Nobody 2014/01/01(Wed)14:50 No. 554626 ID: 431163
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...
...
... "Uhm. Hello? Is anybody... there?"

Hey there kiddo. What's your name?

Sup. We're here.

Whether there is someone 'there' depends on what you mean by there. Please supply additional information or make a different query.

Vicki 2014/01/01(Wed)15:23 No. 554636 ID: 431163
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>>554627
>>554629
"Oh thank god. I mean, if THIS didn't work... jesus. I'd be screwed. Like, really screwed. I wasn't really planning on this fucking...

Okay, whatever. I'm getting a tiny bit ahead of myself. I'm just a little nervous, I guess? This is kind of a big deal and all. Uhm... okay, names. I'm Victoria. Everybody just calls me Vicki though. So... I'm sort of new to this. Should I just tell you guys the deal, or is there like some sort of polite thing to do before doing business, or what? I can't really make you guys tea or anything. I mean, especially NOW."

Nice to meet ya, Vicki. We're... well, you know what we are.

Presumably.

Anyway, sure, let's start with whatever's got you freaking out. We can do our usual orientation session later.

Lay it down for us Vicki. What's goin' on?

Vicki 2014/01/01(Wed)15:57 No. 554642 ID: 431163
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>>554638
"I, well, /kinda/. I know you're, like.... okay, let me just start from the beginning."

>>554640
"So, basically.. okay, so, I've had this idea, right? I've been thinking about it and thinking and thinking and I've kept it for, what, like... five, six months now. Which is a really long time for me. I don't really have anything to do with my life. I just... I worked as a cashier for awhile, then I went back to school and dropped out again, and then I kinda just let Victor take care of all of that and I just lazed around a bit. But lately, I've been thinking. I've got Victor here with me, right? I was always pretty shitty at magic in high school, but maybe I've soaked up a bit more? So I thought, maybe I should be a wizard. And then I thought, well, maybe I should be the BEST wizard. If I'm gonna shoot for anything I should shoot for the top, right? Why can't I be one of the gods? I've got something they'd KILL to have, NOBODY else has a Victor! At least, I don't think they do. So I've just been thinking and thinking about that, and this morning I went out and I just did something about it. Took the first step, I guess.

I've been searching around, looked on the deep web a bit, and found this auction. It's not really a super... "over the table" auction, I guess? But they had an actual tome of Magicka. One of the originals! I don't know what your magic books are like, but over here, these things are pretty much impossible to forge, so I knew it was genuine. So I bid on it and I got it!... Except I had to sell everything in exchange for it. Like, everything. I sold my VG3, I sold my big-ass HDTV, I sold every bit of furniture I have, which is why this place is kinda barren right now. I even sold my clothes, except what I have on. Then I guess I kinda sold everything Victor owns, too. Then I sold the deed to this place. So I got the book! But I kinda don't have anything else. And there's no refunds. And then, and this is the really shitty part, I get home, and I can't fucking understand any of it! Not one spell! Except this bit at the very, very very end. I got the gist of it, something about summoning guides from other worlds? So that's what you guys are. I have no idea if you're like, five legged tentacle beasts straight out of Lord Baron's filthiest wet dreams, but I am kinda depending on you guys right now. I have no idea what to do, I'm gonna get kicked out of this place soon, and all I have is this book that I can't even understand yet. Oh, and Victor, who should be coming home soonish? I think. I kinda sold the clock too."

I am looking around and I do not see any of the usual sacrifices.

You do know what sort of horrible things we do to people who summon us without the proper sacrifices right?

Unless you have a pile of burnt offerings and some dancing bears and virgins in the next room. Then we are good.

...Huuunh.
Ok, soo maybe we can help you out here. But ah...
Anything you can do with magic as is, besides that spell in the book.

>>554642
Show us the book. We can probably translate it for you. What's special about Victor? Is he just your good friend or does he have powers of his own?

>>554643
please be aware that some of us in here are kind of jerks. most want to help, but be wary of bad advice getting mixed in.

>>554643
We have a weird sense of humor. Don't worry, I think you're clear. Don't worry about not knowing what we are, either. We don't even know most of the time. Don't think about that one too much.

Anyway. So you want to be the best, like no one ever was? We can do that. Usually. And hey, yeah, maybe if the book summoned us, it's something we can understand.

Though, uh. Does your culture have any kind of saying about putting all of one's eggs in one basket?

Vicki 2014/01/01(Wed)16:29 No. 554654 ID: 431163
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>>554651
>>554649
"Hey, I get it. I mean, from what I got, this isn't like, your job or anything? I'm just kinda grabbing a bunch of totally random people from whatever dimension you guys come from, so whatever. It's cool."

>>554648
"Uhm, sure. Knock yourself out! Here, uhm... I think this is about where your voices are coming from. Can you see it?.. Okay. I /think/ the left one is something to do with invisibility, but it isn't quite right. Like, it's something LIKE invisibility, except not. The one on the right is definitely about luck. I've got no idea whether it gives me more or takes it away from someone else?

And, uhm, Victor? He's not... it's not that he has special powers, I guess, it's just he IS special. There's a bunch like him, I guess, but most of them spend all their time six thousand feet buried in the ground, even deeper then the dwarves. Basically, he IS-"

[[Hey, Victoria..? Why is room empty? And the living room, and the kitchen?]]

You had better explain things to your roommate and introduce us before we get started on teaching you magic.

Before you respond how about you tell us if Victor's got any prejudices against otherworldly voices summoned from who knows where.

left is probably... intangibility.

Wow, you really aren't good at realistic goal-setting, are you? Even if this works without additional upkeep costs or a larger price to pay for our help (this part changes from case to case so dramatically we can't even be bothered to care anymore) we don't necessarily have any knowledge specific to your plane at all. That could be a problem.
We are pretty good with chemistry, math, physics, and varyingly competent with a wide range of other subjects once we do have enough knowledge of your local plane to apply what we know. Not sure if we can help you with anything that would keep Victor from grabbing you by the neck and squeezing you until death though, or that we should even if we could: You stole pretty much everything he owned you ditz.

>I mean, from what I got, this isn't like, your job or anything? I'm just kinda grabbing a bunch of totally random people from whatever dimension you guys come from, so whatever. It's cool.
It's not our job, but it's not a random sampling, either. You got people who are interested.

>book
Uh. Yeah, I'm afraid that's all greek to me. The only bits that even look like a language are at the very top and bottom of the page (some kind of headers, labels, titles?). Everything else is just squiggles!

>Victor
...I think you're going to have to be contrite, and honest here. That you did something foolish and desperate in an attempt to make something of yourself, and you may have betrayed his trust in the process. Trying to lie about things won't make this go any better.

Vicki 2014/01/01(Wed)16:44 No. 554662 ID: 431163
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>>554654
[[Victoria. Why is my condo empty? What did you do? And who are these voices in your head?]]

"Well, Victor, I... ha... uhm, you can hear them too? I didn't... I didn't expect you to be like.."

[[Victoria. I put up with many, many things. I try to be relaxed. Cool. Calm about... well, everything. I really do. But I was not expecting to come home today and find my half-a-million dollar condo utterly ransacked. Nor was I expecting to find the landlord yelling at me to leave the home that is no longer my home.]]

>>554657
"I don't.."

[[I don't have any prejudices against offbeat creations. I really don't. It would be rather hypocritical of me. Please, excuse this bit of temper. I am normally very pleasant.]]

>>554660
[[What is this man talking about, Victoria? What have you done?]]

"I... okay, hold up a second, everybody!"

>>554661
[{Foolish? Let's not understate ourselves here. Whatever she did-]]

"PLEASE! SHUT UP EVERYBODY!"

Well the good news is, we can confirm that this book has at least one working spell, since you're talking to us. Can't make heads or tails of the rest of it, though.

Bad news is, this is not going to be easy to explain to Victor, even if we can help. Can we? We're not usually audible to people outside of whoever summoned us.

>>554662
Oh, sorry.

You two seem like you have some things you need to work out. We'll just be, uh.. over here.

Victor 2014/01/01(Wed)16:59 No. 554668 ID: 431163
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[[I think it would be better, Victoria, if we discussed this in private.]]

"I don't really know how to-"

[[I'll cut it off, then. Now, please explai-]]

...

Victor 2014/01/01(Wed)17:11 No. 554669 ID: 431163
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"...Are they back?"

[[Yes.]]

"Oh. I'm... okay. I'm sorry, everybody-"

[[Victoria? I am attempting to cross my arms in frustration at you.]]

"Oh.."

[[I do not believe I did it correctly, but I felt you should know anyway.]]

"Oh..."

[[Please continue.]]

"..Okay, guys. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you guys into it, and I am more sorry about selling off everything Victor owns and has ever owned. Uhm.."

[[We discussed what she has done. Her ambitions for godhood. This is.. rather lofty, but entirely possible, albeit extremely difficult. I really wish she had come to me first, and we may have set along that path properly. But as it stands, well. To use a human phrase, we're pretty much right fucked now, aren't we?... But I feel, as she does, that you are more or less the only real hope we have of not spending the rest of our lives in a cold, damp ditch. Well, the rest of her life. I'm immortal, but I'd rather not spend my sentient years giving tailjobs for nickles to orcs on the street.]]

"Okay, so... uhm, yeah. We're pretty much in agreement that you guys are the only real hope we've got, so, I thought-"

[[No. I thought.]]

"Yes, VICTOR thought we should slow it down a bit and just sort of get to know you a bit? Answer some questions before we have to leave-"

[[That is, get forcibly dragged out of.]]

"Yeah, before we get dragged out of this place."

Ok lets start with both your back stories and how you met. Also am not sure what sort of relationship you two are in but that would be nice to know.

Then we need to know what sort of resources you have left. Do you have any material possessions left?

After that what sort of skills do you possess? Strengths and weaknesses and that sort of thing.

Once we know that sort of stuff the first order of business is to get you food shelter and such. Need a new base of operations so you don't starve in a ally somewhere.

... Huh, Well truth be told I'm kinda surprised by the lack of blood on the walls and a corpse in the corner because as far as fuck ups go, while this isn't the worst I've seen it's still up there.

Anyways questions... uhhhhh
1) what is victor?
2) this seems to be a realm of more then one race, how many are out there and are there any we should keep an eye out for?
3) how common is magic and how advanced is your technology?
4) What are you're guy's skills?
5) do any of you have a backup account or something to at least let you spend some time at a cheap motel? I mean I find it hard to believe that Victor here would trust you with his bank account.
6) got any family or friends you could mooch off for a few days if worst comes to worst?
7) what does Victor do for a living?
8) is there anyone you guys know of that could help us translate the book to something besides an ADHD child's scribbles?

uh, that's all I got for now, if you guys have any questions about us just ask.

our skills are mass parallel decision making. problem is we know almost nothing about how things work around here. do not worry, this is common. we will ask about anything that is not common to both our worlds.

let's stat with what you are.

