>>631558
sounds good.

>>631558
Seems reasonable. Everyone should have a little love in their life!

>>631553
Calmly explain our own love life and lead into adventuring.

[x] Say you're joking.
don't pressure her.

[x] talk about your adventures.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/04/13(Mon)07:00 No. 634133 ID: 914bcf
File 142893362095.png - (122.81KB , 500x500 , CH004a.png )

"Well, whatever your decision is, know that I support it. Everyone should have a little love in their life." You suggest.
"T-thanks." Karmen's blush tones down to a more manageable level. "So, how about you? What's your story?"

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/04/13(Mon)07:03 No. 634134 ID: 914bcf
File 142893380209.png - (121.45KB , 500x500 , CH004b.png )

>>634133
"Ah yes, let me tell you of my own love story. Back in the old country, I am lucky to have married a woman that I love. We supported each other. Then came the day when I have to see the wider world -"
"Wait, so you just left her?" Karmen interrupts.
"Not without her blessing. You see, us Ksselyr, we have this strong wanderlust. We accept it as part of us, what Neode left for us. Now, she might have left on a journey of her own now - but that did not mean I love her less for it."
Karmen muses a bit. "Ksselyr culture is strange to me."
"Likewise. Airfen customs are interesting to me, too."

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/04/13(Mon)07:09 No. 634135 ID: 914bcf
File 142893415915.png - (100.82KB , 500x500 , CH004c.png )

>>634134
A noise alerts the both of you. You see Nilode and Vesmir ahead - but they have their weapons drawn, pointing to one end of the cargo hold.
Something's up.
>Wat do?
[] Tell Karmen to ready her sword.
[] Ready your own brazen knuckles.
[] Try to talk to Nilode.
[] Try to talk to Vesmir.
[] Go forward and see what they're up against.
[] Use magic to see what they're up against.
[] Call for backup, Samo's not that far.
[] Get Karmen to call for backup.
[] Other (fill in)

[x] Tell Karmen to ready her sword.
Best to be ready bith if you.

[x] Try to talk to Nilode.
Try and assess the situation before rushing in.
Buuuut... let Karmen speak to Vesmir~

[] Tell Karmen to ready her sword.
[] Ready your own brazen knuckles.
[] Try to talk to Nilode.
[] Try to talk to Vesmir.
really just talk to whoever is willing to tell you what's going on or whoever reacts to your presents first.

>>634135

[x] Ready your own brazen knuckles.

[x] Use magic to see what they're up against.
[x] Get Karmen to call for backup.

[x] move fast.

>>634206
Seems reasonable. Be prepared for action, and ask the people in advance of you what's going on.

Moving forward to investigate yourself, or casting a spell, risk setting off the situation if this is a tense moment.

>>634135
>[X] Try to talk to Nilode.
>[X] Try to talk to Vesmir.
I think they're showing off their toys.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/05/11(Mon)08:13 No. 639675 ID: 6e32a2
File 143135723647.png - (119.32KB , 500x500 , CH005a.png )

You slowly don your knuckles, and sidle behind Nilode. "What seems to be the problem?"
He scans the apparently empty corner of the cargo hold, his knives following his gaze. "Okay, I admit I was going to see what enchantments that blade of yours have, so I followed Vesmir when he moved the box - but something else was here, I swear! Vesmir saw it first, said it looked like a person facing away. Then I saw it as it turned its head, I'm sure it's not people. It disappeared right before our eyes."
Oh dear, a stowaway?

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/05/11(Mon)08:17 No. 639678 ID: 6e32a2
File 143135746878.png - (119.15KB , 500x500 , CH005b.png )

>>639675
"What Nilode said is true. I can vouch that it is nothing like I have seen." Vesmir agrees.
Meanwhile, Karmen had already joined them in drawing her own weapon. "I don't like this. When something disappears, it's either Airfen technology or magic. And Airfens who use them won't hesitate to kill us for just witnessing them disappear." She comments.
Just to be sure, you cast a bit of true sight on yourself, to see where our intruder is -

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/05/11(Mon)08:27 No. 639680 ID: 6e32a2
File 143135804147.png - (227.11KB , 500x600 , what IS that thing.png )

>>639678
Or rather, the better question, what.
As in, what in Neode's holy name is that thing behind Vesmir?!?
The thing seems to have tentacles writhing and squirming from its back, gripping the wooden ceiling hard, while it drips disgustingly acrid magical aura. Time seems to blur slower as it hung there, right in front of those flour bags, raising its misshapen arm as if to strike...
"You see anything, Moribe?"
>Wat dafuq do we do?
[] Yell out BEHIND YOU at Vesmir!
[] Shoot out a bolt of magic at the thing! (warning: you are low on magical charge)
[] Yank Vesmir out or down!
[] Transmit the thing's location to Nilode using mindlink!
[] Burst that bag of flour using magic so that everyone can see!
[] Parry the thing's blows using your knuckles!
[] Get Karmen to swing behind Vesmir, and Vesmir to duck!
[] Other (fill in)

yank and burst.

