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713267 No. 713267 ID: dd338c

Previous Threads/Wiki: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Fen_Quest
Inventory and References: http://tgchan.org/wiki/Fen_Quest_Statistics
Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/Lagotrope


"Are you ready to get up?" I ask Cheese.
>"Yee... no. I can't feel my legs I'm sorry I ran so far."
"As long as we make it back to the Fence safely today."

Her breathing is raspy, her voice is hoarse, and she's shaking. I believe it's just the effects of exhaustion, and she simply needs rest.

>"I should stop thinking."
"Why?"
>"Because I'm just coming up with more and more ways that I am soooo fucked."
"Are you alright like this, in the rain?"
>"Fen I have so many problems and the cold is none of them. The mud is actually really comfortable and almost... not cold. You should try it sometime."
"I've slept in dirt and mud for most of my life."
>"Oh yeah."

I wait in the silence between the sporadic rain, until her body calms down from the overexertion.

"Are you ready to go, now?"

Silence. She fell asleep. I'm unsure how long I want to wait like this, however, in the distance, I see a few kobolds approaching from where I came from. One small one, and two mountain kobolds.
Expand all images
>>
No. 713270 ID: 67bda9

Hmm. If you've seen them then they've seen you. You wouldn't be able to outrun them if you carried Cheese, unless there's somewhere besides endless flat mud nearby, and you can't leave her behind.

Try wake her up. Shake her, give her a little slap if it doesn't work, and say "I think your guards are coming, Cheese". That should alert her a bit, and that probably is who they are. Maybe not, but probably.

If she can't wake up then uuuh she might actually be developing hypothermia. Pick her up and carry her towards those kobolds who are approaching.
>>
No. 713271 ID: b412df

Try and wake her up, speak to her. Even if it doesn't work it should waylay any suspicions about you being a mugger or something. I mean, you're standing and she's lying in the mug, kinda suspicious looking in this light.
>>
No. 713276 ID: dd338c
File 145961521121.png - (55.88KB , 800x800 , 338.png )
713276

"Cheese. Cheese."

I give her a slight slap on her cheek. There's no place to hide her around here except in the mud, and they've already seen us.

>"ahh I'm sorry I won't tell anyone"

"Cheese."

>"Er- uh Fen where are we?"
"In the middle of nowhere."
>"Alone?"
"Not anymore. Two mountain kobolds are approaching. I think they're your guards."
>"Fen please do not be joking."
"I do not joke."
>"Oh no no oh no... that's them. I ditched them. They um..."
"Are you in danger?"
>"Oh, no, they won't kill me! ... but I mean I wouldn't say I'm safe either? They just need me to be able to do my job, and, you know, some scrapes on my back never stopped me before, ha ha, you know?"

>"You. What are you doing with Cheese?" one of the mountain kobold yells at me as they approach. I notice that the crow from before is nowhere to be seen.
>>
No. 713278 ID: b412df

"Helping her up" or something like that, then whisper ask what to do to Cheese. They may be her guards but do they belong to a noble or to her? If she ditched them I'm assuming it's the noble, so we may have to speak carefully here.
>>
No. 713279 ID: 02422f

>her default response to someone trying to wake her is to start desperately apologizing in her sleep
>trying to joke about the fact her guards are probably going to beat her
Cheese sounds more and more like the victim of repeated trauma every time she opens her mouth.

...I'm really tempted to just kill them, but I don't know if that will only make things messier for her.

>I notice that the crow from before is nowhere to be seen.
They can't afford to be seen, and they did say Cheese is being watched at all times. Makes sense if that's her own guards.

>>713278
This plan seems good enough. Cheese, do you need them?

(If she wants to go with the story that we pursued her closely and slew her guards, and then she got away or weaseled her way out, she can probably sell that. And it'll give anyone paying attention to her the idea we're not working together).
>>
No. 713305 ID: 67bda9

Aw geeze Fen you should have stepped in front of her before leaning down to wake her up. This position must look bad.

Ok, so... if they're not close enough yet to see more than your silhouette, then quickly whisper to Cheese you are still going to give it to her again but she needs to give you the dragoncloth for a while, for now you need to pretend you're out here meeting secretly to make an exchange.

When she gives it to you, or if she doesn't, or if they're close enough to see, then whisper "sorry about this" to her, then say loudly: "We were supposed to be having a secret meeting, Cheese." Then you stand and pretend to kick her in the side as effectively as you can, maybe give her a little impact if need be. And you continue: "We were having a discussion about punctuality."

The idea is that if you make it seem like she came out here to do her job, and make them thing she's having a hard time of it already, they'll be a bit more sympathetic. The dragoncloth will hopefully be the "secret item" to exchange (if you have it you can refuse to show it), and if they get really inquisitive you can maybe flash the noble medallion.
>>
No. 713310 ID: 211d83

Say the word and I will take them out for you.

Otherwise you can pretend you were out here to meet me and because you were running late you wore yourself out. You should give me the dragon cloth and I will carry it for you until you need to make the exchange later. It would be safer with me at the moment anyway.

Regardless I am not going to let them abuse you unless you insist on it to keep your cover.

If you don't give me some direction I am going to do this my way. Which might mess up your plans. Or help them.
>>
No. 713312 ID: dd338c
File 145962169623.png - (91.34KB , 800x800 , 339.png )
713312

>Aw geeze Fen you should have stepped in front of her before leaning down to wake her up.
I had to get an overview of her body temperature to make sure she does not have hypothermia.

"Talking to Cheese." I tell him, trying to keep my voice cold but neutral. I need to whisper for guidance from Cheese before I commit making it look like I'm helping or hurting her.

>"Is that them?" says the smaller kobold.
"Yeah. We can find our way back. Here's your coin." the guard says.

Once the small one, who must have been a tracker, receives the pay, he walks back the way he came while I speak.

"Cheese, are those guards with you or with the noble?"
>"They're under the noble, they're supposed to both guard me but also keep an eye on what I do at all times. So uh... they messed up bad so if I go back then I mean I won't die but they'll probably like chain me to them or something so I can't leave again. Um... take the dragoncloth though and don't let them see it obviously."
"Would killing them make things worse?"
>"Haha Fen I don't think things can get worse. Um... no... no I think if you killed them that... that might cause big problems later but it would sure solve other big problems right now. That and they're really tough, they're among Bardo's best but I mean you're tough too I guess but there's two of them."

If I don't kill them, I may be able to pretend to give Cheese a rough time so that the guards don't, but I am still reluctant to let the guards get to her at all.
>>
No. 713316 ID: 211d83

I am leaning towards killing them. Just because I think they will insist on seeing whats in the package Cheese hands us shortly. Which would ruin the idea of just leaving and meeting her later.

"Ok if I kill them then you can claim you were out meeting a contact and there was a ambush and they died. Or you got kidnapped and they got killed trying to rescue you. But you escaped during the fight."

"So I will take them out if you think that plan is the best. But if you want to go the other route I will stand back."

"Honestly if you pass me the cloth they are probably going to ask questions. Ones we can not answer. And if I let them haul you back it will restrict your actions so much that the dragon cloth plan will be harder to pull off."

If you do decide to kill them then act like a stranger who found her and was seeing if she was still alive. Then let them help her up and surprise attack one of them to even the numbers. Make use of the rain and the mud to even the odds.

Oh and a witness to this meeting is walking away. So might have to deal with him now or later as well depending on what you do.
>>
No. 713324 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713312
The tracker saw you. Either you'd have to murder him, or take the blame for killing the guards. This is a no-go, and you felt bad about killing that bodyguard earlier anyway. Do you want more needless blood on your hands?

You'll have to help Cheese some other way.
>>
No. 713325 ID: b412df

If Cheese gets chained to her guards then I don't see how she's going to get the freedom to sell the cloth and free herself of the debt.

I think either we kill them now, and skip town before the Noble finds out, or let her take some punishment, and stick around until we can give her the dragoncloth back. I'm leaning towards killing them.
>>
No. 713328 ID: 02422f

>that might cause big problems later but it would sure solve other big problems right now.
Problems later can be mitigated with planning and Cheese's skill at manipulating people and information. Problems now can only be endured or cut off with a sword.

If Cheese is going to be any help with Fen's long term goals, we need to snap her out of her depressed, defeatist funk. We need to show her a way out, that victory is a possibility, that she can believe we're someone she can rely on.

Forcing her to endure another beating and being clapped in irons won't accomplish that. I think you need to cut them down. Personally, I'm not too sympathetic to anyone who beats and chains people up as part of their living anyways.

I'm sure there's some angle Cheese can use if her guards end up dead. It also means there's less suspicion we're working together, if it looks like you tried to attack her and in the process her guards ended up dead.

>how kill two of them
You'll have to surprise ambush one without warning when they get close, then you can deal with the other one without such bad odds.

>The tracker saw you.
The tracker saw some lizard with a hood in the rain. Not enough for a solid identification. And I'm pretty sure he stopped giving a damn about those guys after they paid him.

I'm pretty sure he didn't care if his clients where here to help Cheese, guard her, or hunt her down. His job is to track people, and I'm sure people do that for lots of unsavory reasons in this town.
>>
No. 713329 ID: 91ee5f

>>713312
What about Cheese's dragon cloth investment plan? I honestly think she has a good idea and I want to help her execute her plan. But I'm just questioning if her plan will be messed up if we kill these guys or not. Because she did say if we killed them there would be big problems later.
>>
No. 713332 ID: 67bda9

If you think they still can't see you clearly through the rain, or if you can cover the exchange with your body/cloak, then take the dragoncloth for sure.

You just ran a long way to get here, and that tracker guy is probably about as fit as you are if he makes his living outdoors. If you can't catch up to him, I'd say don't try kill the guards. And that leaves the pretending plan. Whisper quick to Cheese that the letters she was getting were to meet with you, and you're going to pretend to be a rich asshole and you had a really good deal to offer but demanded secrecy and a meeting time that was too soon, so she had to run.

Then shout after the tracker guy to stop. Like: "You, tracker! If you want a few more coins, you'll stay right there! This was supposed to be a secret meeting, and I don't want anyone leaving until they've been convinced not to talk." You can give Cheese a pretend kick when you say "secret" to start playing up the persona. Or if you decide to kill the guards then he'll be nearby and you can kill him or bribe him more easily, too.
>>
No. 713333 ID: 67bda9

>>713328

I don't give much chance two professional guards will be acting easy around someone who's acting suspicious towards their charge. It also depends on how tired Fen is feeling after chasing Cheese; I'm not sure how long he left her resting in the mud, there. I guess these guys must have booked it here, too, if it wasn't a long wait, but still. We for sure can't assume these guys will be as easy as the last one we killed. "Among Bardo's best" means these guys are probably ex-military.
>>
No. 713337 ID: 347803

Personally I think it would be better to look like you were after Cheese for a personal vendetta and kick her a little or something. It'd be better than getting in another fight to the death with a possible witness (the tracker). You have to remember not to get overconfident and overextend yourself.

Take the package and act like a barbarian if they want to see what's in it maybe?

You can claim it's a Savage heirloom or something and make up fake words or whatever about it.
>>
No. 713371 ID: dd338c
File 145964058106.png - (61.00KB , 800x800 , 340.png )
713371

I felt bad about killing the earlier bodyguard, but I knew nothing of his character.

Although I know little about these guards, what little I do hear is not going to haunt me at night over their deaths.

I don't like the idea of a witness, but I'm not going to hunt him down over this, especially since he may not care about what happens next. He's already leaving, and it won't be long until he's disappeared into the fog, so I only need to buy a little time. Plus, I am not particularly fatigued, especially not compared to those mountain kobolds that probably did not take a leisurely pace running here.

"Play along." I whisper to Cheese. "I assume you don't need them for the cloth sale."

I get up.

"This was supposed to be a secret meeting, Cheese." I say, pretending to kick Cheese while letting my cloak hide my foot stopping just short to push her instead. Cheese jerks and gasps while I turn to those guards. "We were having a discussion about punctuality."

I give Cheese another fake kick. She curls up into a ball, making a weird sobbing noise, and I forget myself for a second, as that noise nearly convinced me she was really hurt. Still, I bend low to get the pouch with the dragoncloth inside.
>>
No. 713372 ID: dd338c
File 145964060813.png - (46.22KB , 800x800 , 341.png )
713372

>"What's your business with her?" one asks. They are close, now, and I have to turn around in order to see them and what they're doing. At no point are they off their guard, though. He recognizes me. "Wait a sec. You? What are you doing here? Thought you were just getting friendly with her in that break town before Cheese steered us off course. Now it's related. What's your business with her?"

They ask the same question more threateningly the second time and begin to approach me, drawing their swords. But before they do and before I can come up with a response, Cheese coughs.

>"He's... Rasyan was on to us. This barbarian, he was sent by Rasyan to act like a new barbarian in this land, but then get with me for additional information. But, he's not loyal to Rasyan, he wanted him dead! That's why we're off course. We couldn't go in the same direction as Rasyan, because we would have been framed for his death."
>"... what?"

What?

>"Rasyan is dead!" Cheese chokes out. "But don't blame Fen for the framing! He only told Krix about Rasyan's secret path, it was Krix who was going to try to frame us, not Fen! Fen is the one who told us - well, me, about the possible framing while we slept together, and even though we have no proof it was Krix, I owe Fen a big favor now! We had to get out and get known we were somewhere else, fast. Except for Fen, who I needed to help get out of this mess because he might be a suspect and who I owe a big favor now!"
>"You told us that the barbarian might be trying to kill you and have spent the last day fretting endlessly about Cati's agent showing up."
>"Well that's because I had to make a show to act like I never wanted to see him again, because he made me promise we wouldn't be seen together! That's why we're out here, and that's why he gave me such sudden notice to meet out here, and I'm sorry, so sorry, that I ran away, but he gave me no time or warning, and when he did he said it had to be in private, so I had to run by myself, and that's why I'm late, Fen, because this tail is so bad for running. But I gave you the alibi story and Cati's seal and guards that's why I'm meeting with Cati's agent because I need to tell her to vouch for Fen and tell her that she told him to investigate Rasyan under his nose and there isn't much time at all so we have to get back to the fence!"

I don't know if she thought about that at all or if she just spilled out a confusing, haphazard story to get the guards stop looking like they were about to try and kill me themselves.
>>
No. 713374 ID: 211d83

"Figures your big butt would slow you down Cheese. How are you even going to get to the Fence quickly if the second you got here you just about passed out?"


Even if we are just going to kill them its worth going along with her little story just to get there guards down. Fighting them both at once is risky and even if you had way more practice the terrain is a mess right now.

Keep your guard up in case they do not buy it.

Ideally Cheese can distract them enough so you can take one out and even the odds. Just make sure it does not end up with Cheese in a situation where she can get killed in the scuffle. Maybe back off a bit and wait until they start dragging Cheese off and then back stab one.

Also remember to apologize for the big butt crack later.
>>
No. 713375 ID: 91ee5f

>>713374
Really? We're going to call her fat?

.....well, I can't think of anything better to say, so yeah, let's call her fat. And remember to apologize later.
>>
No. 713377 ID: 87547f

>>713375

Fen does not actually think she is fat its just playing the part of a asshole who would kick a lady while she is down for not getting here fast enough in a storm.

I mean she did say her lateness was due to her big tail so a crack about a giant butt would make sense. Just have to reassure her we like the way she looks later.

Anyways act the part and watch for the guards reaction. If Cheese's little story can get them to relax and ignore you then you might have a chance to get a surprise attack in on one of them.

Remember you are going to be fighting in mud so watch for thrown mud and sliding everywhere.
>>
No. 713381 ID: bb78f2

>>713372
Okay, well, as you can see here, guard, it's a confusing fucking situation between two information brokers -slash- noble agents. Even I don't fucking understand half the shit because the fucking nobles and info brokers and agents love this crazy ass half baked shit, I'm still really just a barbarian that got mixed in a few months ago and I'm not paid enough to care. Are you? I don't even KNOW what noble I'm working for now with Raysan dead, I just wanted him dead because of shit like this.

I'm in the same position as Cheese, it's just I'm in over my head and don't even understand a fraction. I was out here, ONCE, six months ago, and NOW I'm in the middle of this shit now because I wrapped up in Raysan's bullshit. I don't even know who Krix IS. I get hired to talk to her, give her some vague ass shit, Raysan tries to kill me after I complain about his bullshit and apparently I fucked up for some reason, so he's dead now because he doesn't know what to do with a barbarian, and then I get another goddamn message from somebody suggesting I find some way to contact Cheese privately to tell her about Raysan's death. She apparently knows WAY more than me.
>>
No. 713384 ID: 91ee5f

>>713377
I know he doesn't think that about her and I know he's just pretending. I'm just amazed that we couldn't think of anything better than fat insults.

But when we go reassure her of her looks, let's not say we like the way she looks. We're saving ourselves for Lily, remember? So let's not give Cheese the wrong idea.
>>
No. 713394 ID: 02422f

>>713372
Well Cheese sure is good at bullshitting, isn't she.

Act annoyed, distrustful. "And why should I trust your guards with sensitive information now?" But them on the defensive, make them sell Cheese's story to you instead of vice versa.

Be ready for a fight if they push it, but if Cheese's play works, well, she made that decision. Don't mess it up for her by attacking first.
>>
No. 713421 ID: c87545

>>713384
Fen hasn't called her fat yet, could just say "Tsk, of course that slowed you down."
>>
No. 713449 ID: dd338c
File 145966088099.png - (43.53KB , 800x800 , 342.png )
713449

"Of course it would be your big butt would slow you down. You were passing out just a moment ago, and you want to get back to the Fence quickly? And why should I trust your guards with information now?"
>"You don't have much of a choice, there." says the more yellow mountain kobold, approaching Cheese. "Alright, step back from the girl."
"Fine but after just a few months of this, I'm already lost and in the middle of this empire business."
"Get used to it. Alright, Big Butt, let's get out of - "

Cheese's tail sweeps forward, and the mountain kobold starts tripping over her and towards me.

That tail sweep was not accidental. Cheese intentionally tripped him.
>>
No. 713450 ID: dd338c
File 145966092412.png - (64.22KB , 800x800 , 343.png )
713450

I'm hoping that was my cue to kill him.
>>
No. 713451 ID: dd338c
File 145966094276.png - (37.71KB , 800x800 , 344.png )
713451

Despite supposedly being an elite guard, this mountain kobold is slow moving back and slow to unsheath his sword.

Still, he buys enough time to get his sword out by blocking my own slash with the backside of his scaled forearm.
>>
No. 713453 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713451
Slow opponent? Feint and punish. Don't get grabbed since he's stronger than you.

Also, since it's muddy here, his weight will screw him over. Take advantage of what will be the worst footwork you've ever seen.
>>
No. 713455 ID: 211d83

Charge in and stab him in the chest. With a sword like that the worst he can do is hit you with the hilt if you are in close enough.

Takes awhile to get it out of a shoulder holster.
>>
No. 713457 ID: 7bf2db

Ok, he's probably going to keep moving back, because it's hard to get a sword out of a sheathe carried on your back quickly. He might also try swing at you with the arm he just blocked with, to fend you off. Sidestep or duck that and come up inside his range to stab him. Aside from being hit with a swipe or punch, the next danger is that he'll try grapple with you, so just be sure your sword isn't in a position to slip to the side if he pulls you in. Be ready to quickly pull out your dagger if need be.
>>
No. 713459 ID: 1862a8

Get out of the path of his swing. Opportunistic gut slash if you can manage it.
>>
No. 713460 ID: 91ee5f

>>713449
>"Alright, Big Butt, let's get out of - "
Well, it's a good thing we're going to kill them. Otherwise, we would've accidentally given Cheese a new nickname for the guards to make fun of her with. We should defiantly apologize for that.
>>
No. 713462 ID: 91ee5f

>>713460
Stupid autocorrect, I meant definitely! We should definitely apologize for that!
>>
No. 713465 ID: 73c49c

your standing so close that he will not be able to hit you with the blade. if you press in he will not be able to get the arm he defended with out to bear hug you. if you have a dagger pull it and put it in is belly, he has a big sword so he will only be able to try and hit you with the hilt if your in kissing range. If you pull out he will have the reach on you with his sword length and arm length. With big dudes as long as they cant get the bear hug off your fine, so press his defending arm against him and stab away!
>>
No. 713480 ID: a107fd

Go for the exposed armpit. No armor, lots of nerves and connective bits up in there which could cripple the dominant hand, and he'll be bleeding out through the brachial artery.
>>
No. 713486 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713480
I think "time to get his sword out" means that armpit is no longer exposed. The image shows Fen's attack but we're suggesting for a time period a little bit after that, I think.
>>
No. 713609 ID: dd338c
File 145971668545.png - (26.88KB , 800x800 , 345.png )
713609

I leap into his front, since trying to go at his side or his back will force me to try and cut through his scales again, which makes it difficult to make a decisive blow.

Although he almost manages to get his sword out, I'm too close for him to make use of it, and I stab through his stomach.

He must have let go of his sword, though, as his elbow drops on me, and my body completely shuts down on me as I fall to the mud. I drop my sword, leaving it lodged in his gut.
>>
No. 713610 ID: dd338c
File 145971669528.png - (84.91KB , 800x800 , 346.png )
713610

I don't know if I caught a glimpse of his foot moving and instinctively rolled or if I just rolled out of trying to get out from under him, but I sense the earth shake around me as he stomps his foot around where I was.

What is an attempt to get up just ends up being a few more rolls away from him. I'm struggling to not just pass out; his elbow hit me using its scales.

He tries to step forward, though, vomits up some blood, and falls to the mud.
>>
No. 713617 ID: bb78f2

Cheese, if you value our partnership, please direct me to a way to fix my potential concussion.
>>
No. 713620 ID: 211d83

Just lay there for a moment and take some deep breaths. Once you feel up to it get up and start bandaging your head.

Next time you try that sort of thing remember that you have a 3 foot sword at the end of your arms. Getting close does not mean go into wrestling distance. You could have gotten a good shot off that would have disabled his sword arm without getting into elbow range. Then you just would have had to wear him down for a bit until he bled out.

Your horns can heal up right? You have a bit of a chip there.
>>
No. 713624 ID: b2db3f

There is a valuable lesson to be learned here Fen. Big guys have big reach. And you sir are not a big guy.

Your plan was good but you should have never gotten under the arc of his arm. And you don't have to stab someone halfway through the torso to kill them. A long slice along his belly or a disabling cut to his sword arm and you would have come out uninjured. The fight would have taken slightly longer but it would have been just a matter of time.

So fight to stay conscious and keep still until you can bandage yourself. Or call for cheese at least if you cant.
>>
No. 713626 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713610
Okay so again we learn a lesson to not get in close when fighting skilled mountain kobolds. Ask Cheese for help.

Fen was lucky in that he hit something immediately disabling. Kindof odd, actually. What could be down there that would cause an immediate collapse? Do mountain kobolds have lungs that far down?
>>
No. 713629 ID: dd338c
File 145972008578.png - (71.72KB , 800x800 , 347.png )
713629

>Next time you try that sort of thing remember that you have a 3 foot sword at the end of your arms. Getting close does not mean go into wrestling distance.
Perhaps it was a bad decision, but that mountain kobold's arm range seemed to extend almost as far as I could put my sword in deep enough for anything more than a bad gash. Perhaps my spacing wasn't good enough, but I don't have enough practice against mountain kobolds. It's been awhile since I fought Tevlis.

For now, I stay still and just talk to Cheese to stay conscious.

"Cheese... if we're partners, please direct me where to treat head injuries."
>"Oh uh uh cold! When I had a big head injury a doctor put a really cold towel around my head. I dunno what that did but that was a doctor so it probably was something! Ahhh geez should we bury the bodies! Can we? The mud here is soft and we can dig graves but it'll take awhile and I can help if you want. We should be able to get done before sunrise or fog lifts but ahhh the doctor also told me I had to rest and not move at all."

I feel my horn. There's a chip. It stings, hard.

I don't think horns regenerate without magic intervention.

>Fen was lucky in that he hit something immediately disabling.
I'm not sure. Perhaps my sword went deeper than I thought, or perhaps he simply wasn't that tough once getting stabbed and gave in to the wounds. They weren't lethal, however, I can still see him breathing, even if he's not conscious.
>>
No. 713633 ID: 211d83

Well luckily you probably have enough spare money to get it healed up later. For now it will help remind you to keep getting better.

Slowly pull yourself up and once you are steady go help Cheese out from under the corpse. Finish off the big guy once you are able and ask Cheese what the plan is while you loot the bodies.

If we bury these two Cheese will have to explain where they went. If you leave them here you can claim that you were attacked and the guards died holding off the enemy while you and Cheese escaped. And now you have wounds to match the story.

If you do bury them check the surrounding area for a good out of the way spot. If not anywhere is good.
>>
No. 713638 ID: bb78f2

Fuck burying them, not worth it.
You need that head wound taken care of as soon as possible, or this journey is going to end prematurely. So be careful.
>>
No. 713639 ID: 91ee5f

When that guy fell over, he probably ended up falling on Fen's sword which shoved it even further into himself. I'm actually amazed the blade isn't sticking out of his back right now. I guess that just goes to show how big that guy was.

Also, we should tell Cheese that we're sorry for the big butt comment. Don't want her to feel self-conscious about herself.
>>
No. 713640 ID: 5ad4a7

Well at the very least you need to retrieve your sword. Rest there for a couple minutes, maybe ask Cheese to take your dagger and go slit the throat of the one that's still alive. Or use her claws, whatever. Then what are we going to do when we go back to town? Two guards go missing, presumed dead, and you show up with a massive head wound. It'll look suspicious.

...should we wait on the road for the noble Cheese is going to sell the dragoncloth to? If we don't go back to town, that's the best option, I think.
>>
No. 713642 ID: 02422f

Is Cheese pinned under the first one? Do you need to help her up?

>When I had a big head injury a doctor put a really cold towel around my head
Well, you're in the rain. No shortage of cold, or wet cloth. You can improvise a rain-wet cloth to wrap around the injury for now.

>Ahhh geez should we bury the bodies! Can we?
That... depends on what story you plan on telling. If I attacked you and killed your guards while you escaped, it wouldn't make sense for the running merchant or the assailant to stick around that long.

Other stories might work better if they just disappeared. You have to account for the tracker, too. I doubt he cares what happens to the guards, but it's possible someone looking into this would find out the guards found you here with some draco-bold.

He's also not dead yet.

But yes, I can dig if we need to. (Do you still have the pickaxes on you? That would help).

tl;dr- Cheese needs to start deciding on what plots we're using. You're not in the best state for being sneaky.
>>
No. 713668 ID: 918f9c

>but ahhh the doctor also told me I had to rest and not move at all.
If you can get up, tell her you'll stop moving once it's safe. Help bury them, then maybe bandage up with a cold flattish (if possible) stone held over the first layer of bandages.
>>
No. 713673 ID: dd338c
File 145972855379.png - (27.79KB , 800x800 , 348.png )
713673

"That depends what story you want to give."
>"Let me think just a moment..."

