>>492941
Could be an ambush, yeah. Could also be whatever wounded the poor sap is about to come barreling forwards to finish the job. Scope the suspect and scan the area.

slowly take cover. get additional pairs of eyes and opinions

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/15(Fri)23:40 No. 493422 ID: de986b
File 136100043877.png - (26.69KB , 800x800 , 58.png )

“Beware. This might be an ambush.”

I signal for Lex to move out of sight. She and her brother back away and sit behind a tree. I cannot adequately judge what is going on over there, even through the sight of my weapon.

Samael has better skills than me, evidently, and can clearly see what is going on.

>”The man looks like he's in pain. I dunno what's up with him.”

The man sees Samael looking at him and starts calling out.

>”Robot, help me! I need a doctor!”

He starts staggering towards us.

Spread out, only you and Sam go to meet him, he may be intending something. be ready to take cover if he pulls a weapon.

Also, he's asked specifically for Sam, it its feasible he is diseased, only Sam should get close enough for physical contact.

Alright, advance carefully and keep an eye out for anything in the periphery.

The fact is he doesn't have a respirator. Why? He's acting psychotic and surely is in need of medical attention, but can any of us help him? No doctor is around.

don't go to him. let him come to you.

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/16(Sat)17:18 No. 493641 ID: 4d1eb3
File 136106388979.png - (23.27KB , 800x800 , 59.png )

>”He might be diseased.”

Samael extends one huge arm out in front of me, and gently nudges me back.

The man clambers up the embankment.

>”Thank goodness. You need to help me, please!”

>”What's wrong? Where's your respirator?”

>”What? I dunno, I left it. I think I'm infested.”

The man goes to grab Samael, but the cyborg whips his arm away.

>”Don't touch us! Where are you from?”

I do not know what they are talking about.

“Samael, what is wrong with him?”

>”He has worms. Don't get near him; they might be on his hands or clothes.”

He turns his attention back to the man.

>”How long?”

>”Uhhhh, I really don't know.”

>”What are your symptoms?”

>”Uhh, stomach bloating, aches and cramps. Seizures.”

Samael is concerned.

>”It's advanced, then. I expect there are but a few days until you succumb.”

>”Please get me to a doctor.”

I do not know what to do. We have our own agenda. Can this man even be helped?

Lox comes out from behind the tree.

>”I say we kill him right here.”

The man looks scared.

>”No! I don't want to die.”

Lox does not seem to care.

>”Once you succumb, you'll wish you had.”

Samael seems to think I am in charge of this situation.

>”Well, Mord? You're the leader here, what do you think we should do?”

Point out to the man that there is an army cordon behind you. They may have a medic able or willing to treat him. Make the point clear that your group does not have any way of treating him and is unable to help him in such an advanced state, and that he will not survive the trip to where they are headed. His only chance of survival is to throw his lot in with the military.

Also make it a point that if he follows after you, you will execute him.

>>493641
Direct him to the military behind you but that he must be careful to submit himself from a distance and make it very clear that he's infested BEFORE they get close.

They are basically the only people we know of nearby that could have a medic. We certainly don't have anyone that could help, and the village we're from (which we shouldn't mention) requires going through the camp anyway.

They'll probably shoot the poor sap rather than devote direly needed doctors to saving him, but it's not like we can do anything for him other than shoot him anyway.

Also for gods' sake keep your distance from him and anywhere he's walked.

he can be shot by you, not shot by anybody and succumb, shot by the military, or successfully appeal for aid from the military. his best and only chance is with the military. shoot him as soon as he endangers anyone of your company

Direct him to the military cordon and shoot him in the head when his back is turned. The military will likely consider him a lost cause and shoot him anyways. This way he doesn't have to watch the soldiers come to the conclusion that he has to die.

Strange that he lost his respirator. Also a bit strange that not having it does not seem to bother him. Don't even know what the treatment for worms is, but if they could be transferred just by touching him then even if you did take him with you and found a doctor then all of you would have to be quarantined to be sure there was no infestation.

Ask him why he is out here alone. Ask him how he became infested.


Heh, maybe he's one of the walking dead and doesn't realize it.

If he's contagious on contact, we can't risk hanging around him, so he can't come with us. The military is between our current location and where we came from, so even if the settlement had sufficient medical expertise available he'd have to deal with the military first anyway. Might as well point him that way.

