Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/28(Sat)07:40 No. 553978 ID: b3ca75
File 138824520052.png - (32.52KB , 900x450 , 2B.png )

Work harder, slave!
AAAh!!!

Can’t you just freeze them all?
I’m not that good with ice magic. I can freeze some parts on one of them… maybe throw a few icicles. Why can’t we just send in the big northerners?
They aren’t exactly quiet, you know. Besides, they’ll see them come running before they can get into melee range, giving them enough time to scream for the others. We need to take them out quickly and quietly or they’ll sound the alarm.
The ice men?
The prince took them down the other tunnel. Hmm… If only they shouldn’t see us coming…

[You now have control over “The Shaman”!]

Insert With a nice glass of chianti and fava beans_

>undead author with sex crazed elder god co-writer
...I'd complain, but honestly, it's not as if that doesn't fit.

>You now have control over “The Shaman”!
Oh hey, hello again! What's happening?

>Hmm… If only they shouldn’t see us coming
What if you used ice magic to put out the lanterns? That would allow you to surprise attack the slavers, and/or give the slaves the opportunity to turn on their captors (they do have those nice big picks...).

Heey

Hey guy

Did you get me that goat heart I wanted?

Anyway, use some of those ice magics to snuff the first lantern, Kill the first guard, then repeat with the other two before they get too suspicious. If you're confident you can do it all at once, go ahead.

Aw man, that guy is totally chained to a dead body. That sucks.

Greetings once again, Durach! It is us, the Spirits of Old, (or Voices of the Many, or whatever name you want.) We were blocked from you before by some jerkass, but he isn't nearby now, so we're back! So, how long were we away? We tend to lose track of time when moving around.

The obvious action here is to snuff out a lantern with ice magic. However, that's only if they're mundane, non-magical ones. If they use magical ever-burning flame or something like that then one going out would raise a lot of suspicion.

If it's clear to snuff a lantern, take out the nearest one. If the guard goes to climb that equipment rack behind him to reach the lantern, ice coat the sole of his boot as he does. That way he'll slip up and fall, leaving him open to attack. Then throw an icicle through the eye of each of the other guards, freezing the throat of any you miss so they can't yell for help.

As an alternative, I don't suppose you have enough magic power or control to inject expanding ice deep into the cracks of the rock over the nearest guard, breaking it loose and dropping it on his head? It wouldn't be suspicious, since falling rocks are a known hazard here, and it'd take out the lantern too.

>>553978
Hi. Sorry about that doom and gloom prophecy stuff before, it turns out we don't really understand what's going on with the world yet. Unfortunately, diplomacy seems to have failed since the city-dwellers feel they have only just barely have enough water themselves so they can't give up the amounts requested. For true peace, we would need to find a better source of water or emigrate a significant portion of the population somewhere else. We know there are foreign lands- could the tribals simply sail off to a better place? As a last resort, a major portion of the population could be turned undead so that they no longer need water. It could even be a systematic thing, like once you're getting past the age where you're likely to have children, you would be required by law to undergo the undeadifying process.

I have a question though. You said you saw the Tears being used before. What were they used to do?

>>553991
The tribes find necromancy abhorrent. I doubt they'd stand any nation who's has a large segment of the populace that's undead. Also I suspect it's not cheap or easy to raise someone as undead and still having their mind and sanity intact. And there's the whole having to kill them to raise them issue.

The Serath are using as much water as they can pump, most of it eventually ending up watering crops, and even that's not enough to cover their food. They have to import the rest, paying with what is mined up out of this godforsaken desert. The mines are the only reason the Serath can live the way they can.

It's a shame the Serath didn't put their wealth towards building pumps and aqueducts from the Marches to the south to irrigate the desert. From what we hear they're literally overflowing with water.

This does raise a question: Why have the tribes remained wandering this desert? There's metaphorical and literal greener pastures outside it. What reason keeps them here?

Oh, and how the heck can you guys live in the desert and not know that skrangs are blind and attracted to sound and vibrations? From what we've heard tribals die to skrangs a lot by trying to run from them.

the thing I love best about slavers is no matter how many you kill you never really feel bad about it.

Can you ice out the lanterns on the walls? maybe make a ball of ice to throw behind them to make them look away from you?

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/28(Sat)16:29 No. 554026 ID: b3ca75
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>Greetings once again, Durach! It is us, the Spirits of Old!
Oh? Oh! It’s you! I thought you had abandoned me…
>Did you get me that goat heart I wanted?
…what?
>Aw man, that guy is totally chained to a dead body.
Hmmm, most of the bodies wounds seems to be from being dragged on the ground… how long has that corpse been chained with the rest?
>how the heck can you guys live in the desert and not know that skrangs are blind and attracted to sound and vibrations?
…They do? I… I can’t believe… I… but… I need to spread the word! If this is true then… then…

>Why have the tribes remained wandering this desert? There's metaphorical and literal greener pastures outside it. What reason keeps them here?
Because everything that is greener is already claimed. The desert is dangerous enough and we do not have the strength to challenge both it and the ones holding the more fertile lands.
>Unfortunately, diplomacy seems to have failed since the city-dwellers feel they have only just barely have enough water themselves so they can't give up the amounts requested. For true peace, we would need to find a better source of water.
And thus why our quest is so important.
>It's a shame the Serath didn't put their wealth towards building pumps and aqueducts from the Marches to the south to irrigate the desert. From what we hear they're literally overflowing with water.
…yeah, about that… that’s kind of our fault. How would we have known that removing the key would make the very skies fall?
>As a last resort, a major portion of the population could be turned undead so that they no longer need water.
What!? WHAT!? That’s… that’s blasphemy! To keep the souls of the living from the loving care of the gods? Barbaric!
>You said you saw the Tears being used before. What were they used to do?
They are simply keys… keys to an magical vault containing a word… a word uttered by the old gods… the dead gods… a word of reality… a word of change.

>What if you used ice magic to put out the lanterns?
If anything, it would be a sufficient distraction.
Hey, what happened to the li- *Gurgle*
…Useros? Something wrong, old fri- *Gasp*

…we’re free?
Humph, they didn’t even put up a decent fight.
Keep snuffing the lights and we can keep this going all the way to the entrance.
I’ll do my best.

Insert Goal: Brutally murder all the slavers_

we only sorta have control on when we jump to a different person

Sometimes our ability to see is ripped from us, as it is we think we know who is behind your leader. He is the same as us, but with a different goal in mind.

>How would we have known that removing the key would make the very skies fall?
...care to elaborate on that? That sounds important.

>What!? WHAT!? That’s… that’s blasphemy! To keep the souls of the living from the loving care of the gods? Barbaric!
It's barbaric to keep souls in corporal form on the earth for a time until they perish and go to the gods?

...so why is it you stay alive at all? Why do you not kill yourselves and your children and return to your gods?

>>554026
>…what?
Aw maaaan

>If this is true then… then…
...Then what? Are you going to cover one in armor plating and unleash it upon the world as 'plan s'?

>How would we have known that removing the key would make the very skies fall?
... part of me wants to believe nobody can fuck up that bad without some kind of forewarning, but I don't think you're THAT stupid.

>Word of change
Are you sure that's a good idea? You kind of have a REALLY BAD track record mucking around with items of great power.

What are the northerners doing here? Are they mercenaries?

>>554026
That's an odd stance on necromancy for a skeleton. If the alternative is killing a major percentage of the population via the incoming war over the water, what would you choose? FYI after about 40 years undead go insane anyway so it's not like they're immortal. They will eventually have to pass on.

I kindof don't care about killing nameless guards, but if you see anyone dressed differently, try to knock them out instead of killing them. They could have useful information, and dead men tell no tales.

We didn't abandon you; Our link was blocked by another spirit like us that was nearby. We suspect that it's attached to Esiros but aren't certain of it.

Ask one of the Northmen to break the ex-slaves' neck chains with a pickax. (I'd say just unlock them, but with the way that corpse was being dragged along I don't think there's a key down here.) Take the time to ask them what they know about what lies ahead. Then give the strongest of the lot the dead guards' weapons and tell them all to be quiet and bring up the rear.

>"...would make the very skies fall?"
...This event was in the first line of Esiros' book of prophecy. Hm... I wonder... Durach, could you tell us the first line of the prophecy that you know? And what's the origin in this world of the prophecy? Who was the first to receive it, and how?

>"To keep the souls of the living from the loving care of the gods? Barbaric!"
Uh... Durach, you do know the Serath release the souls of their undead after about fifty years, right? They don't just leave them bound forever to eventually lose their minds.

>"They are simply keys..."
And yet removing one from the Marches caused the weather there to change drastically. From that alone I'd say they're more than keys. Removing them will likely have consequences on the world both obvious and subtle.

>The Word of Change
But who in this world could wield a Word of the Gods and not have it end in disaster? And who could get it right on the first try?

tell the slaves where they can get out of here and move on... Also what's our goal here, as in what is the point of clearing out the mine? we kinda just wondered into this halfway through, if you could tell us it would let us help you more.

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/29(Sun)06:33 No. 554117 ID: b3ca75
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>what's our goal here, as in what is the point of clearing out the mine?
Too free as many as we can, too slaughter as many slavers as we can and take whatever they have of value.
>...Then what? Are you going to cover a Skrang in armor plating and unleash it upon the world as 'plan s'?
What? No! If I can get the word out then more people can survive the desert! Then we can take routes infested with Skrang that has been off limit before!
>What are the northerners doing here? Are they mercenaries?
They were… gifts. The king of the… um… I think he’s called vild männens kung… anyway, Mor’kay came with them, having formed some kind of alliance with the giants from the north… even though they have some kind of civil war up there about a false king and… err… it’s complicated, alright?

>That's an odd stance on necromancy for a skeleton.
Skeleton!? It’s a mask! I’m still alive dammit!
>It's barbaric to keep souls in corporal form on the earth for a time until they perish and go to the gods?
That’s not what I meant! When you get trapped in an artificial shell the dead walker will lose sight of you. In time, she will lose you completely, thus when you die you won’t be lead to the afterlife. Instead, you become a Daemon walking the earth, a creature of shadow able to possess others that have only have one purpose left, to spread as much destruction as it can.
>If the alternative is killing a major percentage of the population via the incoming war over the water, what would you choose?
I choose neither. We are hoping that the war will never happen. We only need them distracted.

>...care to elaborate on the sky falling part? That sounds important.
Rain, I think they call it… the big key… the lesser word… a fragment of the word buried here was keeping it at bay.
>Yet removing one from the Marches caused the weather there to change drastically. From that alone I'd say they're more than keys.
It wasn’t a tear, it was bigger. A lesser word required to open the vault. A lesser Rune.
>Durach, could you tell us the first line of the prophecy that you know? And what's the origin in this world of the prophecy? Who was the first to receive it, and how?
As the daemon horde march for the city of the heavens? I… it was one of several prophecies spoken by the elder of the sky watcher tribe. The others have already come to pass… but this one is the one that’s important. At least, that’s where we heard it for the first time…

Ah, Eliros is already out here. Good. I was getting bored killing guards in the dark.
You came just in time. We’ve found the family who owned this slave den… and we wete just about to butn them fot theit sins. All of them…
Daddy! No!
L-look away son… it w-will be over soon…
*Waaah*
And someone get that kid to shut up or I’ll thtow it in the fite fitst!

Insert Be very, very quiet. I’m hunting wabbits!

>>554117
This is barbaric. I won't stand for it. Kill them if you must, for they deserve punishment in your eyes, but do not burn them alive like monsters. Ice-out the fire yourself if required. Actually, I have a better idea. Enslave the slavers. Poetic justice!

Or you could, you know, ask them who's responsible for the bad treatment of the slaves. Owners are not necessarily managers. Plus I doubt the child had anything to do with it. (also that's weird, the people in the portrait don't match anyone visible; they shouldn't be in the fire yet either)

Hey, you know "daemon horde" refers to your army, right? Have you ever actually SEEN a demon? In our experience with souls, and we have a lot of it, demons don't get created from necromancy, and undead souls are just like any other.

The slaver I can understand. The kids? Not so much. Killing them will merely make you monsters and savages.

You would murder children for the sins of their parents?

No Durach, you are the demons.

You said you don't want mass death, but that's clearly bullshit if you're just going to burn people alive. You made the sky fall, burned cities to the ground and done god knows what else, and you expect us to believe that's a distraction? So you can find some word of god and probably make things worse again? You said you were on 'plan k', and I'm seeing a trend of mass death and destruction every time you put a plan into action. You're either so unbelievably incompetent it's a miracle the sand hasn't turned to glass, or you're doing this out of genuine malice. It's getting hard to tell.

>>554117
Do this and you will be conidered worse than a traitor or a rapist.

I already see you as scum for even concidering doing this.

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/29(Sun)11:32 No. 554139 ID: b3ca75
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>No Durach, you are the demons.
Y-you can’t judge me by the action of my brethren. I… I never wanted this… I just wanted a future for my children, not… this!

Stop this at once, Eliros! Murder their children is just grotesque!
Oh? But they murdet out… they slaughtet them and impale them on poles fot all the wotld to see. Do they not desetve this?
We deserve to be better than them! Listen to yourselves! You scream for blood, not justice! Let us not lower ourselves to their level just because we can! Instead… let’s make it poetic justice. We sell them as slaves.
Yes… we should need the money for the war effort. Let’s cut out their tongues and sell them to the Keer in the east.
Wait, we don’t need to do that. Just bind their snouts. Even if someone figures out they are Seraths it will already be too late. They have already lost everything, so either they’ll stay as slaves or starve on the street.
…Wete well. If that’s what the shaman wishes. Bind theit limbs; we’te taking them back to camp befote we send them away to be sold.
Oh, thank the gods!
…I’ll send my son, he knows how to haggle with the Keer.

…

Heh… whash do you do to a drunken raptor rider? …w-what do you… do?
Err… Tera? I think you have had enough.
P-put him in a looong boat… boat… boatboatboat until sober… heh…
She only had a few ales, my good sir.
Quite a lightweight, huh? Time to go home to the temple, Tera.
W-what!? No? Thell punish me, dead Richard, I can’t go t-there… heh… I need to go with you, Richard… to take a look at your Richard… for science…
Tera, you’re drunk, I can’t-
I n-need to cut it off and then… open it up… and find… find… hehe… science inside…
…Remind me to never let you near a knife.

Insert The Ale is on sale because it’s a bit stale here at the scales and tails_

Ask why she can't go back to the temple.

Tera, you can't just go around impulsively dissecting every bit of science you find; that rules out future studies. Won't someone think of the future science?

Man she's really into figuring out how your maleness work.

...Wait how would she even be able to see the results if she cuts it open.. Yessh bad images.

For now though you could just carry her around on a walk Because I doubt they want their students at the temple piss drunk.

Anywhere you could take her where she won't embarrass herself for the next couple hours?

Well. It looks like you've got a silly drunk little priestess to look after then, if you can't dump here at the temple.

What's fun that wouldn't get her in a lot of trouble, or result in her hating you when she sobers up? (Or get her anywhere near a knife).

'Sup, Thaark; It's us again. And "Richard?" Isn't the common slang name for male genitals "Johnson?" ...Oh, wait, "Dick" is short for "Richard." Never mind.

Well, "Richard," looks like you're going to be minding Tera until she sobers up, at the least. How about taking her for some strong coffee in the market and then a walk through the park? Oh, how about some music? There anyplace around known for its band?

I'd suggest you carry Tera on your excursion, since "staggering drunk" combined with "blind" doesn't sound like it'll end well while navigating the city streets.

And Tera, you already know who installed Thaark's junk is back at the temple. You can ask them how it works once you're in a state to return there; No dissection required.

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/29(Sun)14:52 No. 554172 ID: b3ca75
File 138835756092.png - (25.87KB , 900x450 , 6.png )

>Ask why she can't go back to the temple.
B-because being clean is punishable by window drunking duty… I hate drunking windows…
>Tera, you can't just go around impulsively dissecting every bit of science you find; that rules out future studies. Won't someone think of the future science?
B-but… but… science? SCIENCE!? Necromantic science sneers at your… your… err… logic… yea!
>Tera, you already know who installed Thaark's junk is back at the temple. You can ask them how it works once you're in a state to return there; No dissection required.
Oh right… it was count dickula down in the temple…
Varius down at the magic academy.
…that was what I said? Dick in achadama…

>Man she's really into figuring out how your maleness work.
(I was hoping her “experiments” would involve less sharp instruments and more beds, to be honest.)
>Anywhere you could take her where she won't embarrass herself for the next couple hours?
(Well, I do have an apartment I’m hiring with the rest of the team…)

>How about taking her for some strong coffee in the market and then a walk through the park? Oh, how about some music? There anyplace around known for its band?
Here we are… They have some really good coffee here in the park, right?
Mmm… don’t the birds sing beautifully…?
Hey, stop trying to move around so- err… are you alright?
It goes around and around and round and rrraaanddd- *BARF*
…Why didn’t I see this coming?

Insert *Barf* means I love you in dinosaur... at least the current iteration of dinosaurs_

>I was hoping her “experiments” would involve less sharp instruments and more beds
Compromise. Sharp instruments in bed.

>Why didn’t I see this coming?
Dunno. At least your mask kept it out of your face, but you should always carry drunks facing away from you.