Why did you, Victor, let Vicki stay with you? If worst comes to worst would it not be her giving handjobs for change on the street or something?

What's your moral flexibility like and the local socioeconomics? The fast ways to make money I know of are all risky: Smuggling, large-scale theft, confidence-artistry against the truly rich and/or powerful, small-scale conquest, kidnapping, slavery and slave-trading, and so forth. Knowing whether the local economics are at the agrarian level, or significantly above it, helps us figure out a worthwhile plan.

>our skills are mass parallel decision making
Along with deductive skills, time compression relative to you, and sometimes, exterior sources of knowledge.

>ideas for survival
...I don't suppose you could open a mortgage with the extremely valuable book as collateral? I mean, that would give you debters and a deadline to deal with, but it would give you some financial flexibility in the here and now.

Victor, not to be rude or anything, but what do you see in Vicki? I mean, it's not every immortal being that would decide to spend their time with a human, much less tolerate one who sold all their stuff. What's your relationship, anyways? Are the two of you... romantically involved?

...speaking of immoratlity, what kind of immortality? Elf-like you live until you're killed? Actually unkillable? Uninjurable? Do you need to eat or breathe or...?

Vicki + Victor + Nobody 2014/01/01(Wed)17:59 No. 554681 ID: 431163
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[[Here. Victoria, take a seat.]]

"I'm not really very super tired.."

[[It is polite to sit down with company. I would as well, if I had a backside to sit down on.]]

"Okay.."

[[Now then.]]

>>554674
>>554675

[[What do we have left?.. I have my arms and my mask. Victoria has her book and her clothing. That is about it. I do not make a great deal of money- I am mostly supported by aid from my creators. I take a small part-time job, as a seller of magic, almost entirely to pass the time. I spend what little earnings I made almost immediately on frivolous toys and entertainment, as my food and accommodation and bills are, or were, all paid for me. And no, my creators will not be excited to sort through the mountains of paperwork and bureaucracy to find me another place to live because I, or rather my roommate, went and sold this one. Would you like to tackle one, Vicki?]]

"Oh! Uhm... sure. Uhm, well... Victor here, he's an Anelyd. They're one of the handful of sources of magic in the world. Most of them can't like, walk or talk, but he's gotten... experimented on or something?"

[[I cannot say I remember what happened to me, exactly. My life before my sentience is a blur, to put it mildly.]]

"Okay, well. He's basically one of a kind, he's like a walking, talking well of magic. Which is why I kinda thought that this might work, or something? Because I'm surrounded by it and all."

[[But evidently, that is not how it works. I do not understand it myself, the ways humans use our magic is a mystery to me.]]

"Okay, so... uhm, what else? You asked me about our skills? Okay, so basically, I can breathe on stuff and it'll freeze solid. Plus I can start fires by thinking about it, as long as I have kindling and stuff. Uhm... that's it, really. Victor here can, like... well, why don't you say?"

[[I am not well trained. Our version of magic is quite different, and there is are none others of my species who could possibly show me how to utilize it. I can feel and manipulate magic that is happening around me, and often I can... how to put this? I can 'point' my magic, as you might point a firehose at someone. I do not know what will happen, and I loathe to do it, as there tend to be consequences.]]

"Uhm, what else, what else?... Okay, technology? We're pretty far along, I guess. Humans, I mean. We never got the jetpacks and hovercars they used to talk about, but we have the internet and stuff. Goblins are like, way, waaaay ahead of the curve, but they usually refuse to give anybody else anything they own. Uhm, for magic? It's not super common here in the city, but, like, if you went out and talked with an elf they can all do it, and I'm sure if you went to one of their weird fucking tree towns it'd just be crawling with magic, I guess? I've never been out of this place, so I don't know."

[[As for how many races there are? Well, that one is simple. There's-]]

>"HEY, WORM BOY! YOU STILL UP HERE? I TOLD YOU TO GET THE FUCK OUT, I GOTTA CHANGE THE LOCKS AND CLEAN UP AN' SHIT!"

[[Well, that's just perfect.]]



(OOC: Sorry about that big fucking block of infodump y'all. I'm getting tired. So this is on hold for now, should come back in a day or two.)

we'll your landlord just sound like a lovely person...

Ok it still looks like it's day so I say head towards a park for now since no one well really question why two people are taking a stroll threw the park during the day. We can walk and talk on the way... well talk and... oh you get the idea. So questions keep answering them and feel free to ask us some as well if you wish.

While we are still going to need to talk some more about the differences between our worlds, I think we should put that and trying to make sense of the book on hold for now.

You guys are now homeless.

So let's focus on the basics for now:
You have some clothing on you. Is it adequate for the climate? How cold does it get out there?
Do you have any money on you?
Victor: you said you had a part time job, how much does that bring in, and what do you need to do it?
Victoria: Do you have any form of employment?
Do you two have any friends / family / ??? that could help you?
Also, how wealthy is the area you live in? Are there any kind of shelters or parks?
Depending on where you live, you two could be in a pretty bad position until you manage to get somewhere else to stay.

>>554681
Well, first, get out. Second, let's find some elves. We need someone to translate this book and elves seem like our best bet.

It sounds like our scientific knowledge matches up with your world. We won't be able to give you any advanced knowledge there.

What are your gods like? Could you just kill one to become a god? Or beat one in a test of skill?

Find you some Elves......unless they are dicks in which case if there are any important magical institutions around where there would be extremely knowledgeable people who could assist in understanding the book that might be the place to check.

Hmm. Well, how many kinds of free institutions do you have in the city? Like homeless shelters (better than a box, if it comes to that, and just until you figure something else out) and libraries, in particular.

Hmm. Perhaps we could simply use a library color copier? It may not work because of magic or something, but otherwise it sounds like an easy way to make back roughly the amount you sold.

Victor 2014/01/03(Fri)13:10 No. 554902 ID: 431163
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>>554682
[[Thank you for the park suggestion. It has helped greatly to clear my mind. The shock of today's earlier events had somewhat unsettled me, but now I see the situation is not as bad as it may have seemed. In fact, a challenge like this is almost exciting... You should also know that Vicki has performed the book's one functioning piece of magic again, and with my assistance, we managed to make it stick to myself instead. I should be able to hear you on my own now, rather then listen in through Vicki. This should prove useful in the future, as we can separate and still converse.

First thing I must mention, that was forgotten earlier in the fuss. This book is highly illegal for a private citizen to own. She apparently bought it through a less-then-honest auction, and there was a good reason for that. The book is a cultural artifact and as such the government of man sees it as their rightful property. Taking it to a scholar or mage would be an exceptionally poor choice, as they are particularly prone to wanting knowledge like this to be shared, and are very likely to report us to the authorities.

Obviously, we cannot just go to one of the existing magical colleges. Her one item of collateral cannot be used, and she is not a good enough mage to get in on her own merits. However, she came up with an interesting idea... would you like to tell them, Vicki?

No?

Well. She felt it would be more likely for us to make our own school of magick.]]

"As a joke."

[[Joke or not, it seems reasonable. There are always those who are... malcontent with the current system. It may not form the greatest or most reputable base for knowledge, but being surrounded by wizards can only help her quest for power. I feel that there is likely a place where we can build this in the slums, or warehouse district. Surely there must be some abandoned building or warehouse that can be resuited for our cause. But, of course, I will leave the decision to you. I doubt we would have any better luck bringing this book to the elves, and the plane ticket would cost a significant amount of money, which we don't currently have. But it is still a potential option. The one thing I will ask of you is to please leave the questioning for later. We must get started down a path, now. I would be glad to answer your queries once we are secure.]]

I think forming our own group is a great idea. But be very careful. You are sitting on a very expensive and very dangerous book there. If you go around letting people know you have it be prepared for trouble.

Heck someone will probably already be looking for it and hiding the evidence of her having bought it will be impossible.

sooo what, the plan is to wonder around the slums to find some people with some magical talent and then get them to help us form some kind of underground magic school to not only increase Vickie's magical ability but to also maybe find someone who we could get to help us translate bit's and pieces of the book? Assuming they just don't mug you that could work.

Just find someone(s) with enough know how and skill to help teach people who want to learn magic and form a school. The trick is going to be getting them to help us and to figure out how we can get someone who wont screw us over for the book or any reason really. We could help you two set up the details later because unless we can actually find a place and people willing to teach both Vickie and whoever we can rope into the school there really isn't a point to think that far ahead.

>>554902
An abandoned warehouse would have a good amount of space, but in the long term it would be awkward to have a base in the middle of a bunch of warehouses. I think the slums are a better idea- we can actually develop those over time. Also, it's a populated area, so we can gather worshippers more easily once Victoria has some power. Only issue is it's more dangerous. I assume you are good in a fight, Victor.

Victor 2014/01/03(Fri)14:13 No. 554910 ID: 431163
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>>554909
[[I do not enjoy fighting but I do not fear it. I should be fine. There is a flaw in my plan, however, which I am coming to realize. I do not know where to begin recruiting anybody magical. And evidently that is not your forté, either. I should not have assumed you would hold all the answers, like this.

However, I am quickly coming up with a plan. As we do not need to be together now, I think I will search for a good base in the slums, while Vicki meets with the only contact I know- my magic shop partner. She is not actually magical, far from it, but perhaps she could assist us in some way. Point us towards other magicians, perhaps, or possibly help us with the non-magical work in creating a school, which I am sure she would excel at. I will warn you, though, she can be very unpleasant. Vicki, are you alright with this plan?]]

"I guess.."

[[Good enough. Now, with your good graces, that leaves the choice to you. Would you prefer to find headquarters with me, or start on a search for contacts with Vicki?]]

eh, I kinda had somewhat of a plan for recruitment I just thought we we're just going over plans. Before we even try and recruit people I thought it would help if we actually knew where we are setting up shop. But yeah if you want to talk to your friend first I won't stop you. Also have you guy's had any wars as of late? As sad as it is their always some veterans who wind up on the streets. If you could find one who has some magical talent... again though doesn't really work if you live in a peaceful time.

I'm missing something: How do we open a magic school without any credentials, accomplishments, or significant knowledge of any kind to teach?
I'd think that a bank heist would tend to be a more effective and less risky plan since we're already talking outright fraud the other way.

Okay okay listen. We know a lot about magic but it's all different kinds of magic. Until we find out what magic is like here we can't really give advice on that front. But like you said that will have to wait.

It sounds like Vicki needs our help more at the moment. We can help her keep a cool head when dealing with the unpleasant contact.

>>554917
Hmm, I dunno. My impression is that this may start off as kinda a structured study group or something. We have two magical resources (the book and Victor), and we need to collect people who can use these resources AND maybe teach others, too. We then also collect people who want to learn. Of course, if it's in the slums, I wouldn't expect to be making much. Maybe enough to live on, hopefully. Could be fun, though! :3 Oh, and I suppose the idea isn't to get money, but rather to...achieve apotheosis, I guess?

