with you we had you try enchanting arrows with magic, how long ago was that?

>>151506
...what? Oh right, you said you were going to take a nap. I think you're dreaming, Rojo. How long has it been since you agreed to set the meeting place with the lich? When was the last time you went to sleep?

...what if Mary Shaw is causing this?

Don't scream, Rojo.

>>151507
What? Time jump? Magic arrows? I'm not a mage!
>>151508
A dream? No, this isn't a dream! And we were going to deatroy the lich! Why would we set up a meeting place for it?
>>151510
I don't know who Mary Shaw is! And if I don't scream for Nir, he might die!

>>151511
No, don't! Wake up! WAKE UP!

>>151511
Rojo calm down. Take deep breaths. Trust us. We have led you right so far have we not? Right now we need you to trust us again and don't scream. Don't yell out for Nir or anything. We know where he is at and he is safe. If you just do as we say then nothing bad will happen.

dammit rojo, we are the god damn guide spirits, and if we say you are dreaming then you are dreaming! pinch yourself or something!

>>151513
I'm sorry, but I need to find Nir as quickly as possi-

>>151512
I wake up. I... I don't want to dream that ever again.

>>151516
I just hope that wasn't related to Mary Shaw. If Mary Shaw was trying to get up in your dreams then that would mean Nir's dream of the future is false. He said in that dream that Mary Shaw never invaded your dreams...

Maybe that dream was set up by Mary Shaw to make us not worry about you when you're sleeping? This is a big problem... We need to get rid of her as soon as possible.

need to stabilize your dream-space or something. stands to reason that if black magic lets you go into a dream then white magic should be able to do the opposite and keep someone out.

>>151518
Now I'm being targeted by Mary Shaw? Gods damnit, this sucks.
>>151519
Black magic can allow you to enter dreams?

>>151522
Sure. Nir can slip into dreams without any problems. You might be able to do it too. Atleast you should be able to set up some sort of mental shield.

So how long did you sleep? Is the arrow still glowing and containing white magic?

yeah, when you fell asleep in his sisters hut you looked a little sad so we had him enter your dream. so when you had the dream that Nir was hugging you when you were little it's because near went into it and made it better.

>>151524
>>151525
He entered my dream? I'm... I'm not sure how I feel about that. I think I slept for about 5 hours. I look at the magic arrow. I think I still see it shimmering faintly.

>>151537
Looks like the power drains slowly then. There should be some way to make it last. Do you know any runes?

if you tell him not to anymore he wont but he only went in with the best intentions. that being making you happy.

>>151538
No, runes aren't that common in use. Ryth told me they used to be.
>>151541
I... I'll allow it, but only if you guidance spirits supervise him.

>>151564
You trust us that much? Thank you.

What do you think about Carg now?

>>151567
Carg is still not an ally. I know he's up to something.

>>151571
Even after witnessing that scene? We had to force him to stop saying that he was planning to enslave the tribe. Think about that, would you?

>>151578
Wait, what he said was true? I thought he was lying to save his skin.

That would make sense if he had changed his story immediately upon being threatened. Yet, Nir had to persuade him to say that.

Trust me when I say this: Carg is a huge liar. He hates admitting that he cares, because he's a thief. Do you think it's proper for a thief to care about people? We're good at telling when he lies. His tell is that he stutters.

Besides, it wouldn't have taken this long for him to find someone interested in buying the tribe.

>>151589
So he really cares about me? All I saw him as was a lying jerk. Gods damnit, I need to apologize to him.

>>151593
Well, I'm not sure if he'd be happy about you apologizing. He wanted you to think that way about him.

>>151604
A... Alright. It's almost time for dinner. Should I help the tribe prepare? ...Um, what does Arkan eat?

>>151610
If I had to guess, I'd say Arkan eats meat.

He'd probably love to eat something that's still alive. Like a deer. You could ask him about it.

>>151612
Okay, I'll ask him. I exit the hut. Arkan looks really restless. He's staring at the forest and pacing.

>>151623
Hmm. Ask if there's anything out there.

>>151625
Rojo:"Is there anything out there?"
Arkan:"No, I haven't seen any enemies yet. I wonder where they are."
Should I ask him what he wants to eat now?

>>151628
Hmm. Okay if the lich turns out not to be evil, we're going to have to ask him to try to find a secondary purpose for Arkan. If he gets this restless after just one day of not having anything to fight, we're going to have problems.

I wonder if a bit of sparring would help calm him down? If only there was someone who could actually give him any challenge at all.

Ask him "Do you want to come with me to hunt for food? Or shall I attempt to lure or chase something back for you?"

>>151637
Thinking about how he'll be after a couple of days without anything to fight is kind of scaring me. I need to keep him away from Nir.
Rojo:"Do you want to come with me to hunt for food? Or shall I attempt to lure or chase something back for you?"
Arkan:"Hunt? Sure, I'm itching for a fight! Let's make it rain blood!"

>>151648
Hmm. Maybe he'll be satisfied by hunting? I hope he understands what things can be considered prey.

>>151650
Just so you know, I dislike the word "prey". We enter the forest to look for something to eat. I scan the ground for footprints.

What do kobold footprints look like?

That was just a question I wasn't implying anything.

>>151669
What are you im-
>>151670
Oh. Please don't do that. Kobold footprints are small with 3 toes.

Okay. Can you see and deer? That would probably be the best thing to try for considering the size and all.

Well, what would be really good is a bear or a tiger or something big and dangerous like that. Give Arkan more of a challenge.

>>151685
>>151688
I'll look for tracks of all 3. I'm seeing some tracks, but not anything big. Should we follow those or try to find something bigger?

You don't want anything you can't handle right now, go for the small things.

>>151694
Okay, I'll go for something small. After a little while, I find 2 sets of deer tracks. One goes left, but the leaves on the trees heading in that direction look dead for some reason. The other set goes right.

left is most likely a zombie deer, so go right.

Go left, both of you can easily handle a zombie deer.

Investigate the dead leaves. Who knows, maybe there's some kind of monster around for Arkan to actually fight!

>>151709
>>151710
Okay, I'll follow the deer tracks to the left. I investigate some of the dead leaves. Nothing seems odd except that they're dead. After a while, the dead leaves seem to be getting more numerous.