Time to get cleaned up?

>>554172
Yep time for a change of clothes. Take the drunk lady back to your apartment to do absolutely nothing sexual to.

Coffee won't actually help her. She needs water and time to shake off alcohol properly. Doubly so now that she's hurled.

Well time to head back to your apartment. I would recommend you hold her head in a way that she's facign away from you.

>Compromise. Sharp instruments in bed.
…Sharp things and the bedroom don’t mix, m’kay? There is one part of my body that I want to keep free from scars, alright? What’s with you and sharp things? Have you been reading that deranged guide to the bedroom written by that crazy blond guy, ja?
>Yep time for a change of clothes. Take the drunk lady back to your apartment to do absolutely nothing sexual to.
She’s drunk and I got puke on me. Anything sexual is the last thing I’m thinking about.

>Coffee won't actually help her. She needs water and time to shake off alcohol properly. Doubly so now that she's hurled.
I can see the “date” is going well.
Shut it, Theen, at least I’m not flirting with a guy.
Oh, hush you…
…Are you alright? You’re sweating quite a bit.
I’m fine, really. I don’t get it, why do I have to be locked in my room while you guys have all the fun?
Doctors orders, Theen. That wound is infected, so you better take it easy for a while. And here, Tera, drink some water.
*Snore*
…or not.
Ah, love is in the air~
Shut it, Theen!
Oh, and “boss”? You do realize you were supposed to meet the caravan going back to Ilbir’s dig ten minutes ago, right?
…son of a-
*Snort*…
Don’t forget about Thuul either, “boss”.

Insert Then they fucked, the end_

Ooooooh... Sorry about that Dude, but I'm guessing we can help you sweet talk your way through that, unless your plan calls for something else?

>>554192
WHERE IS THE IMAGE KAKTUS

Run Thaark run!

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/29(Sun)17:48 No. 554206 ID: b3ca75
File 138836812225.png - (20.99KB , 900x450 , 7.png )

>WHERE IS THE IMAGE KAKTUS
Woops...

Jeez. Is Theen always this snarky or is it just when he's laid up and not getting laid?

I'm sure you'd like to stay with Tera but I'm certain it's not worth the penalties from breaching the contract with Ilbir. Don't worry, we'll pop back to Tera once you're out of the city and explain what happened.

Stick the cup of water in Theen's hands, tell him to keep hydrated, take it easy... and to strip down so he doesn't overheat. (No joke.) And he better not be dead when you get back, 'cause otherwise he'll never hear the end of how much you spent to raise him.

Also, Theen really shouldn't be alone right now. He could easily take a turn for the worst and there'd be nobody to help him. We'll see if Tera can him a bed at the temple, or if Jericho can get him one up in the palace. At the very least we'll get them to check in on him regularly.

Run down to the caravan first to see if Thuul had a better grasp of time than you. If not then tell the caravan to hold as long as they can so you can collect your partner.

Lizards can sweat? or catch fever, for that matter?

Ask him if he's really okay, and explain that if he dies on you, you'll bring him back from the dead just so you can kick his ass to the moon. If that changes his answer, tell him to take Tera and get help.

NOW MOVE GRAB YO CRAP AND MOBILIZE YO ASS

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/31(Tue)06:02 No. 554441 ID: b3ca75
File 138849855172.png - (30.37KB , 900x450 , 8.png )

>I'm guessing we can help you sweet talk your way through that, unless your plan calls for something else?
My plan is to get paid, and I’m not getting paid if I’m not doing my job!
>Lizards can sweat? or catch fever, for that matter?
Of course they get fevers. I mean, they aren’t like smaller lizards. And sweating… well… they don’t really sweat like humans do but… they’ll still excrete some moisture when they are sick.
>Theen really shouldn't be alone right now. He could easily take a turn for the worst and there'd be nobody to help him. We'll see if Tera can him a bed at the temple, or if Jericho can get him one up in the palace.
You’re right, he shouldn’t be alone… but as we aren’t actually citizen here we won’t be able to get a bed in the sick ward unless it’s critical. Can you guys talk with Jericho… or… whoever. Just get him a bed and someone to keep their eyes on him.

>Ask him if he's really okay, and explain that if he dies on you, you'll bring him back from the dead just so you can kick his ass to the moon.
-and I’ll break every bone in your body slowly if you dare die on me.
…are you asking me out on a date?
And I’ll make sure they bring you back without the ability to feel pain.
*Gasp* You monster! Cleary the winter goat will bring you coal this year
…wait, do they even have the winter goat up here? I mean, they don’t really have winter so… Anyway, don’t you freaking die on me, you lazy ass!

>NOW MOVE GRAB YO CRAP AND MOBILIZE YO ASS.
And here comes the mercs… late as ever.
Thuul isn’t here either!?
We’re going to start to move, with or without you. I’ll leave two raptors for you and your friend… if you aren’t with the caravan or in the camp by the time we get there, I’ll talk to Ilbir to dock your pay.
Right, the raptors would be faster than the caravan… and you’re going to take the long way around, right? So you’re protected from the sun?
Just be there, Merc… Let’s get a move on, people!
…dammit, where’s Thuul?

Insert Thuul, motherfucker, Thuul!_

Thuul wasn't even injured in that last attack, our senses are telling us this could either be bad...Or he might've just gotten drunk. Which should be rare considering he was the 'smart guy' focused on the mission.

>>554441
We'll go fetch him. Uh, if we can speak directly to him. If not, we'll grab Jericho and have him try to find Thuul.

[switch to Thuul, or Jericho]

>switch to Jericho
Shouldn't he be kind of busy at the moment? Although I suppose we don't have many other options. The prince is with him, Thaark is busy, Iblir is out at the dig site, Tera's sleeping off her drunkenness, Pink hasn't let us connect to Elizah...

Dang. Looks like the only move is to be bedroom crashers.

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/31(Tue)11:37 No. 554470 ID: b3ca75
File 138851863654.png - (17.18KB , 900x450 , 9.png )

>He was the 'smart guy' focused on the mission.
Err… Theen is the smart guy… Thuul is… well, he isn’t really book smart, so to speak, but he’s the best wildlife expert I’ve ever met. He probably would be able to track a hamster over flat rock and survive being thrown out in the wild only with his clothes on his back… or without his clothes, even. Anyway, let’s just say he’s the one who fix all the nature stuff for us.
>Switch to Jericho, the prince is with him, looks like the only move is to be bedroom crashers.
…wait, Jericho and… the prince? I… what? Are they- you know what, I don’t care right now. Besides, if you can’t speak with Thuul directly you can always help me look for him. No need to disturb anyone’s horizontal dance, right?

>Switch to Thuul.
[You are trying to switch to a unit on your side that isn’t a pawn! Note: You can’t communicate directly with a non pawn unit; you can only influence them with emotions and weaker thoughts.]

Can’t you two get a room, or do I have to call the guards thanks to indecency?
*Ti-hi*
Oh, maybe we should find something more private, my lovely lady~
I know just the place… maybe there you can show off all those scars of yours~

Insert Chicks digs scars… right?_

>>554470
Drag him away by the collar.

He is still wearing his shirt, right?

Looks like we're disturbing someone's horizontal dance after all.

>you can only influence them with emotions and weaker thoughts
Emotions: vague sense you're supposed to be somewhere else, nagging sense you've forgotten something, guilt, duty, friendship

Weak thought: isn't Thaark counting on you? And he's already down Theen...

[spam the thought "wasn't I supposed to be doing something about now? Something work retaliated?"]

Kaktus and Byarla 2013/12/31(Tue)17:10 No. 554503 ID: b3ca75
File 138853860055.png - (17.99KB , 900x450 , 10.png )

>Emotions: vague sense you're supposed to be somewhere else, nagging sense you've forgotten something, guilt, duty, friendship.
…wait…
…what is it, cutie?
>[spam the thought "wasn't I supposed to be doing something right about now? Something work related?"]
Oh shi- what time is it?
It’s a quarter to noon, my good sir… now please get off my floor and give the lady her dress back.
What’s wrong? I’m sure whatever you have planned can wait will we do a little tumble~
Sorry, lady, but I got to run. Important business. I’ll look you up when I get back, you can bet your hot abdomen on that… I know where you work after all. Err… sorry… again… boss is waiting!
Humph, men… they always have a headache when you’re in the mood…

…

-and then tearing its way out through the ribcage… quite gruesome, right?
No wonder your people are so afraid of becoming undead. Odd, we have some very similar myths about Daemons. They are the same with the whole possessing and coming out of the ribcage, but they aren’t spirit of the dead. They are… well, “words” of the old gods that still lingers… whatever that means.
Words?
Like magical letters… runes. There are a lot of ancient text describing the gods words carved unto stones as runes which supposedly should bring great power to whoever wielded them. Of course, the only one I’ve heard about from Ilbir is the four elements… water, fire, air and earth… and some lesser ones with the same powers.
…wait, where does those shadow creatures come into the picture?
Something about the lesser ones breaking and unleashing creature of shadows, tasked to destroy whatever they find. But enough talk about myth and legends… let’s just snuggle a bit before mother comes…
…yea… that would be nice…
Mmm…

[You know have control over your king “Pebble” and your queen “Theif”…]
[Some of your pawns have been upgraded to knights!]

Insert …they still have their clothes on? THEY STILL HAVE THEIR CLOTHES ON!?_

*rings bell*
old habit from our last hosts-we'd ring a bell whenever we switched who we were following...
Sooo...
First off, Eliraz the thief is now a 'Queen' piece, apparently, and several pawns are now 'Knights'. I don't know what that means, and I'd like to find and ask Rose about it, myself.

It's amusing that Eliraz is now a 'queen'. Apparently it views her as female..Or someone in drag, I'm not sure.

you guys doing anything? We just stopped by to see if one of you could get a room for one of the mercs? You know the one who got shot in the knee, the mantis caption of there's was kinda bitching at us to do something like that so we'd thought we'd pass it along to you.

So other then that you guy's got anything planed? cause if so we can always help out or if it's something more private we can always bug someone else.

>king, queen, knights
...do any of these class upgrades come with improved stats, or new abilities?

>>554503
Oh hey, we wound up with you guys for some reason. Looks like nothing major happened between you, that's good. Take it slow.

We have a little better of an idea of what we're working towards now. We need to find out everything possible about these "Words", because the tribal army is pursuing them as well. The tears are merely the tools they need to access them. The one tribal we have contact with means to use them for a good cause, but we cannot be sure their leader agrees with that. Also, we can't be sure accessing a Word is safe, yet. They sound to me like pillars of reality... I wonder if the "water" Word has been tampered with, and that's why this area is a desert. The solution may be that we should revert that tampering, and restore this land to the jungle it once was.

*Play chime* Aw, you two are adorable together. ...Rather more clothed than I'd expected. Taking it nice and slow or did we get here a fair while after the "fun?" ...Did Eliraz show what he could do with his tongue?

Ah, and it looks like you both have been promoted by the game from pawns to king "Pebble" and queen "Thief," so congratulations! I hope it comes with more than just a title.

We promised Thaark that we'd get his buddy Theen a bed in the palace and someone to care for him until Thaark gets back from Ilbir's dig. He has a fever from an infected bolt wound to the knee so we'd like someone with medical skills. Perhaps Tera would fit? Eliraz, you think you could swing that for us?

Also, before Thaark we were with shaman Durach and gathered intel on Mor'Kay that we need to share with Elizah, Xaldin and the sultan. A small part of it is we've gotten visual confirmation that Esiros is alive, albeit in rough shape. The biggest part is that we now know what Mor'Kay seeks: The Word of Change, likely the most powerful of the gods' Words left in the world. And he needs the lesser Words of the key stones to unlock the Word of Change's vault.

...Dammit, that reminds me! Where's the key stone that Ilbir had? The one in his office. We need to secure it well ASAP so Mor'Kay's agents can't get to it.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/01(Wed)06:39 No. 554585 ID: b3ca75
File 138858719038.png - (17.98KB , 900x450 , 11.png )

>*Play chime*
Hmm?
Just five more minutes…
>Aw, you two are adorable together. ...Rather more clothed than I'd expected. Taking it nice and slow or did we get here a fair while after the "fun?"
(…well, it was fun but… we just kissed a bit and snuggled… nothing more than that.)
>...Did Eliraz show what he could do with his tongue?
(He promised that he would show me tonight… something about “It’s a good thing your insides are self-cleaning” or something… I’m quite curious of what he’ll do.)

>It's amusing that Eliraz is now a 'queen'. Apparently it views her as female..Or someone in drag, I'm not sure.
Wha- why does it-
Maybe it’s like that game with the pieces you said you’ll teach me?
…you mean chess? Yea… the queen is the important piece after the king… still, I don’t know if I should be offended or not.
>I don't know what that means, and I'd like to find and ask Rose about it, myself.
That would probably be for the best, yes…

>We promised Thaark that we'd get his buddy Theen a bed in the palace and someone to care for him until Thaark gets back from Ilbir's dig. He has a fever from an infected bolt wound to the knee so we'd like someone with medical skills.
If you want to, I should get him a bed in the medical wing of the palace. I can probably spin it that he’s an employee of Ilbir’s… or can just order them to do it. I am the prince, after all.
>Where's the key stone that Ilbir had? The one in his office. We need to secure it well ASAP so Mor'Kay's agents can't get to it.
Both of them are in his office. We put the one he found in the ruins there as well. But how are we supposed to secure it?

>We have a little better of an idea of what we're working towards now. We need to find out everything possible about these "Words", because the tribal army is pursuing them as well.
Hmm… we should ask Ilbir about it… or just go through his books.
>we were with shaman Durach and gathered intel on Mor'Kay that we need to share with Elizah, Xaldin and the sultan.
Mother is supposed to come and get Jericho any moment now… so he can perform the rite of our family. You can talk to her the-
Jericho? Are you in there? It’s time…
Speaking of the Skrang…
…why is the golem standing right in front of your bedroom door?

Insert Happy new year and stuff… also I got a fever… great way to start the year…_

Tell Artemis if she really wants to come in she should knock, and not listen in for 'lizard mating rituals.' And we thought we were perverted!

>>554585
Welp, time to get up and prove your lineage. You're gonna be busy so maybe we should switch to Ilbir.

Oh, and as for securing the tears, you could get Tera to prepare your body for storing items and put them in there. If you die the game is over anyway so we may as well put them with you. Oh! Or maybe Artemis has some storage compartments?

>why is the golem standing right in front of your bedroom door?
...the perversity of the inanimate.

>>554587
I'm not so sure they should feel comfortable making even a joke about mating rituals in front of Eliraz's mother.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/01(Wed)11:42 No. 554605 ID: b3ca75
File 138860532937.png - (2.56KB , 900x450 , 12.png )

>Tell Artemis if she really wants to come in she should knock, and not listen in for 'lizard mating rituals.'
>I'm not so sure they should feel comfortable making even a joke about mating rituals in front of Eliraz's mother.
(Nor would I feel comfortable having a sentient statue watching us while we… err… yea… that include you guys.)
>Oh, and as for securing the tears, you could get Tera to prepare your body for storing items and put them in there.
(Great idea! That would keep them safe.)
>Maybe Artemis has some storage compartments?
(…I don’t really trust her with… something as important as that. She is a bit on naïve side, after all.)
>Welp, time to get up and prove your lineage.
So, what do I do?
You’ll simply have to follow me. As for Eliraz… well…
Yes, I know, Only three people in the chamber and stuff… I got other things to do anyway, like finding that merc and getting him some medical attention. Hmm… I should be able to look up their residence in Ilbirs re-
Eliraz, my little gecko, you don’t have to tell everyone exactly what you’re about to do all the time.
Sorry mother…
Oh, and meet us for a family lunch in an hour. We’ll probably have a new family member to celebrate by then.
Of course, mother.

…

>You're gonna be busy so maybe we should switch to Ilbir.
(W-where am I?)
How much further is it? The small one is already waking up!
(I remember… gas? Knockout gas?)
Throw him off then, half men like him isn’t worth anything anyway.
(Why can’t I see anything… I… I’m bound and gagged?)
Off you go, Halfling!
(OFF!! …sand…I hate sand…)
If we hurry, Well sell these before supper! Ha!
(…oh, great… left in the desert to die…)

Insert Because a vision softly creeping… left its seeds while I was sleeping…_

Hello again, Ilbir. You don't look to be in such a good spot. What happened, your dig was attacked, again? Your captors were talking about selling people, but that doesn't make much sense, since your people are supposed to be the slavers.

...I don't suppose you can loosen your bonds at all? Or see anything? Or have a knife or something useful hidden on your person?

>>554605
Don't worry bro we got your back. If you can get your blindfold off somehow we can tell Thaark where you are and what the slavers look like.

A pity we can't see what you can't. I wonder if we could... just...
[remove the blindfold]

*Play chime* Well, thankfully you have us to help you out. Sorry we came back later than you'd have liked, but it's not too late yet.

First, get that blindfold off. Lay down, press the back of your head to the sand and pull yourself along with your feet. That ought to drag the blindfold off. Try to get a look at the slavers for anything distinguishing before they're out of sight.

Next, your binds. How well tied are they? Are you hands bound in the front or back? Did they leave slack in the leg binds for you to walk? You got a knife or similar hidden on yourself you can reach? We'll figure out what to do from here.