[] Yank Vesmir out or down!
[] Transmit the thing's location to Nilode using mindlink!
[] Get Karmen to swing behind Vesmir, and Vesmir to duck!
get vesmir out of harms way first and then get have Karmen distract it while you mindlink with Nilode so you have to people who can see the damn thing so we can take it out easier.

>[] Yank Vesmir out or down!
>[] Transmit the thing's location to Nilode using mindlink!
I think that's the best we can do. Hopefully the mind-link isn't rejected, and doesn't cost mana we don't have. There's no time before the strike- a warning won't be enough. We have to spend our action preveting him being stabbed. And we won't have the chance to burst the four and make it visible to everyone, so we'll fall back on mindlink.

Maybe if we're lucky Nilode's attack will burst the four as well.

>>639680

[x] Other (fill in)
Psychic scream! Shout out its location while mind linking and ordering the swing and exploding that flour, charging like a mad man with that beautiful melee weapon.

Yank and burst/send (whichever would use less mana)

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/05/27(Wed)06:55 No. 643461 ID: 39c8c2
File 143273492889.png - (165.26KB , 500x500 , CH006a.png )

With no time to spare, you grabbed Vesmir's arm, and pulled him toward you. This action might have slightly inconvenienced Karmen, though, but no matter, Vesmir's head is still squarely on his shoulders. As the two Airfens stagger backwards, you throw out a mindlink to Nilode -

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/05/27(Wed)07:02 No. 643462 ID: 39c8c2
File 143273533592.png - (207.70KB , 500x500 , CH006b.png )

>>643461
Which is ultimately not needed, as he has already loosed one of his knives towards the general direction of the monstrosity. While the monster dodged the knife, it did not dodge the cloud of flour caused by the impact of the knife. It seems to be confused by the flour, its eyes seemed to be coated with it. Well, besides the fact that it's now visible to all.
Time to strike back.
>But how?
[] Pool whatever mana you can scrounge up into your knuckles, and give a magical beatdown on that thing's torso.
[] Get Nilode to stab it in the torso or head, his way is probably safer.
[] Vesmir might still be able to aim from his position, get him to pepper the area with lead.
[] Get Vesmir off Karmen so she could strike a big damaging blow with her sword. Might be a bit slow though.
[] Other (fill in)

[X] Vesmir

>>643462
lets keep our distance and shoot. We got it surrounded, no need to rush.

Though...any way to subdue and interrogate?

>] Get Vesmir off Karmen so she could strike a big damaging blow with her sword. Might be a bit slow though.
we need to get our people up so they're not sitting ducks... that and with us being so low on magic I don't really want to push ourselves unless we have no other choice. Just make sure Nilode is covering your ass while you get the team back up.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/06/08(Mon)08:09 No. 647100 ID: a19244
File 143377619091.png - (126.75KB , 500x500 , CH007a.png )

As you help Vesmir up from the Airfen heap, he hands you the box. Wordlessly, he mouths, "Keep it safe". Karmen then props him up.
"Thanks. You alright?" Vesmir asks.
"Yeah, I'm fi-"

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/06/08(Mon)08:14 No. 647101 ID: a19244
File 143377644863.png - (163.25KB , 500x500 , CH007b.png )

>>647100
Her sentence is cut short my a sudden movement from the abomination. But thankfully, it's the only thing cut short, as Karmen quickly catches the beast's scythe-like arm on her sword, while at the same time protecting Vesmir. The sound of chitin and steel clashing echoed through the cargo hold.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/06/08(Mon)08:26 No. 647103 ID: a19244
File 143377718671.png - (180.69KB , 500x500 , CH007c.png )

>>647101
The beast seems to be confused, perhaps it is not used to being seen? The same jerky pause happened as when Nilode covered it with flour. As it ceases movement, you now realize that the beast is closer than before, and you can discern some details from it, especially its face, which seem insectoid - but insects don't have shoulder-length blond hair. Or for that matter, stitched flesh and chitin, partially fused with magic. The reek of it is palpable.
What sort of madman would make this abomination?

