2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/13(Thu)17:30 No. 662097 ID: dd338c
File 143951223867.png - (173.51KB , 800x800 , 9-208.png )

I stuff that emblem under my shirt along with its partner, as I need not wear an emblem while in the outer forts, based on the other kobolds.

And speaking of the other kobolds! They certainly remind me of the kobolds back home when they're anywhere but at home, with their constant slinking about as though they're not supposed to be there.

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/13(Thu)17:30 No. 662098 ID: dd338c
File 143951224963.png - (110.66KB , 800x800 , 9-209.png )

>"Psst. Hey. You." a kobold says from behind me, deeper in the alleyway. That was close, but I do not believe she saw me digging let alone picking up such a significant emblem!

>>662098
Hey you, too.

Can I help you with something, miss?

Yes?

To whom is asking for me?

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/13(Thu)18:13 No. 662106 ID: dd338c
File 143951478541.png - (142.28KB , 800x800 , 9-210.png )

"And a friendly hey back to you, miss! May I help you with something?"
>"Come closer."
"Don't mind if I do!"

I do, at the very least, pay mind to my surroundings just in case this is some sort of ambush, but kobolds under an iron rule are kobolds as brethren! That, and there is something I find appealing to her expression, and so I will chance such a back alley meeting for a closer look.

>"I heard you playing at Enlu's, and heard things, too. Take this." she says, handing me another emblem, clapping my hands around it before I can take a proper look. "Open it to reveal the compass needle. Don't wear it in public or let a lizard see it. We'll talk later, but it's not safe to speak right now."

I cannot sense magic from this compass, indicating it is either a physical one or one who's magic I cannot sense!

"Might I ask your name, despite that?"
>"I don't have one."
"Ah, that does make me have many questions!"
>"I know." she says, starting to leave.

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/13(Thu)18:13 No. 662107 ID: dd338c
File 143951479310.png - (82.34KB , 800x800 , 9-211.png )

Many, many questions indeed!

>>662107
Open it. Also, try opening your other emblem.

>>662106
Is she a child, or just significantly shorter than you?

>>662110
Yeah, try this.

Maybe the emblem isn't so much a fated one, as a kobold liberation movement or something lifted the prophetic symbol for their own use?

Open them both up.

I think you can follow this compass for a bit. Just have to keep a eye out for Tulip along the way and keep it out of sight. Might find something interesting.

Story Seeker 2015/08/13(Thu)18:21 No. 662115 ID: dd338c
File 143951531861.png - (99.74KB , 800x800 , 9-212.png )

>Is she a child, or just significantly shorter than you?
A combined factor of being somewhat shorter than me, and bending far more at her knees than I!

>Maybe the emblem isn't so much a fated one, as a kobold liberation movement or something lifted the prophetic symbol for their own use?
A prime suspect - however, considering how little that lady told me, the first individual who handed me such a thing told me nothing.

I open her gift to reveal a needle, sure enough, pointed in a direction.

My original emblem, however, seems to differ in that it does not have any crease or notch of which to pry open.

No magic from the original then?

Well keep them both and might come in handy later. Which way is it pointing? If its in the general direction you were planning on searching lets follow it.

>>662115
Might as well follow her instructions. Don't head directly there though. Sortof triangulate where it is from a distance then take a good path there that won't get you in any trouble.

Well, you have a mysterious lead to follow up on.

Question is, is there anything more pressing to do first?

Is the compass needle pointing in the direction you would normally expect a compass to point?

Story Seeker 2015/08/13(Thu)19:00 No. 662125 ID: dd338c
File 143951760177.png - (208.00KB , 800x800 , 9-213.png )

>No magic from the original then?
From what I sense, no magic from either! But, no hidden contraption from the original, at least.

But, this needle is not pointing northerly, so either there are contraptions beyond my understanding, or magic beyond my senses!

While I am on a mission to search for Tulip, I am shooting blind on that front! Therefore, any direction is fine so long as I am not carried out of these outer walls.

I follow my way through town in a slightly off direction from the needle, keeping an eye out for Tulip. There are so many kobolds in the streets, though, that it would take a bit of luck to simply cross paths!

But lots of dice are thrown as I wander about. It is almost difficult to find a private place to check my compass needle with caution, and mixed with the fact that streets are seldom straight, and when they are, they aren't for long. I must weave between buildings, but given my upbringing in caverns, it hardly throws me off. Meanwhile, I hear much gossip from kobolds in the streets, talking of dragon hoard and riches. Apparently, some kobolds have saught to leave the outer walls and run to the dragon's place in an attempt to find it themselves! However, the palace has guards all over the place - and indeed, I see the occasional lizard guard roaming the streets - preventing the kobolds from leaving.

Soon, however every check yields a significantly different direction. It takes a few more tries before it points into a wall at the back of a building - and upon discreetly maneuvering around, I find that the front has a swinging door, like that of a tavern, but it is rather quiet inside.

>>662125
Go peek inside.

That lady appears to be watching you, however, I would suspect that is because a) you are wearing finer clothing than almost everyone in the area, I assume, and b) you are very handsome.

I would suggest you hang around and see if anyone enters or leaves that building, but given those reasons I just mentioned, someone will notice. I don't think you should peek, either, since someone will notice. I would either take a chance on asking that girl what the building is, quietly, or just go ahead and enter as casually as you can.

You could stay out here and watch the doors for a bit but that would just get you noticed more.

I say just wander in and see whats in there. Looks like a saloon entrance.

Story Seeker 2015/08/13(Thu)19:17 No. 662136 ID: dd338c
File 143951865448.png - (209.16KB , 800x800 , 9-214.png )

>Peek inside
In an attempt to be as subtle as possible, I will simply walk by and and look in as I stroll by, making a decision from there!

As I do so, I realize it is a business that does not have anything for advertisement! And upon my casual entry, it is also a business with patrons that stare at me as I create a looming shadow over the area. I have received many stares during my venture here, my brain suspects due to my clothes, and my ego my looks, but regardless, it seems that new faces here are no frequent thing!

>people staring
Well, time to ham it up then. The overt can't be suspicious!

Big grin, sweeping flourish bow.

Well, the young lady heard you playing, that made her come to you and give you a direction, and now you're here in what looks like the kobold equivalent of either a tavern or a restaurant. So offer to play something! It doesn't look like there are any lizards about who'll think it their business to keep you miserable, this time. And if someone is looking forward to meeting you, they'll know who you are once you've got some music going. There aren't that many kobold bards around, after all.

Hmm. The lady also said she "heard things" in addition to you playing. What other things could she have heard, hanging around while you were entertaining at Enlu's, Story?

Kobold only bar would probably not be able to make a nice sign. Would be odd if they had one really.

Well see if there are any open seats and find out what they are serving. Do you have any money on you?

If need be you can wave the emblem around and see what happens.

>>662136
Umm... are those all kobolds? Talk to whoever is in charge. Say that a kobold with no name directed you to this place.

>>662136
This looks like a secret bar for kobolds. They're probably staring at you because they're afraid that a lizard is going to see you standing in the doorway like that! Quickly! Get inside and close the door!

Story Seeker 2015/08/14(Fri)20:12 No. 662445 ID: dd338c
File 143960837336.png - (114.98KB , 800x800 , 9-215.png )

>The lady also said she "heard things" in addition to you playing. What other things could she have heard, hanging around while you were entertaining at Enlu's, Story?
No clue whatsoever! There were many things heard, and I do not know which bore significance.

>All kobolds check
They are, although the one behind the bar is quite large!

>Well see if there are any open seats and find out what they are serving. Do you have any money on you?
It seems like a quaint place with simple food and drink, but there are no open seats, at least, not without crowding another kobold! Nonetheless, I do have sufficient funds upon my person.

"Greetings! I am Story Seeker, at your service." I say, bowing as I enter. "I have been directed here by one without a name, and if I am welcome to, I would like to play a song at this locale!"
>"Er..."
>"No song."
>"No mood for song."

>>662445
A song would attract attention from outside. I feel like we're going to have to show them the compass. She said not to wear it in *public* and not to show it to *lizards*. They're all kobolds here, and it's in private, so...

>not a good mood for song
Hmmm. What about a story then? Eh, eh?

Cast detect gender. Just in case we get weird results and they're not actually kobolds.

Story Seeker 2015/08/14(Fri)20:33 No. 662459 ID: dd338c
File 143960959687.png - (183.38KB , 800x800 , 9-216.png )

"Perhaps a story?"
>"No, no..." they mutter. It is certainly a lowly feeling bunch! To the best of my senses, magical and otherwise, they are all indeed kobolds.

I decide to pull out the compass.

"Does this mean anything to all of -"

A pair of kobolds lets out a sharp hiss as they all stumble back, as though an immense earthquake shook the earth from their feet!

>"Put that away, you tactless idiot!" the barkeep hushes a screaming whisper at me.

>>662459
Well put it away I guess and see if you can find out what's going on, in a whispered conversation with the barkeep.

Put it away.

Well, that got a reaction at least. I was getting worried!

*Cough*. Sorry about that, it didn't exactly come with a manual.

>tactless
Unflappable, gregarious, and forthright.

"well that's what happens when someone gives you something and doesn't say what it is"

Sorry it was wave it around or spend the next half hour beating around the bush.

So could someone tell me why people keep giving me these things?

>>662459
I'm only tactless if there was a method to learn that it would have been tactless beyond doing the tactless thing. This makes me tactful.

Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)00:26 No. 662501 ID: dd338c
File 143962358342.png - (88.15KB , 800x800 , 9-217.png )

"I apologize, but upon no one ever informing me of anything, I'm afraid that quick action is needed! Perhaps one of you could alert me to why people continue giving me these?"
>"Just..." the barkeep says, clearly aghast at my frontal actions. "Go where you need to go, get out of here!"

Hm, strange, that this compass points to the back of a place of which even the caretaker does not seem to be welcoming towards! The patrons themselves look as though they're looking to leave, if not for my presence at the door.

Well head on into the back room then.

>>662501
Oh, so... it's sending you to the back room? Not just this place in general? Jeez, that was totally unnecessary then. Go on back there.

Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)00:49 No. 662506 ID: dd338c
File 143962495254.png - (159.90KB , 800x800 , 9-218.png )

The first door I see opens with no issue, and it leads into a hall! If I were to guess, I would say that these are residences.

Keeping an eye out, I discreetly look at the compass as I go through. Eventually, it points right into this door. In the forming tradition of not beating around the bush over this emblem no one tells me about, I attempt to open the door, but it is locked. This tradition, if I choose to let it escalate, would lead me to attempting to pick this rather mediocre looking lock.

>>662506
Pick it. Everyone's treating you like some kind of criminal, so this must be a test.

Make sure to knock first! It's only polite.

>>662506
Oh, well, you tried! Locked doors and/or dead ends usually mean give up! You've got more important things to do anyways! Like: finding Tulip, not getting "reclaimed" again, and, most importantly, NOT WALK INTO A MYSTERIOUS BACK ROOM WHERE YOU COULD GET MUGGED AND/OR MURDERED AND NO ONE WOULD KNOW YOU WERE EVER THERE!

Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)01:23 No. 662516 ID: dd338c
File 143962701733.png - (175.59KB , 800x800 , 9-219.png )

I do knock first, but there is no answer.

With a natural knack for this sort of thing, of which I am unsure if it is because of my kobold blood or my kobold upbringing or a manner of both, I make short work of the door.

While my senses of walking into a strange backroom merely to get mugged are tingling, I still have the sense that kobolds here look out for themselves, and this is no strange back room! It is a merely a modest abode at the back of a business, with bones laying about that would look forboding if not just looking like the uncleaned remnants of meals long since digested. The whole room would be more of a mess, I believe, if there were more belongings and knickknacks to make a mess of - but as it is, the room is largely bare, and seems to be nothing more than a place to sleep at night.

And so I enter, as this emblem provides the most lead I have towards anything.

And speaking of sleeping, at the far end lies a sleeping gnoll. I would do my best to leave him be and have him not notice my intrusion, but, that is not to be, because with a sweep from one end of the room to the other, I can confirm the compass is pointing right at him!

make sure it isn't something underneath or behind him, then wake him up.

>>662516
Don't you have a bardic song that wakes people?

>>662519
any song can wake people if you play it load enough.

Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)02:05 No. 662524 ID: dd338c
File 143962953439.png - (136.04KB , 800x800 , 9-220.png )

>Don't you have a bardic song that wakes people?
I do, but the concern is not so much my capabilities of waking him up as much as the consequences of doing so!

>Make sure it isn't something underneath or behind him
I note that holding the compass above and below him makes the needle silently tap the top or bottom of its container, and so it is nothing hidden in the bed, above, or behind him! However, I do slowly put my hands in under him, as it appears pointed at his torso, just in case he is simply sleeping upon the object in question. Considering my next task would be to wake him, there is little risk here!

He begins giggling as though ticklish.

>"Hahaha th'fuck are you doing, 'bold?"
"I am Story Seeker! I have been given an emblem that has pointed to your formidable fur mass!"
>"Ah, another one, huh? Anyone see you with that emblem, 'sides the one who gave it to ya?"

>>662524
I think it is time to lie and say no.

Say that since no-one would tell you what the emblem/compass meant, you felt forced to show it to the bartender and ask, and got told to "go where I need to go" and "get out". Also say that one of the other kobolds may have seen while you were doing that. It sounds better than what really happened and will still alert him adequately if he's hiding in fear of his life or something.

Story, forgive me being tactless, but while you were at Enlu's, did you provide... "bedroom services"? Because if so and the lady you met overheard that then there is some possibility this may be a brothel. Don't go blurting that out as a question, though. I'm really hoping we don't have to start telling you what specific stupid things to not do.

>>662524
Say no lizard did.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)04:14 No. 662536 ID: dd338c
File 143963724166.png - (125.34KB , 800x800 , 9-221.png )

>Story, forgive me being tactless, but while you were at Enlu's, did you provide... "bedroom services"? Because if so and the lady you met overheard that then there is some possibility this may be a brothel.
That would certainly be something! However, I would also have serious question why, then, I was led straight to a gnoll.

"No lizard did!"
>"I didn't specify, so you shouldn't either.
"Nope!"
>"Cool, good answer, I unconditionally believe you. I'm still gonna move to a new place after this meeting. Now, person who gave you this toy. They tell you anything?"
"Nope!"
>"Cool. And you're still alive. That's good. Real good of them. They should stop that shit. Say, you reckless?"
"Well, I have been kno -"
>"Of course you are, buddy. You unlocked my door, come on in, and started feeling around in my personal space bubble. You ain't the first kobold to come in, but you are the first to do that. Then again, hey, I dropped the chaos idol and slept on top of it, so that's new too.