So what happened at the dig site after Jericho left? Find anything more of interest? I'd ask about the slaver raid but I'm guessing it was so sudden you have no idea. I do hope Kranhon made it out alive, though.

So who in this desert has access to knockout gas and takes slaves? Other than the Serath, that is. We've heard of the Keer to the east buying slaves, but we don't know anything about them or their methods.

We have questions for you about the key stones/gods' runes/Words of the Gods and the vault of the Word of Change but we'll ask those in a bit.

Oh, and a bit of news: Turns out Jericho is very likely of royal blood, by way of Esiros. He's was going to take the Rite of Dragon Fire right before we came here. Good thing you sold him off when you did.

... huh, what happened?

Oh if you want some good news the band of reinforcements are already on there way to your dig site so people will be able to figure out it was hit hard recently and send out a search party for you.

Also it sounds like you got captured by slavers... The fuck?

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/01(Wed)13:03 No. 554611 ID: b3ca75
File 138861020207.png - (5.07KB , 900x450 , 13.png )

>*Play chime*
Huh?
>...I don't suppose you can loosen your bonds at all? Or see anything? Or have a knife or something useful hidden on your person?
Oh, you guys… no, they took everything I had on me… I still have some fire magic, but I can’t cast it without seeing where I cast it… unless I want to burn myself, that is.
>First, get that blindfold off. Lay down, press the back of your head to the sand and pull yourself along with your feet.
There… we… GO!
>We can tell Thaark where you are and what the slavers look like.
…that I’m somewhere in a featureless desert? A great help that would be.
>That doesn't make much sense, since your people are supposed to be the slavers.
I’m pretty sure we aren’t the only one taking slaves… I’m pretty sure everyone uses slaves… I mean, even the tribe folk out in the desert captures slaves and sells them.

>Turns out Jericho is very likely of royal blood, by way of Esiros.
…well, shit, I hope he doesn’t hold a grudge, eh?
>So what happened at the dig site after Jericho left? Find anything more of interest?
…well, interesting to me… yes. Interesting to you… probably not.
>So who in this desert has access to knockout gas and takes slaves? Other than the Serath, that is.
Knockout gas is mostly used by the Serath out here… but it isn’t that hard to get your hands on it.
>We've heard of the Keer to the east buying slaves, but we don't know anything about them or their methods.
As far as I know the Keer doesn’t really hunt slaves, they let others do it for them. The Keer is famous for being a people of excellent traders, so they’ll pretty much trade in anything.
>We have questions for you about the key stones/gods' runes/Words of the Gods and the vault of the Word of Change but we'll ask those in a bit.
Well… ask away… I mean, I’m not really doing anything right now… except being lost…
>I do hope Kranhon made it out alive, though.
KRAN! Those sons of a rap- grah! I need to get out of this desert as soon as possible to make sure he’s alright! Now… how the hell do I survive out here?

Insert Walk left two screens, down three, drink from the oasis and walk three screens right to find the shoe that you need to throw on the cat to save the mouse so it can save you from the bandits. Easy, right?_

I see something on the left sand dune in the distance, anything we need to worry about?

But yeah is the sun rising or setting? cause doesn't it rise in the east and set in the west? Unless this world is different, kinda get's hard to remember after a while. well by no means a prefect plan to getting the hell out of here it will at least give us some barrings.

>I hope he doesn’t hold a grudge, eh?
Nah.

>need to get out of here
Do you have an approxiate idea of the time of day? If so, the sun can roughly tell you compass directions (uh, ignoring the fact you live inside a cylinder with some kind of artificial say / night cycle).

Do where your dig site was with respect to other landmarks? If you know the direction of the nearest settlement, that's a good direction to start in.

...or there's always following your captors' tracks back to the ruins before the wind erases them.

Well, first take a look at those two specks on the dune to your right. If those are approaching then it's very likely they're Thaark and Thuul on raptorback. They missed the caravan and had to take raptors, but that meant they took the short way to the dig site. They very well could have arrived there already and Thuul used his crazy good tracking skills to follow the slaver's trail to here.

But if that's just the slavers heading away then the best chance you have to survive is to follow the slaver's trail back towards the dig site while it's still obvious, then stop when it's no longer obvious. We'll switch back to Thaark and tell him to rush to the dig site. Wait and Thuul will hopefully eventually find you.

>"I hope he doesn't hold a grudge, eh?"
No worries on that front. He doesn't even have a grudge against Kranhon or Uri for their parts in his death. Holding grudges just isn't in him, as far as we can tell.

Now, about the Words. Would it be a bad idea to hide the two that you've collected within Jericho? Because putting ancient possibly half-broken godly runes in close proximity to his magic blazing core strikes me as something that might go really, really wrong.

How likely is it the Words/runes/key stones that we've seen so far are broken and if activated would catastrophically fail?

Next, we've gotten intel that Mor'Kay is after an extremely powerful Word; The Word of Change. He's collecting the key stones/lesser Words to unlock the vault the Word of Change is in. And from what we've heard so far it's likely that vault is under Sidus'bis, in the ancient crypts. Now, with what you know, how much of this is possible?

Oh, and the flooding in the southern Marches is happening because Mor'Kay's men removed a big key stone from there. That sound likely to you?

Can you see a trail? If they dragged you along they might have some left some obvious tracks.

>>554611
Okay, see the direction the slavers are going? Walk the opposite direction. That should take you back to your camp. If you can make out their trail then follow that, that's a bit more accurate.

Okay, here's the deal. The tribal army is tracking down the tears in order to use them to access Words. Our contact wants to use them to change the world for the benefit of everyone, but I'm not sure their leaders agree with that sentiment. They seem rather bloodthirsty. Also, I'm not sure it's even safe to use the Words at all! So. Tell us what they do.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/01(Wed)16:27 No. 554652 ID: b3ca75
File 138862242127.png - (24.17KB , 900x450 , 14.png )

>Can you see a trail?
Hmmm… there it is… no wait, it’s over there… or… not… stupid wind.
>Do you have an approxiate idea of the time of day?
…it’s noon. I was just about to have lunch when they ambushed us.
>If you know the direction of the nearest settlement, that's a good direction to start in.
Geography isn’t my strong point, alright.
>We'll switch back to Thaark and tell him to rush to the dig site. Wait and Thuul will hopefully eventually find you.
The caravan would have left the city just a few minutes ago… and it takes at least three hours just getting to the dig. I’m not going to survive three hours in this sun without shelter and water so he can use those super tracking skills you claim he has and track me to whatever shelter I find.
>I see something on the left sand dune in the distance, anything we need to worry about?
It looks like… raptors? Without riders? Wild raptors! The gods bless me, if there are wild raptors here roaming out in the middle of the day there has to be water nearby! I’ll have to take a closer look…

>Now, about the Words. Would it be a bad idea to hide the two that you've collected within Jericho?
…err… I think you mean the key stones, not words. The key stones are simply keys, nothing else. Wait, how do you know about the words? Those things are supposed to be really obscure… mostly because the other scholars don’t accept my scripts about them, claiming they are mere legends.
>How likely is it the Words/runes/key stones that we've seen so far are broken and if activated would catastrophically fail?
Well… rather big. Of course, just letting them be is probably just as dangerous.
>The Word of Change.
…Either you have misunderstood this morky fellow or he’s and idiot. There isn’t a word of change. The words themselves change reality, but there isn’t one for change itself. There’s only supposed to be four of them… fire, water, air and earth.
>From what we've heard so far it's likely that vault is under Sidus'bis, in the ancient crypts. Now, with what you know, how much of this is possible?
Hmmm… I’ve actually never considered that. According to some text I’ve found, the rune of fire is supposed to be located somewhere around here. Personally, I’ve always thought it was buried somewhere in the east, in the Keer dynasty… but having it located in the capital would be plausible… except I’ve already examined those ruins several times without finding anything of interest.
>Tell us what they do.
Depend on the word. They basically controls the element they speak… if you know how to use the correctly that is. Most of the text refers the carrier of the runes as extremely powerful magic users, not reality warpers.
>The flooding in the southern Marches is happening because Mor'Kay's men removed a big key stone from there. That sound likely to you?
Roving a key stone wouldn’t do something like that… but… I’ve read about lesser words that would be needed to open the gate to the real runes… if you removed one of those... hmmm… wait, I can see something up ahead.

Grr…
(…well, the good news is, raptor aren’t terrible interested in living humans and as I said before, their presence would indicate water nearby. The bad news is… whatever killed that Skrang did so from the inside and… it’s rather fresh… not even an hour old…)

Insert Tonight we dine on Skrang soup!_

Well if worst comes to worst, you can rest in the shade of a giant corpse.

... huh, Well the only person we've seen who got eaten lately was that one dumbass that attacked you not to long ago, so watch out for him. Before you say how unlikely that is just know we go by the principle hope for the best, expect the worst. Anyways, to the water... and get your fire spells ready... and remove your damn bindings if you haven't already, you said you could burn them off if you could see and I notice how you're not wearing that blind fold anymore.

Uh... didn't your annoying rival, what's his face get eaten by a Skrang? That doesn't bode well.

...I don't suppose wild raptors are particularly easy to tame? Or that you have any skill in raptor taming?

Look over to the top of the ridge to your right. I spy seven spots sticking up there that don't look like part of the rock formation. You think it's people or wildlife?

I have an indirect way you could burn your hand binds. You'll need something small that has a lot of thermal mass; A rock or possibly a piece of skrang carapace or bone. Try to find one shaped so you can press just your hand binds against it and not your hands. Focus fire on it until its glowing hot then press your binds against it until they burn.

Look around the skrang corpse for blood trails. Whatever killed the skrang would have come out soaked in blood and ichor, so unless it flew away that'd mean the biggest blood trail was from it. Obviously you do not want to go that way. And if it flew away... Just really, really hope it didn't fly away, okay.

I think all you can do to try and find the water is wait in the shade of the skrang until the raptors eat their fill and leave then follow them. That is unless raptors make dens with their young near water sources and bring food to them. 'Cause in that case you ought to watch for a raptor carrying away a chunk of skrang then follow that one.

>"...morky fellow..."
Oh, sorry, thought you knew of him. Mor'Kay is the "Daemon of the North," warlord of the tribal horde that burned Necranest to the ground.

>"Wait, how do you know about the words?"
We first heard of them from shaman Durach, Mor'Kay's right hand man, when we were shifted to Durach. That's how we know Mor'Kay is after them. Looks like the tribes might know more about the legends than you do.

>"...carrier of the runes as extremely powerful magic users..."
Like, for example, an antipodian mage?

Okay, thanks to Ilbir's clarification it appears Mor'Kay is collecting lesser Words to open the vault of at least one greater Word. And with the way he's been pushing for Sidus'bis he's certain there's one or the other under it.

Hey, Ilbir, you've been in the crypts a lot. How far do the tunnels go out from under the city? And how likely would it be that a force could infiltrate Sidus'bis if they knew how to navigate them? Oh, and have you been down in the royal crypts?

>>554652
They removed a lesser Rune, not a key stone. Also, they have the lesser word of "rain", I think. Do you know where the word/rune of Water is?

Try cutting your bindings with the Skrang's claws. Or teeth.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/02(Thu)07:39 No. 554734 ID: b3ca75
File 138867717954.png - (24.93KB , 900x450 , 15.png )

>Try cutting your bindings with the Skrang's claws.
And I’m free! …free to thirst to death in the middle of a desert… yay…
>...I don't suppose wild raptors are particularly easy to tame? Or that you have any skill in raptor taming?
I’m pretty sure they have to be born in captivity to be able to ride them… and you aren’t supposed to get close to wild raptors. Those things are dangerous if you piss them off.
>Look over to the top of the ridge to your right. I spy seven spots sticking up there that don't look like part of the rock formation. You think it's people or wildlife?
…are those… fires? There’s some kind of settlement out there? Hmm… I can’t remember anyone building anything out here… and I don’t know of any tribes this far east… hmmm…
>Didn't your annoying rival, what's his face get eaten by a Skrang? That doesn't bode well.
…but how did he blow up the chest of the Skrang from the inside? Hmm…
>Look around the skrang corpse for blood trails. Whatever killed the skrang would have come out soaked in blood and ichor…
There is more than one blood trail… it seems that the raptors have left one leading to the cliff side over there… and there’s a bigger one going parallel with the cliffs. I’m not sure, but I think there’s a harbor city owned by the Keer in that direction… if these are the cliffs I think they are.

>You ought to watch for a raptor carrying away a chunk of skrang then follow that one.
They seems to follow the smaller blood trail leading to the cliffs… they aren’t really trying to hide themselves, it seems. Let’s follow…
>Hey, Ilbir, you've been in the crypts a lot. How far do the tunnels go out from under the city?
They never leave the mountain the city stands on.
>Have you been down in the royal crypts?
More than once, yes. Place is filled with all kind of arcane guardians and the like. It really is a treasure throve of old relics.
>They have the lesser word of "rain", I think.
Rain? Never heard of rain… I’m pretty sure the lesser ones are the same as the large ones… just weaker.
>Do you know where the word/rune of Water is?
Water is somewhere on the other side of the great sea, on the eastern continent. Earth is supposedly also somewhere on that continent. Air, on the other hand, is supposedly located somewhere in the cold north. Ah! Speaking of water… Water! And shade! Perfect! And the raptors are keeping their distance too! Marvelous!

Insert Storm, earth and fire, heed my call!_

Oh hey, I see something that looks rather lizard like to your left. Maybe its another inactive golem. Try feeding it some magical energy.

The raptors might be keeping their distance because of something deadly. DO Not drink yet and carefully check the plant nearby. Could be a golem or corpse of someone who died here

>And the raptors are keeping their distance too! Marvelous!
Wait. Why are the raptors keeping their distance from what appears to be a perfectly good source of water? Maybe you should be cautious here. Maybe they know something you don't.

The question is: Why are the raptors staying back? Is it just 'cause of you, is something else here spooking them, or is the water bad?

Back away and wait for the raptors to take a drink first to check whether it's just you they're avoiding and if the water's good.

Are those little red things flowers or fungus? No need to worry about the flora here, right?

There appears to be what looks like a lizard head covered in moss on the rock behind you. Might be a golem head, a statue head, or it might be a camouflaged tribal hiding behind the rock. Glance behind you to check and be ready to run through the pool.

>"…but how did he blow up the chest of the Skrang from the inside? Hmm…"
Aviris had a spirit like Shadow or spirits like us guiding him. Maybe they saved him? Doesn't explain why they waited so long. And wouldn't Aviris have suffocated soon after being swallowed anyway? He should be extremely dead by now.

It may have been a different Skrang which ate something powerful. Or someone powerful hunted down the same Skrang and dove in to recover the corpse.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/02(Thu)12:25 No. 554768 ID: b3ca75
File 138869434321.png - (24.86KB , 900x450 , 16.png )

>Are those little red things flowers or fungus? No need to worry about the flora here, right?
They are called… err… something… um… I’m not really good at flower names but I do know that they aren’t dangerous.

>Oh hey, I see something that looks rather lizard like to your left.
Hmmm… yes, it looks like a liz-
Greetings Scholar.
AAAH!!!
Your arrival have been written in the stars.
…right, who are you, what are you, what do you want, why do you have flowers growing all over you, do you like long walks on the beach and can I take a piss in this water?
…I’m the elder of the tribe near here, I’m here to deliver a message, the flowers are simply camouflage… we use them to steal the eggs from the raptors, no and I’m pretty sure the raptors would be pissed that you defiled their drinking water.
So… it’s clean?
It’s clean enough for you.
…and the message?
Here, take this package with you… and don’t open it, alright?
…you expect me to listen to some crazy lady… err… old man who gives me a strange package?
...you know, it was a lot easier in the old days… then you just told the youngsters it was dangerous out there and then gave them a sword. “poof” problem solved, world saved… but now? You guys are questioning everything! Stop it, Ilbir, stop it! Just do what you’re told and get that package to the person who needs it!
…you didn’t really convince me with that mad ranting, you know. If anything I’m inclined to believe in what you said even less. You haven’t even told me who it’s for!
Geez, the youth today… that’s it, I’m leaving.
Hey, wai- …where did you go? Hello? …but what’s in this package? Stupid weird people with their weird… oh gods, this places is full of hallucinate inducing fungus, isn’t it? Any minute I’ll start to see pink raptors or something… any minute now… any minute… come on… bah… I blame the heat from the desert sun.

Insert Go for the no sword run, chump_

okay. We drink the water then, since it is safe, apparently. And how to survive...Easier said than done, but the flowers might be edible? I think as long as the Raptors don't come after you I think we're in the clear, more or less.

>>554768
He knew your name without being told it. Interesting. Don't open the package. It's probably for Jericho.

Can you eat Skrang meat? You have fire magic so you can cook it. If so then I suppose you're all set. If not... well, you could follow the other trail to whatever burst out of the Skrang. Could be dangerous though. I'd rather we waited until help arrives, and with shelter and water you'll be okay for a few days at least. It takes quite a while to starve to death.

If you're fine for now we'll switch to Thaark to try to track you down.

Is there something hidden behind that rock?

