We need to get moving... I'm sorry friend. You are very strong and courageous Herbert, so don't give up yet! All of France depends on you.

Stay strong, friend. Stay strong.

Herbert 2011/02/05(Sat)02:45 No. 2000653 ID: 9c9de5
File 129690273268.jpg - (225.24KB , 960x600 , opfer1.jpg )

As fast as we can, we follow the path. The monster gets going too. I pause every once in a while to let Isabel catch her breath and to drop something down at the creature, but it doesn't seem to be bothered by that.

Nicola stops.

We stand in front of a huge metal door, that stands wide open. The monster starts to climb up, while I throw whatever I can down at it.

"Is this the exit? Where does it lead?"

Nicola turns around staring down at the creature.

>"It goes up to the main laboratories and the testing area. But we'll never make it. Two of us have their legs broken. It'll catch up before we'd even get there. Unless... unless one of us stays back to divert it. I guess it's obvious who'll have to do it. I just can't let it have you. Who would have thought I'd have to say goodbye this often down here?"

>>279234
Be on guard, friend! She could mean either herself or Isabel, and Im sure she's the type for self-preservation!

>>279234
"You can't divert it because it's after me. Take Isabel and go; I'll follow you after I trick it."

Diversion seems hopeless as it certainly isin't going to stop coming after you just to take a head into it's nest and it's stupid to think one could stand up to it for even a single second. The one who it's after has to deal with it. That would be you. Everybody else can continue.

You can't run fast anymore so you have to hide. The gears might be your chance. Grab onto one to let it's motion take you and continue to the next one. They must go somewhere, right?

Herbert 2011/02/05(Sat)05:20 No. 2000657 ID: 9c9de5
File 129691203497.jpg - (222.13KB , 960x600 , opfer2.jpg )

"You can't divert it because it's after me. You probably wouldn't buy enough time for us to flee anyway. Take Isabel and go. I'll follow you after I trick it."

>"No, I won't let you die here. I told you you might be important and linked to the experiment somehow. Even if this just buys one minute, it might be enough to escape. It's something I have to do. Goodbye..."

Herbert 2011/02/05(Sat)06:42 No. 2000658 ID: 9c9de5
File 129691697542.jpg - (228.56KB , 960x600 , opfer3.jpg )

>"...Isabel!"

Grab her even if it means jumping after her. You aren't going to lose your friends, she and us are all you have.

>>279266

And here we go. The last reason to stop trusting Nicola.
Next time, you do the same to her, she deserves it.

>>279271
This. Now. GO GET HER!!

>>279271
When you jump after Isabel, Nicola will likely try to grab and stop you. Be ready to avoid her.

>Nicola will likely try to grab and stop you

When you jump after Isabel tackle her down with you.

GODDAMN IT
It's fucking suicide but go after her!

Agreed, go after her and if McStabby tries to stop you hit her with your mask or any other thing you can! Punch her? I dont know.

Herbert 2011/02/06(Sun)07:35 No. 2000665 ID: 9c9de5
File 129700650147.jpg - (190.31KB , 960x600 , springen.jpg )

I dash to the edge. Nicola tries to grab me, but I manage to jump out of her reach. Without her crutch, her movement is as restricted as mine, but I don't think that I'm able to pull her down with me somehow.

>"Stop! What are you doing?"

"I'll safe her."

>"What? Why? Just come with me."

Staying out of her reach I slowly circle her.

>"Why are you so upset. She's just something they made up there. You know how many of those creatures I've killed. She's no real person like me, she's just a thing."

"No... she's my friend."

I turn around and jump.

>>279564
"She's not a real person like you. She's a real person like me."

Go after her - you can do it! We believe in you!

Tuck your limbs in, and roll with the impact.

Herbert 2011/02/06(Sun)12:29 No. 2000668 ID: 9c9de5
File 129702416446.jpg - (184.07KB , 960x600 , Schlag.jpg )

I roll down the steep trash slope and land in front of the monster. It raises its head and its smile widens. Isabel struggels beneath one of its claws.

>"No! Herbert. Run away!"

>>279621
Oh, god. It's so close to her- move forward, but how can you make it in time?

Throw something at him- us, if you've got nothing else- while you charge. Hopefully it will distract him long enough that you'll have a chance to get up there and save Isabel.

>>279621
"HEY! UGLY! FORGET HER, IT'S ME YOU WANT!"

