sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)01:41 No. 327977 ID: 885ee8
File 131106490687.png - (208.78KB , 720x720 , 02.png )

Mustering what little strength still resides in your emaciated frame, you shamble over to the side of the door.

With a small click, the door begins to swing open, obscuring your position.

You hear someone take a step inside, a small click as they kick one of the gold discs. You hear her heart begin to beat faster.

"Nope, room's empty. Why don't you check down the corridor, just to make sure. I'll check in here for more hidden doors."

"Yeah, sure."

You hear one of them taking a few steps down the hall outside and the other one step into your room and laugh quietly to herself. She bends down over the pile of gold discs and starts to feverishly shovel them in a small bag.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)01:42 No. 327978 ID: 885ee8
File 131106495487.png - (308.92KB , 720x720 , 03.png )

The hunger in your gut pushes you to act. With strength you didn't know you had, you lunge forward and grab her. There is a rushing in your ears as your tentacle-arms lash out and wrap around her as if they have a mind of their own. Some instinct in you tells you to cover her mouth, and she lets out a muffled cry.

You unceremoniously shove her down into your waiting stomach and feel a wave of relief wash over you. You feel energy flooding back into your aching muscles, but the hunger still lingers. You hear the prey in the hall call out "Daewyn?", the voice full of uncertainty.

Your body starts to recover slightly. You may direct your growth to a degree. You may recover your ability to walk on walls and ceilings, improve your senses, or increase your speed. You will have the ability to recover other attributes the more you eat.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)01:43 No. 327979 ID: 885ee8
File 131106503925.png - (183.19KB , 720x720 , 04.png )

You feel your tentacles, formerly the texture of old parchment, ooze some sticky fluids. You instinctively crawl up the wall onto the ceiling and peek out into the hallway. You see another figure further down, holding a torch whose light does not extend to your position.

You can hear his heartbeat quicken and he draws his weapon. You suspect he knows you're there. How do you proceed?

This is where you pick up.

Suggestion 2011/07/19(Tue)01:47 No. 327980 ID: 692e92
File 131106522389.jpg - (20.57KB , 500x375 , 1311061255049.jpg )

>>327979
Approach him stealthily, and when you're right above him, drop down and eat his face!

>>327980

Second.

I say follow him. He may lead to more prey.

>>327980

This, but if spotted retreat back into the darkness. That looks like a mighty big axe.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)02:17 No. 327991 ID: 885ee8
File 131106705578.png - (181.17KB , 720x720 , 05.png )

You slink across the ceiling as quietly as you can. The man whirls around and brandishes his torch, swinging it side to side, his head darting left and right. You try your best to remain still and quiet as the light from his torch illuminates you fully.

The man does not look up. Just a few more feet and you will be able to drop down on him and devour him...

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)02:18 No. 327992 ID: 885ee8
File 131106712226.png - (157.77KB , 720x720 , 06.png )

In your anticipation, a single drop of drool drips from your mouth. The man leaps back as he sees you and yells loudly. He drops his torch to the floor and brandishes his axe with both hands.

"Daewyn! Come quick, there's a monster in the hall! Daewyn! D-"

You can see anger flash across his face.

"Daewyn! Damn you beast, what are you and what did you do with Daewyn?"

His face erupts in a sneer of utmost hatred and he bellows loudly at you. You can almost see the veins in his head bulging. Practically frothing at the mouth, he leaps at you with his axe, but does not appear to be able to jump high enough to reach.

What do you do?

(Gonna go for the night, I think.)

Flee back into the darkness, and hopefully we can try again when he tries to leave.

>>327992
Laugh at him. Taunt him. Tell him how delicious his partner was. You had not eaten for so very, very long... and promise him that he will be your next meal.

Essentially we want him to try to throw the axe. Dodge it and then take him unarmed, we win.

>>327992
Retreat. It's too dangerous now that he's seen you. He'll drop his guard eventually...

He can't reach us? Don't get near him while he's got his guard up. Make funny faces and rude gestures at him.

Is it possible to extinguish his torch by vomiting onto it?

It's quite possible that we're not the only threat this guy faces in this dungeon... Perhaps there are other 'monsters' and his outburst may attract some to serve as distractions. However, it's also possible that you were the only one left alive, behind your secret door, and that the rest of the 'dungeon' has been 'cleared', in which case we could not expect any sort of reinforcements.

retreat into the dark. stalk him. let him know he's hunted. revel in patience. the more you wait, the better he'll taste.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)12:17 No. 328096 ID: 885ee8
File 131110302853.png - (268.46KB , 720x720 , 07.png )

You consider spitting or vomiting on the torch. You have no problem seeing in the darkness, but this man clearly does. The action feels familiar, and you think it may be possible, but you can't seem to find it in you right now. Perhaps if you ate some more.

The man makes a few more frantic leaps in your direction. You can hear his breath getting more ragged with every attempt.

You open your ancient mouth and a low rumble comes from your throat.

"What am I? I am hungry, and I am old. The other one, the Daewyn? In my stomach. Delicious. Dead. Part of me. You will never get her back."

You coil the muscles in your tentacles, preparing to leap down from the ceiling the moment the man throws his axe to devour him. Then, you laugh at him. Your body retches as you do, and a noise erupts from you like a hundred footsteps in gravel.

You can hear the man's heart practically pumping out of his chest, and his body heat raises even further. He tightens his grip on his axe and levels it at you.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)12:17 No. 328097 ID: 885ee8
File 131110304837.png - (270.85KB , 720x720 , 08.png )

With a vicious scream, he charges down the hall. He leaps up at the wall, and with another yell, kicks off of it with all of his might. You begin to shrink backwards further down the corridor.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)12:17 No. 328098 ID: 885ee8
File 131110306601.png - (327.95KB , 720x720 , 09.png )

The axe swings. You feel a tearing pain in your shoulder, and your arm feels weaker. The man lands, and his muscles quiver. You can smell the sweat pouring off him, his breath coming now in short gasps. He seems weaker now, somehow.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/19(Tue)12:18 No. 328099 ID: 885ee8
File 131110308215.png - (156.24KB , 720x720 , 10.png )

Before you can overcome the pain and react, he scoops up his dropped torch and flees into the darkness, further into the ruin.

What do you do?

you follow.

Dang. I didn't expect him to be able to do that.

We follow, yes. At a distance. Stalking him. Try to keep out of sight when possible.

he used a limit break. he used too much power. drop from the ceiling and follow him on foot so you can let your arm recover.

Follow him, keeping your distance.

>>328099
How hungry are you still? Is this meal worth the trouble?

Follow at a distance. Be WARY. You are still weak.

I'm not sure I can find it in myself to approve of the taunting. That's just cruel.

>>328115
Well, someone really wanted to give the raging barbarian a circumstance bonus on that jump check for some reason. Who am I to deny them?

I have to go to work now.

>>328115
Are you kidding me? I love it. Be the ancient beast. Pursue him, make the shadows your ally. Keep him scared. Do things like throwing pebbles into places that are in the opposite direction of you, so that he thinks you are where you aren't. The guy's already terrified. Use this to your advantage.

also if you can, regurgitate the knife the elf had.

Chase him down, kick his ass, nom his brains, escape the dungeon, and then conquer the world.
In the meantime, you know, go down that hallway.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)00:30 No. 328530 ID: 885ee8
File 131114700048.png - (283.15KB , 720x720 , 11.png )

>>328122
Regurgitate? You don't think that's possible.

You drop to the floor and pursue the man down the hallway, but your slow lumbering makes it difficult to keep up with him. Before long, he is a distant speck. You follow him through the twists and turns of the corridors by listening for his fottsteps, passing many strange doors along the way.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)00:30 No. 328531 ID: 885ee8
File 131114702336.png - (357.49KB , 720x720 , 12.png )

After what seems like an hour of slow plodding, you find a place where the smooth stone corridor gives way to a rough-hewn tunnel that appears to continue downward. The smooth stone hallway continues on to the side. Listening intently, you can hear sounds of life in both directions, but your senses are not yet acute enough to determine which side leads to your current prey.

As your mind churns over the decision, something else bubbles to the surface. The last prey was an elf. You're not sure how you know that, but you do. It was not a Daewyn, and you realize that was a specific name for that specific elf. You think you'd like a specific name for your specific... whatever you are.

Choose a name and a direction.

Desirous of a name... Well how about Voracious Victor? Or maybe you'd do better with a more 'monstrous' name... Like Sar'hagath. Whatever. Anyway, I'd select going down the rough-hewn tunnel, as it's more likely to have random wildlife that you could consume versus the smooth man-made surfaces down the hallway.

>>328534
Viktor, and go down the rough stone passageway.

We can only call ourselves Victor when we get the spoils, and I don't see any spoils yet. Until then, we're Mud. Or maybe Jester.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)02:46 No. 328548 ID: 885ee8
File 131115517727.png - (309.70KB , 720x720 , 13.png )

Viktor. It is not yet a fitting name, but you aspire to make it so.

Clutching your injured arm, you begin to plod down the rough-hewn tunnel. It slopes and spirals downward at a sharp angle. You can hear the sounds in front of you getting closer, and your hunger rises again.

The sounds stop ahead. As you move closer, you hear the familiar heartbeat, the ragged breath. You begin to salivate again.