Players apparently have abilities they can use, like when that mantis got frozen. Players except us, that is. It's possible that whats-his-face was a pawn and was either saved by a player, or the player used him as a bomb and killed the Skrang out of spite. It's also possible he used a magic item that backfired. Or maybe it worked just fine. Point is he's a huge pain in the ass and that means he's not likely dead because we can't have nice things.

Can't blame the sun when you're in the shade, and can't deny the package when it's in your hand. Sorry, Ilbir, but you're not hallucinating.

Ilbir, I think you just met the elder of the Sky Watcher tribe. Durach mentioned to us that the tribes' prophecy came from this elder, and we overheard from Jericho that they lived to the east and kept hidden. We also heard from Jericho that the elder is a hermaphrodite, so that'd explain why you couldn't tell if the elder was male or female.

The elder also knew your name, and that you're a scholar... But not just "scholar." "Scholar." Capitalized. Same as the name we were given for you when we first linked to you. The elder knows you're with us.

Don't open that package. I'm almost certain it's meant for Jericho. You're probably wondering why, so I may as well tell you now: Jericho is an antipode mage. He can wield both fire and ice magic. And he's our "king" piece. That makes him the most likely recipient.

You have no container to carry water in, so you're pretty much stuck here. You have fire magic so you could cook the skrang meat for food. Just sit tight and we'll jump over to Thaark and lead him here.

is there a name or something on the package telling you who to give it to? other then that, Where do you think you are? It sounds like you have an idea and we could point the mercs or anyone else really in the right direction for you.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/02(Thu)14:57 No. 554779 ID: b3ca75
File 138870346333.png - (10.83KB , 900x450 , 17.png )

>Is there something hidden behind that rock?
Oh! Behind the rock is… a rock wall! How fascinating…
>Ilbir, I think you just met the elder of the Sky Watcher tribe.
…a tribe? Here? Never heard of them… hmm…
>The elder also knew your name, and that you're a scholar... But not just "scholar." "Scholar." Capitalized.
…wait, how do you guys know that she… he… it capitalized that word? I mean… she didn’t pronounce it in a weird way or anything…
>Don't open that package. I'm almost certain it's meant for Jericho.
…right, if you say so…
>Jericho is an antipode mage.
…I’m pretty sure that’s physically impossible.
>You have fire magic so you could cook the skrang meat for food.
Well… Skrang is a bit… it is eatable but… let’s just say I rather go hungry for a few hours. I should find some roots to make fire with though…
>We drink the water then, since it is safe, apparently.
Too bad it’s such a shallow pool, otherwise I would dive right in…

…

>If you're fine for now we'll switch to Thaark to try to track you down.
Come on, hurry! We’re almost at the camp!
Look boss! Trouble!
Oh great… please don’t tell me our pay check is in trouble again…

Insert The redshirt… won? What?_

nay your checks fine, he did get misplace though, We know he's next to a shallow spring up near some cliffs, sounds like he may be around a Keer harbor city. Just look for a dead skrang that had it's chest burst open and you'll know you're in the right spot. Oh and it was slavers who attacked the camp if you're wondering.

>>554779
Slavers attacked, they took Ilbir for a ride, he's taking shelter at a cliff where a Skrang died- something it ate burst out of its stomach- and some raptors are eating it. He'll be fine for a while as he's got food shelter and water, but we're assuming whatever escaped the Skrang doesn't find and kill him.

Be careful, this guard might be a slaver in disguise. Verify his identity first.

Oh, and find out if Ilbir's mantis friend is okay, would you?

>Insert The redshirt… won? What?
Ask the survivor what happened, obviously.

*Ding-dong* Your paycheck is in trouble, again. ...Sorry. Thankfully he's in much less trouble when we left him than when we jumped to him.

Anyway. Slavers raided right before lunch, striking with knockout gas. Ilbir was taken along with I don't know how many others. They dumped him in the desert as he woke up since apparently dwarfs sell for shit. Odd they even took him in the first place, but whatever.

With our help he spotted some wild raptors, followed them to a very recently killed skrang, then on to a small spring in an alcove in a cliff. Last we saw he was gathering roots to make a fire. He shouldn't be far, since it was noon when he was dumped and the slavers struck right before lunch.

Uh... You should also know that the skrang was killed by something that burst out of its throat. Thankfully the blood trail indicated it headed parallel to the cliff, away from Ilbir's position. Ilbir thinks it went towards a Keer harbor city, but geography isn't his strong suit.

I'm wary of this guard. Hang back and ask for confirmation that he's legit. Something from your time at the dig site you and the guards would both know will do. If he checks out ask him what happened while checking the corpses for anything that might point to where they sell their slaves.

Find out if Kranhon is alive, dead, or captured. 'Cause if Kranhon has been captured then as soon as you reach Ilbir he's going to be hell bent on rescuing his love-bug.

Also, when Ilbir was dumped, we overheard the slavers say if they hurried they'd sell the rest before supper. Where around here could they reach on raptor in time to do that?

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/03(Fri)07:30 No. 554876 ID: b3ca75
File 138876305649.png - (16.95KB , 900x450 , 18.png )

>*Ding-dong*
A dong with a what?
>Slavers attacked, they took Ilbir for a ride, he's taking shelter at a cliff where a Skrang died, near a Keer harbor city.
…I hope we get a bonus for saving him.
>We overheard the slavers say if they hurried they'd sell the rest before supper. Where around here could they reach on raptor in time to do that?
Hmm… well, whoever caught them aren’t going to sell them back to the Serath… so… wait, you said there was a Keer owned city close by? That has to be it… dammit, where is Theen when you need his brain?

>Be careful, this guard might be a slaver in disguise. Verify his identity first.
I recognize him, boss. He’s one of the guards Ilbir had with him. We played some cards together.
You recognize this faceless goon?
Hey, I’m showing more face then you do!
>Ask the survivor what happened, obviously.
We were ambushed by savages being led by one of those giant humans from the north. They successfully used a gas bolt to incapacitated everyone but me and being vastly outnumbered I could only flee. These two savages came after me, was able to kill my mount with two crossbow bolt but their savagery didn’t stand a chance against my superior training.
>Find out if Kranhon is alive, dead, or captured. 'Cause if Kranhon has been captured then as soon as you reach Ilbir he's going to be hell bent on rescuing his love-bug.
…wait, Love bug!? They’re… I… are you serious? I knew they were close but… not that close!
So… what happened to the mantis?
The lieutenant? I do not know. I have no idea what happen to anyone back there… I ran away, remember?
Right… let’s check out the dig, then.

…

Well, this is a bit… macabre.
That’s odd… they have been looking through all our stuff, but they only took some water?
I found some tongues, boss! A mantis tongue and a lizard tongue!
Tongues? I’m guessing they cut them out before they sell them… wait, how many people were here when the attack happened?
Me, two of those sell swords clad in blue, Ilbir and the lieutenant.
Hey, boss, look! The caravan is coming!
Oh great… I bet that Captain Uri somehow finds a way to blame this on me...

Insert Clearly, they are simply helping. I mean, have you ever seen a more effective scarecrow?_

>>554876
Great, we're gonna have to reattach those tongues later. Thank goodness for advanced necromancy, eh?

Wait for the caravan to get here, then we take a few guards with us to retrieve Ilbir and track down the slavers.

why would she, I mean you have a surviving guard with you? But yeah wait till she get's here and fill her in.

Show initiative and bring the guard over to Captain Uri right away. Both of you can lay out what happened here. And if the captain tries to lay any blame on you point out that Ilbir was the one who gave the orders to stay behind with such a small guard contingent, not you.

Are northmen uncommon in the desert? 'Cause if they are then I'm nearly certain it was warlord Mor'Kay's men that struck here, since Mor'Kay has northmen on his side "gifted" from a northern king. No doubt they were here looking for the key stone that was taken back to the city.

It'll be easy to convince the captain Ilbir and the others were taken to be sold as slaves, but we're gonna need a lead on a direction for her to follow. She's not going to take just your word for which way to go. So ask Thuul to start looking for the attacker's trail; Even if he doesn't find one he could lie for us.

Also, the captain likely knows this area, so ask where the nearest non-Serath slave market is. Maybe that'll narrow it down to just one destination.

I'd like to keep the tongues for possible necromantic reattachment, but the only way out here to preserve them I can think of is to pack them in salt. Would being half-jerky by the time they could be reattached make them unacceptable?

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/03(Fri)13:33 No. 554905 ID: b3ca75
File 138878479291.png - (9.59KB , 900x450 , 19.png )

>Are northmen uncommon in the desert?
Kind of… but one riding with the “savages”? Unheard of!
>No doubt they were here looking for the key stone that was taken back to the city.
Hmm… that would explain what they are doing this close to the capital…
>I'd like to keep the tongues for possible necromantic reattachment…
Theen, put the tongues in the cooled bag so we… wait… oh right… dammit! I keep forgetting he isn’t here.
We have an enchanted cold box where we store the food and water… will that work?
It will work for now.
>Ask Thuul to start looking for the attacker's trail; Even if he doesn't find one he could lie fo-
They were heading east…
…wait, how did you-
They didn’t stop the bleeding from the cut tongues properly. There’s a faint blood trail leading that way… and I can see some raptor droppings in that direction.
East? There’s a Keer owned town to the east. Maybe they are going there to sell them as slaves?

>Show initiative and bring the guard over to Captain Uri right away. Both of you can lay out what happened here.
-and then I dispatched the savages with all due haste, sir!
…hmm. Well then, we need to go and save them as soon as possible. Merc, it was your duty to protect him so you’re the one responsible to save him.
He ordered me to go ba-
He’s the one paying you. If you want your money then go and save him. I will give you two guards to assist you with this, but I don’t want to see you return without the palace Dapir or information about his whereabouts. Do you understand, you honorless slob?
Geez, you should really remove that stick you have shoved up your butt.
Just get out of my sight, before I cut off more parts from you.
I’m going, I’m going… by Jove, you accidently kill someone and they never forgive you…

>Take a few guards with us to retrieve Ilbir and track down the slavers.
You said they dumped Ilbir, right? I think it was somewhere around here. I found a bit of fabric with some saliva on it lying in the sand, just a few hours old… and I can smell some kind of animal blood nearby… the skrang that you told me about?
Hmm… how far is it to that Keer city?
Just half an hour, “sir”.
So they’ve probably been sold by now… dammit, I really need Theen right now… he’s the one with all the contacts and stuff… I would probably been able to find them in the city…

Insert You don’t miss them before you have lost them_

so are we going for the midget first since we actually kinda know where he is? I mean he seemed familiar with the Keer, and he's the sultan's right hand man, I bet he would have some contacts that could help us. If not we still save the guy who's paying us, er you...

>>554905
We could switch to someone back home to talk to Theen for you, so you know how to find the contacts. What's the name of the Keer city? May as well fetch Ilbir in the meantime, he might come in handy.

Hmm. How long has it been since the camp was attacked? Jericho might still be busy, Tera is probably still sleeping off her drink... ah, Eliraz should be free. We can switch to him to talk to Theen.

Okay, head to the skrang, follow the blood trail to the cliff, get Ilbir, then head towards the Keer town. We'll switch back to Eliraz and have him ask Theen for his contacts and stuff there, then pop back to you.

We'll need to know the name of the town or roughly where it is before we go, though. Also, is there something Eliraz could tell Theen so he'll trust him enough to share the info?

Oh, and we forgot to mention this earlier: Eliraz got Theen a bed in the palace medical ward. He should be well cared for until you get back, so don't worry about that.

>"...you accidentally kill someone and they never forgive you..."
...So that's how you lost your legs and hand? Damn, that's some harsh punishment. No wonder you didn't tell Tera. That how you lost your eye as well?

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/03(Fri)15:36 No. 554919 ID: b3ca75
File 138879220339.png - (22.14KB , 900x450 , 20.png )

>...So that's how you lost your legs and hand? Damn, that's some harsh punishment.
Actually, I only lost my hand. It was an accident, so they shouldn’t pin her death on me but… yea… I might not have been the most lawful person back then.
>Eliraz got Theen a bed in the palace medical ward. He should be well cared for until you get back, so don't worry about that.
Great! Then I wouldn’t have to kick his ass if he died!

>We could switch to someone back home to talk to Theen for you, so you know how to find the contacts. What's the name of the Keer city?
It’s called Then’dranil, if I remember correctly.
(Oh, and if Theen question you, just tell him that he should shut up and tell you because big bug needs the info a.s.a.p.!)
>May as well fetch Ilbir in the meantime, he might come in handy.
And off we go! To the dead Skrang!

…

*Mumble*mumble*
*Mumble*
…brother, you know that it’s forbidden to try and listen in on the ceremony.
I just want to make sure he’ll make it, sister.
Stop worrying, brother, he’ll be fine… and… you two are really cute together, you know that?
…thank you, I guess.
I have to admit… I didn’t know you… preferred that team, so to speak.
Honestly, I prefer both teams… but try to be quiet, dear sister, I’m trying to listen…
Heh… this is probably going to end like it used to when we were younger, with mother dragging you to your room by the tail…
I’m an adult now, she won’t punish me like that anymore… right? Right?
Heh, little brother, always getting into trouble~
oh shut it, I’m only a day younger then you.
…I don’t get it? Why are you getting pleasure being teased?
Because… I… It’s complicated, Artemis. Brother Sister love, you know?
…love? You want to make new lizards with each other?
What!? NO!? THAT’S NOT WHAT I- Gah!
*giggle*

Insert …and absolutely nothing sexual happened!_

>>554919
Eliraz. Ilbir ran into a bit of trouble, we need to talk to Theen. He knows of some contacts in Then’dranil that can find Ilbir's bug friend who got sold into slavery like an hour ago. We can't do that directly so we'll have to borrow your voice for that. So uh, stop trying to listen in, you can ask how it went after he gets out. We've got more important things to do.

And thus we get to the part where I make good on that promise of shipping you and your sister.

Polyamory is always fun. :3

Mothers will always pick the most embarrassing punishments.

Also we need to give Artemis a new definition of love before she thinks everyone is doing the dance of life.

*Quack* Heh, you're even more adorable when you're flustered. Anyway. Sorry to be short, but we need you to talk to Theen right away. We'll fill you in on the way. Bring Elizah along and keep her and Pink in the loop. Artemis too, since she shouldn't be on her own.

Quick summary: Mor'Kay's men hit Ilbir's dig, probably looking for the key stone. Ilbir, Kranhon and one guard were captured to be sold as slaves. One guard was killed, one got away. Ilbir was dumped in the desert. We guided him to safe shelter then led Thaark to rescue him. Now we're going to rescue Kranhon but need info from Theen to do so.

Ask Theen for all the info on his contacts in the Keer harbor city of Then’dranil. If that's too many then specify ones that'd help track down the buyers of recently purchased slaves. If he's reluctant tell him "he should shut up and tell you because big bug needs the info a.s.a.p.!"

And sometime afterwards this you should have a chat with Artemis on the different kinds of love, love not always meaning sex, and sex definitely not always meaning love. Bring Elizah in on it too. It'll be good for Artemis to see more interplay between you two.

Don't worry we have something to take your mind off of things for a while, like how it seems how the tribals have hired mercs from the north and are now going into the slaving business themselves, seeing as they have attack Ilbir's dig site and have kidnapped everyone but one guard and are trying to sell them in the Keer city of Then’dranil, Ilbir himself manage to get out of it alright but not so much the others. Also you know that one merc we were bitching at you to get a room for, we kinda need you to talk to him for us so we can use him to help find the tribal slavers in the city.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/04(Sat)06:20 No. 555069 ID: b3ca75
File 138884521392.png - (24.16KB , 900x450 , 21.png )

>*Quack*
…did you just hear something?
Nope. It probably was just a duck, gecko.
>And thus we get to the part where I make good on that promise of shipping you and your sister.
WHAT!? But… she… she’s my sister! That’s disgusting! Not to speak of illegal! And forbidden, depraved, lewd, shameless, vile, exiting, dirty, inviting, perverted, risqué, tempting, unnatural and immoral!
>Polyamory is always fun. :3
Well… It is expected of me to have more than one lover and… I technically own half of the harem… but she’s my sister! That’s a big no no!!

>Don't worry we have something to take your mind off of things for a while, like how it seems how the tribals have hired mercs from the north and are now going into the slaving business themselves…
Hmm… the mercs are new… but the slavery is not, they have always been taking slaves. They are savages; do you expect them not to take slaves? Err… that sounded very hypocritical, didn’t it?
>seeing as they have attack Ilbir's dig site and have kidnapped everyone but one guard and are trying to sell them in the Keer city of Then’dranil…
What!? That’s… we need to save them!
>we need to talk to Theen.
Right, Theen… on my way.
I just got a urgent message, I need to go and talk to Theen.
I’m coming with you, no matter what you say. We haven’t spent time with each other in ages and-
Err… actually, I was just about to ask you to come with me.
…oh, well… err… sorry for the unnecessary drama, then…

>we need to give Artemis a new definition of love before she thinks everyone is doing the dance of life.
-so, it’s isn’t just couples that love each other.
Besides, you can dance just for the fun of it, not just to make new lizards… or love.
Which is something I’m sure you’re an expert with, sister~
Hey! It’s not my fault you never use your half!
…so love is… like… friendship? But stronger?
…correct. Ah, here we are… greetings, doctor, I need to see the patient.
I’m sorry, my prince, but he isn’t awake right now.
…everything alright?
He is stable for the moment but… let’s just say you’re lucky you brought him here. Otherwise he wouldn’t be with us right now.
Oh…

Insert Achievement gained: Savior! You successfully saved a minor character! I hope you’re proud of yourself!_

I saw tempting, exciting, and inviting in there.
Now you must know we can never let this issue go.