I lay down. She is right, the mud here is comfortable and oddly warm. I think to slit the throat of the last one I killed, but my sword must have plunged in so far into him that there is no way to survive, so I don't bother asking Cheese to do anything when she gets out from underneath the other.

>"Hey, Fen.... do you really think my butt is too big?"
"I was hoping you were thinking about more pressing matters."
>"Er... right. Yeah."
"And no, I have not seen your butt, I only assume it is large due to your tail. I only threw it out because it is the first insult that came to mind. I'm sorry if you took real offense to it."
>"Oh, haha, no, I'm just, you know, a little self conscious, but usually people call me pink eye, or lumpy, or rotskin, or mutant, or... well, big butt or even just fat is a first, so it was a little funny to me and caught me off guard at how simple it was! Do savages think - er uh yeah nevermind sorry okay let me think another moment."

...

>"Okay, um first off, everything I just said can go right into the gutter since they're dead, sooo we don't need that story anymore! Anyways, um, oh, gosh, that darn tracker is going to... no, you know what, that's no problem, I can fix this. Okay, here's what's going to happen. We bury them, right? No one's going to be searching in the middle of the field for dead bodies, and with the dogs around, no predators are gonna dig up the shallow corpses, so it's just not feasible someone will happen upon by accident. And no one's going to look for these guards until Bardo or one of his guys sees me, and I'm gonna tell them they had to deal with Fence business and I never saw them again. If they don't believe me, they'll ask around, and find out they left town, and maybe even find the tracker that led them here. Let's say they get the tracker to lead them back here. That would be bad, but long before then - like 5 hours from now, let's say - I get a body disposer to make the bodies, you know, vanish. So, no bodies. The guards, they really did just disappear."
"Would they believe you, that you did not attempt to dispose of themself at first?"
>"They would! And that's why I'm actually a little glad that they had the tracker, because now the tracker can say what things looked like when he showed up, and it sounds like a really weird setup for me to do to off them, you know? I mean it's not perfect but I think it's gonna be okay. Do you have any better ideas? Um, really the only messy part of this is having to do the body disposal. I know good people who know good trustworthy body disposers, but, um, they don't charge cheap. Do you have like... 30 silver I could have for this, unless you can think up something better? I'm a little, uh... well, I didn't get get my head bashed in, which is really surprising in hindsight."
>>
No. 713678 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713673
Tell her you can easily cover the cost of body disposal, and that sounds like a safe plan. Ask if she can make change or just wants a whole gold piece for it. It also sounds like you won't be returning with her to The Fence, because returning wounded would look bad. Maybe you can go to the Crow Zone next and deliver the pickaxes, then recover there? If there's bandit activity on the roads out here you can just use that as your cover story.
>>
No. 713679 ID: 1cebc8

Saw the bodies up so that they decompose faster. Be sure to open up wounds and slather their entrails all over to increase infestation.

Keep the bones until you can find a place to grind them into powder or dump them in an ocean, or just hide them across the area and make a few bone puppets.
>>
No. 713683 ID: 02422f

>>713673
You can cover the cost to close this, yes. Rasyan's money means little to you, and you'd been spending fairly liberally to catch up to her so quick.

Is it safe for you to return to Fence? Treating your wound and resting would be preferable, if being seen doesn't raise more complications. (Depends on if she knows a sneaky way back in, and/or a discreet sawbones).
>>
No. 713687 ID: 211d83

Yeah I can lend you the money. Should I find my horn chip to remove any evidence? Also make sure that these two do not have any money or other items on them before we go.

As for your head getting bashed in I got that covered. They bashed mine in slightly because I wanted to take them out fast enough so that you would not get hurt in the crossfire.

Do you know how much it would cost to fix my horn? And who could even do such a thing?
>>
No. 713688 ID: 02422f

>>713679
Since people will be coming to collect the bodies, making a mess of them is actually counter productive, as it would be harder to gather them up.

>Do you have any better ideas?
We might be able to use your contacts, or the people I paid off to get to you, to sell a story better. It's also possible to collaborate with the crows, if you're willing to not cut ties with them, who are orchestrating something with Rasyan's documents.

...I also meant to discus with you what to do with his possessions. His badge, jewellery, and enchanted weapons might be too dangerous to keep, but they have value. (If there were a safe way to "launder" magic swords, that would be pretty convenient). That's less an immediate concern, though.
>>
No. 713692 ID: 91ee5f

>>713673
>Usually people call me pink eye, or lumpy, or rotskin, or mutant, or...well, big butt or even just fat is a first, so it was a little funny to me and caught me off guard at how simple it was!
Oh, that poor girl! I can't imagine how horrible it must be for her to have everyone say these things to her face on a daily basis! I feel so bad for her. :'-(

Also, any chance we can get Fen's sword back? His entire sword is probably buried deep inside that guy, so we're probably going to have to dig into the body to get it back.
>>
No. 713698 ID: 87547f

Having not met any other cave kobolds I have nothing to compare your butt to. I don't really understand why people would be so mean to you. I think you look just fine.

Paying the body experts is a good idea. I have some money right now and all of the nobles possessions in the bank. If you can fence them we should have plenty of money to work with.

Maybe the crows can help with story ideas. I gave them the documents I found on the noble and made friends with them. I think they will understand what you were doing if you take the chance to explain.
>>
No. 713730 ID: f7a64f

You know, no matter what Cheese says it always comes across as a self serving lie to me. The shit with the dragoncloth, 30 silver for corpse disposal, it all smells like a scam.
>>
No. 713732 ID: dd338c
File 145973619754.png - (163.32KB , 800x800 , 349.png )
713732

"I'll cover it. I can't see any flaws with the plan, but could your contacts in your area of the fence sell your story?"
>"Ehhh the questioners may know that they're buddies with me, so it may look a little suspicious if they really try and sell a story! I'll make sure they don't say anything contradictory though, yes."
"Could we talk to the crows about stories?"
>"Uh... I'll wanna have a good chat with them first! Since I can do that now! So... not now but that wasn't a bad idea."
"And if I'm wounded, I may be suspect to arrive shortly after the tracker found us, so I take it I will not be returning to the Fence."
>"Eh? Did the tracker actually see you?"
"Come to think of it, no."
>"Plus, I mean, Bardo would probably sooner admit to losing two guards to nothing than admit they lost to a single barbarian! So even if it does somehow come up, I can't imagine it being an issue. I mean if you hate the fence then... wait did you leave stuff in the bank? You gotta go back for those things anyway. So, uh, just clean yourself up a bit and it may just look like you got a chip in your horn, and your hood should cover with, uh, however bad the top of your head looks."
"How much would it cost to repair my horn?"
>"Uh... it really depends on how long it takes the wizard, but I think it might cost like a few gold."
"That much?"
>"Yeahhhh don't lose a limb till you're swimming in gold okay?"

>Begin body disposal first
It would take a great deal of time, and I'm unwilling to do something so gruesome myself, when burying them at the cost of 30 silver will do.

After a moment, I feel alright enough to at least sit in one spot and dig carefully. Cheese helps pull my sword out from underneath the mountain kobold, and, perhaps thanks to her namesake of cave kobold, seems particularly quick at digging a sizeable hole.

Before long, we have rather disrespectful graves, considering they're more hiding spots than places of rest. I spend some extra time matting them down, much like I used to have to hide my own tracks at times.

Cheese set aside the items that the guards had, excepting their two giant swords, which we buried with them since we can't take them back with us.

Aside from that, they each had a seal of Bardo, some food, which Cheese and I eat, some bandages which I use, a small length of rope, and between both of them, about 8 silver and 12 copper.
>>
No. 713733 ID: dd338c
File 145973620559.png - (127.27KB , 800x800 , 350.png )
713733

We begin walking back to the fence while cleaning up a little bit, using what little rain still comes down.

"By the way. If I go to the goldyard, will I see any cave kobolds?"
>"Oh, yes! As long as you don't just visit big fancy places. We kinda stay in the, uh, working areas. Why though?"
"You are the only cave kobold I have seen. I have no idea what they look like."
"Oh, welll, imagine me, but, uh, sharper looking, and thinner. Way thinner. Like, thinner than field kobolds."
"I've been seeing some field kobolds that don't look that thin."
>"That's mostly fluff! Field kobolds in this land get fluffy."
"Anyways, I have some items from Pocky I would like to sell."
>"Who's that?"
"Sorry. Rasyan. Someone called him Pocky since he came from pocktown."
>"Haha oh geez that's really funny except he's dead."
"I wasn't laughing."
>"Oh..."

I give her the list of items.

>"Oh my god, I can do most of that for a good amount, I mean the seal itself can probably be melted down into like 3 gold coins, the necklace could sell for a bunch, um, those swords... let's.. that's trickier. I can hold onto them but I can't fence them fast. I'll get to work, though! You should, um, if your head injury is getting better, it should be okay for you to sleep. You've been up all night!"
"So have you."
>"Yeah but that's okay. Um... what are you going to do though? I mean, I know your long plan, but I think I can take care of the rest of things if you want to, you know... go away and fight in the army. The next teleport is in about two days and chance in Graskin, which is probably a day's away or so from here to travel to. And if you miss that, you gotta wait another week."
>>
No. 713736 ID: f7a64f

Considering how things have been going it almost seems like interfering with things outside the army/arena is a faster path to wealth and power than just joining and doing as were told.
>>
No. 713737 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713733
Today, rest up and buy that buckler. Maybe get medical treatement for your head. Not enough to fix your horn, just enough so you're at the top of your game tomorrow. Tomorrow, or just later today and have a stopover part of the way there, leave for Graskin and deliver the pickaxes along the way, avoiding Rumtown again.
>>
No. 713738 ID: 02422f

>I mean the seal itself can probably be melted down into like 3 gold coins
Assuming there's no way to use it as a seal. Probably no safe way to exploit that. It's safer melted down.

>Um... what are you going to do though?
I'm not sure. One crisis solved.

I'll have to make my delivery to the crows. And I will have to take the teleport to the capital. I'm not sure it's important I rush to make this weeks instead of next weeks if there's things worth doing here...? (Check Cheese for possible leads).

What about you? Now that you've ditched your guards, what do you plan on doing beyond handing off the dragoncloth?
>>
No. 713740 ID: 211d83

"First me and you need to have a long talk about our new partnership."

"So I understand why you did what you did. You definitely strained our new friendship but I can get past that. Next time you need something big just ask first. If you had just asked for my help that first night together we would not be up to our necks in dead people right now. "

"If I lend you my dragoncloth then we are going to be working together for a long time. You will use your new freedom to help me the best you can. And if I become a noble you will be my spymaster/adviser. We can work together to be the best sort of noble. If I die in the process then you make sure to take care of yourself and my family and friends if you can."

Then give her your exact timeline and what you were planning. You have until early winter to become a established noble so that Lily can be with you. You figured the tournament was the best way but as recent events have shown you need lots more fighting experience so was considering the army to have a trial by fire.

So being the expert that she is what does she think of the plan. If fen goes to the army will he get stuck there? Is there a better way of getting lots of fighting experience and making a name for himself? And once Shup realizes what I am trying will he interfere.

And we need more info about how to fight against magic. Who knows what might show up at the gladiator games or elsewhere.
>>
No. 713745 ID: 252878

You should ask her how much it would cost to have your sword enchanted, you don't want it wearing away and you always need a good weapon.
>>
No. 713747 ID: 29b28b

So together with the seals the guards had that's about 9 gold coins right?

Before you go to the army maybe you should see what preparations you need to make before you're stuck in it. Finding a bank that can accrue interest on your money while you are gone, maybe make contacts for the future Tournament. Also you still need good armor and possibly investigate any magical medical stuff you can get for future injuries.
>>
No. 713748 ID: 29b28b

So together with the seals the guards had that's about 9 gold coins right?

Before you go to the army maybe you should see what preparations you need to make before you're stuck in it. Finding a bank that can accrue interest on your money while you are gone, maybe make contacts for the future Tournament. Also you still need good armor and possibly investigate any magical medical stuff you can get for future injuries.
>>
No. 713750 ID: bb78f2

>>713733
So really, my next goal is just get to the city, teleport, and sign up now? That's all I have to do with this complex plan of yours? Then just survive in the army until... I don't know.

Let's review, what's needs to happen on my end for your plan to work once I'm in the army? I had assumed my goal to become a noble would be achieved there, in addition to the gladiator stuff, but with your goal of freedom in the mix, complications to my plan may have been added, so beyond Dragon Army work and winning Gladiator matches, what else do I need to do?
>>
No. 713752 ID: dd338c
File 145974056653.png - (89.22KB , 800x800 , 351.png )
713752

"Given the last couple of days, I am almost rethinking joining the army."
>"You want to slow down?"
"No; the opposite. The last couple of days have shown that it is a faster path to wealth and power than simply joining and doing as I'm told."

Cheese is silent, then tries, and fails, to contain a laugh.

>"You... you don't know anything about the army, do you?"
"..."
>"If you need to make a name for yourself, the dragon army is probably the best way. I mean you couuuld do it by just wandering around the countryside and killing people here but, I mean, that's gonna make you a lot more enemies. Way too many enemies. And it's important to have more weight in friends than enemies."
"Regardless, for now I have to make my delivery to the crows. I will stay in the fence to purchase a couple more things before leaving. However, if there is something worthwhile doing for a week, then I see no reason why I shouldn't put off joining the army for one week." I go on to give her the full timeline that I am aiming for.
>"That is really not much time! Can't think of anything for you to do the next week that would really be worthwhile since you seem to have to make every hour count here."
"What about you? What will you do other than handing off the dragoncloth and my items?"
>"Well I mean, we're gonna see if... what did you do with Rasyan's corpse?"
"Stripped him, rolled him in the dirt, and otherwise made it look like a bandit attack."
>"Oh geez good. There's a chance they might find out actually. Um... the biggest thing I'm gonna do is try to set things up so that when people realize there is a huge power void in the north-western Turtle, things kind of come out okay for me hopefully. And, uh, you, too, because your dragoncloth... well, I gotta make sure to keep tabs on it and to set it up so you can get it back, right? So... leave that up to me. Oh, um, please give me Cati's seal."
"What?"
>"It's in your pouch, like I told my guards."
"I thought that was a made up story."
>"Well yeah it was but I do actually have Cati's seal. It's okay, I can kinda use it a bit. Cati's... weird."
"How much does it cost to have a sword enchanted?"
>"Oh, a looooot like I know you might have almost 10 gold with your seals now, and so that sounds like you can buy the world but nooooo. We're gonna be in town soon so let's keep our voices low, I'll bring us to a spot where we can talk."

I give it to her, and that seems to get the guards to let Cheese in without asking any questions, and Cheese ducks into an alleyway where I follow. She pulls me to a side are where she claims it's safe to talk freely as long as we talk quietly.

"What do you think of my overall plan to become a noble, though?"
>"Joining the army is pretty solid honestly. I mean you will fight a lot no matter what, but not gonna lie, people who try to grab glory even beyond that in the army usuuuuually die, so grab for glory in smart ways! But the answer is yes you have a good idea on how to accomplish a terribly unrealistic goal."
"Do you know if Shup will interfere if he learns about my plans?"
>"M...maybe. I don't know him that well. I can try to find out about that. And... and I mean... I really do want you to succeed, and if we're going to be partners for the long term, then I better get started on preparing things for you since you're on such a tight deadline. You know, get connections and stuff for you. I can even help you out in the army, I think, depending what missions you get put on. I can get a lot of info. Let's get a room in a tavern. Do you... want seperate rooms this time? And either way, should I grab all of your stuff since I mean stealing from you was a hilariously awful idea as you showed, so I'd just be safekeeping and stuff and you can use the crows to get me to deliver your stuff to you if... um... if you want. And are you going to stay around for a week even though I have no idea what you'd do other than act like my bodyguard, or go off to join the army as soon as possible?"
"Is all I have to do, really, just join the army and survive while making a name for myself?"
>"Y... yes. That's... 'all' you have to do, yes. I can take care of the rest for your long term goals!"
>>
No. 713753 ID: 211d83

One room is fine. Will be easier to chat that way. Let her know you are used to sleeping with your whole family in a pile.

Tell her how much gold you have and figure out what you should do with it. Find out how property in the army works and if she has any ideas for being smart about getting glory. If she can invest it well and keep it safe I see no problem with letting her keep a hold of most of your funds.

Most of all tell her that your brother is a derp and has not told you anything about life in the empire. Like at all. Everything you know is what you have guessed or learned the last few days.

Find out everything you can to prepare yourself and then decide what to do. I personally am leaning for going to the army as fast as possible. A week is a huge amount of time for your plan. It could make or break the whole thing. You need to get the most out of every single day for this to work.

And make sure you know how leaving and entering the army works. Do they have a set term for enlisting? Can you go join the gladiator tourney while enlisted? And how do we want to approach the army? Should we drop our brothers name or not. And so forth.
>>
No. 713756 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713752
Well I mean she can keep the stuff you have in the bank since you're going to lose everything once you join the army, but you're going to need enough money to use the warp, and you need to be armed for the trip there.
>>
No. 713758 ID: 252878

Joining the army still seems best, then. I don't know about leaving absolutely everything when you go to them, I mean most of it to be sure but you want some spending money and to get there in one piece, and it might even be useful for them to not think you're an absolute rube when you join up? I mean, they'll be sending you on suicide missions, but presumably they'd still like those missions to succeed. Looking like you know what you're doing might push you up the army ladder that little bit quicker.

I know she said fencing the swords would be hard, but would doing that get enough money to enchant your own sword? I mean if they take literally all your possessions when you join you might be leaving your sword anyway since it has some sentimental value, but you'd kind of expect an army to be keen on their soldiers having weapons that the army doesn't have to pay for themselves. Or what about a direct trade, could those two enchanted weapons be bartered directly for one in return?
>>
No. 713761 ID: 02422f

>And it's important to have more weight in friends than enemies.
Well, between you and the Crows and Moss, I believe that's three. And any enemies I've made are either dead or don't know it's me they have to be angry at, yet.

>Do you... want [separate] rooms this time?
I think I trust you're not going to backstab me a second time, Cheese. You were desperate before, and I'm hoping you see a way out, now. And if I couldn't trust you in a room with me, there's no way the longer plotting would work.

>are you going to stay around for a week even though I have no idea what you'd do other than act like my bodyguard
One thing the two of you might want to do is sit down for a longer conversation with the crows for plotting, before eyes find her again. That's probably half a day at the longest, though.

The other thing might be if there's any way the two of you can exploit Raysan's demise while you're here. I don't know if it's too late with the body double, but it's possible there's still an angle there, depending on what the crows did.

...the crows might also have things they could use your help doing. Spending a week doing favors for them so you have credit to cash in later when you need their service might be wise.
>>
No. 713762 ID: 29b28b

One thing you need badly is knowledge. You have been pretty out of your depth so far and risked death about 3 times since you've come out here. Try to get a solid idea of what the army is like before you go.
>>
No. 713767 ID: 5ad4a7

Err, separate rooms might keep people from talking. Unless you can get a single room with two beds.
>>
No. 713768 ID: dd338c
File 145974439129.png - (32.09KB , 800x800 , 352.png )
713768

"We'll stay in the same room."
>"Oh gosh, you... really?"
"I have lots to talk about."
>"You'd... oh my gosh. Okay! Okay. I'll talk as long as you like!"
"First I'll say that I do want to join the army right away, so I may want to leave after resting today, and receiving medical attention. I just want to make sure that I join properly, and have enough money for the warp, and all that."
>"Oh, yeah, I'll tell you all about that! And yeah you can just have like 10 silver and easily have a bit of spending money and then some before entering the army."
"If you manage to fence my sword, could that pay for enchantments on my own?"
>"Hmmmm tough to say but it would at least be a good step in that direction, yep! And with a little luck we could just trade the two for one enchantment. But keep in mind that enchantments take awhile. Lord Rasyan's probably took like a month to make."

We enter the tavern, I pay for a room, and Cheese leads me downstairs. Then downstairs again. We get privacy again in a dark, damp, and rather ominous looking room where it's difficult to tell where the wood has rotted and where it's just dirt.

>Err, separate rooms might keep people from talking.
Considering the rumors that could potentially circulate about me, this is the least worrisome of them.

"Even though I am used to underneath a tree, it does not mean that I enjoy poverty. We could have afforded a better room."
>"A-ah, I'm sorry. It's just, this tavern's bottom level, it's really calm, and there's all kinds of secret passages that I like. It's easy for me to feel almost comfortable here."
"It's fine. Should I be there to help you mend you friendship with the crows?"
>"Oh, no, no, they saw you say that I was okay, so I can settle it by myself!"
"Still, that's three friends I have including you, and any enemies I have, if things go well, will be dead or don't know I should be their enemy."
>"Yeah but uh... I've seen people who get a good break once and kinda.... have it all fall apart one way or the other, so just be careful about that.
"Alright. Does the army have a set term, or how does leaving and entering the army work?"
>"You just have to say you want to join the dragon army to a local recruiter. And you're in! That simple. Cept if you have no record - and it's better we pretend you don't - you'll get put in with the... uh.... people who joined the army cause there's no better option. And there isn't. Which means you'll be in the expendable troops that are sent in to soften up the defenses. Which is good! For you! Because then if you live, well, surviving in that will get you respect."
"Should I drop my brother's name?"
>"NooooOOOOoooooooooooooooooo no no that's like saying you're just as strong as him and they'll basically just see if you can take on an army yourself or something dumb. And get picked on. It's.. don't. Anyway, you can leave after any mission. If you only take on basic training, they won't expect much out of you, so you just have to see the mission accomplished or die trying, and once the mission is done, you can leave. So really the term is for however long the mission takes, so... try to find ones that get settled quickly enough."
"Do I get to keep any personal belongings at all?"
>"Only real usable wargear like swords and armor, so you can carry that stuff, but I mean, they'll say where you're going, you don't need stuff like money or jewelry or valuable stuff. Like dragoncloth."
"Do they not have a uniform?"
>"For the proper troops, yes, but the expendable troops are basically just a mob that is told where to mob it up. So with your fancy clothes there you're gonna look like their general. Which is both good and bad, so I'd say keep it since it actually will help protect your body unlike, you know, loinclothes and whatever."
"Can I join the gladiator tourney while enlisted?"
>"Oh yeah. Definitely. I mean... no, no, nevermind."
"Cheese."
>"No, it just... if I can set it up right... you can commit a crime and if I can set things up right, your punishment will be being sentenced to the gladiator arena. So if you were gonna be a gladiator anyway... you might be able to steal the dragoncloth back that way, and keep it until you die even when you get caught, because the laws on it are funny like I said. But don't think on that too hard now I have to think on better ideas!"
"Okay. I know nothing of the empire. My brother is, unique, and told me nothing."
>"Haaaa wow he even acts like that to his own brother huh. Well anyway... I guess we'll be saying goodbyes before too long, since we both have a lot to do in different places! I'll tell you more about the army while we're still together, though."

Character Select:
http://strawpoll.me/7275450

Fen: Continue as normal. Cheese will act on her own, and contact with her will be sporadic while in the army.
Cheese: The subterfuge and spy route. Control of Fen will be regained after basic military training after approximately 2 weeks. Cheese will assist Fen's goals from the background, either by gathering intel on this year's contest, gaining information on known rebellions that the Dragon Army are likely to deploy to, and gaining contacts useful to a newly risen noble.

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No. 713769 ID: 02422f

>>713768
I think we all know /quest/ is better at sneaky spy scheming than behaving ourselves and actually following orders in boot camp.

Are we storing all our spare stuff at the bank here in Fence, or are we talking some to store at a capital bank, where we might be able to retrieve it easier? (But might be watched more, or be easier for our enemies to use official powers to search).
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No. 713770 ID: 595d54

>>713769
/quest/ isn't really good at anything, and Fen seems like he's competent on his own. Cheese just seems like she'd break down and start crying the first time some people got her into something stupid or tried pushing for sexual stuff. Basically I don't trust /quest/ with her mental health.
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No. 713773 ID: 02422f

>/quest/ isn't really good at anything
There are pretty clear areas where we're better at certain kinds of things. (And even more clear areas at things we're terrible at).

>tried pushing for sexual stuff
That seems a non-issue? Every kobold sans Fen seems to have been culturally conditioned to consider her hideous, and it doesn't seem like a tactic she'd be willing to initiate herself.

Her current level of mental health is the direct result of us wanting to help / befriend / use her, anyways.
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No. 713947 ID: dd338c
File 145982462871.png - (23.38KB , 800x800 , 353.png )
713947

A couple of hours later...

Ooookay. Fen just transferred just about everything in his bank over to mine, after saving some spending money for himself and buying a few other things.

Then we came back, I told him the rundown and the details of what to do to get in the army, and he finally let himself fall asleep. Then again, if he's really even asleep right now, which I'm not even that sure about, he looks too stern to be relaxed!

I'm actually really, really tired, but I'd be afraid to fall asleep now while so much is going on.

Most of all, Rasyan was going to meet Bardo tonight. I don't know if I want to be up close for that or be as far away as possible, but I'm kind of locked until late-morning here, when I was going to meet Cati's agent to sell the dragoncloth. If I set things up, though, I might be able to get a speed wagon to take me to Graskin tonight! That's normally expensive but if the deal isn't a bust, it'll be nothing.

For now, uh, I guess I could start doing... something. Maybe just go to the spot where people start talking about the day's news, but most of the time it's nothing useful and just imperical propoganda.
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No. 713949 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713947
Go check on the news. See if Fen is in it.
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No. 713950 ID: 1cebc8

Start talking to people, earn some favors, and keep going until you have enough connections to communicate with someone important.

Chop chop! You've got time to talk and you're good at talking.
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No. 713951 ID: 4c4101

Do they have any coffee or caffeine somewhere. You could listen to the news and try to wake yourself up at the same time.
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No. 713955 ID: 252878

Is there anyone you could earn a favour from by telling them about Rasyan's death in advance? And what sort of things are going to go down when it gets out, anyway?
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No. 713958 ID: 02422f

>Then again, if he's really even asleep right now, which I'm not even that sure about, he looks too stern to be relaxed!
If you can't tell if he's sleeping, how ever did you work up the nerve to rob him in your sleep before?

>Rasyan was going to meet Bardo tonight
Where, here in Fence? Rasyan's map showed him heading north, and having already passed this way.

Whether or not you can use that meeting (or failed meeting) to your advantage depends on who already knows Rasyan is out of the picture, what the body double did, and what plays the crows have started with the information Fen gave them. I don't know how feasible talking to one of them by day is, but it would help.

Listing to the local scuttlebutt seems a decent first choice.
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No. 713964 ID: dd338c
File 145982905896.png - (75.95KB , 800x800 , 354.png )
713964

I'm still surprised I had the thought to rob him in the first place! It took a lot of nerve and I sweated over it for hours before going for it. Man I wonder if I did it right away if I woulda... no, no, I came out really well in the end. My nerves are still killed, though.

I'll go check the news for now. It'll at least give me priorities on who I should start talking to. It's possible that I could tell someone in advance about Rasyan's death, but there's no clean benefit for it. It's almost unbelievable I'd know about it, especially since Rasyan was never around here to begin with, he was travelling north and it's a pretty well known fact that he's going to be in Graskin tonight to meet with Bardo and others.