As far as which one to accompany...hmm. Seems like the placement is a potentially longer term choice, but Vicki may need our help more.... Hmmmmmm. I guess go with Vicki? Well, pick a good spot for us, Victor.

Vicki 2014/01/03(Fri)19:18 No. 554953 ID: 431163
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"So, uhm... this is the place, huh? I can't believe I've never actually come here before. I mean, I've never really /needed/ magic, or 'specialized machines', but, you know... I kinda regret not coming here earlier.

You know, thanks for choosing me, guys. I could use a bit of a guiding voice, I guess. I just... I really have no idea any more. I don't even want to do this whole god thing really, I just wanted to do /something/, I just got carried away once I started and all. But now Victor's all up about it and this stupid magic school thing that makes no sense, and I can't just go back to where it was before, and... I'm gonna go in before I change my mind or something."

Vicki 2014/01/03(Fri)19:23 No. 554954 ID: 431163
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Oh.. wow. That's a really big orc.

"For fucks sake, K'orr! I thought you locked the door? Goddamn it. Fine, monkey girl. We're supposed to be closed for the night, but... If you're looking to gamble on having your brain melted or growing a third arm, the potion guy'll be back tomorrow. If you need some mechanical assistance to whatever petty fucking human problem you got, I'm sitting right..."

Vicki 2014/01/03(Fri)19:26 No. 554956 ID: 431163
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"You, pigtail monkey, aren't you Victor's human friend? Well, he's obviously not here, so if you don't mind getting the fuck out and continuing your search elsewhere, I'd love finish this fucking piece of malfunctioning dogshit sometime before next year, and it's really FUCKING HARD when I'm getting INTERRUPTED."

He might be a bit surly but maybe we could offer to give him a hand? Got to start somewhere.

Vicki 2014/01/03(Fri)19:53 No. 554959 ID: 431163
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>>554957
I'm pretty sure that's a girl. I mean, it has boobs. But it's kinda hard to tell with goblins..

"Uhm, maybe I could-"

"DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING, HUMAN! I don't want your greasy mammal fingers leaving those disgusting fucking prints all over the place!"

"Yo, Seshe? You want me to throw her out or somethin'?"

"NO!... No, K'orr. We don't need to throw her out yet. Now, monkey girl. If you are NOT looking for Victor, and given that you are still standing here I can assume you aren't, then tell me what the fuck it is you want from me, Human, and get out."

"i've come across something important and victor told me to come here. i can only show you if you swear to secrecy"

Tell her victor sent you to ask about people who have some magic know how because we're looking to set a school of sorts up that focuses on magic and magic related things, she know anyone?

>>554959
Be straightforward and honest. She seems impatient, so don't waste her time.

Also, I would like to get a better look at what she's working on. Don't touch anything, but... inch closer to look.

Vicki 2014/01/03(Fri)21:58 No. 555004 ID: 431163
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>>554960
I don't know everything or anything, but I know enough about goblins that swearing to secrecy probably isn't gonna be super necessary. If you guys think I should just be upfront..

"Hey- HEY! WHAT DID I JUST SAY? K'ORR! K'ORR!"

"Little lady, you'd better-"

"WAIT! Wait, guys, please! I /just/ need to show you something super quick."

Vicki 2014/01/03(Fri)22:08 No. 555007 ID: 431163
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>>554983
Is this close enough?

"...What did you just put on my desk, human?"

"Uhm, it's the Magicka Mumbilis. Victor told me to come to you, 'cause we're setting up this magic school with it, you see? He thought you might have like, some contacts or something? Point me towards some magic people who might be interested in helping?"

"Let me get this straight, human? You're asking me to point you towards my direct competitors, so that you can start some sort of new fucking "magic" academy and train more of the goddamn hocus pocus rat bastards. And as proof of your intent, you shove a book in my face, a book of which I have no fucking idea what it does, and so is entirely fucking meaningless to me? Why should I help you? I think your idea is stupid and going to fail and and I wouldn't want it to succeed in the first place."

>>555007
"Well, if you really think it's going to fail, why WOULDN'T you send me to your competitors?"

However, we may also need an argument for "And if it DOES work, here's how it's to your benefit." Like, sending customers or money their way, or something.

"students break things, and when they need fixing i can mention a place that is good at it."

look at it this way, if this thing works out you get some local talent that can make more of this magic mumbo jumbo that we could sell to you, at a discount, which you could keep on selling at full price or at a lower price if you so chose. If we fail, what do you loose? At beast we distract your computation for a while and at worse we get the hell out of your store, you lose nothing by helping us and have a chance to gain a new supplier for some more magic crap at a cheaper price. I'm not seeing a down side for you in this.

>>555007
If she doesn't want more competition we could agree to some sort of deal where she gets more business somehow from our school.

Also yeah that looks like a real circuitboard but I don't see anything obviously wrong with it unfortunately.

Vicki 2014/01/04(Sat)12:28 No. 555106 ID: 431163
File 138886730052.png - (41.47KB , 1100x750 , 17.png )

"Well, I was thinking, if like, stuff breaks at the school, I could point them here-"

"I'm not a fucking custodian, monkey girl! You think I just clean up messes and fix your stupid human shit here? Victor doesn't tell you shit, does he? I MAKE things. Like I am trying to MAKE this piece of shit floating eye out of whatever filthy ape garbage I can scrounge up in this godforsaken city."

"But-"

"No! Besides, you fucking wizards won't have any use for mechanical shit, now will you? Fucking magicians, solving their problems with their bullshit impossible magic that doesn't make any fucking logical sense. That's the problem, isn't it? How can a fucking goblin set up shop in a city where all you fucks just wave your fucking hands and MAGIC your tough shit away? You never learn jack shit doing that, it's absolutely idiotic."

>>555053
"Uhm... well, maybe on a different note, if you just tell me, I'll get out of your shop and out of your hair, right? So, I mean.."

"Fucking THANK YOU, monkey girl, for the first fucking sensible thing you've said so fucking far. That's all I fucking want, you know, for you fucking humans to stop wasting my time with stupid bullshit!

Alright, your plan is fucking crazy and retarded, so you need someone crazy and retarded if you want them to listen. Only stupid wizard I know is Firebeard, down in Dwarftown. He went bankrupt a month ago, god knows where the fuck he is now. Ask around or do whatever you want, I don't care. Just leave me alone."

thank you and good bye... how the hell has she stayed in business with that kind of attitude? Alright lets check out firebeard.

don't ask that question.

Just... get out before you get thrown out. Find the dwarf. A penniless mage is just what we want. Someone who has nothing to lose.

The obvious angle here:

Uh, if you don't like the way that magic works and does things around you, wouldn't it be in your best bet to help set up a different system? One that follows different rules maybe, and doesn't cause you problems? Or at least, that causes problems for the institution that so inconveniences you?

(Play to her dislike of the current magic system. She should jump at the chance to potentially screw it over, or shake it up).

>>555124
only system. you can't just make up some words and expect magic to come out.

>>555125
We're got a super-artifact, and a sentient well of magic. I'm pretty sure we're going to be breaking established rules, at some point.

Playing off her dislikes seems our best move, though. I doubt we'll have much luck appealing to her better nature.

Well, seems to me like we've gotten a good contact out of this, and probably won't be getting anything much more than that. I recommend now leaving the goblin to her own device.

Vicki 2014/01/04(Sat)18:36 No. 555157 ID: 431163
File 138888939772.png - (44.52KB , 1100x750 , 18.png )

"Wow. This place is kinda a dump, huh? I mean, I've never been down here before either, but I kinda see the reason now. They certainly have a.. style. Damp and musty and eugh."

Vicki 2014/01/04(Sat)18:37 No. 555158 ID: 431163
File 138888942343.png - (28.22KB , 1100x750 , 19.png )

"So. Uhm... before I go knocking on doors or whatever, trying to track this 'Firebeard' guy down, I wanted to talk a moment, okay? Today's been kinda crazy. I mean, everything is happening /really fast/, I kinda just want it to slow down a little, you know? Five hours ago I was waking up in my bed, two hours ago I had a home, and now I am underground hunting out magicians for this whole makeshift sorta-school sorta-study-group thing... I guess I just wanted to know if it was just me or if this whole thing seems... unreal? You know, part of me is like, 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth, you're doing something now, it's an 'adventure'', but part of me is like 'I just want to go home and forget this whole stupid idea'. Maybe it's a bit early to feel homesick, but... maybe I feel worse because of Victor, too. Like, I'm not /completely/ stupid. had this whole second plan in mind, I thought even if I couldn't do it, which, I mean, I probably couldn't, but even if I can't then Victor can, right? And honestly, he deserves a book like that more then I do. But I never realized he had a different kind of magic then humans? I didn't even realize there was different kinds of magic. So the book is totally useless and I know I've screwed up before but never anything like this and...

I'm sorry, I barely even know you guys, we've only been together for like an hour and I am giving you this whole big rant. Should we just do this thing?"

>>555158
Well...the thing you did was rather crazy and not really well thought out and unfair to Victor and kinda totally illegal. BUT. On the other hand, the auction was a limited time thing, and this MIGHT JUST POSSIBLY work out. More importantly, though, I think Victor's forgiven you, and is pretty well eager to do this thing. So, particularly considering you don't really have any good fallback plans, just let it go and let's get to it. Maybe just...remember this, so you make sure to carefully weigh your options in the future.

>>555158
You have no choice. The book is your only possession now. It's either use the book for your own profit or SELL it. And I doubt you have the connections to safely sell it. You'd probably ask the wrong people and get it stolen, and then you'd be fucked.

Also c'mon, this is cool. Don't wuss out.

Vicki 2014/01/04(Sat)21:17 No. 555210 ID: 431163
File 138889904190.png - (37.89KB , 1100x750 , 20.png )

>>555160
"I'll do my best.. thanks, guy."

>>555180
"And you?.. Well, I mean, I don't really have much of a choice, huh? This plan is pretty much all we got, except that one guy earlier who was talking about me giving handjobs, and y'know, I'd really super like to not do that. I can't wuss out, really. I guess I'm just being mopey.

Uhm, moving forward a bit... I really know next to /nothing/ about dwarves. They like to drink, and they don't really do all that much else. They apparently suck at architecture, I can't tell one fucking rock igloo from another, but I /think/ this one behind me is probably a bar or something. I mean, it's big, it's got a second segment, it's in about the closest you can get to a prime location down here, with that whole big rock pillar on top of it. And I am pretty sure that one back there is a private house, since it's so tiny and all.

So, uhm, which one should I go to? I don't know if I want to hang out with a bunch of drunken, smelly old dwarves, but I mean, it may be super impolite to just interrupt one of them for a question at their house, right? Or that may be seen as friendly and welcome and it's drunken dwarves that want to be left alone? I mean, I just don't know which is more appropriate, all that I know about dwarves is that they drink and they usually have beards. I'd flip a coin, but you guys are kinda being my coin right now."