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)04:14 No. 662537 ID: dd338c
File 143963724975.png - (130.52KB , 800x800 , 9-222.png )

>"So since those dumbasses didn't explain shit and just get kobolds killed now and then, here's the deal. You're now invited to the chaos kobold sect."
"Is that like a kobold uprising?"
>"You got a good head on your shoulders, don'tcha? You're cool. Yeah. Lizards here worship order, so of course the uprising would be contrary. They pick up any kobolds they think'll fit in. Dunno what you did, don't care, if the needle pointed to me, that's a good step forward. Anyway, the compass points to their little hideaway now. You get in by kissing this chaos idol to prove your, uh, snrk loyalty or something to the door guard."
"Might I ask why the compass pointed to the idol, first? It seems to me as though this was a rather unnecessary side visit?"
>"Wha -- what, ain't got time to deal with gnolls or somethin'?"
"Ah, excuse me, excuse me! I am always eager to meet gnolls who don't wish to invert my skeletal structure upon first meeting, but this whole thing has seemed amazingly convoluted!"
>"Who said I don't wanna invert your skull?"
"Perhaps I sh-"
>"Hahaha I'm joking you little shit. Good save anyway. You're alright. Look. Buddy. That convoluted shit might be what the dumbasses thinks counts as chaos around here. Anyway, no, I'm significant. Used to be anyway. Think of me like, ah... chaos confidente. Got a nice ring to it, right? Just trust me on that one. The compass is powered by a local chaos artifact. Yeah, I said it. There's your reward for coming in uninvited and thinkin' more than you should. I'll help you more, but you gotta prove you know how to kiss the chaos idol."
"You know, I am not entirely certain the god of chaos would enjoy such a thing!"
>"What, are you a blessed chaos follower or somethin'? How th'fuck would you know what the chaos god would like? This is why I sometimes get kobolds to do it right away, so they don't go hesitatin' when the time comes. Trust me. He likes it. Or I dunno just pray to him or somethin' the idea here is that you show you're comfortable with a little bit of Spearstone blasphemy. Kissing's just faster is all."

Well, this got strange!

I say call tom, we're gonna want some info on this chaos kobold things as well as the chaos artifact, if anything too bad will happen if we stole it with the order artifact

I am getting a horrible impulse to just try and snatch the idol at whatever moment looks appropriate for snatching and then just immediately book it.

It is a terrible idea, and yet...

kiss gnoll, take artifact.

I like the idea of sneaking a kiss on the gnoll while he is up in our face.

Have him hold out the idol and then talk to it.

"Tom if you really want a kiss that badly you should have stopped by when we were playing board games with Minci. But if you show up in person now I guess we can get something going with this gnoll here. Is not the most romantic environment but I have seen worse."

Give the cute gnoll a big kiss.

>chaos idol
You should totally talk to it. Tom won't be able to resist fucking with this person's expectations by responding.

Also just chatting up a god is the funniest and most laid back way to pray to them, technically. (Not that story is a chaos worshiper, but he's definitely more aligned with chaos than order).

>What, are you a blessed chaos follower or somethin'?
No, but I used to hang out with one.

>>662536
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! That little artifact looks like Tom! XD

>>662537
He wants you to kiss the idol?!?! Well, since you've actually met Tom, why don't you ask him if he wants his face kissed or not?

>>662537
Read note, kiss Tom.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)11:23 No. 662641 ID: dd338c
File 143966301321.png - (134.96KB , 800x800 , 9-223.png )

>Kiss gnoll
There are better times for this, to be certain! Although his waking face is unexpectedly resembling that of bedroom eyes, and perhaps, for all I know, are bedroom eyes, simply kissing someone I just met without warning simply because of such a look is potentially rude at best!

For now, I speak to Tom while the gnoll still holds it up.

"Hello, Tom! Can you hear me through this?.... you know, if you wanted a kiss so much, then you could have joined Minci and myself in that board game!"
>"Haha, the fuck are you doing? Who talks to a god so casually? Ya make it sound like ya seen him before."
"Well, sir, I have! Although I am not a proper chaos follower, I have been around one before."
>"No shit? I dunno if I believe ya or not. Well then listen here. First off, you go blabbing that fact, people are gonna beg you to bring your chaos friend over. But till then, unblessed chaos kobolds been tryin' to get Tom in on here for decades, now, to personally oversee turning Spearstone upsidedown. Course, goes both ways - Lizard church's been trying to get their god to show up too. Both've failed. Know what that means? This place is godless. Yeah, I said it. You ain't praying to Tom to actually get him to come, you're praying to Tom to show somethin' to the flesh and blood here."

Hm, I was certain Tom would show! Perhaps he has his reasons.

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)11:23 No. 662642 ID: dd338c
File 143966302266.png - (185.81KB , 800x800 , 9-224.png )

I take the idol as the gnoll effectively pushes it in my grasp! Although strange, I suppose Tom would take such a thing in stride, so I make a brief kiss to it.

Maybe it's my imagination, but I could swear that I feel it shaking just a bit. The gnoll lets out another... giggle, to describe it most accurately!

>"There ya go, that's all there is to it. Course, if ya get your hands on an idol of order, ya can spit on it or somethin' and really make some friends for life down under. But that's good 'nuff for me, so now I'm willin' to answer any more questions you got, to the best've my knowledge. Help ya out and all that. You just gotta tell me what ya need, an' I'll go an' do it."

Being in proximity to an order artifact might nullify tom. Try talking to him once you get further from any order altars

Hmm. Is that idol for Tom, or the old chaos god? Both should work fine for whoever's god at the time, since we saw the old chaos god manifest through Muo's Tom necklace once, but still it's worth wondering. If this kobold chaos cult has been around for a long time, they might think the old one is still who they're trying to get. Do you have any idea of when the Chaos Gods' switch over was, Story? Ask how long this cult has been around.

My guess is that the artifacts here have nullifaction effects - Zirkala wants to use the order artifact to suck chaos out of the portal, after all. So they don't do anything except prevent anything of the opposite nature from working. So currently, neither chaos or order magic can be used in this region.

>people are gonna beg you to bring your chaos friend over
I don't know if she would like to, if this place is really godless. But maybe I could recommend this place to her if people really are missing divinity here. Spreading chaos is technically her job. I think. Rules are kind of weird around chaos people.

Hmm. Could it be the artifacts are working against each other? Like, the chaos artifact is strong enough to keep the law god out, and the law artifact is strong enough to keep the chaos god out?

>ask me anything
Introductions. I don't think we know each others names, yet.

Who is the Lizard's god?

Where are these artifacts, anyways? The law one is locked up in the church, right?

Why are those guys out front so nervous? I'd expect a chaos follower to be more... well not so much reckless, but carefree. My friend always just went with the flow! (Literally sometimes, as a slime).

How does a gnoll end up championing a bunch of kobolds in a lizard city, anyways? That must be an interesting story.

Kissing the gnoll who's room you broke into and started feeling up is a perfectly sensible idea. I mean what is he supposed to think after something like that? At least give him some behind the ear scratches.

Anyways tell him your plan.

"I need to steal the order artifact the church has so my lich girlfriend can grind it up to stabilize a nearby chaos portal so she can link the neighboring caves and spread her influence."

I bet Tom can't show up unless his chaos followers can get more influence than the lizard church. Both the chaos and order god are watching you and hoping things go there way. I bet you the order god will be trying to influence Kex if the chance comes up.

>>662648
I'd rather not mention the stealing plan, just in case he reacts badly to it. Wait till after Q&A, at least.

...maybe story could make a plan with the chaos people to steal the law artifact, and Kex could make a deal with the church to remove the chaos artifact. We exchange information, play both sides against the other, betray them both, make off with both artifacts.

Of course he has bedroom eyes. It tends to happen when you get woken up by someone cute fondling you. The fact that he did not get angry or smack you shows he is interested.

Seduce the gnoll for info.

>>662652
Seduce Gnoll for fun.

1/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)13:34 No. 662680 ID: dd338c
File 143967086734.png - (151.96KB , 800x800 , 9-225.png )

>Is that idol for Tom, or the old chaos god?
Judging by the more friendly outward appearance, I would say the current Tom!

"I don't suppose there's an idol or order around here at the moment, is there?"
>"Hm? Nope, I don't got one, sorry."
"Regardless, before I forget, I do not have your name!"
>"Sandfin. You can call me... whatever, you can call me anything."
"In the interest of identity, I shall call you Sandfin, then! And once again, I'm Story Seeker."
>"Yeah yea, nice to meet ya."
"Would it be too bold of me to ask if you would like me to scratch the back of your ears?"
>"Fuck no it wouldn't get back there and go nuts."
"Very well! Continuing on this Q&A session, then, who exactly is the lizard god?"
>"They call 'im Reilqin, pretty sure it's just a demigod, but like I said, this place is godless, so who's keeping score?"
"And where are these artifacts?"
>"Haha, why do you care? Order's up at the top floor of the tower. Shit, it ain't even hidden, it's basically just too well damn guarded around the clock by fanatics. As for the chaos artifact, well, that's a ssseeeecret!"
"And what happens if we stole the order artifact?"
>"Whoa whoa whoa, who's 'we'? Look, I'm just the, let's say, chaos confidente. Wouldn't be 'we', it's be you and whatever crazy ass suicidal bolds wanna join ya. To answer your question, though, we just don't know. Best guess is that the chaos artifact can operate at full power. I mean, shit, feels pretty constrained, just limited to pointing compasses and little stuff like that. Might go both ways, too, if the chaos artifact were outta town, then order would reign, and pretty sure most people don't want that brand of order. Unless ya don't count kobolds as people."
"I do believe them to be people, in fact!"
>"Hahaha, of course ya do."

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)13:34 No. 662681 ID: dd338c
File 143967087587.png - (189.79KB , 800x800 , 9-226.png )

"People or not, however, the individuals in front sure seem nervous! I would have expected chaos followers to be more, well... perhaps not reckless, but more carefree! Going with the flow! That kind of thing.
>"Hey, hey, we can't all be familiar with chaos blessed. Who'd ya meet, anyway? I may know 'em."
"Does 'Muo' ring a bell?"
>"Hahaha, her? Yeah, she's alright."
"Do you know her?"
>"Met 'er once. Showed me what the new kinds of chaos follower are like. Anyway, you're right. I didn't say the chaos 'bolds here were any good at it, if ya catch my drift."
"I don't suppose you know if they're trying to get the old chaos god!"
>"Ah!" He starts, like I pinched him.

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)13:35 No. 662682 ID: dd338c
File 143967090107.png - (151.17KB , 800x800 , 9-227.png )

>"Wait, right, of course you'd know that. Yeah, Tom took over, over time. Hard to say, wasn't an all at once thing. He just spread himself out over the land over time, and I met him, probly about 20 years ago now."
"Which does bring me to my next question, just who are you? A gnoll championing kobolds against lizardfolk is, well, a bit of an oddity!"
>"Ah, hey, don't get all deep on me. It ain't much. I don't go tellin' anyone this, but you're special. And cute. So I'll let ya know that I'm just a retired chaos blessed is all. But don't go thinking that means shit. Really, these days, I'm just a bigass, out of place gnoll tromping around a ghetto reliving some empty nostalgia without the responsibility."
"Is that so? I do find that interesting! Did you grow tired of spreading chaos?"
>"Nah, I still like it now and then. Problem is, just now and then. Being a chaos follower means you gotta do it all the fuckin' time like a responsibility."

>Seduce gnoll for reasons
Although I cannot claim to have done this entirely on purpose, by means of physical interaction and casual conversation, I think this has happened on its own!

>>662682
Don't concern yourself with the fact that he's 10 times your size, continued seduction is key to success.

Yeah, Chaos and having responsibilities doesn't sound like something that goes hand in hand. So when was the last time he pulled a little chaos, and what was it he did?

>retired
I didn't know chaos people could do that!

>I didn't say the chaos 'bolds here were any good at it, if ya catch my drift.
Sounds like maybe we could help them out a bit. Teach them how they're actually supposed to be.

>Although I cannot claim to have done this entirely on purpose, by means of physical interaction and casual conversation, I think this has happened on its own!
You're a bard. It happens.

Not that you really had to try that hard. Sandfin is giving bedroom eyes in basically every panel.

Sounds like leaving the chaos artifact here would be a good thing for at least the short term. Tom is chaotic but good natured so upsetting the status quo and helping the kobolds would be something he would like.

Ask him what this order artifact looks like. Is it just some shiny rock or do they have a fancy statue up there. Heck maybe the priests sell replicas down in a gift shop on the ground floor. That would make things easier.

Then ask him what sort of adventures he had as a chaos blessed. And maybe tell him some of yours. He seems like a good guy to have as a friend so ask how you can keep in touch after he relocates.

Also ramp up seduction attempts.

>>662683
10 times the size means 10 times the story. Ask him about what the order artifact looks like and continue your seduction.

>>662682
I thought you weren't into dudes. You were very against boning Ralex.

>>662691

Ralex was not immediately into Story and was on fire all the time. So maybe not impossible to seduce but much harder.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)15:20 No. 662721 ID: dd338c
File 143967725355.png - (160.92KB , 800x800 , 9-228.png )

>I thought you weren't into dudes. You were very against boning Ralex.
Although I am more partial to girls, I am not anti-guy!

I was against boning Ralex because for starters, he did not seem romantically inclined towards anyone let alone one such as myself, and for enders, he was a partial fire elemental that I was quite scared of at the time! I do not know if things would have worked out.

"I didn't know chaos followers could retire, actually!
>"Back in the old days I couldn't, nah, but really, no reason why we shouldn't be able to. Follower that doesn't wanna do shit ain't gonna justify the huge power boost, and it ain't like there's any dire secrets that gotta be kept silent to the whole business. Just means there's no goin' back, no such thing as unretirement far as I know."
"When was the last time you pulled off some chaos, and what was it?"
>"Besides helping out these jokers? Last act was a simple thing. Used to be a war faring tribe way out where who's ruler was the one who owned a scepter. All I did was make a buncha replicas and distribute 'em. Course, they woulda just killed each other if it were most other tribes, but these ones stuck to their beliefs, and that included not killin' one another. Ain't much, but I din't feel like doin' much either."
"Nonetheless, it sounds like you have many stories to tell!"
>"Hell yeah, why do y- ohhhh I getcha, you're a literally named fellow, aren't ya?"
"Correct! In my homeland, I used to be called 'yapper'! Well, not used to, I still am, there."
>"Ya know what's lame? All those kobolds were interested in my tales and shit, but they always make me feel like I betrayed them in advance by throwing away my blessing. Shit, I can't blame them, they'd kill their own sibling if it'd make them blessed, so to see me throw it away probly sounds bad."
"It does seem odd that chaos having responsibilities didn't quite go hand in hand, to me!"
>"Well it ain't like there were real responsibilities, all it was is that it was on a use it or lose it basis. Makes sense, since there's a whole lotta competition for the slot, may as well give it to the sleepless folk who'd do nothin' but. Anyway, I'm in a weird spot of respected for once being blessed, and resented for not making it out to be the single most important thing in life."

