Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)17:06 No. 196499 ID: f98e0b
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And for the first time in his life, he is staring at the end of a blade, stuck into his face.

"Do not move, meat."

Fuck them. Step out of the way, aside, and sit on the floor, back agains the wall. What are they gonna do, kill you even deader?

If you wanna Jai to stay behind, you can say something like "Okay! Okay! Surrender!" in an audible tone.

>>196499
I suggest you stay very still.

Remember, just because they're being less than polite doesn't mean you have to stoop to their level. Greet them amiably.

Try to appear to be weak, and no threat to them.

You're doing great so far.

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)18:59 No. 196563 ID: f98e0b
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"Uh..." says Dio, freezing in place. "I..."

"Wait," says Horned, emerging from the cave. He hurries up to the leading kithik, a great hulking creature with a pair of boxers perched on its head. "Underwear Hat. He is my prisoner. Let me care for him."
"He is the prisoner of all the people. And I do not want to be called Underwear Hat anymore," says Underwear Hat. "I greatly regret my decision to remove this underwear from the Slimey outpost. I wish to be called Fastest Spear, as I am the fastest with a spear."
"You were eager enough to be called Underwear Hat before," says Horned.
"That is before we found out what underwear was," says Underwear Hat, testily. "I had assumed it was headgear for those with large ears. Now I am stuck with this underwear on my head, as that is my name."
"I sympathize," says Horned. "Allow me to move my prisoner unmolested to the HQ. He is a powerful mage and I wish to bring him before the Queen."
"I do not see what interest the Queen would have with a stringy piece of meat brought before her by her paramour," sneers Underwear Hat. Horned hisses at him, and digs his claw into his arm. He winces and pulls back. "Very well. We shall take him to the HQ. But the Queen is very busy preparing to invade. I make no promises he will receive any audience with her."

Brom 2010/06/20(Sun)19:10 No. 196568 ID: f98e0b
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They yank Dio up off his protesting feet and march him and Jai to the chain bridge to the next higher mountain, and the fortress of the kithik.

"I apologize for my comrade's behavior," says Horned, as the cage takes them high above the cloud layer. The air is crisp, cold, and sharp here. It's a welcome respite from the interior of the mountain. "Underwear Hat is an understandably angry man."
"I think I can see why," says Jai, glancing up at the sullen kithik loping along the chain above them.
"I doubt I will be able to see you again after you are brought to the cell, so if you have any more of your many questions, now would be a prudent time," says Horned. "I will go to the Queen and beg for an audience for you. Most likely my words will convince her. If they do not..." he falls silent. "I do not know what will happen to you."
"We could jump," mutters Jai. "I couldn't carry you but I could slow your fall just fine. We could just go."

If the queen won't talk to you, ask if he could get you both transferred across one of these bridges again. Preferably with minimum guard.

Look down and say "Go... where?"

Then, to Horned: "Nah, I think I pretty much know the score. Unstoppable army of genocidal shadow monsters. No offense."

Pause, then say. "I think I can make a pretty good case for taking the Qal as slaves instead of killing them all. You guys like slaves, right?"

If the queen wont talk to us we are going to do our damnedest to kill her I hope.

"I don't think I have anymore questions, just something to say as one illusionist to another... no... on some level as mentor and apprentice as weird as that may sound. If I could pass something onto you."

I apologize for such harsh awake
To the path of magic you undertake.
I'm sorry to not train you, as is right
As an illusionist, in dream your might.
At least do what you believe to be good
Do not abuse, do no unneeded harm
Give none reason to hate those with the gift.
In cases of power, do as one should.
Do not abuse your power, just to charm.
Let magic be for its sake, not to rift.

>>196568
Is there any sort of behavior the Queen REALLY does not like? Even if its something obvious to you. Like, eye contact?

>>196603
I do like the "give general advice" bit. In particular, the view that magic is its own purpose is one that should be shared; even if this goes south, that view is likely to bring the magic-users of the kithik into a more amenable mindset if it becomes widespread. And it's not a bad concept in general. We have a lot of combat abilities, but not because we necessarily like fighting- we do this to push our limits.

>>196568
Should probably give Gryph an update on what's been happening soon.

Ask Horned what is best in life.

>>196603

This is awesome enough that we must do this.

"Does the Queen know magic?"

>>196568
If the queen won't talk to you then you're just gonna bust out of jail.

Talking about prisoners as meat is a bit worrying. Ask him what they do to the enemy dead and if he thinks it's possible that they have started eating prisoners that they find useless. Other than that ask about the queen, if she knows magic, what she's like, if there is anything you should never under any circumstances do, those sort of things.

Ask how they're supposed to get their army TO the base when the easiest way to get there is apparently past a cliff and a chain-grabber ride.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)11:41 No. 196786 ID: f98e0b
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"How are you going to get an army to the ground if there's only one chain?" asks Dio.
"No talking," hisses Underwear Hat from above.
"I am not entirely sure, but I believe much of the first invasion force are filtering down or are on the ground already."
"Does the Queen know any magic?" asks Dio.
"Yes," says Horned.
"No talking," calls Underwear Hat.