The tunnel opens before you, but your starved mind can only focus on one thing.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)02:46 No. 328549 ID: 885ee8
File 131115520087.png - (338.54KB , 720x720 , 14.png )

With expert silence and staggering speed that defies your weary limbs, you lunge forward and take your meal. His skull yields easily to your powerful jaw, and you have him in your stomach in mere moments.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)02:47 No. 328550 ID: 885ee8
File 131115522015.png - (235.28KB , 720x720 , 15.png )

Relief washes over you and your injury begins to knit itself back together. Your surprise is stifled as your mind begins to clear. This seems right. Half-memories well up from a forgotten pool of your mind. You remember pain, and pride. You see a vast coral city floating on an ocean of stars, and recall your body rebuilding itself from nothing in a pool of blood.

Your hunger, while still present, is no longer paramount in your mind. the nourishment from the man's body quickly courses through your body, and it swells and stretches. You can feel formerly-dehydrated tentacles budding on your skin. You may direct your growth to a degree. Would you like to augment your stretchiness, increase your speed, heighten your sensory acuity, or something else?

Let's do something so we don't have to necessarily prey on PEOPLE for nutrition... adapt to better hunt animals or to more efficiently absorb their nutrients. And of course mental facilities are a must, as a mindless beast of a monster is hardly worth bothering with. Aside from that, from the recommended growth paths I'd say favor Perception and Stealth above Speed or Strength or anything like that... We seem more of a Lurker-type creature than a Brawler.

>>328550
I have to ask, is it possible to gain acidic spit? Something to cripple prey from a distance to prevent them from running or weakening obstacles would be handy.

Hmm, perhaps it is a good idea to stop eating people, as they might be inclined to come together and kill us if we prove to be a sufficient threat.

Better and more versitile digestion and nutrient storage systems. Being able to obtain food from as many sources as possible?
You will never starve again.

speed.

>>328551
>more efficiently absorb their nutrients
Efficient digestion isn't going to be a problem for this guy; his stomach breaks down bodies, clothing and even metals in seconds.

>mental facilities are a must
He could talk even when his mind was clouded with hunger, so he isn't some mindless monster. I'd say he was pretty stealthy already, and he doesn't really need the extra strength, so go for speed. That way you wont have to lumber after anyone.

>>328550
I'd vote for stretchy so that we don't have to get so close, but it seems I'm already outvoted.

speed

Stretchy.

Let's horn in on Alex Mercer's racket some more.

Changing my vote to stretchy.

Stretchy works for me, too.

Speed.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)13:39 No. 328623 ID: 885ee8
File 131119437584.png - (282.15KB , 720x720 , 16.png )

You feel your slimy hide grow more pliable and you force mobility into growths you didn't know you had. Your muscles feel coiled and tense, ready to strike. To test your newfound power, you lash out with several tentacles down the side of the column.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)13:39 No. 328624 ID: 885ee8
File 131119439480.png - (206.21KB , 720x720 , 17.png )

For the first time since entering, you stop to take in the scenery. the tunnel you followed led you into an immeasurably vast cavern with a river flowing through a ravine in the center. stretching off into the distance you can see many pillars similar to the one you currently stand on, each with paths winding up their sides.

Looking around, you see several signs of civilization. Many of the stalagmites have been hollowed out into some sort of primitive housing. Though you do not see many living creatures about, you can see a few unidentifiable beings milling about in the distance. A bit closer to you, you can see four of them surrounding a fire.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/20(Wed)13:40 No. 328625 ID: 885ee8
File 131119441475.png - (221.48KB , 720x720 , 18.png )

In the center of the ravine, you can see a single massive column structure with several bridges leading from the sides of the chasm to a bulbous structure along the middle of the column. It is lit from the inside, and you can see a few creatures moving inside.

Nearby, you see four small hunched beings surrounding something cooking over a fire. You think that, given the cover from the rocks around them, you could make easy prey of them.

While you're looking around, you also hear a sudden, shrill scream from one of the stalagmite-dwellings, followed by a whistle. You can hear a female voice screaming something, and you see several of the hunched figures like those surrounding the fire run towards the dwelling.

What do you do?

>>328625
Curious. I say go eavesdrop at the commotion before we catch another meal.

>>328625
Snatch the food and then follow them. Something going on.

see what it is making the commotion.

>>328627
Agreed
You need more information.

yoink their chikins.

Yes yes, learn more and try not to behave in any way that makes hostilities necessary. I so dislike the notion of eating civilized creatures...

You need to eat more. I want to see what you can do at 100%, I'm sure it'll be grand. Follow these guys, pick them off silently if you can. Otherwise, just listen in.

>>328679
this

>>328679
Why not? We're absolutely terrifying, and I think we should play that up. I want Viktor to grow into some legendary beast of horror, spoken of only in hushed tones. It'll be great!

>>328679
I agree. the first two can be chalked up to hunger, but civilized creatures make poor long term prey. they tend to react to being prey upon by forming hunting parties and murdering the hell out of the predator. they also tend to be smaller and have less meat on them than most non sentient creatures.

Frankly, we're too horrific to be friendly. It's not worth the trouble. Eat some dudes.

>>328869
not saying we go the friendly route. but getting a reputation for not eating sentient creatures would be useful.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)01:18 No. 328890 ID: 885ee8
File 131123632205.png - (252.52KB , 720x720 , 19.png )

You use your newfound agility to descend from the column with impressive speed, but the plodding walk to the dwelling takes you a while. During the trip, you can hear the sounds of battle inside, and as you get nearer, you can hear a pained growl like that of an animal. It shifts in pitch to become the same female voice you heard before, also yelling in pain.

You can hear some more indistinct noises like a shrill chittering, but you can't make out the words.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)01:19 No. 328891 ID: 885ee8
File 131123637321.png - (354.32KB , 720x720 , 20.png )

You quietly approach the door to the structure and peer inside from around the corner.

You see four small, squat creatures with large, light eyes and strange noses surrounding another...creature? You hesitate to call it that; based on its smell it would seem to be more like a plant or a fungus. It is not appetizing, at any rate. It appears wounded, and the other creatures surrounding it seem to be taking the upper hand in the battle.

The central creature seems to be chittering to the other creatures in a language you can't understand, but appears to be doing so with some difficulty. The other creatures are speaking the same language with ease. Frustration growing on her face, she lets slip "just let me go!" in a tongue you recognize.

What do you do?

>>328891

Eat the food, starting with the one with the wand. You should only have to eat one or two of them before the others run.

Then talk to the not-food thing. "I am Viktor. Who are you, and how did you attract the attention of such loathsome little creatures?"

Leap on the one with the wand, then snatch the creature who looks like he is about to stab the plant thingy in the back.

This is a tough one... We don't know enough about either group to really say which is proper to ally with. Are these mole-people creatures that attack all others on sight? It would seem that the underground dwellings are theirs and so was the fire. They're at least SOMEWHAT civilized, and if indeed they are some kind of mole-derivative then they're well suited for their chosen habitat. It might be prudent to ally ourselves with them, as being 'monstrous' (in form at least) the human world may prove to be too resisting to allow us to coexist with them. On the other hand, the female human...oid... is someone 'we' can understand and communicate with in at least one language. Plus she's at a disadvantage and, well, everyone loves a hero.

Ultimately I think we should list the pros and cons of each potential alliance.

Ally with the Molemen?
PRO
-They have an established society with numbers
-They are small and may appreciate a large protector
CON
-They have no reason to trust us
-We do not share a language
-We may not be able to eat the girl even if we kill her

Ally with the Fungi-Woman?
PROs
-She will be indebted to us
-We can communicate with her
CON
-She is of questionable utility

>>328895

PRO
We will never be tempted to eat her, since she doesn't smell like food.
She knows at least two languages, and appears to be a traveler of some sort, perhaps a merchant.

Eat the... things that look tasty. Block the entrance and use your stretchiness to disarm them before eating them.

I think that we should speak to the unappetizing person in a creepier manner than has already been suggested, however. "You aren't made of meat. Fill the emptiness in my mind instead, and I will feed on your foes."

Basically make her feel that the only reason she's not dead is because she's a plant.

>>328898

No, no, Viktor's a monster but he's not an uncouth monster. He'll be polite to the plant thing.

>>328900
We now abso-fucking-lutely have to make our primary goal to obtain a tophat, a cane, and a black longcoat with tails.

And I suppose I'll admit that eating the molemen and saving the plant lady is the best thing to do. Hopefully they don't outnumber us enough to do too much terrible damage..

eat the molemen. the woman... let her go, she's not food.

use stretchiness to rip weapons from several at once.

>>328905
seconded. the plant creature could be a useful ally. she was able to hold of the mole men on her own for some time. nom the mole men. start by grabbing the two molemen who appear to be unarmed. they are probably magic users.

>>328891
Eat the one with the staff. Toss around the one behind her first and and then try and pin the others.

and the one in the armor needs the armor pulled off before eating, otherwise you could get some bad indigestion from all that metal.