Hunh. Hey, didn't you just walk past a Dwarf just now? Why not try talking to him, see what happens?

try the bar first and remember, in a bar you can always ask the bartender, also since the bartender usually talks to everyone in the bar to try and get a better tip he'd probably have the best idea on where to find Firebeard.

Vicki 2014/01/04(Sat)21:37 No. 555217 ID: 431163
File 138890025960.png - (26.33KB , 1100x750 , 21.png )

>>555211
"Uhm... apparently not any more. I don't think I like these guys, they keep giving me the eye and disappearing whenever I turn my back.."

to the bar then. hopefully they will be less shy with beers.

Maybe...Know on the wall or something before entering, so as to give them a heads up.
[spoiler] She's got magic powers. I think she'll be alright in a fight. [spoiler]

>>555217
Can't you just like, loudly proclaim you're looking for Firebeard?

>>555210
>...thanks, guy.
D'awww. Just here to help.

>>555230
I think we MAY be trying not to be super obvious - this IS all centered on a highly illegal book, after all.

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)13:27 No. 555538 ID: 431163
File 138904364816.png - (37.85KB , 1100x750 , 22.png )

>>555227
"I have all of like, two tricks. I could, say, keep an ice cream cone cold forever, or I could light a piece of paper on fire without matches. That's pretty much basically it. I mean, it's not gonna be super extra useful in a fight. I really super hope this doesn't come down to a fight. I haven't really ever been in one. Like, not with fists and magic and stuff anyway.

Anyway. Uhm..."

KNOCK KNOCK

"... ...Nobody's responding. I can't see in through the windows 'cause they're all frosted, but I think I should be pretty safe going in, this is too big for someone's house."

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)13:30 No. 555540 ID: 431163
File 138904385179.png - (49.11KB , 1100x750 , 23.png )

Okay. Wow. Well, I mean... good news, this is pretty definitely obviously a bar. So I didn't just barge in on someone's dinner. Uhm, on the other hand, everybody's just staring at me. Have been since I came in. And I am just now noticing they don't have eyes. Or, like, their eyes are all glassy and white. It's /really/ creeping me out. I really super do not like it down here at all.

"...Uhm.. hey, guys!"

just say "i'm looking for someone named firebeard"

They probably think you look weird too.

Ask the bartender if she knows where you can find Firebeard. Wanna bet Firebeard is the completely wasted one against the bar?

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)13:46 No. 555544 ID: 431163
File 138904477078.png - (35.10KB , 1100x750 , 24.png )

>>555542
I, uhm, I think the bartender would be best.. like that other guy said, and all. Plus I kinda really don't want to attract more attention to myself..

"Uhm. Hey!"

"Hello, darlin'. What can I get yeh?"

"Well, I kinda don't have any money, but-"

"If yeh don't got any money, there ain't a whole lot I can help yeh with, now is there?"

"Well, I'm actually looking for someone. Do you know of a dwarf named Firebeard?"

... why'd you say that? (sigh)

anyways ask if she knows someone named firebeard, if she ask why say because you're looking for him in a confused voice, if she asked why you're looking for him say it's because you want to find him while still using the confused voice. just keep that up until she tells you and then thank her and see if you can't find the guy.

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)15:02 No. 555573 ID: 431163
File 138904935746.png - (40.23KB , 1100x750 , 25.png )

>>555552
I don't think you know what it feels like to have like, a dozen weird little white-eyed guys just /staring/ at your back. I keep feeling like I'm gonna get shanked at literally any moment or something. Excuse me if I'm a tiny little bit nervous!

"Do you.. uhm, do you know a guy named Firebeard?"

"Sure I do, darlin'. That'll be twenty."

"It's just that... I'm really scared, I need to find him..."

"Twenty dollars, darlin'. Jus' be glad you came tah me, Stonebreaker woulda charged yeh fifty."

"i need to find him in order to get money in the first place. i am flat broke and need his help to get back on my feet"

>>555573
Ask who Stonebreaker is.

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)15:19 No. 555576 ID: 431163
File 138905034818.png - (38.73KB , 1100x750 , 26.png )

>>555574
"Uhm, you see, kinda the reason I'm looking for him is so I can get the money. I'm flat broke right now, but if he could help me get on my feet.."

"I don't know how y'all do it upstaihs, but down here we don't take no credit. Twenty dollars."

>>555575
"Well, uhm, who's Stonebreaker?"

"He's a lyin' sack'a shit. Waters down all his drinks, don't go to him, darlin'."

just sigh and say thanks anyway.

we at least know firebeard is around here.

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)15:39 No. 555583 ID: 431163
File 138905158612.png - (48.74KB , 1100x750 , 27.png )

>>555577
"Uhm, well... thanks anyway, but I guess I'll just have to look for him on my own."

"Good luck, darlin'."

"NO! Wai- *hic* don't go! I'll give yah a twenty, jes' give me a lil' *hic* peek at those big girl fuckin' titties."

>>555583
Tell him you'll need proof he actually has the money before you'd consider doing anything like that. Then say you won't do it in front of everyone. Take him out behind the tavern then mug him. It'll be easy and he won't remember what happened after he wakes up.

>>555584
... are you me? i was literally gonna say the exact same thing.

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)16:11 No. 555590 ID: 431163
File 138905349896.png - (48.80KB , 1100x750 , 28.png )

>>555584
How the fuck am I gonna mug him? He's- OW!- really fucking stupid crazy strong! I- OW FUCK!

"WAIT, WAIT! Stop! Stop pulling! I'll... we'll... I'll, I'll show you, we just gotta go behind the bar, I don't wanna show everybody!"

"Why? *hic* Yeh shy or somefin? C'mon, nobody cares, jus' give me ah lil' *hic* peek, c'mon now.."

Holy fuck I hate this fucking place!

light his face hair on fire. it's covered in highly flammable alcohol. probably easier to light then paper.

Oh god damn it, I thought being falling-down drunk would mean he wouldn't have any coordination and you could just push him over or something once we were outside. It's time to abandon the mission, I think. Get out of here and find Victor, he can help you find Firebeard safely.

Screw that we are not desperate enough to flash or mug people yet. Get his claws off of you and lets keep looking.

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)16:27 No. 555595 ID: 431163
File 138905441948.png - (50.68KB , 1100x750 , 29.png )

>>555591
"GET OFF M-"

"AAHAHHHHH AHH"

"AHHHH AHAHHHHHH HELP EHHAHHHH FUCK AHAHHHH!!"

"Oh JESUS!"

Oh god fuck oh jesus

"AHHHHHHH AAHHHHHH OOH GODS AAHWAAHHH"

see if you can't light his beard on fire with that candle trick. Failing that say if he want's to see you need both hands, if he ask why, because of your bra. As soon as the fucker lets go run but I really hope you go with the fire trick.

now reverse it. use the cold spell to dose the flames.

>>555595
Go "OH HEY LOOK IT'S FIREBEARD I FOUND HIM"

Can you use your ice magic to douse the flames? If he burns to death you're gonna get killed. Hell you might get killed already. Or arrested at the very least. If you can't, uh, ask the bartender for water.

Then take his 20 whatevers, pay for the info, and get out.

Vicki 2014/01/06(Mon)16:49 No. 555611 ID: 431163
File 138905579035.png - (63.40KB , 1100x750 , 30.png )

"GET OFF GET OFF COME ON-"

"AAHHHHH FUCK AHHHHHH!!!"

"GET- GET- UGH, FUCK"

"HELP ME! PLEASE HELP ME PLEASE!"

"OH GODS PLEASE HELP US!"

>>555597
IT'S A LITTLE TINY BIT LATE FOR THAT

>>555611
OH FUCK

Get out, yell fire, keep running, never stop.

you can't leave the bartender to die. tell her to jump over the counter and to roll. rolling puts out body fires.

how is it so flammable?!

>>555619
You'd think they would have FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

Keep running, woman! Find the other tavern maybe. This time, considering we just took out the competition, the bartender should be more cooperative.

Ooookay, let's not bring that up with anyone, ever.

Well, except for Victor, I guess.

So yeah, apparently dwarven bars are, every cubic inch of them, extremely flammable. I don't think there's anything to be done at this point, so I suggest being anywhere not nearby.

...okay then, lets just pretend that never happened and just start wondering aimlessly around here asking people if they've seen Firebeard... also on a unrelated topic if you see any authority figures, don't run but try to stay clear of them if you can. Don't know why I brought that up but for some reason I thought it should be mentioned.

Okay. New plan- if nothing else news of this will spread. THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING IF WE DON'T GET CAUGHT!
This 'Firebeard' person is likely to get attention for this, attention he will probably not want, if these Dwarves are much like the ones we know.
This event might smoke him out of hiding. The hard part will be finding him...Maybe Victor can help with that.

Victor 2014/01/06(Mon)20:02 No. 555643 ID: 431163
File 138906734537.png - (68.30KB , 1100x750 , 32.png )

[[Excuse the interruption. I felt I should check in with you, and by extension, with Vicki. How goes the hunt for new talent?... As you can see, I have run into a small amount of unexpected resistance. Not to worry. I was sure this particular dilapidated mansion was free of squatters, evidently I was mistaken. But it is hardly a problem. They are mere hoodlums, even to me they do not pose much of a threat- excuse me.]]

Victor 2014/01/06(Mon)20:02 No. 555645 ID: 431163
File 138906736530.png - (71.50KB , 1100x750 , 34.png )

[[Back to business. I am very nearly done here. This is a magnificent property, almost immediately adjescent to a leyline, and with plenty of room. In retrospect I suppose I should have expected some magical gang to have made it their hideout, given both of these, but hindsight is always 20/20. In any case, I'll soon have the last of them out, and then it will only take a cleaning and remodelling before it is ready to serve as our new school premises. So, yes. I am nearly done on my end. I hope Vicki is having as much luck?]]

>>555645
Wow. You are... really good at combat.

Your goblin partner knew of a dwarf mage named Firebeard, so we went out to look for him.

Vicki killed some dwarves accidentally by setting one's beard on fire in a tavern. Lit up the whole place. The dwarf in question was trying to get her to show him her tits, and being too forceful about it. So yeah, now Vicki might be wanted for arson and murder. Not so great. We do have another tavern we can ask around in though so not all is lost!

uhh... actually we were worried you would be a little disappointed with how things have been going. a dwarf tried to molest her so she set him on fire. and apparently dwarf bars are silly flammable so the whole building went up. anyway we did get a name from your friend, firebeard. is why we are in the dwarf area to begin with.

She is learning some painful life lessons at the moment. We should be able to toughen her up though.

No luck on the contacts yet. Lots of crazies down here.

Yeah. Grabby Dwarf. Fire. Tavern.
FUNTIMES!!!
Vicky's safe and fine though I think.

eh, we burned down a dawrven bar by accident. Long story short, while Vickie was asking questions someone tried to force themselves on her and in response she burned his beard... which quickly spread and then we all learned that even though dawrven bars are made of stone they still go up like they're made of hay. No joke.

