Grab the pack then slam your back against one wall, your feet against the other and start to climb.

Test Pattern 2009/10/30(Fri)03:08 No. 70317 ID: 7eda8b
File 125689728213.png - (213.62KB , 600x600 , AQ338.png )

Goshen grabs his pack with some difficulty. His spear creaks and cracks and bends ever so slightly in the meantime.

"Gods take her," the sergal murmurs angrily. "Gods take her to Hell."

He manages to haul himself out. Shadran's not to be seen. Aphek hasn't moved.

>>70317
Continue your pleasant walk towards Aphek, but this time be aware of your surroundings.

You need to tell Aphek he was right all along about Shadran.

>>70318
Poke the ground HARD with the butt of your spear if need be, keep an eye out for deadfalls and tripwires.

>>70317
Yeah, seconding very slow, deliberate, careful progress. I'm sure the well isn't the only trap out there.

We are gonna need to get a new haft in the next village.

A FLASH OF MEMORY FROM LONG AGO

[11:17:10 AM] <TestPattern> That said, every time someone thinks he should mack up with Shadran, god kills like ten kittens

Test Pattern 2009/11/02(Mon)22:50 No. 71913 ID: 7eda8b
File 125723103960.png - (292.81KB , 600x600 , AQ339.png )

>>70357
Goshen walks very slowly and carefully, paying close attention to each step and tapping the ground with the haft of his spear.

"...Is that really necessary?" Aphek calls, worriedly. "What if she comes back?"

"Shut up," says Goshen.

>>71913
Excellent, the ministry of silly walks would gladly fund such a silly walk!

Check on Aphek.

>>71913
Remember to use the spear to help test the ground.

Also, while checking the ground, do stay as aware of your surroundings as you can, Aphek has a point, a situation where you are distracted is exactly what Shadran likes to initiate combat in. Be ready.

And the way Aphek is calling you..... it seems odd, be on your guard, in case of a trap.

Basically, let the paranoid part of you decide how much attention you should pay to your surroundings, considering a Talyxian warrior out for your blood may be nearby.

Test Pattern 2009/11/02(Mon)23:05 No. 71922 ID: 7eda8b
File 125723190713.png - (354.33KB , 600x600 , AQ340.png )

Goshen reaches the southerner without incident.

"What's with you? Why are you just stand- Oh. I see," says Goshen.

"I didn't say anything because I don't want her to know I'm stuck," Aphek says, keeping his voice low.

>>71922
"Ah. Well I guess that was smart of you. How come you didn't just pull out your leg? Or, you know, be a real man and just cut off your ankle."

Tell him to keep an eye out while you free him.

>>71922
Facepalm and help him out, carefully. Ask him for his opinion of how to proceed.

Remember training you may have had for such a situation.

>>71922
That...... that doesn't look like a foot that is stuck, I mean, it's just dirt, right? Unless there was some sort of trap that has grasped him.

In the event it is just dirt, it is almost impossible for him to be stuck. Which could mean he is lying. While holding what looks to be a drawn sword. Within reach of your personage.

I'm not saying Aphek has betrayed you, I am saying that right now, things look suspicious, and you should act accordingly by being cautious. Ask him to try and get out on his own while you keep an eye out for Shadran, but keep an eye on Aphek too, just in case.

>>71922
That was pretty smart of him, actually. Get him out of there. ... make for the woods as soon as you can, you don't want to cross the field again.

Also really clever of Shadran. I wonder how many Sergals she's killed this way...

>>71922
Pull him out.

Test Pattern 2009/11/02(Mon)23:27 No. 71940 ID: 7eda8b
File 125723324414.png - (178.96KB , 500x500 , AQ341.png )

>That...... that doesn't look like a foot that is stuck, I mean, it's just dirt, right?
Fraid not.

Goshen's seen this kind of trap before. Sharpened stakes are angled downward and inward, guiding the foot to the center of the pit as the victim steps down and preventing its removal. They're already cutting into Aphek's skin. Pulling his foot out will leave him terribly mutilated.

Aphek's enlarged the hole a little bit, but he's made little progress freeing himself. Chopping at the stakes with his sword will hurt his foot more, but digging them out will take awhile.

>I wonder how many Sergals she's killed this way...
Goshen could try counting, but it will take awhile.

>>71924
"Well, you could be a real man and cut off your foot," Goshen says.

"Are... you serious?" Aphek says. He sounds very afraid.

>>71940
Have Aphek work at digging himself out, provide him the tools he needs to do so if necessary, and while he does so, keep an eye out for Shadran or any other potential threat.

>>71940
"haha of course not. How else would i make you march around ."