I'd like some coffee. This province is the best place for it, but I'll see if anyone's selling over at the information market. Probably not, cause I'm not going to where people have money for that sort of thing.

Fen would probably look at me weird if he saw me going through these tunnels. I mean, they're like a kids only zone because that's the only people who can fit through them.

And fat cockroaches like me. I really never want to see what I look like while doing this. Still, if this place wasn't literally crawling with kids, I'd probably live here.
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No. 713965 ID: dd338c
File 145982907057.png - (68.75KB , 800x800 , 355.png )
713965

One short trip later, I get myself presentable and hang out with the kids.

>"Who're you?"
"A friend."
>"Shush!" another whispers.
>"Ew, she's squishy."

We start listening in to the shouting above. People up top have to pay a copper to hear a newsman read out the paper, or a silver for a paper itself, but there's enough room down here that kids and I can listen in.

First up is the regular news! The mountain bandits at Poluputus have been getting brave, the dragonfall resistance is squashed, again, for probably like the 2nd time this week, western contintenal demand for kobold magic is up, so that's another step up for the people on the west coast. Locally, banditry is up but so is the army so that won't last too long, and, well, nothing about Rasyan, and if anyone knew about Rasyan within the last few minutes, that would be first up for sure. So Fen must've done a pretty good job disguising or hiding the body.

And I mean, it's not every day a noble goes incognito, so people don't look for it. If the people who found Rasyan's corpse looked at his perfect row of teeth, though, they might take a close look. There's a chance. Doesn't matter.

Anyway, not a big day for known news, so now the newsmen split up into the smaller news. I can go into a seperate room, and usually it takes them about half an hour per section. I think I have a couple hours to before I should be there for the agent meeting, cause if I'm late, that's the end of it, they won't wait around.

A) Royal Gossip
B) Specific resistance/bandit zones that are on the rise
C) Business and trade
D) More local details
E) Forget it, go begin setting up connections
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No. 713967 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713965
B would be useful info for Fen.
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No. 713968 ID: 4c4101

Do you guys have stocks? Because since you know a Nobles dead you might be able to invest in opposition when they start to take over what he had.

If that's possible the Business and Trade Section would be best.

The only problem would be if someone was suspicious enough to connect someone profiting off his death with causing his death.
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No. 713972 ID: 91ee5f

>>713964
>Fat cockroaches like me.
No wonder you're so depressed! You keep calling yourself things like that! Seriously girl, we have got to get you some self-confidence!

>>713965
And I choose whatever option that will benefit you and Fen.
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No. 713974 ID: dd338c
File 145983597931.png - (84.08KB , 800x800 , 356.png )
713974

I go over to the bandit zone news.

Okay, apparently those rumors about a necromancer in Erja Nokol have been spiking up to the point where it's gonna get investigated, and the Dragon Army is probably the only army that wants to touch the place. A necromancer in the Erja Nokol mausoleum is kind of an urban legend, but if it were true, the Dragon Army would descend on that place and fast.

Then there's a coastal pirate group that's been pinpointed to somehow work off of the mainland, implying they have a wizard to keep the kobold magic supply up so that they don't go insane from working off a dead land, which all islands more than slightly off the coast are.

And lastly, those bandits in poluputus are becoming more like an army. Supposedly it's hard to chase them due to the harsh climates that they call home base. If Fen goes there, I hope he knows how to fight mountain kobolds on lower ground in other people's home turf. I'm hearing a lot of big names among those bandits though, so if Fen kills one of them, big bonus.

Just knowing the history of this stuff, that's probably where the Dragon Army may intervene, since it's either on holy land, off the mainland, or in a place where apparently the poluputus army is having trouble fighting them off.
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No. 713975 ID: dd338c
File 145983598874.png - (107.16KB , 800x800 , 357.png )
713975

Each section reads their bit a few times so that people can go room to room and get the whole news if they want. I'll do one more. Next up is business and trade.

Most of it's boring stuff, but, I'm able to focus on what lines to read between.

Apparently Rasyan's land has been moving investments away from Bardo's area. It looks like Rasyan really did count on downing Bardo. Pocktown and the surrounding area's been muscling in on Bardo's area. Also Rasyan's doing. An area's market really is tied to a noble. If a noble dies, stocks and stability really take a big hit.

So Pocktown is going to have some turmoil pretty soon. If I manage to spill dirt on Bardo though, then it won't be as good as Rasyan himself doing it, but... that's a longer game and I don't have time.

So, one of two things before I meet the agent. I can get in contact with the merchant ring here and tell them about the impending turmoil in Pocktown. If I play it right, then I can get them to keep tabs on big stuff. Like tell them that Cati is going to get a dragoncloth, and I want tabs on where it goes, since Cati may not keep it herself. Once a noble has a dragoncloth, they don't just start trading it under the table.

The other option to start is to get people I know to start sending out underworld travellers to get information and maybe even spies on one or more of those locations. If I can get really good information for Fen, it'll help him when he gets sent off there. That'll cost real gold, but it's worth it.

I'm getting really nervous about this agent dealing.

Cati knows I have good info. It would be good business sense to keep me from spilling beans on her, but at the same time... it's very dangerous for a noble to let someone like me know that she got dragoncloth through illicit means, and I've never tried to fence dragoncloth before.

But there's just nothing I can do about that.
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No. 713977 ID: 5ad4a7

>>713975
Sounds like you might want to keep your trap shut about the dragoncloth, then. Cati knows that if anyone finds out about the deal, then it would have to be because you fucked up. That happens, you're dead meat.

If you just send out spies without specific instructions to look out for the dragoncloth, you may be able to keep tabs on it without spilling the beans and earning Cati's wrath. So that's the safer option.

Since you're nervous about the deal you'll want good bodyguards that can't just be bought out by the noble. Fen would be ideal but he's not going to be in good enough shape. On the other hand you would also have to close the deal without your bodyguards finding out what, exactly, you're selling, or for how much. I expect you have enough money now to buy bodyguards that can handle that restriction.

Hey, there's no chance Fen can use Rasyan's enchanted weapons without it being immediately obvious he stole them, is there?
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No. 713978 ID: f562b1

Definitely contact the merchant ring. You promised Fen you'd be able to get it back for him, and you need to ensure you don't encounter unexpected difficulties.
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No. 713982 ID: 211d83

I would be very careful about letting anyone know about the dragoncloth before the sale. If Cati hears any rumors that early it means that only you could have started them or that the original owner has put out feelers. Or that you have intentions of stealing it back.

But there is the opposite problem to consider. If no one knows about the dragoncloth that means that Cati could just kill you to keep the deal secret. So you will want to build yourself some insurance into the deal. Like the old write out a sealed letter and give it to a lawyer. If you do not get back to them they give it to the newspaper. Or whatever the equivalent is for you.

So avoid word getting out that might piss of Cati but also make sure that you have plenty of protections just to make Cati think twice if they were planning on backstabbing you.

You want to make sure that you have as many protections as possible for this deal. That much money sets off a lot of flags and would have people willing to kill there own mothers. So until you get it and pay off your debts you need to be very careful.

And then after you do pay off your debts you need to be extra careful. Because you will not be under anyone's thumb and that makes people nervous.

One big thing to remember is that this is not a illicit dragoncloth sale anymore. You are now legally fens agent and selling it under his orders. This is all perfectly legal now. (Until you get to the second part of the plan months later where he steals it back)
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No. 713984 ID: 87547f

You know that is a good point. If Cati asks you can say that you are selling this dragoncloth for a powerful friend who needs to liquidate some assets. Its not fencing some really hot illegal goods anymore.

Before Fen came back this whole cloth deal was a big stolen mess. Now its just a very expensive and dangerous sale.

While Fen might be just some barbarian right now you saw how capable he is. Give him a year and he might be way more dangerous than his brother was. While his plan is a bit crazy if things work out you will be the new head agent of a powerful noble. One that likes and respects you this time.

Just don't let him down again. Betraying one of the few people in your life that you could consider a genuine friend was not your best moment.
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No. 714002 ID: 91ee5f

Are there any coins down here? People sometimes are clumsy, so they might have dropped some coins and they fell through the cracks in the floorboards. Might be able to get some free money!
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No. 714014 ID: 02422f

>>713964
>>713965
>>713974
Oh my god, squishy inchworm Cheese squeezing through the tunnels is adorable.

>If the people who found Rasyan's corpse looked at his perfect row of teeth, though, they might take a close look
So... when dumping noble bodies, smash in their teeth first.

>what do
If your long term plans now hinge on Fen getting power quickly, and not ending up dead, setting up spies and contacts who can help with that is a priority.

Selling information to merchants so you and/or they can make a profit shorting Pocketown before its market crashes will make some coin, and some friends, so it could be useful if you have time for it but it's a secondary priority.

(In the long term, it might be worth a few hours or a day's delay sending out spies to help Fen, since there's a limited window where you can profit on what's going to happen in Pocketown).

Selling out Cati seems too risky right now. You'd be the obvious source of the leak if the information got out.
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No. 714018 ID: db4177

You could make pay some of those kids to give you the quick skinny on what they were listening in on. I normally wouldn't trust kids to know what's important, but these ones look like they do it for a living and have probably been told the sorts of things to listen for.

If you're worried about the meeting with Cati, maybe you'd want to hire some guards to replace the ones you're missing? Though I guess the trouble would be finding trustworthy/decent ones, in a place like this.
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No. 714112 ID: dd338c
File 145991428873.png - (104.19KB , 800x800 , 358.png )
714112

I start crawling out.
"Hey, kid?" I ask nearby to a kid I saw go into the royal gossip zone, and just come out of the local detail zone.
>"Yeah?"
"I'll pay you a copper to tell me the short story of the Royal Gossip and the local detail news."
>"Two copper."
"Two."
>"Three."
"Two."
>"Three."
"Two."
>"Two."
"Two. Follow me while you tell me about it."

I keep my coins close. People who come down here are almost always broke or close to it, so it stands out too much to have any coins let alone ever expecting to, say, finding lost coins just laying about.

I pay him two copper when it's safe. He tells me about some marriages and little scandals, but it's all really minor. Well, except that the kid tells me Lily explained what she saw in Shup. Hearing it from the kid is a second hand source though, and I already can't trust an interview with Lily to really be honest, neither from her nor the interviewer, sooooo it's all worthless.

Local details, well, apparently Bardo is muscling back in on Pocktown, and the Mithril noble is raising the draft rates for the army for the next 6 months or so.

"Thanks." I say, and pay him once we get to around where my stop is.
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No. 714113 ID: dd338c
File 145991431743.png - (44.44KB , 800x800 , 359.png )
714113

It's a good thing the kids here are basically grown ups and know not to screw around with the construction under the town, so I can find my way to where I want to go.

I crawl up into a merchant's building. A knife gets put up on my throat, but that's basically normal.

"Cheese of Erja, here for Yortle." I ask, and after a call, Yortle comes out. He's trustworthy, and maybe it's mostly because he hates ever being seen as someone who would deal with the likes of me. So, if I hand business to him, it would take a really extreme circumstance for him to tie things back to me.

>"This better be good."
"Yyes, yes it is! I mean, I can pay up front here, so that's good, right?"
>"Expected, even."
"I need a few things. A quill and paper, and also some bodyguards."
>"How many, and how's the heat?" he asks, in reference to how big of a deal guarding me is going to be.
"Maybe 3 or 4 or 2 really good ones, and it's searing but by a bucket." I say, more fancy talk for saying that I'm going to use them for a really sensitive thing and they have to be extremely trustworthy, but I'm more using them for their presence more than expecting them to get into dangerous fights.
>"How much're you willing to pay?"

I've got a good idea how to set up everything else, and I'm going to try to set up tabs on the dragoncloth without explicitly giving away that there's dragoncloth involved.

But I've got to decide what kind of bodyguards I want. I need them trustworthy, but that's about it, and that's already the bulk and will run me like 10 silver just to get trustworthy people, since that's hard to come by around here.

If I go above 10 silver, I'll get trustworthy people who are also tough looking, which is important here. Getting that sort will cost me upwards of 30 to 40 silver.

If I start giving gold, and at least a few gold, I'll get merchant guards who are trustworthy, tough looking, and actually really tough and good.

It's not like the cost really matters for this. It's that I don't know what to expect out of Cati's agent. Cati is someone who does things that are insane by normal standards, but despite her extreme measures she somehow manages to do it in a professional way. But she's still easy to offend, and bringing elite bodyguards to a meeting might be seen as, uh, a sign that I don't trust Cati. At all.

Which I mean.

I don't.

Cati's normally actually pretty honest about deals and isn't much for backstabbing, normally. Normally. I'm not normally one to backstab people who are nice to me, but...

Now dragoncloth is involved.
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No. 714123 ID: f562b1

If Cati is normally trustworthy, you just need to look like somebody's expecting you back--or if not you, your guards. Trustworthy guards is enough for that, especially if she's easily offended, since then tough looking guards would make her think you were trying something.
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No. 714125 ID: 211d83

Who cares about offending Cati. If you show up with barely any guards she is going to question just how you got the dragoncloth to her safely. If she gives you any crap tell her that the person you are selling the dragoncloth for insisted.

I would spend 1-2 gold. You are about to go through with a deal for thousands and thousands of gold. Having crappy security would be silly.

Plus if you show up alone with some sickly thugs then it would be easy for Cati to try and change the terms of the deal. You want to get the most money you can for the cloth and to do that you need to bargain from a position of strength.
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No. 714136 ID: 02422f

>>714113
So... you need to balance bringing enough muscle to either discourage Cati from backstabbing you or keep you safe if Cati does backstab you, while not bringing so much that its perceived as an insult and spoils the deal anyways.

...I suppose you already know just how big a temptation dragoncloth is, huh? If you were willing to backstab the only person who'd been nice to you in forever, Cati would probably be willing to betray a spy. And if you're planning on stealing the cloth back with Fen later, it's not like you need to worry about keeping your long term relationship with Cati intact. It'll be burned in a year. Spend some gold.

What's the possibility of using Fen at all? You know he's trustworthy, and very good, if he beat Raysun. Only catch is if your later plans for getting the cloth back depend on Cati not knowing his face and/or if you want to make sure no nobles know you're working together, to help with plotting. (Although he could watch at a distance, with his bow).
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No. 714137 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714113
If you get backstabbed by the agent then you're super fucked even if you survive the fight and keep the dragoncloth too. Might as well just assume the exchange will go fine, and worry about what will happen BEFORE and AFTER the exchange. Take 30-silver bodyguards so that you don't get robbed on the way to the meeting or after it.
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No. 714170 ID: 825b5d

A gold coin would probably be good. I'm not sure if the trade will be done there (they'll give you the bulk of the gold on the spot or put it in a bank account) so if you need to transport the gold somewhere safe good guards would be a priority.
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No. 714214 ID: 8e8223

Well, if Cati knows you at all, or is knowledgeable, then she knows you normally get accompanied by guards everywhere anyway, right? So two, looking about the level of your previous ones, shouldn't set off her alarm bells or be taken personally. So that's a minimum.

Further than that depends on where your meeting is going to be, and whether you're going to be paid in literal bags of cash. You could easily explain your bonus guards as you just wanting to be safe on your way back from the deal, so long as you don't take so many that it'll be obvious to everyone on the streets that you have something valuable. So, you could take your standard two, maybe tell them to look like they're guarding you from running away as much as protecting you to fit your normal way of things, and bring another one or two and tell them to wait outside? I'd assume for something like this Cati will have someone outside watching the place where the deal is happening while it happens, so she'll know you brought them but also know they (look like) they're not there for her. If you're not being paid with actual cash but, like, a money transfer order for your debt, you could say the same thing for getting there, but it'd be a bit less believable.

You could also leave all your guards just outside where you'll be meeting, and hope that she has that watcher outside to tell her you have guards a shout away.
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No. 714264 ID: 93244f

>>714125
This seems like a good choice.
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No. 714394 ID: dd338c
File 146000402533.png - (15.42KB , 800x800 , 360.png )
714394

I'm going to either be carrying a lot of wealth from the meeting place to the bank, so when I think about it, it should be perfectly acceptable for me to bring guards. It's just... they might get held back in the meeting room itself. The meeting place is really kind of out of the way yet and can be reached virtually from the edge of town without ever stepping in public view, if you have the right connections to get through the needed buildings. So, it's the sort of place a noble would send agents to if they absolutely do not want the agent to be seen by anyone who isn't in their pocket.

"One gold."
>"Hm. That will get you some of the ones under the White Wing."
>"Those guys? That's like 30 silver."
"It's either that or you have to pay more."
"Two gold."
>"Really." he says flatly, like he didn't think this was something I was going to take as seriously as I am. "Alright. Deposit two copper for the pen and quill."
"Okay. And I want to leave a couple of things to the smelter."
>"10%." Yortle says, telling me I have to pay 10% of the resulting material that I want him to melt down for me, which comes down to about 1 gold in price probably. Which is not that bad really, and I absolutely do not want to haggle much with Yortle. His patience always looks full until it's not.
"Okay. Lastly... Cati is going - "
>"Lady Cati?"
"YES word down the grapevine says LADY Cati is going to get a really good, prestigious item soon. I want to know what it is, and where it ends up."
>"Anything more specific?"
"Nope!"
>"And what are you paying for this?"
"Info. Pocktown is going take an economic hit, soon."
>"How trustworthy is this information?"
"Very. I can't tell you my source, but I want to know about Lady Cati's new item enough to bet on the info I just gave you."
>"Very well. Our relationship has had its turbulence, but your info has always been trustworthy. I hope that continues."
"It will."
>"Then I will gather your guards. You may be released, now, and clean yourself up before touching any of my supplies."

I've got to wait to sell Rasyan's swords. Showing them to anyone knowledgeable, including merchants in the Turtle, is saying Rasyan doesn't have his swords anymore. Yortle knows it's best not to ask someone like me too many questions if they want to keep my business, but just him having those questions is too much for me.

And that's why Fen can't use those weapons at all.

Then again... if he ends up in the gladiator ring as a criminal, that won't matter. Thoughts.
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No. 714395 ID: dd338c
File 146000405463.png - (27.49KB , 800x800 , 361.png )
714395

I use the pen and quill to make two copies of a letter. One for myself to show if I need to prove I thought of it in advance if need be, and the other to Yortle. It's a letter describing the dragoncloth scandal.

I stamp it enclosed with wax so that I know I can get it back without it getting read. I hear a knock at the door.

"Come in."
>"Cheese. These are three bodyguards."
"Okay, they look... tough. Yeah. Yeah you're good, Yortle." And by that I mean I'm pretty sure I've seen one or two of these guys bodyguarding one of the wood nobles around here.
>"The terms?"
"I just need them for at least a quarter day, no more than the full day. Otherwise, I'm just up for the normal bodyguard contract. I pay 1 gold for them now, 1 on my safe return. Another thing, Yortle... if I don't come back safely, I want this letter read by you." He'll be able to use it well without me telling him how. "And, uh... otherwise, when I'm back, I'll take it back."
>"Five silver."
"Okay..." I write him a bank note when I ask for one, to cover what I don't have on hand.

I kinda want to bring Fen, but I'd feel bad after all he's done for me so far. Like not kill me. Which is actually a lot all things considered. And I mean I really can't predict him and I sort of doubt he's ever bodyguarded before.

That and I don't want our two faces sharing room in anyone's vision at the same time.
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No. 714397 ID: dd338c
File 146000409438.png - (20.28KB , 800x800 , 362.png )
714397

I guide everyone to the meeting area. They don't say a word, not to me, and not to each other, but they cover like every angle I could ever imagine an assassin coming from and then some extra.

I'm not that familiar, personally, with this part of the Fence. It's kinda... well, usually even agents of nobles for these deals go to at least a decent if secluded place, but this is pretty sketchy. In fact the buildings are so packed here, that it really blurs the line between what counts as indoors and outdoors. But I know it's under good protection.

Once I knock on the door, the slide on it opens up, and someone from inside looks down at us, then stops on me.

>"Hi. You'll have to come in alone, please have your guards wait outside."
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No. 714399 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714397
That should be fine, assuming this really is where the deal is going down.
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No. 714402 ID: 211d83

Pout at him. Whats the point of even having guards if you have to leave them here.

Haggle for guard coverage. Unless the final meeting spot is just behind that door. If so Cati does not want anyone but you knowing she is here. So have the guards wait for you.

Honestly is probably best the guards do not know who or what you are meeting. All they need to know is you came here and left pushing a heavy covered cart. But try to get paid in something a bit easier to carry than raw gold if you can.
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No. 714412 ID: 02422f

>And that's why Fen can't use those weapons at all.
>Then again... if he ends up in the gladiator ring as a criminal, that won't matter. Thoughts.
How rare are enchanted weapons of that caliber? Would it be feasible to sell Raysun's weapons, and just buy him something not-hot and non-incriminating to use later?

>"Hi. You'll have to come in alone, please have your guards wait outside."
This is the point where high quality bodyguards are supposed to protest. We'll see if they do.

...will the dragoncloth be visible during the exchange? If so, you can't bring Yortle's people in with you, or he'll find out the item you paid him to snoop on is the one you're selling. Actually, if they'll recognize Cati's agents at all, they can't be allowed to see said agent.

"All right. *Shrug* If I don't make it back, light the place on fire." *toss guards a gold*

It's a valid threat- the way the buildings are packed in here, even someone with passages between them would be hard pressed to get out. And CO is denser than air, and would settle into any tunnels.
>>
No. 714427 ID: 5ad4a7

...can't even take one guard in?
>>
No. 714433 ID: dd338c
File 146001206363.png - (66.12KB , 800x800 , 363.png )
714433

The guards look to me while I look to them. I mean, they are a little out of their element since this deal is hush hush and they know literally nothing about it, so they're going with my judgement here.

"I'd like my guards to be no more than one room behind me if I can't bring a single one in." This is a place where Cati likely didn't want her agent even seen, so it would be tough to bring in a bodyguard.
>"You can do business in the room I'm in, so your guards will be nearby."
"Okay. You three, please wait out here. It might be a couple hours, so don't mind if I'm quiet for a long time." I whisper a code phrase to them to come smashing in if I yell it or just scream or something like that. The mountain guy could probably burst right through the wall, even as solid as the wall looks. "If I don't come out, set... nevermind." Geez there are so many people living in here it would be the worst thing ever to light the place on fire just because I got murdered.

I go through, and the girl leaves me alone in this kind of barren room that looks like it might've been a shop at one point in time, with empty shelves and all.

I wait an hour, which I think about where would be best to fence stuff, since I may want to split the goods instead just just going to Yortle all the time.

Those enchantments on Rasyan's sword need the most care, since I could potentially exchange them for equal enchantments on other weapons. But that's tough, cause those enchantments are really powerful and Fen could only use them if he actually gets to a place of leadership in the army. I forgot that the yearly Dragonspire arena games don't allow magical items that the user didn't create themselves. So Fen can't use enchanted stuff unless he secretly is a wizard which would not surprise me at this point.

I hear the back door creak open.

>"Ah. It really is our little sister who came."

Oh geez.

It's my old childhood friend. And I say that in a similar way to how army people talk about their old war buddies. But we also consider each other siblings, along with the other brothers and sisters and siblings we grew up with. Not many of us are actually blood related, but we consider blood relation to be useless, and we were family in the sense of looking out for one another, between the most competent lord to the ones with mutations so unfortunate that they were immobilized and in steady pain.

This changes things. It's good that the bodyguards aren't in here, because, uh, it wouldn't go well.

Oh gosh I am so glad I did not bring Fen along.

>"How HAVE you been?" says Cabbage, with that familiar sound of her rows of teeth getting in the way of her talking, leading to a clicking noise between almost every syllable that drives just about anyone except Erja kids nuts.
Tomato makes that happy sound it makes that sounds like it's gargling mud.
"You two? I've been okay, but you two! Under... are these walls safe to talk in?"
>"Oh, yes, very, this is a very good spot."
"Under Cati?"
>"Why not? Nobles talk like they care about appearances, but like the rest of the empire, it comes down to strength and force."
"Um... because... we all promised each other we would never willingly help nobles."
>"Yes. And Lady Cati does so want your item, and that's why we were sent. Who knows what you were planning if it were a normal agent. Three elite bodyguards out there, we can tell, who knows what you told them? But if it's us. If it's us, she knows we're sisters, she knows we'd never hurt each other, no matter how angry we get at each other. She does so want that dragoncloth, and wanted us to be merry with each other, exchange our goods, and wish each other well, with us in Cati's good graces, Cati with dragoncloth, and you free from Bardo's palm."
>>
No. 714434 ID: dd338c
File 146001208108.png - (57.17KB , 800x800 , 364.png )
714434

>"Absolutely foolish."

Tomato laughs a laugh that sounds like a frog falling down the stairs. They're thinking. I know they're thinking.

They are not good at thinking, and now I'm worried.

They approach. I rest my hand on Cabbage's blunt, outstretched forearm, and wave to Tomato. He keeps his distance, knowing that after this long, I've lost my immunity towards his poison and will probably die if any of his barbs gets through my scales. Which probably will happen if I touch him.

>"She thinks she can threaten our home if we misbehave? Oh, every noble has cursed the day they thought that they could be the one to tame the mutants and abominations of Erja Nokol, and Cati is no different than the rest. We care, of course we care about our family, but she sent us to the one person who can undermine that. You. Cati will be mincemeat."

The family rules haven't really been in play for me in awhile since it's been so long since I've seen any family. But we do have rules. We look after ourselves and each other.

No one outside the family.

>"But first we have questions. Cati and us would love to know just how little Cheese, with her movements of ideas, concepts and information but never ever materials, got her hands on this?" she says, gesturing her sharpened limb to my bag.

Anyone outside of the family is to be used as a means to an end.

>"How? Cati has been in possession of so many plans for dragoncloth, but never the dragoncloth, but now, you get it? So many, many questions. Who knows about this dragoncloth? Who among them are alive? Who knows you have any deals with Cati? Are any alive? Who knows you have any business with Cati? Anyone alive? Who knows you have any anything with Cati? Anyone alive? Remember sister, the first in each pair of questions are informative but least unimportant. The second in each pair is the kicker, but don't worry, because we can change that."

But outsiders are enemies, always.

I absolutely cannot tell them about Fen.

The other rule, though, is that there are no secrets in the family. I've always kept that one, they know the most embarrasing stuff about me that I never want a non-sibling to know.

So in short at first I was relieved to see them but I'm actually a little fucked here ??
>>
No. 714437 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714434
Oh jeez every question is answered with "Fen"

Okay three choices here.
1) Lie. Say nobody knows anything about the deal with Cati, you made sure of that. The former owner of the dragoncloth is dead.
2) Lie, give them a name of someone you don't like, so they go kill them.
3) Tell the truth, then go warn Fen before they get to him. Tell him what they're capable of so he can be prepared when they come for him.

I'm leaning towards 1, honestly. If they go barrelling off to kill ANYONE because of this deal, the deal is also dead as a doornail.

...wait a minute, does the deal even matter anymore? Are they going to give you the gold and let you keep the dragoncloth too, then go try to kill Cati? In that case... well, if they succeed that's okay. If they fail you're fucked because Cati comes after you next.