The question dies as fast as Vesmir pulls the trigger, and a bright flash illuminates the beast's visage for the last time, followed by a loud SPHUT.
It's quite a mess now. At least it's now dormant.
>wat do next?
[] Get the box with the knife somewhere else safe. The thing might have been after it.
[] Get Vesmir or Karmen to tell Samo about the intruder.
[] Or maybe just straight to Caena. Tell her about the dangerous stowaway.
[] Make sure the abomination is well and truly dead, and get Nilode to help too; this mess might be Necromantic.
[] Scan the corpse using magic, see if there's something we can trace. This will only use a small bit of magic. Then again your mana reserves are low.
[] Other (fill in)

[] Other (fill in)
Nilode scans the room using magic to check for any more of the things then goes with Vesmir to tell the crew and inspect the rest of the ship. Karmen and Moribe inspect the corpse to make sure it doesn't get up again or do anything magical.

>>647103
[-] Get the box with the knife somewhere else safe. The thing might have been after it.
[-] Get Vesmir or Karmen to tell Samo about the intruder.
[-] Or maybe just straight to Caena. Tell her about the dangerous stowaway.
>someone else can handle this
[X] Make sure the abomination is well and truly dead, and get Nilode to help too; this mess might be Necromantic.
>Call over people to guard the thing and get ready to mutilate it.
[X] Scan the corpse using magic, see if there's something we can trace. This will only use a small bit of magic. Then again your mana reserves are low.
>See what we can learn

>>647103
Make sure the abomination is well and truly dead, and get Nilode to help too; this mess might be Necromantic.

[X] Get the box with the knife somewhere else safe. The thing might have been after it.

[X] Make sure the abomination is well and truly dead, and get Nilode to help too; this mess might be Necromantic.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/07/09(Thu)08:37 No. 654251 ID: 7cece1
File 143645627615.png - (118.81KB , 500x500 , CH008a.png )

"Is it dead?" Karmen asks.
"Seems so. But with this level of magical taint... it helps to go the extra length." You reply. Indeed, you need to do a rite of purification, just in case this abomination is a necromantic one; but you feel your mana reserves is low. "Nilode, mind giving a little magical help?"
"Yeah, sure. What do you need?"
"You know how to do an amplification circle?"
"Ah, you want to purify? Gotcha." With that, he sends three of his daggers around the corpse, tracing imaginary lines.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/07/09(Thu)08:41 No. 654252 ID: 7cece1
File 143645650074.png - (119.33KB , 500x500 , CH008b.png )

>>654251
When the three daggers finish tracing and stab themselves onto the wooden floor, you recite the purification mantra; to those who can sense magical auras, a slow spiral of greenish energy rose from the corpse. As it gyrates through the air, it loses the greenish tinge, and reverts to neutral - whatever thins thing's soul has been purified. You sense something's odd about this 'soul', though... but what?

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/07/09(Thu)08:48 No. 654254 ID: 7cece1
File 143645689888.png - (145.63KB , 500x500 , CH008c.png )

>>654252
You feel your mana at a nadir now, the ritual sapping nearly every drop of it.
"Allright, can someone tell me what's going on here?" Caena arrives with Samo and Gnoros behind her.
"I called her as soon as I heard a gunshot. I trust you've got the situation under control?" Samo explains.
>Wat do?
[] You've got a very unpleasant hitch-hiker, Caena.
[] Seen anything like this, Samo?
[] Gnoros, I'm afraid we lost a bag of flour.
[] Examine the corpse further, let the others explain.
[] Examine the soul further.
[] Make sure the knife in the box is safe.
[] Other (fill in)

>let the others explain.
They have mouths. They'll manage.

>[] Examine the soul further.
Assuming that doesn't take mana we don't have, I assume the soul will only stick around to be examined a short time. We should do that while we can. Examining the body can wait, it's not going anywhere.

[] You've got a very unpleasant hitch-hiker, Caena.
[] Examine the soul further.
After briefly saying there was a hitchhiker examine the soul, since it will probably quickly disappear to wherever it is souls go.

>>654254
[x] Gnoros, I'm afraid we lost a bag of flour.

[] Gnoros, I'm afraid we lost a bag of flour.
[] Examine the corpse further, let the others explain.
[] Examine the soul further.
[] Make sure the knife in the box is safe.

>>654254
In priority and opportunity.
[x] Examine the soul further.
>Do this first, maybe ask Samo while we do it if we can.
[x] Examine the corpse further, let the others explain.
>important after soul. corpse might disolve or some other weird magic before we get to it.
[x] Seen anything like this, Samo?
Ask now if not later. depends on time. its an action of opportunity.

[x] Make sure the knife in the box is safe.
>someone else can handle this, delegate the task, we don't have enough juice to mist jaunt anyway so someone with fast feet will be better. If its going somewhere now, its damn near out of our hands.

