>>185639
...OH SHIT! WAIT! DON'T SHOOT! YOU'RE POINTING AT NESSIE! YOU'RE POINTING AT NESSIE!

Oren. Don't you want to do Nessie in the butt?

We know you do. You can't do her in the butt if you've got RED EYE watching.

You don't want to disappoint Orpheo do you? He let you keep the oculus. He trusted you. You have to protect it. It's IMPORTANT, Oren.

So go on and shoot it. SHOOT THE EYE. Draw the arrow. Notch it in the string. Pull the arrow back. Line up your shot. Then let go. Watch the arrow fly. Watch it destroy your enemy.

>>185639
I don't think you've got the guts.

You hick with a two-gilt badge.

In fact, I dare you. I double dare you, motherfucker.

>>185639
You can't kill us! You are a mere plaything, a bauble in our incalculably vast games of fate...

You will do as we command becasue despite what you may want, despite what you may believe, despite what you may feel... we want what is best for you.

Man, but those responsibilities get you sick pussy, man. You get to tap Nessie's ass as long as you keep on living. You're Oren Loper, just ride it out, lone star. You'll get a nice quiet retirement one day and it will be grand. Peace, dawg? Come on, YOU KEEP THE PEACE! Oren, you are the peacemaker.

Ass is waiting for you, Loper. You just have to reach out... and grab it. Let's be two points ahead of Nessie tonight. Grab DAT ASS

I know all these other voices are gonna try to insult you, try to give you long speeches and whatnot, but I'm gonna ask you...

Are you a man of your word?

There's a shape in the background near Oren. Is that Nessie?

Oren 2010/05/30(Sun)20:46 No. 185662 ID: f98e0b
File 127527758427.gif - (104.07KB , 800x600 , 160.gif )

>animated

But-
I-




Aw, the hell with it.

>>185662
Now... WAKE UP!

>>185661
(Nah, that's just leftover from the sitting Oren image)

>>185662
Now! An opportunity arises!

Oh, well I guess its a bit late to sing "I can't live without you". Shame, because that probably woulda worked real good.

Always remember: Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Brom 2010/05/30(Sun)21:19 No. 185684 ID: f98e0b
File 127527958711.gif - (416.38KB , 800x600 , 161.gif )

>Animated

Brom 2010/05/30(Sun)21:21 No. 185686 ID: f98e0b
File 127527969956.png - (256.05KB , 1000x600 , 162.png )

"NO" howls the mage, firing blindly, desperately. The bolt catches Oren in the shoulder, spinning him round and sending him flying. "Sharpened sticks cannot kill me! They WILL not kill me!"

Brom 2010/05/30(Sun)21:24 No. 185692 ID: f98e0b
File 127527985948.png - (121.39KB , 600x800 , 163.png )

Oren tries to get his footing, realizes there's no ground beneath him, and falls off the pillar of stone in the center of the room. He manages to turn his fall into a sliding descent, ending up battered and bruised, but safe, at the bottom. The mage up top starts firing beams of force anywhere and everywhere, knocking great holes in the chamber with his blind rage.
"Oren!" calls Nessie from the staircase, which nets her a beam shot wildly in her direction. She sidesteps it and it shatters the doorway behind her.

>>185692
Let's get the fuck out of here!

Quietly.

>>185692
Exit, stage.... that-a-way!

start moving towards the door and make hand signs at nessie to evac.

Gesture for Nessie to get out of here, displace, and shoot this asshole in the head again.

>>185692
Exit stage the fuck out of here!

|3

>>185692
Peg this guy in the neck from the doorway.
Or, if you have a knife, sneak up on him and slit his throat - he's fighting blind, after all, and Orpheo WILL come if you text him saying "DEAD ARKER OCULII. GET YOUR ASS HERE.".

Ventilate the guy's braincase some more.

If we contact Orpheo we should probably not use a text. I mean, that's usually stored in the phone and also other people could be looking over his shoulder.

has... has it been half an hour yet?

Brom 2010/05/30(Sun)22:41 No. 185725 ID: f98e0b
File 127528450423.png - (250.44KB , 800x600 , 164.png )

Oren gesticulates wildly toward the door, dashing toward there himself. He turns around for a moment and sinks yet another arrow into the mage, who grunts and fires off another beam at were Oren is standing. He has to dive out of the way.
"You think you've won? I'll tear this entire building down on all of us!"