Leaning towards 3 now. They are going to ruin everything no matter what. You can also, as part of telling the truth, tell them that Fen is part of a long term plan to gain power. You will work under him only to use him against anyone who fucks with you. That means you keep only one secret- that you are really friends with Fen. If it works, and they back off, then everything is fine. Well, assuming they manage to kill Cati and you can keep track of the dragoncloth through them (or by putting it in the bank). If it doesn't work you can just make sure Fen wins the fight. He'll probably have to use Rasyan's swords against them and have some sort of antidote for the poison.
>>
No. 714441 ID: 93244f

Relax. You'll probably need to lie; If they can't know about Fen, we'll need a story or something to get them off our backs. Remember that when lying, you need to make sure you don't look like you're lying: Don't fidget or move too much, don't avoid eye contact, and don't talk too fast. It may be a little dishonorable, but this is probably a lot more important than honor.
It might be possible to help our case with Rasyan's death, but that might lead to a whole world of other problems.
>>
No. 714445 ID: 5ad4a7

...hah, wait a minute! What if you told them Rasyan knows about the dragoncloth? They don't know about the double, and will go kill the lookalike. Then "Rasyan" will die in a way that you won't get in trouble for.
>>
No. 714451 ID: bb78f2

I stole it.
There is... an entire barbarian village that knows about it, and the entirety of Shup's house of whom it was a gift to said tribe.
They are all alive, at least so far as you know.
>>
No. 714453 ID: 5ad4a7

...and then there's another fourth choice. Don't lie, but don't tell them about Fen. Tell them you have to ask them to do something difficult. To break the family rules. Because you've broken them yourself. You made a friend, and that friend is how you got the dragoncloth. So you're asking them not to consider your friend an enemy.

Cabbage just said she values you over her home, right? Maybe you should count on that.
>>
No. 714458 ID: a063cf

Man, I love these guys. :(

Is this a real, loving family? Do they really care about your best interests? Maybe you could work something out. Do the dragoncloth trade, organize the Cati-mincemeat, take back the dragoncloth. If you say it's a long-term scheme for influence and they respect your intelligence, they might be okay with it. Setting up a puppet noble who you're good friends with from Day 1.

Otherwise, sell a good lie. Better to be your own kobold than be tied down to people who demand an... exclusive relationship.
>>
No. 714464 ID: c3a42f

Tell them most of the truth, but downplay Fen's knowledge and your attachment to him, and play up your long-term plans to continue "taking advantage" of him.

So: There's this ignorant barbarian called Fen. His story is very romantic. He got the dragoncloth from Lord Shup's fiancee, who he met while Shup visited their village, and her and him had a little... encounter. He's infatuated with her and wants to become a noble, quickly, before the marriage to Shup goes through, so he can marry her himself. You convinced him to give you the dragoncloth, in exchange for helping him get where he's going. He has the fighting skill to make it as a noble, you've seen it with your own eyes, with just a few little pushes along the way. But he's an ignorant savage, and once he has his title, he'll be entirely reliant on you to keep him in power. So long as he has his lover, he'll swallow whatever you tell him and do whatever you say. A nice, handsome puppet for you to prop up and play with, while you take all the real power and profit.

And instead of nobles thinking they can tame Erja Nokol, the family will have their own tame noble right under their thumb, to make moves in the spheres of society that scorn them, to make plays against nobles that only another noble can, to keep any of them from messing with you any more, stopping you or anyone from the family going through what you did again. A fine face ready to take the fall, with no more loss to you than putting you back where you started... Without your debt.

So, he knows a little - much less than he thinks there is to know. A very good fighter, he is, ignorant and naive, but useful. There's also a merchant who knows you're meeting with Cati for a trade, no more, who has been useful before and will be again. No-one who would be worth less alive - and you can always change your mind about keeping someone alive. Not so easy the other way.

I don't think Cheese knows Fen told the guards about the dragoncloth, just after she stole it?
>>
No. 714475 ID: 211d83

>>714464

Leaning towards this direction.

But before you say anything make sure that Cati does not even know about this building. They are just going to lead you through the underground to the real meeting spot right? I do not trust magic or other spying methods if Cati is anywhere nearby.

Your family is very important to you and if you start down the path of lying to them it will make later plans much harder when they realized you lied to them.

Besides Fen seems like the sort who would honestly help your people. He is open minded and would not be trying to use or threaten your family once he got into power. Pretending to be planning on using him as a puppet noble will work just fine until your people actually get to know him down the road. Just make sure to go back and tell Fen about your puppet noble plan. So if he finds out from someone else he does not think you are playing him.

That being said you know these two better than anyone and if they are going to just ignore your advice and go try and murder Fen you should probably bend the truth. Its ok to lie to family if its for there own good. If need be tell them that you love them dearly but you have your own horse in this race now and you don't need them murdering it. So unless they promise to follow your lead on this one they are staying out of the loop for there own safety.
>>
No. 714480 ID: b88e47

Don't tell them about Fen or anything connected to Fen.

"You've got me in a box, here. I have several conflicting promises."
>>
No. 714482 ID: 738934

"We are meeting in a strange house and I have been here for a hour. Plenty of time for Cati or anyone to get ears in this room magically or otherwise. No info gets spoken unless you both are willing to stake our peoples future on it."

If you do go for the barbarian puppet noble story make sure to not mention Fen's name. Just keep referring to him as a ignorant barbarian. If his name gets out to anyone at all its going to make later plans a mess.

Here is what I would say.

"I have no intention of telling Cati anything. If she wants this dragoncloth she can stay in the dark about its origins. And I am not going to let her think that she can use my family to get the info out of me. As things stand the only one in any danger right now is me and I intend to keep it that way. The less you two know the safer you are right now. We can meet in private later and I can tell you what is going on then."

"Tell her if she wants this info she better be prepared to pay extra for it."
>>
No. 714483 ID: 87547f

No matter what do not mention Fen's name or description.

Tell them you were not going to tell Cati anything about the cloth unless she paid a ton extra for the info. If you tell them right now they will be in danger and you are not going to assume that Cati will not have them tortured for the info.

After the deal is done and you know its safe then you can talk more. Make sure you let them know you are not doing this to protect your sources but them and you.

If they question that tell them you have a list of people that you would not mind disappearing for them later.
>>
No. 714485 ID: f562b1

>Anyone outside of the family is to be used as a means to an end.
>The second in each pair is the kicker, but don't worry, because we can change that.
"There is nobody alive to talk." Since Fen was willing to keep Rasyan a secret, and succeeded in doing so so far, this is actually true. He won't talk.
"A couple of guards learned that I had a meeting, but I had them killed swiftly after. They never had the chance to talk."
Also true, the only ones who knew aside from Fen were those two guards, who you suggested Fen kill, and he did.

You could, alternatively, think of Fen as honor-family (He's looked out for you and you for him the same way) and leave the first answer as "Nobody outside the family is alive to talk." If they try to ask how many, three, or four including you, but if they ask who the other is, "I'm not going to betray who of the family knows a dangerous secret."
>>
No. 714489 ID: daa0bb

>>714485

Go even further. Tell them Fen is your husband and part of the family now. You slept together twice right? And you think he is cute right? Problem solved. You can be one of Fens wives and have lots of cute purple children together.
>>
No. 714508 ID: 93244f

>>714464
Not so sure about this. This might help our case right NOW, but the future for both Fen and us might get screwed over if this is the path we choose to take.
>>
No. 714551 ID: 02422f

Huh. So Erja Nokol's mutations aren't consistent at all.

Do you have any super secret superpowers from yours, or do they just make you look weird?

...important question. Do you care about these members of your 'family' as people, or is this more like joining a gang for survival? Would you be willing to turn on them, or get rid of them, long term? Do you want to?

>I've lost my immunity towards his poison and will probably die if any of his barbs gets through my scales. Which probably will happen if I touch him.
How does one build up an immunity in the first place?

>The other rule, though, is that there are no secrets in the family.
Actually, if you're smart, you're remember that's double edged. You can find out what their plans are for Cati, and what Cati plans to do with the dragoncloth. In detail. This will aid you in reclaiming it / making plans later.

>"How? Cati has been in possession of so many plans for dragoncloth, but never the dragoncloth, but now, you get it?
Honestly? Pure luck. You came across it near the edge of barbarian territory, where you never expected to find it. So you did the only sensible thing and grabbed it and ran. (Technically a true account, though omitting details).

>Who knows about this dragoncloth? Who among them are alive?
Fen never actually told the crows his item was dragoncloth, and they didn't use that word in their note. Therefore, you have no confirmation they know. You can omit them without lying, technically.

Cheese doesn't know Fen told Moss, so she can omit him, and his friend.

Whoever brought the dragoncloth to where I found it must know (true, Fen and those who brought it to him know of it), but it they are alive, they know not where I am, nor where the dragoncloth is. (Technically true, Fen doesn't know exactly where you are). It was either lost, left there deliberately for a purpose I cannot fathom (true, you can't really understand how Lily did that), or it's part of a trap I do not yet understand (technically still possible).

>Who knows you have any deals with Cati? Are any alive?
Cati does, and to the best of my knowledge, she is still alive. Raysan knew, but I understand his holdings are going to fall into disorder relatively soon when his "mysterious disappearance" comes to light. (If Bardo knows, say so, and to the best of your knowledge, he is still alive). None of the other nobles know of these deals.

>Who knows you have any business with Cati? Anyone alive?
Ditto Cati, Bardo, Raysan, as above. Some of the other nobles are likely aware I've had contact with her. Bardo's guards may have been told or have suspected, but you disposed of them already.

Who knows you have any anything with Cati? Anyone alive?
Ditto above. The Crow Zone crows likely know or suspect, but they have been useful tools before and are outsiders of a different kind, in their own right. Orchestrating their deaths without allowing a single crow to potentially slip our net would be difficult, time, and resource consuming.

Some local contacts here, as well as my guards outside, have been misled to believe I am un-ivolved in this sale, by paying them to investigate what mysterious high value item Cati is purchasing. This gambit should be sufficient for its purposes without further effort.
>>
No. 714596 ID: 7687fb

>>714489
What? The point of saying "only family" was to hide Fen's status as someone who knows.
>>
No. 714642 ID: dd338c
File 146008732902.png - (32.06KB , 800x800 , 365.png )
714642

"... could Cati have ears on this place?"
>"Oh, no, we are to the side of her recommended meeting area. Cati is watching everywhere but this building, you see."
"So, there's this barbarian..."
>"Ohh, you always liked those."
"Yes. I have no idea how he managed it, but he got in good with a noble who gave it to him as a gift."
>"Mm? Did you woo this barbarian into gifting it over to you?"
"I stole it."

Tomato makes its laugh again, and Cabbage laughs in a way that just sounds like a dire sounding individual going 'haaa haaa haaa' slowly and loudly.

>"Cheese, Cheese! When was this? The barbarian could come back!"
"He did! Like, he caught up to me in less than a day, it was really scary."
>"Did you kill him?"
"No... you know I like savages."

I want to say I'm going to take advantage of him, but I just can't.

"I like him."
>"CheeeeEEESE. Do you remember what happened last time you liked a savage, and trusted him?"
"I know! I know. But I got over that."
>"Your backside." she says, pushing the back of my shirt down. It's not like I can see my old brand, but I know it's there as Cabbage puts emphasis on it. "Has not gotten over it."
"This one, though!"
>"Is soooo different, I'm sure."
"He proved it, though."
>"... oh?"
"And he gave me a second chance last night. Not just that, but he let me borrow the dragoncloth."
>"Unusual." Cabbage says, and Tomato makes a gurgle.
"I know right? His story is romantic and ambitious even by northern standards."
>>
No. 714643 ID: dd338c
File 146008740666.png - (36.17KB , 800x800 , 366.png )
714643

Maybe I could count on them. Our family isn't just some gang that calls itself family because we had some teenage rebellion against mediocre parents, we're family because our biological parents abandoned us to a mutant orphanage. I wasn't able to walk until adolescence, as I was mostly tail. But everyone took care of me from birth, and I took care of others when I became strong enough to walk. We use our strengths to cover our weaknesses as a team, even going so far as to drink watered down poison for those who get poisonous to build immunity. Tomato does get cold easily, and I feel bad I can't hug him.

Still, we care about each other because we
>"I still don't like it. Wait. Borrow?" she says.
"We aren't Cati's allies, right?" I ask, and she smiles. Quietly, so I continue. "I promise you I'll be careful this time. I won't let myself be vulnerable again. He was nice to me even when he only saw me as a lowly shopkeeper."
>"We are nice to you. Is that not enough?"
"It is when I'm at home, but I don't like to think that we're completely alone against the world."
>"But we are." Cabbage says. Tomato puts out a funny noise and some drool comes out. "Let's not have this conversation again, Cheese. We would like to meet this barbarian."
"Well, sometime, but now's not good! Continuing on, well, one person who knows I'm dealing with Cati is... Cati."

Silence, then they laugh.

"Um... there's a slight chance the crows know about this, but I'm not sure."
>"The crows of turtle are okay, yes?"
"Yes."
>"Hm. But then the raccoons of poluputus may know. The alligators of Fisher's Run. The penguins of Dra- haa haa haaa, well, the penguins were never of much use or consequence. I suppose they are all fine, anyways."
"Rasyan, as well. The barbarian, desperate to get the dragoncloth back, told him about it before chasing me down. But he has no proof the dragoncloth ever existed. Ah, and a merchant here, he knows that I'm asking him to track down a big item Cati is going to get soon, but he doesn't know it's a dragoncloth yet, and doesn't know I'm selling it."

Silence, then Cabbage frowns and leans close. They're almost scary again to me, as it's been awhile since I've really been up close to a mutant like me, let alone an abomination like them. Erja Nokol's air is enough to mutate kids like me into what I am, but it also bubbles with tar pits. Kobold children who bathe in those pits get extreme mutations to the point where they aren't even kobolds anymore. Like these two. Who are 'lucky', since most just die or are so impeded by bad mutations that they can't survive on their own.

She just stares at me. I can tell she's thinking hard. She's remembering the recent past. Our conversation, probably, given how much she's eyeing me?

>"Barbarian. Caught up less than a day. Caught up last night. Stole dragoncloth less than... two days ago?"
"... yes?"
>"Barbarian talked to Rasyan. About dragoncloth. Yesterday? Impossible. Cheese. Rasyan did not speak to any barbarians yesterday. Rasyan did not learn about any such dragoncloth yesterday. This, we know."
"... how?"
>"Two days ago. We killed Rasyan, Cheese. Why are you telling us this? You do not know he is dead. They are hiding this, they must be, because the towns have not erupted yet. But we know he is dead. Mustard informed us he died before reaching Greenfield, north of us. He died of a fever, after a brief dose from Tomato's barbs. Cheese. Are you lying to us?"
>>
No. 714644 ID: 93244f

They killed his body double.
>>
No. 714645 ID: f461c5

>>714643
They do know rasyan had a double, right?
>>
No. 714647 ID: bb78f2

>>714643
You killed his double. I met with the real Rayson in the town I met Finn in. He sent a double up north in order to meet with me, about stuff aside from this whole cloth business, then my plans changed IMMEDIATELY as soon as I found Fen's cloth. Unless I met his double's-double, or you killed his double-double, never forget about Double-doubles with nobles. They think they're being orignal. Oh, and don't even get me started about Triple-Doubles. Fucking noble assholes and their Triple-Doubles.
>>
No. 714649 ID: 211d83

Sorry I forgot to mention something about Rasyan. So after the barbarian told Rasyan about the cloth he tracked Rasyan down and Rasyan tried to set the dogs on him. So the barbarian killed him and his guards and found his plans for the next few days.

Turns out the documents showed that Rasyan had a body double and they were going to meet up north in a few days as part of there plans. So the real Rasyan is dead in a ditch somewhere south of Tool end and the body double got killed by you.

Which is going to make the chaos in Pocketown happen much faster now. I was hoping we had a few days before anyone realized Rasyan was dead.
>>
No. 714651 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714643
No, you're not lying. There was something you hadn't mentioned yet, that's all. The answer to the second question. Fen killed Rasyan. The real one. There was a decoy lookalike that followed the northern route, while the real one went south. Did they kill the lookalike, then? That's really great, that means the real one's death will be covered up! Fen is in the clear.
You have proof the real Rasyan is dead. Show them the seal. Also tell them that yes, Fen really is that skilled. He killed two elite guards to protect you, just this morning.

Hey who was the other barbarian? And whyyyyy do kobold kids bathe in the tar pits when they have such a high chance of dying? For the off chance that they become powerful?
>>
No. 714654 ID: 4546ab

Sounds like you got his body double. Did Cati have you go after him?

I know exactly where the real Rasyan is right now. My barbarian friend left him naked with his throat ripped out in a ditch somewhere east of here. I am working on fencing his magical swords and just started melting down his seal.

He killed him the day after I secretly met him down in a labor camp. Then he rushed over here and saved me from getting beat up by Bardo's guards.
>>
No. 714660 ID: 02422f

>Tomato does get cold easily, and I feel bad I can't hug him.
...isn't the dragoncloth like super-armor? If you draped it over him, could you hug him through the cloth safely, protected from his barbs? (Cabbage could test, assuming she kept up her immunity).

You know Cati would disprove, but hey, screw her. Secret deals means she never needs to know.

>>"We are nice to you. Is that not enough?"
Why wouldn't I want more people to be nice to me? I know you care, but it's nice when some outsiders aren't terrible.

>Two days ago. We killed Raysan, Cheese. Why are you telling us this?
Did the Raysan you killed have his custom enchanted magic swords with him? Or use any magic? I believe you got his body double. The barbarian brought back his sword. They're something only a powerful mage could have made. I can show them too you later, if you need proof.

>Cheese. Are you lying to us?
We don't lie to each other. I'd hope you'd consider that one of us was wrong, fist.

>borrowing the dragoncloth
The barbarian plans to join the army. He'll either end up dead, so we never have to give it back, or he'll end up with glory and power after, which is something we can use. (Putting working with / helping Fen in a language they understand- manipulating and using outsiders. It's okay if they think that about him, if you're still helping him by doing it).

>questions
They have to tell you the truth too, right?

Ask them why they even wanted to kill Raysan. Was that for Cati, or for one of your family's plans?

This is good, though. If the public thinks Raysan died in the north, that means they won't look for someone who killed him in the south. We covered up the barbarian's crimes- that's something he owes us. (Putting things in terms you family will like).

What is Cati plotting to do with the dragoncloth, anyways?
>>
No. 714664 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714660
I feel like Tomato's barbs could get stuck in the cloth and turn it into a hazard.
>>
No. 714666 ID: 595d54

>>714660
Yeah, let's not mess around with the irreplaceable super-valuable stuff. It's not even super-armor, iirc, just much more protective than actual cloth.
>>
No. 714674 ID: dd338c
File 146009692984.png - (15.64KB , 800x800 , 367.png )
714674

>Who was the other barbarian?
A mistake of mine. But just a short period of self inflicted slavery, really. He's dead, now. Cabbage isn't the one who killed him, but she would've given the chance.

"NO! Of course not. That was a body double."
>"A body double. Convenient?"
"Did you see his swords while you were there?"
>"He had no reason to draw them."
"I have them."
>"... where?"
"In the bank."

I wish I had his seal, but I already left it to be smelted. I pull out the dragoncloth, and that gets the both of them to be quiet. It's insanely valuable, and it feels and looks like something that doesn't quite belong in a place as dirty as the world. It's completely irreplaceable. A priceless artifact. An object so holy that nobles and the ones with noble's blessings are the only ones permitted to touch it.

And I really don't care so I drape it over Tomato and hug it lightly. The dragoncloth is kind of iffy as armor, but it is pierce resistant and thick, so even if I get nicked, none of the poison should be able to seep through the cloth. I'll make sure to pick out any barbs in it later, but Tomato only loses barbs if it really lets them go. It purrs like two logs grinding against each other.

"You know I wouldn't lie."
>"Mm... I'm sorry. You have grown distant, Cheese, and I did not like hearing that yet again you are opening yourself up to an outsider."
"The barbarian is joining the army anyway, but more on that later. Why would you kill Rasyan? Did Cati order it?"
>"Oh, no, not at all."
"Why?"
>"Because we could. Not many opportunites to assassinate a gold noble. Once in a lifetime event. We couldn't let that slip by, after all."

She's family, I care about her and Tomato, but I never fooled myself into thinking they were good people. I'm not sure how she became the murderhappy person she is. Maybe the tar pit changed her, maybe having the mutations alone was enough to change her, or maybe she was just going to grow up like this anyway.

I mean. I'm not a good person either, but that didn't stop people from cleaning my sorry hide when I just couldn't reach the back of my own tail.

Cabbage used to be a field kobold, but Erja turned her legs into weird fungal stump things, and she couldn't walk at all. Her paws were also stubby and more like a stuffed animal. I was able to pass information as a stationary agent while I couldn't move, but she was too forthright, and so she couldn't find any purpose except to be cared for by the rest of us.

She felt useless, and really, she was. All of us were too tired and bitter to pretend otherwise. It's just there's no shame in it. Still, she hated it. A lot of kids in her position do. Tomato was a draconian with such a cripplingly large mouth that he couldn't see well or speak or anything like that, and while he could move, he spent most of it just falling over from getting dizzy.

Their day was just get fed, get cleaned, get fed again, try to sleep, maybe even succeed. That day was the same day for their entire lives. So both of them and a few other kids with similar issues all got people to put air pipes into their mouths and dump them into into the tar pits together. And no one blamed them. I doubt any of one of them regretted the choice, even if Cabbage and Tomato were the only ones who made it out with beneficial mutations.

>"But it was not to be, it seems." Cabbage continues. "It did seem too easy, and so Rasyan lives."
"No, Rasyan is dead. You accidentally covered for us."
>"Oh? How? How did he die?"
"The barbarian killed him."
>"Ah? Poison? Is the barbarian not alone, but rather a warlord with his tribe who got the drop on Rasyan? He is not a cunning spy, is he?"
"No, he's alone. He fought Rasyan."
>"Hm? As in with swords?"
"Yeah! And you know, the dumbest part about it is that I don't think the savage even thought he was that tough!"
>"Ah. He is strong, he must be, even if Rasyan was a training room champion." Cabbage says, referring to the fact that there's always a difference between a noble that got their title by fighting, and one that got their fighting ability by buying training. "Strong enough to fight me?"
"He fought two of Bardo's best, but got the drop on one and took an injury from the other, so... probably not."
>"That is good. I do pref-"
>>
No. 714675 ID: dd338c
File 146009693837.png - (29.87KB , 800x800 , 368.png )
714675

Cabbage spins around and extends her scythe limb whatevers hard enough to go through the wall before the sound of her last word finishes being heard.

>"Mmmm. I was wrong." Cabbage says.

Something's coming through the wall. Red. Blood? It's blood. Blood is coming through the wall. There's something thumping against the wall.

>"There was a small hole? I thought I would have noticed. I should have seen this. Is it new? Did someone make this hole? I am sorry. Ah... " she lowers her voice. "I was so wrong. A terrible mistake of mine. Mm.. no, no other holes exist. That was it, but a terrible mistake. There are more people, though. Tomato, please come with me. Please stay here with the cloth, Cheese."
>>
No. 714676 ID: 91ee5f

>>714675
I really hope that wasn't one of our bodyguards she just stabbed by accident.
>>
No. 714678 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714675
Alright. Stay by the door so you can call for your bodyguards in case anyone comes in to try something.

If you can, grab the gold now. It sounds like there won't be an exchange since Cati is dead, but you need that gold.
>>
No. 714679 ID: bb78f2

Ensure no screams are heard, or you'll end up having to kill my bodyguards as well. That would be... unfortunate. Also, potentially bad for business, and I'd feel bad emotionally.

Hmm, I can't imagine anyone we met on OUR end would have tried this, might be Cati's people, planning to betray all three of you at the same time. If it IS our fault, perhaps we flashed too much gold at that asshole you got the bodyguards from.
>>
No. 714682 ID: 93244f

Someone was spying on you! That's seriously not good.
>>
No. 714689 ID: a063cf

Being left alone with the cloth at a juncture when someone might be betraying you seems like a risky idea to me.

Whoever's watching knows you're with them already. If you can, maybe try to stay within safe distance of Cabbage and Tomato, a bit behind them so that you don't get any surprise arrows, watching your back for a flank.

Alternatively, you could leave the room for the time being, and stay with your guards. They might be with whoever's spying on you, though.

Meanwhile: Are those Cati's spies, or someone else's? If they're Cati's, then would killing them screw up our deal? It's not like we can let them live, but it might be worthwhile to try to save one for interrogation, maybe forge a report. Ensuring that no one who saw us escapes alive is the priority, though.
>>
No. 714699 ID: 211d83

We told you to not say anything here Cheese. Now we have who knows how many people that heard way to much. I know they are family but you should have been more careful.

Staying alone with the cloth while they go murder everything in site seems dangerous. Ask if you should follow along for safety.
>>
No. 714701 ID: f562b1

>Cati is dead
What makes you say that? Rasanyan and his double are dead, and Tomato killed an eavesdropper on the meeting. Cati didn't show up to the location, as far as we know.
>I don't know what to expect out of Cati's agent. Cati is someone who does things that are insane by normal standards, but despite her extreme measures she somehow manages to do it in a professional way.
Could be her agent was, or soon will be, killed, which will suck for the deal, but Cati herself is not dead.
>>
No. 714702 ID: 738934

Get all your stuff back in your bag and ready to go. Then be prepared to follow them if need be.

Whoever is spying on you needs to die and fast. Those two are probably going to slaughter anyone nearby just in case. Let them know you have bodyguards outside. Don't try to protect your bodyguards cause they might be in on the spying.
>>
No. 714752 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714701
"Cati is mincemeat" sounded like dead to me- oh it was "will be mincemeat", nevermind. So they are going to take the dragoncloth back, then try to kill Cati.
>>
No. 714784 ID: 02422f

>>714674
D'aww. Best use of a Macguffin.

>>714675
On the one hand, I feel bad for whoever just got killed (especially if it's kids snooping like under the news house), but at the same time, you really can't afford to let whoever overheard that live.

Keep it quiet, if you can. This will be a lot simpler for me if my guards don't get involved and end up dead as well.

>Please stay here with the cloth, Cheese.
Disengage carefully. No getting pricked pulling it off of him too fast or carelessly, or when you're trying to fold the cloth back up.
>>
No. 714789 ID: dd338c
File 146015231801.png - (30.09KB , 800x800 , 369.png )
714789

"I can't stay alone here! What if they're trying to lead you out?"
>"Hmm. Okay. Stay close to us."
"Where is the gold?"
>"On me. I will give it to you in a moment."
"Waitwait I have body guards, they may not be with the spy!"

Cabbage opens the door. Tomato scurries out while I stuff the dragoncloth back into my bag.