But yeah we got a name but not much else... also how the hell does the goblin lady stay in business? Her customer serves skills seem to need a TON of work.

So, yeah, her luck is a lot like yours, in that she's ended up killing a bunch of people and destroying a bunch of property. Aaaand...apparently it's not that big a deal?

Victor 2014/01/08(Wed)13:10 No. 555888 ID: 431163
File 138921541401.png - (65.58KB , 1100x750 , 35.png )

[[Excuse me, I am just going to move you all riiight... there. Found the little bastard. Thank you for the help. Now... let us deal with the more insignificant questions first. Get them safely out of the way.]]

Victor 2014/01/08(Wed)13:10 No. 555889 ID: 431163
File 138921543083.png - (72.76KB , 1100x750 , 36.png )

[[I do not want to harbour any future delusions. I am not good at combat. I have almost no control of what I am doing, I can merely point it wherever I want. I am similar to a monkey with a handgun- dangerous in his unpredictability, but no match against anybody with a flak jacket and a gun of their own.]]

Victor 2014/01/08(Wed)13:11 No. 555890 ID: 431163
File 138921546318.png - (66.12KB , 1100x750 , 37.png )

[[And murder is, of course, loathsome.]]

"OooHH GODS GET THEM OFF ME!"

[[It is only with the greatest regret-]]

"AHAHA OWWAH GOD HELP AHHAH!!"

[[-that I must protect myself against these hooligans. I truly wish it didn't come to this, but what's done is done.]]

Victor 2014/01/08(Wed)13:12 No. 555891 ID: 431163
File 138921554542.png - (71.21KB , 1100x750 , 38.png )

[[Now. More importantly... it is distressing to hear of Vicki's troubles. It is also bewildering. By all accounts, a dwarven bar should not be flammable. Bare rock is notoriously fireproof. Granted, the alchohol may have lit, but that should have burnt out almost as quickly as it started. I do not understand how or why she could do that. I will have to give it some thought... for now, though, the most important thing to note is that we have an official base of operations. Tell Vicki and her friend to meet me at a leyline when they are finished. She will understand. I'll relinquish you all now, and focus on cleaning this mess. Best of luck.]]

Victor 2014/01/08(Wed)13:14 No. 555892 ID: 431163
File 138921566575.png - (22.78KB , 1100x750 , 39.png )

"...Oh. You guys are back. Well.. I ran for a bit, but nobody's out again, they're all just hiding in their dwarf holes. I don't think there's really any kind of security or whatever down here. Or at least, I haven't been stopped by the dwarf police or anything yet.

So.. I guess I'm just sitting down for a bit, waiting for you guys... I'm /really/ not liking today."

Guess what? We found out from Victor that your flame has been crazy upgraded somehow.

Not sure if its from us being here or your contact with the book or what.

So find something to test your ice spell on but try not to freeze yourself to death with it. Or anyone else if you can help it.

>>555892
Okay apparently that fire should not have spread that fast. I think just carrying the book is boosting your magic. Try using ice magic at a spot on the floor.

If you're not getting chased by police or anything just find the other tavern. Tell the bartender that his competition just burned down, because they didn't tell you where Firebeard is. Then ask where Firebeard is.

>>555894
why are we resorting to threats when we really can't back them up? I know what she did but she still doesn't have any real control over her magic yet and if we actually meet someone who can defend themselves we're kinda S.O.L.

Oh and Victor get the place at the layline ready, he just needs to ... clean it up a bit to make it more homely. But yeah the sooner we can find Firebeard the sooner we can get out of here. And try not to think to much about what happened today. It won't do you any good and besides, we're practically as low as we can get. The only way for us to go now is up.

Victor 2014/01/08(Wed)13:56 No. 555897 ID: 431163
File 138921821939.png - (22.39KB , 1100x750 , 40.png )

>>555893
>>555894

Vicki 2014/01/08(Wed)13:57 No. 555898 ID: 431163
File 138921826220.png - (22.00KB , 1100x750 , 41.png )

"It doesn't feel any colder then it usually is.."

>>555898
Welp so much for that theory. Let's go.

odd. but still, you have crazy good fire. victor aid that the place going up in flames should have been impossible. anyway. yeah, go to the other bar and say you want to know where firebeard is, or else. and when they say or else what, just point at the pillar of smoke.

maybe you got a panic bonus in your powers because the creepy dwarf guy was grabbing you. You know like when someone get's scared/angry enough they get a sudden burst in power. Anyways let's keep looking for firebeard... god damn it would be nice if we actually knew what the little bastard looked like.

Could be you have to use it while your emotions are running high or something. Who knows exactly.

But hey its a good sign even if you can't control it just yet. Might be off to a rocky start but definitely a good sign.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)12:10 No. 556166 ID: 431163
File 138929821975.png - (31.28KB , 1100x750 , 42.png )

>>555908
"The problem isn't really what he looks like. I mean, I'm kinda assuming he has a beard of fire? Or something? We'll figure it out... but how do I find him when every single building looks /exactly the same/? I don't understand how the dwarves do ANYTHING down here?!

..I guess you guys don't really have any more knowledge of where the hell to go then I do, so whatever. I'm just gonna try this one over here, hopefully it's this guy 'Stonebreaker's bar, at least we would be on to /something/ then.."

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)12:11 No. 556168 ID: 431163
File 138929826707.png - (28.35KB , 1100x750 , 44.png )

"..That wasn't Stonebreaker's bar."

huh, normally I would say check it out since he could be in there but seeing as what happened back at the bar, and the fact that everyone is saying that Firebeard is broke as fuck, I don't think he's in there or that even going in is a good idea.

Next building.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)12:32 No. 556176 ID: 431163
File 138929956342.png - (33.31KB , 1100x750 , 46.png )

Aw! It's a little kid!... Uhm, sitting all alone, with two blocks to play with, in a barren room right next to a stripclub.

Like... I don't mean to sound racist or anything, but I really don't know if I like this whole dwarven way of life.

>>556176
It does seem pretty crappy down here. We should ask Firebeard about it. Maybe once you have some power you can change things for the better?

Ask the kid if he knows where Stonebeard's bar is.

Noooo this does seem pretty bad. Then again we don't really know his situation either.
One more house, but if that fails maybe try talking to the kid.

say sorry and head over to the next building, we'll figure it out sooner or later

ask if he knows firebeard or stonebreaker

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)13:11 No. 556184 ID: 431163
File 138930186491.png - (34.16KB , 1100x750 , 47.png )

I really don't want to keep just wandering blindly around, if I can help it. I mean, with the whole... 'quality' of this place, I feel like pretty soon I'm gonna stumble on a slavetrading ring or a Dreamstealer cult or something.

Besides, he's cute!

"Heya, there! Can I talk to you for a 'sec, little guy?"

"Momma said I shouldn't talk tah strangers, ma'am."

Aw. Ma'am!

...Please tell me you're not moving up to kidnapping now? Look if you have to talk to the kid just ask if he knows where you could find firebeard and no matter what he says thank him for your help (unless he tells you to fuck off or something like that) and move on. I really don't want to be around when the mother comes back and thinks your trying to steal her kid.

>>556184
Ask where his mom is, then.

>>556186
rather obvious where she is. and we should not talk about it.

just ask about firebeard or stonebreaker.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)13:33 No. 556188 ID: 431163
File 138930323247.png - (32.76KB , 1100x750 , 48.png )

Uhm, I am kinda thinking the same as >>556187 right now. I don't know if I even want to know where mom is right now. Whatever... we'll just be direct.

"I'm not gonna talk to you or anything, don't worry. I just wanted to ask a tiny little itty bitty question?.. Do you know where Firebeard is? Or Stonebreaker?"

"Momma said not tah talk tah Firebeard neither. He's jus' across the road, buuut he never ever ever comes out."

Wow. That's actually really helpful... are you /sure/ I can't kidnap him? He'd be the cutest little guy to have at our school, come on!

"Thank you sooo much."

"You're welcome, ma'am!"

Lets avoid the kidnapping until we have a place to put them. Also goons to to the kidnapping.

...you know with that logic you might as well try to still a bear cub from it's mother, I'm sure that would turn out something like taking this kid. Also that was a NO, you already committed arson and a few other crimes today, you don't need to add anything else to it today.

Anyways lets talk to firebeard, The sooner we talk to him the sooner we can get out of here.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)13:51 No. 556193 ID: 431163
File 138930428876.png - (28.12KB , 1100x750 , 49.png )

>>556190
Ugh. /Fiiine/.
Uhm, seriously, though... maybe we'll get him, like, a present or something on the way back? I mean, it must be super boring, he's got like absolutely nothing in there.

Anyway, whatever... so, this is Firebeard's house. Uhm.. not much to talk about, really. Really small, smaller then the others. Kinda elevated a bit. Pretty much empty inside. And, oh, yeah, there's a big fucking hole in the middle of the floor.


"I really don't want to go in that hole."

then call down into the hole, see if he's down there.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)14:04 No. 556196 ID: 431163
File 138930505236.png - (28.29KB , 1100x750 , 50.png )

>>556195
"HELLO? FIREBEARD? ARE YOU IN TH-"

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)14:04 No. 556198 ID: 431163
File 138930509005.png - (28.16KB , 1100x750 , 52.png )

...

...

...please please please please please please PLEASE don't make me go in there.

>>556198
Whoa. Okay I agree with you. Look down to see where the fire came from, at least.

Then ask him to please not kill you, you just wanna talk to him.

"yo firebeard, wanna learn how to make even BETTER fire?"

just keep shouting, he'll have to come up eventually. Just say you want to talk to him.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)14:20 No. 556204 ID: 431163
File 138930603490.png - (31.43KB , 1100x750 , 53.png )

>>556199
I can see the bottom. It's like, 40 feet down, maybe. It looks like it branches off into tunnels or something, but it's hard to tell from here. It is pretty well lit, at least... kind of like everything down here, actually. I hadn't really thought about that before.. It's kinda funny how your mind starts racing when you're like 2 steps away from burning to death and all.

"Fi- FIREBEARD? I'M NOT GOING TO HURT YOU! PROMISE! I... I JUST WANT TO TALK!"

...

...

...He's not really saying anything. On the upside I am not dead yet, so, uhm, I'm thankful for that.


I am REALLY not liking today at ALL.

ask if it would be alright for you to come down, or the even better solution of him coming up here to talk with us.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)14:30 No. 556207 ID: 431163
File 138930663971.png - (31.28KB , 1100x750 , 54.png )

"CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP HERE? I JUST WANT TO TALK FOR JUST A MINUTE, I SWEAR!"

...

...

"OR- OR MAYBE I COULD COME DOWN, BUT PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE DON'T BURN ME!"

say you wanna talk about magic.