Brom 2010/05/30(Sun)22:43 No. 185727 ID: f98e0b
File 127528459255.png - (250.65KB , 800x600 , 165.png )

"I'll-"
A man in a red cloak with a heavy iron helmet steps out of the air next to the mage. "Oy. Spooky."
"What-"

Brom 2010/05/30(Sun)22:43 No. 185728 ID: f98e0b
File 127528463818.png - (182.43KB , 800x600 , 166.png )

"Boosh."

i'll take it that that is an ally mage. remark on his timing.

Reply "Boosh to the Woosh"

GODDAMN WIZARDS ALWAYS STEALING YOUR KILLS! HOW'RE YOU SUPPOSED TO GET ANY EXP THAT WAY?

>>185736
maybe it will count as a group effort so you still get some.

We tagged him first. It counts as our kill.

Tell him to make sure the tough bastard is really dead! Then thank him for the assist.

"He'd better be dead. There isn't enough paperwork in the world for how under arrest he is."

Then fall over.

PYRAMUS! FUCK YEAH!

Ah, Oren. You should stop, sit down, and reflect on the fact that once again, you have triumphed over impossible odds with nothing more than superficial injury.

You are making quite the habit of this. I'd also say you deserve a week or two off.

That's right.

Nobody fucks with the Brolice.

>>185728
Looks like Orpheo was able to send some back up. Or maybe they were just looking for this wizard anyway. Either case thank your rescuer.

>>185728
Stick one fist in the air and shout "Woooooo."

Especially if you're currently on the floor from diving out of the way.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)07:33 No. 185819 ID: f98e0b
File 127531641733.gif - (103.34KB , 600x800 , 167.gif )

The petite illusionist from before, Doll, pops into existence next to the red cloaked mage.
"Teh hessr an trabja grint," she says, kicking the ashes of the spook.
"Djeah," says the Red cloak. "Ille explodra com an firecracker."
They proceed to perform an elaborate handshake/brofist on top of the spire. Oren sticks a fist in the air and goes, "Whoo!", then sits down heavily, muttering, "There is going to be so much fucking paperwork to do about all this."
Nessie giggles. "I'd offer to do it all, but, uh, you know me."
His phone buzzes. It's a text message, from Allen.
>got msg holy balls getting over there now ill look for big black ruin place be there asap

Doll looks over to where the buzz came from and waves.

>>185819
Just chill and wait for Allen to get there. Figuring out who those goons were that kidnapped you and where their base was can wait. Right now you have earned some rest.

>>185819
Wave back. :B

And yeah, besides that, just hang out until your friend Allen shows up with a ride out of here. You can sort through the paperwork later. Like, way later.

Talk to these new guys. Figure out what the fuck is going on.

You've still got the oculus, right?

Well, I guess you've got two, now.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)08:56 No. 185846 ID: f98e0b
File 127532141159.png - (243.00KB , 800x600 , 168.png )

Oren scoops up the oculus from the body of the mage, now little more than a fading greasy smear on the pillar.
"Uh, hi," he says, going to sit with the red cloaked mage, who has taken off his helmet and is swigging from a canteen. He's a cyclops too, with a piercing, blank green eye. His speckled color and prominent (for a vidder) mouth put Oren in mind of the Waan, which is weird because there hasn't been a Waani in Eldefolk/Furlesian lands for years, ever since they got near wiped out by Furlaia. "What exactly is going on here?"
"Verrah sorrah," says the mage. "Ah dun spikk Elde." He points to himself. "Pyramus."
"It's cool," says Oren. "I'm Oren."
"Nessie," says Squires.
"Good morning," says Pyramus, despite the fact that night is beginning to fall. He extends the canteen and sloshes it around. Oren takes it and has a long drink. It's some of the best water he's ever had. They pass it around for a bit.

"What's going on," says Doll, examining the runes on the ground, "is that an Arker Archmage looking for revenge for his apprentice stalked and tried to kill you. You handled yourself pretty excellent, all things considered. These runes are weird. They look pretty archaic. Hold on, I'm gonna text a great ritualist I know." She sits down and starts tapping away on her phone.

.... awww shit, everyone out of the magic circle, NOW! sitting in one of those is a bad idea.

Tell her the voices say hello and that the ritualist would know, whatever that means. I don't know if it actually would work or you'd actually do it out of fear of being called crazy.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)09:42 No. 185864 ID: f98e0b
File 127532414742.png - (117.04KB , 600x800 , 169.png )

>>185858
Yeah, Oren's not going to do that.

