Test Pattern 2009/08/24(Mon)22:49 No. 34276 ID: 7eda8b
File 125117936872.png - (72.41KB , 400x400 , AQ136.png )

...but this one is definitely the worst.

Test Pattern 2009/08/24(Mon)22:53 No. 34279 ID: 7eda8b
File 125117962134.png - (32.32KB , 500x500 , AQ137.png )

The sergals sleep unsoundly.

Control switches to Goshen.

It is now night.

Time to wake up.

Five more minutes...

Rest for five more minutes.

Gather as much water as you can carry. After that, drink as much of the rest as you can.

>>34279
time's burning. more people will be here eventually, but until then this is the perfect time to start training Aphek, like you said you would. Better for next time, so he'll help instead of running away. Besides, there's plenty of food for him, and you passed out from dehydration earlier. You need at least another day of rest to recover. Show him how to do some basic sword drills, and have him practice on a stone pillar with one of the extra swords, then get some more rest.

Wake up aphek.


...with your tongue

Okay Goshen, get up.

You had remarked on getting used to doing difficult things before, and with all the shit you have suffered through because you must, getting up should nothing.

Now, remember to stretch thoroughly as you rise to get your blood flowing.

So Goshen, do you feel like heading to Fort Ji, or do you have a different destination in mind right now?


And if you do head to Fort Ji, bring the human's swords, the bald one's helmt and whatever cloth isn't torn up too small. All are goods that should sell well.

>>34279
I'd say we start marching to Fort Ji as soon as possible.
First look for Aphek and see if he used the day to pack our stuff. If not, yell at him and do it now, in the absolute darkness.
I think we should smash the water barrels after drinking and storing what we can, would be a bad surprise for the bandits.

Wake up Aphek.

...with your spear.

>>34301
Which spear?

:3c

:3c

...*shot*

Squeegy!OeZ2B20kbk 2009/08/24(Mon)23:20 No. 34312 ID: a0aa05
File 125118123633.png - (6.15KB , 166x167 , nnnno.png )

>>34305

Test Pattern 2009/08/24(Mon)23:41 No. 34327 ID: 7eda8b
File 125118247164.png - (50.93KB , 500x500 , AQ138.png )

Goshen forces himself up and climbs outside. It's a moonless night.

>>34289
>You need at least another day of rest to recover.
Indeed, Goshen has not really recovered. Nevertheless, he's confident he can get a night's marching in if he pushes himself. He really doesn't feel inclined, but the bandits all know about this place. It's only a matter of time before they come here.

If he faces someone like the orange-eyed talyxian in his present state, he will lose.

>>34293
>So Goshen, do you feel like heading to Fort Ji, or do you have a different destination in mind right now?
Towns and villages, even roadside inns, line the edge of the desert, and they're not usually hostile to sergals. Fort Ji is the obvious choice, but they have been traveling at night without any landmarks. Goshen can't be sure where they are. At this point, he'll be happy just getting out of this desert alive and not in chains.

>train aphek
Goshen thinks it will take at least a few weeks of good, constant effort before Aphek improves enough to matter. The southerner has definitely used a sword before, just not enough to be any good at it.

>Wake up aphek with your tongue
That's disgusting. He's a dustback.

He's your dustback~

>>34327
Say Goshen, your eyes don't seem to be green anymore. Do you have any idea what was up with that?

Also, you are close to Fort Ji (according to everything we have been told from maps and whatnot), and bandits are going to come here eventually. So you might want to head out to Fort Ji now.

>>34327
I'd say we have to get away from this place, just in case.
Try to get out of the desert as soon as possible, we'll see what happens then. Training can Aphek can wait. Why do you think he used a sword before, ask him about that.

>>34334
Or at least in a southernly direction to get out of the desert, even for a little while.

>>34327
confidence helps. and there might not be another opportunity laced with danger. if stuff he learns or practices now he'll less likely to forget when the danger is around, as he'll have learned it during danger.
pushing yourself after you collapsed yesterday is a bad choice: only leave if you absolutely have to.

Test Pattern 2009/08/25(Tue)01:32 No. 34363 ID: 7eda8b
File 125118903870.png - (303.08KB , 800x800 , AQ139.png )

Goshen takes a few minutes to do a quick mental tally of available equipment and supplies. There's far more water and plant-matter rations than they can carry.