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/17(Sun)03:57 No. 493776 ID: 150412
File 136110224642.png - (35.80KB , 800x800 , 60.png )

“There are no options for us. You cannot come with us. If you have a parasite infestation, you need to leave. There are military forces further up the track, in the direction from which we came. Go to them for help. They will have medical specialists there. We do not have any medical capacity beyond minor wound treatment. Go to the soldiers. Do not make sudden movements. Announce yourself to them, and approach them slowly. If you run at them crying for help, you will be gunned down. Do you understand?”

The man nods. He looks like he is on the verge of hysteria.

“Do not follow us. I am offering you a fair warning right now; do not follow us, or we will be forced to kill you ourselves.”

>”Okay, thank you! Thank you!”

I step back as the man staggers past us, and continues to stumble his way up the path. Eventually, he is out of sight.

I turn to Samael.

“They are going to shoot him like an animal.”

Try to have a deep down philosophical conversation about this situation with Samael or you might start to suffer from nightmares.
- There was nothing to be done.
- You're a soldier, not a doctor, you kill
- Is killing ethical?
- What undermines the obligation to help other beings? Cosciousness?
- Are mad people conscious of themselves and are we obliged to aid them?
- Is it worse to send a man away with a vanishing hope of healing when
- you can only secure his less painful death by an accurate shot in the head instead of a volley of agonizing bursts.
- how to avoid the philosophical porn and complete this discussion efficiently?
- What is two days of life worth?
- Should the victim be reminded that we all are going to die, unless we never were really born

Remind the victim that we are all going to face death any way so why not try to live. Warn him that he's going to be slaughtered like an animal if he follows your instructions. If it's pain he's afraid of, not death, then tell him to help himself and get slaughtered in the battle.

How does someone get infected by worms? And is there a way to treat the infection? Just curious in case someone from our group does get infected at some point.

Also ask Samael where was the man from? Did he come from the northern settlement?

it was his only chance. move on.

Ask your companions if someone has opinions or doubts about this situation. This is "erode trust" material here. It's better that you all argue it out now while it's relatively safe instead of it showing its face in the most inopportune time...like when somebody needs to give you a hand while you're hanging of a ledge or something. Plus, people like when you ask them for their opinions - makes them feel special and they might like you in turn.

Almost certainly. However, there's nothing we can do for him. There is a very slim chance they won't kill him, and that's the best shot he's got right now... unless someone in our group knows a settlement nearby that would have a doctor that could help him?

I mean, it seems pointless to have an infested dude follow us just in case we randomly run into a doctor somewhere.

If they know he is infested, especially the way Samuel acted, the likelihood of a settlement with a doctor helping him would be about as low as the military helping him given that these worms appear to be highly infectious considering Samuel is concerned about them possibly being on the man's clothes. This man was basically no better off than a leper; he was a dead man no matter the outcome.

It would be a good idea to address your companions to alleviate any doubts about the decision. I imagine anyone that has heard of this sort of deal understands, but someone like Lex or even Gwyr may have not come across this before.

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/18(Mon)06:12 No. 494128 ID: 15a168
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I hope that my verdict does not disturb Gryr. I decide to ask her what she thinks of these actions. I do not think it is necessary to ask Lex, because I doubt that she is as essential to our success.

“Gryr, I hope that you are not put off by my decision to send that man away. Please understand that I have our safety in mind. I hope you don't take offence to my asking, but are you familiar with the problem that affected that man?”

>”Mord, I do not doubt that you made a rational decision, and to answer your question, no. I have not any familiarity with this condition, other than hearing its name mentioned.”

“It is an alien parasite, it enters through the mouth, or other orifices. Typically, though, the minuscule worms will be ingested orally. When infested by a parasite, death normally comes from malnutrition. Drugs are available, but an advanced parasite is harder to remove. Just make sure to be wary of them, and you will be safe. In a denser population with reduced hygiene, a parasite presence is more serious.”

>”I will be sure to remember it.”

“If we are done here, I suggest that we continue our journey.”

ayyup.

The only thing you could have offered him was a bullet to the head. At least this way he either dies with hope or the minuscule chance he gets medical attention.