>>185849
Oren raises the point, and everyone hurries out of the magic circle. Then Doll's phone buzzes with the rtualist's return message. She flips it open, reads for a second, then gasps. She sprints back onto the circle.
"What did he say? What's going on?" asks Nessie.
"The runes are of a portal, of opening," says Doll, scrambling around on the circle. "which means that somewhere around here is a portal, a, a door to something," She's getting excited. "And that rune is the dead city of Hardai also known as the second city also known as Eos which means...aha. Here we are." She presses her hand against the stone in a rune on the circle and mutters something.

>>185846
"Uh, should we be sitting on this thing? He did bring me here for the kill..."

He probably is a Wann. He's a cyclops after all, and they can go where they damn well please.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)09:44 No. 185866 ID: f98e0b
File 127532428255.png - (212.04KB , 800x600 , 170.png )

There is a loud rumbling sound and the pyramid on the circle rises up from the floor, becoming a three-dimensional block of stone. An opening flowers out of its center. "Which means," says Doll, "that we have just discovered a two thousand year old suburb of one of the lost cities of the Arkanopolitans. Hello, Alienation Project."

>>185866
Congratulations?

"Shame I didn't bring my camera."

>>185864
Should she be opening a portal to a dead city?
Also, Eos is a goddess of the dawn, who is also known by the name Aurora.

Say, "Well. Y'sure we should have the door sitting open like that? With mister death mage having found it first, and all that."

Point out that you're beat up enough to be a Bruce Willis character.

>>185866
"Congratulations. So, you're going to stay here and investigate it?"
Also, hand her back her sword.

>>185866
Give her back her sword and then rest your weary head in Nessies lap. Tell them to wake you up when Allen gets there or if anything interesting happens. Then sleep.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)10:13 No. 185879 ID: f98e0b
File 127532602863.png - (117.03KB , 600x800 , 171.png )

"Do you think you should be keeping that open if it's a dead city and all?" says Oren.

Doll presses her hand to the door and mutters something else. It sinks back into the ground.
She walks over. "Well, I mean it is a dead city as the name implies, but you're right. Better safe than sorry." She extends a hand. "I'm Dahlia zu Veltkrick."
"Oren Loper," says Oren. That's funny. She shares a surname with the zer Veltkrick crime syndicate. Coincidence, probably. They ain't mages, as far as Oren knows. Certainly not cyclopes.
"Congratulations, Dahlia. Good luck exploring the place," he says, handing her back her sword. "Sorry I didn't bring a camera."
"It's not a problem. Dio would probably have freaked out, but..." she pauses in contemplation. "Never mind."

There's an audible hiss outside, the sound of sand being crushed.
"Sounds like our ride is here," says Nessie.

>>185879
Be careful in checking it out. Might not be who you expect.

>>185879
show some care on your way out.. maybe send some cameras and stuff back here when yer safe again.

Additionally!
If it IS a rescue party let them know that the mages here are FRIENDLY and not the ones that tried to kill you.

good plan for response check, have dalia make an illusion of you walk out. if they shoot it then it's bad dudes.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)11:08 No. 185891 ID: f98e0b
File 127532933031.png - (247.41KB , 800x600 , 172.png )

Oren and Nessie creep outside as the sun sinks lower. There's a skiff parked in front of the temple, and several men with crossbows. At their front is Allen Arbock, wielding a heavy cleaver, which he drops as soon as Oren steps out into the light.
"Oren! By the spirits, I was petrified! Absolutely petrified!"
He grabs them both in a great bearhug.
"Can't really breathe there, Allen," says Oren.
"Right. Sorry. Hah." says Allen, letting up. "Didn't really know my own strength. And Miss Squires! Ravishing as always, I see."
"Hey, Allen," says Nessie. "Thanks for the lift."
"We are getting you two out of this dreadful desert," says Allen. "Augh, it's terrible. I've got sand absolutely everywhere already. Come on aboard and we'll get you back home in style. What do you want, dinner? I can have the chef whip up anything you want. A bed for yourselves?" He sniffs the air and takes a look at them. "Some clean clothes or a bath? The skiff's fully outfitted."

D: all of the above. also, pray that that mage didn't have a mentor of his own.
you thinking about coming back here and checking out these ruins?

>>185891
Bath, dinner and a room for you and Nessie sounds pretty good right now.

>>185891
Meh, Dahlia might have a parent in it. Not that it matters, since she saved your asses and seems to be legit.
"Some help getting the people behind this would be nice, but I'd settle for a bath and clean clothes."