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)15:23 No. 662723 ID: dd338c
File 143967742896.png - (149.34KB , 800x800 , 9-229.png )

"Well I for one would love to hear your stories."
>"Do ya, now? They ain't short and I don't like people gettin' up in the middle."
"I have no such intention, Sandfin! However, I am on a time table, so I must seek you out once again when I do have all the time to listen for as long as you're willing to speak."
>"You leavin'?"
"Not quite yet! I have been on my feet for quite some time, and have become rather comfortable lying on your fur, for starters."
>"Yeah?" He says, catching me as he rolls around, proceeding to squeeze me into him!
"Very! Meanwhile, I don't suppose you know what the order artifact looks like, do you?"
>"Yeah it's a.... shit. Not a cube. Like, a cube, but with 8 sides instead of 6. Bout as big as your head. Looks like it's made of glass. Sits on a pedestal in the center of the tower. Real clean. Probably. Been awhile since I saw it, but the whole place, was, well, ya know, orderly. Like someone tried to see what it'd be like to have OCD about keepin' it clean and tidy."
"Well, I think I may want to help these chaos kobolds out a bit!"
>"Mm... yeah, guess so, if you wanna. Compass is pointing that way, when you wanna leave. No rush on my end, ya know."
"And as I say, you have made me quite comfortable! You said you were going to go to a new place, though?"
>"Yeahhhh, bout that... look, I don't like to be found more than once by the compass, normally, but for you, I'll make an exception. I'll make it so if you put any of my fur in one of the notches, it'll point right back to me so long as I'm anywhere near the chaos artifact. Even though that's not on a use or or lose it basis, I'm expectin' you to make a proper visit."

Tell him you will be busy for the next few days but if everything works out well you should have plenty of time to come back for a proper visit. Maybe spend the night before making the actual heist or something.

You would stay for the night and get to know him better right now but you would be shirking your responsibilities. Have two people counting on you and do not want to let them down.

Oh also mention that you might need to leave town quickly and he will know why if it happens. Will still try to visit but might be a bit of a wait. So tell him where you live and that he is free to stop by if he is in the neighborhood.

You could probably stay for a hour or two and still have time to look for Tulip and the chaos bolds. Otherwise could be awhile before you get to visit.

>no such thing as unretirement far as I know.
I dunno, if it was really important to someone, seems to me someone could probably get back in if they showed the current initiates up enough. Tom would probably make a crazy game out of having to prove yourself, but that's just Tom being Tom.

...not that I'm saying he should. Nothing wrong with doing more than one thing in life.

>I'm expectin' you to make a proper visit.
You're expecting you to do so too, unless you're chased out of town prematurely. Which proooobably won't happen.

1/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)21:47 No. 662822 ID: dd338c
File 143970047132.png - (140.06KB , 800x800 , 9-230.png )

"I wish I could give you a proper time for when I may be able to visit, but between being busy over the next few days, as well as having a slight chance of being ran out of town, I cannot say!"
>"Oh? Why would you get ran out?"
"I hate to be cryptic with you after how cryptic the kobolds were with me, Sandfin, but I can say that if this happens, you will know why!"
>"Haha, alright."

We spend a bit longer together, making idle chat about the town and where I came from. Eventually I feel I must go through with my responsibilities, however, and bid him farewell!

>Kiss gnoll
Now is an appropriate time to do so!

"Till next time, Sandfin!"
>"Yeah yeah, get outta here."

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)21:48 No. 662823 ID: dd338c
File 143970047931.png - (101.33KB , 800x800 , 9-231.png )

Well that was unforeseen! I gather a clump of fur for later use, an easy task considering I expect I will be shedding gnoll fur for a few hours yet.

I leave and follow the compass to the next location. After entering a cellar and knocking on a door, I am greeting by an individual asking me to show me the password.

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/15(Sat)21:48 No. 662825 ID: dd338c
File 143970050576.png - (185.10KB , 800x800 , 9-232.png )

With another Tomkiss, I am allowed in and am greeted by another individual called forth by the door guard.

>"Hello. Welcome to chaos den! You look very nice. Happy to have you. I am Howka. Very nice to see you!"
"Hello! I am Story Seeker. Would you mind showing me around this locale?"
>"Yes yes definitely! Sorry, you were not told much, probably. And sorry for bad common language of me. We are chaos kobolds. We will overthrow the many lizards and make them our slaves."
"Well, that is a straightforward idea! And how do you plan on going about it?"
>"Do not know. We plan and scheme, but I just answer door for new good looking people. Hope to find chaos blessed someday! Till then, party and live unlike ghetto under lizard thumb. You once under thumb, correct, by largest of lizards?"

>>662825
Not exactly. Your arrangement with him is rather flexible.

I will agree that his thumbs are rather big. Why don't you tell me about your order and your grand crusade against the lizards.

"Since we are sharing secrets now, I will show you some of the same trust you have given me, and say: the largest lizard is not and has never truly put me under thumb! We both wished to travel here and decided that I would need to pretend to be his slave in order to do so. I would tell you not to tell anyone, but I don't think you would speak to anyone who would care!"

>another Tomkiss
Tom's totally gonna razz you about this next time you see Muo.

>You once under thumb, correct, by largest of lizards?
It's a rather gentle thumb, with a lot of wiggle room, actually.

But I agree your situation here isn't as good. The lizard thumbs could use some lifting.

Have you considered being a little more... proactive in your chaos seeking? The gods help those who help themselves, after all. I've heard the chaos god even has a scoring system for his blessed followers!

>You once under thumb, correct, by largest of lizards?
I would say it was more like a constant game of thumb wrestling, made somehow fair despite our different sizes!
Actually, now that I think of it, that was rather chaotic, itself. I have only ever seen him as frightening when his friends or bonds were threatened. Um, that kind of includes if he gets pestered by big crowds that prevent him from spending time with said friends!
>Hope to find chaos blessed someday!
I am sure you will, and hopefully it will not take too long.

>This place is godless.
...You know, it occurs to me, if you take both artifacts away, it will remain so. Everything about this quest is a mixture of both chaos and order. It's an orderly balance, but a chaotic pairing. Even you and Kexluk are Chaotic and Orderly, respectively! I'd try to figure out what Tom would think of it, but really trying to figure out chaos is just a good way to get a headache.

>>662868
Come to think of it calling the situation with Kexluk chaotic might not work out. Might just make them want to see him even more.

try and fail to not be infected with her accent

"well, not exactly. But I am still sympathetic to your cause! I might be able to help you with any number of those things but before that I would like to understand more of what's going on in your operation already."

Did she just say she only answers the door for new recruits she finds attractive, or am I misunderstanding her poor common?

Perhaps we should try not to make them too interested in Kexluk and just brush the question off.
>>662941
I'm presuming it was simply a compliment.

1/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/17(Mon)18:40 No. 663482 ID: dd338c
File 143986200038.png - (150.16KB , 800x800 , 9-233.png )

>Did she just say she only answers the door for new recruits she finds attractive, or am I misunderstanding her poor common?
I believe merely a compliment!

"A large, but rather gentle thumb, I must say, moreso than perhaps his reputation says! However, I do agree that the lizard society's great thumb must be lifted from over the kobold society."
>"Oh... I am saying that is what is more important, yes."
"I'm sure you will find a chaos blessed someday, too, and hopefully without too long of delay!"
>"Yes, ah... we still try, but no delay is sometimes is hard to hope."
"Now, it isn't every day that I'm introduced to a new society by a lovely girl, so I must ask that you continue showing me around this operation."
>"Oh, yes, yes! Come with me!"

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/17(Mon)18:40 No. 663483 ID: dd338c
File 143986200868.png - (152.58KB , 800x800 , 9-234.png )

"Lizards keep many kobolds, yes, but lizards think lizards are the superior to all things, so most not-lizard and not-kobold people who stay in Spearstone, stay in chaos den. See! Two lamia are there, gambling at fun table. Also have drakes and the pair of gryphons and others."

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/17(Mon)18:40 No. 663484 ID: dd338c
File 143986202158.png - (119.75KB , 800x800 , 9-235.png )

>"Ah, I, Howka, forgot to warn! There are living undead here."
"Living undead?"
>"Ah, um... in basic, living undead sound... dumb and, uh, opposite."
"Perhaps you mean, sapient undead capable of communication?"
>"Yes! Thank you. Do not worry! They do not eat flesh of kobolds."
"I see! I hope it would not be rude if I ask why they are here?"
>"Rude? No, not rude. But undead! Who would take undead to live? Chaos den, that is who. Otherwise, roam the desert! Very lonely, very dangerous even when not needing the water."
"Interesting! Well, I do not mind such things, so worry not! But, aside from gambling and hanging out in a safe haven, what do all of you do to stop the lizard menace?"
>"Do? Ahm... we scheme and plot!"
"And what kinds of schemes and plots are performed?"
>"Assassinate warchief! Kill nobles, steal order artifact, destroy lizard homes, such things!"
"And you do this often?"
>"Yes! All the time we scheme and plot!"
"Ah, but I mean, the scheming and plotting is an important step to action, but who takes the action in enacting the plans and schemes?"
>"Hm? Howza - I do not understand, I say we scheme and plot all day! Very good pasttime."
"How many lizard homes have been set on fire in, lets say, the last year?"
>"Ah, planned on many!"
"But actual homes, not just drawings of homes on the maps?"
>"Oh, um... none!"
"And how many warchiefs killed?"
>"None!"
"Is it not important that someone brings the schemes and plots to reality?"
>"Ah, um, us kobolds... we like the schemes and plots all day. Um... do you not like this?"

Perhaps it would be safe enough to say you were witness to a chaos blessed for a time? And then you could tell them that, from what you saw, what the Chaos God likes is actual action, not just planning. And what he likes even more than that is creativity! Arson and assassinations make far too direct and sense-making. There are a lot of things they could do that would be a lot less dangerous for all concerned, but still very pleasing to the divine power they hope to serve.

>>663484
Liberation requires action!

>>663484
Well, you suppose you would enjoy a good plot or scheme, but you rather enjoy doing things to!

For instance, if I had only planned to leave home, I would have never gotten here!

After all, there's more to life than sitting around and telling stories, fun as it is. Sometimes you need to go out and experience something worth telling a story about. You would know!

>Perhaps it would be safe enough to say you were witness to a chaos blessed for a time?
Let's not. I think they would instantly latch on the idea of Story going back to get said blessed for them.

Well, you are a bard. You could say that that's fine, and included in many a tale, it's just not what you expect from chaos followers, given the stories you've heard about them. Then you offer to tell them such stories. In song! Something that will both entertain them and hopefully teach a subtle lesson.

I mean, you have actually composed some of the stories you've been seeking, right? You've got to have a few of Muo's adventures put in presentable form by now, right? You spent whole time loops practicing bard stuff.

Ooh, that reminds me. Your slime form was originally the result of a chaos curse, wasn't it? And the new version was from Minci, who is the consort of the chaos god. So... that's chaos magic, right? If this order artifact dampens chaos in the area, can you still use it?

>>663484
Well, for one, I actually WANT the order artifact for myself. So I don't like. Now do you have a good plan to get it yourselves?

Once we get it out of town, Tom may come in and take it over. I'm guessing the chaos-order stalement is caused by the artifacts, making them inert.

Also, I must tell you to be careful if you actually do liberate yourselves. Try to stick to the least lethal actions as possible, surely Lizard children would perish if we lit a house on fire, and that's just clearly wrong. Not to mention if the children survive, they would then think slavery is justified but not enough, and may grow up to argue for kobold genocide. When liberating yourselves, you HAVE to think about self-image and morality, otherwise it will be even harder for you to liberate yourselves.

Another thing to add to the list is stretchy magic both for us and for others to help us please smaller females and larger males. and smaller males I guess

Before we do anything lets go talk to the undead and flirt with the gryphons before helping the chaos followers help us get to the order relic.

"Ah, now I see why you haven't been getting any help from the chaos god! Tom only helps those who help themselves. You'll have to get out there and actually cause some chaos to get anywhere." Steer the conversation towards the order artifact, gauge their willingness to help you steal it. Mention Mou as long you make them think that you aren't in contact with her.

Well those are all great plans but they might be a bit ambitious to start and a bit to direct. These plans sound like normal things you would do in a uprising. But to get the attention of the chaos god you have to be a bit more creative.

1. Ok so you have a plan to assassinate the warchief right? Well how about a plan to just embarrass them horribly in public? Say during a public event where all the other lizards are watching. If you ruin there reputation it would be worse than just having them killed. Plus easier to pull off. Something like making there mount throw them off right as they pass a manure cart.

2. Instead of trying to kill nobles directly you get them to do it for you. Steal a nobles prize possession and then leave it in the treasure room of another noble and make sure a bunch of servants get a look. Or say plant a bunch of stinkweed in a nobles garden and then leave a bag of stinkweed seeds in another nobles garden shed. Get them at each others throats and they will be assassinating each other.

3. Stealing the order artifact is actually a great idea. Just have to commission a glass worker to make a replica and then distract the guards and replace the real one with a fake. Then have someone cart the artifact out of town so it cant hold back the chaos here anymore.

4. Instead of setting fires to houses you should make them miserable in other ways. Sneak biting insects into the beds of violent slave owners. Start undermining the basement so there house sinks. Spread bird food on the roof so loud annoying birds keep them awake at all hours. Send out flyers advertising that they are moving and need to give away all there stuff.

Your ideas would have the lizards hunting you down and making life miserable for all the kobolds. But my ideas would have them fighting each other and cursing fate. Because all the stuff you would be doing is not easy to trace back to anyone.

>>663649

Yes get them started on a epic prank campaign. Will cause chaos and disrupt things without the danger and resulting backlash they would face if they actually tried being freedom fighters/terrorists.

Also going from planning to doing is a big step so have to take things slow.

Plus if they are off upsetting things it will be a great distraction for stealing the artifact.

1/4 Story Seeker 2015/08/18(Tue)17:51 No. 663753 ID: dd338c
File 143994549245.png - (139.58KB , 800x800 , 9-236.png )

>Your slime form was originally the result of a chaos curse, wasn't it?
Hm... testing it briefly, it does seem hard to do so! I believe I can, actually, but changing into a slime form and changing back again, I believe, would take several minutes of concentration as opposed to the usual moment. The act is, however, doable.