Vicki 2014/01/09(Thu)14:34 No. 556209 ID: 431163
File 138930685451.png - (31.58KB , 1100x750 , 55.png )

"I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT MAGIC!"

...

...

...I REALLY don't want to go in there!

>>556209
Wait for a minute to see if you get a response.

If you don't, close the door and talk a little quieter, say that you have this book you need translated.

give it a moment and then... (sigh) clime down. Nothing else we can do.

...Take a deep breath in, and hold it as best you can as you climb down.
you might be able to put out the flames before getting fried...
Aside from that, maybe find a thin stone spoke around the area, break it off, and drop it down there, see what happens?

Vicki 2014/01/10(Fri)18:30 No. 556477 ID: 431163
File 138940744319.png - (28.23KB , 1100x750 , 56.png )

"I have this book, I need you to translate it for me... it's, uhm, it's one of the tomes of magicka..."

He's still not responding...

>>556216
There's nothing like that I've seen. Nothing that I could break off with my bare hands... besides, I can see the bottom.


..I really don't want to do this, guys..

Vicki 2014/01/10(Fri)18:31 No. 556478 ID: 431163
File 138940746348.png - (27.29KB , 1100x750 , 57.png )

... but I guess I don't really have a choice..

Vicki 2014/01/10(Fri)18:34 No. 556479 ID: 431163
File 138940769882.png - (29.30KB , 1100x750 , 58.png )

The steps stopped before the bottom, I had to jump the rest of the way down.

I can honestly say I have never ever ever ever been this terrified in my life. I'm standing in the middle of a big stone oven. A big stone oven with tiny little cramped walls.

I really hate this place.

Victoria, calm down. Everything will turn out fine, please just trust us. I know everything is moving fast, that your entire world just got turned upside down in a day and now you're doing everything you can just so you don't have to sleep on the streets. That's why we're pushing you forwards, it's not because we don't care but because we want to see you succeed and not have to work in dark ally ways to make a living because of one simple mistake. So please just don't give up, just try and solder on and you'll see that everything will turn out alright. I mean the first few steps are always the hardest but once you get going things get easier so just keep going and you'll see that things will start to get better.

now as for where to go, you got a path ahead of you, behind you, and a little passage off to the side. I say start with the side passage and go from there.

>>556479
Well then hurry and go down whatever passage is in front of you, to get out. Can you hear anything? Heading towards any noise would be a good idea.

Does it feel warm in here?

Vicki 2014/01/10(Fri)23:51 No. 556501 ID: 431163
File 138942670248.png - (20.91KB , 1100x750 , 60.png )

>>556480
I... thanks. I really appreciate that. I'm serious. The bigger picture stuff doesn't super help me with the whole "standing in a big furnace" thing right now, but I just... I really can't say how thankful I am for you guys being here for me.

Uhm... anyway.. side passage it is. They're kind of all the same, so it's like, does it really matter?

Okay. Okay. Baby steps. We'll get through this. I'm not gonna die. I'm not gonna die. I'm not gonna die.

>>556482
It's really, really warm. But I can't hear /anything/. It's absolutely dead silent down here. I can hear my own heart pounding, I'm absolutely sure that if he was anywhere near here, I'd hear him... I think.

Vicki 2014/01/10(Fri)23:52 No. 556502 ID: 431163
File 138942676667.png - (19.60KB , 1100x750 , 61.png )

I... oh, come on. I barely got fifty feet and there's another bunch of tunnels... I don't- I kinda don't think this is a very good sign.

keep going down.

the fuck does this guy live in a damn ant farm?

ah well nothing we can really do about it, look for dust or dirt (this things are carve out of stone right?) the less dust or more dirt in any given tunnel means it's used more often the the rest which mean we're more likely to find him in that tunnel then the others.

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)00:44 No. 556517 ID: 431163
File 138942986879.png - (24.13KB , 1100x750 , 62.png )

>>556511
That's actually really smart.. except I can't see any dust or dirt or whatever at all. It's like, these weren't built into the rock, but just... melted. Just today. They're totally pristine, totally smooth, not even a trace of a mark on them-

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)00:44 No. 556518 ID: 431163
File 138942989557.png - (24.20KB , 1100x750 , 63.png )

-Wwuaa!-

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)00:45 No. 556519 ID: 431163
File 138942994152.png - (22.96KB , 1100x750 , 64.png )

"-Mmph!"

...plus they're really stupid slippery apparently.

down would probably be bad as I'm not sure we could get back up, so uh... forward?

back up and try another.

>>556519
I suspect if you tried to take that slippery tunnel you'd fall down the lower one.

Actually this looks like a bad idea in general. There's no indication of where to go and too many passages to use trial and error. Also we're probably on a time limit before the next fire gout. Go back and climb back out, we need to find someone who knows how to get through this maze or otherwise contact Firebeard.

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)13:23 No. 556639 ID: 431163
File 138947539765.png - (21.72KB , 1100x750 , 65.png )

>>556590

As much as I'd really, really super extra LOVE to go back, I can't reach the ladder. Or, like, I can, but I can't pull myself up to it, I'm not strong enough. I really, really don't like it, but I don't have a whole lot of choice, here. So, uhm... forward it is. Just... just need to be careful here...

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)13:23 No. 556640 ID: 431163
File 138947543782.png - (21.80KB , 1100x750 , 66.png )

"AH WARNED YEH! YEH SHOULDA STAYED OUTTA MY HOUSE!"

Well NOW I hear him. I still can't see him, though...

"WAIT, FIREBEARD! I JUST WANT TO TALK, THAT'S ALL! CAN WE PLEASE JUST TALK?!"
... oh FUCK!

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)13:24 No. 556642 ID: 431163
File 138947544915.png - (26.59KB , 1100x750 , 67.png )

FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)13:24 No. 556643 ID: 431163
File 138947546529.png - (25.07KB , 1100x750 , 68.png )

FUUUUUUUUUUUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!! FUCK!!!

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)13:24 No. 556644 ID: 431163
File 138947547366.png - (42.68KB , 1100x750 , 69.png )

OH GOD PLEASE NO

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)13:24 No. 556645 ID: 431163
File 138947548690.png - (42.15KB , 1100x750 , 70.png )

"ooWAAHH OWW FUCK OW OOWWW! Fuuh-huu-hucck! I... I broke my leg, I think I broke my leg!"

don't look broke, probably just sprained it or bruised the fuck out of it... maybe use your cool spell on it from time to time to keep it from swelling to much. Anyways there's a bed here so rest on that for a moment and look around the room. Might find something to wrap your leg with other then the blanket.

From what we can tell your leg isn't broken...But yeah, ow and not good. But maybe we can work with this, plead the pity card with Firebeard. I've a feeling he's taken to living like this due to mistreatment from his fellow dwarfs down here, as opposed to willingly taking to being a hermit.

>>556645
Well, you've successfully entered his living quarters.

Don't worry about the leg for now, you've still got one good leg and you have to crawl anyway. Open the door and stick your head out the hallway. Maybe grab that little bench as a club.

Actually if he leaves you alone for long enough you could use the bench as a splint, with the bedsheet to bind it, but it might not be wise to piss him off any further. At least with you in his bedroom he's not going to want to throw fire at you. That'd burn all his stuff.

wait... everything is burnt... i think he can't control it! he is hiding alone because he shoots fire randomly, he was telling you stay away to protect you!

"firebeard, i can help you control it!"

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)14:27 No. 556668 ID: 431163
File 138947925716.png - (39.47KB , 1100x750 , 71.png )

Ow ow ow ow ow ow... okay. Okay. Just.. put it out of my mind, don't think about it, concentrate on the cold. I can do that. Okay. Here we go...

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)14:27 No. 556669 ID: 431163
File 138947927317.png - (39.64KB , 1100x750 , 72.png )

Ooooooh wow that feels so good. Cold but good. Still really hurts, but that's waaaay better then nothing. But, uhm.. I don't think I want to walk on it. Or crawl on it. A splint would help a lot more, I think.

So, uhm.. the room. There's not much to see.. There's a bed, a little bench. Uhm, a poster. And his wardrobe... can I just stay here forever? I can do this. I don't want to go back to crawling around. Maybe... maybe I can get him to meet me here? But, uhm, what if he just fries his room anyway, his stuff in here or not?

Vicki 2014/01/11(Sat)14:32 No. 556671 ID: 431163
File 138947957819.png - (39.36KB , 1100x750 , 73.png )

>>556666
..Maybe. But, uhm, if that isn't what's going on, if he is just kind of a dick, do I want to call his attention again? Let him know I'm still alive, and exactly where to find me? Like... I don't know if I want to gamble it all on that.

Hrrm...Let's figure out our options, here.
Your leg is busted and you really shouldn't be crawling on it.
We MIGHt be able to make a splint via breaking up the table and what not, and move around like that...But at the same time, we'd probably give FireBeard a REAL reason to attack us if we did, and we're still on his turf, anyhow.
...I don't think we can really DO anything else then let him know where we are and that we're injured, this at least should get across that we don't have hostile intent towards him.

>>556671
Why don't you check out the books there before we commit to anything? It'll give us a better idea of what kind of person he is.

this is a whole bunch of no choices in a row. you gotta call out to him even just so you can get out. be sure to mention being able to control it better.

Oh, there's another option. Now that you've found Firebeard we can get Victor here to help. He's not going to be any good at fighting nonlethally via his magic apparently but he'll be able to provide some physical muscle.

Can you describe Firebeard's house in a way that would make it easy to find? Or give straightforward directions?

check the cabinet next to you, maybe we'll luck out and find a first aid kit, or at least something to use as a split.

Nobody 2014/01/12(Sun)14:39 No. 556962 ID: 431163
File 138956638184.png - (40.24KB , 1100x750 , 74.png )

>>556740
It's a wardrobe, not a cabinet, but, let's check anyway... it looks like he really like robes. I don't really see any first-aid or anything.

Nobody 2014/01/12(Sun)14:40 No. 556963 ID: 431163
File 138956642185.png - (39.29KB , 1100x750 , 75.png )

>>556673
Alright, just.. okay. Ow. OW! Nng... just need to move my leg a bit...

Okay, okay. This is kinda more or less bearable. Let's see..

Nobody 2014/01/12(Sun)14:48 No. 556966 ID: 431163
File 138956691807.png - (49.73KB , 1100x750 , 77.png )

>>556964
And, uhm. I know you guys are gonna ask, so I took a peek at the fire one. I think it's a journal? It's filled with scribbling. Like, I can tell this isn't magic. It doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel like magic. Maybe he's trying to come up with something? Or refining what he has? Or maybe it's some kind of code that has nothing to do with magic at all? It's hard to tell with this stuff.

Victor said the way he did magic was different from how humans did magic...
I think this is FireBeard's book on Dwarven magic, which is why it feels wrong, as compared to the book...
GOOD NEWS though! FireBeard likely will change his tune once he lays eyes on you, so we have that going for us.