>>71940
Go for the time-consuming option, while keeping a lookout. He's going to need to walk when we go to the Fort or wherever.

>>71940
"No... No I'm not serious. Hold still. Keep your eyes and ears and nose out for Shadran."

Carefully try to pull the spikes out of his foot and gingerly remove it from the hole. Make a mental note to not waste any time killing this bitch in the future.

>>71940
Aww, poor Aphek.

Okay, inventory check. Do we not have a dagger of some sort? That could probably cut more precisely than a sword.

Failing that, some way to snip off the ends of the downward spikes could... conceivably work. We could then remove the tips separately.

I'd suggest using cookwear to aid with digging, but honestly I think your hands will do the job faster.

>>71940
take off your leg armor. make it a circular tube by holding the hard bits opposite like this -> ()
do that around aphek's leg, then slide it down to his foot, pushing all the spikes out of the way so he can pull his foot out.

>>71948
This is a good idea. I support it.

Pour some whiskey on the foot after you get it out in case of infection.

Test Pattern 2009/11/03(Tue)01:07 No. 71986 ID: 7eda8b
File 125723926682.png - (160.54KB , 500x500 , AQ342.png )

>>71946
"Keep a look out for me," Goshen says, and gets to work.

>>71948
This is a good idea. Goshen explains it to Aphek and removes his thigh plates. It'll be tricky, however, and might leave a few uncovered, which he can either dig out, which could take awhile, or try to bend aside and hope for the best, which could hurt Aphek more.

On the bright side, nothing's stabbed into his foot yet, only cut it.

>>71986
Keep your buddy calm. If he twitches or something, hello pegleg pete.


But, uh, don't say that.

Test Pattern 2009/11/03(Tue)01:21 No. 71997 ID: 7eda8b
File 125724006013.png - (83.39KB , 600x600 , AQ343.png )

Though Aphek's keeping watch, the dustback can't help but look down at what's happening to his foot. Likewise, though Goshen's trying to focus on the task, he can't help but glance around.

The place is troublesome, to put it lightly. Stone foundations that were once talyxian roundhouses are everywhere. The weeds and grasses are rough and high, and could be hiding many features he can't see. The woods are thick in all directions.

Overgrown paths through the trees go south, where they came from, and also west and east. Goshen knows Fort Ji, their destination, is to the east. Shadran said they could get to there directly from here, but has not proven herself particularly trustworthy, to put it rather fucking lightly.

>>71997
Let's take a little detour and circle around the area, at least this area. By no means are we to just walk straight there. She's probably got the whole area booby-trapped.

make note to check out those graves on the wya out.

Lets not circle around precisely because she has the whole area booby trapped. We should leave the way we came in. We know there aren't any pits or anything that way.

>>71997
It'd probably be best to go out the way we came, though Shadran would probably head us off there in ambush.

>>71986

I've got an idea, but you're going to need to use your arwing.... er, helmet.

Same as what you've got going now, but have Aphek take your helmet and put it at the front of his shin.

Slide the other two back into a V with the helmet capping it at a ^ or overhead ). This wahy, You'll get something like <) all the way around. More than enough protection for him to get out.

But be ready to move at the slightest sound. My guess? She went back to get those elves.

>>71986
If you can hold the thighplates in place with one hand (you're big and strong), or if Aphek can help, I second using your arwing helmet to push the spikes in back out of the way. That only leaves the thorn in front to deal with. That only leaves the front spike to deal with, which shouldn't take nearly as long to dig out as the entire gamut there. If it's possible to do that, go for it, please.

As for getting Aphek out fast versus taking time to dig... I suggest you ask Aphek. He knows the risks associated with both, and it's his leg.

Test Pattern 2009/11/04(Wed)23:36 No. 72710 ID: 7eda8b
File 125740659938.png - (401.92KB , 700x600 , AQ344.png )

>>72456
Goshen removes his helmet and uses it and the leg-plates to protect around Aphek's leg. It's a really tight fit, and Goshen has to be very careful not to push too hard. It's taking longer than he thought, but it's still much faster than digging the stakes out.

"Storm's brewing," says Aphek.

"Is that really important right now?" asks Goshen.

"It might be."

Well, the storm might hide us a bit better from Shadran... and it would wash away any tracks we make, though it would make us much easier to track tomorrow with all the mud...

>>72710
Standing in an open plain during a thunderstorm? ... could cause problems, yeah.

But first things first. Get Aphek out.

Also, that bloody spot in the field. Is that from earlier, or is it something else?

>>72710
Lightning strikes would be bad. Aphek should hold his sword near the ground or not hold it at all. Get into the forest as soon as possible.

SHADRAN, BUSHES!