Goshen has 53 Denars worth of currency, and has amassed a good deal of value in goods.

Values are Goshen's estimates. These fluctuate greatly based on market, salesmanship, and so forth.

This also doesn't include things like scraps of blood-stained cloth and wood, which no one would be crazy enough to pay Goshen money for.

Excellent.

With luck, we're set!

>>34363
Before we hit civilization again, ask Aphek if there are people around which might claim ownership on him. Maybe check his ears for tattoos.
I think we should smash the barrels if they belong to the bandits. Try to cover your tracks, if that's even possible in the desert.

>>34363

You take Aphek off that list right now mister!

>>34382
Why?

Goshen is more important. He's faster, stronger, and better trained.

Aphek is a broken-in slave, and worth a fair amount. Alive, he consumes rations and water, and actually just costs money.

It's a sad thing, but it is true that it's entirely more practical to hock him.

>>34384

I know, but someone needs to play the sympathetic voice here, and I'm sure if we play things carefully, we won't get into a situation where we "have" to sell him.

Besides, someone might pay to know the location of all those plant rations or be led to them, maybe.

>>34363
Huh. I would have figured that since this is a desert, cloth would be in relatively high demand (I think that was mentioned early in the first quest too), and at least the two human's capes should be at worst just a bit bloodied.

But if they can't be sold, then whatever.

>>34363
D'awww, Aphek's expression. XD

Better for you to be well-rested, Goshen. Also, it may take a couple of weeks for Aphek to get good, but it wouldn't hurt to get him started. He's saved your life at least once, possibly twice now. You can't buy that kind of loyalty.

>>34441

Yes you can. It costs aproximately as much as a trained bodyguard.

>>34446
Which is then contingent on further money.
All we need to give Aphek is food and treat him like a people, or at least pretend to.

Wow. That's a lot of florins.

And you guys are really annoying about AphekxGoshen.



....hmmmmmmm.

>>34819

I've learnt to expect it now.

Squeegy!OeZ2B20kbk 2009/08/25(Tue)20:16 No. 34847 ID: 64d98f
File 125125659325.png - (3.46KB , 264x137 , ohuguyz.png )

>>34821
That's the problem. We shouldn't have to.

Suggestion 2009/08/25(Tue)20:24 No. 34861 ID: cde660
File 125125706998.png - (4.82KB , 256x224 , cool story bro.png )

>>34819
>And you guys are really annoying about AphekxGoshen.
>>34847

>>34847
>>34861

(Hush you two, no fighting in someone's quest)

Test Pattern 2009/08/25(Tue)22:26 No. 34945 ID: 7eda8b
File 125126438916.png - (59.19KB , 450x450 , AQ140.png )

>leave tonight
Goshen wakes up Aphek. The two fumble around for awhile. They're pretty sure they've gotten most everything. Just gotta collect the dried meat from one of the fires, and the Spathas if they're carrying those.

>Say Goshen, your eyes don't seem to be green anymore.
Huh?

>>34366
>Before we hit civilization again, ask Aphek if there are people around which might claim ownership on him.

"Soo..." Goshen begins nonchalantly. "Anyone gonna be claiming you at For Ji?"

"Uh. No," Aphek says. He sounds a little worried, though it could just be the unusually dark night. "The odds are definitely very low," he adds.

>check his ears for tattoos
It's too dark for Goshen to even see his map, much less pick through Aphek's earfluff for tattoos.

Test Pattern 2009/08/25(Tue)22:31 No. 34947 ID: 7eda8b
File 125126470090.png - (101.77KB , 500x500 , AQ141.png )

>>34366
>I think we should smash the barrels if they belong to the bandits.
Goshen thinks he could do that. He could probably set the supplies on fire, too. He has a flint, tinder, and high-proof alcohol.

>Try to cover your tracks, if that's even possible in the desert.
It kinda isn't.

BURN IT ALL IN A HUGE GLORIOUS FIRE WHILE THANKING THE BRUTAL GENERAL FOR YOUR SUCCESS IN RECENT COMBAT!

>>34947
Burn/destroy anything that you can't bring with you. It would please the Governer-General, were she here.

Then head out to Fort Ji/South in general.

On the way, tell Aphek that he can choose between using one or two swords, but that he has to have a decision by the time we get to some form of camp/fort/whatever.