Anyways, ask about his condition, and if their's any mcguffin medicine he needs or if he just need extra rest.

Huzzah a minor character was saved! I feel rather proud myself, living things usually do deserve to live rather then die.

Regardless we need something fast or Kranhon is going to be in a bad place far from his lover...Without a tongue.

Yay, we're like 8-1 on people dying!

Ask if he's awake, and if so, if we can have like one minute to get some important information. You may need Elizah to back you up on that.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/04(Sat)09:31 No. 555090 ID: b3ca75
File 138885669518.png - (22.73KB , 900x450 , 22.png )

>I saw tempting, exciting, and inviting in there.
T-that was just a slip of the tongue! Err… slip of the thought… um…
>Now you must know we can never let this issue go.
If you tell anyone I swear… I swear… I’ll do something! I’ll find a way to hurt you, and hurt you bad! Do you understand!?
>Regardless we need something fast or Kranhon is going to be in a bad place far from his lover...Without a tongue.
…wait, Kranhon has a girlfriend? Since when?

>Ask about his condition, and if there’s any mcguffin medicine he needs or if he just need extra rest.
He has a high fever thanks to his infected wound. He needs rest and the medication we already have at hand.
>Ask if he's awake, and if so, if we can have like one minute to get some important information.
Err… I already said he wasn’t awake, sire…
Um… right… so… what now?
What are you even trying to do?
Oh, right, I didn’t- Ilbir and his crew have been taken as slaves to be sold in a nearby Keer city. I need Theen to give me some contacts that will help us track them down.
Well… we should always look through his stuff? Maybe he has his contacts written down somewhere… or maybe check Ilbir’s stuff, he got friends everywhere.
Are time really that rare? Can we not wait until sold sword lizards become functioning again?
Hmmm… maybe we should just hope that Ilbir know someone there that can help…
…didn’t you just say he was-
Ilbir was able to free himself… the others didn’t.
Oh…

Insert Sick sell sword’s stained steel sword strikes straight_

Well, we could check Theen's stuff, but a smart criminal doesn't write their contacts down.

I suppose Ilbir might know something and the others are on their way to pick him up already.

Ilbir is with Kranhon.

Anyways we should at least look through Theen's stuff while we are here real quick, at least grab his supplies to take with us then head to the Mercs and Ilbir.

May as well look through Theen's stuff, but I suspect he's smart enough to not write his contacts' info down, or if he did it'll be in code.

Wait a second... Eliraz, what kind of espionage capabilities does the Serath Kingdom have? Yanno, spies, covert agents and such. 'Cause there may already be a Serath agent in that Keer city we could contact or records of contacts we could use. Go talk to whoever in the palace is in charge of espionage and intelligence.

Check with the doc on whether Theen is going to lose his infected let. If so then we'll keep an eye out for a suitable replacement for necromantic attachment. That is, unless they already have one on hand.

Oh, dangit! We forgot about Tera! Eliraz, did the guards bring her in along with Theen or did they leave her sleeping off the booze at the apartment? 'Cause if it's the latter could you send them around again to escort her to the palace. Actually, we should probably pop over and fill her in before going back to Thaark too.

>>555095
Ilbir is with Thaark, not Kranhon. Kranhon is the guy we're going to rescue.

do they know how long he'll be out?

but yeah failing that we could always just go try and see what Ilbir can do and failing that we could always just wounder the city and hope for the best.

>>555097
Romantically, not actual physical contact my bad.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/04(Sat)12:02 No. 555104 ID: b3ca75
File 138886577704.png - (20.91KB , 900x450 , 23.png )

>Ilbir is with Kranhon… Romantically.
…what… whaaaat…. Are you serious? They… I… actually… that would explain a lot… it is kind of obvious isn’t it?
>Go talk to whoever in the palace is in charge of espionage and intelligence.
Oh right, that would be Reizn… and he’s with the sultan… partaking in the ritual. Dammit.
>Check with the doc on whether Theen is going to lose his infected leg.
There is an possibility we have to amputate, yes, but if we do we can just kill, clean and reattach his leg again with necromancy.

>We could check Theen's stuff, but a smart criminal doesn't write their contacts down.
Hmm… but is worth a try, isn’t it?
>Oh, dangit! We forgot about Tera!
Who is Tera again? …you mean that necromancer girl that was with Jericho?
…h-hello? Who’s there? Where am I? W-what… what happened? …ugh… my head…
Um… excu- OFF!!
If you so much have laid a finger on me while I was asleep, pervert, I’ll scream for the guards… in fact, I’ll scream for the-
I think we have a bit of an misunderstanding here.
…Princess? W-what are you doing here? W-where am I? Wha-
Oh, I just came here with the prince. The one you just knocked over with a pillow. Nice aim, by the way.
I… prince… pillow… oh gods! I’M SO SORRY! I didn’t know! Please don’t behead me! Please please please-
…wah?

Insert Off with her head!_

she blind, we know relax. Anyway's we just here to see if we can't find anything of Theen's, by the way how's the hangover?

If he had you beheaded, he'd have no one left to reanimate your body. That would be impractical.

Sorry, I know how disconcerting it can be to wake up somewhere strange (and it can only be worse if you can't see!) but Thaark had to go help Ilbir, and you didn't want to head back to the temple yet.

Eliraz, please tell the poor gal you're not gonna have her head or any other parts of her removed. We'll pop over to reassure her while you search the place. Maybe have everything brought up to the palace to keep it safe. By the way, where's Artemis? You didn't leave her behind, did you?

[Switch to "The Acolyte"]
*Honk* Don't worry Tera, prince Eliraz is with us. You'll be fine. You're in Thaark's apartment, and no, nothing untoward happened. You were falling down drunk after, like, three ales, proposing to dissect his dick FOR SCIENCE so he thought it'd be best to carry you here to sleep it off. He would have stayed except he had forgotten he had to get on the caravan back to Ilbir's dig.

...Also, we kinda forgot you were here until right before now. Things happened and our focus was needed elsewhere. Sorry for leaving you alone like this.

Would you like to be taken to the temple or up to the palace? Partake of some royal hospitality and get something for that headache too? And Jericho may have a surprise for you as well when you get there.

>>555108
They have other necromancers. She's just an initiate.

>>555113
Hey, I didn't forget she was here! But yeah I guess I can understand her confusion and also the issue of a blind person waking up in an unfamiliar place. Whoops. Also I don't think we need to switch to her to talk to her. Proximity seems to work between our pawns/knights/whatever.

>>555104
Oh that reminds me. Ask the princess if she knows anything about pawns being upgraded. What does that mean? If you guys can't find anything about Theen's contacts we'll have to hope Ilbir can handle it on his own and switch over to him.

>They have other necromancers. She's just an initiate.
Of course they do. It's still a good line, though. And just the right kind of 'logic' to snap her out of her panic.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/05(Sun)06:48 No. 555279 ID: b3ca75
File 138893332380.png - (21.37KB , 900x450 , 24.png )

>*Honk*
AH!!
*Sigh* I’m not going to behead you… or punish you in any other way.
AH?
I’m here with the voices, alright? We’re on the same team.
Ah…
>You're in Thaark's apartment, and no, nothing untoward happened.
Oh, I’m starting to remember last night… err… parts of last night…
Last night we were on our way from the dig.
…this morning, then. I remember parts of this morning!
>proposing to dissect his dick FOR SCIENCE!
You did WHAT!?
What can I say? I was drunk.

>Ask the princess if she knows anything about pawns being upgraded. What does that mean?
Hmm… the king is your main piece… the queen is your most powerful piece… knight are just your bread and butter while pawns are… well, pawns that can be sacrificed. Everyone starts out as a pawn, but as they grow more on the player, their survival becomes more important. I… Rose doesn’t know if you get anything from it or not, though.
>search the place.
Nothing!? But… what do we do then?
It was a longshot from the start, brother, don’t feel bad.

>Jericho may have a surprise for you as well when you get there.
Surprise? As in… a present? Or… surprise, I’ve made the princess pregnant?
I… how does that even work!? He’s dead!
Hey, you never know… hmm… he found himself a girlfriend?
That’s a bit… unlikely, dear… considering he’s… err…
OH! Boyfriend!? *Giggle* I never thought he would… heh, he so going to be the one in the bottom, isn’t he? I have to ask him to tell me all the dirty details! Boyish love is so… so… hot~
You haven’t even heard the start of it. It’s like those old epics, a brave hero saving the fair maiden from the clutches of evil… it’s really… exiting~ *Giggle*
You have to share the details with me later! I’m dying to hear about my little pebble and his little “adventure”… *Giggle*
…
>By the way, where's Artemis? You didn't leave her behind, did you?
Oh, son of a bi-
Who?
Oh, right, I think we lost him on the way here.

Insert Shippers on deck_

Her, Artemis is designated with pronoun 'her'.

But you'll have to ask Jericho about his 'adventures', I mean we can't tell you that the Prince has an incredible thing he can do with his tongue that would bring kingdoms to it's knee's. Nope, we aren't that chatty and willing to spoil info.

>Rose doesn’t know if you get anything from it or not, though
I suppose it might mean different sides earn more points when they take more highly ranked pieces.

>Artemis
Wait, how did you lose her? She should have been perfectly capable of following you.

...unless something else snagged her attention. I suppose she is like a little kid, in a way. A highly dangerous little kid, anyways.

If your sister is so intrigued by your relationship, perhaps...

Anyways. You need to find Artemis before she gets herself dismantled for saying something stupid.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/05(Sun)10:04 No. 555315 ID: b3ca75
File 138894505423.png - (16.17KB , 900x450 , 25.png )

>Her, Artemis is designated with pronoun 'her'.
Why her?
Long story, just call her “her”.
>If your sister is so intrigued by your relationship, perhaps...
NO!! NONONONO!! NOOOO!!!!
…no what?
No… just… no…
>you'll have to ask Jericho about his 'adventures'.
But he won’t spill all those juicy details… especially the dirty ones~
>I mean we can't tell you that the Prince has an incredible thing he can do with his tongue that would bring kingdoms to its kne-
HEY! I HAVEN’T EVEN… I… SHUT UP!!
Wait, why would I care if the Prince… oh… OH… you’re right, it was like one of the old epics. The brave knight from humble beginnings saving the “princesses”… *Giggle*
…now I’m starting to consider actually beheading you now…
Pff… like you would behead your boyfriends adopted sister.
>You need to find Artemis before she gets herself dismantled for saying something stupid.
Right, let’s drop all that and never speak of that again! Let’s go and find Artemis.
But we haven’t found a way fo-
LET’S LEAVE AND FIND ARTEMIS!

…

-do know of a trader that might help us find th- wait, what’s going on here?
Sir, I have to ask you to leave. This is a crime scene.
But they stole from me! Even after I bought their goods they stole from me! Give me back my possession!
Sir, please calm down. You will have all your stolen possessions returned to you within a week’s time.
A week!? I don’t have a week! Give it to me!

Insert Welcome to Then’dranil! We got good food, beautiful beaches and mutilated corpses!_

So uh, any of those corpses look familiar? Because I kind of think we knew one of those guys.

>>555315
Oh my god it's your rival. Is that blood coming out of his eyes? Inform the police here about who he is and what he used to be in. Oh, ask what got stolen; "possessions" could include slaves. Then go around so we can get inside.

No luck on getting Theen to help, he's currently sedated. Turns out he got an infection from his wound and almost died. Nothing in his room to help either. It's all on Ilbir now.

*Chirp* Sorry, Thaark, but we couldn't get Theen's contacts. He'd taken a turn for the worst and was unconscious by the time Eliraz arrived. He's stable, thanks to the palace doctors, but he's going to be out for an indefinite period.

Also, we picked up Tera when we searched Theen's stuff at the apartment for anything about his contacts. So don't worry about having left a blind gal behind to wake up alone in strange surroundings.

Ilbir, Reizn's tied up in the Rite of Dragon Fire so Eliraz couldn't get his espionage knowledge on Then’dranil. With Theen out he'll be your best bet if you hit a wall here. The Rite started around noon, so about how long until he'll be free?

I think that's Aviris' corpse on the ground there, but could you take a closer look to confirm for us, as well as tell us what kind of damage it took. Also ask what the hell happened here.

You might be able to get the cooperation of the Keer guards if you tell them an altered version of the events with Aviris. Say he stole a powerful magical artifact from your dig and got himself eaten by a skrang while fleeing. You tracked the skrang down only to find it dead from something erupting from it and the blood trail pointed here. So you're thinking the artifact broke, Aviris' corpse was possessed by a daemon, it did this carnage, and now it's loose in the city.

Can you tell how the corpses died?

see anyone you know?

YOU MUST CLAIM HIS HAT AS A TROPHY

Anyway explain that you're looking for people who had their tongues cut out and were taken as slaves, the blood trail led here, has anyone entered or passed by recently?

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/05(Sun)12:43 No. 555340 ID: b3ca75
File 138895462071.png - (19.52KB , 900x450 , 26.png )

>*Chirp*
*Tweet*
>Theen has taken a turn for the worse.
(Good thing you guys made sure he got help then! I owe you one!)
>Tera is okay.
(Good, I still feel a bit bad for leaving her like that though.)
>Reizn's tied up in the Rite of Dragon Fire so Eliraz couldn't get his espionage knowledge on Then’dranil. With Theen out he'll be your best bet if you hit a wall here. The Rite started around noon, so about how long until he'll be free?
(The rite of dragon fire? Why, it only takes an hour. They should have been done hours ago… I mean, it’s almost dinner time!)

>Oh my god it's your rival. Is that blood coming out of his eyes?
(It is Aviris, correct… and the blood is probably the least of his concerns. His ribcage seems to have been forced open… almost like something forced itself out from his body.)
>Can you tell how the corpses died?
(Their wounds doesn’t seem to be made by any blade I know… It’s almost like they have been ripped apart by brute strength.)
>see anyone you know?
I believe that’s the savages that attacked the dig, sire. At least… pieces of them.

>ask what the hell happened here.
I are unsure, citizen. We heard this gentleman scream that he had been robbed and when we began pursuing them we found this bloodbath. I haven’t seen a Vildman, one of those northern giants, running by, by any chance?
>ask what got stolen; "possessions" could include slaves.
Why, my money box of course! They stole it from me after I bought those laborers from them. I mean, geez, why steal the money after you sold something?
>You might be able to get the cooperation of the Keer guards if you tell them an altered version of the events with Aviris.
That… sound very unlikely…
I am Ilbir Deejeb the third, Dapir for sultan of the Serath kingdoms… adventurer, scholar, gentleman… and I have the seal of my kingdom to prove it. I’m here pursuing a dangerous criminal who kidnapped some of the officers of the Serath guard. I do not tell falsehoods.
Yes, that is the seal of the Drah’kon family… very well, master Dapir, we’re at your service. What do you need assistance with?
Well, we are looking for some “slaves” that was taken here recently.
Sir, the people entering this city every day is in the thousands. Finding someone like that is like finding a needle in Skrang dung… and please, don’t remove anything from the crime scene without permission… that includes the hats…

Insert The tiny man throw around a lot of weight_

Ask the gentleman what the 'laborers' looked like; I believe we're looking for a lizard and a mantis. If he has who we're looking for, use your authority over the guards to return his money box in exchange for their freedom.

>that includes the hats

Damn. Finding those two is important enough that we can't afford to get on the guards' bad side. It pains me to say it, but you should probably put the hat back. Reluctantly.

>specific slaves
Sold very recently, with their tongues cut out?

>>555340
One lizard and one mantis, with their tongues removed. Also describe their clothing, though it's possible the clothes were swapped out. Oh, and make sure to mention what TIME they were brought here. Wait, that's not them over there, is it? If that is them, we may have to track down the lockbox in order to get them back. Hey, do they have any necromancers around here that can reattach the tongues? Or does it matter if that waits for a while?

Uh, we maaaaay want to check on Jericho, if the ritual is taking longer than normal. Can you guys handle it from here? For a while, anyway?

It might be very likely that one of the players possessed Avaris, used him to break free of the Skrag, and then formed a body that ripped out of his body and killed everyone nearby, which means he has something that can brutally murder things.. This is bad.

Heads up, Ilbir. Is that Kranhon behind the slave merchant, behind that lizard on the rock? And ask the dig guard if the red-eyed lizard is the captured guard.

If that's not Kranhon and the captured guard we could offer the slave merchant help in recovering his money box in exchange for info on whoever bought the slaves these dead tribals brought in. And if it is them, we can offer the same deal for their release.

We could offer Thuul's service to the guards to track down that Vildman. I'd like to capture him for interrogation as well; Find out why he's working with the tribes.

Hm, Aviris' ribcage has been busted open. Ilbir, you think a daemon could have possessed him while in the skrang? It's either that or his player has the power to do something similar to that to its pawns. Though it doesn't explain why it came here and ripped apart these specific tribals.