Don't act up. Inform each-other calmly so both know. And try to act like you did not notice.

COUNTER TRAP

>>72714
Or is that a blood stain from the fight?

>>72719
From this angle, there is no reason it would fluff up like that without a very irregular blood pattern.

Plus, it looks like it is being blown in the same direction as the grass.

Ergo, SHADRAN

Test Pattern 2009/11/05(Thu)20:57 No. 72911 ID: 7eda8b
File 125748346690.png - (413.58KB , 700x600 , AQ345.png )

>SHADRAN, BUSHES!
"Goshen? I think I see, uh-"

"I see it."

"Is it her?"

"Not sure."

>Or is that a blood stain from the fight?
There was no blood spilled in that spot.

Well. Not recently, anyway.

It's very low to the ground, but the tall grass could be hiding depressions and irregularities in the ground. As the grass sways, more or less of it becomes visible, and it seems to sway as well. If it's Shadran, she must not realize she's visible.

>>72911

"You know, I can see you over there! You realize that, right?"

Get him out.

EXTREMELY CAREFULLY, Go over and investigate. Head on a swivel, keep your eyes open.

Investigate red thing. Then report.

>>72911
Tell Aphek to keep an eye on it. If it moves, disappears, or does anything, he's to tell you immediately.

You, concentrate on getting his leg out.

Suggestion 2009/11/05(Thu)21:01 No. 72915 ID: f8dcc1
File 125748369874.jpg - (27.16KB , 480x360 , cut it out.jpg )

>>72911
"Hey. Shadran. Cut it out."

Pull down aphek's pants and waggle his junk at her.

Can Aphek move yet?

Also, this could be a distraction. Glance around to see if anything's sneaking up from the direction opposite it.

>>72911
Don't let on she's visible. Also, stay wary. Chances are this is a decoy. She's proven better than this in the past.

From what we've seen earlier, she's way too clever to expose herself like that. It's very likely either a trap and she's approaching from opposite direction or just something red.

Problem will appear if the red thing disappears or moves, then we'll be practically sure she's back and we're in deep shit.

Hurry up and stay wary, especially keep attention on direction opposite from the red stuff.

It's a diversion, you idiot. Tell Aphek to watch it and you focus on a different area.

>>72911
You only need to be worried if it starts moving, be ready to be attacked but focus on other areas in case it's a decoy, tell aphek to keep an eye on it. He should be able to manage this as he'll be more worried about Shadran than whatever you're doing to his foot.

Test Pattern 2009/11/06(Fri)01:22 No. 73027 ID: 7eda8b
File 125749933757.png - (159.23KB , 500x500 , AQ346.png )

>>72984
>>72983
"I think it's diversion," Goshen says.

"What?"

"She's good. Too good to make a mistake like that. It's probably, uh, a bundle of weeds dyed red, or something," says Goshen, then considers.

"...Unless that's what she wants us to think," he adds. "Watch everywhere."

Aphek makes a frightened sound, but that's good. Sergals have excellent peripheral vision, and his eyes are no doubt scanning everything around him now.

Goshen finally gets the last point out of Aphek's flesh, shields him with the armor, and carefully pulls his leg free.

Hug Aphek.

No time for hugs, get your armor back on!

Check how badly Apheks leg is wounded. If he's still ok leg it out of the woods the way you came in. You remember the way right? Be careful about traps as long you're still in the clearing.
Also put your armor back on, but that should go without saying.
Do Sergals get ill if exposed to harsh weather?

Quick hug then GTFO.

Definitely do a quick hug, if nothing else to make Shadran feel like a dick.

No hug. He's a nice enough guy, but he's a dustback.

Hug time. Shadran needs to see the power of friendship.

And kiss him, they may be the last lips you'll ever know!

I think a friendly pat on the back will suffice.

Once you've put your armor on.

You should really investigate those graves though. You might find something good.

Rearmour yourself, obvious choice of action. Status report on Aphek's leg. Then work on getting out of the trap-filled death field.

Test Pattern 2009/11/06(Fri)20:50 No. 73381 ID: 7eda8b
File 125756943097.png - (266.93KB , 600x600 , AQ347.png )

Aphek stumbles free, assessing the wounds on his foot. Goshen grabs his helmet, and sees a flash of motion in the trees to the east, only for an instant.

better get that armour on as fast as you can.

>>73381
Assume a combat-ready stance.

Test Pattern 2009/11/06(Fri)21:07 No. 73394 ID: 7eda8b
File 12575704187.png - (303.30KB , 600x600 , AQ348.png )

Goshen doesn't see shit. He continues pulling on his armor.

Storm clouds darken the sky.