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/20(Wed)01:28 No. 494599 ID: 29c43e
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We move on. It is hours before we reach the Iron Forest, and Lex wants to take numerous breaks in-between. By the time we finally arrive, it is dusk. We come out of the dead woodland, onto a low peak, with a good view of the site.

The 'forest' stretches over the horizon. The mighty chimneys that earned its name cast long shadows over the metal field where they stand. Dividing the field are many trenches. It would be hard to know exactly what lives in them now, if anything. This enormous facility has served its purpose, and now sits as a battered reminder of more prosperous times.

It might benefit us to set up a camp on this peak, before we attempt to cross the site.

We can choose to cross the site in two ways: either above, traveling across the surface, or in the trenches.

yes, do camp now.

I suggest we travel through the trenches. chances are there's stuff living down there, but at least things that see you won't be able to do so from a mile away.

Yeah make camp on high ground tonight. And i am leaning towards the trenches for tomorrow just so we wont get sniped.
Are you more likely to meet bandits or monsters in the iron forest?

trenches !

You have guns- ranged weapons. All of the alien fauna so far has been melee. We've yet to run into bandits. I vote topside, maximize our advantages.

Also, do we even have artificial light?

1/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/21(Thu)18:24 No. 494916 ID: f68126
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We camp, while I sleep, the dead return to me in my dreams. With pale, bony arms, they grab me and drag me down with them.

I wake with a start, and sit up. Piercing through the darkness, Samael's glowing red eyes focus on me, and he asks me if I am alright. I tell him that I am fine. I lie back down into my bedroll, and go back to sleep.

2/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/21(Thu)18:24 No. 494918 ID: f68126
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By the time daylight breaks, most of us are already awake. We wait around on the peak for a while, eating and sharing our company. When this is over, we descend the peak, and take our first steps onto the broad, metal surface of the Iron Forest.

It is almost silent here. There is no wind, or rain. No civilisation to disturb the serenity. Only the caw of crows, perched on the stacks and walkways. There once was a barrier to curb our access to this place, but it has long failed. A dilapidated, wire-mesh fence trails around the border, full of holes, and bearing many other marks of decay.

We decide to enter the trench. It is not extremely deep; no more than three metres below the surface. It is approximately this wide as well, presumably to make allowance for the vehicles which would have once traveled through here. The metal floor, discoloured from the environment, clanks under our feet. Other than us, it appears to be abandoned.

3/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/21(Thu)18:25 No. 494920 ID: f68126
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I notice that Lox is keeping his sister very close.

“You are superstitious of this place.”

>”A belief in the existence of evil is not superstition.”

Lex asks about the purpose of this facility, and Samael answers.

>”This was a multi-purpose facility for the research, design and production of many things. Its greatest production was the great city that we all know. Military concepts, deployable housing, cybernetics; it was all done in some measure here. I'm certain that my body was manufactured and tested here. At the even lower depths, they had created biological weapons, genetic alterations. More controversial creations. Originally it was secret, but given time, these things become more common knowledge. There are still things down there, I 'm certain. But, the chances are that they will never see the light of day.”

>>494920
Regardless, let's be on our guard. Look out for any openings. Ask Samael about his body and when or where he acquired it.

Actually, ask if that's an acceptable topic first.

Does this place have a history of automated defenses?

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/21(Thu)22:47 No. 495021 ID: 83781f
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We start to move down the trench. I have a compass, so I can still determine which direction I need to follow in the absence of useful landmarks.


I wonder how Samael became the way he is.

“Samael, if it is not rude to do so, may I ask how you acquired that body?”

>”That's alright. I might have taken offence once, but I'm old now, and the outrage I feel now is just smouldering compared to how it once was. This is how I am, and I'm stuck this way forever. It was for the war. I was a soldier, a little bit like you, Mord, except that I was conscripted. If I understand correctly, that isn't something they do currently.”

I acknowledge it. In times of war, that changes, of course.

>”Well, I was conscripted for the great war. In attempts to further our chances at victory, they'd been working on some genetic modifications. They'd been made pretty common knowledge. A lot of the special forces guys were said to sport some basic modifications. Well, I was contacted one day, and they asked my if I wanted to undergo some genetic alterations. I was fairly young at the time, and the idea was exciting. I said yes, and they took me to a facility to have the modifications done. Apparently it took months, but they had me drugged up the whole time, so I don't remember anything about it.