>"Hello to yoooou!" I hear Cabbage say. All I see is a glimpse of the field kobold bodyguard of mine lunge at Cabbage. Her sword is out, but is blocked and knocked out of her grasp with one of Cabbage's limbs, and other limb runs her through. Then the blocking limb runs her through a second time, this time through the bodyguard's throat before she can scream.
".... wait shit, shit shitshit! Hold on, that was my bodyguard!"
>"Hm? They allowed a spy to peer into our room? And then attacked me? But my, she was a fast one. So quick. So quick to be killed."
>>
No. 714790 ID: dd338c
File 146015232831.png - (29.87KB , 800x800 , 370.png )
714790

I look outside and around the corner. Damn it damn it damn it that mountain bodyguard was the one spying! I really screwed up here talking so openly, but it's not like I knew of a nearby place that would've been any more guaranteed to be safe to talk in, at least not one I could get Cabbage and Tomato in to without being seen.

Tomato comes back, dragging the draconian bodyguard. He's kicking and trying to scream at Tomato, but Tomato is dragging him by the neck into the empty shop room.

>"Ah. Tomato. Are you hurt? Mm. Just a scratch. You are okay. CheeEese. Who are these ones? Is the spy dead? These are not normal weakling kobolds."
>>
No. 714799 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714790
They were very expensive bodyguards that were SUPPOSED TO BE discreet. But you've been lied to. There will be consequences. Hmm, but who lied? The merchant you bought them from, or the company they're from? The merchant may have been unawares. How do we find this out, however? I doubt your two friends can walk around in public without being attacked.

...that definitely looks like the mountain kobold was the spy, and is dead. What's with the ceiling, though? I hope the mountain kobold wasn't relaying information to someone else through that crack.
>>
No. 714800 ID: 738934

Damn it these were my bodyguards. Looks like Yortle might have sent along some of his own men instead of hiring people like normal. He probably decided to spy on me after seeing me flashing more gold than usual. We should probably go to his place after this and take care of him. If he has not melted down the stuff I gave him he has evidence we need to destroy.

Could you not kill that last one yet so we can question him? And make sure there is no one else that could have heard us talking.
>>
No. 714806 ID: 5ad4a7

...hang on, what was causing the thumping noise, anyway? If he got stabbed through the head, could those have been death spasms?
>>
No. 714808 ID: 211d83

Yeah that crack in the floorboards to the second floor means Cabbage should sweep the upstairs for more spies. Also track down the guy who let you in when you first got here. Your bodyguards got through him somehow or snuck in somewhere else.

So you have a potentially dead doorman somewhere or a hole in the building they snuck in through. Or the doorman was in on it somehow.

Yortle might be in on things or might not. But right now you need to treat him as a enemy until you can be sure he does not still have a bunch of hot seals on him.
>>
No. 714816 ID: 02422f

>Is the spy dead?
Confirm it. Check for a pulse. He can't afford to survive, hearing what he did.

>Hole wasn't there before
Would any of you have heard if he bored a new hole to spy through?

>These are not normal weakling kobolds.
No, they were supposed to be strong enough if someone who wasn't you tried to kill me today. Their betrayal is problematic.

>what do
Interrogate the prisoner.

"I discover I have employed not guards, but spies. Who paid you three to spy on me? Was it Yortle or someone else? If you want to live, I suggest you start trading useful information for your life."

(We... probably can't let him live. The mountain bold was the one listening in, but he could have repeated anything to the other two).

Cheese, if you can't trust Yortle, he may have already read the letter. That would be... bad. The body count for your siblings to contain this grows to pretty much anyone in Yortle's group.
>>
No. 714822 ID: dd338c
File 146015464734.png - (26.29KB , 800x800 , 371.png )
714822

I confirm the mountain kobold is as dead as dead gets before going back into the room, where we look again to make sure no new holes were bored.

"They were supposed to be discreet! Trustworthy! That was like, the biggest, most important trait! I mean I could've gotten the shittiest bodyguards but as long as they were trustworthy it would've been okay! And yes the spy was dead, but what were those thumps?"
>"Mm, I did feel movement on my limb, I believe our dead peeper was having death spasms. Where where where did you get them from?"
"Urgh, some... some butt that I thought was trustworthy! He got me the guards though - wait, maybe Yortle was okay but the person he got from tried to pull us over."
>"Mm, perhaps they were working alone?"
"No, the field kobold attacked you right away, and they must've seen the mountain one burying - wait, there's no way that big guy could've made a hole that small. They were in on it together, and, well, bodyguards don't get a good reputation acting on their own. One - this one - this one works under a noble. I can't remember which one, but he definitely wasn't under Yortle's payroll!"
>"Ahh, if only we could... ask him."

The draconian remains silent and still on the wall of which he was pushed too, after we close the door again.

>"It's a good thing we have the antidote, hmm? Perhaps he isn't a talker, though. It's a shame, as Tomato's poison isn't nice. Oh, I didn't notice! Look, Cheese, yellow eyes. A friend of yours, perhaps?"
"Cabbage..."
>"I tease! I'm sorry. Not sorry for the draconian. It must be feeling feverish already, but that's only the start. Soon, itches. The hide dries out and the scale feel like they are trying to escape, because, well, they are. It only gets worse from there. It just isn't a pretty way to go."
>"there"

Tomato?

>"Keep your words to a minimum." Cabbage says. "We know how much it hurts to speak."
>"another kobold saw. Spoke" Tomato finishes, pointing at himself for the first phrase, then the draconian for the word 'spoke.'
"Ahhhhh Cabbage I need this placed sweeped for any people!"
>"Of couuuurse. Tomato, be a dear and protect Cheese from this draconian, as your poison does require minutes. And Cheese... you always were good at finding information, so do what you do best, yes?"
>>
No. 714823 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714817
Well, torture is very unreliable so let's try bribery and negotiation. Tell him if he tells us who ordered him to spy on you, you'll both save him from a gruesome death and pay him a handsome sum of money. But, of course, if he lies... you'll find him, he'll die from more than poison, and so will his tribe.
>>
No. 714830 ID: 5ad4a7

Oh ask him who the last kobold was, just in case Cabbage doesn't find them.
>>
No. 714832 ID: 02422f

>so do what you do best, yes?
Yes. Cabbage goes, you question.

Ask yes or no questions when you can, so he can nod / shake his head instead of wasting time and effort struggling to speak.

If you want the antidote, I need answers, fast. Were you spying at Yortle's behest? Yes or no.

The forth who was here. Field, mountain, draconian, sea, cave... (list types of kobolds, stop when he affirms one). Man? Woman? Name? (He can answer, or shake his head if he doesn't know).

Your employer? (If not Yortle).
>>
No. 714834 ID: 5ad4a7

Oh right, we can straight up ask which noble he works under normally.
>>
No. 714836 ID: 211d83

So you have two choices here guy. You tell me what your little plan was and if I like your answers you can get a antidote or at the very least a quick death.

Or you can stay silent and then a whole lot of extra people have to die. Not talking about just your partners in crime by the way. While you might just sit there and scowl at me I will find out who you are. And if we have to go that far I will find out about your friends and family and then they will get visits from my friends and family.

While I would not enjoy having your family tracked down and horribly murdered its sort of out of my hands now.

So make your choice. You have until my sister gets back and then the choice gets made for you.
>>
No. 714842 ID: dd338c
File 146015657575.png - (33.65KB , 800x800 , 372.png )
714842

"Okay, so, uh, my mantisy friend has the antidote, I don't, but let's make this quick anyway! So if you want to play with self preservation, and want a little coin on the side since you know I have since I paid for your services, then please tell me who you work for."

Stone silence.

"Yortle?"

Nothing.

".... Sir Tawns? Lord Rumu? Lord Vackles? Lord Bace?" I list off a few random nobles that might be suspect, but he just stares at me because I bought off bodyguards that were too goddamn good because all my proactive decisions always backfire on me!

Ugh, I hope no one finds the bodies soon because it's really not a good thing to have super good bodyguards just get killed without a good reason, but I guess it's not like they weren't spying on me! Geez, what am I gonna tell Yortle when I -

Oh fuck the world and me in it the damn letter! He has the letter!

"Wait a second, barbarian bodyguard! Oh duh you're under Lord Vackles and your name is Pak. Geez it's dumb. Okay you're tough and you're not going to speak, and I think that's not going to change even as your skin boils under your scales, and it's really not gonna change when your tongue falls off. And you know we can't let you live."

Yeah, this guy is a rock, he doesn't even change expression.

"So I'll cut the bullshit about letting you go. But... what you do have is a family."

Rocks can still be cracked.

>"They have nothing to do with this, mutant."
"Mmhmm, I know that. And if you answer my questions, you can keep it that way!"
>"My lord has kept us alive. We owe our livelihood to him, not just me."
"Well okay, if you wanna sacrifice them, but I can tell you're itching, now. Think your wife is gonna be as tough as you?"
>"My wife." he laughs at me. "Is of the strongest will."
"Just imagine her going through this, now, okay."

I wait a bit longer. He's showing signs of overheating and shaking.

"Now imagine your kids-"
>"The world calls you monsters for a reason."

That was supposed to sting me but I'm relieved he said that because I dunno if I could've finished my sentence without puking at myself. Even the murder glorifying side of the empire frowns on killing children, but he doesn't know that mutants feel the same, even moreso.

"How about information?"
>"Yortle. He told us you were up to something bigger than usual. He, through Lord Vackles' approval, paid us extra to spy on your meeting only if possible without risk. The mountain kobold got the idea for the hole. Clearly it was a mistake. By my tribe's honor, this is what I know. Is that enough, earth wretch, to kill me now?"
"Not yet. Who did you see, out there?"

He pauses.

"Then first, your wif-"
>"Lord Vackles' spy. I do not know the name, but it does not matter, as he was only tasked as a secret watcher to see if a poor fate befell us. Now he will report our demise to Lord Vackles'.
"By Yortle?"
>"Yortle is unaware of his existence."
"Tomato, you said this draconian spoke?"

Tomato nods.

"Pak, what did you say?"
>"Go."
"... really?"
>"What would I say? I never learned what this meeting was for."
"I don't suppose you can show me you're not lying?"
>"I have already told too much. I no longer have reason to hide anything more, after placing my family as my greatest priority."
"... oh wait Tomato did he say 'go'?"

I turn to look at Tomato who's been nodding this whole time. Whoops.
>>
No. 714847 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714842
Sounds like he's earned the antidote, if you even have it(and a quick death regardless), and you won't go after his family.

It sounds like Vackles will be a problem, and might come after you. Ask where Vackles is, how to contact him. Maybe we can buy him off instead of trying to kill his entire organization.

Afterwards we have to get back to Yortle and make absolutely sure he didn't read the letter. If he did, you'll have to kill him and anyone he could have given the information to.
>>
No. 714848 ID: 211d83

Cheese it is perfectly fine to horribly threaten peoples families as long as you have no intention of doing it. All that matters is he thinks you are all horrible mutants that would.

As much as I would like to let him live honestly he has to die. Cati would have your family kill him just for knowing they were here. And even if the spy escapes I don't think the spy saw Cabbage or Tomato. But this guy did.

So give him the quick death he deserves. Tell him the family stuff was just a empty threat.

And then hope that Yortle did not touch your letter and that Cabbage can catch the spy. If the spy escapes its probably not to bad. He was just here to see if the bodyguards got eaten.

But that letter and those seals are a disaster waiting to happen. If he has not touched the letter and not hidden the seals you can tell him to start running. Cause Cati will have him dead for what he did. And if he did read the letter then you have to kill him on the spot.
>>
No. 714851 ID: 1cebc8

Oh crap.

Before you hunt the agent, threaten Pak one more time, explaining that you intend to scream at his children until they become the town loonies and start a disease cult. Of course, you'll kill them before they start raking in serious casualties but by then the flamethrower to his family's PR will be so great that the next Shakespeare (or whoever passes for a poet in this empire) will create three ballads in honor of your exemplary disgrace.

The longer he talks, the less you'll consider ripping apart his children's minds. Also give him the antidote.
>>
No. 714854 ID: bb78f2

>>714842
It's good you know little, you would have been betrayed by your superiors had you known more. Who knows what your master would have done to your own family, had you known what this meeting was about. All to ensure secrecy. They would have been thorough.

Alright, make it quick.
>>
No. 714862 ID: 02422f

Right then. We have two priorities. (1) Getting ahold of Yorlte before he decides to open your letter, and quite possibly killing him and everyone he could have told. (2) Getting to Lord Vackles' spy before he or she reaches anyone they could pass information to, or worse, leaves it concealed in a dead drop, bank, or other hiding spot. They need to die fast.

..it would help if you at least go the spy's description before he dies. Kobold type, at the very least.
>>
No. 714879 ID: dd338c
File 146015990429.png - (34.22KB , 800x800 , 373.png )
714879

"Okay. One more thing, what did the spy look like?"
>"A hood, as he is not to be known by anyone, but it was a draconian."
"Well that makes sense. Thank you. Um... hm... Tomato do you have a knife?"

It shakes its head.

>"Erg... my claws aren't.. like, may as well wait for the poison over using my claws. Uh... do you have any ideas on how to kill you, Pak?"
"Are you joking?"
>"No."

....

"I will use my own knife, then. Leave my family be."
>"Oh, yeah, I was just threatening them, sorry about that."

I step back with Tomato, and Pak slits his own throat. Kind of, uh, weird. I think Cabbage really does have an antidote since sometimes accidents happen, but it doesn't matter.

>"So what now?" Cabbage comes downstairs. "This is clear. I do believe that there are no other witnesses, and I do hope I'm not mistaken once again."
"No, Cabbage, that was really my mistake, I shouldn't have spoken so open - "
>"No, I made a mistake. I am the noble's agent. I am better than this."
"No, it really was my mistake."
>"Enouuuugh, Cheese. It was mine."
>"mine" Tomato says, and we drop it at that just so that he doesn't talk more.

>"What now? Is the other spy gone?"
"Yes... he saw you two slaughter these bodyguards. He's probably making a full sprint to Vackles right now."
>"Should we kill Yortle? As it is tough to kill a noble." she says, now keeping her voice down to a whisper. "No, rather, it is tough to kill a noble and not be caught. Ah. Is the entire town going to learn of the dragoncloth?"
"N-no, telling the whole town really doesn't benefit anyone. I think... I think Vackles is going to know about the dead bodyguards. I don't know what he's going to do, but it doesn't sound like the spy knows about the dragoncloth buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUHHHHHHHHt I may have written a.... incriminating letter. In case I died, Yortle was to read it saying I was selling dragoncloth."
>"Oh, Cheese, Cheese, you were usually so good at preventative measures, too."
"I thought Yortle was trustworthy! Man if I can't trust him then who...."

Oh.

"Who outside the family?"
>"No one. Never trust anyone but the family. I do wish you would keep these lessons to heart."
"Well the letter was the right idea in like any circumstance but this one but it was this one so..."
>"Mm. Must you go back? I overheard. Yortle himself sent you untrustworthy bodyguards. And you intend to walk back to him? Where is Vackles?"
"Northeast corner."
>"Noooo, Tomato and I cannot get there without being seen. Not even Tomato can crawl, as there are so many young children in those tunnels, it is so bad."
"Still, I have to find that letter I left with Yortle and destroy it. I think.. I think I can get you there without being seen by any kids, there's some really old tunnels. They're kind of... unsafe to be in due to collapsing, but..."
>"We will tread carefully, wherever you lead us."

I don't see any other choice, other than go to Yortle as fast as possible and... do something. Except that fast as possible would be to just run out there and go through all the populated streets and stuff. Going through the tunnels would rely on kids being discreet. Going through the deep tunnels is safe as far as staying hidden goes, but, it'll take over twice as long to get there as if we were to casually stroll there.
>>
No. 714887 ID: 211d83

Is Fen still in town? Can you get him to go with you?

How close is Vackles to Yortle? Say if you go there slowly in the old tunnels will he have time to get news of what happened after the spy delivers his news?

You should not go to Yortle alone. But you need to get there as fast as possible so you can beat anyone else there who might tell him what happened. We have to assume the worst and that he has already read the letter. You going alone is dangerous.

So am leaning for the old tunnels after looting the bodies here.
>>
No. 714888 ID: bb78f2

>>714879
Fuck this shit, STRUT YOUR MUTANT SELVES OVER THERE.
As if the public doesn't already know that Cabbage and Tomato is part of Cati's crew for now. Who cares who knows. Anyone that gets in our way gets a whole lot of poison and mutant knives.

Tell me, who would FUCK with these two? You? Maybe, but not Cabbage. Let them all scream in fear, let them RUN. Let Yortle KNOW the pain he will feel. The largest danger will be from any ranged attackers, but they would need a reason to hurt potentially very dangerous mutants. And by the time we reach Yortles, it will be too late for that fool to get archers or arbalists.
>>
No. 714891 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714879
I imagine casually strolling there will cause guards to attack, right? Eventually they'll stop attacking, after a bunch of them die without civilian casualties. So, I suppose you have to decide if the lives of a bunch of innocent guards are worth the time and danger of the tunnels.
...wait, can you buy a guard escort? That could be optimal.

Another option is to leave all your valuables with them, and run to Yortle, destroy the letter making sure he hasn't read it, then go back to retrieve your gold.

...after which you just need to get to a bank without being robbed.
>>
No. 714895 ID: 211d83

Get two sheets and cut eye holes. Then escort your two suspiciously lumpy friends quickly through back streets.

Maybe upgrade the sheets to burlap or something.
>>
No. 714898 ID: 87547f

Ok run out and rent a big closed carriage and pay double for emergency speed service.

Then shove these two in the back and book it to the ally behind Yortles place. Or the closest underground entrance near his shop.

Ps. Don't actually shove them.
>>
No. 714899 ID: 02422f

>Not even Tomato can crawl, as there are so many young children in those tunnels, it is so bad.
Well it's good to see Cabbage has some standards.

>Except that fast as possible would be to just run out there and go through all the populated streets and stuff. Going through the tunnels would rely on kids being discreet. Going through the deep tunnels is safe as far as staying hidden goes, but, it'll take over twice as long to get there as if we were to casually stroll there.
So fast an obvious, slower and having to trust kids, or slowest and trust no one.
Hey, are there any vehicles? Carriages, covered wagons, cargo delivery things? All you have to do is go out into the street and buy one off of someone for way more than it's worth and hide your siblings in the back. (Or hire someone to drive you and you all hide in the back). Even with traffic, that's gotta be quicker than crawling to Yortle, and you'll have a disguise.
>>
No. 714921 ID: 8a6953

It's an idea but maybe you could pretend the deal went bad and try to get your letter back that way, acting ignorant the entire time to Yortle?

Anyway if you can destroy the letter and Yortle if he read it that would be the end of it. But if he told someone else you cant just go on a murder spree.

You should probably decide now at which point to cut your losses and minimize damage.

Maybe you can pretend that the letter is a lie and it's actually part of some deeper (fake?) game you were playing that got fucked up?

Like you could have your siblings chase you through the streets before 'getting away' and then make up a story about how the deal went bad but it was a different, fake deal, than the Dragoncloth one? After all if he reads your note then he will probably be skeptical as to you having dragoncloth, since it's so rare. you can pose the bodies like it was a fight, and then present this fake story to supplant the real one.
>>
No. 714923 ID: dd338c
File 146016580220.png - (24.25KB , 800x800 , 374.png )
714923

"Ahh I really just want to run through town with you two to get to Yortle."
>"Cati made it all too clear to us that we are not to be seen. While it is a secret we work for Cati, it is a secret known by too many people. I am sorry, but until we have Cati under our terms, we cannot afford to cross her."
"A... a wagon! I can get a wagon if you have some gold on you, and I can buy one, and then you two hide out while I lead the mountain kobolds of burden to Yortle's."

I think there's... yeah, there's a shitty building next door to Yortle's we can use to hop quickly into the tunnels and up into his place without much of a risk of kids.

I point on Cabbage's map where we'll meet up. I then run, as best as I can, to a local taxi service

"Hi!"
>"Hmmmrr, a mutant. What can I do for you?"
"I would like to rent - er sorry buy a wagon today, uh, specifically that one - " I point to the one with a closed tent to hide the contents - with drivers for today, right now, no questions please."
>"... how much are you willing to offer?"
"1 gold piece it's an emergency!"

I don't really need to buy this thing but I don't have enough small change and 1 gold is too much for a rental and he'd probably think it was a trap.
>>
No. 714924 ID: dd338c
File 146016580858.png - (25.44KB , 800x800 , 375.png )
714924

He bites on the gold a bunch, and even still, seems reluctant to sell. He sells anyway. I'm able to get the mountain kobolds to back it up into a door where I go in through a window and motion Tomato and Cabbage inside. Then I get back into the driver's seat and lead them on to Yortle's.

By the time it's all said and done it still would've been faster to walk here but we probably did save time by not taking the deep tunnels.

There are multiple strong looking people at Yortle's place that I am pretty sure are not the usual sorts of guards, and there's a big commotion inside, like a bunch of people are fighting.

>"We should take another route." one of the mountain kobolds say. "Those are Lord Vackles' soldiers, and we shouldn't get in their way."
>>
No. 714927 ID: 635f0e

... Are there eavesdropping tunnels under Yortle's place? I mean, he knows about at least one tunnel, the one you came up through to meet him, but are there maybe others? Does one of your friends maybe have very good hearing?
>>
No. 714931 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714924
Looks like Lord Vackle decided he wanted payback for the deaths of his guards. If he gets to the letter, or Yortle decides to open it due to things going south, then mission failure.

The obvious option is for them to stop the taxi in front of the door, tell the taxi drivers to leave, and then your friends leap out and kill everyone inside. However this will result in a lot of witnesses that might just run for it instead of trying to fight and dying. Too risky.

How about instead we take the taxi over to an entrance to whatever tunnels that will let us get close to the letter. Then Cheese can sneak in and steal the letter, then get the fuck out. The letter is the only concern here.
>>
No. 714934 ID: 02422f

I assume Cabbage and Tomato could walk into the mess and kill anyone they wanted. Problem is, they'd be seen, and there's enough people that witnesses would escape.

We need a nearby building with tunnel access so we can make a surgical strike. Or we need to trail the soldiers after they've claimed the goods.
>>
No. 714936 ID: 211d83

Looks like Yortle got in over his head and is being raided. You need to sneak in and retrieve your stuff unseen if possible.

Go around to your underground area and get in there. Then kill only who you need to silently.
>>
No. 714937 ID: 8a6953

MAybe this is a stealth mission.

You might be able to mix this

>>714921

With a new plan to get inside.

Unfortunately they probably know that you exist since your description is so unique so they might try to grab you. It's not likely foot soldiers would know about you, but it's possible.

Presumably Yortle would have a way out of there if shit hit the fan, which it seems like it did. Maybe Tunnels. Maybe you can intercept him that way? Or sneak inside that way?
>>
No. 714969 ID: dd338c
File 146017041283.png - (13.78KB , 800x800 , 376.png )
714969

"Okay, um, back away. Actually I need to, uh, rethink the route, this place is confusing."
>"If you tell us where to go, we'll probably know where to go. We've travelled these streets a lot of times, miss."
"Nono just uh park in this spot I'll be just a few moments! I need to think about something so please watch the street and do nooooot disturb me in the back okay?"

They look nervous to be left in such a suspicious looking cart so close to the noble's entourage, but we're a few bends away and Vackles' bunch seems contained where they are, so it shouldn't be a problem.
>>
No. 714972 ID: dd338c
File 146017065891.png - (36.11KB , 800x800 , 377.png )
714972

I can poke into the underside here and eavesdrop. Cabbage can't fit here, but I motion for Tomato to come with me and follow behind. By the time I get down in there, the fighting's stopped, although I'm hearing a lot of people move around and, by the sounds of it, turn the place upside down. I can hear the voices at least. I go to where the letter is just in case there's no one there and I can get to it, but no, there's someone in the room, it looks like.

"-is probably not dead. Despite the internal wars of Erja Nokol, the mutants don't head out of town to fight each other. A haughty voice bossing everyone around. This person is a noble, and it's a safe assumption it's Lord Vackles.
>"Shall we put wanted posters across town?"
"No, that's too risky. Dangerous contraband is involved. I have already sent a runner to investigate if they have left already and I will deal with it if so, but for now, you go and inform the town guard is to quadruple their staff and be put on the highest alert for mutants and abominations. I will deal with Lord Warfield's inquiries. The abominations are to be detained or killed, but, for everyone's safety, not searched without my presence. Once I confirm they have not yet left, we can take our time inside of the town. They can't hide from everyone, not forever. And Cheese. You." he says, turning to face someone else. "She'll come back here, so clear out the bodies and lay out a trap for her in the next several minutes."
>"Yes sir. And Yortle's?"
"His body with the rest, he's unimportant now."
>>
No. 714973 ID: 1cebc8

I'd be more sympathetic to Yortle if he didn't get his mooks to knifehold every little girl that tried to do "play business with the funny toy man".

Maybe he's not dead yet? Whatever, can you and your sister assault them now while Tomato plays defense or should you leave? Yortle has a stash that includes all the gold you fed him.
>>
No. 714974 ID: 5ad4a7

>>714970
Shit, he knows. He's not telling anyone what it is though, so we just have to assassinate him. If he read the letter then he's likely destroyed it himself to prevent the (in his words) dangerous knowledge from spreading.

So go back to the taxi, tell the others what's going on, and... well, I don't know. We have to catch Vackles with his guard down, but not out in the open where people will see your friends.

Ooooor you could assassinate him yourself. Ever used a blowgun before? Put one of Tomato's quills on a dart and dart him, and he's done for. Or put a quill somewhere you know he'll step on it or poke his finger on.
>>
No. 714976 ID: 211d83

Well Vackles found out and now you need to kill him.

He will not have told anyone and will have the letter on him if he has not destroyed it. He obviously wants that Cloth.

Will probably be best to ambush them while they are clearing out bodies for this trap. Maybe a two pronged assault where Cabbage comes through the back and you go in with Tomato to take out Vackles.

Get back to the carriage and let your more dangerous family members advise you.
>>
No. 714982 ID: 5ad4a7

...wait, if you're under the building... can you get Tomato to poison him through the floorboards?
>>
No. 714985 ID: b2db3f

Quickly get back to the cart and let Cabbage know that the noble knows about them and about the Dragoncloth.

They are cleaning out bodies now to prepare a trap for us so if we hit them quick they will be off there guard.

I wonder if Tomato could lurk down here and drag people through the floorboards once Cabbage attacks.

As for you do your best to help without getting in there way.
>>
No. 714996 ID: 02422f

>>714972
...either they didn't know how important the letter was and left it, or we have to assume the noble has it. That means he has to die, today.

Maybe you need Fen's help. Someone they can't make at a glance. They're expecting the three of you.
>>
No. 715004 ID: 8a6953

So this whole thing sounds like a wash.

Cutting your losses now sounds like safest course of action. The Noble knows you have dragoncloth and actively searching for you. Getting a message to Fen that you're going out of town and retrieving your stuff from the bank sounds like the best options. After that skedaddle and get the deal done.

One way to do this may be to pretend you have already left the town or spread rumors like that and double back when the town is sparsely guarded.

Another idea is to have Fen act like he's still chasing you. If rumors get out that he was chasing you that could lead them to follow him, away from you.