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)12:39 No. 185919 ID: f98e0b
File 127533479739.png - (408.98KB , 800x600 , 173.png )

Oren takes the longest, best damn shower he has ever taken in his life.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)12:40 No. 185920 ID: f98e0b
File 127533482153.png - (196.95KB , 800x600 , 174.png )

Then he goes to the food cabinet with Nessie, and Allen sits down an entire damn pig’s worth of ribs in front of them and demands they tell him everything. Which they do, minus the mages and the oculus.
“You’re saying there’s a pack of highwaymen operating freely on the roads to Anchorturn?” says Allen when they’ve finished. “And they’re bold enough to capture two officers of the Authority?”
“Well, there were, anyway,” says Oren. “Plenty of them are sort of crispy-fried now.”
Nessie grimaces and pushes the rest of her plate away.
“Sorry, Deputy.”
“It’s fine, sheriff,” she says. “I- eugh. I think I learned I don’t like fire today.”
“Well.” says Allen. “I’m going straight to the authority with this and demanding an investigation into it. And if they refuse, which given Blejwas is entirely possible, I’ll just have to deal with it myself. Where did you want to be dropped off, by the way? Back home at Hearthback will take until morning to get to, but there are rooms on the sleeper car. Anchorturn’s a bit closer."

We were taking Joseph to Anchorturn.

WAIT WHERE IS JOSEPH

>>185920
Go on back home. You and Nessie can have some private time in the sleeper cars.

>>185921
Good catch there, I forgot all about it.

We need to find Joseph... if he got away from the hitmen he might be in Anchorturn.

Where the hell is the Undertaker anyway?

>>185932
Hey you. Vote for one of the choices properly.

>>185998
Fine, check Anchorturn I guess for some reason.

>>185934
Based on past experience, I would guess "still hiding in case we run into another mage."

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)18:21 No. 186118 ID: f98e0b
File 127535530927.png - (167.81KB , 800x600 , 175.png )

"We'll go ahead to Anchorturn," says Oren. "See if we can't find Joseph there. It's where I'd run to if I was him."
"Right," says Allen. "I'll set a course. We still won't get there until, I'd say, around five in the morning. So we'll just take the scenic route and give you two time to sleep off the day's events and, uh, catch up with each other. I'll bunk up front and ensure you aren't disturbed. Night!" He stands up and starts to walk out, then doubles back and grabs the last two ribs. "No sense letting these go to waste. Ciao." He shuts the door quietly behind him.

Oren and Nessie are alone. They take advantage of the fact almost instantly. After about a minute, Nessie's lips leave his. "Shall we relocate this meeting of the Hearthback Authority to the bedroom, Sheriff Loper?" she asks.
"Motion passed, Deputy," says Oren. "Have you considered what I suggested earlier?"
"Hmm? Oh. Fine, Oren, I give permission for exploration of Lands Further South. On one critical condition. Backrub first."

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)18:22 No. 186119 ID: f98e0b
File 127535534211.png - (365.08KB , 800x600 , 1.png )

“Mmm.” says Nessie. “Lower.”
Oren obliges. “So what’d you think about the mages? The ones who weren’t trying to kill us.”
“Well, the one in red was pretty damn cuteow” says Nessie.
“Whoops,” says Oren.
She laughs. “Worry not, Oren. I prefer my men with both eyes intact. Okay. Question for you. Not that I’m complaining that we’re on a big old skiff going to hobknob with your executive friends, but why do you reckon Anchorturn? How could Joseph have gotten there on his own? I mean walking would have been crazy. Maybe he’s out there dying of thirst on the wastes right now. It’d serve him right. Plus I’m kind of worried about getting anywhere near that Blejwas guy you hate so bad, to be honest. A bit higher and to the left.”

>>186119
Word of advice, Oren?

Lube. Lots and lots of lube. Trust me, Squires will thank you tenfold for it.

>>186119
"Because if we check Anchorton and then trace our route backwards we've got the best chance of finding him."

>>186119
Well... Anchorturn Pen is where his orders came from. That is where we were going before.

Just because we got kidnapped doesn't mean we're suddenly going to drop everything we were doing before and go home.

The way I think of it is that he took the car they ambushed you in and drove it there.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)18:43 No. 186150 ID: f98e0b
File 127535658319.png - (365.12KB , 800x600 , 2.png )

"Because if we check Anchorton and then trace our route backwards we've got the best chance of finding him." says Oren. "Maybe he took the ride we were using. He could have been the one who hired those guys in the first place,"
"Makes sense, I guess," says Nessie, arching her back and rubbing up against him. The feel of her skin against his is too tempting. He takes one hand away and reaches downward, squeezing her ass, eliciting a surprised squeak from her.
"Four two," he says, kissing the back of her neck.
"Shut up," she says, then feels something firm pressing up against her. "Ooh," she purrs. "Eager tonight, aren't we, Sheriff?"