>When it was over, I of course discovered that I hadn't been changed genetically. My body had been totally replaced with this machine that you see. It was a lie all along, and I was a guinea pig for them. Only my brain is still human, and that is augmented a huge amount as well. I became outraged, but I was powerless. What was I to do? Kill my creators? I would have been taken apart, so grudgingly, I fought in their battles. I killed hundreds of people during that war. A lot of it was a blur, and there are holes in my memory. I think they used to disable me between battles. Maybe for their own safety, I dunno. Anyway, one time I got lost. I don't remember much, but I was alone for a long time, maybe years. Nobody came looking for me.”

He laughs to himself.

>”I still hunger for revenge, but I think I've missed my chance. The people who made me are probably dead alr--”


There is a noise down the path somewhere. Standing silently, we listen. It sounds like laboured breathing, accompanied by some scratching, picking.

>>495021
How loud is Samael? Depending on that, either move as a group forward or you should scout personally. Lux would likely be the best scout, being smallest and lightest, but the ensuing argument with Lox would not be worthwhile.

>>495021
I think we should try to get eyes on it without alerting it to our presence.

Do we have a mirror and some sort of pole? A basic periscope may be useful. Moving in the trenches obscures you from anyone on the surface, but also vice-versa. Anything big enough (or able to jump long enough to clear the trenches) has a distinct advantage from being above you.

Don't be so attached to flesh Samel. You still have a nostalogy organ inside. You're not a monster without a biological body. How does this thing go anyways? What makes us human, the brain? Why don't we then call the brain human? The leg? You do have a leg. Don't be so hard on electromagnetic handicap. Maybe they did add something to substitute your heart as well. The thing is you're just different just like black people are... well, black. If you were so dissatisfied by your design, your makers, why didn't you end your life?

>>495049

maybe we can talk about this after we take care of the clearly nonhuman presence near us.

draw your weapons and approach quietly. Samael shouldn't, of course, unless he doesn't make those awesome RoboCop sounds I imagine he does when he walks.

stick to the walls, then advance as normal

Stay silent, wait.

If nothing happens after a few minutes, throw an object far down the path in the direction of the noise; perhaps an empty tin of food or a spent bullet casing. If still nothing happens, advance slowly and carefully.

If you can get up out of the trench, you could crawl over and scout out what's making that sound. You'd send Lex, but Lox would object and block her, and the last thing you need right now is drama.

Motion for everyone to remain silent and move over to the nearest wall as quietly as they can. Gesture for Samael to stand back to the wall and put his hands together so you can step up and onto his shoulder. If you have a mirror, use that to check around for possible hostiles before climbing over the top. If you don't, you'll just have to poke your head up.

Stay as low as you can and crawl a little ways over so whatever is in the trench can't see you, then crawl forward so you can get a look at it.

1/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/23(Sat)22:47 No. 495613 ID: e5cfd5
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We decide to investigate the continuing sound. We lack the means to peer around corners without exposing ourselves, so I decide that it is best to clamber onto the surface, and peer over the edge. It is senseless to send Lex, because it will not be worth the ensuing argument with her brother.

I approach Samael.

“Samael, can you offer me a boost? I need to make it onto the surface.”

He complies, but Gryr volunteers to go up instead.

>”I will do it. Quite simply because I am probably better at sneaking than you are.”

I do not feel any reason to doubt her, so I stand out of the way.

The cyborg resumes his position and boosts the ordinator out of the trench.

2/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/23(Sat)22:47 No. 495614 ID: e5cfd5
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She moves quickly along the surface, with her weapon at the ready. Her white armour soon falls out of sight, but not for long. A crow takes flight from that area, and disappears into the sky.

Moments pass and Gryr strolls over to us. Looking down, she silently signals to go and have a look ourselves. Gryr climbs back into the trench, and we go to look at what was causing the sound.

It is a gruesome thing.

3/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/23(Sat)22:47 No. 495615 ID: e5cfd5
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A human sits against the wall. It is extremely thin, and covered in open, infected-looking sores. Some are still bleeding. The crow had been feeding on it, and had eaten its eyes, tongue, and strips of meat from its body.

However, the human is still alive. This is the source of the laboured breathing, and so it continues its dry, rasping breath. Disturbingly, grey tendrils pour from the open abdomen. They writhe ever-so-slightly, glistening in the early morning sun.