Maybe you could also flip one of Tomatoes barbs up there, hope you get lucky and he steps on it.

Or, and this might be the best option, frame this Vackles guy for the murder of Pocky. Maybe let it slip to Warfield that he can get one over an opponent and stash his swords somewhere for him to find?

Building on that idea if you get the swords you may be able to pretend like the swords are the contraband he's looking for. It's more plausible than the dragoncloth, and you have proof (the swords to back it up). Maybe pretend you were an unfortunate bystander to the murder and coverup or something and he is trying to silence the final loose end (you).
>>
No. 715045 ID: dd338c
File 146017479285.png - (23.45KB , 800x800 , 378.png )
715045

I look back to Tomato, thinking maybe I could poison Vackles though the floorboards. I don't think so. They're loose enough to let light through, but thick enough that Tomato could only aim up, and it'll be difficult to get in position, and it's hard to tell where anyone is standing exactly and Vackles is already leaving, dangit.

Tomato isn't all that accurate with his quill shooting anyway. Uh well it's probably better than my aim with a blow dart if I tried that.

I go back to the wagon as fast as I can without making noise, but we can only go so fast.

If Vackles hasn't made it out yet, maybe I can send in... no, there's only two siblings of mine and a half dozen exits to the place.

>"What is the news?" Cabbage whispers once I get back, making sure to only speak while the roads are loud to prevent our drivers from hearing nearby.
"The news... is that we can't leave town."
>"Hmm?"
"They're cleaning out bodies, and Vackles, probably only Vackles, knows about the dragoncloth."
>"Mm. Troublesome. Perhaps we have to murder him after all. Simply get him in private where we can reach, and we will kill."
"That's easier said than done! He probably never has less than like ten guards around him, I mean not just is he a noble, he owns the town guard!"
>"We are under Cati. Who is he to prevent us leaving?"
"It was... it is an illicit deal. If he manages to kill us and get the dragoncloth, he can say he just found illicit dragoncloth, and Cati can't do anything because she can't prove it's legitimately hers! He's probably in over his head, but, well... that doesn't make it easier for us."
>"Hrmmm, I do miss when I could kill our problems without these constraints."

Maybe I need Fen's help, but I don't want to keep him from joining the military. I don't know... I can think about it, it's still early.

I just can't think of anything I can do right now. It looks like I'm playing a longer game. Against a noble.

The Fence isn't the biggest town, but it's got a lot of illicit activity.

And if I don't know someone who can help, I know someone who knows someone.

And hopefully I can trust them this time, because I probably have to. I just need a plan. Something to get him out in the open. Something to kill him while he's surrounded by guards. Escaping town somehow. Some way to remove him from power, like framing him for Pocky's death by planting the swords -

Ack, the swords! The bank! I should probably pull all that stuff out of the bank before the town guard is crawling all over town and is watching that. I know of a room in the deep tunnels I can use as a hideaway. It takes a bit to get to, but I think I can get Cabbage and Tomato in there.

But I need to start thinking of ideas on how to deal with this. Vackles sounded patient enough to go at it carefully, but I doubt he's going to just wait for us to turn ourselves in.
>>
No. 715054 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715045
He will have to personally retrieve the dragoncloth. You can use it as bait. Maybe get a message sent to him that you'll exchange it for safe passage out of town, and make sure the meeting place is somewhere he can be killed without anyone but the guards he brings witnessing it. Also make sure the escape routes can be covered. Lastly, make sure you can leave the area without being seen, because he will absolutely leave guards outside the location to try to catch you.

A trap like this will most certainly provoke him into bringing the strongest possible force. Make sure that he cannot bring an army into the location, and also make sure you can see what's coming. If it's too much for your sisters to handle (and I doubt it will be, to be honest) you'll need to escape and try a different plan. Like luring him somewhere that you can just lace with poison or explosives.

Or set a pitfall or something lethal like that in the room.
>>
No. 715057 ID: 211d83

Ok first you get off the streets and get everyone to a safe place.

Then you get everything out of the bank somehow. Probably do that first before they get your name circulated and you cant access your deposits anymore. Your description will be out around town soon enough.

Then you set a trap for him. You leak news of something and reverse the trap he was going to try and pull you into. It could be setting him up somehow or just luring his guards away and murdering him. Maybe we can blame Pocky's death on him and have Bardo go after him. Or maybe just have your siblings start picking off guards one at a time until they all get scared and abandon him.

For now get out of here without being found out unless you can see which way Vackles is leaving. It could be worth it to blitz him here and then scuttle back into the underground. Everyone is going to know you all are here soon enough. Might be worth it to cause some chaos.
>>
No. 715060 ID: 635f0e

You need to make that deal with Cati soon. When she catches word of this, the amount she'll give for that dragoncloth will go way down.

... You might need to find someone else to track it.

Fen probably shouldn't get involved, but what you can do is give him your bank password and get him to deliver the stuff back for you, since he'll be able to move through the streets freely and you can trust him with your stuff. It won't take him long and then he can leave.

In general, after that, if it's a noble and the town guards who will be after you, you'd be best to go for help to people who don't like either.
>>
No. 715064 ID: 87547f

You know maybe you can turn this all around. Say you could start dropping clues that this was not a mistake on your part but a plot to get rid of Vackles. Make him start acting paranoid and lashing out at everything.

Then get Bardo into things. He was going to meet up with Pocky in a day up north but now that's not going to happen. If you could get word out that Vackles killed him and has Pockeys swords you might be able to lure Bardo here. Get him here to try and figure out what you are up to and its a great chance to get rid of another thorn in your side.

Then kill both of them in a trap and suddenly your debt is gone and you still have all the money from the dragoncloth sale to help Fen.
>>
No. 715081 ID: 8a6953

I think making Fen act like hes still chasing you as he leaves foe the army is a good idea. Get the guy off your trail. This might put Fen in danger though, so it needs workshopping. You might be able to spin it so that people will think you and Fen are still enemies and add an extra degree of seperation. What better way to know who Fens enemies are then be one?

Retrieving your stuff (especially swords) is the top priority. The question is whether its better to get them now before they are consfiscated ir try to intercept them. The swords would be neccessary for any decent frame job. The Lord he was talking about, do you know anything about him? Some angle to play them off one another?
>>
No. 715086 ID: 211d83

Hey Cheese just to make sure what exactly did you say in that letter.

Need to know how bad the info leak was so you can deal with the repercussions.

Cause if its bad enough it might be worth it to charge in there and kill your way to him even with the chance of him escaping.
>>
No. 715096 ID: 8a6953

The crows still have Pockys correspondance, right? If Vackles is mentioned in them thst could be another shred of evidence to an eventual frame job.
>>
No. 715097 ID: 8a6953

The crows still have Pockys correspondance, right? If Vackles is mentioned in them thst could be another shred of evidence to an eventual frame job.
>>
No. 715119 ID: dd338c
File 146018100256.png - (18.29KB , 800x800 , 379.png )
715119

I give the drivers a tip and have them park the wagon at some place they tell me about but that I will probably never see.

Then I go to hide Cabbage and Tomato at my hideaway.

Then I go see Fen. He's practicing swinging swords around I guess.

"Heyyy Fen?"
>"Hello, Cheese."
"Uh... stuff happened. Could I get you to pull my stuff out of my bank?"
>"Alright. What is wrong?"
"Oh, noth.... well everything but nothing you have to be involved in!"
>"You want me to gather everything from the bank, but won't tell me why?"
"Just worry about going to join the army, okay? I really... don't want you to get involved with this one."
>"You're involving me now."
"Erk... Fen... come onnnn-"
>"Fine. Did you sell the cloth?"
"That's... a work in progress. I found Cati's agents, uh, we're having... issues. Finalizing the deal. And all that. I'm working on it."
>"I'll trust you to it."
"Thanks! And can you get me some writing supplies and food and just like... travelling gear?"
>"Alright, Cheese. I will wait until tonight before leaving."
>>
No. 715120 ID: dd338c
File 146018101796.png - (20.62KB , 800x800 , 380.png )
715120

He gets all the stuff, and seems to expect more of an answer, but I really don't want him worrying about this more than he has to! He seemed tired. I don't think he ever did get much sleep.

I grab my things and make the trek back down into the tunnels, then into the tunnel's tunnels, where the wood has rotted back into the dirt and the stone is flaky. It's practically pitch black here, but that's okay with me. I have candles, but I don't need them.

I start reviewing everything and write a few shorthand notes to keep my head straight.

Vackles has... the town guard, but he isn't telling them anything more than to watch out for mutants. I think he's the only one who knows about dragoncloth. He's also got all kinds of resources and probably spies all over for security reasons. All I wrote is detailing that I found dragoncloth and was going to sell it to Cati. It doesn't mention Fen or how I found it or anything like that.

I have... my family, food to last, and, well, a few contacts after Yortle.

The kids. They'll do damn near anything for a couple of copper, and I can get them to spy on a whole lot of places. If I want to spread a rumor or just get a lot of eyes on a lot of places at random, I'd start with them.

A tavern called the Lost Meal. It's where Lord Warfield's spies go the most to get the word on the town. Warfield is the stone noble who runs the entire Fence, with some wood nobles underneath him controlling various parts of it, either components of the town such as Vackles running the town guard, or nobles who watch over specific districts. So he would ask Vackles why the security is getting ramped up. If I can get to the Lost Meal and just pop up for a moment, I may be able to get information.

Sir Gauche is a wood noble in charge of the Yellow District. I could talk directly to him, as Gauche is the closest thing I have to a noble as a real, honest ally, but he may not like me dragging him into this. The people there are loyal to me and have let me hide under them, but they're, well, most of them are just town riff raff and heckle strangers. But they'd also do a lot for money.

The fourth place... is the merchant ring, higher up than I normally like to go. They'd turn me in for a copper shard and normally I'd sooner entertain the idea of just giving the dragoncloth right to Sir Gauche, but I feel like there might be something there. I mean, normally merchants can go in and out of the town if they look like they have wares, but if Vackles is going to upturn every wagon in and out, a lot of people are going to be upset.

That's basically it unless I want to make new contacts.

Oh and Fen, but I may just ask him to tell Bardo that Vackles killed Pocky or maybe ask the crows for help or something like that.
>>
No. 715124 ID: 211d83

Lets start causing chaos.

First get word out to Bardo that Vackles killed Pocky but you don't know why yet. Mention he seems to be trying something big and you are trying to find out what. Say that you got some rock solid evidence that he did it but he found out you have it and is trying to close off the city and silence you. I would avoid getting Fen involved unless its just him dropping off a letter at the bank. Keep him out of everything if possible.

Then start spreading rumors to the merchant ring that Vackles is trying to destabilize trade with Pocktown to corner the market on whatever it is they do. Then start another rumor that he killed Pocky to short stock or whatever the equivalent is here. The rumors combined with him searching everything will get them up in arms.

Tell Sir Gauche that shit is going down and give him info on how to avoid the coming storm. This will make him like you more and be more willing to help you out later. If you can give him info on how to profit from this mess.

Finally start some rumors about Vackles attempting a power grab to destabilize Lord Warfield. You want him getting extra suspicious about what Vackles is up to.

Then sit back and fan the flames as the various factions begin to grind against each other. Wait for openings and find your opportunities to strike.
>>
No. 715127 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715120
You could cause a huge enough stir that Warfield asks Vackles to report to him about what's going on. Then pay some of Gauche's men to block off streets to make Vackles take a certain route, and ambush him at one or even multiple points along that route, wherever you can strike at him while not being seen. Narrow alleyways, projectile attacks from windows of abandoned buildings, undermining the very street he walks on...

Of course, you'd want to use kids as spies to keep tabs on Vackles' movement, to pull off the ambushes.
Actually I wonder, if with good enough information and a day's work digging, you could tunnel under his house and assassinate him in his own home?
>>
No. 715169 ID: 87547f

If Bardo were to die would your debt disappear? Or would it transfer to his estate or something? Cause if you get the chance to take him out it would be icing on the cake.

I like the idea of getting the nobles in town fighting over rumors. Will make it easier for you to work if all the factions are on edge and fighting each other.

A good rumor to start about Vackles would be a story about how someone saw him showing off his new magical swords to his guard captain and laughing about it. And the swords just happened to be exactly the same as the ones pocky had on him at all times. Plus Fen had his clothes and jewelry right? Could probably use that as your evidence that you "stole" from Vackles.

Another rumor would be that he killed Yortles because he knew two much. You heard Yortles was helping him melt down some hot items but apparently things went south. Something about some noble seals and Yortle trying to blackmail him. And now he is trying to drum up a rumor about mutants to catch you and have a excuse to search all the merchants in and out of town.

Then get word to Bardo that Vackles went after you because you saw him with Pocky's swords. His guards killed the bodyguards that Bardo had with you and you barely escaped. Once he gets into town the rumors should already be flying so he will be more inclined to believe your story.
>>
No. 715173 ID: 91ee5f

>>715120
Ask Cabbage if she really does have the antidote to Tomato's poison. If she does, then start pulling out any of his barbs that might've gotten stuck in the Dragoncloth when you hugged him. You don't want to accidentally poison yourself when you touch it.
>>
No. 715176 ID: e4df6f

You should probably give Fen a basic rundown of the situation. Details aren't necessary but some mutual trust needs to be involved.

Also you might want to set up some way to contact him while he's in the army.

I mentioned earlier about the plan to make people think you and Fen are enemies as an extra degree of separation. Do you think that's viable or complicated?

One possibility is you get Fen to go to the Lost Meal 'looking for you'. He can give info or allude as to you either being out of town or having contraband, and let the spies put two and two together to implicate Vackles.

You may be able to use Gauche to overthrow Vackles if you try the framing job, unless you think he would be too skittish about the dead Goldie. Convince him he can rise in status by taking him down somehow.
>>
No. 715177 ID: e4df6f

Have you informed Fen about the different missions he might get sent on and given him advice about that? You should do that before he leaves.
>>
No. 715204 ID: dd338c
File 146022539243.png - (24.77KB , 800x800 , 381.png )
715204

"Say, Cabbage, did you really have antidote?"
>"Yeesss."
"I'm going to make sure no barbs got into the dragoncloth."
>"Be safe and take this, then, but do be careful."

I clean up the dragoncloth, looking over my stash.

I had Fen break some gold for me, because to make things stretch,I've got to pay a lot of people in small amounts than in gold, so I took ten gold out for a huge bag of copper and silver. I'm afraid of who might've seen Fen with that kind of money, but he made it back to me okay, and I made it down here without being seen, so it's okay. But I have hundreds of copper and silver now for buying off kids with copper and more established folk with silver.

"Oh, Cabbage, what kind of money did you bring for the dragoncloth?"
>"Three mithril coins to cover the first three thousand gold, and then five stacks of one hundred gold towers."

Gosh. Plenty of gold. That gives about 100 gold I can spend without having to cut into Bardo's debt. I wonder, if I didn't have my debt to Bardo right now, would I be richer than Vackles?
>>
No. 715205 ID: dd338c
File 146022540475.png - (23.43KB , 800x800 , 382.png )
715205

I go back up. I need to talk to Fen.

I'm also thinking to make it sound to the public like I'm his enemy. Yeah. That might work. I don't have a choice because he's really the only one that can be seen in public, who might actually be able to get an audience with Bardo, that I feel I can fully trust and also get in contact with.

"Hi Fen."
>"Hello. How are you fitting through that hole?"
"Um... I'm squishy. I'll just... stay here on the floor. I do need your help, actually?"

...

>"I'm listening."
"Er, right. Uh, well..." I start explaining everything as fast as I can but as clearly as I can. I think I cover everything and I think he gets it. "When you leave town today, could you, um... I don't know how, but could you try to get a message to Bardo saying that Lord Vackles of the Fence killed Pocky? I'd like to frame him."
>"Very well. How would I convince him?"
"Um... I'm... working on that. Um... more on that later, but tell him that Vackles is going after me because I saw him with Rasyan's swords."
>"What?"
"That's a lie, Fen."
>"Oh. I understand."
"I didn't really want to involve you with that, but... I don't have anyone who I can really trust to deliver the message to someone like Bardo, so... thank you."

He really did bring up a point. I could say something vague like Vackles' is trying to steer more people to the fence by making unrest in Pocktown and the surrounding region, but that's kind of weak on its own and really a dumb reason to kill a noble. I should send out information gatherers to find out a good reason why Vackles really would try to kill a gold noble like that and succeed, because offhand, he doesn't really have much reason to off Rasyan.

"The other thing is... can we still pretend to be enemies?"
>"As long as it is really pretending."
"Yes yes! Um... there's a tavern called the Lost Meal. Could you go there, looking for me? Maybe say that I had some contraband and that I skipped town?"
>"Why?"
"Uh... mostly to spread the idea that I have some bigtime contraband."
>"This sounds like the thing we would not want to spread."
"Okay okay I know it sounds bad and non-intuitive but I really need things to be a mess for Vackles and if I can make it out to sound like Vackles is trying to keep too much for himself I can make friction between him and the other nobles. That and we should have degrees of seperation between us for now as far as the public is concerned! But uh... hey you told me you stopped at the diner in the yellow district. You can leave messages for me there and vice versa okay? I have a bad feelings about staying in this inn."
>"Okay."
"I'm going to get info on what missions in the army you might get sent off to and give you a recommendation so I know where abouts you are too."

Okay that was a lot of information, am I forgetting anything else to tell Fen?
>>
No. 715206 ID: 91cfcf

give him the succ
>>
No. 715208 ID: 211d83

Fen does not have anything on him anymore that could point anyone to anything right?

Now if Fen is going to pretend to be still after you he will need a reason why. If he gets interviewed by Vackles what is he going to say? It can't be about the dragoncloth cause that could get Fen killed.

He met Shup and Lily because they had gone south to get some glowbulbs right? Maybe his story is that he came north to sell stuff for his clan and met a friendly purple shopkeeper that scammed him. Say he had something special that he did not know was worth more up here that was worth like 2 gold or something. You gave him a silver for it and now he is after you for revenge because he found out the real value.

That would give him a good reason to be after you but not be enough money to tempt a noble.

How long should he stay in town? What is his time limit for reaching this weeks warp? Make sure to give him advice on how to get a message to Bardo. Also let him know about the noble you are sort of friends with. What contraband is "Big Time" enough without being dragoncloth. Fen has no idea what contraband is. It should probably be something from down south to fit his scammed story.
>>
No. 715210 ID: bb78f2

>>715205
Be careful Fen.
And be on the lookout for Shup's men anywhere. The more we think about how Lily gave you this dragoncloth, the more I think the idea was mostly Shup's to complicate all sorts of matters for you, as a very complicated and entertaining form of revenge. Lily didn't think about how many problems this item would bring you, but Shup knew. Oh, he knew.

You can be sure he's keeping tabs on you, from the shadows, to entertain himself. He'll be the biggest wildcard in this, so minimize your contact with him and keep him entertained until your ready to take him on. He'll make things more challenging for you, and some easy, just to see what will happen and how you take on the situation.
>>
No. 715214 ID: e4df6f

If we are going with getting Bardo in on this thing maybe we can fix our dead bodyguard problem at the same time. Then again that may just complicate things too much.

The best way to get a message to Bardo would probably be through spies, so it doesn't implicate you or Fen directly. Do you know any Bardo informers Fen can 'bump' into on his way to the Army?

A way to do this would probably be to see if the Crows could plant the correspondence somewhere incriminating?

Actually Pocky was involved with the merchants in this area heavily, right? Maybe you could get some people to false flag Vackles trying to take up the merchant business in this area. Make it seem like he had knowledge of Rosyan's death and was trying to profit from it preemptively.

Maybe pay some fake guards to check the merchants and drop hints about them needing to get used to a change in leadership.

I think making it seem like he's overly ambitious would seem really easy since most Nobles seem ambitious, and everyone you try to sell the story to might do the same thing in his position.

Other than that maybe just thank Fen? Also tell him if there is anything you want him to avoid or whatever (like running afoul of your family).
>>
No. 715215 ID: e4df6f

>>715214
Adding to this, ask Fen if he knows anything about Rosyan's dealings, since he was trying to assassinate two merchants who had dirt on him. You might be able to recruit them into being allies since maybe you saved their lives (unless they are already dead)?
>>
No. 715218 ID: dd338c
File 146023072882.png - (26.83KB , 800x800 , 383.png )
715218

"Oh uh, keep an eye out for Shup's guys?"
>"What? Is Shup around?"
"Oh, no, just... thinking. And um just remember, don't ever mention the dragoncloth if you get asked for info about me. Just say you had stuff to sell in the empire from the savagelands and you got scammed by me because I dunno you had something that was worth over a gold piece but I gave you a silver for it and then you found out the real value and now you're out for blood or I dunno however dramatic savages would put it. Better to leave the contraband to imagination but if you gotta say it just say you got some special glowleaves that had like, a wizard came by and enchanted it with a ton of anti-rot. Oh and there's a noble here by Sir Gauche that I'm kinda sorta friends with. FYI. Oh um. Was there anything in Rasyan's paperwork that mentioned Vackles?"
>"I didn't read it. I gave it to the crows."
"Right... could you... could you ask a crow to keep an eye out, if there's fog, at the high broken bell on the old church just north of the center of town? I'm hoping I can get the crows in on this but I can't contact them while in town."
>"I'll see if I find any crows on my way out."

That would be great. If I can get crows in on this, then I'll have a lot of working range outside of town.

If he leaves tonight he'll be able to spend tomorrow in town, then leave the next day through the warp. I tell him about a diner where he can get into contact with someone who can help him meet Bardo, or better yet, have someone else meet Bardo other than Fen. Oh, man, if Bardo actually came down here, and I managed to kill him in chaos somehow, my debt would be gone, since I'm under his name, not his title.

>give him the succ
but
>>
No. 715219 ID: dd338c
File 146023073575.png - (12.72KB , 800x800 , 384.png )
715219

>give him the succ
he'd neverrrr
>>
No. 715220 ID: dd338c
File 146023075875.png - (81.72KB , 800x800 , 385.png )
715220

Oh no I just sort of slinked away after mentioning the diner instead of saying goodbye or being socially acceptable. It's too late though I can't just crawl back into the room, say, 'that was it, goodbye' and then slink back again that's even weirder.

After stopping at the hideout, I go to a kid's hideaway, where there are some young adults who grew up in the tunnels who can only fit in some of the initial, larger gaps.

I barely poke my head through before some kids approach me.

>"Oh ho, is that Cheese? I thought I smelled trouble."
"Heyyy Gravel. How've you been?"
>"Business as usual, and sounds like it's going to continue. Whatcha need, girl?... girl, right? Ha, I tease."
"Haha but really I need like... a lot. I need to gather information from the town and then give the town misinformation."
>"Hey, say, didn't you owe us money? I know you wouldn't show your face around here and try to repay us with more work, right?"
"Mmhmmm. Hold out your hand."
I empty my purse out to drop like 20 copper."
>"Nice! With interest."
"Yes, also an advance for what I'd like. Other than that, I'll pay good sums for just going out and doing work, and then pay good sums when I actually get information."

I wrote down a mental checklist for rumors, but maybe I forgot some.

The kids aren't that trustworthy, and I have to handle things delicately because they wouldn't be above selling me out if they felt it benefitted them. But for covering town-wide operations, these are the best I've got, and as long as I'm helpful to them, they'll be good to me.

Rumors to spread:
-Vackles has new swords like Pocky Rasyan's.
-Vackles got Yortle to melt down hot items, but things went south and Yortle got killed.
-Vackles is trying to destabilize trade in Pocktown to force more trade through the Fence.
-Vackles is attempting a power grab from Warfield

Information to gather:
-Anything on the potential army missions for Fen.
-Why Vackles might have a motive to specifically kill Rasyan.
-What Vackles is up to.

That last one is a double edged sword. I really want to know what Vackles is planning, but that may mean the kids will learn that I'm actually a wanted criminal, and, well, the kids are only so trustworthy.

Another iffy rumor I could add is that Vackles is trying to rule the merchants here, but I mean it's probably unbelievable if there's all these rumors floating around about how Vackles is trying to overthrow practically everyone. Then again, there's going to be rumors floating around that don't come from me either, so maybe diluting the rumor pool isn't gonna change anything.
>>
No. 715228 ID: 02422f

>>715205
Huh. Fen didn't have much commentary on you sharing some of your biggest secrets with him. Although I guess you sure showed him you're trusting him now.

>>715120
Is the seeing in the dark a mutant thing, or a cave kobold thing?

>That last one is a double edged sword.
The other downside to it is if any of the kids are caught spying, he could become aware of the network you're using to spread misinformation against him. Potentially allows him to star trying to counter. I'm not sure you want them to get close.

Are there other resources you could use to keep tabs on him? (Man, if you do contact the crows again, that would be a big help).

>dilute the rumor pool further?
It'll do that on it's own. If you sew paranoia and fear, people will jump to their own conclusions. Better to have a few core ideas and then see what grows from that.

If you wanted to demonstrably sew fear resentment against Vackles, you could pay a person here and there to pick fights with his soldiers over things, or goad other people too. Yelling insults or accusations, or even a shove or thrown stone at the right time could set a crowd of people off. If you don't mind some people getting hurt, you could start stirring up the populace.

>other ideas
Poisoning someone might be a possibility while Tomato is around. If you could get him to bottle some liquid, or crush up some needles, that would be something that could be added to food.

Even if you don't get a chance to use it now, it could be useful in the future. (And if you get enough to share, it's something Fen might be able to use).
>>
No. 715231 ID: 0e5695

Fen forgot this I guess.
>>708703

Anyway I think the important thing here is that every rumor can be tied up into a sort of psuedo story that makes some sense. Like, Pocky got killed, accidentally or on purpose, and now Vackles is trying to use his death to increase his station. That sort of ties everything together. Now you just have to sell the bits and pieces of the story so that people can put the pieces together themselves. I think him trying to get one over on the merchants strengthens that story, but maybe I'm wrong.
>>
No. 715234 ID: bb78f2

>>715220
Spread Rumor 2 and 3
Gather info 1 and 2
2 is important, as it starts discussion and support of 3, and vice versa.
>>
No. 715251 ID: 211d83

A good way of looking at your debt to Bardo is that he is not going to let his 3k investment get hurt if he can help it at all.

If you had a contact worth that much you would do most anything to make sure they stayed healthy. So he will be up to his neck in this stuff once he realizes that Vackles is out to kill you.

Just make sure they never meet unless its in a secret place where Cabbage and Tomato can go in and kill them together.
>>
No. 715259 ID: 87547f

Remember to stagger your rumors for best affect.

So you want simple ones about Vackles to start and then a day or two later get the sword one started. Then people will have been hearing things about him destabilizing trade and will be more open to the idea that he killed Rasyan.

Avoid getting any of the kids to close to Vackles or his men because they will find out you are wanted and might turn you in. Assume they will find out eventually and be careful at all times. Keep moving your base of operations and never use the same route through the underground twice.



Here is a longer term trap to plan. Find a safe spot that you can eventually meet with Bardo if he comes to town. Make sure its out of the way and has two underground entrances and one of them is well hidden so only you know about it. Also has to be big enough to move Cabbage through. It should also have some hidden spots that Vackles men could use to spy on so they think its safe. Somewhere you can collapse the exit behind you in case something goes wrong.