Test Pattern 2009/08/25(Tue)23:04 No. 34967 ID: 7eda8b
File 125126664572.png - (139.24KB , 500x500 , AQ142.png )

Goshen cracks open the lids of the casks and has a drink with Aphek. This way the soot will spoil the water, but the water won't put out the fire until everything's burnt.

And... Ignition!

Giving thanks to the General seems a bit much, though. Goshen thinks the heads were thanks enough. Goshen thinks Sergal society might be too fixated on her legacy.

He's also more than a little uncomfortable with what he can remember of the fight.

The fire is small, but growing fast. It makes Goshen feel better.

>>34967
You pussy.

>>34967
Alright, get a move on.

Ok, traveling time again (hopefully we can actually spend some time at Ji or wherever we end up not starving/marching/fighting while exhausted).

And on the trek, I know that the memories of the fight with the human and the... dream before hand are somewhat unsettling, but think back to your training: Do you remember what kind of warrior neglects to know himself?

The dead kind.

So painful memories or not, you should really ponder what happened there.

Test Pattern 2009/08/25(Tue)23:20 No. 34971 ID: 7eda8b
File 125126763681.png - (40.74KB , 500x500 , AQ143.png )

Goshen collects the jerky. It smells good.

>>34970
>So painful memories or not, you should really ponder what happened there.
Goshen has thought about it. It's just difficult. He's killed people before, but never felt like this. He can only remember flashes. And talking to something that wasn't there...

Presently, Goshen arrives at the statue for the Spathas.

That's strange. He could have sworn he left them here.

Ready your weapon in case someone is there.

>>34971
TRAP

TRAPTRAPTRAP

Look around carefully, and caution Aphek to be quiet.

You are currently rested, armed/armored and well fed for the first time in days. Seems kind of a shame to just pass on the chance to really fight your best, doesn't it? So lets look for our would be ambushers, and say hello.

Have Aphek stay in sight and away from any place someone could hide. You don't want him being held hostage or knifed.

>>34971
That's not good.
Lock if you're seeing any tracks or if you smell anything.
Then quickly move to open ground, the last thing you want is getting ambushed again.

Test Pattern 2009/08/25(Tue)23:40 No. 34980 ID: 7eda8b
File 12512688234.png - (78.95KB , 500x500 , AQ144.png )

>>34976
>Lock if you're seeing any tracks or if you smell anything.

Goshen alerts Aphek that something's amiss.

Goshen sees no tracks, but he can't see much. The light is growing slightly better as the fire intensifies behind them. Goshen mostly smells smoke and blood and sergal, though something in the air is making him more nervous. He can't put his finger on it.

SMELLS LIKE SHADRAN!

>>34980
Yeah serious, move to open ground. You need room to be most effective with your polearm. And serching for enemies or the two swords in the ruins isn't worth the risk.
If you can see anything then, start to move anyways and be extras alert.

>>34980
'smells like sergal'

You and Aphek should be the only ones here.
By now you should know Aphek's scent, and I imagine you know your own. do you only smell the two of you?

>>34980
Wait, what is that at the feet of the statue?

Inspect cautiously.

Test Pattern 2009/08/26(Wed)00:00 No. 34999 ID: 7eda8b
File 125127000480.png - (82.12KB , 500x500 , AQ145.png )

>>34993
>By now you should know Aphek's scent, and I imagine you know your own. do you only smell the two of you?
Wait...

Yes, there is definitely a third one!

>>34999
looks like severed sergal heads by the statue's feet. prepare for battel, warn Aphek.

>>34999
and yes that's deffinitly his head

>>34999
FFFFF-

Is it a dustback or a northerner? This could be Bad News.

Get out of the light, keep your senses alert.

>>34999
Er... crap. Scratch my last comment, that's a dead sergal. Crap, bandits.

Yeah, prepare for battle. Hand Aphek a sword, too.

>>34999
Fuuuuck, it's a Sergal head, be even more alert.
Is it southern or northern?

>>34999
Check the severed Sergal head on the statue's platform.

If Southerner, stay, continue searching for the people who took those swords.

If Northerner, don't bother, just leave.