That pointy object on your left might be a good choice to throw at him. If you get close enough to him, you might also want to try grabbing your key. He is keeping it as safe from your grasp as he can, as if he wants to prevent you from using it. Maybe you're more powerful than you seem under that mask? Also, are those gears off to the side moving in a way that they could potentially crush him?

I think he just wants to screw with us by keeping the key, I cant think of any reason why he'd know what we looked like. I say we run, I dont think we can take him on like this.

There's more than one way to keep monsters away from the outside world, by the way.
I vote for killing Nicola.

Herbert 2011/02/10(Thu)04:49 No. 2000674 ID: 9c9de5
File 129734219374.jpg - (206.83KB , 960x600 , hieb.jpg )

I grab the pointy steel bar and hurl it at the monster.

"HEY! FORGET HER, IT'S ME YOU WANT!"

I stumble forward and the monster's backhand crashes into me, sending me flying towards the platform's edge.

Herbert 2011/02/10(Thu)04:50 No. 2000675 ID: 9c9de5
File 129734221946.jpg - (167.26KB , 960x600 , hieb2.jpg )

I seem to have caught its attention, because it releases Isabel and turns towards me. It moves slowly, as if knowing that I can't run anywhere know. I'm trapped between the creature and the big moving gears, that would probably crush whoever comes to close to them.

>>280682
Get to your feet and try to keep your voice even and calm.
"Isabel, you need to leave; go patch yourself up and get to the surface. I'll follow when I'm done here.
Happiness, has anybody ever asked you 'why?'?"

If possible, lure him into jumping at you and then jump away at the last second so he gets stuck in the gears.

>>280697
This would be the conventional solution, yes. Certainly beats trying to talk, again, to the thing that doesn't talk.

Herbert 2011/02/12(Sat)15:14 No. 2000679 ID: 9c9de5
File 129755245038.jpg - (207.76KB , 960x600 , schlag2.jpg )

"Isabel, you need to leave; go patch yourself up and get to the surface. I'll follow when I'm done here."

I stand at the edge, preparing to jump aside as soon as the monster rushes towards me.

With a sudden move it jumps forward.

With two injured legs I am too slow to get out of the way. I feel its claws digging into my arm as I am thrown backwards off the gangway.

Herbert 2011/02/12(Sat)15:17 No. 2000680 ID: 9c9de5
File 129755262843.jpg - (163.23KB , 960x600 , aufprall.jpg )

My fall suddenly stops as I dash against one of the gears.

Hey, I know your probably in a lot of pain right now, but you need to get ready to dodge that bastard if he's coming down at you.

Which way is the gear moving?
Which ever it is, roll that way and try to get to some sort of ready position, just make sure you don't get ground up in the teeth.

Herbert... you know how they said real monsters don't die?

I wonder if I count as a 'real monster'. I CAN move, barely. I think I am the first monster that the scientist created. If you really need to, use me to block an attack, or jam the gears.

...maybe we should've tested this when we had something less lethal to experiment with. Oh well, we're a bit... uh, we're running out of options.

Herbert 2011/02/12(Sat)20:00 No. 2000683 ID: 9c9de5
File 129756962330.jpg - (176.91KB , 960x600 , ausweichen.jpg )

I mobilize the last of my power to jump up.

The monster's blow misses and carried by the momentum it is nearly flinged off the gear, clinging to the now blood stained metal at the last second.

I stagger backwards and fall back down. I guess you're right. I'm out of options and I might not be able to survive without your help.

Herbert 2011/02/12(Sat)20:01 No. 2000684 ID: 9c9de5
File 12975696632.gif - (2.07MB , 960x600 , zahnrad.gif )

The monster hangs at the edge and for a moment I hope for it to be crushed before noticing, that the gear isn't connected to anything. Whatever it once moved now lies at the chasm's bottom in addition to all the other broken machine parts, while the creature starts climbing back up unhindered.

[animated]

Aw, fuckin Hell.
Fucking fuck fuck fuck.

>>281186
You have to act, Herbert. If you have the strength, can you break its grip on the gear and make it fall?

Otherwise, if there's anywhere to run to which you have a chance at surviving...

>>281186
Move closer to the claw, brace yourself, and use your legs to buck that claw the buck off.
"Hey! You give that back!"

He has reacted to being hit in the face by your mask, before. I know you are not strong enough to move that claw. Perhaps you should hit the monster instead. I guess you could try hitting it with us, too.

If you use us to hit him, please please PLEASE hold us by the head! I'm assuming that's where all our help is emanating from, so its crucial that if we rip you save at least that bit.