Then send word to Bardo that you will use it as you meeting place with him. Possibly meet him there once before so he will let his guard down. Then leak the info about your next (and final) meeting with Bardo to Vackles before hand.

Then acquire some rich red cloth that could be mistaken for dragoncloth at a distance. Use it to wrap the sword or seals or something and hand it off to Bardo while telling him that this is what Vackles is after. Vackles will see the exchange and try to kill Bardo for the "cloth". They fight and Cabbage finishes them both off and possibly there guards. Then you retrieve your stuff and leave in the chaos.

If you can pull it off then you will loose your debt and the people after you at the same time.
>>
No. 715263 ID: dd338c
File 146024200485.png - (47.56KB , 1200x486 , 386.png )
715263

>Fen didn't have much commentary on you sharing some of your biggest secrets with him.
I may have just not given him time since I kinda streamed out all my thoughts on him at once.

>Is the seeing in the dark a mutant thing, or a cave kobold thing?
Well mostly cave kobold thing but the mutations actually exaggerated it so I can operate in near pitch black.

I go ahead and spread all the rumors, and almost all the information except for trying to find out what Vackles is up to. That, and trying to pay these kids to heckle the guards, might backfire on me if they get caught and spill the beans. Or just... reminding Vackles that children and tunnels exist. Nobles here are surprisingly oblivious to the existence of this network.

One more rumor too. Vackles doesn't really have the capital and staff to be part of the merchant ring, but, he does accept kickbacks and taxes and all sorts of stuff from the merchants. So if he's able to get more merchants getting through the fence and forces a lot more illicit activity to come through, then he still benefits from taxes and the amount of kickbacks. In other words, by having more mercantile competition in town, he can find a lot more merchants willing to put up with a new level of town guard bullshit!

I'm going to start documenting this stuff in my hideout since there are a lot more moving parts now and my short term memory isn't always the best.

It'd be best to stagger the rumors out, but that would take days, and... he can probably find me by then. Maybe.

"That's a lot of stuff, and it takes more than a few jangles to get enough of us out there to be listened to."
>"I know. I'll be back in a moment."
>>
No. 715264 ID: dd338c
File 146024203309.png - (67.45KB , 800x800 , 387.png )
715264

I come back and dump a bag of 100 copper and 30 silver down on him.

"I need the town talking. I'm going to pay more for bit of information I get, and more for rumors that really sound like they're working."
>"Holy shit. Cheese, entering the big times?"
"Hahahaaaaaaaaaa."
>"Is that..." someone else asks. "Silver?"
>"Yeah. No one's to touch Cheese, cause she's with us now. Let's get this started."
"One more thing... don't get near Vackles or his guys to get info on what he might have against Rasyan."
>"Why not?"
"I'm paying you guys enough not to ask questions, you know?"
>"What? That's bullshit, we - " I shoot him a glare. "Fine, okay, yeah, you're right."

Okay. Next up on the to-do... well, I could use a place to try and get Vackles and Bardo together to kill them, but that's down the line later on.

For now, I should talk to Sir Gauche.
>>
No. 715265 ID: dd338c
File 146024208653.png - (37.94KB , 800x800 , 388.png )
715265

I head to the diner.

"Psst." I say through the wall.
>"Hmph, damn stains never got out of this wood." the owner says through the wall.
"Rot cleans stains, at least." I say, giving the return pass phrase.
>"Cheese. Make it quick, the town guard's been up everyone in the Yellow District's asses. Asking if we've seen you. What in the emperor's name did you do?"
"Ohhhhhh not as much as you'd think actually. Um... I want to speak with Sir Gauche."
>"You'd better bring something good to him. He won't like seeing you under these circumstances."

Damn, a gift.

And not just like a lump of gold actually. Gauche is actually okay with his finances and he wants something more personal, but I know him like... not at all. Not as a person.

And I was never good at gifts anyway.
>>
No. 715266 ID: 211d83

Well what sort of noble is he? What business does he run and do you remember him having any hobbies?

You want to think of something he would like after looking at what he gets up to all day.
>>
No. 715267 ID: bb78f2

>>715265
Ask wall dude if he knows what Gauche might like?
>>
No. 715268 ID: 3a8567

Maybe the magic dagger? That's a lot less hot than the swords.
>>
No. 715269 ID: 02422f

>>715265
Your robe is showing tears. You might need a new one before meeting with a noble.

>a gift
Quick, tell us everything you know about him. Sketch us a character portrait, and we'll think of a gift based on that.
>>
No. 715275 ID: 6b555a

A proper gift, or just "bring something good"? Because info on Rasyan's death is still something good, since Yortle's the only one you told and he got offed. You can bring Rasyan's dagger as proof, and as an extra gift if his reaction to just the info isn't good. If he asks you can say you know where the sword that goes with it is but you don't have it (but if he's interested, you could say you could get it for him, for a price).

Oh, or the medallion. Did you actually hand over Rasyan's medallion that time with him, or were you just arranging to do it later?
>>
No. 715278 ID: dd338c
File 146024614245.png - (40.59KB , 800x800 , 389.png )
715278

"Um... any ideas about a gift?"
>"Just something thoughtful. Sorry, I'm no good at gifts."

Wow that is not even a little help.

>Maybe the magic dagger? That's a lot less hot than the swords.
That's actually just a shorter sword, and the enchantment is the hot thing more than the material.

I mean I could show the dagger to Gauche and maybe even gift it but that is a hell of a dangerous thing, both for him and I mean I dunno if I can trust Gauche fully. More than the kids, less than Fen, at least until I can get a better idea from meeting him.

And his Seal... I handed all the seals over to Yortle to hand them to the Smelter. They're gone.

Gauche doesn't really run a normal business so much as is the district manager. He's kind of... one of the nicer nobles, actually, or at least the more patient ones, especially considering a lot of the townspeople blame him for Yellow District being one of the shittiest places around even though that really isn't the case. Others like him because he does personally step in before things get too bad.

Mostly he lives and let lives, and just keeps enough funds to himself for rainy days.

He likes... his family, seeing things go smoothly, and just chilling out. He's also one of the least ambitious nobles. So I'm not sure if information on big trouble is really a gift to him.

That's about all I know.

Ahh, even though I'm trying to protect my clothing, it's still getting ripped up through the tunnels.

For looks, um he's a field kobold, and, uh... well, kind of young looking considering his age but still kind of has a knowledgeable look about him. Has a few scars that he never got fixed up. Uh... hm. Nothing really notable lookswise other than that.
>>
No. 715285 ID: 02422f

>>715278
If he's not an ambitious troublemaker, giving him a hot magic dagger doesn't seem like a good gift.

>He likes... his family, seeing things go smoothly, and just chilling out.
If he's a family man, maybe something for his family would be a good gift? (Assuming your relationship is good enough he wouldn't take you referencing his family as an implicit threat).

Not sure what kind of luxury items medieval kobolds would bring home to their families though. A box of assorted treats? A nice chess board (or whatever this universe's equivalent would be), or some other game he can play with his kids, or his kids can use? Some kind of nice model? (Although you don't really have time to get something custom made).
>>
No. 715291 ID: 3a8567

He seems sort of lackadaisical. Maybe something novel, like a food he's never eaten or some kind of novelty from a far off place?
>>
No. 715292 ID: 211d83

So a Family man who is good with the locals and seems like he cares about his people then?

Bottle of wine is a standard gift. Something for his kids maybe. Box of candy or toys or something.

Field kobolds have fur right? So maybe a nice brush?
>>
No. 715293 ID: bb78f2

>>715278
You could give a toy for one of his kids. Strikes right for the father strings. Or maybe give him some trimmers for his field kobold fur. Engraved with a pun, like The UnGauchener, you know, because his name means messy and... you get it.
>>
No. 715294 ID: dd338c
File 146024867770.png - (67.16KB , 800x800 , 390.png )
715294

"How about a Kimankara set?"
>"Keep your voice down. I can hear you fine. That'll be fine, even if he's not a warlord."
"A lot of nobles play it, it's just a game."
>"Go for it."
"Okay... will I meet in the usual spot?"
>"Yeah. And Cheese... not to say you're not welcome here, but you shouldn't come back unless it's an emergency."
"I understand."

I go down and get the kids to buy a Kimankara set. A good one, since he probably already had like 10. Oh but I shouldn't like... compete with the predecessor gifts. Ahhh maybe it wasn't a good gift idea.

The kid comes up to me with a set, though. Ohh maybe I'll send them back out to get a bottle of wine and treats for the family and toys for the kids all from an exotic land I mean I have the money for all this now. A brush? Oh no that's like telling him he's gotta get his hygiene game up.

And my robe. I can get another robe. But there's no way they can find me a robe that's actually gonna fit. I should try to clean myself up at least, but I have to decide if I'm gonna show up to... a noble in either a ridiculously bad-fitting set of clean clothes or my torn up smelly dirty but fitting robe.
>>
No. 715296 ID: 02422f

>>715294
Aren't robes relatively easy to make?

How long would it take to just have a tailor make one that actually fit your measurements if you paid them to rush / do it immediately.
>>
No. 715297 ID: 0a94cb

The Kimankara set is fine.

From what we know of the guy, he's fairly chill and oversees a shitty part of town, and given the ruckus surrounding Cheese and all, it's possible the ruined digs could serve as an asset in at least credibility terms. Oh, but maybe looking like you're in too much trouble will make him not want to stick his neck out even a little because he thinks Cheese is boned?

I can see it either way; dirty smelly clothe sell that Cheese is not just messing around while ill-fitting clothes might make her look like not quite taking the (presumed) severity of her situation serious enough, but the dirty clothes could make her seem like she doesn't take a meeting with a noble seriously enough that she's actually willing to put in the effort to keep good on whatever deal they work out!
>>
No. 715298 ID: 6b555a

Maybe you can get a tailor to patch up your existing robe, but... disguise the patches? Like make them look like they're part of the design? Like if they used (faux) gold thread and balanced them out and added a couple of little things I think a sort of deliberate patchwork chic might actually suit you, maybe.
>>
No. 715299 ID: 3a8567

It depends on the image you want to project. Do you want to be scared, on the run Cheese or In-control Cheese. Which would be more beneficial?
>>
No. 715312 ID: 211d83

Get the kids your measurements and send them to a nice tailor to get a good set of clothes. Then have a nice bag to put them in so you don't ruin them crawling around.

This is the day you start working in the big leagues Cheese. A good good spy can deal with nobles and the lowest criminals alike.

Sometimes it will be best to be crawling around here in the dirt. And other times you want to dress up nice and be pretty.

Just think about showing it off to Fen later. All fancy in your cute dress with Fen at your side. That's what you have to look forward to if you pull this all off.
>>
No. 715325 ID: dd338c
File 146025464105.png - (53.74KB , 800x800 , 391.png )
715325

Ohh, there's a good side and bad side to each of the clothing issues, and...

"Um, hey, wait... you kids. You're probably pretty good at sewing up bad clothes, right?"
>"Yeah. We'll sew you up for a copper and clean you up for another."
"Yeah. Yeah, that'll work. Um, I have to go someplace else by crawling, so I've got to get clean there to not just stay dirty."

We crawl over, and a couple kids start sewing my robe together. It won't be a professional job, but it's better than nothing, and better than me trying. And I can clean myself mostly, but the kids want their copper so they're quick and aggressive to help me and then charge for it. I'm okay with that. It's kinda weird but I'm just so exhausted and could use a little rest.

Having kobolds sew up and patch my clothes and get me cleaned up down here lets me pretend to be the noble of the trash district off to a formal business meeting.

>"Ew geez I pushed too hard and her tail just made a weird squelch!" one of the kids on my tail says.
>"Shuuuut up Gin she's nice!" And has money, I know, I know.

Well there goes that illusion. At least they got that kink out of my tail.

Once they're done, I'll look like a on the run Cheese that isn't totally fucked and cared slightly about not getting dirt on his floorboards.

I really would like a good robe sometime. I almost wanted to just have the kids take my measurements and run off, but that's, uh, risky, cause it's already unusual to see kids like these making big purchases, and the measurements just scream 'weird body cave kobold.'
>>
No. 715334 ID: dd338c
File 146025527334.png - (32.37KB , 800x800 , 392.png )
715334

I crawl up through the tunnel where I'm expected, and I'm led to see Sir Gauche. He's sitting on his wooden throne. I look down, of course, while he looks right at me.

"Greetings, Sir Gauche."
>"You look more of a worm than the last time I saw you."
"S-sorry to put the sight of me in front of you, sir."
>"Oh, no, no. Worms feed the birds and keep the soil soft. Disgusting or not, they should be celebrated for what they can and do accomplish. And you are a particularly chubby worm that has a knack for upturning wagons and wagons of dirt. Watch where you track your dirt and what birds feed off of you, and you'll be welcome here. What is that in your hands?"
"It's, a K-Kimankara set. It's carved from Goldyard stone, and it's relatively new, sir."

A servant comes and takes it from me, opens it, inspects it for a long time, before handing it to Sir Gauche.

>"This a good gift." It just occurred to me that I didn't even say it was a gift and he just sort of assumed it was and took it right from me. Well I mean he was right so no harm there haha and it's not like I could stop him from taking it from me even if I said it was mine.

>"Thank you..."
"... Cheese."
>"Hm? What?"
"Oh, um, I thought you were asking for my name."
>"Your name was Cheese, wasn't it? That is a name from inner circles of Erja Nokol, that is to say, ones that operate without the emperor's blessing. In walls such as these," he says, gesturing to the tapestry of various empirical murals and designs, "You would be best to not go by that name. Here, you are the kobold that lives in the den of information. That's enough preaching from me to you. Dare I hope that this visit was simply to show your goodwill towards me, and my continued allowance for you to use my district as a local hideaway?"
"I wouldn't dream of wasting your time on my own frivolities, Sir."
>"Showing your respect and dedication is not a frivolity. Choose a good time, and you are welcome to simply express yourself. But, so be it, if it's business at hand, proceed to tell me."

Being nice is relative.

And calling me a worm helped me put on a serious face. A face that does not look at those feet and laugh. I will die if I laugh at his feet. They are so tiny compared to the rest of him.
>>
No. 715337 ID: 211d83

When you look at him just remember that you have more money and more influence then he does. And you have several of the most dangerous people in the empire who would kill anyone you pointed at if you asked.

Next time you meet with a noble remember that most of them notice appearances above all else. So right now it would be best that they keep underestimating you. But one day soon you will want to start showing up dressed up nicely with your own guards and fancy things.

Anyways you don't want to give him any specifics because if you say Vackles is after you it would be bad. This is more of a social call to let him know that things could get messy soon so he does not get burned.

Tell him that you have recently come into some info that a mess is brewing in town. Several nobles are acting oddly and things will be coming to a head in the next few days. You want him to know about it in advance so he can keep clear of whatever might happen.

If he asks for more info give him a few of the rumors you started.
>>
No. 715339 ID: 3a8567

So you want to control the flow of information here and try to decide what's best for him to know. From what I can tell from this small interaction this guy wants what's 'best' for the city and not necessarily himself. Not much ambition but he likes things to keep running smoothly. If you cast Vackles as a person who will impede this process in your story he may be more likely to be on your side.

You also have to decide what it is exactly you want out of this meeting. Someone who could put in a good word for you at the right time, a hiding spot, etc.
>>
No. 715340 ID: 02422f

>>715334
Man, he sure is effeminate looking. That face, the dress, the way he's sitting with crossed legs and one arm crocked up like that, and the dainty feet. All he's missing are the chesitcles, which as a field kobold, he could have actually had.

>what do
You're here, ostensibly, to pass on a warning. Gotta prime him against Vackles.
>>
No. 715344 ID: dd338c
File 146025927064.png - (13.70KB , 800x800 , 293.png )
715344

I be safe and stare at the ground.

Even if I'm technically richer then him, even if I know people stronger than his best soldiers and people with more influence than him, right now, he's the one who the empire teaches cannot be looked at by the likes of me. He's the one that can end me right here, right now, just by snapping his fingers to the guards and pointing at me.

"I wanted to warn you that the town, uh, it has a bit of a mess brewing at the moment. Some nobles are acting oddly - the town guard has been on high alert, for instance - and I wanted you to know so you could steer clear of it."
>"Yes?"
"Well... there's just rumors and gossip so far, but the ones that make sense together, it sounds like Lord Vackles is attempting to strengthen his rights and security measures on the merchants."
>"Hm? I've been informed that the town guard does appear to be on high alert, investigating wagons and all that extensively. There's even been town guard in this district, where they hardly ever stray."
"What for?"
>"Apparently, they feel that you may have information on someone they're looking for. A delicate matter, they say. Do you know anything about that, or anyone so dangerous to the town enough to be worth this activity?"
>>
No. 715351 ID: 211d83

I am just a simple information merchant. It would depend on who they were looking for. If they sent word and asked I would gladly point them in the right direction if I knew anything.

But if someone insisted on trying to hunt me down directly I could only assume it was to try and get some dangerous information out of me. The sort of information that is so dangerous that saying it aloud would get the listeners killed.

I can honestly say that I know of no current events that might harm the people of the town. But there might be a influx of nobles over the next few days.
>>
No. 715357 ID: bb78f2

>>715344
It's a delicate matter because that THING they think I have is information. Information they don't want found out. Yackles personally killed Yortles for it, and he is terminating all of Yortles contacts and information buyers to ensure its secrecy.

It isn't just me he's after, Yortles has had contact and dealings with two other mutants in the area as well, though the specifics of them are unknown, so he is hunting for ALL mutants in the city. I had feared that perhaps Yortles may have had failsafes to spread this information upon his death, which means this info COULD have also come to you, due to your influence in the region. This means that, once the mutants in the town have been taken care of, he will begin work on clean up in the shadows.

I had only purchased simple investment advice from Yortles, but I will refrain from sharing what I have bought from the broker without your permission, since this advice appears to somehow be hot, despite its seeming innocence.
>>
No. 715363 ID: dd338c
File 146026138374.png - (26.49KB , 800x800 , 394.png )
715363

"I'm just an information merchant, so I know lots of people, but I'd have to know what they were looking for to be much else." Until I get a better idea of Gauche's wants and trustworthiness, the less people who know about my siblings, the better. "I'd gladly point the town guard in the right direction if I knew anything, but if someone insisted on trying to hunt me down directly, I'd assume it's to get dangerous information. And that kind of information, Sir, is too dangerous to say aloud here. Vackles killed Yortles just hours ago, and considering his own soldiers were outside, I doubt that's much of a rumor and more just fact. It might be speculation, but he might be trying to find one of Yortle's people."
>"Nothing so dramatic, girl. It doesn't sound like the guard is trying very hard, as it's just been a few guards asking around. Colleague Vackles is not so subtle, and if he felt you were a threat to him and wished you harm, I imagine the search would be far more intense. Yortle, I vaguely recall the name, and I've come to associate it with scum, and so I doubt Colleague Vackles was out of place in murdering him. In any case, you say you could point the guard in the right direction if you did know? One of those guards is just nearby. If you wait just a moment, I can have someone fetch them."
>>
No. 715366 ID: 0a94cb

Interesting. So he's saying that the threat to Cheese isn't as big as she thinks, and is using the threat of a guard to get Cheese to be more forthright, which implies he knows she's holding a lot back.

Doesn't mean we should tell him everything, but it's pretty clear he wants SOMETHING more to keep this meeting rolling. I'm drawing a blank though.

I don't know if mentioning Fen at all is a good idea, given the context the direction of the conversation is going.
>>
No. 715367 ID: 211d83

I would gladly answer there questions if you brought one over. That being said would I have your guarantee of safety? I do not believe that Vackles has my best interest at heart. If he really wanted info from me he could have easily contacted me personally. Sending out guards to rile the town seems excessive.

That and if you were seen with me and protected me then word would quickly get out that I was working with you. Which is fine with me but I would not want to tarnish your reputation.
>>
No. 715368 ID: 02422f

The only way his bringing in the guard goes well for you is if you ask what they want to know from you and the guard can't or won't say, because Vackles wants to keep that secret. That will make Gauche suspicious.

One thing you could say, is that if Lord Vackles was aware of what you knew, or what you planned to say, his men searching for you in Lord Gauche's district could have been an attempt to intercept you before this meeting to take place. Which, if anything, lends credence to your warning.
>>
No. 715371 ID: 4546ab

Well some minor info is what the guards might be publicly saying.

But having listened in on a conversation or two I know that they are trying to hunt me down personally. I may have witnessed Vackles doing something that he would rather keep quiet. So if the guards knew where I am I could not be sure of my safety.

I will tell you more but only if you want to get involved. If you want to stay out of this mess it would be easier if you stayed in the dark.

This might be a good place to set up the Vackles killing Rasyan rumor. You can admit to meeting Rasyan to exchange info and then say after leaving you saw Vackles ambush Rasyan and kill him. You escaped but not before he saw your big purple tail disappearing down a hole.
>>
No. 715372 ID: dd338c
File 146026529718.png - (15.40KB , 800x800 , 395.png )
715372

"Er, I'd gladly answer there questions, but they could have just found me in the streets or otherwise approached me, not bother your district. Since I don't know what exactly they're after, and since it sounds more like they're hunting me down... can you guarantee my safety?"
>"Bloodshed does not suit this room at all." Servant, bring in the guard.

Oh thanks Gauche for not promising to prevent them from dragging me out of this room to stab me.

"Sir Gauche, I apologize for the intrusion. I was hoping to speak to Cheese."
>"Go on, then, she can hear you just fine."
>"Cheese, please come with me." the guard says.
"Um I'd rather just answer stuff here."
>"By the rights of the guard, you must."
>"By what rights of the guard?" Gauche asks.
>"Erm. I apologize, Sir Gauche. The town guard would wish to speak to Cheese."
>"And? Have I not given you permission to do so, not one moment ago?"
>"I- I was hoping to do so in private, Sir! It's a delicate affair."
>"You intrude on our meeting, and wish to bring her away without so much as asking?!"
>"Sorry! I'm sorry, Sir Gauche!"
>"Go on, then! Speak to her! Ask her what you may!"
>"I...I - Cheese, after you speak to Sir Gauche, may I bring you back with us for questioning?"
"Um... no. Don't you trust Sir Gauche?"
>"It's, er, under Lord Vackles - "
>"Colleague Vackle's orders are superceded by me in my own home and district, Guard. If you're to pull her away against her will, show me by what law of the fence she is breaching, otherwise she is welcome to stay here.

There's a long pause.

>"We have reason to suspect she has contraband, sir."
>>
No. 715374 ID: dd338c
File 146026548241.png - (16.66KB , 800x800 , 396.png )
715374

>"Well go on then, guard, let us reap the benefits to the town's taxes and 'donations'. Search her, unless she has something to hide after all?"

My weird lumpy body's a pretty good thing to hide.
>>
No. 715377 ID: 211d83

You just have some copper and silver on you right now. So put your arms up and look embarrassed. Make sure you look offended if they get to grabby like a proper lady would.

Ask what sort of contraband they are looking for exactly.

What would be contraband anyways? Drugs? Weapons?
>>
No. 715379 ID: 02422f

>>715374
Spread your arms and present yourself for a search. Use weird body to make the guard uncomfortable.

I'm not in the possession of any contraband, my Lord.

While he's searching you, try pressing the guard for more information. What are they looking for? Where did they get their information about it?

Every question that you ask, that the guard can't answer, will make Gauche more suspicious that Vackles is up to something, and had his guards looking for you, for reasons other than he was told.
>>
No. 715381 ID: 92a560

>>715379
Include sounds to add additional awkwardness

Plus if you somehow rip your clothes from the search you might be able to request something else to wear/compensation
>>
No. 715388 ID: dd338c
File 146026778780.png - (30.83KB , 800x800 , 397.png )
715388

I gotta look all embarrased and offended for this. Which is easy. Cause I am!

It's embarrasing! There's like 5 people here watching me get stripped down! And he's being thorough. He presses on my tail and it makes another weird squelch and everyone looks at me all funny!

"Wha - Wh- What are you looking for?!"
>"It's... I don't know."
>"I'm curious, guard." says Gauche. "You don't know what you're looking for and you can't tell why you're looking. Or perhaps you can say what tipped you off to the idea of this Cheese having contraband?"
>"I'm sorry, Sir Gauche, but I truly don't know! I've only been told to apprehend any Erja Nokol mutants, because they have dangerous contraband. I do doubt that she would carry such a thing on her, especially towards a meeting to one such as yourself."
>"So Lord Vackles himself is being vague to the guard? Hm. You may leave, guard. This cave kobold doesn't appear to hold anything but loose change, rags, and a pathetic appearance. And I don't blame her, for being heckled over nothing. And nothing is what you brought in here, aside from a waste of time and making a a girl uncomfortable."

The guard leaves.

>"Now, cave kobold." says Gauche. "As a useful information merchant, I'm sure you can tell me what contraband Lord Vackles thinks you have?"

If I'm going to pin the swords on Vackles, this is a good time, unless I can think up something else.
>>
No. 715392 ID: f562b1

>I'm sure you can tell me what contraband Lord Vackles thinks you have?
Well, while you don't want to admit to it being dragoncloth, you can at least say it was given to you to sell in fair game and that Vackles is just trying to steal it, but you still need something to claim it is if you do say that, and anything you're trying to pin on him wouldn't fit that.

Claiming you located and confiscated enchanted swords after hearing the rumor about him killing Rasyan could both explain what the "contraband" is and why he isn't telling the guards, so I'd say go for that. "Plant" it by having it in your confiscation pockets.
>>
No. 715396 ID: 6b555a

Rasyan's belongings are good. They're valuable, proof of his death, and an implication of serious wrongdoing to anyone who possesses them.

Here's a story we could weave: Vackles is, somehow, involved with Rasyan's death. His medallion and swords were being brought to him as evidence of the deed, but along the way, EITHER someone was careless and some casual thief, knowing only that they looked valuable, nabbed them and ran off, OR the assassin got scared of being disposed of after the job was done and tried to bug out. When they tried to fence the stuff they realized how hot it was and got scared. The medallion came to you and then went to Yortle to melt down, and Vackles tracked that to him, hence his death. Now he's looking for the swords.

Of course, you're not going to lay this out as a whole story. Rather, it's the string of fictional events you're going to base your deception on.

So you say something like: "Ok, but... it's a bit of a story, and I don't know everything, and most of what I do know is uncertain, but one bit I do know, because I held some of the evidence in my own hands, and saw more. Rasyan, the gold noble of Pocktown, is dead. Killed by assassins, I think, and his belongings came here as evidence of his death. But, some time after they were brought here, something happened, either a thief somehow got them or the assassin tried to get rid of them. That person, I don't know which they were, or maybe a proxy they hired, they got me to meet them. I took Rasyan's medallion but told them the swords were too hot, and then I gave the medallion to Yortle to send to the smelter. Then... I don't know, I came back later and Yortle was dead, and Vackles was telling the guards to look for a mutant with contraband but not telling them what it is. I... think Vackles thinks I have the swords, too, or maybe information on the person who had them. I don't! Though... well, if I had a way to get rid of them quickly, and some resources, I might be able to change that. Maybe."