“Do not get close,” I caution the others. When I say this, the body slowly turns its head towards me. “Unless you want to end up like it.”

Evidently frightened of the body, Lex asks what is wrong with it.

“It is a victim of a parasite. These grey tentacles, not intestines, but the flesh of the mature parasite. This is the fate of the man who found us earlier, should he not be gifted with medical treatment, or death. This must be from where he came.”

>”Is he in pain?”

“It is no longer aware of its bodily condition; its human mind died long ago, but soon it will die in body, as well. Be wary now, as there may be others in better condition.”

how interesting the crows can stomach it. ask the others if they have dealt with contamination and quarrantine

I would suggest shooting the body to put it out of its misery but that serves no purpose as the mind is already gone, and would make noise that we could do without.

Also I kindof wonder if the body suddenly dying would aggro the parasites... oh. "Others in better condition"? Then, once the parasites are mature like this, they take control of the body? We would have to worry about them attempting to infect us, I gather.

Maybe we should've taken a detour. Is it not too late to steer clear of this area? It seems like a flame unit would be needed to clear the infestation around here.

Now would be a good time to inform your group what the infection forms of these parasites look like, if they are large enough to be visible, as it appears they may be all over this area.

That being said, if parasites are the major threat it will be much safer to travel on the surface since it is much easier for a parasite to latch onto you when it can fall from height or launch itself from a wall.

Dang. Gryr's so stealthy, we keep forgetting about her.

How does a mobile host that's controlled by the parasite go about infecting others?

How fast and strong is a newly controlled host?

About how long after the parasite takes control until the host body can no longer move itself to attack?

How much of a danger is the mature parasite worm once it leaves a dead host?

Is it known if the crows are affected this way by the parasite as well, or if they are merely carriers. If they are either, it's yet another vector they get us from.

Will a parasite infected host still attack Samael, even though he can't be infected and shouldn't even register as biological?

Leave the corpse where it is, and continue on. Considering the presence of this parasite, everyone but Samael should climb out of the trench. We're going to want to be able to see them coming, even if that means they can see us.

can the tentacles be eaten safely if grilled?

>>495640
>>495662
I disagree with traveling on the surface as it leaves us visible to anything that is watching, including potential snipers. Bandits are a much bigger danger to us then parasites as bandits may shoot back.

>>495760
Yeah, you're right. Stay in the trench but change up formation so Samael is on point so any para-zombies along the way will attack him first, giving the rest of you time to shoot their legs out to immobilize them.

1/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/25(Mon)17:32 No. 496080 ID: 874a6b
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It is best to leave this thing to die. The parasite itself cannot cause any further harm the way it is, than if it was dead. Shooting the body could enkindle unwanted attention. I is difficult to know what brought this person here. Whether he became infested here and stayed, or if he wandered here by himself.

“Samael, you are biologically immune to parasites, yes?”

>”Yeah. Though obviously, it's possible for the little grubs to crawl around on me, and risk infesting others.”

“Could you please go on point, then? If the parasite has a presence here, it would be best to not risk us.”

>”And what, it's okay to risk me? Yeah, thanks a lot.”

I go to apologise, but he laughs.

>”Actually, it would be for the best if he had some kind of flamethrower... or poison gas. But we don't, so a gun will have to do. Alright, everyone behind me, then.”

2/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/25(Mon)17:32 No. 496081 ID: 874a6b
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With Samael at the front of our party, we navigate the trenches of the Iron Forest. I keep a look out at the back of the group, but nothing ever appears.

3/3 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/25(Mon)17:33 No. 496082 ID: 874a6b
File 136184239363.png - (25.89KB , 800x800 , 72.png )

It is after a short while that we come across something of an alcove. In it, several parasite victims. Concerning, is that not all of them are so enervated as our last encountered. They are all starving, though, and I am certain that they would feed on us. There is not a need to go near them, however. Destroying them is a matter of choice, and not necessity.

It's better that we avoid conflict if we can. Could we skirt around them by going up out of the trenches?

Avoid, preferably up above for a short distance, unless you feel like removing the obstacle could help you when you return this way, and will not pose a significant difficulty.

>>496082
Is this usual for there to be such a concentration of parasite victims all in so advanced a stage? Are infected driven to congregate with other infected by the parasite or is this an indication that a group had unknowingly become infected and not realized?