"Please do not misunderstand, planning and scheming is of great importance! But if the plans just remain as plans without action, then they are hardly more than idle daydreams. Secondly, if I might say as per my name sake, I have seen stories of true chaos followers!"
>"Oh? Oh? Gnoll always told us tales but they are old and outdated and we do not know what a new chaos follower is like! You are kobold therefore young therefore stories are recent, yes?"
"Although I might protest the idea of being young simply because I am a kobold, this is true, and the tales I have, I guarantee you, are highly relevant!"
>"Ahhh can we hear?"
"Absolutely! Gather everyone who would care listen to the tale of a chaos follower, and simply show me where a good room would be!"

2/4 Story Seeker 2015/08/18(Tue)17:51 No. 663754 ID: dd338c
File 143994550285.png - (240.27KB , 800x800 , 9-237.png )

And a good room it is! A stage and everything is shown to me, and I expect, perhaps, that sermons, speeches and perhaps plays are put on here regularly.

I begin telling the tale of Muo, using what I have learned of her through hearing her tales and simple scraps of knowledge I picked up by listening to Muo and Tom.

Of course, it's a challenge to spin it right on the spot in order to inspire would-be chaos followers. However, it is doable! I focus on the fact that Muo started out as a simple slime, of all things, who typically slept the day away and only went to the chaos follower not as a devout worshipper, but as a simple person with a simple task. Of course, the most important thing is that Muo was rewarded for helping herself, not expecting it to be done for her!

While I do believe that Tom only takes followers who have a knack for causing chaos but would not do so if left to their own devices, I decide to omit that fact from my present audience. Instead, I continue on saying that Tom far prefers less direct chaos! Simple attacks on the lizardmen are more in the domain of war, subterfuge and disobedience, something the kobolds would be hard pressed to employ without harsh fights from the lizards.

No, Tom prefers a layer of separation, an element of unknown and unpredictability towards the acts. I give examples of some of Muo's past acts to show that what she does forces the target to act in ways no one can know - instead of assasinating, say, a king, simply spread a rumor that the person is dead and make some head leaders ferociously believe it, even telling that very king he's dead! Instead of simply setting a fire with obvious signs of arson, show one million termites their house!

3/4 Story Seeker 2015/08/18(Tue)17:51 No. 663755 ID: dd338c
File 143994551304.png - (132.90KB , 800x800 , 9-238.png )

I close these tales with a lesson to be learned - if they want to become a chaos follower, they must do more than just plan, they must help themselves! I continue on, adding that since they themselves do not have chaos magic, that simple, mundane measures can be substituted.

I propose the ideas and alternatives - instead of assassinating a warchief, which will just bring another, just as awful chief into the forefront, simply humiliate and dishonor the current one such that he remains in power, but that power is weaker! Instead of killing the nobles, get them to do each other in, something so simple as stealing a treasure and planting it in another noble's bedroom. Instead of setting fire to a home, dig out the basement so that their house slowly sinks! Even a desert kobolds should be well versed in the ways of mining out a hole to do the trick without causing an outright cavein.

"I have plenty more ideas where those came from!" I say, closing my speech. "I plan to be around for awhile, and would be glad to share all of my ideas with the people here and even help enact them, from simply planting weeds in a lizard's garden to the very theft of the order artifact!" That gets some gasps from a few and starry eyes from others, but I believe that that last hint shall be sufficient to display interest in the order artifact, without revealing that it is my primary goal!

4/4 Story Seeker 2015/08/18(Tue)17:52 No. 663758 ID: dd338c
File 143994554910.png - (154.02KB , 800x800 , 9-239.png )

>"Story Seeker is a fantastic story teller!" Howka catches up to me as I excuse myself off the stage. "Many would like to speak to you!"
"Ah, I was thinking I may pay a visit to the undead or the gryphons, actually!"
>"Howka - I - can bring people over if you just ask. I will do anything you ask too!"

>>663758
You know, there's a bit of similarity to you both. It's weird. Those horns, that smile, that attitude...
Is she your sister? Or daughter from the future? There's too much similarity to throw into mere coincidence. I think Tom's done a very small and funny thing, and it's something to do with the fact that the girl looks very much like you.

Consider looking into adding Howka to your future and ever-expanding harem.
Heed your Bardic instincts and do it!

As for right now, might as well have Howka help you out!

>>663758
Aaaaanything? Eyebrow waggle.

Yeah she does resemble you pretty closely. Might just be random but in a den of chaos is something to consider.

Anyways have her introduce you to the undead and other groups. We have a good start on causing a distraction but still need to work on making a duplicate of the artifact and finding more about it.

>I will do anything you ask too!
Haha, geeze. That's too easy, even for Story.

>>663758
If we have to pick people to talk to first, the undead might be a good place to start. You have better than usual insight there from past experience, and it's possible they have some connection to or information about that artifact Kex took from the dragon. (Like, they knew the lich, used to work for her, hated her lack-of-guts, etc).

>>663763
Don't make it weird. They're kobolds, and they all look alike, obviously. Racist. :V

>>663767
Kobold's are actually pretty varied and look different, see how many different kobolds are in that crowd right there (I know some aren't kobolds, but a lot of kobolds are still in that shot). The only feature that doesn't match up well with Story is the tail, which could have come from her other parent that isn't story (if this is story's daughter) or the parent Story isn't related to (if this is his sister).

This similarity is just unnerving. We don't even have color to confirm she's got different scales. I'll admit her being Story's sister is a longshot since this is PRETTY FAR from Story's home, but its a weird world.

Don't bone this bold until you meet her father and/or mother, at LEAST, and make sure it isn't you sent to the past to make this present daughter or this is your daughter from the future but she doesn't know it because she's been a slave most of her life.

Do NOT take that risk, Story. You were caught in a time loop for a long time, other time mishaps can happen to you in the future that then makes it the past or maybe getting caught up in time mishaps runs in the family. We can't even tell if WE were sent into the future while going through the desert because we had no landmarks to denote how much time passed.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/18(Tue)20:52 No. 663795 ID: dd338c
File 143995637467.png - (100.85KB , 800x800 , 9-240.png )

>Howza's similar look
Hm, I do see the resemblance, but I believe the grand majority of it is the large, backward slanted horn centered above the forehead! Beyond that, she has a more feminine look with a girlier snout - one could reasonably think her a relative to me, but the chances of a long lost sister are, well, obscene!

Given recent events, however, the chances are far higher that there are some time shenanigans going on, despite that I imagined the time lord was still keeping an eye on me to prevent that very thing. That, and a chaos den! There is no telling what may have gone on.

Normally all of that would not be worth serious restraint, but there is much to do, and I shall only pursue bedding her if she insists on such a thing! After all, her modest understanding of basic may not understand such connotations of saying I may ask anything of her, nor do I wish to automatically assume such actions were in mind! Granted, I would be quite surprised if she were not interested at all.

"All I ask, Howka, is continued support and seeing to it that the lizards here are shown a thing or two."
>"Yes, okay! You have very good ideas. Best ideas we have ever seen. Please think of more. I will get gryphons!"

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/18(Tue)20:53 No. 663796 ID: dd338c
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I am hardly left waiting for the greater portion of a moment before the two gryphons come back.

>"Hello. I am Gust, and my partner is Lossi. That was a rather, to put it plainly, rousing speech for the kobolds you had."
>"Nice to meet you." Lossi says. "You asked for us?"
"Correct! Forgive me, but I am largely curious as to how two gryphons ended up in such a place! I, for one, had never seen one before."
>"Oh, it really wasn't for anything better?" says Gust. "Well, it's expected. Lossi and I came from the forest. We had made our shelter in what is now - or perhaps was - the undead realm that the dragon had made. We sought help from the lizards. As you no doubt understand, that did not go well for anyone. With no home we can get to, we ended up seeking scraps from the outer walls. Us, of all people and species! Eventually we found ourself here, where we can enjoy the slightest amount of both dignity and life."

Oh. Have they heard the news that the undead have been wiped out by an adventurer? There's rumor the dragon is still around, but the lizards seem pretty certain the undead are gone.

>That, and a chaos den!
Without any chaos.

This whole line of thinking is far too paranoid and cautious for Story, anyways. (We're not bedding her right now cause it would be too easy and we've got other things to distract us).

>>663796
They used to live in the area claimed by the dragon's undead? Could they tell us anything of how that came to pass?

...have they heard that the undead may well have been cleared out by a traveling warrior?

Cast detect gender on the gryphons, you know why. I'm going to assume that they're a male and female and mates, but that might not actually be a hindrance.

>>663796
>I imagined the time lord was still keeping an eye on me to prevent that very thing. That, and a chaos den! There is no telling what may have gone on.
He's probably not keeping an eye out on any of your future children, just so you know. And chaos WILL spread in the future once we take the order artifact, which might create weird time thingys, even if Tom didn't mean to do it. I mean, its already happened in the future, anything goes. You haven't had any sex with kobolds in the city yet, have you? Maybe the prophecy isn't a standard prophecy, maybe someone came from the future and told the lizards about the symbol?

>Griffins
Cool, great, think maybe you could help out my "Master" Kexluk get out of the city? He's not a dick and would love to help you out, since he's a paladin. If we do end up raiding the order place, we'd a;lso maybe appreciate some air support. Kexluk has telekinesis, so he can redirect arrow fire away from you when he's riding you.

"Them, of all people"? What, are they nobles or something?

You know a pair of friendly flyers could come in mighty handy for moving around fast after or during a major theft.

Ask them about the undead and what caused that mess. Might want to let them know that the rumors are true and that a friend of yours has dealt with the undead menace. The woods are currently full of hunters, spies and idiots right now but they might be able to move back soon if they want.

Oh and ask them what they think of the kobolds here and there efforts to increase chaos in the city. Are they followers of chaos or just enjoying the hospitality the lizards would not grant.

I'm serious about the stretchy magic, put that on your list, even if you can turn into slim

>>663805
They see themselves as a noble race.

>"Oh, it really wasn't for anything better?" says Gust.
Was he expecting another reason?
Do they know that all the undead are er dead?
And do you think it would be wise to inform the chaos den that Big K is technically an ally? how much do we tell them about the dragon, stealing the order relic, working for a lich?

We still have no idea what caused your first set of time problems. And now that you are in the middle of a city that gods apparently can't easily get into I would be very careful.

In the next couple of days there has to be at least a slim chance of you tripping over a rock and smacking the order artifact into the chaos artifact. Which in addition to probably being a bad idea might knock you out of time again. So your Time lord might have his hands full of trying to keep alternate timelines in check at the moment. You can always try to ask him when you get a moment alone. If he does not show up be extra careful.

Long story short she could be just a normal girl or a alternate displaced timeline you. Who now has to pretend to be her because that's what you remember happening. Or something even crazier.

I am not saying you are your own grandfather/grandmother Story but if it could happen to anyone it would be you.

>...have they heard that the undead may well have been cleared out by a traveling warrior?
But the lizards are also swarming around the area to try and get any treasures now.
> "Them, of all people"? What, are they nobles or something?
>They see themselves as a noble race.
Indeed. Gryphons are a very proud race, but it may be worth learning if these two in particular are especially important.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/21(Fri)10:41 No. 664338 ID: dd338c
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>I'm serious about the stretchy magic
I believe this is largely covered with my chaos slime form! I seem to have, within constraints, some capability of changing my real form - although the extents of this have yet to be tested.

>Detect gender
As expected, Gust is a male, and Lossi a fem-

>"What are you doing?" Gust interrupts, staring at me.
"Ah? I apo-"
>"Do not appraise us like unintelligent beasts!"
"Apologies!" It appears that Gust can sense when detect gender is used - perhaps I should be more wary of casting that so casually! "I don't suppose you are aware that the dragon's undead army has been annihilated? Lizard scouts are all over there, I hear, but I imagine in the near future, your old home may yet be safe again!"
>"We will see." Gust says.
>"If it is so, then we will not be here in the near future." says Lossi.
>"Aw, you guys still want to go back?" Howka asks.
>"Of course." says Gust. "We have told you this. We will only assist you in the interest of getting our house back. Nothing more."
"What do you think of the kobolds of this place?"
>"Nothing special. They do what they want to do, as anyone else would."
"And their efforts to raise chaos?"
>"Paltry, at best. As you alluded, to - all planning, no fruition of those plans."
"And I would like to know more of you two - you are proud gryphons, I gather, but are you nobles amongst your own race?"
>"Hrm, no. We keep to ourselves. We have nothing to do with grphon societies, let alone be nobles of them."
"Very well! Now, going back a step - what do you think of the lizards of Spearstone?"
>"As stale dirt that thinks itself gold dust."
"Even if you plan on going back soon - perhaps, I hope, we can receive help from you should we act on any plans soon?"

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/21(Fri)10:41 No. 664339 ID: dd338c
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>"No. We will not endanger ourselves much."
>"Gust..." Lossi says. "I won't charge with a frontline for these kobolds, but they did take us in when no one else would. I would offer Story Seeker at least mild help, even if it is to simply carry carge from point A to point B."
>"As long as they don't ask us to carry people on our backs like we're an animal. Even if what Story Seeker says is true of our home, we will still spend the night here. And he has riled everyone into a frenzy for action, I notice."
"Oh? Is that so?"
>"Of course." Gust continues. "Your ideas seemed... right, to them. I expect kobolds slaying lizardmen unnerved them, but the thought of peppering their cereal with spice is enticing."
"I can't say I recall proposing that id-"
>"It's a figure of speech. The pranks, I mean. You'll be glad to know that while the kobolds here have done virtually nothing of effect, their plans are, I admit... well thought out. They have maps of every nook and cranny of the town, schedules that an amazing amount of lizardmen adhere to, and even if the chaos den is a secret, it's simply a core hidden at the center of an intricate spiderweb. Your ideas can simply be taken from existing plans to be enacted soon, is what I am saying."
>"Yes, yes!" Howka says. "We know so much! Give us more ideas and we will have so many kobolds that will do so much!"

Alright, show me some of your plans for heists of the order artifact. Is the chaos artifact similar in shape? Perhaps we can prank everyone by making a switch? Or better yet, charging up my duplicate artifact right here with Chaos, then making the switch!

Imagine, the lizards worshiping chaos by mistake! The POWER Chaos would gain here would be immeasurable.
We should wait a while before pulling that prank off admittidly, it'll be a coup de grace. But I want those plans in my office, now.