I don't think you'll be able to do much with his claws.

Kick him in the face or jump on it to bring the monster down.

Actually, doing anything stupid like ATTACKING the thing is just going to get us killed in this state. Why don't we just work on EVADING it?

Herbert 2011/02/17(Thu)15:02 No. 2000692 ID: 9c9de5
File 12979837698.gif - (77.26KB , 960x600 , angriff.gif )

I jump forward, swinging the bag to hit the monsters head. It drops my ripped out arm and digs its claw into my body.

The bag slips my grip and hits the creatures face. It screams in anger, slipping backwards.

[animated]

Herbert 2011/02/17(Thu)15:03 No. 2000693 ID: 9c9de5
File 129798380610.jpg - (24.23KB , 960x600 , bewusstlos.jpg )

I hear the grinding sound of the gears as they crush the monster while I start passing out. Somebody grabs my body and starts shaking me.

>"Herbert! HERBERT! Please don't die..."

So much for it being invincible. You finally did it...

It dropped the key! It dropped it. Tell her to use it and take off your mask, Herbert.

"It's too late for me. Help me take the mask off Isabel. Just for once, let me look upon you with my own eyes."

Agreed about the key, though "It's too late for me. Help me take the mask off Isabel. Just for once, let me look upon you without this damned mask." sounds a little better.

But dont give up... I know this seems grim, but you can make it! I know you can!
Just... you can make it.

>>282113
"Stop bleeding. Elevate arm and legs."

...Wait, were WE in that bag?

>>282180
No, it was empty as it fell.

[stand up, walk over to Herbert]

Suggestion 2011/02/17(Thu)22:20 No. 2000699 ID: 9c9de5
File 129801000082.jpg - (189.13KB , 960x600 , Exitus.jpg )

Herbert tries to say something, but it's barely understandable. Something about a key.

Isabel wraps her arms arond him and lifts him up to hear what he is saying and to show him that he is not alone, but he already stopped talking.

>>282258
[Stand up. Unlock mask.]

>>282258
Oh god I'm gonna cry! Unlock the darn mask already!

>>282261

[flop slowly over, dragging key to Herbert.]

I'm sad, this is sad. I don't think opening the mask is going to help... must try. Isabel if you can hear us, pick us up.

Suggestion 2011/02/18(Fri)13:01 No. 2000705 ID: 50546d
Audio ForHerbert.mp3 - (1.57MB )

Goodnight, sweet prince.

use soul sacrifice, take our life for your own herbert!

Suggestion 2011/02/18(Fri)13:34 No. 2000707 ID: 9c9de5
File 129806484370.gif - (139.57KB , 960x600 , maske.gif )

Isabel sees a movement from the corner of her eye and raises her head.

A key glimmers at the gear's edge. It must have been knocked of the monster during the fight. Isabel crawls nearer.

This must have been the key Herbert was talking about. Maybe it will open the mask. The least she can do now is to free her friend from the suit and let him spend his last moments without it.

[animated]

>>282371
Can you hear me, Isabel? Do you...do you think Nicola can repair him?

;_;

>>282371
Can Isabel even hear us?

Isabel, this might be gruesome, but examine Herbert's head closer. There might be yet a way to save him!

((holy fuck, i did not see that coming!))
find a headless body that looks like herbert's and stick it on!

Isabel... Did you have to rip his head off? At first I was like ;_; but then I lol'd.

I knew it! I knew the french royal family was all robots! Its the only way to explain their tendency to all be MD's and a Spy.

But darn it! your our prince Herbert. Help himmmm! robot or not.

Isabel, the doll. Herbert wouldn't leave his friend in peril. Take the doll.

Herbert might be fixable.

[try to flop some more]

>>282597
[Flop more]
[Say: "Hello! Little help?"]

Suggestion 2011/02/19(Sat)15:37 No. 2000716 ID: 9c9de5
File 129815866516.jpg - (149.73KB , 960x600 , Ader1.jpg )

Sitting in the puddle of Herbert's blood Isabel stares at the head she is holding in her hands.

After a while she hesitantly reaches out and inspects it more closely. Maybe Herbert could be repaired.

There is some strange growth on some of the parts. As she touches one of them it sticks to her fur.

Isabel 2011/02/19(Sat)15:38 No. 2000717 ID: 9c9de5
File 129815869451.jpg - (148.80KB , 960x600 , Ader2.jpg )

Ouch!