I'm concerned that the Rite is taking so long. Ilbir, I trust you can handle this. We better switch back to Jericho to check in.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/05(Sun)16:28 No. 555370 ID: b3ca75
File 138896808789.png - (14.51KB , 900x450 , 27.png )

>Wait, that's not them over there, is it?
Of course not. That’s just some citizen coming to gawk at the murder scene.
>Ask the gentleman what the 'laborers' looked like; I believe we're looking for a lizard and a mantis.
Why, yes, A male mantis and a male lizard, both with their tongue cut out.
>Use your authority over the guards to return his money box in exchange for their freedom.
Guards, give this man back his belongings… if he is willing to strike deal with us?
Of course… 4000 crowns… each…
…you can’t be-
You have to be a very rich man, Dapir, and you seem a bit desperate to get these laborers… so… 4000… it’s simply business, you know.
You know, this money box is awfully empty…
Of course it is. I used up most of it to buy the laborers. I want it back for sentimental reasons.
Yet… it’s rather heavy, isn’t it?
…Y-you aren’t meant to carry it around. It’s supposed to be stationary.
Of course, it would be a shame if I dropped it… breaking it on the rock… especially with this many guards around…
Err… you wanted a deal with the laborers? Why, I’ll give them to for free! You did me a favor so let me-
Not so fast. We aren’t stupid you know. Arrest this man and check that box for any illegal contra bands. Meanwhile, I’ll go free whatever laborers this man have illegally bought. Master Ilbir, care to join me?
Of course.
>We could offer Thuul's service to the guards to track down that Vildman. I'd like to capture him for interrogation as well; Find out why he's working with the tribes.
If he can track him, then we would be in your debt.
He headed south east, towards the cliffs.
…how did you-
Urine… his urine. It’s rather easy to track. My guess is that he’s hiding out in a cave somewhere nearby.

…

>I'm concerned that the Rite is taking so long. Ilbir, I trust you can handle this. We better switch back to Jericho to check in.
-And so, let the fire prove the blood of dragons.
Ther’kana Alitir Natir!
*Mumble*mumble*
*Sigh* and I wish my son was a bit more… discreet when he tries take a sneak peak on us… so, vizier, what is your verdict?
This is… odd… the fire is there but… it’s weak? Something seems to be holding it back?
It’s ice. I told you he had both in his blood.
Still… there’s no mistaking it, this is dragon blood alright. He is one of your kin.
As I suspected… well then, Jericho… Lord Jericho Drah’kon the second, it is proven. You are of royal blood. Welcome to the family, son.

Insert Royally screwed_

>>555370
Oh, nothing's wrong after all. Why'd it take so long? I thought it was only supposed to take an hour, and it's almost dinner time. Right? We aren't time traveling are we? That would be confusing, and awesome.

Is that literal dragon blood they're talking about? These Lizards can't possibly be descended from dragons. Wait, actually, I've never heard of dragons before in this universe. Ask about them!

Okay, so Esiros had a son named Jericho, so if you're Jericho the second, you're Esiros'... grandson, yes? And Elizah said he was related by a great- grandfather's... cousin? Gah, royal bloodlines are confusing.

Mental note; use your new found freedom to guilt Kranhon by explaining that he just upgraded from Executing the falsely accused to accidental regicide.

Oh right. Esiros is still alive, has a heavily scarred face, and is using ice powers to make a spider-legged chair which he moves around with because he has no legs I think. It is likely Blue gave him those ice powers, which means Esiros is one of Blue's pawns. We have not contacted Blue even indirectly at this point. It's hard to tell if Blue will listen to diplomacy at this point. He might even have taken over Esiros completely, considering Esiros is acting like he hates all of his former countrymen.

huh, so does that mean anything or is it more or less of a title. I mean I just don't know how royalty or whatever works around here.

>>555377
Pay attention.

>This is… odd… the fire is there but… it’s weak? Something seems to be holding it back?
>It’s ice. I told you he had both in his blood.

So, how literal is the dragon thing?

Way to go Thraak! That was some good inference and intimidation.

>welcome to the family
Thank you uh, (Aunt? Cousin? Matriarch?) ...I don't suppose you know where I fit into the family? Or what I call you now?

And what's that make me, then? I'm pretty sure I'm no prince.

*Chime* Oh, so this is why the rite took until dinnertime? We were worried when Ilbir said it should have only been an hour.

Thank your second cousin once removed sultan Leanah Drah'kon for the welcome, if you wish to be pedantic about it.

There's almost certainly no wealth or property that comes with the title, but what should come with it is a seal. Get that ASAP so you can ID yourself as nobility. Everything else - legal powers, duties, obligations and suchlike - you can find out from the palace library.

Now, I think your first action as Lord Jericho Drah'kon the second ought to be hugging (and kissing) prince Eliraz and informing him that you two are now officially third cousins. Second one is telling Tera the news; She's going to squee so hard at that she may just shatter glass.

The third one should be heading directly to the temple and getting that damn slave command rune removed, along with a check if the anti-magic rune was installed right and removing it if it was. And you may as well get that internal storage installed at the same time so you can hide the key stones as soon as you get back to the palace.

>>555399
That's ex-prince Eliros you're thinking of, not Jericho's grandfather Esiros. Real similar names, so not surprising you got them confused.

>>555428
Oh crap you're right, sorry. Eliros. Well, he is alive and in the state I described, and I guess his failed coup would explain the hate.

Wait hang on. Anti-magic rune got done reversed and amps Jericho's magic! That's why he found out about being an antipode mage AFTER HE DIED! We undo that rune, we can kiss the sweet magics goodbye!

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/06(Mon)07:04 No. 555484 ID: b3ca75
File 138902068756.png - (14.24KB , 900x450 , 28.png )

>Why'd it take so long? I thought it was only supposed to take an hour, and it's almost dinner time. Right?
What? No it’s not? It’s barely been an hour! Dinner time? We haven’t even had lunch yet.
>Thank your second cousin once removed sultan Leanah Drah'kon for the welcome, if you wish to be pedantic about it.
Please, call me Leanah… or Sultan… or whatever you wish to call me.
>So does that mean anything or is it more or less of a title.
With the title comes all the perks and responsibilities of royalty. You are now a free man, and are entitled a monthly salary of 10 dragons… as in 100.000 crows. You also get a private chamber within the palace, but I’m guessing you still wish to sleep in my son’s chambers, correct? I will also give you the seal of Drah’kon family, to be used at your discretion. Just remember, everything you do and say is my responsibility and let’s just say I’m not a very forgiving person, Jericho.

>...I don't suppose you know where I fit into the family?
Your own theory seems to be the best suited as of yet, my lord. Esiros might have had a second son… a son who named his son in turn after Esiros dead son, Jericho. Whoever the mother was to Jericho is still a mystery, so it is plausible that he had more than one son.
>Is that literal dragon blood they're talking about?
There are legends that all magic users are decedents from dragons… just as there are myths that they are decedents from the gods themselves… or even both. It’s hard to know if this is truth or falsehood, as it was myths even in the ancient times.
>I've never heard of dragons before in this universe. Ask about them!
Supposedly, they were giant immortal flying lizard that should breathe all the elements… some say even living parts of the gods themselves. As they were known to take mortal wives and husbands we now have their blood pulsing through our mortal veins.

>Eliros is still alive, has a heavily scarred face, has a weird speak pattern and is using ice powers to make a spider-legged chair which he moves around with because he has no legs I think.
At least, that’s what the voices tells me.
He… he can’t be… but… the wounds you describe… they fit, don’t they? After his failed coup, we drenched him in boiling water, cut out his lying tongue, broke his spine and left him out in the Skrang infested desert to die… yet… here he is? Hmm… this is grave news… grave news indeed.
>I think your first action as Lord Jericho Drah'kon the second ought to be hugging (and kissing) prince Eliraz and informing him that you two are now officially third cousins.
Where’s your son, Sultan? I need to tell him the good news.
Your… make out session has to wait, Jericho. The first responsibility you have as royalty is to actually look like royalty. I will not allow you to look like a simple servant. I will call some servants to fix this at once… oh, and you need to have your servant runes removed too. Hmm… anything else you want fixed while we are at it?
Can I get someone to install some internal storage?
Of course! Anything else you wish for?

Insert Quick, wish for that game you always wanted!_

Anyway to get some more defensive runes? Things to allow better regeneration when coming apart? Also things that would help him as an Antipod mage like some actual training would help.

Also congratulations Jericho!

>>555484
I see. So we've traveled back in time a bit. That seems to be our player ability. I wonder if we can control this power? I wonder if YOU can? Don't tell anyone about this. It shall be our secret weapon. I wonder if we need to avoid time paradoxes... right now we're talking to Eliraz about Ilbir's buddy getting kidnapped by slavers, and several hours in the future we'll be telling Ilbir we couldn't get in touch with Reizn to find out about any contacts in the city the slavers went to. It turns out it wasn't necessary, but... yeah, go ahead and ask Reizn what contacts he has in the city of Then’dranil. Just in case.

Do we get access to the palace funds? Also, you could do with a weapon and some martial training alongside the spell training. Hey, that reminds me of something. You seem to read books really fast... I wonder if that's you subconsciously using time manipulation.

lunch?... and maybe somewhere we could practice magic.

>Just remember, everything you do and say is my responsibility
Uh, is there some kind of code of conduct we should be familiar with?

>So we've traveled back in time a bit.
...or time zones are a lot smaller in this little cylinder world. The sun could be in different parts of the sky based on where they are.

>Quick, wish for that game you always wanted!
But we're already playing civ!

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/06(Mon)09:47 No. 555511 ID: b3ca75
File 138903042995.png - (30.54KB , 900x450 , 29.png )

>Time manipulation.
…what? I can? I… err… are you sure? I mean, maybe it’s just some… quirk when you jump between people?
>is there some kind of code of conduct we should be familiar with?
I’ll teach you as you come into your new role.
>Lunch?
We already made plans for lunch, remember? As soon as you’re done dignifying yourself we’ll eat. I just hope my kids haven’t forgotten about it too…
>Get some more defensive runes?
We have some resistance and the like… but nothing really major. I’ll see to it that the necromancers give you the best runes they can find.
>Do we get access to the palace funds?
I’ll give you 100.000 crows early as this month salary. Don’t spend it all in one place.
>You could do with a weapon and some martial training alongside the spell training.
Hmm… right, you are a bit more battle hardened then the others. Maybe you should try to become a knight? …or… wait… I got it. I know of an elite order of warriors that combine both magic prowess and a swords might. Spell swords, I do believe they call themselves. I believe they would love to have you as an addition to their order... of course, they mostly operate beyond the great sea but… never mind that, of course we’ll give you the best trainers and training equipment possible, both for your sword arm, magical abilities and mind.
>go ahead and ask Reizn what contacts he has in the city of Then’dranil. Just in case.
I have to check the records for that, milord.
Now, stop dallying around and get moving, Jericho.

…

Quite an unique example, isn’t it? Maybe we should take it back to the academy to-
Don’t be daft, whoever owns this has to be powerful.
Excuse me… um… I lost Eliraz, can you guide me back to Eliraz?
Eliraz? As in prince Eliraz?
Prince Eliraz and girly prince Elizah.
Ah, there you are! Artemis!!

>Lunch?
(Wha- oh right, shit, mother going to be furious if I’m late!)

Insert Rust 2: Mothers wrath_

Princess Artemis, when they are female they are called "Princess".

Oh and she's already furious you are gonna miss it, now get to it mister.

Huh speaking of time manipulation, I gave my possible explanation a tad too late it would seem.

Go reunite with Artemis first, poor thing got lost and seems to have acquired some admirers.

>>555511
Better hurry then. Maybe Artemis can carry the both of you and run faster than you can.

Don't worry about not getting Theen's contacts. Ilbir has, or will, sort it out and save Kranhon from slavery right before dinner. Our tenses are a little screwy 'cause we inadvertently slipped back in time a bit when we shifted to Jericho. Don't ask, it's not something we can do intentionally.

Commend the scholar for having some common sense, and if they wish to study Artemis they should submit a formal request through the academy to Dapir Ilbir when he returns from his expedition.

Have a little chat with Artemis on the way back on where to go and who to ask for help if she gets separated, and to try not to get separated in the future. As a functioning intelligent golem she's very rare and very valuable in this world. There are those who would spend much to capture her for study or even just to own such a unique thing.

What time is it? If it's right after the rite should have finished then you have a bit of tie. Leanah didn't want Jericho coming to lunch in servants' garb so you have until his level of sartorial splendor is sufficiently royal for her. And yes, this means the rite went off just as we hoped. So congrats, you're now officially third cousins with Jericho.

Oh, and Jericho was talking to Leanah and you might just get your wish for him to be a knight. Better than a knight: A spellsword! Pretty neat, huh?

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/06(Mon)12:33 No. 555533 ID: b3ca75
File 138904042517.png - (31.31KB , 900x450 , 30.png )

>Don't worry about not getting Theen's contacts. Ilbir has, or will, sort it out and save Kranhon from slavery right before dinner.
…what? How do you-
>Our tenses are a little screwy 'cause we inadvertently slipped back in time a bit when we shifted to Jericho. Don't ask, it's not something we can do intentionally.
…right, I’m not going to ask…
>Congrats, you're now officially third cousins with Jericho.
He passed!? Splendid! I… I must find him and congratulate him personally!
>Jericho was talking to Leanah and you might just get your wish for him to be a knight.
Oh, it would be quite dreamy if h-
>Better than a knight: A spellsword! Pretty neat, huh?
What? No, that… the only order I know of that call themselves spellswords are on the other side of the great sea and… and that would mean… no… just being a knight is enough, right?

>Commend the scholar for having some common sense, and if they wish to study Artemis they should submit a formal request through the academy to Dapir Ilbir when he returns from his expedition.
I’m impressed that you gentlemen are able to show some common sense, wisdom tends to be in short supply among you scholars, after all. If you want to have more time studying the golem, please submit a formal request through the academy at least one month in advance to the Dapir.
Ilbir? I knew Ilbir had something to do with this… but…
Why haven’t he shared this with us in private? Ilbir isn’t the kind of person that would pass up an opportunity to brag and act smug, especially concerning something like this.
That I cannot answer, but you must forgive me as I need to-
Stop the thief!!
Sorry, coming through!
…WHAT. THE. FUCK!? Hey, wait- son of a- he stole my wallet!!
After her!!

Insert I’m so incompetent that I successfully wounded myself enough to draw blood when I tried to peel a banana… true story_

That's...shadow!? Her 'name' signals as Shadow, even with her odd description!

O.O
Oh. Oh. This might be worth calling a red alert.
First off, we want that thief caught.
Secondly? Whenever we get a moment in private with the princess we need to ask the protocol for what happens when a player loses, because I've a sinking feeling that the player who had you before is back.

Oh fuck me sideways you have GOT to be kidding.

Tell Elizah to take care of Artemis, THEN pursue. Make sure you aren't hallucinating or falling into a trap.

Don't worry about Jericho, he's been offered training within the city, and he's got enough on his plate that he wouldn't go halfway across the world to join an order he's just heard of right now.

And that is not language befitting a prince. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

>>555533
Wow that better be a reused icon.

Go steal the wallet back, Thief. Show off for us, I want to see your true strength.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/06(Mon)14:00 No. 555548 ID: b3ca75
File 138904560767.png - (21.16KB , 900x450 , 31.png )

>That is not language befitting a prince. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
What the intercourse, then. Happy!?
>That's...shadow!?
Looks like it… somehow…

>Tell Elizah to take care of Artemis, THEN pursue.
Sister, take care of Artemis, I’m going after her!
Wait, shouldn’t we let the guards handle- I said WAIT!!
>Go steal the wallet back, Thief. Show off for us, I want to see your true strength.
She might be able to lose the guards, but she will never lose me. I will catch her, no matter wh-
…where the hell did she go!?
…who, sir? You mean the lizard who came running past just a moment ago? She turned left in the end of the ally, sir.
(…I’m pretty sure that guy have my wallet.)
Prince Eliraz? Where are you, milord?

Insert Twisting around at the speed of diagonal_

huh, so you weren't the only one who was doing the whole disguise yourself as a chick thing, think you could use your shadow powers to steal your wallet back from the guy?

That guy in front of you? Yeah. Have the gaurds search him. If it IS him, then it'll turn up.
If not?
You have a mother that you don't want to dissapoint, sadly, and if there's anything IMPORTANT in that wallet, it won't be something that can be traded for illicit gain very easily.

>Happy!?
Meh, works for me.

This is totally an ambush. I think I see someone hiding behind that crate next to him.

PLEASE tell me you're armed, or have some kind of experience with unarmed fighting. Either way, there's a guard right outside the alley you can call to.

Hold up! This stinks of a trap. Think about it. Someone dressed like the Shadow brazenly steals your wallet in the hopes you would give chase. It's either that or the dumbest thief in the world. So don't go in there yourself, please.

I spy somebody behind the crates next to this guy. It's likely the thief.

Back up and call the guards to you, telling half to go down the alley with the obviously fake directions the man gave. Once they're past him, order them to turn around and arrest him, and the thief cowering behind the crates.

Be on guard. I don't trust that they don't have something up their sleeves to use against you.