Hmm. If chaos is going to erupt soon, even mild chaos, then it'd be nice to find Tulip soon. Perhaps you should ask Howka if they have means of finding a particular kobold, new to town? Make sure to inform her this kobold is not a chaos follower, just someone you feel an obligation to make sure comes to no harm.

As for the chaos itself, the best plan is probably to, paradoxically, coordinate the chaos a bit and hit the lizards with one big wave of pranks all at once. If the pranks come out in dribs and drabs one at a time, the lizards will step up their paranoia and be on the watch for more. Maximize with one huge night of pranks going off at once before the lizards know to be on guard, and then be prepared to be stealthy in the future - hiding away caches of tools and substances for pranking before the lizards crack down on such supplies. There are probably lots of little nooks and crannies and hidden tunnels that the lizards miss for being too small. If the kobolds wait a while after the big night, the lizards might not even realize who's at it - if, for example, the order artifact happens to go missing on the big night when all this nonsense erupts, they might attribute it to a curse from the divine.

Hmm. I wonder if it would be possible to trick the lizards into thinking it's a punishment from the order deity? For upholding such an "unclean" order? Then the disappearance of the artifact and the wave of pranks become the result of the god withdrawing their blessings and letting chaos reign.

I don't know, what's the order deity like? This place worships order, so they should have information about the order god lying around. Do gods get actively upset at people misrepresenting them?

>>664339
>carry cargo from point A to point B
Like, perhaps, a very large lizardman? One that is currently out trying to compete with the scouts to secure the hoard and ensure the dragon is no threat?

>>664346
They said they don't want anyone riding them, it's degrading.

BUT Kexluk could hide in a box and pretend to be cargo.

>>664350
Oh. Well... they might be able to transport the gold. Like, to an actual bank maybe.

Would they object to picking someone up on their foreclaws and carrying them, thereby making it clear it's not a riding thing?

In any case, thank them for their time and apologize again. Say if it makes them feel better, you've only ever used that spell on people, and maybe mention how it was quite invaluable in the case of that dwarf lady who'd taken all those mutation potions.

Tell them that in addition to the other smaller plans you would like to look into stealing the order artifact.

Explain that its existence is keeping the city stuck in its static ways and that removing it from the area should allow proper chaos to flourish.

Now you don't know if its even possible but if anyone can help it would be someone who could fly.

>I believe this is largely covered with my chaos slime form.
Yea but I suspect most lovers might want something a little substantial and solid from a lover. Something to clench around. Or to be clenched by.

Anyway what if we use them to get us out of the tower after we get the artifact? We'll have to find our own way in to the top but with their help we can escape the tower and Spearstone quit quickly and without a fight. The only problem i see is endangerment to them after the fact, if they help they will be enemies of the lizards and they don't live far enough from here to stay protected.

>>664339
They have maps and schedules?!?! That's what we need to get the artifact! A map of where they're keeping it and a schedule to know where the guards are posted and to see if there are gaps in their patrols!

Tell them that you gave the speech to try and get the kobolds used to the little stuff so they could gain confidence.

That being said you think that acts of murder and arson would be going to far in most cases. While the lizard society needs to be changed if it comes on a wave of terrorism and killing its not going to be a good change for either side.

Say that the best way to change things quickly without a violent uprising would be to steal the order artifact and remove its influence from the town. Chaos would bloom and could help a revolution occur. And you are confident that Tom loves chaos more than bloodshed so he hopefully would help steer things in the right direction.

So ask them if they are up for helping out with one big job before they return to the forest. Would give them time to wait the gold seekers out and you could use there assistance.

Story Seeker 2015/08/22(Sat)10:30 No. 664451 ID: dd338c
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"And if you did carry someone, but simply carried them in your talons?"
>"That is acceptable." Gust says.
"Excellent! Thank you, and apologies again. Now, as I have said in the speech, directly harming the lizards or their property may just cause retaliation, and a direct war is not what we want! Therefore, I would like to see many of these plans rebranded into those of inconvenient pranks. However, the most ambitious one, perhaps, would be the stealing of the Order artifact - I don't suppose that you all have schedules and the layouts for such a place?"
>"Ah, we do! We do have the long list of lizards and priests and kobold slaves and stuff. We are sure of where the Archpriest lives! Which is near the top of tower, though..." says Howka.
"I would like these plans! By the way, there is a particular kobold I have been attempting to find. Does this chaos den have means to find a kobold new to town?"
"Yes, very! Not instantly, but I will search for this kobold. Name?"
"Tulip?"
>"Very good!"
"What is the order diety like, anyways?"
>"Don't know! Only archpriest speaks to diety. Sends message down tower, but don't know what personality is like."
"That is fine! Now, I want pranks to all be done at once, too, such that the lizards won't know what hit them! Then we can lay low and make more specific plans for later."
>"Okay! Howka will speak to chaos den and be sure plans be ready soon as possible!

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/22(Sat)10:30 No. 664452 ID: dd338c
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The gryphons excuse themselves, letting me know where they live if I need them, and Howka leaves me be for several minutes before returning.

"Kobolds searching for Tulip! Now, plans are here." she says, handing me many disorganized notes.

Disorganized or not, though, there are many good ideas and lots of good information! Guard switches, a list of guards, the archpriest, 15 priests, 60 acolyes, and about 300 kobold slaves. Quite a low number, but there are mentions of a lizard wizard, heh, that has overseen and assisted the grand construction of spearstone's grand buildings despite a relatively low number of lizards.

There do not appear to be gaps in patrols, however. The security of the order artifact is, to say the least, impressive! However, every night, the archpriest speaks to the order god - or demigod based on Sandfin's idea.

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/22(Sat)10:30 No. 664453 ID: dd338c
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It is an inner sanctum in the center of the top floor, and according to this information, there are no hiding places anywhere inside or outside of the tower anywhere within 3 floors of the inner sanctum. Kobolds are not allowed anywhere but the bottom half of the tower during this ceremony. The archpriest during then, is the only time of day that there are not at least 10 guards in the room itself! However, during this, there are 10 drakes circling the outside of the tower, while during normal hours, there are only 2 or 3 at a time.

What I find interesting, however, is that information on these guards and guard drakes seems to imply they are not actually part of the order tower itself, but rather, they are under the rulership of the palace, instead!

While there are a few guards posted in the floor below and above, security is focused on the level with the artifact itself by far.

>>664453
Ask Howza if they have any contacts that could polymorph or illusion a few bolds (or just one) into lizards for a bit. Would make the climb a LOT easier on us.

I mean, kobold's look enough like lizards, we could just have you and Howza in a priest robe to get up there... no we KIDNAP the arch preist, and then we go as him with you standing on Howza's shoulders. If we can get the illusionist contact, we can then ask for a voice modulator artifact to make it match the archpriest's voice.

Kidnapping the archpriest should be child's play, or at least getting a copy of his robes will be significantly easier.

Ok here is the general outline of your grand plan.

Lots of drakes and scouts will be wandering the wilderness looking for gold right now. You need to spread the rumor that the dragons horde is still out there as hard as you can. A lot of it depends on what happens to Kex today but if you can keep the gold lust high it will distract a bunch of potential guards and drakes over the next few days. Maybe sprinkle a few kobolds with a single gold coin taken from the trove near the outer walls and concoct some story about how they found it in the woods after someone ran by. The gold will get confiscated and make even more people wander out there to look.

While Gold fever keeps a bunch of people outside town you ramp up the prank war. The more guards you can get investigating sinking houses and feuding nobles the better.

All of that should keep the people in and around the tower busy enough so that the drakes are all to tired to fly much and most the guards are worn out or searching the hills for gold.

The biggest part will be figuring out how to make a fake artifact and distracting the order priest.

>they are under the rulership of the palace, instead

Suspicious! I have to wonder how divine this artifact really is. In any case, if these guards are from the palace, it should be possible to distract them with a big enough event at said palace. Hm... we don't want to do arson, but perhaps we can do fake arson? Do the kobolds have the supplies to make large smoke bombs? If we time it with a series of pranks, the guards might be pulled over, and then stay for a while after realizing there's no fire in order to help with the other shenanigans. I wonder how hard it would be to go full Home-Alone on the palace...

>While there are a few guards posted in the floor below and above, security is focused on the level with the artifact itself by far.

... What are the roof and floor made of? If this is at the top of a tower, it can't be anything too heavy, and therefore probably could be cut through quite easily! The roof especially should be made of something light. Is there any cover up there?

Yeah, this overload of guards really reeks of... well, straightforward, orderly thinking. They think more guards equals more security. But you need thieves to catch a thief, and people who can think crooked to guard against crooks, so it's possible they haven't even considered someone coming through the floor or ceiling. The only chance is that lizard wizard enchanting them to be stronger, but would they have even thought to do that?

Could be worth investigating what other magic items those goblins have. Would sure be handy if you had some stuff like you did during the naga heist.

Story Seeker 2015/08/22(Sat)11:47 No. 664468 ID: dd338c
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"Allow me to ask the feasibility of impersonating the archpriest? Do we have any polymorph capable mages who could tranform a kobold, namely myself, into looking like the archpriest?"
>"Ahh no but we do have alchemist! Made potion but only affects a face of kobold to look like archpriest. But only one kobold with us who is as big as archpriest, and is also terrible actor!"
"I was thinking that we could go in together, and with a replica of the archpriests' clothes, I would stand on your shoulders!"
>"That.... is genius, Story Seeker! We have replica, yes, we thought of this idea long ago but... like said, lots of planning, no action! Um... we cannot change voice, though."
"Hm, I was just about to ask! That is troublesome, I imagine. I don't suppose we have any kobolds who sound similar?"
>"N-no, buuuut, we do have recorder! Magic sound capturer that replays voice. Have lots of vocal records of archpriest! I know couple who can operate it."
"I may look into that at some point! Otherwise, do we have anything capable of creating lots of smoke?"
>"Ah, yes, we have lots of signal brush. Can set on fire! Does not spread fire easily but creates so much smoke."
"Then I may wish to set that ablaze should we attempt to steal the artifact, as we can stand to distract the drakes and guards! Furthermore, I may wish to spread the rumor of the dragon's horde... can we have kobolds spread this rumor, perhaps add in believability if we give them a gold coin to flash around as they talk about how they found it in the forest?"
>"We... do not have many gold coins, but can spread rumor!"
"Worry not, I shall supply the coinage!"
>"Then yes very much!"

From what I gather, the tower is built out of average, ordinary stone from a nearby quarry.

>Could be worth investigating what other magic items those goblins have.
Could be! Although, I should sort as much out here as I can prior to leaving to head back into the merchant area.

Have her introduce you to the undead here before you get distracted with planning things.

Also meeting the alchemist and finding out if there is anything special he can do if he had more money and ingredients would be a good idea.

>What I find interesting, however, is that information on these guards and guard drakes seems to imply they are not actually part of the order tower itself, but rather, they are under the rulership of the palace, instead!
Exploiting the rift slash political power dispute between palace and church might mess up their defenses, then.

>we cannot change voice, though
Okay, messing with your voice has to be in the domain of bardic magic.

>the merchant area
Story doesn't know it yet, but I wonder if we can leverage all that gold Kex gave them into a few big favors. Argue that taking that much money was essentially an investment, or giving them a loan, or setting up a balance we can now pay for things with (like a reverse tab).

>>664468
Since lizard's are allowed up there, in the tower, we can bring Kexluk as backup in case nothing goes according to plan. My backup basically means healing Nezul and sneaking him in that drake circle guard, and then you, Howza, and Kexluk escape at the top while Kexluk uses telekinesis to protect us against arrows. At which point, we pick up Tulip, meet up with the dragon if he's still on our side, and we all fly away to Zirkalas. Howza can stay behind in the city if she wishes after that, but if my future daughter theory is correct, I think we should keep her around. Also, she'll be a high profile target in the city at that point so it might be best she flees the city with us once everything goes to shit.

Talk to the undead.

>From what I gather, the tower is built out of average, ordinary stone from a nearby quarry.

What? That's weird. This is a sandy desert area, right? So the local rock has to be something that eroded relatively easily, or it would be a rocky desert instead. It shouldn't be suitable for bearing the weight of internal floors made of stone. Most stone towers just use stone for the outer wall and make the internal floors out of wood. Plus if you do use stone you have to add all sorts of other internal pillars and reinforcements all over the place.

So, magic must be involved, if the inner floors and even the roof are made of stone. And if they bothered to enchant it for strength, then I have to wonder if they put in enchantments for security alarms and so on. Hmm. That gryphon had some sort of magic detection going on, maybe you should ask him about that?

1/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/22(Sat)13:56 No. 664496 ID: dd338c
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>Okay, messing with your voice has to be in the domain of bardic magic.
It is! It is not, however, in the parts of that domain that I have fully explored. I believe that my advances in magic have been rather steady considering my lack of innate talent for such, and so such a thing is slow! It is, however, on the to-do list of magic to acquire.

>What? That's weird. This is a sandy desert area, right? So the local rock has to be something that eroded relatively easily, or it would be a rocky desert instead.
Hm, I did not think entirely at first, but it seems strange to find solid rock in a place where there is hardly sand! However, I have seen crags and cliffsides now and then, and we are near the topside of a mountain range as well in which a forest lies on the other side not far off. So with this intersection of biomes, I believe that there could be a decent quarry not far off!

"Now, I would like an audience with the undead!"
>"Sure! He is a lizardman but says that he is not one of the lizardfolk from up above."

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/22(Sat)13:56 No. 664497 ID: dd338c
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I am shown down into a cavern, perhaps a long lost mining shaft, before a rather offensive smell gets to me. It is no overwhelming sense, however, before Howka knocks on the door and I am shown inside.

>"Hello. Who is this, Howka?"
>"Story Seeker! Did you not hear about the speech?"
>"I heard, but the kobold reporting to me sounded excited, and missed some details. Such as names. I am Laquer."
"And I, as you have heard, am Story Seeker!"
>"What have you come here for? I am sorry for the smell. Even at my most pristine of times where I could pass for living as far as sight is concern, the smell is always a constant."
"Worry not! I admit, my first inclination is to ask, how did an undead come to find the chaos den?"
>"Suspicious, are you?"
"No, merely in search of stories!"
>"Oh - hahaha, right, right.. Okay, I'll share."
>"I'll go do those things Story Seeker!" Howka says.
"Before you go, I just thought of something - please check if those gryphons would be able to sense if there is magic within the towers, could you?"
>"Okay!"

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/22(Sat)13:56 No. 664498 ID: dd338c
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Laquer readjusts himself as though preparing himself for a long tale.