>>73381

Elves. Perhaps the ones we didn't kill earlier.

I'm afraid we're going to have to forget checking anything else out. Quickly and carefully evacuate the area. Try to get out of the forest as quickly as possible and run like hell to Fort Ji.

You may have to worry about getting shot in the back, so remember.

SERPENTINE.

Can we make like a tree and get the fuck outta here?

Is the red crap still there?

I wonder if Shadran cut off her own hair to serve as a decoy.

Test Pattern 2009/11/06(Fri)21:44 No. 73410 ID: 7eda8b
File 125757268381.png - (272.02KB , 600x600 , AQ349.png )

>Can we make like a tree and get the fuck outta here?
Could you please be more specific?

>Is the red crap still there?
Yes. It's a little unnerving.

Goshen would like to stress that shit is beginning to get real.

Then pose as a team.

>>73410

Reiterate: Leave. Now.

>>73410
You'd better get into the forest before you get hit by lightning. Standing around in the middle of a clearing with metal on your head is a bad idea. Skirt around the edge of the clearing, heading towards the south entrance that you came from. May as well get a little closer to the red stuff and see what it is; both of you should also keep an eye out in general.

Test Pattern 2009/11/06(Fri)22:00 No. 73418 ID: 7eda8b
File 125757363916.png - (276.76KB , 600x600 , AQ350.png )

>Reiterate: Leave. Now.
Goshen needs you to be more specific. A direction would help.

There are paths to the south, the east, and the west. Goshen's goal lies to the east, but he saw movement in that direction. they arrived from the south, but they know that would eventually get them back to the main road, where, if they're still alive, they can head to Fort Ji. Going south also means crossing the most open ground. To the west is unknown.

Alternately, they could forget the paths, and simply rush north. That's the shortest distance to the treeline.

>>73410
That movement in the forest may very well be Shadran; in particular, I thought I saw a tail.

However, navigating a deathtrap-filled plain slowly in the middle of a lightning storm is also a bad idea. Make for the trees and skirt until you reach the south entrance. Tell Aphek to be alert, and keep your own weapon ready.

She has the biggest advantage when she gets inside our reach. We can't let her do that.

>>73414
That.

South, the east path seems like it'd be trapped.

>>73421

south

If shadran laid that as a decoy she may be circling around north, west might be a good direction to go to but you'll risk more traps.

however if you rake the butt of your polearm through the dirt and walk only on the line it makes then you should avoid stepping in one.

Test Pattern 2009/11/07(Sat)00:43 No. 73448 ID: 7eda8b
File 125758340070.png - (302.68KB , 600x600 , AQ351.png )

The sergals stick close to the treeline, circling around the perimeter of the clearing, making their way back toward the southward path. Goshen taps the ground ahead of him to check for more booby traps.

The storm grows steadily worse. Rain pelts them. Goshen thinks of how he nearly died of thirst a few weeks ago.

It's getting difficult to see.

In the trees! Someone is there!

>>73448
Cloaked figure in the treeline just a bit behind you.

Confront the cloaked figure behind you.

Get ready to stab with that sword you're carrying.

Point your spear at it and ask who it is.

>>73448
you've gotten out of the clearing, and you're near a road. travelling in this weather is just going to wear you down faster, so get far enough off the road that people on it won't see you, and then set up camp for the night.

Test Pattern 2009/11/07(Sat)01:39 No. 73456 ID: 7eda8b
File 125758679044.png - (283.05KB , 600x600 , AQ352.png )

Goshen spots the lurking figure from the corner of his eye.

"You! Halt!" he calls, turning to face them.

The figure charges, moving with familiar speed, but an unfamiliar stance.

Respond to the charge, but be prepared to be attacked from behind or the sides. I have a feeling Shadran isn't working alone and you may be flanked.

>>73457
Swing your your Glaive at it and try to hit the figure around the midriff, if you try to stab it might manage to circumvent your weapon.
Tell Aphek to watch your back. He's almost useless, but you can't fight and look around at the same time.

>>73456
red eyes, cat-like tail, high boots and chainmail? IT'S A SHADRAN

>>73456
Hold your glaive closer to the head so as to compensate for the weakened haft. Fight defensively and keep them from attacking Aphek.

Test Pattern 2009/11/07(Sat)03:02 No. 73463 ID: 7eda8b
File 125759174877.png - (103.73KB , 600x600 , AQ353.png )

Goshen wonders...

Test Pattern 2009/11/07(Sat)03:03 No. 73464 ID: 7eda8b
File 125759179762.png - (165.29KB , 600x600 , AQ354.png )

...how many people Shadran killed to get that sword back.

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