Test Pattern 2009/08/26(Wed)20:08 No. 35204 ID: 7eda8b
File 125134253278.png - (93.76KB , 500x500 , AQ146.png )

>>35005
>Check the severed Sergal head on the statue's platform.
...

It is... WAS a northerner. Looks fairly fresh. Goshen doesn't recognize its identity.

Goshen didn't notice the smell of all the blood before, due to all the blood that was here already. Plus, the wind shifted a minute before. It's at his back now.
>>35003
>Yeah, prepare for battle. Hand Aphek a sword, too.
"Aphek," he whispers. "Draw your sword. Be ready to run."

"What... what direction?" asks the southerner.

Goshen catches a scent on the wind. Talyxian.

>>35204

Not good.

Tell me she can't see well in the dark, cause we sure as hell can't.

>>35204
...

What direction is its scent coming from?

I suggest getting a move on in the other direction, with the two of you keeping watch in opposite directions. If Shadran is any lesson, they're sneaky bastards.

It... /isn't/ Shadran, right?

>>35204

Well, I hope she isin't crouching on top of that statue in darkness waiting for you to foolishly come closer to inspect severed sergal heads. Because damn that would suck.

Tell the dustback not to run willy nilly and watch your back. She was completely silent last time and we don't want a repeat of that. Move in open ground where nothing blocks your spear movement.

Get Aphek looking in whatever direction you're not and have him holler out at the first sign of trouble. Don't go to the head, it's an obvious trap. They probably hid a grenade under there like the VC would do.

We're downwind, let's stay that way.

>>35204
AAAAAAAAA
WHAT ARE YOU DOING STILL STANDING AROUND?!
RUN RUN RUN
DOWNWIND IS GOOD, BUT FUCK
JUST RUN

>>35213
but CAREFULLY, we don't wanna run across any tripwires or mines they may have planted.

Test Pattern 2009/08/26(Wed)20:56 No. 35215 ID: 7eda8b
File 125134537021.png - (123.19KB , 500x500 , AQ147.png )

>>35212
>We're downwind, let's stay that way.
"Start heading downwind. I'll follow," Goshen says.

He turns upwind. The cache is burning brightly.>>35206
>Tell me she can't see well in the dark, cause we sure as hell can't.
Goshen's night vision is good, but there's no moon. It must be overcast, too, because the stars have been winking out one by one. Up until a minute ago, there was practically no light at all, though there's obviously some now.

>>35215
FFFF- Red eyes? To the right of the fire? Spear at the ready, Goshen.

>>35215

Well, goddamn. That's pretty much the perfect position for her to start because that'll ruin your nightvision for a while. Don't get drawn in the dark again.

>>35215
Last time, she snuck up on you while you were tired, wounded, dehydrated and alone, and you barely were able to hold your own.

Now you know where she is, you are almost fully rested, you are not wounded, you are well fed, and you have fought her before.

The very fact she is here leads to the assumption she will keep stalking you. It is time to show her what you can really do.

Just remember how fast she is, and do your best to give her no time to use that speed. And expect her to possess those two swords, as well as those two daggers from before.

>>35226

Yeah, no. Talyxian's pretty much own sergals one on one. Aphek is not much help and might even be a liability with his fear and inexperience. It's going to be a waiting battle where we hold her at spear point and Aphek stays behind us out of the way. Definately don't try anything fancy like sand kicking or lunging again. I'm pretty worried about there being a *twang* sound and us sporting a brand new feathers where there shouldn't be any.

>>35227
Just because on average Talyxians do better than Sergals in one-on-one fights doesn't mean that Goshen can't beat her. Besides, we can only figure out traps she sets before she springs them so many times before we mess up and she kills us. Might as well do everything we can to put her down now so we can sleep a little more soundly in the future.

>>35227
So as long as they hit us in the butt it should be good.

Test Pattern 2009/08/26(Wed)22:38 No. 35242 ID: 7eda8b
File 125135151375.png - (125.57KB , 500x500 , AQ148.png )

The flickers of orange was all but lost amidst the flames. It lasted only a moment. By the time Goshen realized what they were, they were gone.

There is no doubt in his mind now.

>>35226
>Last time, she snuck up on you while you were tired, wounded, dehydrated and alone, and you barely were able to hold your own.
Goshen hasn't fully recovered. He still feels sluggish. Can he beat her? He's not sure. Can he run? His heart is racing. He can run. He hopes he can run fast enough.