There seem to be few in this group that could pose a threat should you decide to kill them, but if there is a concentration of infected in this area for some reason then there could be other in better condition that would be drawn by the sound of gunfire. Better to carefully avoid.

>>496082
Shooting them would cause quite a bit of noise. Let's avoid that.

avoid

yeah, avoid. mercykilling is tempting, but ending the atrocity happening here would probably reduce less than a billionth of atrocities going on around the planet right now.

Avoid them, and in the future as we keep going in the metal trenches keep an eye to where something can spot us the best, from the top of the chimneys

>>496294
Dammit. The top of one of those chimneys would be a perfect spotter's perch for a bandit. One of them gets up there, watches for travelers, then signals the other bandits. Is there any way they could get up those chimneys, or have the ladders and stairs long since fallen down?

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/27(Wed)02:04 No. 496534 ID: 715f82
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We decide to leave the parasite victims in peace, since they do not block our route.

The great chimneys would make ideal places for bandit snipers, or lookouts. While I imagine that the access ladders would be destroyed on some, and on others, too dangerous to climb, some are certainly still accessible, and would provide an excellent view of what is happening all around. Unfortunately, it is hard to see if somebody else had this idea already. The chimney peaks are far too high, making it difficult for the naked eye to see whether somebody is perched on one. I imagine that it is easy to see anybody in the trench, from up there.

My train of thought is disrupted when one of the doors in the trench creaks. A small, but ugly-sounding voice slips out.

>”Don't be alarmed, travelers. I mean no harm to you.

From the darkness, emerges a squat figure, little more than a metre in height. When its face comes into the light, it is repulsive to behold. It is bug-eyed, and its greasy, asymmetrical face carries sharp, little teeth.

>”Please don't be alarmed. I bear no weapons.”

It bares its hands to prove its statement.

“What do you want, creature?”

>”I seek only to help you, travelers. You are lost in the maze, yes?

It coughs, and a string of thick, brown dribble trails from its malformed mouth.

“We are not lost. At least, we have approximate knowledge of our destination.”

>”And where might that be, traveler?”

“We are moving to a settlement that is said to be North of here.”

>”Ah, I know it well. I can take you there, away from these crawlers. A passage beneath the steel skin.”

“Why do you want to help us?”

>”I want a reward! Haha!”

“Is that so?”

>”All I ask is a little of your food in return. I can't eat the crawlers. No, no.”

>>496534
A little of our food, or us as food? For all we know there are a dozen of his friends waiting down there to gun us down and feast on our corpses. In other words, how do we know he isn't leading us to an ambush? Does anyone in our party know anything about the sort of creature this person is? Any advance reputation? Then again I mean, we have a rather large robot that wouldn't make for good eating and would be rather difficult to take down. An ambush against us would be difficult to pull off without heavy weaponry.

Anyway, do we really need a guide? Then again I suppose we could run into an ambush if we stayed on the surface. Not an easy decision.

The price of food is not a large concern I suppose. Though, we should make sure it's clear ahead of time how much he's asking for.

Ask him how long ago someone else came through this way and took his offer?

We could also just offer him food for information about the surface routes, if he knows anything about them.

ask your companions if they know what the hell this thing is. if they don't, ask it.

Hide his payment at the entrance, then bind him. Inform him that in the event of ambush he will be the first to die, but if you are escorted safely he will be freed and will be able to retrieve the food. Mutants may be loathsome, but they generally have a sense of self-preservation.

Not always though.

>>496673
That... seems a bit harsh?

give food and be on your merry way

1/2 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/28(Thu)01:33 No. 496763 ID: 259f33
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After some consideration, we agree, though somewhat reluctantly, to allow the mutant to lead us.

“Very well. We will give you some food. However, you will not get it yet. We will leave it right here. We will tie your hands, and you will lead us to the way out. When we are there, we will free you, and you can then retrieve it.”

>”Ah yes, yes. Of course.”

“Know that any attempts to endanger or otherwise mislead us will result in your death. I will not hesitate. Do you understand?”

>”Ahh, yes, please. Do not fear, there is no need to make my overdue here!”

I offer two energy bars. I look to the others for contributions, but they do not seem inclined to charity. After a pause, Samael takes a small bag from his pack, and drops it down with the energy bars.