They reach the second mountain and hike toward the fort. It's getting late and the sky has begun to darken. The dark shadow of the fortress, dug into a foothill, looms before them. Dio can hear kithik scrambling about all around them, buzzing and chittering to each other. They dot the mountain, and their purple eyes stare at the two magi and their escort from all directions like stars in a forbidding sky. Jai's hand is on his shoulder, and as they near the fortress her fingers dig nervously into his arm.
"I see you took Cruel Horned's advice for decoration," mutters Horned, looking up at the parapets, and at the bodies of Qal hanging there, stuck on spears and left on display.
"It is a symbol of our might," crows Underwear Hat. "It shall serve as a warning to invaders,"
"The kithik are the invaders, Underwear Hat," says Horned.
"You fill me with unreasonable anger, Horned," says Underwear Hat.

>>196786
Wouldn't it make more sense to place those bodies further down? I mean how is any Qal going to reach this place alive to see the bodies?

Tell Jai to not worry. Things will turn out just fine. Thank Horned for what he's done so far and ask him if he would kindly accompany you to your cell.

>>196788
This, but without the talking. Just put a glamor on the inside of her mask saying it.
Also? Make sure your cell phone is hidden.

>>196786
Stay quiet. Talk to Jai (via magic). Assure her you'll get through this. Ask if she's noticed anything that might be important. Update Gryphona of everything you've learned.

I guess just follow along. Not really much else you can do right now.

>>196786
Tell Underwear he should take a chill pill, goddamn son of a bitch is never gonna get a lady kithik if he doesn't stop with this angry bullshit.

Also, comment on the fact that it really seems that the kithik has definently something against the Qal to make 'em decorations along with the genocide thing, mass murder of Qal might be something unsophisticated and powerful foes for land, but...

oh wait mongolians. Nevermind, they might not have anything at all against them. The Queen is just Attila the Hun for Kithik.

>>196786
Maybe Jai can crushsqueeze your hand for comfort.

>>196795
Asking Jai questions isn't going to work great since she can't really reply in secret like Dahlia can.

Those tunnels up there will be our escape route if diplomacy fails, I think.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)12:28 No. 196812 ID: f98e0b
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[We're fine,] Dio sends to Jai. She nods, nearly imperceptibly.

The kithik search Dio and Jai for weapons (they don't find the crossbow), then head off into the fortress, leaving Horned to bring the mages to the prison within the mountain.
He brings them into a small, grimy room, cramped and bare but for two cold stone benches on either wall.
"I'll go to the Queen and tell her you're here," says Horned. "It may be a long wait. The holding cells are... humble. If there's anything you need..." He pauses in the doorway and looks apologetically around the spartan conditions of the cell.

>>196812
To be quite honest, I'd say to thank Horned. Despite the situation, he really does seem to be trying.

>>196814
That, and everything you do to 'humanize' or otherwise encourage empathy for non-kithiks is a good idea.

>>196812
Thank Horned.

Stretch to make sure your climb doesn't leave you extremly stiff. Talk a bit with Jai and ensure her that everything will be just fine. Send some codewords to her to make sure that nobody will overhear them. Use your excellent memory to check back on the path here and plan on how to pull back on that path with hostile pursuit hot on your tail.

After that I think you should just get some rest and maybe meditate some to collect powers or something. Generally just chill and get ready.

Now is the time for iambic pentameter of Orpheo pleasing!

... since if the queen says no, you may never see your unexpected apprentice again. Besides, might as well give a message to horned for treating you so nicely as such.

>>196812
Hey uh... where are you two going to go to the bathroom? Ask Horned about that.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)13:09 No. 196844 ID: f98e0b
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>>196840
Not yet. Dio sees that Horned looks fairly agitated and eager to leave. He doesn't want to hold him up, but he has to ask...

"Are there bathrooms?" asks Dio.
"Is there not a grate?" asks Horned. Dio stares. "It was a joke, Masked. If you need to use the facilities bang on the door and alert a guard. I will instruct them to cater to you there. Anything else?"
"I think we'll be fine," says Dio.
"Very well," says Horned, starting to slide the door closed.
"Oh, and Horned?" says Dio.
"Hm?" says Horned.
"Thank you," says Dio.
Horned pauses, gazing at Dio. His expression is, as with all kithik, entirely unreadable.
"You are welcome," he says, and closes the door. It shuts with a loud clank, and then a click sounds, echoing with finality.