>"Now, then, it's not a very long tale. As you may know, Spearstone as we know it now is not all that old, but beforehand, there did used to be a burial ground. A sacred one, in fact, with necromantic charms to disturb the living should the living disturb us. It was charms so ancient, however, that its energy was depleted. It was merely me and a few other guardians of the graveyard that were raised, while the rest, to this day, await a dead signal.
>"My companions immediately attacked the first Spearstone settlers. Despite the many years that I must have been at rest, however, I seem to have had a preserved sense of self preservation and did not feel it worth attacking a hundred soldiers by myself. Therefore I hid out under the dunes, watching the rise of the town in silence. I dislike it. If you are actually willing to take action against the lizards, here, then I am willing to offer my help - but I am just an undead guardian. I know no magic."

Ask him if he remembers any of the specifics of the burial ground or what was here before. Might just be old history but who knows what links the old ruins might have to current events.

Tell him that while what we are planning will not destroy the town or anything he might enjoy the resulting chaos and watching the mess it causes.

Also mention that you know some friendly undead that might be willing to take him in. If he is interested in starting a new life somewhere else that is.

If he wishes to destroy the settlement that disturbed his ancient burial grounds, we are afraid we will have to disappoint. You're interested in shaking things up and causing trouble more than destruction, although you're pretty sure the people in charge won't be happy when you're done.

Does the burial ground mean there was a previous settlement on this site?

>I am just an undead guardian. I know no magic.
You've been here long enough you might have useful knowledge, if not magic! You've been here since Spearstone was settled, personally.

>It was charms so ancient, however, that its energy was depleted. It was merely me and a few other guardians of the graveyard that were raised, while the rest, to this day, await a dead signal.
Huh. How many are left, I wonder? We might be able to find a way to pump energy into those. (Use the undead artifact Kex liberated?). That would certainly be a good distraction.

Although, then again, I'm not sure it's a good plan to raise his fellows just so they can actually attack, kill a bunch of people, and then be killed.

Since it seems the curse raised intelligent undead, ask, was it necessary for them to straight-up attack? Or would it be acceptable to cause some lesser form of "disturbing" the living, perhaps along the lines of a curse of "misfortune"? Or was it just a fluke that he himself retained his intellect and free will? If not, you know a lich who practices some very charming traditions.

Actually... Who set those necromantic charms? It seems kiiiinda coincidental that there'd be a necrenchanted graveyard so close to a dragon who claims a lich was his mother. Is this coming back to her, too? Ask if he knows anything of a lich called Frozque. While we're asking about history lessons, he implied he was able to pass for living occasionally. Does he know anything of the history of the differences between the church and the secular government here? Or anything about the origins of the church? There seems to be a lot of suspicious indications going on around the order-chaos thing, here. Disturbing a sacred burial ground doesn't seem a very order-y thing to do. Perhaps even just providing evidence of that to the current populace would cause some trouble? Could be another chaos trick to pull.

Also, don't ask because I think it would be rude, but what does Laquer look like he was, in life? My assumption is some sort of lizard himself, but I could be wrong. He has what looks like the remnants of feathers on his head? I wonder if Lady Enlu is descended from the pre-Spearstone inhabitants of this area.

Tell him you don't mind the smell. You've been around enough undead at Zirkala's place that you don't really notice the smell.

1/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/24(Mon)22:04 No. 664941 ID: dd338c
File 144047908324.png - (168.06KB , 800x800 , 2-251.png )

"No worries over the smell! I assure you, I have slept, eaten, walked and even bathed around worse! Do you remember any specifics of the burial ground or what was here before?"
>"Vague memories at best. As far as I know, the burial ground has nothing to do with the modern day Spearstone other than coinciding with its location itself."
"And do you want to destroy the settlement?"
>"No. I don't like it, but the burial ground is as disturbed as it will get. The guilty ones have already passed away, I presume."
"You make it sound, however, as though you know very little about Spearstone itself!"
>"That's because I do know very little. My focus is on the burial ground, if you haven't gathered already."
"Speaking of! How many guardians were around that were not raised?"
>"A few hundred, perhaps. Not many in number, but only the best warriors of each generation could volunteer, and only those who did volunteer, would become such as myself."
"You also are quite intelligent - were your two other partners who were raised so?"
>"Theoretically, yes, but they were slightly more fanatical about the burial ground's sanctity than I, so thinking was pushed to the side."
"It does seem strange to me as well, that these Order worshipping lizards would disturb a graveyard?"
>"They worship a very... self-inclusive concept of Order. The rest of the world could be turned upsidedown for all they care."

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/24(Mon)22:04 No. 664942 ID: dd338c
File 144047909674.png - (114.48KB , 800x800 , 2-252.png )

"I also can't help but notice that it seems rather coincidental that there was such a necromantic ritual for the graveyard so close to an undead army under a dragon!"
>"My town had exceptional necromancers, and as such, exceptional necromancer paraphernalia. I expect people came here for many years to loot and hunt for these things, and it's no surprise some of the effects lingered."
"I don't suppose the name Frozque comes to mind?"
>"It does not, sorry."
"Not a worry about that! Say, if you don't mind my asking, what did you look like in life?"

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/24(Mon)22:05 No. 664943 ID: dd338c
File 144047910491.png - (189.16KB , 800x800 , 2-253.png )

>"Not much different than I do now, or the lizardfolk up above. The bandages just replenish my flesh. Sorry I am not of more help. If you know of any necromancers or items that can act as a battery, then I believe that I could raise my fellow guardians, and, I hope, as their senior, get them to listen. As I said, I have no personal interest anymore in destroying this town, but I would like to clean the burial ground and return it to how it was.

>>664943
Well, we might be able to help with that, although Story doesn't know where Kex hid the artifact. And it's probably a good idea to have the pally around if we were to try just in case the others decided to be less reasonable and more kill everyone.

Not sure we can do anything more immediately to help him, unless the burial ground has a story that needs preserving, or it's upkeep would benefit musically.

There is definite irony he has had to ally with wannabe chaos cultists for what is really an orderly pursuit.

>The bandages just replenish my flesh
If he can temporarily remove / move the bandages like that without ill effect, he might be able to pass as a normal Spearstone lizard. That might be useful to some plan we hatch.

Raising the rest of the guardians would distract the church's guards like nothing else would, but Kex would probably be a little bit miffed at us for unleashing an undead horde without his approval. Also, he's the only one who knows where the artifact is. So, yeah, we need to ask him. How much time is there left to steal the artifact? We need space to prepare this chaos wave/heist properly. Maybe ask Howka if you can be alerted as to Kexluk's movements, if any news of such comes up?

Since Laquer has been hiding out around here for so long, does he know any secret spots or underground tunnels or neat geographical spots that the kobolds don't? Oh! And does he know anything about how this chaos cult got started? How long has he been with them? Also, can't help but notice his striking feathers, which seem absent from almost all the Spearstone lizards. Can he recall whether they were common to his people?

>If you know of any necromancers or items that can act as a battery
Do not admit to actually knowing of any, just tell him that once you finish up with a few things you'll look into it. Zirkala might be interested, but she also might not be, and there's no telling how Kexluk's artifact works, either.

Can you show me on a map of the city where the burial grounds are?

And say if you could restore the burial grounds would they still be usable for um new patrons as it were?

Because at this point the town is to big to just ignore a crypt full of undead popping up in the middle of it. But if it was a fully functioning nice looking cemetery the town could use I could see people being ok with it.

You and your brethren could go from just being guards to being morticians and caretakers.

Just a thought for you to think over.

>>664943
So, uh, is that face paint around his eyes or is that a black void where part of his face is missing? No offense or anything, just curious!

I like the idea of setting him up as the new caretaker of the newly opened Spearstone public cemetery and crypt complex.

You could use a bit of the money Kex is going to use for reparations to help rebuild the burial grounds and make the city happy by providing a public service. They get a nice place to bury there dead and the status of having it guarded by some revered ancestors. And the guardians get to go back to there jobs and don't have to worry about mobs with pitchforks.

The idea would not fly right now but its something to consider for the future. Maybe after the city falls into chaos for a bit and has some new people running things.

So tell him the idea and see what he thinks of it.

Story Seeker 2015/08/25(Tue)17:02 No. 665062 ID: dd338c
File 144054732073.png - (134.98KB , 800x800 , 9-254.png )

"Now, I know you were tasked with haunting the living for disturbing it, but, allow me to propose an idea! I will not even request that you hear me out, you may stop me anytime! However, I feel as though this town is rather large to fully ignore a large burial ground with rising dead - perhaps coexisting is an option? If it is a nice looking cemetary or crypt, I could imagine it receiving appropriate use!"
>"... no. That.... not normally. I do not like the people of Spearstone. But I will think it over."
"That is all I could ask! Even if you wished to move, which I understand if you do not, I know of a good undead sanction! In the meanwhile, a more casual question - what is that black paint around your eyes?"
>"A flaw in my skin. Even if it isn't rotten, it does not get its color back, nor its scales. So I end up looking like a raccoon."
"I see. Now, are there any secret spots or passages around here you know of that the kobolds do not?"
>"Only directly around the burial grounds. One gets close to the palace, and perhaps there is a connection directly into it, but I have lost interest in searching far beyond the burial grounds."
"Forgive me, I feel rude prying like this, but it does seem odd that after all this time, you haven't gathered much!"
>"No. Perhaps when I was alive I would have, but our minds are toned down for guardian duty. We do not grow bored or restless, although the end goal was to make sure that the eternity of idly guarding a quiet graveyard would not drive us insane over time. I do not mind these questions, either."
"Then I would like to ask - those are quite some frills on your head! Were they common in your time, if you recall?"
>"Moreso, yes." Laquer says, putting his bandages back on.

It seems like this questioning is winding down for the time! I imagine I could spend the rest of the night helping with morphing the plans, or attempt to search for Tulip myself if I wish to find her faster.

Check with the alchemist next. Would be good to hear first hand what sort of stuff they can create. That and you can bounce any ideas off them.

>secret passages off the burial grounds
Should probably get a few chaos-bolds to scout those, or check them yourself if it's not safe to send them blithely though the burial grounds.

(If we are going to send people through the burial grounds to use the secret passages, be sure to ask permission from the local guardian, first).

>I could spend the rest of the night helping with morphing the plans, or attempt to search for Tulip myself
The locals know the town better than you do, and you put the word out. When someone sees her, they'll get her in touch with you.

Your talents would be better spent on the managing people and helping with ideas and inspiring people end of things.

Hrrrm. Before you go, just ask... is there any sort of particular loophole, exception, failsafe or secret ritual command built into the burial guardians' raising spell? Like, say, that they could be commanded by a living individual descended from them, or that they can be convinced their burial site has been re-sanctified if such a person was buried there again?

Besides that, see what you can find out about this lizard wizard who was involved in building the tower, not necessarily from Laquer. How long ago was it, long enough that they're dead by now? Who's the mightiest spellcaster in Spearstone now?

We need more intel on this lizard wizard if we're going to deal with him/her later!

Hehehe! That's fun to say! Don't you agree Story Seeker? If you say it once, it's hard not to say it repeatedly! Now, say it with me! Lizard wizard, lizard wizard, lizard wizard, lizard wizard, lizard wizard! XD

1/5 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)15:10 No. 665407 ID: dd338c
File 144079980655.png - (172.37KB , 800x800 , 2-255.png )

>Lizard wizard
I am glad I have encountered this, as one of my tales of experience can give me an excuse to say this phrase.

"Would you mind if scouts scoured the burial grounds for any hidden passageways that would be missed?"
>"Yes. Do not do this, or I will most likely be unwelcome here."
"Hm? What makes you say that?"
>"I mean I will most likely murder intruders. I apologize for the forwardness, but that is how it is."
"Very well! In the meanwhile, are there any loopholes, exceptions, failsafes or secret rituals that accompany the guardians raising spell?"
>"No. It is already active - it has simply lacked the power to properly go into action. That is all it needs, and there is no substitute."
"Ah, no, I meant more... could you be commanded from a living individual descended from your clan?"
>"... no. We were only ordered by the grave master first, and our directives second. The first is gone, but the second remains. That is what says intruders must be killed."
"Speaking of death - I don't suppose there is an event in which the burial site can only be re-sanctified if such a descendant was buried there again?"
>"No, the sanctity is only held with peace and respect to the dead. A new patron after all this time would be more of a....... grand reopening."

2/5 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)15:10 No. 665408 ID: dd338c
File 144079981719.png - (130.18KB , 800x800 , 2-256.png )

>"Which sounds oddly appealing, now that the idea has been given to me."
"Well, that is all the questions I have for now! Howka, where did you go?"
>"Sorry, I am back here! Undead is polite but smells so bad."

3/5 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)15:10 No. 665409 ID: dd338c
File 144079982713.png - (154.94KB , 800x800 , 2-257.png )

I am asked to be shown to the alchemist.

"There! He is alchemist. Very smart. Good at potions! Not goot at words, but Story Seeker is, so maybe make up for his lack of good words?"
>"Thank you, Howka! Hello! I am Story Seeker! And you must be...?"

5/5 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)15:11 No. 665411 ID: dd338c
File 144079988308.png - (77.98KB , 800x800 , 2-259.png )

>"Hi."

>>665411
Is the alchemist a skeleton?

>>665411
Hello Hi, how are you?
Your dramatic reveal makes me think I'm supposed to know you. Or are you simply a dramatic person?

>a grand reopening would be appealing.
Well there's a sidequest. Connect the tomb guardians with people who will use it.

>>665411
Hello!

He's a skeleton? I suppose that makes certain aspects of potion making safer. Don't have to worry about irritants, or poisons, or fumes. Still have to worry about anything that would react with bone.

Do you recognize anything he's working with?

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)15:58 No. 665420 ID: dd338c
File 144080273098.png - (139.06KB , 800x800 , 2-260.png )

>Is she a skeleton?
No, only a smoothly scaled, wide eyed kobold!

>Do you recognize anything he's working with?
I do not! Only that it smells oddly... crisp.

"Hello, again! You seem to have a flare for the dramatics - have we met each other before? How are you?"
>"I'm feeling good."

....

>"We probably haven't met. I don't remember you."
"Very well! I am curious, what is it you are making?"

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)15:59 No. 665421 ID: dd338c
File 144080274693.png - (95.01KB , 800x800 , 2-261.png )

>"........ potions."
"And what do they do?"
>"........ oh, my god, Howka, this one is just so... naive."
>"Don't be mean!"
>"No, no, I'm not. I didn't say anything bad. I'm saying he can't tell how high I am right now."

Interesting eyes.

Ask what he is working on.

Oh, drugs! Is that why her eyes are so wide, then?

Ask what else she can make. Smoke bombs, invisibility potions, annoying things like stink bombs or glue bombs?