Eat the wand guy first, then the one with the dagger behind fungus lady. Chase down the other two and eat them. Then talk to the non-food sapient. Be friendly.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)15:27 No. 329109 ID: 885ee8
File 131128723114.png - (406.43KB , 720x720 , 21.png )

You're not sure if you act out of desire to help or because only one group is edible, but you quickly step through the doorway and swing your arms wide, slamming all the small, chittering creatures against the wall.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)15:27 No. 329110 ID: 885ee8
File 131128726587.png - (330.90KB , 720x720 , 22.png )

Some instinct tells you to neutralize the caster first and you quickly begin shoving her down your throat after flinging her staff to the ground. As you do so, the robed one in the far corner grabs your tentacles and wrenches himself free! You try to grab him again, but he leaps from your grasp and flings himself at you in a vicious kick.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)15:28 No. 329111 ID: 885ee8
File 131128729368.png - (287.79KB , 720x720 , 23.png )

Fortunately, in his haste, he did not aim true. With a quick jerk of your torso, you dodge his blow and he hits the wall behind you. The caster finishes her trip into your ever-waiting stomach. She is not as filling a meal as the human and elf were, but she is delicious nonetheless.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)15:29 No. 329112 ID: 885ee8
File 131128736335.png - (328.85KB , 720x720 , 24.png )

The mushroom creature picks up the small staff and quickly brings it down on your attacker's head with all her might. The end of the staff connects squarely with his skull with a loud crack, and his body falls limp. You disarm the other two and quickly begin to devour the unarmored one.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)15:29 No. 329113 ID: 885ee8
File 131128738256.png - (356.59KB , 720x720 , 25.png )

You shove him down your gullet, then bring the armored one up over your head. Rather than trying to manipulate all the clasps and buckles to remove the clunky armor from him, you simply constrict him with your powerful arms and crush the meat out of the metal shell. You hear the girl chant something unidentifiable, and there is a quick flash of white light.

You sling the excess metal, blood, fur, and pulverized tissue to the side and survey the scene, as you feel your body swelling and feeding from the three fresh bodies in your stomach.

The fungus girl has backed up against the far wall and is holding the staff defensively. She does not look injured anymore. She looks at you, then the door behind you, then back down at the one remaining unconscious furry creature. She prods the limp body towards you with the end of the staff and looks at you expectantly, breathing heavily. "Alright girl, how're you gonna get out of this one?" she mutters to herself under her breath.

You decide to be friendly towards this inedible creature, but you are not sure how to begin. What do you do?

you DANCE.

>>329113
"I apologize for my manners. You're the first person I've met since I've awoken that I didn't want to eat." Bow. Introduce yourself as Viktor.

>>329113
Wave. Say, "Hiiiiiii..."

Stand there awkwardly. Ponder how Drow taste.

>>329113
Speak to her. Tell her she is not meat and you have no wish to eat her... but that last morsel there looks delicious. Suggest that if she comes with you, you could get her away from the meatbags that want to hurt her. If she asks why you want her to come with you, simply state that we want information.

If she is pacified, then we should reach and gingerly take that final slab of meat and eat it. Om nom.

>>329116
this. acting the gentleman is both amusing, and so out of tune with our appearance that it will get most people to stop and think, witch is useful since most things first instinct on seeing us will involve fire, and lots of it.

"Oh, settle down. I am not going to eat you. You don't smell like food."

"Hello. My name is Viktor. What's yours?"

Don't bow. Putting your head out like that might be too tempting a target for the frightened girl to resist. Simply explain that you have rescued her and have no desire to eat her, but instead believe there can be mutual benefit in cooperation.

"Why were they trying to harm you? What did they want from you?"

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)20:35 No. 329282 ID: 885ee8
File 131130570968.png - (259.95KB , 720x720 , 26.png )

"Excuse me," you say, your voice a deep rumble. "I apologize for my manners." You bow your head politely and flick an errant bit of meat off your chin. "Please do not be alarmed. I have no intention of eating you. You are not meat. My name is Viktor."

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/21(Thu)20:35 No. 329283 ID: 885ee8
File 131130575409.png - (313.58KB , 720x720 , 27.png )

You look up and see the girl's face shift through a chain of about seven conflicting expressions. A moment passes in silence. She swallows audibly.

"Ivet," she finally says, lowering the staff somewhat.

"A pleasure," you reply, your voice monotonous and guttural. "You're safe now. Tell me, why were those creatures attacking you? What did they want?"

She lifts her hand to her head and takes a deep breath, her face finally settling on a combination of anxiety and confusion. "Harak possess me, this is surreal. I'm still shocked you can talk, wow. No wait, that was probably offensive, but I mean look at you! What the hell are you? I thought I was going to die! For the second time today!" She starts to pace back and forth along the back wall of the dwelling, gesticulating animatedly as she speaks. "Here I am, stuck in this damn cave, trying to hide from all of these Talpids, I mean I spent pretty much all damn day melded into stone! Do you have any idea how uncomfortable that is?"

"Excuse me," you say, cutting her off. You point to the unconscious creature on the ground. "May I?"

"Oh, yeah, by all means," she replies. You scoop the figure up. "What was I talking about?" She looks back at you expectantly.

"Why were they attacking you?" you reply, before you begin sucking the unconscious creature down your throat headfirst.

"Right! Right. I didn't come from here, I used to live in the next cave over. Source of that river out there, domain of Mother Oasis. We and these Talpids all used to be fine with each other. I mean, we got along. Then all of a sudden, some guy from the surface shows up in there, and then they're all 'oh this guy is great, oh he's so powerful, oh you should follow him too or you SUCK and should DIE.' and they're going on and on, all the time, about how their gods are better than our gods and they keep expanding their tunnels and digging further down and they collapsed the tunnels connecting our caves and now I'm stuck over here. And they-" she starts to choke up a little bit but plows forward, "-they killed my friend Avara and they tried to kill me and then this giant tentacle monster showed up and I am rambling at you SO HARD right now and-" she sobs audibly and covers her eyes. "I'm sorry. This is REALLY WEIRD. I mean..." she gestures toward you and sighs.

Incidentally, all four of the... Talpids, were they? The Talpids have all digested. You feel your mind becoming clearer, and the aching in your joints that you didn't know existed until it was gone has faded. You feel like you can move more quickly now. In addition, you feel like you have enough energy to direct your growth in another way. Would you like to be able to camouflage, spit acid, or hone your senses? Additionally, do you have any suggested courses of action?

Upgrade Senses.

I'm not entirely sure what 'honing your senses' consists of so I'm going to go with camouflage, as the element of surprise is your best weapon. First attack + grapple everyone = Viktory. However, it's best if you and your new 'friend' get to someplace safe. If she knows of a haven that'd be appreciated, but if not you can always go back the way you came. It's unwise to discuss too much while in enemy territory. What exactly was she doing here anyway?

>>329283
Camouflage. It should work nicely with our new ally?'s stone-melding ability.

Suggest that if she wished she could take revenge, with your help. You get to eat all the corpses, she gets satisfaction.

>>329283

Camouflage seems like a good choice.

Say "Religious extremists, their minds polluted by filth from the surface. This is what happens when a community stops practicing good social hygiene. Oh well. More meat and grist into the war machine.

"Sorry to hear about your friend. Two of you would make a more convincing case to your elders that the Talpids have become more than just bad neighbors, but now that task falls on you alone. If your people have friends, friends who can fight, now is the time to call on them and prepare to wipe out the Talpids."

>>329290
I like this course of action, but prefer Senses.

>>329283
Express condolences. Ask more about these gods that they are espousing and the man from the surface.

Also, camouflage. With wallwalking and camouflage you will never be found.

Oh, and go eat the chicken.

"sounds like a cleric. they use power granted to them by their gods to fight. the talpids must of fought with him and when he beat them they decided that converting to his would be for the best."

Go for enhanced senses. It's best tool for starting conflicts on your own terms.

"I know I am strange, but sadly I cannot explain why for I do not know myself. I can only remember hunger and silence. With this battle I have helped satiate the former, and speaking with you is... pleasant." Offer to join the girl, your strength for the benefit of her knowledge and company.

also, perhaps she can touch the shiny blade that was in your prison? you could not, perhaps because you were apparently drafted as a guard for it so it was enchanted to not let you touch.

"oh you poor girl. perhaps I can be of assistance? I believe i know the location of a likely route to the surface. it may be possible to reach your people by travailing overland and finding a new way underground. Also if it is not to much trouble would you do me the honor of accepting my escort? It has been so very, very long since I last talked to anyone.

Ah, can you shape and contract your tentacles in such a manner that you have a more humanoid shape? Besides not alarming people all the time, it would help you sneak up on prey and stay hidden with proper clothing.

camouflage. consider helping her find a way back home or investigating the true nature behind the talpids' transgressions.

>>329283
camouflage because we're gonna be cooler than silent snake

I think senses are better than camouflage when you can already ceiling walk.
See: Snake's radar

I am liking this quest so far. Victor the Voracious, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER Tozol ABOMINATION!

>>329676
Gentleman? But what if... it is gentlewoman Viktoria!

>>329719
Gentleperson

we must acquire a top hot and or monocle.

>>329892
Fine with gentleperson until we reach a point where gender needs to be determined.

I'd like Viktor to be male. We have enough female beasties on TGchan.

Senses, and Gentleman Adbomination.

WE ARE NOT SPENDING OUR UPGRADE ON A GROIN

... Who said anything about spending the upgrade on a groin? That was mostly us just wondering about Viktor's sex.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/25(Mon)12:10 No. 331186 ID: 885ee8
File 131162102313.png - (287.68KB , 720x720 , 28.png )

You direct your growth into the ability to change the color of your body. Not wanting to scare your new friend, you wait to test it out.

>>329444
With this new change in your physiology, you feel a deeper understanding of the inner workings of your body. You are certain such an action is possible, if you only had just a bit more energy.

You have a few more questions concerning Ivet's current predicament, and you peer outside to make sure the coast is clear before spending time to address them.

"I am sorry," you begin. You're not sure exactly what that means or why you feel the need to express it to her, but something tells you it will endear her to you. "Tell me, do you know of any safe places around here?"

She shakes her head. "No, I don't, I barely know my way around here. There's a lot less Talpids here than in the deeper levels, though, and there's bigger, nastier things with them there, too. Not that there's anything wrong with- I mean not that you're- uhm, anyway, no."

"Hm. What brought you to this cave in the first place, before the tunnels collapsed?"