>>556966
He likes pretty women, and you are apparently one of those judging by the drunk's reaction.

The journal is something he will DEFINITELY not want to burn, so you can simply announce you have it and it will burn along with you if he kills you.

Vicki 2014/01/12(Sun)16:23 No. 556976 ID: 431163
File 138957258410.png - (39.27KB , 1100x750 , 79.png )

>>556973
Uhm, I'm gonna choose to ignore that 'apparently'.

Anyway... so we've definitely settled on calling him, then? Alright.

Okay. I can do this.


Let's go.


... "FIREBEARD! FIREBEARD, I AM RIGHT HERE!"

Vicki 2014/01/12(Sun)16:23 No. 556977 ID: 431163
File 138957260853.png - (42.84KB , 1100x750 , 80.png )

"Ah'm curious t'know how yeh're still ali- is tha- WHAT ARE YEH DOIN' WITH THA' BOOK?!"

Oh. That's not what it looks like!
Basically, we're here because well, we could use someone who knows how to read magic books, and hopefully also can help teach you magic, and it's a bit of a story why...

>>556976
Look we can't really tell. No offense meant.

>>556977
Tell him that depends on if he's going to try to kill you again.

Vicki 2014/01/12(Sun)17:15 No. 556983 ID: 431163
File 138957574264.png - (44.88KB , 1100x750 , 81.png )

>>556979
>That's not what it looks like!
...!!

>>556980
"That- that, that depends!.. Are- are you going to k-kill me?"

"If yeh don' drop tha' book RIGH' NOW I jus' migh'!"

Don't argue with an angry Dwarf with a fireball in his hands, I think.

Well it sounds like he agreed to NOT kill you if you put the book down so put it on the side of the bed or something and push it gently towards him.

Then tell him you came here because you wanted his help translating a book.

Show him your book

once you put it down you can explain you thought it was a book on fire magic.

If the book bores him you could talk about how you accidentally burned down the tavern. Should pique his interest.

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)11:14 No. 557363 ID: 431163
File 138972685758.png - (45.27KB , 1100x750 , 82.png )

"Here! J-just take it!"

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)11:14 No. 557364 ID: 431163
File 138972686911.png - (45.54KB , 1100x750 , 83.png )

...Please please please please please don't burn me...

"Yeh actually dropped th' damn'd thing?"

"...Yeees..?"

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)11:14 No. 557365 ID: 431163
File 138972688759.png - (45.23KB , 1100x750 , 84.png )

"Well then, lass! Excuse me for th' misunderstandin'! Now wha' can I do fer yeh?"

Oh... oh, wow. I kinda thought I was throwing away my one bargaining chip, there. I can't believe I'm not dead... maybe I'm half cat or something, but I'm burning through lives a little quickly, huh? Uhm, whatever. Book first, right?

"Okay, so.. I have this book. It's, uhm, one of the tomes of magicka.."

"Ay, a tome? An' which one is it?"

"The Magicka Mumbilis?"

"Aaah. Well tha' one is useless t'me, innit? Ah never was good at tha' 'mystic' crap."

"well i also have a friend who is the only leyline capable of moving about. we want to open a magic school and i was directed to you."

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)12:20 No. 557375 ID: 431163
File 138973082777.png - (45.33KB , 1100x750 , 85.png )

You're kinda quick to drop the whole book thing, huh? I mean, I only had two reasons to come down here, and that was one of them. I think we should at least show it to him, right?

"Could you, uhm, take a look at this, at least?"

"If yeh want, lass. But ah'm not goin' t'be any better at understandin' it then yeh. Worse, maybe."

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)12:20 No. 557376 ID: 431163
File 138973085073.png - (45.84KB , 1100x750 , 86.png )

"The other thing.. we're trying to start up a new school of magic. Uhm, we have this tome, plus an actual Anelyd of our own, but we need mages to actually teach stuff."

"An' who've yeh got?"

"...Just you, so far.."

"Ah see."

>>557376
Tell him it doesn't sound like much, sure but you just started working towards it today.

Ask why he tried to kill you.

Lots of room for growth, stock options blah blah.

Oh we have a mansion full of corpses! He can have the basement if he wants.

And plenty of time to ogle all the busty college girls that we are sure to attract eventually.

OH! And mention how you burned down that tavern which should've been impossible.

ask if he might know of someone who could help us read this thing. I mean the main reason we came down here was because someone pointed us this way so since this guy can actually use magic he might now someone or at least somewhere we could go and find someone who knows more about our book.

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)13:48 No. 557386 ID: 431163
File 138973608638.png - (45.92KB , 1100x750 , 87.png )

"Okay, I know it doesn't sound like much, but we /just/ started today. I promise it's gonna grow. And you'll be right there, right at the very beginning. You can grow with the school, you know?... Plus you can have whatever room you want. Like, you want the basement? It's yours."

"Ah'll have tah consider it, lass.."

"Plus, plus, there's gonna be lots of cute girls there. You never knn... kn..."

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)13:48 No. 557387 ID: 431163
File 138973609717.png - (46.08KB , 1100x750 , 88.png )

"..know..."

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)13:48 No. 557388 ID: 431163
File 138973613955.png - (46.54KB , 1100x750 , 89.png )

"DON'T PATRONIZE ME."

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!"

"YEH THINK AH'M STUPID? AH SEE THA' WAY /YEH/ LOOK AH' ME! AH'M DONE WITH THA' /SHIT/!"

"I'm sorry I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!"

...Your kinda burning our book pal.

As for what to say...Just say I really was hoping he'd help seeing as a friend of a friend said you'd probable be up for something like this. In my excitement I was saying things without thinking and I'm sorry if I offended you.
Then tell him where he could find the place if he decides to help out and also if he could help you up seeing as you kinda jacked your leg up in the fall down here. Also if he might know of someone who could help us decipher our book. Also can you ask him to stop burning our book please?

Sorry! Kind of really don't have much on the table to begin with, really! Ummm...Could you please put the book down before it gets damaged? Kind of hard to replace it...

Tell him the magical head voices apologize for suggesting that last part. Never even thought he might be touchy about his appearance.

Man did not even think about what having a pretty girl like you make the suggestion would look like. Now he is all angry because he thinks you thought of the remark and you pity him or something.

I wonder if we could fix him up with magic. That sort of thing depends on how healing magic works in this universe though.

>>557388
He's going to burn the book if he doesn't calm down. Ask for it back.

Is there a magical method of healing scars that bad?

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)15:18 No. 557437 ID: 431163
File 138974148714.png - (44.98KB , 1100x750 , 90.png )

"I'm really sorry, I wasn't thinking, I really didn't mean anything by it! Please, please just don't burn that book!"

"..Excuse me, lass. It ain' yeh're fault. Ah'm jus' a little tired o'playin' tha' game. Ah didn' understan' a single damn'd thing in tha' book. It jus' ain't my kinda' magic."

>>557411
>>557413
Magic can't reverse stuff, as far as I know. It can change stuff, but it's really hard to 'fix' things with it. We could maybe give him a new face, if we found someone good at that kinda stuff, but I don't know if that's what he wants?

Man, I really feel like a dick right now about this, but..

"Can.. can you fix my leg? I think I sprained it or broke it or something, it hurts a lot.."

"Ay. I can do tha'."

Vicki 2014/01/14(Tue)15:18 No. 557438 ID: 431163
File 138974149991.png - (44.48KB , 1100x750 , 91.png )

Ooooooooh my goooooood

This feels soooo good

"This ain' really mah kinda magic either, but I had tah learn t'basics, didn' I? Cannae' go playin' with fire if yeh cannae' fix yerself up after... that'll do it."

"Oh my god thank you!"

"I'd charge yeh, buu' since tha bank froze my account there jus' ain't a whole lot of point now, is there?.. Nah' that ah'm nes-ah-saralee' sayin' I wanna be any part of tha' school o'yehrs."

>>557438
If magic can't reverse stuff how is he doing THAT?

Ask why the bank froze his account. Did he burn down a tavern too?

you should tell him where the 'school' is so if he does decide to help he can find it. We really can't force him and after all this is his choice in the end. Also ask if he knows anyone that might be willing to help us with our little 'school' idea incase he does turn us down.

>>557440
acceleration. the wound would of eventually healed on it's own.

anyway, thank him for at least talking with you instead of blowing you up. and if he would at least come check the place out it would be nice.

Oh, ask if he knows any mages that might be able to read the book.

Now that we have a fire magic expert here ask him what could cause magic fire to burn stone?

Vicki 2014/01/16(Thu)16:17 No. 557932 ID: 431163
File 138991785341.png - (47.99KB , 1100x750 , 92.png )

I don't actually know where the hell Victor's found his place... but, I think one of you guys said it was near a leyline? Which makes it pretty easy.

"Uhm... if that's all, then I can totally leave and get out of your hair. Do you have any leylines nearby?"

"I cer'enly do, lass. I built tha' place righ' on top o'one. I'll show yeh righ' to it."

Vicki 2014/01/16(Thu)16:17 No. 557933 ID: 431163
File 138991786211.png - (40.23KB , 1100x750 , 93.png )

Wow. I am pretty glad that I just called him to me. It looks like it's a maze down here, too.

"Do you, by any chance, know any mages that /could/ help me with the book?"

"I cannae say I do, lass. I don' get ou' very often. Wish I coul' help yeh more."

Ugh... today is was totally worthless, wasn't it..? All of this stupid stress and we've got, like, /nothing/ to show for it. At least I'm getting out now, that's sort of good, I guess. Maybe I can still convince him to come with me and check the place out, at least... but I don't even know what the place looks like. Hopefully it's not a total shithole.

Vicki 2014/01/16(Thu)16:17 No. 557934 ID: 431163
File 138991787156.png - (29.52KB , 1100x750 , 94.png )

"Soo... uhm, why did you try and kill me, before?"

"Yeh were bargin' in through tha' front door, weren't yeh? My customers come in through tha' leyline, an' I wasn't expectin' anyone else. I thought yeh were... ah... well, if I tell yeh, I'd have tah kill yeh."

"Then I am SUPER okay with not knowing that! Moving on! I had one other thing..."

"Yes, lass?"

"So, I was in one of the bars down here, right?"

"I wouldn' sugges' that, lass. Yeh're guts cannae' take dwarven drink. Nah unless yeh're used tah drinkin' bleach an' mouthwash."

"Oh, wow... well, I didn't actually drink anything so... that's all cool, I guess. But, uhm, what I did do, I did kinda- /accidentally/ - burn the place down. Like, the whole place just caught fire."

"Yeh burnt solid rock, did yeh?.. If yeh're tryin' to impress me, lass, yeh could come up with somethin' a lil' more believable."

I guess that answers that.

"Nevermind, then.."

>>557934
Oh hell no you are not just dropping it because he doesn't believe you. Tell him normally you can only start small fires, and you have no idea how it happened. Then describe the tavern, and what the situation that happened, and ask him if maybe it was because you have the book on you?