>”It's hopper meat. It's probably starting to go a little funny, so he might as well have it.”

We follow the short mutant into the darkness.

2/2 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/02/28(Thu)01:33 No. 496764 ID: 259f33
File 136204403752.png - (24.04KB , 800x800 , 75.png )

Sorry, the art here is not very good.

It is not as dark as I had initially thought. There are some lights which are somehow operational still. Perhaps this little thing had repaired them, or maybe they simply have a greater longevity than for what they are given credit.

As we follow, its phlegm-clogged throat makes it easy to hear that the mutant is breathing faster.

We are descending a set of stairs when Lox, to my left, falls over, and tumbles down the steps. I go to offer my aid when something bumps into me. It hits really hard in my chest, and almost knocks me off my feet. I tumble down the steps myself. My limbs hurt, and I can hear screaming. I feel alright, though.

It is not until I look up and see Lox, choking with a harpoon through his neck, that I realise we have been ambushed.

Return fire and scream "ambush!"

Do you have any flares or some other light source with you?

Kill the mutant first. Then return fire.

>>496764
Make things die good.

yeah, this was stupid. we shoulda interrogated it more.

have everyone fire and retreat. grab Lox and anyone else wounded.

Fools! Look what has happened! Time to die! Samael, get our revenge

...You knew this had to happen at some point. You just didn't think it'd be from such a boneheaded choice on you and the other's part. Seriously, the mutant's offer was so obviously a trap it's painful.

Alright, they're using harpoon launchers instead of guns for a reason. It may be that it's because they don't cause a muzzle flash, which would blind in the dim light down here. If may be that it's because they don't make any noise when they're fired, both for ambush reasons, but to keep anything else from being attracted to the noise. Of course, it might be they just don't have guns or ammo, but we'll go with the first two for now.

Can you estimate where those harpoons would have come from? If so, then close your eyes, fire one shot straight up to blind all lookers with the muzzle flash, then get your gun pointed in that direction and fire a burst, then move, then fire. Make sure they can't target you on the muzzle flash in case they have more harpoons ready, or their own guns. And if you happen to hear Samael's gun spin up, hit the deck and start rolling to the side before the hail of lead comes down.

Harpoon implies that there is a line connected to the spear. They're not just shooting spears at you, they want to drag you somewhere. Do not stay and try to shoot at shadows like a moron; that is what they are counting on you doing.

Retreat immediately. Do not stay and allow more of your party to become injured and ensnared. Break the back haft of the harpoon in Lox's neck but leave it in. He may bleed out if you remove it here. Your armor appears to be perfectly apt at absorbing the impact of their weapons; interpose yourself between their fire and the less-protected of your group and get Lox back out into daylight. Gryr and Lex, if she is armed, can do the fighting retreat with Samuel and yourself as cover. Naturally, Samuel can fire back too.

You, however, need to focus on getting Lox and everyone else out of the ambush you marched everyone into.

GET OUT OF HERE

1/4 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/03/01(Fri)06:28 No. 497016 ID: 42abe9
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“Return fire!”

I shout to the others, and begin firing into the darkness. I do not know if I am hitting anything. It is difficult to see in these lighting conditions. With Gryr covering me, I try to free the harpoon lodged in Lox. It is a steel cable, and I lack the tools to cut it quickly. As I try to hopelessly sever it with my knife, the cable begins to tighten, and pull on the harpoon. I make an attempt to resist, but I cannot. Lox is dragged away into the darkness.

2/4 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/03/01(Fri)06:28 No. 497017 ID: 42abe9
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Samael pushes past me, his weapon whirring, ready to fire.

>”Get the girl out of here.”

“What are you doing?”

>”I'll get him, just go!”

Samael moves down the corridor. His weapon lights up, and a loud buzz fills my ears.

3/4 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/03/01(Fri)06:28 No. 497018 ID: 42abe9
File 136214813422.png - (17.08KB , 800x800 , 78.png )

I grab Lex by the arm and pull her, screaming, up and into the open. When I let go she immediately tries to rush back through the door, but Gryr is there to stop her. I stand awkwardly for a few minutes, as Gryr comforts the grieving Lex.