"Oh, well, Avara was sent out here on a mission from Mother Oasis, some sort of diplomatic thing? She brought a gift or an offering or something. I never knew what the deal was. She's..." you can tell she's starting to choke up again, but restrains herself, "...She's the big, important hero. I was just tagging along. She said I raised her spirits..."

She lowers her head and bites her lip. You feel like you could better question her if she's not crying, so you change the subject. "A man and an elf came from the surface in the place I came from," you begin, pointing to the pillar you descended earlier. "We could use their entrance to return to your home on a surface route. Or, if you wished for revenge, we could continue down and I could make a meal of your enemies."

"You're offering to help me?" she asks. The question gives you pause. Traveling overland with this creature would be an inconvenience, with no tangible benefit for you, and there's no reason she'd need to tag along if you went deeper underground, either. She's right, you did say "we". But why? A momentary lapse in judgment? Mind clouded by hunger? Perhaps other creatures from her homeland have more meat in them than she does. Before you can respond, she continues, still choking up a little. "Th...Thank you."

Something stirs in you, and several moments pass in silence as you consider what to say. "I can only remember hunger and silence. With this battle I have helped satiate the former, and speaking with you is... pleasant," you respond.

She laughs a little awkwardly and smiles. "If we're going up to the surface, I need to rest. It's a desert up there, and I'm out of spells and animal forms. I can't handle the sun like this," she says, gesturing to her body.

She seems to like that option better, but you suspect you could change her mind. There may also still be time to back out of your offer tactfully.

What do you do?

there may be no obvious benefit, but think for a second. why can you talk? you must of talked before you were in the room. perhaps some company will remind you of what it was like before.

Perhaps moving to the ruins to rest would be best?

we need direction, and maybe allies. we can get both if we help her.

>>331186
She... can't handle the sun "like this"? Animal forms? Hmm. Is she actually a plant at all, or is that merely a magically induced shape?

Advise her that we would recommend not assuming any form made of meat while in our company. We are quite voracious and may not respond entirely rationally.

>Traveling overland with this creature would be an inconvenience, with no tangible benefit for you, and there's no reason she'd need to tag along if you went deeper underground, either. She's right, you did say "we". But why?
Because we're alone, and she's implicitly claimed to have an entire society of creatures backing her up. We could use an entire society of creatures backing us up; we're powerful, but far from unstoppable. Depending upon the apparent power of her people, we can either offer to work with them in exchange for benefits- like magic and a constant flow of food- or enslave them and then use them to accomplish whatever we wish.

And besides, she's pretty tiny and not terribly powerful from what we've heard so far. We can probably just pick her up and carry her with us and hardly be slowed down at all, and if we get distracted and decide to handle some side matters during our travels I doubt she'll have the inclination or power to object. And of course, having someone else with us could serve as an excellent distraction or bait for any prey that we come across, keeping their attention while we move into position to strike from ambush.

deserts are perfect environments for creatures that can adapt their skin color to the background, so whether she needs help or not, that's the place you want to go.

I'm for helping her, as you could certainly use allies.

I wonder what we have to do to get this guy a soul/conscience...

Can you change the coloration of your skin to look like a tuxedo? Also, tell her that while she rests, you'll go deeper for a little bit and hunt for food. That way, you're fed, she's rested, and you can head to the surface together in high spirits!

Also, yes, advise her not to take a meat-based form. And can you shapeshift one of your tentacles to look like a martini?

The great thing about mortals is they tend to raise LIVESTOCK, or have MONEY that can be used to obtain said livestock. This allows a reliable income of meat, which is DELICIOUS.
Strangely enough, dragons (even the very intelligent kind) never seem to realize this.

>>331232
I dunno. Having been trapped in a room with gold and gems might be a hint that the lure of money was Viktor's previous downfall...

This person seems kind of interesting so why don't you explore to find somewhere safe and comfortable for some rest? You need to get used to being back in shape and maybe Ivet can refresh your memory of how the world works outside the tiny cell you were in.

>>331238
no, he counted the disks and rocks ONCE. something that loved money would count them over and over again. and he would of passed out on top of them instead of against a wall.

>>331186
She seemed to like her previous traveling companion- the one that was a diplomat. We could manipulate her emotions by noting that they responded to a peace offering by murdering the diplomat and collapsing the tunnel so that they would not be attacked for it. Does she not desire comeuppance for that?

before we leave with the mushroom-thing, we should take her to our secret room.
You remember how the elf reacted to the gold disks and red glass stones?
perhaps the shroom-thing can explain their apparent preciousness?

>>331260
And also get that SWEET SWORD that we can't hold.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/26(Tue)18:49 No. 331951 ID: 885ee8
File 131173138367.png - (280.15KB , 720x720 , 29.png )

You consider telling her not to take a meat-based form, but thinking back, you're pretty sure you could stop yourself from eating something if you try. Your hunger, while never seeming to abate, hasn't been mind-destroyingly overpowering since you ate the barbarian earlier.

"It can't be safe to rest here," you say. "I had rested in my room in the ruin above for many years without being disturbed. If you must rest, you may do it there with less chance of interruption."

She looks relieved. "Awesome. I don't feel like I've gotten any sleep since I got trapped here. Uh, lead the way I guess."

The two of you peer out into the open cavern. Your newly-limbered legs take great strides that would outpace Ivet if you weren't stopping for her periodically. You take a moment while walking to peer over to where you saw the four figures around the fire earlier, but they appear to have left, with smoldering embers in their fire-pit. You sigh inwardly and mull over the new information you've received.

"What can you tell me about the gods this man is championing?" you ask after a moment.

"Crazy stuff. Something about how all these gods existed a long time ago, but these other gods that we have now killed them and took their god-ness or something. Oh, and that they didn't or couldn't take it from one of them, and the talpids're looking for his body...or maybe this surface guy has it already, and wants to revive the old gods with it, or something? I'm sorry, I don't really remember. The gist of it is they worship the old gods that are dead, if they really exist, and not the new ones, who they hate. I kinda tuned them out when they started preaching at me. I don't really worship any specific gods, if I have to pick something that I worship I'd say it's the whole world, the end result of all these gods, not the means that it came to be how it is, you know? What about you?"

You feel like you should have an answer to this question, but nothing is coming to you. You can't even recall exactly who the gods are, new or old or otherwise. The one thing that you keep returning to, though, is the vision you had when your wound healed. "I don't know that I worship anything. I like the stars, and the ocean. I don't really remember anything from before...before a little while ago, when I woke up in the room up here."

"But you have to," she replies, "you can't see the stars from underground, and there isn't an ocean for miles..."

The rest of the walk to the base of the pillar continues in silence.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/26(Tue)18:50 No. 331952 ID: 885ee8
File 131173140411.png - (331.41KB , 720x720 , 30.png )

When you reach the small, winding pathway that spirals around the side of the pillar, you groan as you consider the time it will take Ivet's small legs to cover all that distance. Somehow, deep in the back of your mind, you also like the idea of showing her how fast you can climb. You extend your back-tentacles towards her. "I can climb this very quickly if I carry you," you say.

She extends her hand. "Haha, yeah, okay," she replies. As soon as the last word of her consent is uttered, you wrap your tentacles around her and scoop her off the ground hastily. "Woop!" she yelps. "Eheh, uh, be careful with those. And with me! Okay?"

"Of course," you reply, binding her tightly against your back. With leaps and bounds, you ascend the side of the pillar hastily.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/26(Tue)18:50 No. 331953 ID: 885ee8
File 131173142230.png - (270.90KB , 720x720 , 31.png )

You can feel her small body tense up against you, then relax as you reach the top. She squirms a little. "You're fast," she says quietly. "You can keep carrying me if you want."

You feel a little pride as you begin to navigate the rough-cut tunnels leading back up into the ruin. As you reach the place where the tunnel reaches the finer-cut hallways, you make note of the sounds of something living still audible down the unexplored branch. Ignoring it for now, you continue along until you reach your door and set Ivet down.

"Whoo," she breathes, "that was kinda fun."

"This is it," you say, gesturing to the room.

"You spent years by yourself in this one tiny roo-WOAH WHAT?"

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/26(Tue)18:50 No. 331954 ID: 885ee8
File 131173144581.png - (319.71KB , 720x720 , 32.png )

She rushes over to the pile of discs and rocks and starts to sift through them, making a dull tinkling sound. She grabs a gold disc and inspects it closely. "Woooow," she says. "This is OLD. I recognize this symbol! These are gold pieces from the ancient Ungolan empire! They used to rule the whole continent! Solid gold, too. Oh my god, if we could find a collector... and these!" She holds up one of the rocks. "These are gigantic rubies! I have never seen- well I've never seen ANY rubies, much less ones this size. And this..." she reaches for the sword, but there is a small hissing noise and she immediately withdraws her hand as soon as she touches it. "Ow! Well, this is a cursed sword. They can't all be winners, I guess."

"What does that mean?" you ask.

"Well..." she begins, and looks up at you, "it means you're rich. Like, really rich. You can't buy kingdoms with this, but I don't think you have to worry about any..." she trails off before continuing, "...well, you don't have to worry about not being able to pay for anything, anyway."

"what would I pay for?" you ask.

"Oh, I dunno. You could buy a nice house, or pay some people to build one for you or something. You could buy tons of livestock, all the livestock you could eat, even."

"what is a livestock?"

"Oh, uh, it's like an animal for you to eat."

Your eyes widen at the prospect. "They just exchange living things for these gold discs?"

"Yep! You could get some cows, or some goats, or some chickens or something. Not people though! I mean, I guess you could buy some slaves, but it's not really cost-effective..."