>>35227
>It's going to be a waiting battle where we hold her at spear point and Aphek stays behind us out of the way.
Waiting for what? No help is coming. Not for them.

"Goshen," Aphek whispers. "It's her. I smell her."

"I know."

Goshen remembers what happened the last time Aphek faced Shadran.

"Start running," hisses Goshen.

"Are you g-"

"Go."

Aphek obeys. Goshen takes a moment to decide if he's following.

>>35242
She tracked you for a week and a half.

There is little reason to doubt she will continue hounding you until she can finally kill you.

She is dangerous, and has a good chance of killing you right now. But better to end it with her now, with steel in hand, then to flee and have her slip a knife in your throat some time later while you sleep.

Squeegy!OeZ2B20kbk 2009/08/26(Wed)22:50 No. 35244 ID: 64d98f
File 125135224146.png - (10.02KB , 176x193 , grrr.png )

Let's teach that bitch a lesson.

>>35242
Running is probably your best chance. Assuming the stuff you're carrying isn't weighting you down to much.
You won't defeat her when she gets to choose the battlefield, I doubt she'll risk to engage you directly in the open desert. But she'll keep stalking you of course.

Run dude. You have no chance to survive, make your time.

I am unsure when we will encounter her and she has NOT "chosen" the battlefield, as long as she is tracking us and we are trying to get somewhere, so that's sort of a lousy argument.

Test Pattern 2009/08/26(Wed)23:43 No. 35251 ID: 7eda8b
File 125135540698.png - (59.72KB , 500x500 , AQ149.png )

>>35246
>>35248
Goshen decides he stands a poor chance against Shadran in his present state. He carefully backs into the statue's shadow, then starts running.

If the Talyxian were on a horse, Goshen would be confident he could outrun her. If.

When he glances over his shoulder, he sees only darkness, and the receding fire.

>>35251
Run until one of you starts slowing noticeably, then start walking. I hope to dear god you two know which direction you are supposed to be going.

>>35251
It's quite possible for you to stay in front of her until you reach friends.
She'll have to carry her own supplies and rest sometimes. Just don't stay in one place longer than necessary.

Test Pattern 2009/08/27(Thu)03:03 No. 35259 ID: 7eda8b
File 12513673901.png - (100.35KB , 500x500 , AQ150.png )

Far behind, Shadran watches it burn.

She watches for a long time, until the ashes hiss with spilled water, and grow dark.

Test Pattern 2009/08/27(Thu)03:10 No. 35263 ID: 7eda8b
File 125136781250.png - (247.06KB , 600x600 , AQ154.png )

One week later.

Test Pattern 2009/08/27(Thu)03:18 No. 35264 ID: 7eda8b
File 125136828460.png - (201.75KB , 600x600 , AQ155.png )

Goshen and Aphek walk out of the desert.

The grass is wet beneath their feet.

Give Aphek a celebratory platonic hug!

How about no. Can we have at least one fucking quest without a pointless romance angle shoehorned in?

>>35267

Only if you take that stick ouf of your ass and don't consider a platonic comrade-to-comrade hug the start of a romance. Which would be ridiculous at best.

Yeah, Goshen sure seems like the hugging type what with the raiding and killing people. Maybe when he's done they can braid one another's hair and watch Sixteen Candles.

>>35269

Now that is a much more valid point why not do it. And I agree.

How about a totally manly ass-pat?

>>35272
A quick assfuck to cement masculine camaraderie?

guys, have you never had a male friend?

the method to make them bond is to make them FOIGHT. start sparing with each-other to train the brown one.

>>35273

ಠ_ಠ

>>35275

How about we get to civilisation first? We must be getting low on supplies by now.

The most Goshen will give to Aphek is an almost lethal slap on the back. Even if you ignore the fact that not everything works like in gay animes, dustbacks are still considered inferior in Sergal society and Aphek can be happy if Goshen considers him even as comrade.

Hells yeah, celebrate! You guys just got out of the freaking desert alive. Even saw Shadran a second time and lived to tell the tale.

And hey, I'm all for platonic buddyhugs.

Okay, you have made it out of the desrt, but do you have any ide of where you are?

Maybe try and figure that out while you hunt something, as those Jerky strips probably leave something to be desired.