>>186150
Squires makes silly faces~ :3c

teamsleep 2010/05/31(Mon)18:44 No. 186155 ID: 0f9dad
File 127535667410.jpg - (101.90KB , 1153x768 , thechariman.jpg )

Promotions, sah.

>>186150
"I'm always eager for you, and when Dahl came to free me all I cared about was you getting out ok."
Give her a love bite on her shoulder.
"Think we should go public? Maybe with an engagement?"

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)18:57 No. 186168 ID: f98e0b
File 127535744720.png - (360.86KB , 800x600 , 3.png )

"Always for you," he says.
His arms wrap around her, drawing her close. She adjusts herself, lets him slide into her, adds her own motion to his. An ear brushes against his lips, and he's happy to oblige it.
They take it slow (since they're both still aching like hell) and they're quiet for a few minutes, until Squires speaks up.
"We haven't actually said anything about us us, really, have we?" she says, between strokes.
"Mumph," says Oren, his mouth full of ear.
"I mean like pretty much we're just fuckbuddies, right? And that's perfectly fine."
"Mmn."
"But, um, Sheriff?"
"Mmm?"
"I think I love you. Have I ever said that? I don't think I have. But I think somewhere between the constant threats of murder and the making fun of each other I really mushy-gushy, cloyingly, happily-ever-after-etc fell for you. And you don't have to say it too cause I don't want to rush you or anything but I just thought I should let you know. Oren?"

>>186168
-> >>186160

"When that mage was in my head... I realized I have those feelings for you too."

>>186183
He realized THAT when he was tied in the chair.
Remember him telling Dahlia to save Nessie instead?

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)19:33 No. 186202 ID: f98e0b
File 12753595832.png - (77.76KB , 800x600 , 4.png )

"When that mage was in my head," says Oren, taking his mouth from her ear for a moment, "I realized I felt that too."
"Oh spirits," chuckles Squires, "we're really in for it now, aren't we?"
"Yep," says Oren, as they speed off into the night. "Isn't it great?"

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)19:34 No. 186203 ID: f98e0b
File 127535967832.png - (17.69KB , 800x600 , gaze.png )

And a hundred miles away he is looking up into the night sky.

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)19:35 No. 186204 ID: f98e0b
File 127535970060.png - (25.92KB , 800x600 , 5.png )

He hears someone approaching from behind him. One of his.

"Sir? One of the hired help wanted to see you. It's Danyon."
"Is it about Loper?"
"Yessir."
"Let him."

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)19:40 No. 186205 ID: f98e0b
File 127536002855.png - (26.53KB , 800x600 , 6.png )

"Leslie, I'm disappointed, to say the least," he says as the highwayman approaches.
"This Loper guy you assigned us," says Danyon, his voice strained and with a desperate edge. "He was... I mean, he chopped my hand off, he burned our base down..."
"I wasn't interested in stories about the sheriff, Danyon. I was interested in his head. You were extremely unprofessional tonight. It will not happen again, clear?"
"Look, I tell you you're underestimating this guy," Danyon is saying, babbling. He is scared. "He's not some country hick. He's a monster. He burned us alive, some of us. He fucked us, Blejwas. He fucked us and he's going to fuck you too, okay? He's gonna

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)19:40 No. 186206 ID: f98e0b
File 127536005440.png - (59.84KB , 800x600 , 7.png )

fuh-"

Brom 2010/05/31(Mon)19:42 No. 186207 ID: f98e0b
File 127536016370.png - (23.88KB , 800x600 , 8.png )

"You saw that, yes, private?"
"Sir?"
"Resisting arrest. Textbook case. I had to do it. Now go and round up the rest of the gang and arrest them. They've menaced this road too long."
"Yessir."
"And private."
"Sir?"
"They all resisted arrest too."
"Sir."

The Undertaker 2010/05/31(Mon)19:43 No. 186209 ID: f98e0b
File 127536020911.png - (34.27KB , 800x600 , 10.png )

Holy shitballs.

>>186209
IT'S ABOUT BLOODY TIME YOU SHOWED UP!

>>186209
I fucking knew it.

...

Sup, Undertaker!

That explains where Undie was all this time.
Hey man. Glad to see ya.

>>186209
Undertaker? Go tell Allen what you saw, and that Blejwas needs to meet with an 'accident' out in the wastes, then tell Oren what you saw - and mention that nobody can contest his testimony if he says the goons admitted to being hired by Blejwas.