Dio and Jai are alone in the cell. He sends part of his brain to sleep and starts resting in halves to prepare.
"I like him," says Jai. "He's cute."
"Cute?" says Dio. "What-"
"Not that kind of cute," says Jai. "If he was like three feet tall and didn't have claws the size of carrots he'd be so adorable." She looks over at Dio, who's wearily stretching to make sure his muscles don't cramp. "I don't think I've ever actually seen your eye in the light," she says. "'s nice."
"Thanks," says Dio, massaging his aching shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," says Jai. "I've had enough flipping out for one alienation. It's time to be big damn heroes." She scratches her neck. "Spirits, this helmet is sweaty as balls. Can I, uh... do you mind?"

>>196844
Why would we mind?

>>196844
"Not at all."

Turn around, then. Let her have her privacy.

>>196844
Go on, I dont mind.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)13:55 No. 196873 ID: f98e0b
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"Not at all," says Dio. "Should I turn around or something?"
"Nah," says Jai. "You show me yours, I show you mine..." She takes off her helmet.
She looks as tired as Dio feels.
"Gah. Ooh, yeah. That's better," she says. "Fuckin' metal helmets."
He's seen her without a helmet before, of course, once or twice when she was eating and when they were off-and-on for a bit. That was a long time ago. She's changed.
She catches him looking at her. "Hey," she says.
"Hey," he says.
There's a silence Dio would call less than comfortable. The bench's hard edge digs painfully into his leg.

"When do you think she'll be ready for us?" asks Jai, breaking the quiet.

"No idea"

Lay back on the bench, if there's enough space for that.

>>196873
I think it could be very soon. We are rather unique prisoners. On the other hand she's not stupid and will make us wait for a while and try to check around to make sure we don't have people waiting to attack or something while we're distracting her.

Hey Dio, time to try to go invisible. How about Blind+Lesser Glamour to create an area where the mind doesn't really want to look at?

Um. Actually half your brain's asleep so I guess you're going to have to wait.

>>196873
"Too soon, that's when. Let's take the chance to rest while we can."

>>196880
I don't think now is a good time to mess around with magic. Besides I would think he's tried that trick out at some point during all the training.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)15:18 No. 196917 ID: f98e0b
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"Too soon, I think," says Dio, stretching on his bench and laying down. "Let's try and get some rest while we can." He switches his mind up and puts the other bit to sleep.
"Yup," says Jai.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her cell phone. "Good thing the kithik don't know what these do yet," she says. "I'm gonna tell Pyramus what's up." She starts writing something, then curses under her breath and puts it down.
She stares off into space, as does Dio.

>>196917
"Lemme guess. No signal?"

>>196917
"Can't bring yourself to let him know?"

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)16:57 No. 196955 ID: f98e0b
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"No service?" asks Dio.
"Nah, I've got bars," says Jai.
"Can't bring yourself to tell him?"
"It's not that," says Jai. "It's just that... you told me Pyramus wants me, right?"
"Right."
"Then why has he never showed any indication at all? I pretty much gave him up for a lost cause. He's like- Well, he's like you. He's a really close friend. Sure, maybe you heard him talk about me, but that's just Pyramus for you. He talks about the hotness of half the girls on campus. And so I am sitting here with a text message saying 'Yo Pyramus blah blah blah latissimus dorsi blah blah blah kithik blah blah I want to take it further with you' and I do not know whether or not I can press send."
She sits back. "Fuck it. Now isn't the time anyway."

>>196955
Well you could tell her that he might have been to scared of her to move in directly, so he might have taken the friends route but now he figures he's stuck in the friends zone and unless she drags him out of it he won't be coming out, since he's convinced that would just ruin their friendship.

He was trying to play it cool probably. Keep from seeming desperate. You know how he was before his alienation, right?

>>196955
"Maybe he tried to get to be friends with you to get closer to you, then figured he was friendzoned. Um. Kinda like me, except in reverse. Anyway, he specifically mentioned you, above everyone else. Is he close friends with other girls? Hmm?"

Tell her to send it.
"We'll make it out of this. We'll finish this alienation, and when we do, he'll be waiting for you."

Admit that you did something similar with Dahlia. Rationalize that you did it so you have something important to do when you get back, to make it more likely that you'll get back alive.

Brom 2010/06/21(Mon)17:54 No. 196969 ID: f98e0b
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"Maybe he was trying to play it cool, like befriend you, first, and then figured he was friendzoned. Like me, in reverse," says Dio.
"Maybe," says Jai, glancing at her phone. "It's weird. I feel all torn up about this guy and I haven't even sent one text to him. He doesn't know what's going on."
"Well, I know how you feel about the should-I-send-the-message thing. The same thing happened to me with Dahlia."
"Really? How did you handle it?" she asks.
"Pussied out," he says. "Partially so I'd have something really important to do when I got home. Extra incentive for making it out of here."
"Good excuse," says Jai. "Mind if I borrow it?"

There are two loud bangs on the door that make them jump, then the hatch in the door slides open. Underwear hat's beady eyes appear. "The Queen will see you now," he says. "One of you at a time. Who will go first?"