4/4 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/03/01(Fri)06:29 No. 497019 ID: 42abe9
File 136214815648.png - (24.14KB , 800x800 , 79.png )

When Samael finally returns through the door, he is covered in blood. Thrashing in his hand, is the mutant which deceived us, its hands still bound.

I quietly ask him about the fate of Lox.

>”It is better that he remains there. The sight wouldn't do well to his sister.”

The mutant hears him and shouts out.

>”Aha, he's bled dry! You didn't have a hope of fixin' him from the first second, haha.”

Samael shakes it violently, and it starts coughing.

>”I brought him back alive, which is more than I can say for his friends.”

It is clear that we cannot use it as a guide, but I am sure we have some use for it; a bit of payback, if nothing else.

Just kill him and move on. This was a stupid waste of life and time.

>>497022
This.

Lox was right.

start from its feet and work your way up from there.

>>497076
breack every bones in his legs, then rip of his eyesand trow it at the crawlers mercy

Break its arms and crush its feet. Locate its genitalia, cut them off and stuff them down its throat. Consider allowing Lex have her vengeance against the filth. If she is too distraught for expressing her pain through violence, finish it off by throwing the creature into a parasite-infested corpse with great precision.

Petty vengeance is not going to solve anything. Other predators may be attracted by the things cries if we waste time standing around to mutilate the thing.

Kill it and move on. The more important thing here is to ask Samuel what was down there and how many. This may not be the last time you encounter something like that.

The only possible use for that creature is to use him as bait to attract predators away from your location.

Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/03/01(Fri)15:58 No. 497138 ID: 7ddf9d
File 136218229874.png - (38.18KB , 800x800 , 80.png )

I take its legs, and break them easily. It screeches in pain, before vomiting.

I ask Lex if she desires revenge upon it, but she is too distraught to look at it.

“Then we will feed it to the parasites.”

At this announcement it becomes wildly panicked, and begins begging for its life. Its pleas for mercy are ignored.

Samael and I carry the mutant to the alcove at which the group of parasites reside. Throwing it at them, the quickly realise that it is edible, and descend upon it. The mutant's screams do not go for very long, but we leave before the parasites notice us.

On the way back, I ask Samael about the mutant lair.

>”It was pretty ugly down there. We wouldn't have been their first victims. The community wasn't large, but it was developing. This is possibly why they sent that one to lead us down, rather than outright attacking us.

We are now back where this calamity began, at the door. Unfortunately, now we are lacking a man.

>>497016
Throw him to the parasites.

go in grenades blazing. maybe except Lex if she's busy crying. loot everything.

The only reason to stop here would be to recover Lox's personal belongings before moving on. Ask Samuel if it is safe to venture down there.

Pragmatically, he had food, ammunition, and a gun with him. Sentimentally, Lex deserves something to remember her brother by.

>>497167
That, and looting anything of use from the mutant's lair. That is, if Samael cleared it out completely.

If Samael didnt' clear it out now would be the time. We should inspect the basements of this lair for supplies and clues.

1/2 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/03/03(Sun)07:06 No. 497513 ID: 533f39
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A question enters my mind.

“Samael, did you notice anything of value in the mutant lair?”

>”It depends on what you think is valuable. If you like junk and human bones, then sure. It's a goldmine.”

“What about weapons? They had harpoons, did they not? Were they otherwise unarmed.”

I bear my armour to reveal a noticeable gouge in the chest.

>”Those were traps. They were fixed to a wall, with a mechanical pulley. There were mutants manning them. One was already dead, so I guess one of you guys must have hit them. The rest of them were not equipped to fight in an open assault. They carried spears fashioned out of junk, mostly. Some of them had knives, and I guess they must have got them off those crawlers. Their main advantage over you was that they didn't seem to have any problem seeing in the darkness.”

“What about Lox? His weapons, food...”

>”He was our ally. I think it would be disrespectful to loot his body, and so I won't go down there for that reason. I think he should be left in peace.”

“Very well.”

I believe that there is no reason for us to continue standing around here, so I decide that we should move. We still have several hours of daylight, and I think that we should make the most of them.

2/2 Mord!!AwZwHkBGWx 2013/03/03(Sun)07:10 No. 497514 ID: 533f39
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We continue deeper into the forest.


Act II will resume soon, when I think of how to begin it. For now, thank you for your participation. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this, and will continue to do so for future installments.

That was awesome. This quest is grimdark and brutal.