Somewhere in the dregs of your memory you pull up an image of a cow, a goat, and a chicken, and fail to be appetized, at least no more than you already were. "Hm," you reply, gesturing to the glittering pile. "What would you do with them?"

She smiles. "Don't get my hopes up. If you want to give me some of them and find out what I'd do, then I won't say no. Otherwise, I don't want to get lost thinking about it all day." She yawns loudly. "I tell you what, I'd buy a really comfortable bed first."

"Yes, you need rest. Do you mind if I leave to hunt while you sleep?"

"Oh, uh... I guess...not. As long as you're sure I won't be disturbed by something. And as long as you come back. You don't sleep?"

You're not sure how to respond. Now that she mentions it, you do feel sort of groggy. Seeing as much action as you have lately when you haven't been moving for several years has taken a bit out of you, and you think staying here with Ivet might be nice. Still, you're pretty sure you won't have any trouble powering through your grogginess if you put your mind to it, and there's still at least one more living thing in this ruin, not to mention a few mouthfuls of Talpid down below. What do you do?

Ungolan... does that name ring any bells?

I think we should eat whatever's still in this ruin, then come back to rest. Keep in mind we need to prop the door open. It can't be opened from this side!

even with your new speed the talpids are a ways away. but that thing IN the ruins is relatively close. go for it. but as soon as that's eaten come back here and take a rest.

>>331968
it can be opened, it was just locked.

>>331951
>You consider telling her not to take a meat-based form, but thinking back, you're pretty sure you could stop yourself from eating something if you try.
Of course we could stop ourselves; it was meant as friendly and practical advice for her. It would merely be prudent of her to ensure that at no point does she become something which would look like a viable meal, thus forcing us to balance the value of her continue company against her undoubted deliciousness.

>>331954
Let's go eat some more, at least whatever else is in the ruin, then return and rest after. We may need something with which to carry those gold disks and stones, since apparently they have a significant amount of utility after we travel somewhat.

we should sleep. we should operate on the assumption that we need sleep until we are somewhere safe were we can experiment.

I say sleep, but someone should probably keep watch.

>>331954
Go for the living thing and come right back. Is there any way to disguise the entrance?

I think we should practice shape-changing. It was mentioned that our flexibility 'upgrade' combined with the newly-gained camouflage 'upgrade' could be used in such a way. Money isn't worth anything, after all, if you can't trade with it because everyone runs screaming from you. If we nap, though, let's nap in the doorway. I'm not entirely trusting of Ivet yet.

>>332050
She couldn't possibly hurt us.

Let's hunt for no longer than an hour, then return here and sleep.

rest. it will make you seem less alien and inhuman to her. besides, you need it.

Quickly scout the surrounding area, maybe for 20 minutes or so. See if you can find a quick snack or something to carry the valuables in. Then rest for a while, but not inside the room. You've spent far too much time in there.

Does Ivet need food or water? What does she eat? Does she know how long she will need to rest? Tell her you don't mind if she claims an armful of gold discs. They're going to be a pain to carry after all.

Since you have money and you know little about using it, hire Ivet. "I'll pay you whatever you consider fair to teach me how to use money, and how to get more of it."

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/28(Thu)02:42 No. 332951 ID: 885ee8
File 131184613247.png - (338.74KB , 720x720 , 33.png )

You inspect the door. There is an iron facing on the inside with a stone cover on the outside that matches the rest of the wall. The locking mechanism was cleverly concealed in the stonework and seems to have been completely disabled.

"I think that I do sleep," you reply, "but I don't think I will need to for a while. I have one sound in the ruin to investigate. If I find it edible, I will return shortly and rest nonetheless."

She nods and curls up along the back wall as you pull the door to, and you start the short sprint back to the branching hallway.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/28(Thu)02:42 No. 332952 ID: 885ee8
File 131184614976.png - (306.70KB , 720x720 , 34.png )

Before too long, you get back to the junction where the rough tunnel meets the smooth one, and continue along the smooth side. The stonework and decor are largely the same in this tunnel. As you advance further along, you find several small rooms behind hidden panels in the walls, almost identical to your room. All have open doors, and all are empty.

You begin to advance further down the hall and it soon meets a junction where several corridors meet and become one larger, more ornate arched tunnel. Some of the more delicate stonework has crumbled, leaving small piles of rubble strewn across the ground.

As you advance, it becomes clear that whatever it is that you're hearing is quite large. It also seems to grow quiet at your approach. Something in your gut that seems like hunger begins to intensify and draw you forward. In fact, without even knowing what it is, you feel whatever is in this room would be the sweetest meal, and that if you ate it, you would be forever-

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/28(Thu)02:42 No. 332953 ID: 885ee8
File 131184616382.png - (283.84KB , 720x720 , 35.png )

"-Whole" says a deep, rumbling voice, echoing as you emerge into a massive chamber. In the center, there is a large circular platform strewn with rubble; in the center of that is what appears to be a stone seat. Between the platform and the wall is a deep pit that drops down into the darkness, crossed by several walkways like the one leading from the door you came in by. The ceiling arches up far above you, and is dotted with many geometrically-arranged bright lights that seem to be shining on the central seat.

"The throne," continues the voice, "Throne of the bone lord. The dead walked for him. I served him once. Or did he serve me? It has been so long, I have forgotten." The voice pauses as you take note of the severed crown atop the seat. "Struck down, like a dream on waking, by the simple-minded. They would strike down even the gods with their ignorance. But the voice, the right voice... well, with the right voice, like the dead for the bone lord, they might walk again."

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/28(Thu)02:42 No. 332954 ID: 885ee8
File 131184617460.png - (191.46KB , 720x720 , 36.png )

A large boulder crashes down on the walkway behind you, blocking the door. The voice rises in intensity, its deep pitch giving way to a shrill yell. "FOR THE RIGHT VOICE, THEY MIGHT WALK AGAIN. FOR THE RIGHT VOICE, THE OLD GODS MIGHT RISE." A shadow passes overhead, and a fine cloud of black ash drifts down on your head.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/28(Thu)02:43 No. 332955 ID: 885ee8
File 131184619182.png - (322.83KB , 720x720 , 37.png )

"Now fall," the creature says, dropping back to its original tone, "and give me your voice, food."

I wish we had a hookshot, bow or boomerang right now.

Although...you do have extended reach. Hmmmm...

>>332956
"I am not your food, crow."

Engage camo. We will use stealth against this thing, and catch it when it swoops down to look for us.

Camo. Find shelter. He is bigger and scarier than you and you don't know his talents. That ash... That is not a good sign. Where there is ash there is often flame.

I don't think this is a fight you can win. Yet.

...Broken as it is, I WANT that crown.

>>332956
>>331954
...The sword. The coins. Both of their designs are based upon the Ash Crow. If we had brought the sword, maybe we might have stood a tiny, tiny chance.

I was wrong. Fuck the crown. Run. Hide. ESCAPE. This beast is the basis of a DYNASTY, it spoke in our mind to call us to this place, and it is very very large. We will NOT prevail.

it looks fast. I doubt you could run anyway.

good news is that we're indoors, and you can climb walls, so the flyer is at a disadvantage. furthermore, if you stay in the corridor, it should only be able to charge you from two directions.

I say start climbing and get ready to latch onto it if it gets close. get ready to dodge, too, in case it has a ranged attack.

Cloak and initiate a tactical withdrawal. We'll need a significant amount more strength to kill that thing.

Hmm... I wonder of its size in relativity to us. It is clearly one of our own, if taken down a slightly different branch of evolution. And, typically, it's crazed and only interested in food. What it says about voices is interesting, though... What if, hypothetically, there were a thousand such creatures as we, each with their own guiding voice, and they cannibalized each other, and when doing so also gained the voice of the one that was eaten... In such a hypothetical, the ones that ate many of their brethren would 'collect' voices, and would mean that We, this creature Viktor, would be one who cannibalized a large number of his kin. Perhaps this Ash Crow seeks to do the same to us.
Of course, it's all just a hypothetical. Tactically, everyone else seems to have it pretty much covered, though 'retreat' is not as simple as it sounds, as our doorway was blocked off. Camouflage, evasion, and inspection of the enemy's abilities are in order.

>>332980
This would, of course, suggest that THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!

Camo and start climbing the walls. When you're high enough, see if it'd be possible to jump on his back.

Run. Engage camp and grab pillars and things far away so you can drag yourself to them quickly. Be prepared to sacrifice bits rather than getting caught.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/28(Thu)22:10 No. 333387 ID: 885ee8
File 131191624262.png - (343.47KB , 720x720 , 39.png )

Taking a quick survey of your situation, you decide that you should use your mobility to your advantage, and camouflage when possible. Perhaps you can climb onto the ceiling and use your camouflage to get the drop on it from above? You realize that camouflaging now, while you're standing out in the open, would be pointless; it would see you turn to stone and would likely proceed to attack you as normal.

And then there are those pits: they're deep and narrow, and you can climb up the sides of them easily, and limit the bird's mobility. As you consider this, the bird pulls its wings back and goes into a steep dive directly for you!

"I am not your food," you reply. with your superior speed, you react quickly and leap out of the way of the attack, directly for the side of the platform.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/28(Thu)22:10 No. 333388 ID: 885ee8
File 131191625885.png - (257.37KB , 720x720 , 40.png )

As you sail over the edge, you catch the side with your sticky, stretchy arms and swing up to cling to the wall. Taking advantage of your new, likely unexpected position, you press up against the wall as flat as possible and camouflage to match the stone.