>>665421
>he can't tell how high I am right now.
Well I knew something was up but thought that would be rude to point it out

...Detect Gender?
That is ONE androgynous bold.

How are you at polymorph potions for the face, and maybe the voice too, if we can spring for that. How about you also douse the archpriest's robes with a scent that make lizard people less intelligent too? I mean, he's a drug user, dude's got to have some skills in aromatherapy-based alchemy.

Tell him about your adventures with that dust you got on the caravan trail.

Also its impolite to point out how high someone is.

Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)16:28 No. 665433 ID: dd338c
File 144080452250.png - (123.22KB , 800x800 , 2-262.png )

>Detect Gender?
Ah! She is actually female.

"Don't misunderstand, miss! Believe me, I have encountered rather formidable drug dust in my travels. Suspicions were present in my mind, but it is rude to point out! Especially if I end up wrong, and you simply have wide eyes!"
>"My eyes are always wide. "
>"... wait miss?" Howka asks.
>"Yeah, I'm a girl."
>"Why did you never correct me when I say him?!"
>"It was funny to me."
>"You ARE mean!"
"... regardless! If I may ask, what else can you make? Perhaps anything with polymorphing a face, or for the voice?"
>"I got all sortsa shit for that. Easy. Cheap. Plentiful. Problem is is that it's... not effective. See, for polymorphing, I can do just the face - but I can't specify what face. I can probly fix up something that'll choose randomly from your memories. So, you know a lot of people? If so, bad chances. If you don't want a familiar face, no chances. If you don't know a lotta people or are feeling lucky, we can give it a shot if you got the gold. For voice? Less random, more time consuming. I can modify voices but only in one aspect, one at a time, and it's tough to pinpoint it right. So we'd have to make a whole lotta batches to slowly get your voice how you want it. Possible. I guess. Time consuming. And, you know, you'd have to drink a dang lot of random junk. Anyway, I got all kinds of shit. Wanna know how it is to be incredibly dumb for a few minutes? Maybe have extraordinary strength with only temporary blindness? Or maybe good sight at the expense of all your other senses? I got all kinds of what you want, you name it. Satisfaction not guaranteed. You know what they call me back home? The Alchemist of Technical Success."
>"But this is your home!" Howka says.
>"And that's what you guys call me!"

Wait a minute.

>"You must be...?"
>"Hi."

Oh gods we have a funnygirl here.

Anyway, polymorphing to look like the priest seems to be out. What about some sort of pheromone or chloroform thing that will make people believe whatever they're told for a while? Like, that "being dumb" thing. What kind of dumb? Any way to make that easily deliverable, like a spray bottle to the face or something? Maybe a blowdart?

Can the dumb potion be dried up and turned into a powder of some kind? Cause if we can get to the drakes, we can hook it up to the saddles and have it tear open while they fly, causing the people around the tower to fall under those side effects, and if the tower has open windows, it'll have a chance of getting inside.

I have an idea, get a temporary memory erasing potion, annnnnd just before it's about to wear out, show Story who the archpriest looks like, have him drink the changing potion, and boom.

Ask her how her aphrodisiac's are, like what's technically successful about those. And if she can make herself exponentially better at alchemy by drinking Alchemy improvement potions that she continually improves.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)17:19 No. 665450 ID: dd338c
File 144080756262.png - (153.29KB , 800x800 , 2-263.png )

"What about a potion - or perhaps some form that is easier, more deliverable to those who don't wish it to be delievered - that makes people believe whatever they're told for awhile?"
>"Oh, yeah! I got that. Side effects include, uh... what were they. Well, I once tested it on a kobold, who I told that the moon didn't exist. But then when he went outside and looked at it he basically went nuts and started going on about how a star fell really close to us. But hey yeah most of my potions can be condensed down to stuff like gas or foam or in a blowdart or dust or you know whatever."
"And what about that being dumb thing?"
>"Uh, exactly what it says on the glass. They get dumb. I dunno how to say it differently."
"Right, right! But you say it is possible to make it a gas?"
>"Yeah. Like air. Air you can't breathe."
>"Correct! What would be the effective range?"
>"My stuff is so cheap you couldn't believe. If you just want a small room like this then that might be like 4 potions to take 5 minutes to take effect, if you want, say, the perimeter of the palace, we'd need to make a huuuuge batch. Like. 100 potions. Which I can do. I can get help. Yeah. I just need ingredients. Easy ingredients, but depends what you'd wanna make. Good gods let's do that I've never gassed a big area before.
"Memory erasing potions?"
>"Got 'em. Only sometimes do they just mess up there existing memories!"
"And - forgive what must give some rather questionable indications - how are your aphrodisiacs?"
>"Ohh, into that, are ya? How bad of you. Yeah I got them. They're good, of course. And you know what? They only have..."

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/28(Fri)17:19 No. 665451 ID: dd338c
File 144080757167.png - (119.59KB , 800x800 , 2-264.png )

>"A 42% or maybe 33% chance of shrinkage."

....

>"Also an even lower chance of itchiness."

....

>"Some people are into that, ya know."

>>665451
Shrinkage? Of the whole body or just part of it?

Oh hey what about a shrinking potion?

I personally have no problems attracting well honestly just about anyone or anything.

Sometimes making a crowd horny can cause a entertaining amount of chaos and distraction. And I have found that a embarrassing distraction keeps people from talking about it later.

>Gas an area with potions
Well, there's one plan of attack.

Question: how do we navigate a gassed area? Is there protective gear or spells we can use? Or do we just have to send in an undead who doesn't breathe anyways?

>>665451
Hmmm, you don't think you're really interested in size changing sexytimes. Maybe later.

>>665450
Yeah, okay do that first potion instead of a polymorph, but we'll test it out in public first and then say we're the lord of the palace and see what happens when we say we're somebody who we're not.

Oh, and we're going to gas the church with an aphrodisiac during the ceremony, to induce regular chaos. A prank leading up to a bigger prank.

The shrinkage IS temporary, right?

Aside from the gassing idea, it might be a good idea to acquire a few potions with other useful bad effects to have on hand. By distracting them with charm, you might be able to drug someone if you need to (slip some in food or drink or something).

Do you have an antidote to the believe-anything or get-dumb potions? Or like, for the dumb one, another potion that makes you smarter? You could douse yourself so that you give off a cloud of the stuff.

Or, would either of those affect a lizard, but not a kobold? Or not a, say completely for example... slime?

>Chance of shrinkage.

.....sooo, it has a chance of making your penis smaller. Maybe? That would be funny, but if it ends up being permanent, then it would be psychologically scarring. We don't want to permanently damage someone, do we?

Story Seeker 2015/08/29(Sat)10:40 No. 665560 ID: dd338c
File 144087000697.png - (130.49KB , 800x800 , 2-265.png )

"Temporarily?"
>"Yes! No potions of mine do permanent things. Except the poison. That just kills."
"And if we did gas an area - is there protective gear I, or anyone, may use?"
>"All potions are easy to make a counter potion to! Either as a cure or as an immunity. Immunities are temporary, too, of course."
"Oh, what about a shrinking potion? Not the one you just mentioned, bu-"
>"Yeah I get you. I can do that. Enlargening potion, too. Side effects include body dysphoria, loss of balance, and being weaker."
"Anything that would affect a lizard but not a kobold, or vice versa?"
>"Uhhhhh wellll, sorta. Probably! Not reliably? Yeah no I don't recommend it since from what I heard, you're gonna need the potion to do what it says it do."
"Oh, I don't suppose there are potions of increasing one's ability to create potions?"
>"Oh, yeah, sure, and I'll just ask genie's for more wishes and buy 10 gold for 1 gold. So what's it gonna be? We can get potion crafting if you got the scrap, and talkin' about my every potion under the sun ain't gonna make every potion under the sun. What do you wanna do?"

That potion that makes someone believe anything does sound tempting, but it seems that there are a great deal of options, here!

>>665560
The believe anything one sounds good!

>>665560
A mix of believing-anything, makes-people-dumber and mess-with-memory sounds good for bluffing your way into pretty much anywhere. Totally not a magical Neuraliser.

So... what I'm hearing is a potion made for a lizard won't necessarily work on a kobold, but not reliably enough we'd want to gamble on it.

Go for the gassing the room gullible and forgetful. That's the perfect working environment for a bard.

Also, get a few potions that work on yourself, just so maybe we can have with them later, if we need to. It'll be fun. Shrinking, maybe the disguise one (we could pretend to be Kex?), something else.

Disguise price. What will her efforts to aid the chaos cost?

Oh, your final request should be:
I would like to get high with you later when most of my plans are done.

Make it a date?

For pranking: Shrinking potions, given to male lizards to make other lizards think they're kobolds. Lots of other potion prank possibilities, too.

For artifact stealing: Gas tower with gullibility, dumbness, or some drug that makes people super chill. If the kobolds can stealthily arrange for poor ventilation on the lower levels, and for it to be warm on the lower levels, the whole tower will act like a chimney drawing the gas upwards to the guards and priest.

Then two kobolds, immunized, stand on each other's shoulders under a robe, or one male kobold takes an enlarger if the immunity won't interfere, and they bluff their way up to take the artifact.

Order a 100 vials of confusing and dumb gas and see how much it would cost. We can get the money from Kex later to get started.

Oh and see if she can get any of that dust drug you were exposed to earlier. It would make a nice last ditch weapon to throw on someone who might be otherwise protected.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/29(Sat)13:19 No. 665582 ID: dd338c
File 144087959367.png - (163.45KB , 800x800 , 9-266.png )

"I believe I would like to gas a large area with the Believe Anything potion, added together, perhaps, with making people dumb and forgetful memories!"
>"Yes!"
"How much would this sort of thing cost?"
>"Pulling out that many ingredients for multiple types of potions turned to large gas is gonna take time to restock! Along with needing to pay assistants to help make that many short notice potions, I'm gonna want 20 gold. 30 gold if you wanna overdo it just to make sure it covers the whoooole area."
"I would also like to purchase a variety - a sample pack, perhaps - of various potions, good or bad, to work on me and others!"
>"Just one potion of all kinds?"
"Yes - disguises, shrinking, enlargening, putting to sleep, anything you have?"
>"5 gold and you get a wide variety, all you said and more! 10 more gold and you get like, 20 other potions!"
"What do those other 20 potions do?"
>"I dunno. They're strong though, I just haven't gotten any volunteers to test 'em. They won't kill you though, there's no poison. No chance of that."

I only have 46 gold and change on me. I could buy all of this - 30 for the full package for the tower, 5 for additional potions, and 10 for mystery potions if I wish, but it will leave me nearly broke - granted, 1 gold can still go a far ways here for basic needs, and I can get more when Kexluk returns.

>Oh and see if she can get any of that dust drug you were exposed to earlier.
I describe this, but she says she has nothing of the sort! However, to bring her some if I find any. I do not have this on hand, unfortunately.

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/08/29(Sat)13:20 No. 665583 ID: dd338c
File 144087959983.png - (119.62KB , 800x800 , 9-267.png )

The plan, although I have not described this to the alchemist, I believe will be to gas the tower with gullibility, dumbness, and forgetfulness. Two kobolds then, one on top of the other - or perhaps just me with an enlarger - will be immunized and scale the tower, bluffing my way through it. Confirming that the potions shouldn't interact badly with one another, I can both be immunized and enlarged.

.... I have remembered that I am not actually good at planning.

Its a work in progress right now. Your job is not to micromanage everything but to inspire the troops and get things started. Leave the planning up to someone here who knows the layout of the city better than you.

Also any complex enough plan never survives past the first few minutes. You just need to have something in place to distract all the various forces and hope it all goes together well.

So buy it all and start rounding up a group of the senior kobolds to help set things up.

>gold spending
I would spend 35 for the gassing and sample pack. 40 for the 20 pack isn't worth it- we're never gonna actually use 20 potions, even if the unit cost is less.

>I can get more when Kexluk returns.
Haha, that's funny, since Kex is broken again after spending all the money at once. (Although Story can probably negotiate something from the goblin trades in return for that).

>I have remembered that I am not actually good at planning
You're good at improvising, which is what will matter in the moment.

The chaos bolds are good at making plans, and the practical end of things. Now that you've inspired them to actually act, you can probably trust them to figure out how to deliver the potion gassing, and how to get you in place. Then you just do your thing.

I'd go with the stacked kobolds, personally.

>>665582
>10 more gold and you get like, 20 other potions!"
>They're strong though, I just haven't gotten any volunteers to test 'em. They won't kill you though, there's no poison. No chance of that."
Ask if we can get a discount if we can tell her what the potions do. Have the Chaos followers each take a potion, drug a random lizard with it, and record what happens.

actually yeah, call the unknown potions "bottled chaos" and that doing something random with no fore thought is like, the most chaotic thing they can do.

>>665583
It will be less awkward if you're enlarged instead of standing on Howza's shoulders, but it will be a more boring story and you won't be making the great escape with your potential future daughter
Spend 35 gold
Heal Nezul - maybe ask alchemy girl if she can create a healing potion for Nezul's eyes - have him hide among the tower drake circle for an amazing escape in case everything goes wrong. Since he's palace-faction and famous, he should be able to convince them to let him fly around the tower if he's healed
Immunize Kexluk as well, have him as backup in case stuff goes wrong and we're leaving the city immediately after the heist, plus we need his telekinesis

Then wing it as we get up there. It's what bards do best.

Simple plan story.

No guts no glory! Buy them all! In a crisis just throw the random potions at people. Effects stack so even if you get a beneficial potion you can toss another one.

Always keep a little gold for the unforeseen, Story. Skip the mystery potions.

In fact, if she wants to see what they do, why not give them to the kobolds for use in the random chaos pranking? Just keep track of which potion was used on who and she'll find out, which should be worth the production costs in the first place.

Definitely spend 30 on the tower package, and optionnally 5 for the mystery potions sample. But no more on the mystery potions (at least, not yet), we may need the cash.

1/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/29(Sat)17:32 No. 665623 ID: dd338c
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"I will order the gas as mentioned, as well as the variety pack, but for the time being, I must pass on any unknown potions!"
>"Suit yourself. Show me the gold and I'll get started."
"By the way, do you know any potions that can give sight to someone with no eyes?"
>"Yep! For like, 5 minutes. Probably. Aw yeah." she says, as I sort out the coins into her hands.

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/29(Sat)17:33 No. 665625 ID: dd338c
File 144089481152.png - (130.83KB , 800x800 , 9-269.png )

>"Ciska! Get the assistants!"
>"How many?" a new kobold says, popping out.
>"All of them. We got ourselves a real order this time!"