>>555548
This smells of ambush. Collect your guards. Then see if you can steal back your wallet without him noticing.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/06(Mon)15:22 No. 555578 ID: b3ca75
File 138905054310.png - (22.88KB , 900x450 , 32.png )

>Think you could use your shadow powers to steal your wallet back from the guy?
Well yes… but the thing is, everything he’s stolen is hidden the same way I used to hide stuff… I’m pretty sure you can’t hide things like that without… hmm…
>PLEASE tell me you're armed.
I am now… and he’s suddenly unarmed.
>I spy somebody behind the crates next to this guy. It's likely the thief.
…It’s a lizard mask and a fake tail. He was the thief all along!

>This smells of ambush. Collect your guards.
Guards! Arrest this man!
Yes sir!
Hey! I haven’t done anything! You can’t ju-
If you haven’t done anything, then why do you have his excellency wallet on you?
How the hell did you find it!? She said no one wo- I mean, err… this is some kind of mistake?
You are going to rot in jail the next few years, criminal scum!
No… wait…
Please, have mercy, your grace… err… little gecko… um… What do you mean he’s supposed to be smaller? Of course he’s an adult an- what? No! Are you sure that’s the last thing you remember? …they are scratching on the inside of your brain…? I… what?
…
Err… I mean… I’m… um…
You have to be the worst thief I’ve ever met.

Insert voices in your head…_

>>555578
Well if Shadow is helping him then she somehow survived despite being registered as killed. Up to you if you want to kill her again sortof, try to imprison her despite her shadow abilities so we can keep track, or have mercy and try to get her on our side. It sortof seems like she's... behaving passively. She's damaged?

At any rate, find out how your wallet was retrieved. Shouldn't that have been impossible?

If you can get a private conversation, find out what Shadow is telling this guy. Also, maybe warn him about her.

Mother's wrath impending!
Give him whatever penalty one gets for trying to rob the FREAKING PRINCE!! And book it!

If you have time, interrogate him. Why did he steal your wallet, What is Shadow talking about, how is she still alive, etc.

If you have no time, Lock 'em up, put 'em on suicide watch or whatever and go grab some lunch.

[Message player Grey]: REMOVE THIEF remove thief. You are worst thief. you are the thief idiot you are the thief smell.

He sounds like he has some kind of amnesiac Shadow in him. An old save state, maybe?
Ask him if he is Grey.

Is it possible to lock up someone who apparently has shadow powers like your own?
Also, what weapon did he have on him?

>>555598
I support this.

Eh, let's not give Shadow another chance. Just kill him.

Wait, wait, wait! Hold on a second here. You hearing what this guy is saying under his breath? He called you "little gecko." Only your mom calls you that. And the rest of the exchange points to his player knowing you when you were younger, but its memory was cut off back then. ...Eliraz, I think this is one of Red's pawns.

Somehow Red is back. Except... Why would Red reveal he's still in the game? If everyone believed him dead it's in his interest to keep that belief up. It doesn't make any sense to bring your attention to him like this. Unless... Unless it's not Red.

Eliraz, you know that a player can take direct control of a pawn. You personally experienced it with Grey, and we suspect Blue is doing the same to Eliros. What if Red did the same to Leanah and succeeded, pushing her mind into the depths. After all, we only have the sultan's word she killed Red, or even that Red is dead. This could be Leanah somehow commanding one of Red's pawns to get your attention.

We must interrogate this pawn quickly, before his player has a chance notice and kill him. Order the guards to restrain him, then say you will grant a full pardon if he tells you everything he knows about the master in his mind as fast as he can. Start with his master's name, the last thing his master remembered, and who is scratching the inside of his master's brain.

If this pawn isn't dead by the end of that I'd like to take him somewhere to talk in more detail, but not where anybody else can hear. Is there a hiding spot only you and Grey knew of? One only reachable by "shadow walking?" If so then take him there, but blindfold him first so his player can't see who you are.

We need to speak to a player that was around when Red supposedly died and ask if they got his death message. The only one we could talk to is Pink, so we need to get to Elizah soon and ask that.

Absolutely do not kill any other players unless it's clear peace can't be reached. What we did with grey was desperation. Let's not let that become our normal way of operating.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/07(Tue)06:09 No. 555707 ID: b3ca75
File 138910375982.png - (22.29KB , 900x450 , 33.png )

>Find out how your wallet was retrieved. Shouldn't that have been impossible?
Well yes, for anyone without my… or his powers… but it just happened that I “accidently” left it on his person where the guards would find it… wops~
>What weapon did he have on him?
A fine dagger, made to be used for utility rather than combat.
>Is it possible to lock up someone who apparently has shadow powers like your own?
Like mine… hmmm… I don’t think so… but he doesn’t really seems very adept at using them.
>Mother's wrath impending!
Mother can wait. Being robbed in the middle of the street by this… thing is probably a valid excuse of being late.

>[Message player Grey]: REMOVE THIEF remove thief. You are worst thief. you are the thief idiot you are the thief smell.
[Message from Grey: Who are you? What are you? Why… why do you have my king? My old king?]
>We must interrogate this pawn quickly, order the guards to restrain him and then say you will grant a full pardon if he tells you everything he knows about the master in his mind as fast as he can.
M-my master?
The voices in your head.
The voi- you know about them!?
Tell me everything… NOW!
Err… she came to me just a day ago? Said that she was called grey… or shadow… she rather be called shadow…
Why did you steal my wallet?
…y-you were there? And… you looked rich? It kind of was a spur of the moment thing… err…
How is she still alive?
…Um… she died? She says she can’t have died… she wouldn’t remember if she did… err… she says something is wrong… she isn’t supposed to know that you forget if you die?
What is the last thing she remember before coming to you?
…That you were young… in a dress? Happy? Then… then things came crawling from the darkness, whispering, scratching on the inside of her head…
…what came?
…laughing while the world became one of horrors, pulsating flesh spewing out diseased bile and the rotten carcasses covered in erupting boils… ew… I… I think you made her cry… you jerk.
…
…um… I’ve told you everything so… you gave me your word that I would get a pardon, right? …right?

Insert Diagonaling around at the speed of twisted_

So wait...If his tales are correct, than that means player Grey got Corrupted by something else... Which means the game has changed.

>>555707
Oh my god. This is bad. If there's something that can drive a Player crazy, then this threatens the stability of the entire game. Tell the poor guy that we may be able to help.

Take him to where you first met Rose, or some other location with a reflective floor. Then we can take a look at Shadow to see what's wrong with her.

[Message to Grey: Pull it together. We are like you, and we can help. Probably. Do you have any other pawns?]

Dangit, someone forgot to uncheck the "respawn enemy AI" box when they started this game of Civ. We killed grey, and then she just got to restart with a new king!

>[Message from Grey: Who are you? What are you? Why… why do you have my king? My old king?]
[Message to Grey: ...we're a player like youself. We talk and work with people.

As for your old king, we have him because you came into conflict with us. You tried to kill our king, and were raving like a madman about some plan to possess your king wholey- to kill him and take his body for yourself. We... objected. There was a conflict and you did not survive.

Or so we thought. Honestly, I'm not sure why you're still alive, or have a hole in your memories.

I'm not fully sure what happened to you before, or what your motives were either. But if you're not out to do anything terrible to anyone, we don't have an interest in continuing a feud with you.]

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/07(Tue)12:41 No. 555740 ID: b3ca75
File 138912730195.png - (38.79KB , 900x450 , 34.png )

>Take him to where you first met Rose, or some other location with a reflective floor. Then we can take a look at Shadow to see what's wrong with her.
Hey, where are you- you promised that you would give me a pardon!
I promised to give you one when you’ve told me everything. We need to go somewhere a bit more private for a while. Guard, give a massage to the Sultan that I will be a bit late. I have urgent business to attend to.
Yes, Sire!

>[Message to Grey: Pull it together. We are like you, and we can help. Probably. Do you have any other pawns?]
[…I don’t have enough power… I’ve just started… I’m still weak…]
>As for your old king, we have him because you came into conflict with us.
[We did? I can’t remember… I’m sorry?]
>I'm not fully sure what happened to you before, or what your motives were either. But if you're not out to do anything terrible to anyone, we don't have an interest in continuing a feud with you.
[We simply seek to survive… what else is there to do?]
(…win?)
[How can you win when there is no ending? How many ages has passed since we started? We keep playing without a purpose…]

Um… are you going to keep staring at me or…?
Be quite, I’m talking with your head voice.
…I don’t think this is completely legal pro-
Eliraz, what are you doing? Why aren’t you ready for our grand feast?
M-mother? I… err… I’m a bit busy…
Busy with what? Trying to sneak away with another behind Jericho’s back? Shame on you, gecko!
What!? NO! That’s not… why did you even consider that!?

Insert My beloved mother smother_

>>555740
Grey just looks like a grey clone of the poor sap she's got as a pawn, just like Rose did. Can't see anything interesting about her, but the reflection isn't big enough to see her in her entirety. Are there any full-body mirrors in the palace? I wonder why Grey turned into that big shapeshifting shadow-thing that you killed? Was that the power of the hallucinogens?

Oh, speaking of Rose, where did the princess go? She's with Artemis so she should be safe, but she might be worrying about you if she lost track of you completely.

Explain to your mother that you just found out that when a Player dies they respawn with amnesia, using a new pawn. This guy here is Grey's new pawn. This means Red is still out there somewhere too. Finding Red and bringing him over to our side would be a good idea. The more Players we have on our side, the more likely we can end the game.

...Does your mom always just assume you're trying to be with someone romantically just because you're standing next to them? If so that would explain somewhat why you had some trouble socializing in the past.

But yeah, we found the old voice that was possessing you in someone new and we're trying to piece together how that works.

>what are you doing
Grey found a new player. Although apparently her memory has been knocked back to my childhooh.

>what is there to do and other depressing stuff
Well, really, not having an objective isn't that different from how normal people live their lives. We just try and help who we can, generally make things better.

That sounds like the beginnings of depression, there. Perhaps that's what made you desperate, before? I don't know how long you've lived this life or played this game, but you shouldn't despair or give up hope. There's still life to be had.

[Message player grey: Now, questions for you, and keep your pawns' situation in mind when you answer; What do you know about key stones? Words of power? Other players? The Napoleonic wars? Resources? You say 'ages', do you mean technology levels or time?]

Tell her that Grey, your head voice, is back, which points to Red being back which points to a whole other mess of crap we have to sort through. You may have to explain all this again when you're at the feast, but whatever.

Unless you have any further business with worst thief, tell him to get the hell out of dodge before you change your mind, and if you EVER see his face again he'll wish he jumped off the world wall.

Geez, that the hell is with your mom? Has she always been like this? Well, I say it's time to lay down the law. Call her out on jumping to conclusions. You're not some fickle child; You're an adult, so you'd appreciate a little trust on her part that you'll stay with Jericho.

That said, point down at Grey Shadow's reflection in the water and say that this was what you were dealing with. Grey's back, yet doesn't remember all the time she was a massive controlling psycho-bitch to you. Then lay out what happened, starting with him taking your wallet, and what you and us have learned.

Now would be the time to ask Leanah how she managed to defeat and kill Red, and if Red always behaved the same or if his behavior suddenly changed. If his behavior changed, ask when, then compare that to when Grey last remembered you. If the times are near I suspect something came from the shadows and corrupted Red and Grey.

Speaking of Pink: Where's Elizah? We ought to talk to her and Pink about this. Get her up to speed on this and check what game announcements Pink can remember from back then.

[Message to Grey: We wish to get to the bottom of what happened to you. Ally with us and we will protect you and your king.] Get the thief's name and stash him someplace in the palace under watch but not guard. He can stay in Ilbir's servant's chamber, since it's empty.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/07(Tue)14:24 No. 555759 ID: b3ca75
File 138913346797.png - (38.90KB , 900x450 , 35.png )

>Grey just looks like a grey clone of the poor sap she's got as a pawn, just like Rose did.
Actually… it looks more like a lizard clad in gray clothes…
>Geez, that the hell is with your mom? Has she always been like this? Well, I say it's time to lay down the law. Call her out on jumping to conclusions. You're not some fickle child; You're an adult, so you'd appreciate a little trust on her part that you'll stay with Jericho.
-and I can make decisions myself and accept the consequences they bring! I am not-
While I am a bit proud that you’ve grown a bit of a backbone, Eliraz, you’ve yet mastered the art of detecting sarcasm. I was just teasing you, no need to declare war over a bit of humor.
Oh… right… sorry for… um… jumping to conclusions… I guess…

>Point down at Grey Shadow's reflection in the water and say that this was what you were dealing with.
…water? Or do you mean reflections?
…you can’t see it? Hmm...
>Grey's back, yet doesn't remember all the time she was a massive controlling psycho-bitch to you. Then lay out what happened, starting with him taking your wallet, and what you and us have learned.
...so they come back… interesting… hmm… that would… maybe… Red is still here and… Eliros… hmm…
>Now would be the time to ask Leanah how she managed to defeat and kill Red, and if Red always behaved the same or if his behavior suddenly changed.
It’s hard to describe but… it was a battle of minds, so to speak. He tried to consume my mind and I… well… I crushed him… but he was able to wound me rather severely.
…that’s why you died, wasn’t it? It wasn’t complications from laying us… was it?
…indeed. That’s how I died.
>Where's Elizah?
She is entertaining the guest and introducing Jericho to them and vice versa.

>[Message player grey: What do you know about key stones? Words of power? Other players? The Napoleonic wars? Resources? You say 'ages', do you mean technology levels or time?]
[New event: Collect 8 keys and a lesser rune to gain access to a great rune. / You are the only other player I know of. /…what is Napoleonic? Is it a kind of cheese?/ …and resources? What do you mean? Pawns? Gold? /…ages means time… doesn’t it?]
>That sounds like the beginnings of depression, there. Perhaps that's what made you desperate, before? I don't know how long you've lived this life or played this game, but you shouldn't despair or give up hope. There's still life to be had.
[I will lose again… won’t I? I’m weak… everyone else is strong… I’ve already lost…]
>We wish to get to the bottom of what happened to you. Ally with us and we will protect you and your king.
[Why? Why would I trust you? You already admitted killing me before… and you stole my old king. You are a lot stronger than me… how can I trust that you’ll simply take my king again when he’s grown strong and fat with power like your king and queen? Please stop playing games with me and end it already… maybe I’ll get a better start next time? This thief was worthless anyway… maybe I should try another build? Hmm...]

Insert We need a cute puppy and/or kitty! Stat!_

>>555759
Another reflection behind Grey! BLUE! Get out of there, Grey! Eliros, that guard is one of Blue's pawns! Probably.

Also, our mysterious benefactor is in the tree above you, Eliros.

damn this place is getting crowded fast.

Anyways, shadow, We killed you last time because you freaking attacked us... for no reason really, we just showed up and you just started hating us more and more until you finally just attacked us. Also you said it yourself, we've all been at this for what, ages. How many times have we simply died and started over without realizing that we died, how long have we played this pointless game? All I'm saying at least agree to a cease fire with us and maybe if we can work together we can finally end this game. Also if we do that, got any suggestions for the next one?

>how can I trust you?
You're right. You have no way to know if we're being honest. There's only one way to be certain: give us a chance. See if we live up to our words.

We're not interested in stealing pawns or kings. We only interfered with you before because you chose to try and harm people we cared about.

[Message to Grey: Guard is Blue pawn! Blue aura flare! Dodge and run!]
Eliraz, Alert! Assassination attempt! Guard's reflection flared blue aura; Probable Blue sacrificial pawn for magic strike. Eyes in tree canopy adjacent to you; Likely invisible assassin. Grab the sultan and use everything you got to get out of here or into hard cover!

>Collect 8 keys and a lesser rune to gain access to a great rune.
Dammit, Blue/Eliros is farther along then I thought. He already has the lesser rune from the Marches and at least two key stones, but not yet eight since his men struck Ilbir's dig looking for one. He's likely moving on this city to make a push in to reach the great rune vault once he has everything ready. We have to confirm the vault's location so we can defend it and secure our key stones in Jericho ASAP.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/08(Wed)07:23 No. 555842 ID: b3ca75
File 138919463807.png - (41.49KB , 900x450 , 36.png )

>You're right. You have no way to know if we're being honest. There's only one way to be certain: give us a chance. See if we live up to our words.
[…just end it already…]
>if we can work together we can finally end this game.
[Why? Do you not like the friends you’ve made here?]
ElirazRUST: (Err… question: what happen to us if we “win”?)
[The board is wiped clean for a new game…]

>Eliraz, Alert! Assassination attempt!
Assassins! Take cover!
WHAT!? Praetorians, to me! Where, Eliraz, where!?
The guard in front of us is a pawn of blue! And the in the tree! I saw something there too!
*Twitter*
…like a bird? And you saw a blue reflation in the water?
Err… alright, the bird was a mistake but trust me! I saw him being controlled by blue!
…ma’am?
…*sigh* Guards, arrest him… I hope you’re right, little gecko.
What? You can’t ju-
You heard the lady, now move it!
…what are we even supposed to do with him? It isn’t his fault someone else can see through his eyes… and we really need to get back to the feast, the guests are probably getting impatience by now.

Insert Bird is the word_

>.<
Better safe then sorry? This is kinda really embarrassing...But yeah, we're kind of paranoid. Sort of thing that happens after INFINITE ILLUSION LOOP OF DOOM!