"Fall," the bird responds, "has several meanings. You have chosen the wrong one. You are unexpectedly fast, and unexpectedly slow." As it says this, it flaps up to the edge and dives down the side of the cliff directly in front of you. You have the element of surprise. What do you do?

lick him

push off with your arms, HARD. but hold on with your feet. grab hold of it and using your feet as the fulcrum swing it around so it slams it's face into the wall.

>>333390
This seems appropriate.

>>333388
Grab a wing and try to tear it off. His momentum will help.

>>333390
This sounds good. Say something witty, too. Like "RRRGHGHBLL"

>>333402
this. if we can ground it the fight will be essentially over. be careful though, it has allot of momentum, it might pull us off the wall. if that happens we should try to hold on and start choking it.

>>333390

That's a nifty idea. Do this.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/29(Fri)01:29 No. 333499 ID: 885ee8
File 131192815981.png - (299.10KB , 720x720 , 41.png )

Something clicks in your mind as you see the Ash Crow start to dive past you, almost in slow-motion. Latching your feet firmly to the wall, you push off with your arms and swing forward. Your arms lash out and latch squarely around the crow's head, as its own speed, your force, and gravity all pull you forward, pivoting about where your feet are planted to the wall.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/29(Fri)01:29 No. 333500 ID: 885ee8
File 131192818320.png - (329.36KB , 720x720 , 42.png )

With all the force you already have, and as much more as you can manage, you slam the crow's face into the wall. The ancient stonework is crushed under the massive impact, and you see one of the creature's horns snap off and drop into the darkness below. Its body goes limp for a split second, then it starts to flail to try to right itself.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/29(Fri)01:30 No. 333501 ID: 885ee8
File 131192821143.png - (363.24KB , 720x720 , 43.png )

Not giving the crow a chance to recover, you reach out to the top of the ledge for leverage, then swing it back up where it came from.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/29(Fri)01:30 No. 333502 ID: 885ee8
File 131192823419.png - (284.09KB , 720x720 , 44.png )

With the second impact, the crow screeches and slumps back over the ledge, knocking over one of the crumbling pillars. With a frantic pull and twist, it manages to escape from your grasp, but is obviously gravely wounded.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/29(Fri)01:30 No. 333503 ID: 885ee8
File 131192825486.png - (245.50KB , 720x720 , 45.png )

Pressing your advantage, you leap up over the ledge and coil your tentacles up to smash its face.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/29(Fri)01:31 No. 333504 ID: 885ee8
File 131192827312.png - (357.69KB , 720x720 , 46.png )

With a pained motion, it screeches and turns, whipping its wing towards you unexpectedly. Flames erupt from its feathers, and its attack catches you off-guard under your leg. It uses your momentum to throw you over its back, leaving a long line burned down your right side and crippling your leg.

You deftly spin and get back up, keeping weight off your leg, as it turns to face you. It seems to be twitching and flailing just to stay upright. You can see blood dripping from wounds in its face and from its mouth, and its central eye seems to be swollen shut. It glares at you. You mostly see hate in its eyes, but with a touch of envy. It opens its beak slowly and speaks, its deep rumble once again echoing through the room. "What do you think you are," it asks, more a statement than a question. "A hero? One of those ignorant wretches fighting for a good they don't-" it stops and coughs red onto the floor, "-they don't understand?" It turns to face you and squares its clawed feet in an aggressive stance. "You're my next meal! The aid for my wounds! The time between now and when I devour you...it doesn't matter to you. Why are you dragging it out?"

It starts to stumble towards you, flames sparking from its dragging wings.

You don't know what good and evil is, per say... or what a hero is or does. But you do know that you want this guy in your stomach.

Flail out with one of your arms; grab hold of the remaining horn and wrench to the left, /hard/.

>>333504
"I don't even know who you are. I just want to eat you... and I will. Tell me who you are and more than just your meat will live on inside me."

Begin circling around. I see a little force multiplier over there in the form of a broken pillar.

"I want to live, I will live. I am your better, and you will be my food."

Anger it, make it advance you. With your wounded leg it must expect you fight where you are, but you will force yourself aside with your good leg, you will grab its neck as you do and you will break it.

>>333504
Don't speak. Just smash him with the remains of the pillar.

"Everything you say to me I could say to you. But it doesn't matter. You are what you choose to make yourself, and you are merely an animal. And I eat animals."

Grab that broken pillar on the ground, and use it as a club to smash the hell out of it. We will FINALLY stop feeling so hungry...

smash him and eat him.

>>333504
"You have it backwards. You are mine to devour, as I will devour so much else; how could you think yourself enough to challenge me, when you are but food?"

Hey guys, we're Viktor. Just remember that. We're not some mindless animal. We've charmed a young fungal lady already and we're on our way to be so much more than a mindless devourer. Don't let us become as mindless as this creature.

>>333540
this. we outsmarted him. rub its face in it. if we can get it mad enough to come at us we would probably be able to reach out and snap its neck.

While Victor could keep it civilized, this Ash Crow seems intent on eating him. If the doorway wasn't blocked then escape would possibly be an option, but it seems that we have a 2 creatures enters, one creature leaves situation here.

Can the crippled leg still stretch and cling to surfaces? If you attach the leg to the ground and move while stretching it out you can use it as a line to quickly pull yourself back from more flame attacks before coming back with a counter.

Why not just lie to this guy? He seems half-insane and overly arrogant. Go something like:
"Those flaming wings! You must be the chosen one! I was only testing your strength and I will now naturally submit myself to you as your humble meal as was preordained long ago so that you may do what is proper."

Then bash his head in or stab his eyes out with your tendrils when he tries to eat you.

He's made of food, he's nuttier than some suitable simile, and he's trying to kill Viktor. That puts him right on the menu. In bold print.

Whatever you do, make sure to be quick about attacking again, as he likely has similar regeneration to yours.

>>333504
"You are in my cavern, and I have awoken. As the ruler of this place, you have no right to eat me, and for your attempt you will be eaten." If you say something like that and have the force to back it up then it will become true. And if we don't have the force to back it up we're screwed anyway, so no loss.

>>333560

>mindless
Say that one more time.

Are you saying that we should act with mercy or something? Why do we need to act civilized in this situation when the end result will be the same? (EATING HIM)

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/30(Sat)12:35 No. 334218 ID: 885ee8
File 131205454438.png - (397.04KB , 720x720 , 47.png )

"Everything you say to me, I could say to you. But it doesn't matter. You are what you choose to make yourself, and you are merely an animal. And I eat animals."

As if responding to your taunt, your stomach starts to growl. The crow narrows its eyes and starts an erratic charge, swingling its flaming wings wildly.

With little effort, you grab the crushed pillar and bring it around to the crow's face. Its desperate parry proves useless as the pillar's stone fails to yield to the crow's flames. The club snaps across the beast's face and it crumples in a pile of feathers.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/30(Sat)12:36 No. 334219 ID: 885ee8
File 131205456421.png - (189.20KB , 720x720 , 48.png )

Feeling strangely detached, you grab the crow's horn and twist until you hear a snap. You feel the urge to consume overwhelm you, and can feel yourself hunching over to devour the beast, but almost as if it were happening to someone else. Your body begins to feast as your mind steps back into a dream.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/30(Sat)12:36 No. 334220 ID: 885ee8
File 131205458326.png - (279.26KB , 720x720 , 49.png )

Your dream is fragmentary and disconnected. You see a vast ocean, and the bone lord beneath it. You see many birdlike creatures bearing warriors in gold. You see the skeletal man pulling one of the birds back from death at an altar overlooked by three eyes.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/07/30(Sat)12:36 No. 334221 ID: 885ee8
File 131205460771.png - (286.55KB , 720x720 , 50.png )

You come to on the central platform admidst a pile of feathers. On standing, your unfamiliarity with your new form is quickly overcome. life since awakening has been nonstop change for you, and you feel that this may just be the next step.

Additionally, you feel your body has much more energy than it once did. You may upgrade twice. You feel that you now already have the ability to alter your shape crudely to fit through small gaps or flatten yourself against a surface, but you feel with more energy you could exert finer control over it and look like a specific creature such as a human or elf. You could also grow additional mouths, not limited to eating only one creature at a time, or you could spit acid, or hone your senses, or many other things within reason.

shape shifting. so many uses for that.

>Shapechange
>Acid Spit

>>334221
We have two things? Shape alteration and acid spit. Shape alteration has a lot of possible utility, the acid spit gives us ranged capability which should mesh well with our stealth and mobility.

Shape shifting and better senses.

>>334229

Shapeshift, senses.

>>334229

>>334221
Shapeshift, senses. Grab the crown then squirm through the gaps the boulder has left to rejoin Ivet.

Shapeshift and Senses

ahapeshift, acid spit.

Shapeshift, acid spit.

Shapeshift, senses.

I'll have to go with shapeshift and acid spit. Victor is a power hunter.

Shapeshifting and HEAT VISION. Take the bird's fire power for our own use.

Shapeshifting, senses.

Grab the broken crown. It will be reforged. Look like one of Ivet's species. Then you'll fit in.

>>334361

When Viktor returns to Ivet, he should shape himself to look like her.

>>334386

and thrust out his hips repeatedly? I agree.

>>334361
Get her to critique his features. It must be convincing.

>>334387
DAGNABIT ELEPHANT GUY.