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/29(Sat)17:33 No. 665626 ID: dd338c
File 144089482170.png - (140.21KB , 800x800 , 9-270.png )

>"Get outta here, rich guy and... whatever your defining trait is, girl! We gotta have a lot of room in here if you want it done asap."

Time to make plans, Story! Mostly you want to judge how much time you have, what time would be best to coordinate the wave of chaos pranks with the artifact heist, and make sure that the kobolds who are going to be doing the pranking have a decent idea what they're doing, aren't going to be tripping over each other, and are actually being creative. We don't want a dozen kobolds thinking "uuh put booze in the water" and then each separately going and putting what they think is a fair amount in, so it ends up being poisonous rather than tipsy-making. No to that.

Though, as a desert town, water supply probably is limited. Is there one main water source, or a few? Is there a reserve? If there's only one water source then don't mess with that.

Anyway, Story, you successfully managed weeks of time loops, you can do a bit of scheduling. Get a read on mood, too, make sure enthusiasm isn't going down again after the initial rush.

>>665623
All right then, we'll need to give Nezul a beer hat of the stuff, then.
I guess we paint eyes on him?

>fix eyes for like five minutes
That's more cruel than cure. We'll hold out for a real healer, I think.

>>665626
Right, skeedadle. Get the kobolds who are better at making plans and know the tower layout thinking on how we get the potion gassing actual in there.

You know what would be funny, but also extremely awkward at the same time? If the enlarger potion is just a male enhancement and only enlarges your penis! Looks like that's a risk we're going to have to take! XD

But, if it does work the way we think it will, just imagine what would happen if we gave it to Kexluk! He's already a giant and if we gave that potion to him, he would be absolutely MASSIVE! O_o

Maybe make sure the kobolds' chaos tricks aren't all just bad things? Mostly bad things for those who deserve it, of course, which is most of the lizards. But include some more pleasant things, like sudden perfume in someone's bathwater, some nicer person's copper coins turning to silver (you'd have to provide though), that sort of thing. And perhaps arrange for some kobolds to be pranked as well (or to appear to be pranked, by getting their consent first), so the lizards don't instantly suspect them for being mysteriously immune to all this chaos stuff.

1/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/31(Mon)16:57 No. 666066 ID: dd338c
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I leave with brief farewells towards the alchemist, of which I never did learn the name of.

Aside from being bad at planning, however, I also realize that I can still direct the goals and missions of those who are, along with proper schedules! I look over the plans, which have been marked up quite a bit with replacing words like 'kill' with 'give a sneezing fit' and 'destroy' with 'hide' and so forth. Overall, I am pleased!

I present the idea that perhaps not all the pranks should be bad - perhaps give one house the impression its haunted by a ghost that does chores, or perfume in bathwater, and other such things. However, while the levels of anticipation and eagerness towards enacting these plans seems at a high, the thought of giving some lizards good pranks seems to diminish this, so I quickly stop.

2/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/31(Mon)16:57 No. 666067 ID: dd338c
File 144106545883.png - (187.04KB , 800x800 , 9-272.png )

Instead, I propose the idea that kobolds receive bad pranks too, or at least the notion of bad pranks towards volunteering kobolds, such that it appears that the chaos does not distinquish between kobold and lizard.

Some, perhaps rightfully, feel that the lizards will blame the kobolds anyway, but I quickly intercept this with counter ideas to prevent that from downing the mood! If the lizards blame the kobolds for anything anyway, it may as well be for something the kobolds actually did.

Otherwise, I spend a couple of hours making rounds, occasionally singing songs I picked up during breaks and other such downtime, doing my best to make sure that the mood only gets higher in favor of doing the best one can in these plans.

3/3 Story Seeker 2015/08/31(Mon)16:57 No. 666068 ID: dd338c
File 144106546667.png - (148.91KB , 800x800 , 9-273.png )

Eventually dusk arrives, and I am hastily greeted by an individual who nearly ran right into me.

>"Story Seeker! Hello, I am Cerzani - I am to deliver a message about Tulip!" He pants, quite vocally out of breath.
"Ah? What is it about?"
>"We have found her - but we were unable to speak. She was seen talking with a priest at the foot of the church tower, before walking inside with him."

>>666068
Were you aware of her previous movements? Like, why would she have done that? Surly she asked some kobolds over here somethings to hear from the grapevine, I'm interested in what information led her to the church.

Huh. That's weird. Don't know why she would have gone there, but in fairness, we don't know her that well.

She shouldn't know our objective. She might think a church is a place to look if she'd trying to find a paladin? If she was still looking for Story, I don't know what could have led her there.

...I'm guessing she decided to run away and seek out a new owner, because of the rumors about Kexluk being a brutal owner. That's a place she'd have to go to do that, isn't it?

Well, she's honestly not important. Just leave her, she'll be fine. Continue with the mission.

I bet she is asking at the church for Kex. Which means he will have to be the one that goes there to pick her up. Ask the kobolds if they can keep a eye out for if she leaves.

I have a feeling you should not go there because they might notice the chaos on you a mile away.

Story Seeker 2015/08/31(Mon)18:35 No. 666098 ID: dd338c
File 144107132987.png - (107.35KB , 800x800 , 9-274.png )

Hm, it sounds as though Tulip may have been looking for Kexluk after all.

"Were you aware of any previous movements of hers?"
>"Yes! That is, that is where she was last seen, but I've been told more. For one thing, apparently she was a recent slave of Kexluk too, but maybe you knew that? Anyways, before she was in the church, she was around town asking people about what's been going on in Spearstone lately, since she's been in Whitewind for the last few years and only heard rumors from here. We don't know much more than that, sorry. This is new news, but so far none of our contacts who said they had conversations with her knew she was going to the church."
"Is it possible to keep an eye on her if she leaves?"
>"Uh, yes, I'll tell them your request when I go back."
"Understood and good job!"
>".. ah, there is another thing! You might not care, but apparently, there's a rumor of attempting to assassinate Kexluk."
"Eh?"
>"Yeah, uh... we heard it from Mosxa's slave crew, but we have no idea if it was actually Mosxa that's doing it."
"Tell me of Mosxa."
>"... he's a dick? There is not much to say about him, he is ambitious, violent, and it's an open secret that he wants to be the next warchief of Spearstone's palace. We have no idea why he would wish to slay your former - er, current? - master. Apparently the ambush is to happen when Kexluk returns, as he was last seen sprinting towards the dragon's lair. But maybe before? Mosxa's scouts were seen following Kexluk's, uh, rather traceable footsteps."

Well they cant really hurt him but I had better try and warn Kex anyways so there are not any unwanted casualties.

I mean he could probably take on the whole town at once and come out unscathed if he had a mind to. But I don't want to put him in the sort of situation where he has to deal with that sort of stuff.

Having to kill people would make him sad.

We can warn him right as he gets back, but we can't catch up with him now.

Hmmm. Well, you certainly don't want Kex dead. Although he's rather hard to kill, in any case.

Maybe if the rebellion and planning is well in hand here, you should follow up on this one? It'll probably veer into politics when you investigate, and you're a good bard to keep your head there.

Story Seeker 2015/08/31(Mon)19:23 No. 666121 ID: dd338c
File 144107423861.png - (132.80KB , 800x800 , 9-275.png )

Hm, well, I am certainly hardly more than mildly concerned for Kex's safety! No, I am more worried about how his mindset will be affected should he be forced to fight so many of this town. Regardless, short of ridi- being carried by the gryphons, I expect I have no way to catch up to him. And even if I did so, I could not find him in the forest!

From our planning, I will be scheduled to infiltrate the church's tower at approximately 9:30 to intercept the Archpriest. The ceremony commences at 10 PM on the dot - to which I hope the exact time will be supplied for me. If it goes well, I will exchange the real order artifact with the fake one. Whether or not it goes smoothly, the chaos kobolds will go out in all of their numbers and enact their plans of pranks and mishaps!

There can be more mood rising and planning yet, but perhaps in the interest of warning Kexluk, I should follow up on this somehow. And if the latter, how I would go about doing so?

Could you just ask the gryphons to go warn him without you? Then they don't have any of that "feeling like they're being used for a ride".

That gryphon has some sort of detect magic ability, remember? He sensed you using the Detect Gender spell. So, ask him if he can detect someone using other spells. If he can detect holy spells, then he should be able to find Kexluk that way. The only problem is, the gryphon's favour is to the chaos kobolds, not to you, and it would be hard to convince them that it would be paid off by helping what they'll assume is an upstanding orderly lizardman!

Alternately... this town is supposed to be full of gossips, right? If the assassination plan gets out as a widespread enough rumour, Mosxa will be forced to call it off. Maybe Lady Enlu could help with that? It should be relatively easy for her to at least plant a rumour quickly. Unless you have any reason to believe she's allied with Mosxa, then she should be interested in undercutting his power, and may help in other ways.

Asking the gryphons for help is a great idea. You can send a note along saying to watch out for a ambush.

Also you can mention that your day is going well and you have made lots of new friends in town. They have a party in your honor planned starting promptly at 9 so hurry back if you can. Also Tulip stopped by the church to look for you so you can probably find her there.

Well, if you do warn him about the assassination attempt, make sure you also warn him of staying out of the tower when you gas it with the "forgetful, stupidity, believe anything" potion! We don't want him to be affected by accident!

Yes, request that the Griffs find Kexluk on their own while you do things here. You're going to slow them down and timing is crucial. If Kexluk doesn't make it back in time, we'll need to be here to pull off the plan in action.

Shit, if Kexluk doesn't get back with a proper healer, Nezul is out as a backup plan choice. For Nezul to become part of the guard, he must be publicly known to have his eyeballs back, then make a request to fly around the tower to the palace. Which is when we extract Tulip from the church and ride off with Howza and Tulip on Nezul when things go inevitably south.

The gryphons don't owe Story any favours, they just want to help the chaos kobolds in return for their stay. Plus, they said they want to stay low tonight because they don't want to be involved in the chaos storm. They'll need something extra to convince them.

>>666121
If you had some idea which faction in town is trying to kill Kex, you could tip off a faction that opposes them, or who might benefit from his being alive. Use politics and bardic skill to play them against each other.

Also, this would mean he wouldn't have to suffer all the lizards being against him, as some would be helping him.

What time is it now? After dusk? So... sixish? That mean we have a few hours to maneuver before we head in?


Did you make any contacts or learn anything you could use when you were in Enlu's household?

Can we also plant a chaos idol somewhere in the relic chamber? I believe Tom might wont to witness this whole shebang if not take part in it.

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/09/01(Tue)16:14 No. 666345 ID: dd338c
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>Did you make any contacts or learn anything you could use when you were in Enlu's household?
Hmm... in hindsight, perhaps I did. Despite that people enjoyed my presence, I was new, and I do have the impression that there were secrets of which would not be so easily shared with me. There were a few slaves I know of that had dealings with other slaves in various parts of towns - nobles, churches and palaces alike, even if just so mundane of tasks as errand kobolds. Even that, though, would be enough that they would hear rumors going through those locations.

I believe if I wished to pursue this information and learn what faction wishes to harm Kexluk, then I could have luck doing so.

>Can we also plant a chaos idol somewhere in the relic chamber? I believe Tom might wont to witness this whole shebang if not take part in it.
I don't see why not!

"Thank you for this information! I hope to remain in contact, but that is all for now."
>"You're welcome!"

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/09/01(Tue)16:14 No. 666346 ID: dd338c
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I head with Howka towards the gryphon's abode.

"Hello, Gust and Lossi!"
>"Hello. Why have you come to us now?" replies Gust.
"I have thought of a task that I must ask for your assistance in. My master, Kexluk, may be in grave peril! Or at least enough peril to merit me wishing to send him word that people intend to assassinate him."
>"Hrm... we can do that. Where is he?"
"Ah, near the Dragon's lair! That is a wide area I know, but you seem formidable at detecting magic - if you sense holy magic abound, then I am sure it would lead you to him."
>"We can try. Is this master of yours important to the chaos den after all?"
"Not directly - however, he is not with the lizard people, and will come to some form of aid, I am sure!"
>"... weak words."
>"Gust!" Howka says. "It is important because Story Seeker says it is important!""
>"... fine. What else do we tell him?"
"Ah, yes, please let him know that Tulip has gone into the church, and I believe it's because she was looking for him there!"
>"No, I mean..... so someone wishes to assassinate him? Is that news to him? Most people have someone who wants them dead. Who is to assassinate your master? When, and why?"
"Ah, I am hoping to learn why, but for now I simply wish for him to be on his toes?"
>"I have a better idea. I will go first. Then if you learn anything, Lossi can be sent after me with more news than to tell a powerful warrior to be on his toes."

I see no reason to argue against that logic, and thanks to these gryphons, I can seek some other task. If not planning for a heist in a few short hours, perhaps I may find out more things out from Enlu's slave party, now that I have a far better idea on what to press about.

>>666346
Hey you forgot to mention the rumor came from Mosxa's slave crew. So it's either Mosxa or someone affiliated with him. Or someone with the ability to spread a rumor among other nobles' slaves.

>>666345
>>666346
I think we should follow up on what politics are gunning for Kex, and maybe who wants him dead.

>>666346
Make sure you mention that Kexluk should stay out of the tower when we hit it with those potions! We don't want him to be affected by accident!

1/2 Story Seeker 2015/09/01(Tue)20:38 No. 666413 ID: dd338c
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"Very well, but I remembered a couple of other things! Please do not have Kexluk enter the tower between 9 PM and midnight, and the fact that the rumor came from Mosxa's place!"
>"I understand." Lossi says, as she begins making preparations to leave.
"Excellent, thank you! I will see what I can find about this assassination, and hopefully return with enough spare time to share my findings."

2/2 Story Seeker 2015/09/01(Tue)20:38 No. 666414 ID: dd338c
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So long as I have any emblem - of which I still wear Enlu's, blank side out - I can enter the merchant area without issue.

However, re-entering Enlu's may be another issue altogether!

"Howka, I don't suppose there is a hidden pass to Enlu's?"
>"Ah! Maybe. We get word fast from Enlu from sound hole through walls because lizards investigate slave quarters too often! Would find actual hidden passage. But hidden passage exists! Just... goes through wine cellar and other thing. Need to sneak past guards. Good at sneaking? Good! Otherwise, cannot enter Enlu's."

While I would be tempted to simply approach the front gate and request entry, this has a high chance of being turned away I fear! And normally that is no concern, but then again, normally neither is the time!

Yeah we can sneak. Got a spell for it, even.

Go sneaking route. While you can probably get in the front with no problem sneaking is more exciting. Plus you might get to listen in on conversations along the way.