Tell him that impressing him is not the idea. You just want to know from a professional what sort of energy could have got mixed up in your fire magic to make it do that.

Could the book have done it? Or the voices or a combination of things along with the stress of the situation. If we can rule out external influence then you might have some latent untapped power at your disposal.

Uhhh, show him the bar. if it's not still burning, it's probably gonna look mighty burnt. But perhaps MORE worrisome is the fact that sounds like an outright lie.
There's 'oh hey my magic got an upgrade!' and then there's 'Please don't make me use my magic-they already hate me for the last time they had to change the maps!'
You may be headed for the latter category.

yeah you didn't want to burn it down, you were accosted and lit the guy's beard on fire. he fell over and the fire lit up the rock he landed on.

say you really didn't try to burn it down you where trying to scare of a creepy dwarf lecher but instead light him up like barrel of gasoline and the bar quickly followed his example... We have no idea how that happened since normally this spell can only light a match or candle.

Vicki 2014/01/18(Sat)13:17 No. 558250 ID: 431163
File 139007982885.png - (25.32KB , 1100x750 , 95.png )

"C'mon, now. Yeh got in here, yeh can get back out."

"I'm trying, I'm trying! It's just kind of a tight squeeze! I nearly have it... actually, though! I had one more thing to say.."

"Aye? An' what's that?"

"Okay, so, uhm, hear me out... it actually did happen, I'm not trying to brag or anything. I, well, you see, there was this guy and he was kinda getting grabby, so I did this one little fire trick I know. I just meant to, like, make his beard smoke a little, but it went totally nuts, I wasn't trying to burn the rock or anything. I was, just, you know. Wondering if you knew anything that /theoretically/ could do that?"

Vicki 2014/01/18(Sat)13:18 No. 558251 ID: 431163
File 139007988541.png - (35.71KB , 1100x750 , 96.png )

"Lass, there's a million things tha' could 'theoretically' do somethin' like tha'. Magic ain't nothin' if it ain't unpredictable. Bu' Ah'm abou' as good at fire magic as anyone'll ever get, an' there ain't no fire magic that'll make a rock burn. Heat it, melt it, scorch it, sure. But there just ain't nothin' that'll make it burn. If yeh did do it, then what yeh made wasn't fire. Magic is fickle, there's a dozen oth'r branches and Ah know nothin' of any of 'em. Maybe yeh accidentally tapped intah somethin' else, somethin' that turned rock tah coal. Maybe yeh learned more from that book then yeh thought. Hell, maybe our Lord Baron's jus' messin' with yeh, but what yeh supposedly did wasn't any kinda advanced fire magic, like yeh're thinkin'."

I- I don't know how well you guys pick up tone, but he's still super skeptical. But it's apparently totally out of his sphere, so whatever. We really aren't any further ahead at all... uhm. I can feel the leyline, but we're still a little bit off. Is there anything else I should ask?

it's something we will keep an eye out for but I don't think there is anything more we can gain by us keep barking up this try. Who knows maybe there might be something to that godhood thing you wanted going on. But for now lets check out the place Victor has found, and hope he's cleaned it up a bit.

No that's fine.
Don't push it any further- the point was to figure out MORE about what you did...
Unfortunately, as FireBeard says, there's generally a thousand ways to pull out a trick. We COULD go to the bar itself to show him/ gain more information on this occurance... But it's the kind of thing that could get blamed on him, and It gets worse in that he'd know what happened, but not Vicki. That's the dangerous part, I think.

>>558251
...maybe it was a fire elemental?

Oh well. Tell him he can go check it out for himself if he wants, maybe he can figure out what happened by looking at the magical residue or burn patterns or something?

In the meantime we should ask if he knows where we can LOOK for a mage that can read the book. We're running out of leads.

Thank him for his advice. When an expert fire mage tells you something isn't fire, it probably isn't fire.

Oh and make sure you know how to get back here via the leyline, and that you have permission to come back.

Vicki 2014/01/19(Sun)23:10 No. 558526 ID: 431163
File 139020180216.png - (40.36KB , 1100x750 , 97.png )

Oh! I guess it was closer then I thought. It's kinda hard to tell through solid stone walls. I mean, not that I'm complaining! I am so fucking glad to get out of these fucking tunnels! I'm not claustrophobic or anything but it is super cramped and damp and nasty down here.

>>558269
I already asked him, apparently he doesn't know anyone.So, uhm, if nobody has any more questions...

Vicki 2014/01/19(Sun)23:10 No. 558527 ID: 431163
File 139020184477.png - (44.08KB , 1100x750 , 98.png )

...then I am finally getting out of this fucking dump! Thank god.

Oh! One thing, though! "Hey! Please, come visit us sometime! Uhm, I'm not sure where we are, but we have an Anelyd right there, so it shouldn't be hard to find!"

"O'course, lass. Ah think I'll take yeh up on tha'."

Okay! So, with that done, it's time to get out of here! Uhm... I'm not gonna explain this whole thing /right/ now, if you guys don't mind? I just want to get out of here. Plus I'm gonna look like an idiot if I just stand around talking to you. Soooo...

Vicki 2014/01/19(Sun)23:11 No. 558528 ID: 431163
File 139020186980.png - (46.17KB , 1100x750 , 99.png )

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Victor 2014/01/19(Sun)23:20 No. 558530 ID: 431163
File 139020244512.png - (46.35KB , 1100x750 , 100.png )

[[Oh! I did not expect to see you, at least, not before I saw Vicky. Is something wrong?]]

don't know enough about leyline travel to know if something is wrong or not. i think we just traveled through it faster because we are a magical construct and have no physical body needing transportation as well.

>>558530
BLARG okay Leylines do not mix well with us, fyi. Shit got all fucked up once she started the transfer process.

That said, unfortunately Firebeard is of no help with the book and he won't be joining us straight away. I think he'd prefer to wait until we have built ourselves up a bit. However he did say that he'd probably come visit later.

Oh, and he said it was impossible for fire to burn stone. Whatever happened to cause the dwarven tavern to burn like that it wasn't just fire magic. How's the base coming along?

huh we were with Vicki a second ago, hm she must be taking longer to go through the layline then we are... is that normal?

Victor 2014/01/20(Mon)00:29 No. 558534 ID: 431163
File 139020658469.png - (51.44KB , 1100x750 , 101.png )

[[Slow down a minute. So, she is still in the leyline? But you got separated? Very odd. But with any luck it does not mean anythi- oh. Speak of the dreamstealer, and there she is. And she's brought a friend with her? I thought this "Firebeard" was staying behind?]]

Victor 2014/01/20(Mon)00:29 No. 558535 ID: 431163
File 139020659320.png - (53.29KB , 1100x750 , 102.png )

"Uhm- I wasn't expecting you here!"

"An' I wasn't expectin' yeh're Anelyd tah walk an' talk."

[[But unfortunately enough, I do. I am Victor. You must be Firebeard?]]

"Aye. I came t'take a quick look ah't this school o'yeh'rs. Ah'm curious, now-"

"-God, is that darkness outside that window? Is it night? Lord almighty, today has been a long day. Please tell me you have a bed or something..."

[[Of course. The school is right across the street. Go on inside, we will follow you shortly. Now, Mr. Firebeard. It is not much, but I can give you the grand tour of our single decorated room before I retire for the night, myself. You are free to stay and look around as you wish. Our school is yours.]]

[[And as for you all. Is there anything I must know about this man? Or any questions I should ask? He is a stranger to me, but I assume he is at least amicable to the cause.]]

he knows the basics of normal magic but he claims that the way he does his big fire magic is different then the way others would do it. not sure what that means exactly. he's a bit lonely because no one wants to go out with a face like that, but don't mention it, it's kind of a touch subject for him. he seems to spook easily but is pretty okay.

tends to be the type that likes to shoot first and ask questions later and seems to be really good with fire magic. Things he doesn't like to bring up is his dating life or his face and yes the to are related. So if you just stick with business talk for now you should be fine.

>>558535
Apparently he doesn't react well to unexpected visitors coming through the public entrance to his house. I think he's in trouble with some shady folks or something. He can summon up some VERY large flames, by the way.

Oh, tell Vicki she might have some questions for Firebeard about what she saw about dwarven life while she was down there. We forgot to remind her amongst the excitement. I hope she has the presence of mind not to be insulting in her inquiries.

Victor 2014/01/21(Tue)17:48 No. 558920 ID: 431163
File 139035533597.png - (38.56KB , 1100x750 , 103.png )

[[I will do my best to keep it entirely professional. Of course I would never have brought up his scars anyway, but it is good to know he is sensitive to it. I think reminding Vicki about those questions will have to wait until tomorrow, however.]]

"Uhm, Victor? Could you have gotten something a little bigger, you think?"

[[Why? Is it inadequate?]]

Victor 2014/01/21(Tue)17:49 No. 558921 ID: 431163
File 139035534973.png - (37.81KB , 1100x750 , 104.png )

"Well, I mean... I /guess/ it'll do."

"Tha' buildin' looks goblin' made, tah'me."

[[Most likely. A little spartan, perhaps, as the goblins tend to be. Hopefully we will spruce the place up as we get the chance. Still, it isn't too different from your own dwellings, is it not?]]

"Wha-? Tha' goblin piece a' SHIT is NOTHIN' like ah dwarven house!"

[[Oh! Oh, of course. Excuse my impudence, I wasn't thinking. But, ah... perhaps you may be amused by this as well. It struck me as ironic, when I was cleaning it out. This building was previously used, and will be used- why, will be defiled even, by being a stronghold for magic. Wherever he is, the original goblin architect would be livid.]]

"...Heh. Tha' is true."

[[Perhaps we should go inside?]]

Victor 2014/01/21(Tue)17:49 No. 558922 ID: 431163
File 139035536425.png - (42.02KB , 1100x750 , 105.png )

"Cannae say I'm impressed. My own house is much bigger."

[[I am sure it is. Probably much more beautiful and well crafted, too. But, there are advantages to living here. It is rent free, at least until the government takes notice of us. You would be surrounded by magical talent to collaborate with, and of course, I and my magic would always be within close proximity. I understand you are already a powerful fire mage, but more power cannot hurt, can it? And you are free to take as much space to yourself as you want. If you wish to check on it, the basement can be accessed through either of the first level side halls.]]

"Aye. I think I'll do tha'."

[[Please do.]]

[[As for you all. Is there anything else you need? Or shall we draw this night to a close? Tomorrow, I think, you will all come with me.]]

hmmm... nope, not that i can think of.

I think we're done, bedtime!

>>558922
Well I do have one question. You work with a goblin that hates magic taking the place of technology. How do you two work together?

huh, after we left you when you were still, cleaning this place out I really thought it would look a little rougher then this truth be told. Good work on the cleaning. Anyways as fun as this day has been for all of us I think some rest would do everyone some wonders.