[x] You've got a very unpleasant hitch-hiker, Caena.
[x] Gnoros, I'm afraid we lost a bag of flour.
>let Samo do the talking, you are busy. need a nap after this, maybe some drink.


[-] Other (fill in)
>dont want to add extra this time.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/08/02(Sun)08:18 No. 659829 ID: e42061
File 143852868404.png - (154.65KB , 500x500 , CH009a.png )

You feel as if you should examine the soul further, before it escapes into the Lightless Sky - but you're very low on mana. Luckily, Ksselyr can always see auras, so you try extending yours to examine the soul. As soon as your aura touches it, however, it splits into several souls.

Which can only mean one thing: Multi-part Necromancy, one of the forms of Necromancy forbidden by the Marnaka Code. And then it's used for combat, which is another violation of the Marnaka Code's stance on Necromancy.

Furthermore, as your aura sift through the souls, you glance some bits and pieces of memory. By Neode! Animals and sapient races were amalgamated into the abomination! How on Tharsia could someone have such magical precision?

As you watch the souls dissipate to the Lightless Sky, you tuned back into the world around you. Seems like Nilode's about to finish briefing Caena about what happened. "...and that's how I see it. Necromance'd, stitched-up assassin."
"That doesn't explain why it's targeting my ship specifically... but you might not know that as well. Gnoros, check out with the Ksselyr, see what's up with our... hitchhiker." Caena seems to be unconvinced by Nilode.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/08/02(Sun)08:26 No. 659832 ID: e42061
File 143852918953.png - (129.00KB , 500x500 , CH009b.png )

>>659829
Gnoros kneels down beside you. "Moribe, show me what you got."
"Well, remember that Razorfish from earlier? Pacha thinks it's weird, and he might be right. These same stitches were found on a piece of that Razorfish. And while examining the soul, I found that it was actually an amalgam of several souls - including two Tharsians, a Ksselyr, and a Hozith youth -" You stop once you realized Gnoros was staring on the abomination's arm - well, a piece of it, at least. "Gnoros?"
"No, it can't be..." You hear him mumble.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/08/02(Sun)08:33 No. 659833 ID: e42061
File 143852960902.png - (110.70KB , 500x500 , CH009c.png )

>>659832
"What is it, Gnoros?" You ask.
He drops his head. "That tattoo, the boat with the x." Tears start to well from his eyes. "That is the same one I gave to my nephew on his coming-of-age. Karos was his name."
"...my condolences, Gnoros."
"He's going to be a good sailor, he told me. Gonna go be just like his uncle, he said..."

The tears and silence seems to go indefinitely.

"Moribe, could you promise me one thing?" Gnoros was the one to break it.
"I'll try."
"Promise me you'll find whoever did this to my nephew Karos?"
"If I can. I shall see to it."
"Thank you.

The silence continued for the rest of the day.

>>659833
---Arc 1, chapter 2, end---

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/08/02(Sun)08:40 No. 659835 ID: e42061
File 143853000748.png - (126.14KB , 500x500 , epilogue-a.png )

Epilogue

A candle fizzles out. A figure inspects it.
"Heekekeke. Seems like my pet has been found out. I wonder if it was a fluke or they weren't just another run-of-the-mill smuggler ship like Jesst told me? Jesst, you shape-shifting card."

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/08/02(Sun)08:45 No. 659836 ID: e42061
File 143853029816.png - (99.52KB , 500x500 , epilogue-b.png )

>>659835
"Oh well. Heekekeke. I've still got a lot of pets to throw at them. That ship will sink, Heekekeke. I wonder if Anaximander found his knife yet - oh, oh! I thought I felt it on the ship! Heekekeke! These are the same ones that fought him? Very interesting research material!"
A cavernous space, filled with candlelight. Two more abominations flank the figure.

Indonesian Gentleman 2015/08/02(Sun)08:51 No. 659837 ID: e42061
File 143853071029.png - (99.25KB , 500x500 , epilogue-c.png )

>>659836
"If they are such bright specimens, fresh specimens, heekekeke, then what am I, Varfija the Beastmaster, doing here monitoring? Get them while they're fresh! Heekekeke! Time to dive, Shadow! Forget about the last ship's remains! Oh, won't Anaximander be happy that I returned his knife? He's always angry! Maybe this'll cheer him up, heekekeke!"
A black behemoth under the surface sinks, its gregarious nature marred by multiple grafts and wards, to deny the very Ocean from entering its innards.

The Beastmaster hunts.

end of epilogue.

>>659837
ohhhh dear.

>necromancy franken-whale submarine base
Simply amazing.

>>659837
we're going to need a bigger boat.