So rather then winning..We need to find a way to make an eternal stalemate?

We don't want people to be wiped away. We don't even like calling our friends pawns and knights because that devalues them.

>>555842
Er, what is that flaming thing right there? That looks like what was in the tree, not the bird.

>But yeah, we're kind of paranoid.
...it's a drawback of our perspective. Oftentimes we only have a moment to react when something is wrong, which means we've grown used to reacting fast to anything odd. Which can sometimes mean embarrassingly jumping at nothing.

>winning wipes the board clean
Maybe winning isn't all it's cracked up to be, then. We've no interest in seeing a world die. We'd be much happier to see things made happier and stable. Make up our own win condition.

>just kill me already
No. We have no reason to want you dead, and would prefer to help you find a reason to live. The only reason we will raise our hands against you again is if you force us to- trying to harm or destroy those in our care, or violently betraying your responsibilities to those who should be in your own.

...you are free to make your own decisions now. Your king has been arrested for petty theft, but there's any number of ways he can work out some kind of bargain for release, or that you can help him bypass mundane security and escape. The choice is yours, and even if you find yourself on the wrong end of this kingdom's laws, we will still not be your enemy unless you chose it.

I know I saw a pair of eyes in that tree, and they definitely were not bird eyes. Probably the Masked Man screwing with us again.

What the heck is that flaming floating creature next to Esiros' statue? Fire elemental or something? I hope that's one of your units.

[Message to Grey: I thought you said there were no win conditions anymore? Well, whatever it is, we're making it our personal win condition to make sure nobody can win. An eternal stalemate. And we won't end you; You've done no harm to us. Keep it that way and you'll be fine. You're free to leave. There's big trouble coming, so I suggest running far away from this desert, perhaps across the sea.]
Eliraz, stay true to your word and pardon this thief. Have him taken to the city gates and stuck on the next caravan to a port city.

As for the guard, he hasn't done anything wrong but we can't have a Blue pawn in the palace, or even anywhere of import to us. Best I can think of is to reassign him to some backwater far from here and anything possibly important to us or Blue until Blue is dealt with.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/08(Wed)11:38 No. 555875 ID: b3ca75
File 138920988613.png - (14.75KB , 900x450 , 37.png )

>What is that flaming thing right there?
Its mother’s flame elemental. She is a powerful mage, after all.
>I thought you said there were no win conditions anymore?
[Nobody has to win to end the game… No one can win but everyone can lose…]
>You're free to leave. There's big trouble coming, so I suggest running far away from this desert, perhaps across the sea.
[…you’re letting us go? Why? We don’t understand?]
>Eliraz, stay true to your word and pardon this thief. Have him taken to the city gates and stuck on the next caravan to a port city.
…I gave you my word. You’re free to go. I will have you escorted to a caravan going to a port city for you to leave this nation.
W-what? But… I don’t want to leave! What about my home? My friends?
If your smell is anything to go by I’m going to guess you sleep behind a trash heap.
…it’s more of an pile but-
If I give you 1000 crows will you go away?
Across the sea you say? …you know… I’ve always wanted to see snow ever since I was small… consider me gone, then! Tally ho!

>As for the guard, he hasn't done anything wrong but we can't have a Blue pawn in the palace, or even anywhere of import to us. Best I can think of is to reassign him to some backwater far from here and anything possibly important to us or Blue until Blue is dealt with.
B-but… what about my family? I have a wife and kids!
Then consider yourself promoted, corporal, and transferred to the main city district. Just keep yourself away from the higher city and the palace for now on.
Thank you, my liege! Oh, I’ll finally afford that toy guard set with wooden raptors my son always wanted…

…

I don’t know… I feel a bit… posh?
It’s called being clean, your excellency. Now… what do you think about the colors? I say that you look just dashing in purple, don’t you think? Hmm… and headwear? Do you rather have a turban or a golden headband? Turbans are all the range this season but maybe you rather go against the crowd? And we can’t forget the jewelry! Tail rings is a must! Hmm opals or rubies? …maybe emeralds?
Err…
Yes, exalted one?

Insert Let’s play dress up!_

Looking good I think!
But what do YOU think? It seems to me, at least, that you aren't all that comfortable in those clothes. Why is that?

Jeez, your wrappings were dirty this whole time? I thought they were supposed to be that color.

Ask for something with less gold. Right now you've got more bling than the sultan. I liked the old outfit better honestly, but I could see why they wouldn't want you walking around in a servant's robe. Oh, that robe would look good without the giant amulet, I guess. Also I don't like the golden horns, but it seems that the other members of the royal family all have them...

Also it would be nice to have something you can put armor over. Gotta protect your core.

Aww, I liked the grey linens. Matched your personality.

The gold/brass bits look uncomfortably like manacles, and you need new shoes. Oh, and our player color is teal, if you wanna give that a shot.

>>555882

Teal it is! Sure it's pretty showy but it's not like everyone doesn't just find us anyways.

Teal coloring with teal jewels

Personally I don't think we should be flashing our player colors everywhere... although it occurs to me that Red and Blue seem to be doing that.

Besides, purple has been our thematic color so far, why change that?

Hey guys, remember way back?

>…I’d always wanted to wear pink…

I think we know what has to be done for Jericho.

look if we're picking an outfit that we're going to have to wear day after day I rather not have it have so many pieces that even with a full army of tailors at our command would take over an hour to get everything on. Just say you're good as you are and if he tries to push you into wearing more crap just say you'd like to earn them through work and not blood or something like that. Just try to play it humble.

Wow! This is what you look like when clean? Your wrappings weren't anywhere near this white after your previous baths. What'd they do, soak you in bleach this time?

Oh, hey, that's us in the mirror. [Perch on Jericho's nose] Okay, I think we've done the time warp again, so I can say for sure Eliraz is going to be late. Just listen for a commotion in the courtyard and you'll know he's soon to arrive. He'll fill you in on what happened then.

Now, I'd say that outfit's a pretty good start. Gold and purple are a nice color pairing; Very regal. Just needs a bit of tweaking.

First, swap that tight belt for one that curves down. The curve will complement the collar better and get rid of that distracting horizontal line from cuff to cuff. Next, narrow and shrink the gold area behind the belt to a vertical line; It's too attention grabbing right now. Stop it before it reaches the belt.

It'd be a shame to cover your gold horn caps with a turban, so go with the headband; A gold one inset with an amethyst to continue the purple motif.

Drop the tail rings. Instead go with a line of gold pins attached to your wraps down the ridge of your tail. Intersperse the line with a few amethyst pins.

Raise the hemline of the robes so you could run without risk of catching your feet. Then don a pair of pointy-toe shoes that's a darker shade of purple than the robes.

And just for giggles see what you'd look like wearing a fez. A purple one with a gold tassel.

I'm guessing you're feeling uncomfortably posh right about now. Don't worry, you only have to wear this getup for formal occasions. The rest of the time you can wear something simpler in a similar style.

That outfit looks a little too fancy. I know he's technically royalty now, but we could cut down on the guilt a bit.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/09(Thu)07:21 No. 556125 ID: b3ca75
File 138928089770.png - (7.36KB , 900x450 , 38.png )

>It seems to me, at least, that you aren't all that comfortable in those clothes. Why is that?
Well… I’m used to be dressed in a piece of cloth that I picked up from a corpse that was my general size. This this is a bit… tight compared to that…
>Jeez, your wrappings were dirty this whole time? I thought they were supposed to be that color.
Of course not. The necromancers replaced the lines with fine white silk while they was tinkering with my runes and installed that secret compartment in my chest. They told me I should choose any color I wanted to but… yeah, white fits the best, don’t you think?
>Right now you've got more bling than the sultan.
It’s yellow fabric, not gold. I don’t really have any bling on me at all right now… except the horns…

>But what do YOU think?
Hmm… I don’t really know about this stuff… but… what do you think Eliraz would like to see me in?
I’m sure his supremacy would find you beautiful in any clothes… or without them. But… I do know for a fact that he’s very fond of silk, so your new wrappings will be quite the success, I believe.
>Hey guys, remember way back? “I’d always wanted to wear pink”? I think we know what has to be done for Jericho.
Pink? Hmm… If I was you I would save that for the bedroom. The prince does like both fine wine and rough whisky, so to speak… I’m sure he would be quite pleased to find out that you can combine both. In fact, if you look me up later today I can help you finding some clothes and the like that would really rise the prince’s spirit… and other things…
I… I… err… I’ll keep that in mind…
I’m here to serve, master.

>Now, I'd say that outfit's a pretty good start. Gold and purple are a nice color pairing; Very regal. Just needs a bit of tweaking.
Presenting… Costume Nr. 1!
Ah, just beautiful! Excellent!
Hmm… those tail pins doesn’t really fit if you ask me.
Elizah!? Where did you-
Mother asked me to check why you’re taking so long. But hush, I’m trying to enjoy the show~
>And more tweaking…
Presenting… Costume Nr. 2!
Hmm… the turban kind of disappears in all the white… maybe we should have used a different color?
The tail rings are good, tough, really brings out your sweet bu- I mean tail.
>I don't like the golden horns and you need new shoes.
Presenting… Costume Nr. 3!
Simple… but effective.
Did you really need to wear your old leather boots?
>Teal coloring with teal jewels. And just for giggles see what you'd look like wearing a fez.
Presenting… Costume Nr. 4!
Hmm… I have to say, purple is more of your color. And the fez is clearly a crime against fashion! Burn it!
What the bug said. BURN THE FEZ!!
>Also it would be nice to have something you can put armor over. Gotta protect your core.
Presenting… Costume Nr. 5!
I’m sure master Eliraz would appreciate this. He’s always been dreaming of a knight that would come and sweep him of his feet. But… it’s a bit boring, don’t you think?
Um… I got Eliraz old breastplate if you want something a bit more… fancy?
You do? Perfect!
>Eliraz breast plate.
Presenting… Costume Nr. 6!
Now there’s a real knight.
A strong knight in a nice suit of armor? What’s there not to like?
Do I really need to wear the helmet all the time?
Of course not, but… as you can’t really get tired, need to eat or… uneat, so to speak, a suit of armor wouldn’t be a real hassle for your to wear. Besides, it’s designed to be easy to take off and on. So… what do you think? What do you want to wear?
…um…

[All costumes can be combined as you please, example by putting the tail rings from costume 2 to costume 1.]

Insert Welcome back to the white void of doom… we’ve missed you_

Tailrings of 2, gem color of 1, and the rest of 3 look really good.

>>556126
Sounds good.

>>556125
I like the last outfit for armor. Of course, no need to wear it all the time. Just when you're out on a mission. Or you could just wear the breastplate, really.

Try wearing the breastplate over one of the outfits, with the rest of the suit of armour under the outfit. Same protection, the breastplate looks suitably knightly, and the rest of the outfit makes it fine enough for formal everyday wear.

split between 3 and 6 for me. Would go 6 but always where armor sounds like a pain even if you don't really need to take it off, plus it would probably make it kinda a bitch to get towards your storage compartment with all that on. On the plus side it looks cool and it would make it very hard for someone to get a lucky shot on you.

And 3 because it's simple sweet and to the point

The second one looks like a good start, but throw out the turban, add the headband from the first one and the high collar trim from the third.

Lose the gold horn caps. With all the white silk on your head there's already enough light color there. Then the headband will stand out better and your dark horns will make a nice contrast.

The last suit of armor looks good to keep around for when you're outside the palace and it's not for a royal function. Have the shoulders colored purple and get an armor stand for it. Also have the helmet view port enlarged, since you are a mage and having clear vision for targeting is important. Perhaps there's enchanted glass or something similar that's tough enough to put in so it'd still protect your eyes.

Oh, and before leaving ask Reizn if he has identified the magic core in your locket yet so you can get it back. Then perhaps you could get the pictures reproduced in a locket more befitting nobility and keep the original someplace safe.

And now that I can see it on you, I wholeheartedly agree with Reizn and Elizah about the fez. Only keep it as a target to toss around during your mage training.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/09(Thu)15:26 No. 556218 ID: b3ca75
File 138930998855.png - (27.01KB , 900x450 , 39.png )

>3 and 6…
Simply magnificent, if I had to say so myself, your excellency. Of course, if you ever feel uncomfortable in your breast plate, feel free to take it off.
You look like a magic knight. Both wielding the sword as well as magic… quite fitting.
I liked the last suit the best. You looked like a cool iron golem… all whack whack bzzz whack blammo whack!
And that’s why I asked you to stay quiet, sweetie.
[You gained “Royal clothes!” and “Royal armor!”]

>Ask Reizn if he has identified the magic core in your locket yet so you can get it back.
Ah, yes, I’ve… well, I’ve yet figure out what it does exactly, but I do know it’s an old artifact from the ancient era. I’ll share my findings with Ilbir as soon as I can, my lord, and see what he says. Meanwhile, can I suggest you put it somewhere safe? Ancient artifacts like this tend to be… volatile, oh great one.
>Then perhaps you could get the pictures reproduced in a locket more befitting nobility and keep the original someplace safe.
If you wish, I’ll put these beautiful picture somewhere a bit more… fitting. Just let me keep the locket for a while longer and I’ll have it fixed in no time, exalted one.
>Now that I can see it on you, I wholeheartedly agree with Reizn and Elizah about the fez. Only keep it as a target to toss around during your mage training.
[You gained “Crime against fashion!”]

Well then, my lord, if it wasn’t anything else… let’s go meet the guests for this meal, shall we?
G-guests!? You guys didn’t say anything about any guests!?
Do not fret, my lord, it’s only the commander of the guard, Temrock, the captain of the palace guards, Xaldin, and the vizier, which is to say me, are attending… and their families. So we’ll only be 21 people. Nothing to worry about.
Still… t-that’s a lot of people…
Oh, and of course you’re expected to hold a speech… you are going to be the center of attention after all… mostly because only the royal family and I know of your… status change. This meal is to your honor, master.
S-Speech? But I-
Oh, and the Sultan expects you to be on your best behavior! She won’t be happy if you embarrass yourself today.
Gah...
Don’t worry, Jericho, I’m sure it will be fine.
Oh, this is going to be fun! Preparing to laugh at Jericho!
…Artemis, that’s not very nice…
But everyone else will laugh? Laugher is good, correct? Laugh at Jericho when he does wrong to make it better, correct?
That’s… uh… not…

Insert Oh gods! They are multiplying! Kill them with fire!_

when do we have to give the speech? Also do we have to talk to anyone?

Aw nuts I didn't realize the breastplate was white, it blends in with your new bandages. Take it off for now, and use the other breastplate later.

Heh, that mantis in purple looks almost exactly like a kid version of Claire, aka your mantis god. Her antenna bangle is on the other side, that's the only difference. Probably an easter egg programmed into the game.

Hmm, your speech. I suspect we should write you one. It'll be a little bit before I have one prepared, I assume you won't have to deliver it immediately.

>>556225
it's fine, we're done with the clothes for now. Besides we can always use that as an excess for get the hell out of here if we want to ditch later.

Don't worry! speaking is what we do best!
...
Okay, it's all we can do, but we'll still help.

You might want to find someone like Elizah or Eliraz who can explain what fork to use and any ceremonious bits you haven't picked up on.

>Laugher is good, correct?
Uh, some laughter. Laughing with someone is nice. Laughing at them is mean.

Kaktus and Byarla 2014/01/10(Fri)05:30 No. 556369 ID: b3ca75
File 138936063501.png - (31.69KB , 900x450 , 40.png )

>Aw nuts I didn't realize the breastplate was white, it blends in with your new bandages.
Reizn s-said he should be able t-to change the color on it if I-I wanted to…
>Uh, some laughter. Laughing with someone is nice. Laughing at them is mean.
...This social thing is hard…
>When do we have to give the speech?
The sultan is probably going to introduce you to everyone right before we eat. It’s expected to say a few words then.
W-wait… she’s going to introduce me to e-everyone at once!?
>Do we have to talk to anyone?
Of course! You’re going to be the man of the hour after all… the center of attention… I’m sure everyone here will be interested to hear about the new royal cousin.
gnt…

>You might want to find someone like Elizah or Eliraz who can explain what fork to use and any ceremonious bits you haven't picked up on.
Y-yes, I need… where’s Eliraz!? I n-need Eliraz!
Um… where’s E-Eliraz? The p-prince?
His a bit busy, but I’m sure he’ll be here an-
My apologies for being late, ladies and gentlemen, but I had urgent business to attend to… wait, Jericho?
If you’ll excuse me, I need to talk to the Sultan.
Jericho… you look… gorgeous! A-and is that silk!? I… I don’t know how to- wait… are you shaking? Are you alright Jericho?
Y-yes… it’s nothing…
Are you sure? We don’t want to have a you shaking all over the place when you’re supposed to entertain the guest.
I… I… I think I’m going to faint…
…you’re and undead. You can’t faint…

Insert To many sprites…_

Damn, if Eliraz still owned you he could've ordered you to calm down and bam, problem solved; now you're subject to your own Insecurities and only we can help ya there.
Just link your arm with him or something, physical contact might help calm you.
Wait! I see Terra over there, can she do any necromancy crap to chill you out?

>>556369
Eliraz, Jericho has stage fright. Anything you can do to help?