Uh oh Isabel are you okay?

can... can you hear us?

Isabel, stay away from barrels, they're not good for you. Isabel, I warned you about that Stabby, I told you dawg. Isabel, don't touch things covered with the nerve network of Chthulhu. Oh god, can you hear us? Down here. Please, pick up the puppet.

Isabel, if you're hearing even the slightest hints of suggestions coming from us, wipe it off onto your shirt (or Herbert's suit, if you dont want it stuck to you). That stuff doesn't seem like a good thing.

Isabel 2011/02/19(Sat)18:17 No. 2000723 ID: 9c9de5
File 129816823511.jpg - (193.41KB , 960x600 , beobachtet.jpg )

The stinging pain stops after a moment. Isabel immediately tries to grab the black veins to get them off but they are already gone. It must have fallen off on itself.

Isabel stands up.

Suddenly she feels like she's being watched. The only things that move in the dark are the gears and the only things making a sound are the old rusty machines but Isabel still doesn't feel as if she's alone down here anymore. Maybe it would be best to just get away from this place.

Maybe I should pick up Herbert's doll. He called it Friend. It'll be something to remember it by if he can't be repaired.

hmmm
[re-sync transmitter]

Friend is Herbert's most treasured item, maybe you should take it with you so that, in case Herbert cant be fixed, you don't have to creepily carry around his severed head to remember him by.

so the real monsters never die because they were never alive?

well this is kinda nice. labirynth is alive somewhere around this bloody glenn.

>>282762
No, I do believe you're mistake.

Herbert and Labyrinth werent monsters. THe only real monster here is that evil scientist thing (not Nicola, the other one), since Im reluctant to call happiness one because Im really hoping he's very dead.

>>282698
Herbert loves that puppet. He named it "friend". Can't leave it behind.

Isabel, you pick up that puppet this instant. No leaving friends behind. That's not how Herbert rolls. He jumped after you even though we knew it probably was to be a one way trip. Pick up the puppet, pick up the puppet, pick up the puppet. Don't leave a friend behind.

>>282762
But he bled.

Isabel 2011/02/21(Mon)07:04 No. 2000732 ID: 9c9de5
File 129830069283.jpg - (195.95KB , 960x600 , freund.jpg )

Maybe she should take the little puppet with her. It seemed to mean a lot to Herbert.

Sadly it won't be able to help her. Nobody will. Herbert was the only one she could trust. Nobody will help her anymore. Only she and the monsters remain now.

Isabel 2011/02/21(Mon)07:05 No. 2000733 ID: 9c9de5
File 129830073395.jpg - (172.40KB , 960x600 , ende.jpg )

Isabel is alone again.

>>283093
[Say: "Herbert proves that there are good people in the world. You're not alone, you just need to find them."]

Uh... Herbert?

Are you still there?

Good end... no wait, goddammit.

Isabel, don't think like that! What would Herbert say!? He wouldn't want you to just give up!

IF this is the end of the quest, Imma be sad. :<

Good quest though, one of the best Ive seen in a long time in both terms of art and story. Im genuinely sad to see it end like this.

>>283093
There's NO WAY this is the end.

We will find a brand new body for Herbert and we will help Isabel to get out of this nightmare.

Let's win the fuck out of this thing!!

Herbert...? D:

Don't worry, the son of a pirate and a ninja can never die! At least... I hope so ._.;

Weekfag 2011/02/23(Wed)00:10 No. 2000740 ID: 653ea0
File 129844859847.png - (30.53KB , 306x327 , 1279296439666.png )

>ende.jpg

>>283682
Dude! Shut up! it's a trick!! Don't trust that!

This can't be the end!! D:

Happiness 2011/02/24(Thu)15:09 No. 2000745 ID: 609937
File the-end.swf - (757.99KB , 550x400 )

Update this time in flash format.

... FUCK YOU HAPPINESS, FUCK YOU!

>>284075
>Chapter 3 End

Not over yet.

Good, Id hate to leave Isabel in this place. And Herbert without a proper burial/revival. D:

And...well, I just about cried a little in that flash there.

Well done.

If this had been archived before I would have accepted defeat. But now, fuck yearrrrh.

>>284075
When that candle went out and it said 'End' I was right about ready to cry.

>>284086
That would have sucked indeed :(

This chapter has the most appropriate title ever.

>>284109
My god...
It all makes sense now!

Oh. Yes.

._.
o_o
0_0
O_O
Real monsters don't die....
Bravo. Bravo.