But yeah. Shift into Ivet's species. Strike a pose and ask how you look.

should probly tell her what we are doing beforehand. but being able to pass as one of her kind would be useful. it would also mean when we get to her city introductions will not be made at spear point.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/01(Mon)01:53 No. 334926 ID: 885ee8
File 131218883816.png - (263.15KB , 720x720 , 51.png )

You choose to exert finer control over your shapeshifting and gain an acidic spit weapon. After focusing, you approach the boulder-blocked entry archway you came through.

The entire archway looks much smaller than you remember it.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/01(Mon)01:55 No. 334929 ID: 885ee8
File 131218893335.png - (358.75KB , 720x720 , 52.png )

Using your new morphic qualities, you manage to slip through the gap between the boulder and the archway.

The hallway seems much smaller than it was on the way in, too. You have to hunch over more than usual, and you still scrape your horns on the ceiling from time to time.

You return to the corridor you left Ivet in, and after a moment of feeling along the wall you manage to find the secret door again.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/01(Mon)01:56 No. 334931 ID: 885ee8
File 131218896165.png - (199.05KB , 720x720 , 53.png )

For a moment you feared you'd return to find Ivet missing, or something else in her place, but she is right where you left her. She seems to be dozing uncomfortably on the stone floor.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/01(Mon)01:56 No. 334932 ID: 885ee8
File 131218897869.png - (255.10KB , 720x720 , 54.png )

Ivet stirs a little when you walk in. "Hm, hey," she says quietly, still half-asleep. "You got bigger." She half-smiles and stretches. "Hm. That sounded bad. Not that you'd know I guess." She yawns and pats the floor in the corner. "C'mere. Get comfortable."

You're not sure what sounded bad about that, but you do like the idea of sleeping next to her. You lean up against the corner of the room and Ivet slumps over on your leg and promptly falls back asleep.

For the first time in centuries, you smile as you drift off to sleep as well.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/01(Mon)01:56 No. 334933 ID: 885ee8
File 131218900274.png - (331.33KB , 720x720 , 55.png )

Your eyes open urgently. There was something important, something you were doing just moments ago, but the memories you were searching for are suddenly a haze. You look up and see Ivet sitting cross-legged on the floor, breathing slowly, her eyes closed.

She opens one eye and looks at you. "Hey. Looks like you slept well. Gimme another minute, I'm almost done."

Looks like she's about ready to start the journey to the surface. What do you do?

>>334933
You need to choose a less startling form. Become a humanoid male, have Ivet critique your form. Remember, there are many advantages to attractiveness. It causes some problems as well, but since you can change shape at will you need not worry about being memorable.

gather your belongings. try to pick up the sword too, to see if the curse applies to you as well. then leave, I guess.

>>334935
Addendum: Do not become a female. There are certain dangers present for unattached females. By becoming a man you protect both her and yourself. Likely problems you can easily overcome, but it's best to choose your battles rather than have them chosen for you.

>>334933
Inspect the cursed sword once more. Reflect upon its shape. The two-horned face upon it looks like you. The Ash Crow looked like you. What are you? To put your likeness on a sword, you would have to be vastly important.

Like a god.

What would you say is the likelyhood that you are the dead god the cultists are talking about? Refused to die, but rather chopped to bits and hidden away in ruins to waste away almost to nothing.

I think we should pay a visit to the cultists, but... we did agree to assist her in some manner. Let's quickly aid her transport and return here. I'm sure at this point you could shapeshift into a form that could carry her and fly swiftly over the desert.

>>334933
If what she said about the metal disks was true, you will wish to bring at least some of them with you. For that, you will likely need some kind of container. Try to arrange something, and bring some of them with you.

Make yourself look like that elf you ate. That ought to work.

We need to test the limits of the shapechanging power. How quickly can we alter our body and how much? Do we need to be of the same mass or weight? Can we alter ourselves to add functional features or would they all be vestigial? I'm guessing considering that we didn't get the upgrade that would give us extra mouths we wouldn't be able to do anything like simply shapechange into a form that had extra mouths. But with our acid spit as well, we're assuming that we 'spit' it from our mouth... would it be possible to change into a form that spat it from elsewhere? Or would we be able to fly, with wings? Let us practice with Ivet as a judge as to how we're doing. She apparently knows some shapechanging type things.

Take an androgynous form, perhaps a mix of the elf and barbarian? There is no need to become anything specific at the moment, only something that won't cause the other creatures of the surface to attack you on sight.

If Ivet was surprised to see you the way you are, then so will everyone else on the surface.

I just had an idea, we could shape ourselves into a container to take the metal disks and the gems with us.

See if you can store some valuables. Like make a honeycomb like pouch where they can be kept without making noise when you move. Maybe you can even integrate some of the coins into a crude subdermal armor so it has some faint use while being carried.

When Ivet is ready you might want to relate what happened during your little hunt:

"I came across a flying creatures not too dissimilar from myself in a room with a throne and broken crown. It tried to eat me while going on about a bone lord and old gods, but instead it ended up being my meal as i outsmarted it in battle. I'm sure there's some history back in that room, but I'm not very fond of riddles and mysteries."

"On a related note I've also regained some malleability i did not know I had. You have some shape shifting abilities of your own didn't you say? Perhaps we can compare our ways?"

Also does Ivet need any food or water?

>335045

It shouldn't be hard to find a bag or a basket or pot or something. This is a ruin, there's always junk like that left everywhere.

Wait for her to finish, then ask her what exactly she was finishing. Seems to be something not quite the same as meat creatures do.

Then test out your shapeshifting, try to look like an unassuming biped such as herself and the elf. Ask for her opinion on your efforts.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/02(Tue)12:16 No. 335495 ID: 885ee8
File 131231257377.png - (200.69KB , 720x720 , 56.png )

As she does...whatever she's doing, you inspect the sword again. It clearly shows the image of a horned bird on the handle, but as you inspect closely, you can find no evidence of a third eye or tentacles on its face. It does, however, remind you of the birds you saw in the dream, the ones ridden by gold men. The sword has gold too, in the central disc. Perhaps, before it was cursed, this was a weapon wielded by one of them? But then, why did you dream of them, if they have nothing to do with you? Surely there is some relevance.

Just to be sure, you gingerly touch the sword with the tip of your tentacle and still feel the quick burning sensation. Well, there goes your hope that the curse went away since the last time you tried.

Ivet exhales audibly and slaps her hands on her legs. "Okay! All ready to go."

"What were you doing?" You ask.

"Kinda hard to explain," she says. "After I get some rest I can just sorta sit and reflect on what I think my needs for the day will be, and how the magic of the natural world could help me meet them, and then I just get inspired with how to make that happen! Afterwards I can cast some spells that have to do with whatever I was thinking about. But then, after I do, it's like I have the spell in my head and then I have to take it out of my head and put it in the real world to make it happen, and I don't have it in my head anymore and I have to get some rest and sit and reflect again. But the best news is, every once in a long while I feel like I get a little better at it, and I can think up more spells or new ones for the day and today was one of the days I could do that!" She stops her rapid gesticulation, inhales, and looks up at you. "I'm rambling again, aren't I?"

"No," you reply, "that's interesting. I also can do some new things today that I couldn't yesterday."

"That's terrifying!" she responds, then laughs. "You're a lot bigger today. I guess you found something to eat? Or, uh, someone?"

"I came across a flying creatures not too dissimilar from myself in a room with a throne and broken crown. It tried to eat me while going on about a bone lord and old gods. Instead it ended up being my meal as I outsmarted it in battle. I'm sure there's some history back in that room, but I'm not very fond of riddles and mysteries. On a related note, I've also regained some malleability I did not know I had. You have some shape shifting abilities of your own, didn't you say? Perhaps we can compare our ways?"

You have a hard time reading her expression for a moment, then she smiles and replies, "Sure! I just sort of focus on the animal I want to be and magic kinda takes over and I change. I've only been able to do it once a day so far, but maybe you're different. Why don't you give it a shot?"

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/02(Tue)12:16 No. 335496 ID: 885ee8
File 131231259708.png - (226.13KB , 720x720 , 57.png )

You nod and start to think about animals. Something that would be useful. Something that lives in a desert, something that flies. A vulture comes to mind, and you start to focus on its shape. You start to forcefully compress your massive bulk and you can feel your normally-rigid bones soften as you force them into a new shape.

You sculpt yourself as best you can, and paint your color-changing hide with a vulture's colors. After a few seconds, you think you're done.

"Haha!" Ivet laughs. "A vulture! I can do that one, too. Kinda suits you, I guess. I hope you can do it more than once!"

"I'm pretty sure I can," you say, your voice coming out more raspy than usual. It takes you a little effort to figure out how your legs and wings work, but after a bit of twitching you manage to spread and flap your wings. You utterly fail to lift off the ground. You can still feel your feet planted firmly to the stone floor, even without the stickiness. "I don't think I can fly," you say.

Ivet makes a puzzled noise and walks over to you. She tries to pick you up, but you fail to budge. "Huh," she says, "you're really heavy!" She scratches her head and steps back. "I guess it's not a magical transformation, you're just rearranging your body? But if you're that much smaller, and you weigh the same as you usually do, then you're waaaaay too dense to fly. Maybe it would work if you got bigger." She looks around the small room. "There's probably not enough room in here for that, though." She shrugs. "This is pretty cool though! Let's try some other stuff."

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/02(Tue)12:17 No. 335498 ID: 885ee8
File 131231262156.png - (357.88KB , 720x720 , 58.png )

The two of you spend almost an hour experimenting and learning the limits of your new ability. While you can make new mouths, they don't lead anywhere. You can make new eyes, but you can't see out of them unless you get rid of your old ones. You have no trouble creating a hollow space inside yourself to carry all the gold discs and stones, but they make it hard to transform into smaller things. After some finagling, you manage to contain them inside yourself in a way that doesn't make any noise when you walk.

You start to get the hang of it and loosen up, physically and mentally. You try to line yourself in the discs just under your skin as a sort of makeshift armor, but they keep falling out of the little hollow pockets you make for them when you stop thinking about them. Ivet laughs. "Oh man, every time someone hits you, a gold pops out! You're a bandit's dream to fight. At least, until they get eaten." You both laugh at the image, your coarse chortle against Ivet's soft giggle.

A sudden idea strikes you and you force yourself into a humanoid shape. You shift your skin tones to mostly mottled red and cream tones, with some darker browns, and shape yourself as an identical copy of Ivet. You grin at her, and she tries to scowl but winds up smiling anyway. "Hm," she begins, "I've had dreams like this before." Before you can ask her what she means, she pinches your nose. "I don't like this nose," she says, "too round."

"What do you mean," you reply, your voice shooting up from a deep pitch to match Ivet's as you stretch your vocal cords. "It looks just like yours. I like it."

She smiles and looks away. "Thanks," she says, after a pause.

She keeps her gaze averted, staring off into the deep, the smile lingering on her lips, as silence falls between you. You look yourself up and down and suddenly feel a little awkward. "I don't think I like looking like a woman. What kind of man do you think I should look like?"

Ivet stares off into space somewhere down and to your right for a moment. She sighs and looks up at you. "A strong, scary one," she replies.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/02(Tue)12:17 No. 335499 ID: 885ee8
File 131231264081.png - (272.01KB , 720x720 , 59.png )

You shift your form again, thinking back to the barbarian from earlier. Ivet nods. "That'll work."

>>335499
And hey, if you want to scare someone, you just shapeshift a hand into a horrific mess of tentacles and claws!

>>335499
Time to ask her where she wants to go. Continue on to the surface for a surface route to her home or try and get through the depths. I'd advocate the surface route personally, more to eat there I'd think, but it's up to her.

Also, could you detach part of yourself to make a skin umbrella to block the sun for her?

you mean our default form? also we should probably avoid looking exactly like the guy we ate. if we get mistaken for him it would be very awkward.

Yes. Lose the beard. Form an eye patch and more scars. Become thinner and taller.

>>335525
hmm, not that much, just shorten it and change the face a little. most recognition is in the face. think also making the eyes a different color would be god too, but that's all. anyone who knows the guy would remark he looks similar but would notice enough difference to think it's a coincidence.

I wonder when it'll occur to Ivet that you're actually naked as the 'clothes' are just recolored parts of your body.

See if you can seal and re-hide the hidden room. Perhaps you can come back for the sword at some point or send someone to pick it up.

Head for the surface. I hope Ivet has a good way to navigate though. The plan should be to escort Ivet back to her home cave so she can report the loss of her friend and so you can enjoy the sights of civilization. Banking those valuables would also be nice. Maybe you can invest in a farm of some sort?

If the surface is so desertlike then the best form to take might be some sort of narrow long legged creature with a light insulated carapace to keep away the extreme temperatures of both the sun and the ground. Like a monster camel. Or maybe Ivet knows of something even better. I guess she can transform into birds.

>>335498
>You look yourself up and down and suddenly feel a little awkward. "I don't think I like looking like a woman. What kind of man do you think I should look like?"
Huh. Since when do we have a gender identity, masculine or otherwise? We don't seem to have any kind of sexual organs. In fact, our anatomy seems extremely minimal in general. And without that, what difference does appearing male or female make?

Actually, even with one, since when are we socially sensitive enough to give a crap what our outward appearance looks like? The only effect that appearing male or female will have on us is how others perceive us, after all, so if we care about it it's logically because we care what others think of us. Or if that was just an excuse to change forms, what about our mentality makes us inclined to feel awkward in Ivet's shape? She didn't seem to respond negatively to it, so what's the problem?

Our actions are evincing different thought patterns that I would have expected from us, and this demands further analysis.


>the barbarian from earlier
It is a bad idea to imitate those we have consumed without a specific purpose in doing so. Change the face to look very different and body shape significantly; since Ivet has requested that you look strong and scary, get larger- by five or six inches- and broader, more thick-looking, like a massive tank of a man. Try adding something that looks like armor to your torso, and maybe imitation sheathed weaponry to your back- a large axe should work.

Though honestly, I think looking strong and scary is the wrong play. It'll make anyone inclined to attack you try to target and eliminate you immediately. I'd say that trying to look mostly harmless so they underestimate you and you can surprise them with a sudden shift into full attack mode would be a better move.

>>335560
>I'd say that trying to look mostly harmless so they underestimate you and you can surprise them with a sudden shift into full attack mode would be a better move.
Appearing unarmed will do that well enough, even if we look physically strong. But it would make us look like at least a potential threat, so any surprise attacks will more likely be directed at us instead of the girl. Besides, Ivet wants us to look like a big imposing male, so why not just go with that?

I agree that you shouldn't look like someone who actually exists. otherwise, I don't care what you look like. just change your identity and go surfaceways.

>>335560
Compare.
>>327979
>>335499

She likes big and scary? Sounds like she's talking about us.
>>335560
Why would something with such variable physiology need external sex organs? For all we know all those tentacles are dicks waiting to happen.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/07(Sun)03:23 No. 337574 ID: 885ee8
File 131271259386.png - (268.73KB , 720x720 , 60.png )

You begin to think it might be a bad idea to base your appearance on the barbarian from earlier, in case you encounter anyone he knew. But, you are much taller and wider than he was, and you're sure you couldn't have gotten the details of his face exactly right. You have only an impression of the face you're trying to copy; you could only copy Ivet exactly because you were looking at her when you transformed.

"Actually," Ivet begins, "you could probably use something that looks like armor, and your hips are a little wide. Maybe some kind of weapon, too? Could you make a sword or something?"

"I could, but it would be made of flesh and bone, and would be fairly brittle from being overextended. Perhaps some sort of weapon that attaches to my arm?"

The two of you spend a few more minutes tweaking your appearance until you find one that is suitable and easy to hold over a long period. Giving the room a quick once-over to make sure you collected all the coins and stones, and leaving the cursed sword behind, the two of you leave and shut the secret door behind you.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/07(Sun)03:23 No. 337575 ID: 885ee8
File 131271261619.png - (245.43KB , 720x720 , 61.png )

You don't know the specific way out, but you know which direction the elf and human came from earlier, and you and Ivet head in that direction. You ask her about the place she comes from as you walk.

"Oh, it's nice. Huge, and wet, and shady, and green. Weird for a desert, I know, but Mother Oasis keeps it cool for us. There are lots of trees and bushes and vines and plants and animals and it's always nice and misty, and there are these four rivers that go through town and down underground. I was trying to follow a river upstream to find my home again when I ran into you, but I think I got turned around somewhere. That might have been one of those natural rivers or something, because I swear I was hiking and hiding for days. Anyway, Mother Oasis is sort of like the queen I guess, and she makes sure everything is orderly, and she has these sorta priesty knight type things who patrol the city and make sure everyone behaves. I mean as much as you can expect a city full of Fey to behave anyway, it gets pretty crazy sometimes anyway."

She goes on for a bit as you begin to hear the sounds of wind through the tunnels up ahead. You pass several doors along the side, and can even hear some small movements deep within some of them, but you can clearly tell the shortest path back to the surface. You walk for quite a while through corridors and up staircases, listening to Ivet's pleasant rambling, until you finally see a stairway leading up into the daylight.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/07(Sun)03:23 No. 337576 ID: 885ee8
File 131271263983.png - (256.88KB , 720x720 , 62.png )

As the two of you step out into the open air, you see the sky for the first time you remember. The sun, shimmering and orange, casts a fading light on the surrounding cloudless sky. On the opposite end of the horizon, stars are starting to appear in the indigo haze.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/07(Sun)03:24 No. 337577 ID: 885ee8
File 131271267142.png - (304.12KB , 720x720 , 63.png )

Before you, dead ahead, you can see a grey-and-white cloud perched on the sandy dunes, the only indication of moisture visible in any direction. Ivet points to it.

"Wow, I didn't realize we were that far away," she says.

"Your homeland is beyond that cloud?" you ask.

"No, no. My homeland IS that cloud," she responds.

sketchyquest !50qq4/3dkY 2011/08/07(Sun)03:25 No. 337578 ID: 885ee8
File 131271271052.png - (42.22KB , 720x720 , 64.png )

END part 1. In the meantime, "Sketchyquest" will no longer do as a name. You guys have had long enough to get the gist of where the quest is headed, please choose another.

well, you can probably get down (or up in fact) this rock a LOT faster then anyone else.

[spoiler] name is... revival? old gods? something something, tentacle-monster and a monster girl?

The Fae and the Forgotten

Ancient Quest

VikQuest?

Elder Quest?

What about just Forgotten?

>>337634
I like it. :3

AintGotTimeToChewQuest.
Alternatively NomNomQuest.

>>337634
HEY EVERYZIG WHAT'S THAT QUEST CALLED WITH THE VIK GUY IN IT
>Forgotten.
OH NO WORRIES I'LL ASK SOMEONE ELSE THEN

Master punch: The Deathquest chronicles

Vik the Forgotten, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Sapient Food

Stream-of Consciousness Ideas:

Renacor, Renascence > Nascence, Renacim, Fractimus, Fracta, Animtas, Dearth (Durth), Fluxis, Scindon, Expise, Somnu, Uthyia, Onstrum, Secu, Fractus, Sattir, Partus.

Blah blah blee blah latin-sounding words blah.