Then, hopefully, Gauche will think for himself on why Vackles might want to secretly get rid of evidence of Rasyan's death, or track down the person selling it. And if he investigates and uncovers things like "Cheese left town recently and then came back", or "mutants were involved in Rasyan's death", it all links back to the story.

And if it turns out he wants the swords, you can sell them to him.
>>
No. 715401 ID: 211d83

I might have material evidence that he killed another noble. If you want to know more it might be best to talk in private.

You could give him the story of you meeting Rasyan and Vackles ambushing him but then you snuck away with his swords but Vackles saw your tail as you crawled away.

Tell him that you have already lost several bodyguards to this and have only managed to escape with your life due to luck and there efforts. You have gotten word out to some of your other noble friends but are currently in hiding.



The problem with telling him this is it could interfere in any possible plans to pit Bardo against Vackles. Would have to figure out another plan to deal with Bardo then.
>>
No. 715431 ID: 961fb9

Maybe you can pretend that Vackles was going to fence the swords through Yortle, and he also tried to melt the seals to cover his tracks. It went bad and you happened to be there and managed to escape with the swords.
>>
No. 715449 ID: 2c695b

It's important to make it sound like you don't have all the information, and are out of your depth, which you are a bit. If you come off confused about some things it's less likely they will tie it back to you as the source.
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No. 715538 ID: dd338c
File 146031698235.png - (34.55KB , 800x800 , 398.png )
715538

"Oookay.... okay. You know Lord Rasyan?... I mean of course you know Lord Rasyan. Er, is it okay to speak here?"
>"I would trust my life to the nobles, worm. Go on."
"He's dead."

I wait for his expression to drop a bit. Then I give up, because it doesn't.

"I don't know who did it or where exactly, but his belongings came here as evidence of his death, right? So Lord Vackles went to Yortles to get rid of it all. The seal would have gone to the one known as the Smelter probably. Yortle, well... the swords may have been something he bit off that he couldn't chew. So Yortles wanted me to fence the swords instead. Maybe Lord Vackles realized that later and didn't like it, or maybe Yortles messed up in some other way, and, well, Lord Vackles killed him, I just don't know!"
>"...You have Rasyan's swords, if I gather that correctly?"
"Y-yes. I do. I think Vackles thought I was going to come back to Yortles, but, I found out about the mishap, and I don't think he knew I was going to be tough to find."
>"Hm... I take it not many know of Rasyan's swords, otherwise the town would be boiling over from word or rumors of his death. This explains why all those birds flying around out there are so reluctant to explain why they're interested in pecking at you. Why, and how, someone like Colleague Vackles would..."

He trails off and starts thinking for a long time. It's kind of an uncomfortable length of time to go without anyone saying anything, and the whole place is dead quiet until he finally breaks the silence again.

>"So if I understand this... you are supposed to fence swords, but Colleague Vackles did not approve you as someone to deal with this, and so you fear that you cannot simply return the swords without being killed."
"Yes... he probably thinks I did the same thing as stealing them or something!"
>"Is that really all, then? Give me the swords as well as a list of people who may know about the swords, and I will give them, discreetly, to Colleague Vackles in return for a finder's fee as well as a promise to let you leave town unscathed. You may also stay here for a time, if you feel too unsafe while I deal with this mess."
>>
No. 715545 ID: 1cebc8

Give him HALF. If the paycheck is good enough he could simply kill you with one of Rasyan's blades and throw you in an alley somewhere.

He can then sell off the other half when he's proven himself trustworthy enough to give you the profits and an escort. In any case, increasing the number of transactions should increase the number of opportunists looking for the second transaction.
>>
No. 715549 ID: b412df

Risky, but if Gauche gives the swords to Vackles, it makes one of the rumours true. At the same time it kinda reveals our plan to him, might not matter if the rumours have enough momentum though.
>>
No. 715558 ID: 02422f

>>715538
Hmm. Less than perfect. This gets the swords to Vackles (and he can't really deny searching for your contraband, and if he wants nothing to do with the swords, it'll make Gauche think he's lying out of guilt), but you're beholden to and vulnerable to Gauche in the meanwhile.

Also, if Gauche helps with this, he's less suspicious / upset about Vackle's potential involvement in a noble's death than complicit. Once Vackles has the swords, we need to make sure word reaches the local stone or gold noble who will be suitably displeased with Vackles. He needs to be caught red handed by someone who will care.

>what do
Agree to fetch the swords and deliver them to Gauche's men at a prepicked safe location.

>You may also stay here for a time, if you feel too unsafe while I deal with this mess.
Thank him for the consideration, but you don't wish to be a further imposition. With the resolution of the mess in good hands, you believe you will be adequately safe.

The real reason is you don't want to be in his hands if/when this goes sideways, and you need room to play other angles.

Also, we need to GTFO now that one of Vackle's men has your location. He's going to be rushing to report, getting reinforcements and/or setting an ambush right now. They're going to want to gnab you as soon as you leave Gauche, so you need to get clear.
>>
No. 715591 ID: dd338c
File 146032501320.png - (14.35KB , 800x800 , 399.png )
715591

"Oh, no no no, thank you for the offer, but I wouldn't want to impose! I'll, uh, I'll fetch the swords."

Geez I'd be nervous about giving him both swords since then Gauche could consider me useless and activate his murder-privileges, but I think I can bypass that by just dropping the swords off in a drop zone. And he really wouldn't like it if I only gave him a single sword.

But with that said, Sir Gauche may really like my display of trust if I personally deliver the swords rather than setting up drop zone to avoid a meeting like that. But I dunno if I should have that display of trust! And if I do a dead drop, I can either let Sir Gauche know right here where it's going to be or, if I'm really paranoid, I'd find someone trustworthy-ish to deliver the location to Sir Gauche after I'm long gone. Or something like that.
>>
No. 715594 ID: 4ea8f6

Personally deliver the swords but see if you can set up a quick escape route through the tunnels. The problem is you want them to be ignorant of the tunnels, so...
>>
No. 715616 ID: 02422f

>>715591
Okay. If the dilemma is "should you risk a display of trust to try and gain favor" the real question is "what do you stand to gain from Gauche's favor?"

Our goal is to contain information on the dragoncloth by doing away with Vackles. Getting the swords to him is one step in a frame job leading to that. So long as Gauche handles that for you, what else do you need him for?

I'd go for the dead drop. Vackles will probably have his people watching Gacuhe's, now that he knows you're working with him. Even if Gauche doesn't betray you, a second meeting would likely lead them right to you.

A more worrisome problem, to my mind, is what's the next step after the swords. One the swords are planted on Vackles, that's only phase 1 of a frame up. Phase 2 is we need to arrange so someone who will be angry / upset about that catches him with the hot merchandise.
>>
No. 715623 ID: 90f3c0

The town guard just witnessed your meeting with Gauche. Even if you think you can trust Gauche, chances are Vackles will be watching him now. Tell Gauche you fear an ambush from Vackles, and feel arranging a dead drop would be a smarter move.
>>
No. 715625 ID: 211d83

Well this does make a mess of things because we originally did not want to get Gauche up to his neck in things. But having him involved does give a overlay of legitimacy to things as they unfold.

And while he seems ok for a noble he is still sort of a asshole. So if he ends up dead whatever. All making you get strip searched and having people poke your lumps.

It would have been nice to properly fence the swords and get a nice lump of gold but its probably for the best that we get them as far away from us as possible before Rayson's death goes public. If Fen can't use them then its better to be safe then sorry.

Vackles is going to be confused as hell though. Suddenly Gauche will come to him with swords he had never seen and try to force him to leave you alone. Vackles can not say anything about the dragoncloth because he will suddenly suspect that it might have been a code word or that he just fell into one of your schemes. But I doubt it will get him to give up on you. He knows there are other mutants around and who knows exactly what else about your meeting.

Honestly our biggest hope in all of this is that we might be able to get Bardo into town and make a chance at his life. At that point you could probably ignore Vackles because you would be debt free and sitting on a mountain of money.


Anyways why not tell Gauche how you usually do drop offs in spy land. Say that if the streets were not crawling with Vackles men you would just come back here and drop them off. But right now its hard for you to move in the open easily. And that guard will be running to Vackles right now to let him know that you are here. Which will make it very hard for you to get the swords and get back here safely. While it would be nice to show trust in Gauche if we cant even make it back here with the swords what is the point.
>>
No. 715628 ID: b2db3f

For a frame job we are not going in a ideal direction but are at least laying a nice groundwork. We have put a seed into Gauches mind about Raysons murder and now he will somewhat confront Vackles about it. If you could get in good with Gauche you might be able to convince him to let you spy on the meeting with Vackles.

But for a frame job you need more. Who deals with noble on noble crime? Even if you could prove one of them killed another who would dispense justice?

Think we could get the bodies here somehow? Say tell the body people where Rayson and his double is and have them go see if he is still there and retrieve his corpse? Then maybe hide the body somewhere and leak the info so it looks like he died in town.

The smelter is a different entity than Yortle right? Think its worth a stop to check if the seals got smelted yet? You also have Raysons clothes. Might want to save those bits of evidence in case Bardo comes here.

Right now will have to just keep causing a mess and hoping that a opening emerges for you to use. Which will hopefully result in Vackles coming out into the open and Bardo running here with just his guards.


For the sword drop off I would go for better safe than sorry. Gauche can probably be trusted but with Vackles guard knowing you are here I am not sure you can get to Gauche to drop off the swords in a normal fashion. Let Gauche know that.
>>
No. 715638 ID: 6b555a

I think giving them over personally is a good idea. You've been demonstrating to Gauche that you are a good information and goods dealer, and this deal is you forming a good relationship with him. If he's dumb enough to not see how you can continue being useful, he wouldn't have held on to his position. Showing trust will also help prevent him second-guessing you later, when Vackle starts acting weird.

Vackle is going to be in a tight spot, since if Gauche shows up going "here's your contraband buddy your problem's all solved", he'll sound like he's lying if he denies it, and if he accepts it he'll have to stop or look like he's insulting Gauche. But we want Gauche to have as little reason to think again about your motives as possible, Cheese, and you acting trusting will help with that. If you try to keep your distance then Gauche will wonder if there's a particular reason why.

... Though really I still think you should have gone with the "I don't have the swords but I could get them" version of the story.
>>
No. 715644 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715591
Trust no one outside the family.
>>
No. 715728 ID: dd338c
File 146034629441.png - (64.10KB , 800x800 , 400.png )
715728

"I'd like to deliver it to you directly, but that guard is, um, probably going to report this encounter to Lord Vackles, and I just don't think it'd be safe or reliable for me to try and come back."
>"Hrm." he sounds disappointed, but at least not mad. I hope I'm not making the bad choice, but even if Gauche was trustworthy, it's possible Vackles' guys know how to cut me off on the way back.
"I'll get a message to you telling where I dropped the swords off at. Um... if you want to contact me about anything, just talk to the usual diner."
>"Yes, yes."

I bow, and say my goodbyes, before going back to the tunnels.

I know of a good location for a dead drop, so I get those swords and wrap them up and put them in an abandoned building that probably won't fall over in the next few hours. The bigger decision.. I don't know who to entrust with the message. I guess there's a few choices.

A) Just start getting Fen to do everything for me forever
B) The kids. Maybe not the best decision, but they're so convenient and ubiquitous!
C) Chance going back to the diner

There's delivery services and stuff in town, but I can't just go up to some newspaper man and say 'yes I need this plopped on a noble's lap pronto'.
>>
No. 715735 ID: 02422f

>>715728
This seems way to sensitive to contract out. And there's delicious irony in having Fen deliver the swords to the drop.

...the biggest drawback is if any noble agents see him make the drop and make his face. If you and Fen are going to publicly pretend to be enemies, you can't be seen cooperating on something like this.

What have your siblings been up to while you've been doing this? They don't seem the type to stay still for long.

Who are you gonna try to have catch Vackles with the swords to set the frame up and ruin him? The local stone noble, or someone higher or...?
>>
No. 715738 ID: 211d83

Fen is the best option for any messages that are vital to get delivered. He is your most trusted contact with the outside world. But would be best to only use him for the most important jobs.

Even with his fake feud with you it should not be a problem. That has not really gotten off the ground yet so people should not be confused to see him working with you.

So give the message to Fen to deliver and if they ask him why he is delivering it have him say some kids handed him a package and it had a note in it and a silver. And the note said if he dropped this off Cheese would make things right with him.

So if need be can still have the feud but make it look like you are trying to mend fences with him. And if they do not ask he can just be some guy who dropped off the message.
>>
No. 715740 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715728
A is right out. That would establish a clear connection between you and Fen.

B is... possible.

C is probably a bad idea, because you were outright told not to come back unless it was an emergency. Which it's not.

So we gotta go with B. Just have it be a sealed note and tell them if they peek the person who they deliver it to will probably kill them. If it's not delivered at all you'll find out and you'll probably kill them. Lastly, if it's delivered successfully you'll find out and pay them an additional amount.

What I'm saying is watch the dead drop location and make sure it's only approached by Gauche's men.
>>
No. 715743 ID: 91ee5f

>>715728
Can't rely on Fen to bail you out forever. And once he's in the army, he won't be able to bail you out. So you're going to have to think of something else to do and find someway to fend for yourself for awhile.
>>
No. 715746 ID: 4546ab

As useful as Fen is you need to get him moving out of town soon. He has a message to deliver to Bardo and stuff to get done. Unless you are waiting for his army info before he leaves.

I would make a nice heavily sealed wax message and give it to the kids. Tell them where it is going and to not mess around cause its going to Gauche. Once you confirm safe delivery then they will get a small bonus. Make sure to keep the bonus's small so they do not get greedy.

If you are paranoid have it be a double dead drop. Have the first message point to another message with the swords location that you can watch over from a distance. If the wrong people show up to find it you move out and hide the swords.
>>
No. 715750 ID: 02422f

If you're sending a message, can you at least use a code or cipher the messenger won't be able to read, but you can reasonably expect the recipient can?
>>
No. 715754 ID: dd338c
File 146035119923.png - (68.19KB , 800x800 , 401.png )
715754

Okay, I can't rely on Fen. In fact it was only recently that I even met him! I know I can do better than this, I've lasted this long and been in a lot of bad situations. Just gotta think of a good thing...

Like encrypting the letter.

I mean, I don't have an encryption that I know Gauche would understand, but what I can do is deliver two letters with different kids. One for explaining the encryption, one for the letter itself! It'll be a little awkward when he gets them one at a time, but I'll have them signed clearly, so it shouldn't mess things up.

I go back to my hideout.

"How are you two doing?" I ask Cabbage and Tomato.
>"Oh, patiently. Tomato is sleeping, so do let him have his rest. Can we cook down here?"
"Uehhh.. I wish, but smoke might rise up and... kids usually don't come down this far, but if they do, they might see the activity.
>"Mm... perhaps we'll cook in the night with a low flame, then, if we need to, but we will just eat those vegetables you brought. Ah, we are far from home, but this region does have the best food. Are you tired, Cheese? You sound sloggish."
"I am, but I have to keep going."

It won't take long at all to write up these two letters even with encryption.

Am I forgetting something? I think I might be playing a waiting game and seeing what happens after I deliver these letters, unless there was something pressing I have to do.

It feels like I can do better than wait around, but usually I know of safe contacts to go to. The Fence is... a lot more dangerous for me than it was a day ago.
>>
No. 715761 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715754
IIRC the army opportunity information gathering thing was for a later date, since you can just send him messages even when he's in the army.

Hmmm, you could start a rumor or rumors that one of the merchants is sheltering mutants. Have the guards kick in doors due to false information, and Lord Vackles will start to get negative attention. It'll also cause him to distrust rumors about mutants. Could slow him down at a crucial time.
>>
No. 715768 ID: f562b1

>Are you tired, Cheese? You sound sloggish.
Oh, how I envy them. Yes, they are the sort to resort to fighting, but they don't have to worry about the troubles of subterfuge; it's easier for them to get their sleep.
By the way, is she placing emphasis onto words like "tired"?
>It feels like I can do better than wait around, but usually I know of safe contacts to go to. The Fence is... a lot more dangerous for me than it was a day ago.
You also usually aren't dealing in the kind of item that Nobles kill each other over. Dragoncloth is such a hot item that if you were to compare it to color heats in metaphor, you probably wouldn't even have a color to assign it it's so hot.
>>
No. 715769 ID: 02422f

>Am I forgetting something? I think I might be playing a waiting game and seeing what happens after I deliver these letters, unless there was something pressing I have to do.
Do you need to lay the groundwork for the higher up noble who you're framing Vackles for? If no one discovers him with the swords and does something about it, you've given them to hi for nothing.

Didn't you tell Fen to have the crows meet you somewhere? Don't you need to show up yourself to see if a crow shows?
>>
No. 715777 ID: 91ee5f

>>715769
The only place to meet the crows is outside of town and Cheese can't leave town because the guards are looking for her. Unless it starts raining and/or there's fog in the city, Cheese can't go meet the crows.
>>
No. 715792 ID: 5ad4a7

I just thought of something that might kick us in the ass later- Cabbage signing up for the arena.

Better ask her if she's planning on that. Try to persuade her not to, if so, because if that happens won't it likely result in either her or Fen dying? Oh speaking of her vs Fen, as her what she was going to say before the spy interrupted her.
>>
No. 715814 ID: 91ee5f

>>715792
When did Cabbage say that she signed up for the arena? I don't think she'd be allowed to anyways because everyone's racist to mutants.

But, yeah that's a good question. What was she going to say before we got interrupted?
>>
No. 715834 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715814
She didn't, I was saying she might, and to ask if she was going to.
>>
No. 715867 ID: 02422f

>>715814
Mutants not allowed in the arena? I doubt it. Now that mutants and abominations have been introduced you just know that at least of one Fen's opponents will end up being some kind of horrific combat-centric mutant.

One short short term goal might be Fen sparing with Cabbage. If we can convince her to have a fight where no one gets killed that might be real instructive for him, and maybe his first fight in a while against someone who outclasses him. (Although it looks like Fen might be leaving too soon for this to happen).
>>
No. 715892 ID: 211d83

Give Cabbage a hug first.

Ok before you send Fen out make sure he has the money to pay back his bow and traveling money for the trip. Give him any messages you want to get to Bardo and the crows. Possibly set up a dead drop for the Crows to leave you a copy of Rayson's documents. Having those could help later.

In your message to Bardo or if you meet him do not let him know about your plan to repay him. Unless its vital keep that debt until the last minute. Honestly do not pay it off anytime soon unless needed. Would be better to have Fen or your family off him and have a pile of starter money for your new life. As long as you are in debt to him you are worth protecting. Once the debt is paid he no longer is invested in you nearly as much.

Find out from Cabbage where they left the body doubles corpse. And ask Fen for exactly where Raysons body was left. Might be a long shot but having the body guys go out and try to find them to bring them back here would give you more evidence. Make sure to be extra careful with this one if you try it.

Is the smelter a place or a individual? Might be worth it to check and see if the seals are melted yet. Is another loose end that should be closed up.

Get some kids or someone to buy you some fancy red cloth you can use as a long distance dragoncloth decoy just in case. Would make a excellent distraction for Vackles and can always be made into a cape for Fen later if you want.

Start finding abandoned houses that meet the requirements for assassination meetings. If you can get Vackles or Bardo to meet you at some point you need to plan in advance for killing them.

Find out how Cabbage and Tomato got involved with Cati. And what there plans are for after this current mess is finished. They more than anyone can help you track the dragoncloth later and would probably be fine helping Fen kill Cati for it.

Get yourself a nice dress. Might come in handy if you want to make a proper noble visit later on. You will get a much different reaction if you show up nicely dressed.
>>
No. 715910 ID: 91ee5f

>>715892
Cheese just finished saying that she can't rely on Fen, so she's not going to be sending him anywhere.
>>
No. 715917 ID: 211d83

>>715910

I meant when he was going to leave town to head to the army. On the way to the recruitment center he was going to drop off a letter to Bardo and tell the crows what is up.
>>
No. 715934 ID: dd338c
File 146042980043.png - (17.73KB , 800x800 , 402.png )
715934

>By the way, is she placing emphasis onto words like "tired"?
She does that.

"Hey. Cabbage." I give her a hug.
>"Hmm?"
"Uh, random thought, but you're not planning on joining this year's tournament, are you?"
>"Of course not. I'm flattered you think so strongly of me, but I'm not invincible, dear sister. I doubt I would reach the last day. What brought this on?"
"Oh, just wondering, since Fen thought of joining that after getting more experience in the army."
>"Oh? You are investing a lot of energy into such a high risk. I thought we established I was stronger than him?"
"Well... wait, weren't you about to say something before that spy interrupted?"
>"Mm? Oh, yes, just that I do prefer to be stronger than the people around you, if worst comes to worst."
"Oh, haha. Well, the only time I want you fighting Fen is if it's for sparring practice!"
>"I've never done sparring before. I'd hate for an accident to happen."
"Well, I know some of the bigger abominations get into the tournaments now and then."
>"Yes, and they're all so different than me. I don't believe any abomination has ever actually won a yearly, though?"
"True. It's the only one they're allowed at where they're not there as slaves or something." Some arenas hold abominations as tourist attractions to see the brutality of abominations, which is lame, cause they're made to fight to the death, so of course they'd fight hard. The yearly dragon tournament allows anyone, though. Mutants, foreigners, non-kobolds, as long as it can fill out the entry form, it can participate.
>"How are things progressing for you?"
"I'm... as good as they can be, I guess. I've got to find a way to frame Vackles for Rasyan's death. It's a shame I lost those seals for no reason after I gave them to a smelter."
>"Can you not visit the smelter?"
"No, it... it's a secret place even from me. I only got it to the smelter through a contact, but I have no idea where, or who, the smelter is. By the way, how did you get involved with Cati?"
>"The same old reason as ever. Some nobles do appreciate a functional abomination like us, and we have little choice but to oblige when they request our services. It isn't as though our local nobles would care to keep us, after all."
"Yeah. So after this mess, or when you kill Cati, are you both going back home?"
"Hoooopefully, yes, alongside Mustard."
"Oh! Where'd you drop Rasyan's body double?"
>"Ahhh, that. Yes. He died of a fever. But his corpse appeared diseased after his death. They burned him."

Well there goes any possibility of bring it back here.

>"Ah... it's no harm to light a candle, is it? Tomato could use the warmth."
"Oh, sure, go ahead! - "

er

" - I mean - "

scythe hands

"I'll go and do it."
>"Thank you, sister."
>>
No. 715935 ID: dd338c
File 146042981582.png - (58.25KB , 800x800 , 403.png )
715935

Arg, I had Fen go away from the inn since our faces were seen together there.

I didn't have a good location off hand for him, so I said to leave messages at the diner. For all I know, he is at the diner until he leaves tonight if he's done at the Lost Meal. Only then can I get in contact with the crows, but it wouldn't matter. It's not foggy at all out there right now, so they couldn't come anywhere close to town. The church bell is a good dead drop zone, though, if they can get to me.

Even if it's just to give Fen the recommendation of which army mission to take so I can keep track of where he goes off to, I have to see him at least once more. Later on I may have to make another visit to the diner. I guess it's risky, but short of running into him somehow, that's how I've got to do it.

>Write letter to Bardo
I mean I could, but I told Fen that if Bardo asked about his relationship with me, to basically talk about how I scammed him and stuff. So it'd be weird to have Fen also deliver him a letter while talking trash. Shit I hope I have that right.

Okay, for now. For now, I should do a little shopping. Maybe a dress because I look really bad and awful and I hate looking that way in front of important people. Even if it's a little risky since my measurements scream fat cave kobold. And then... a fine red cloth that can pretend at being dragoncloth.

Getting good stuff like that will cost me like 50 silver off the bat especially if I have a tailor speed it up. And it's tough because I've got to find people to do my shopping.

Maybe if it's all in the same trip though, I should think up other items I might need so I don't have to make special trips later.

I'm hesitant to use the kids for that, but I don't have any good alternatives, and I can also gather any information they've collected so far.
>>
No. 715936 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715935
>measurements
What if you had the dress ordered in a different size, then cut it to fit? Could you, for instance, pass for the top half of a mountain kobold? Or some other type? You can just cut the sleeves shorter, and the hem, and the neck can be cut bigger.

You might want to get a little sleep while things develop.
>>
No. 715937 ID: 1cebc8

D'aw, Tomato looks cute when he's sleeping.

> Buy a fake Dragoncloth
Great idea, it won't fool most inspectors at close range, but at medium range almost any spy wouldn't really tell the difference! You might need a few materials for the extra shine though.

Bonus points if you look like you're spoiling it in front of them, then they'll panic.

> Trick Gauche
At this point, you don't have any evidence.

So just use what's left of Rasyan's hired thugs, lure them to cause chaos near his rivals. Use the decoy cloth for maximal effect.
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No. 715971 ID: dd338c
File 146043957634.png - (94.98KB , 800x800 , 404.png )
715971

There's a chance that Rasyan's people up north might try searching for the real Rasyan down south, actually, and if I can draw them into town... that might make things happen. They're expecting him up north around now at Graskin, but they may already be sending people south once he's not found.

I go up to the kids and start doing business. Geez I might have to somehow break some gold if I keep this spending up, but I hope it's going to slow down some.

First up is getting false-measurements off me! I know the basics of tailoring and it might not be perfect, but I can alter my measurements to make it look more like a mountain kobold, and then cut it when I get the real thing.

Then I send the kids out for the fake-dragoncloth and the dress. I hope they don't rip me off.

>"Hey, Cheese." Gravel comes scrambling under some tunnel to talk to me. "Shit. Wish I never grew up. I might need help getting back up."
"Are you okay?"
>"Yeah. Untie that coin pouch girl, 'cause we got info."

He starts describing the three different army campaigns that are most likely to occur soon.

>"First up is the necromancer. You might know of it. The Mausoleum of Erja Nokol."
"Haha well it's not like I'd ever be allowed anywhere close. I don't know much about it."
>"Well you know about the sinking dirt, right? You can't have structures for long cause everything there just sinks into the dirt. It's pretty rough at the mausoleum site. Like a foot sinks in a week. So they just keep building the mausoleum up higher and higher to constantly look like a two to three foot ceiling, and keep on throwing in corpses. By this point, people estimate that the whole system is nearly two miles deep if the bottom levels haven't collapsed."
"Is that a lot?"
>"For an underground tower? Goddamn right it is! And there's a shitton of creatures on each floor, and it's basically confirmed that there's been some unearthly moaning and screaming when builders go too low. Not a lot of mutants get buried in that place, but it's been said that undead can get mutated, too, and don't even suffer the same health issues a lot of live ones do. So if there's a team of necromancers down there, it might cause huge problems since the lower portions haven't been looked at in decades. Oh, and legend has it that the mausoleum was originally built by forest kobolds back before they all bit the dust, and the place was used to house first generation foresters."
"I thought the empire destroyed their corpses?" Shit this doesn't sound good for Fen at all. That's too easy to just throw him in to die. Plus, Erja Nokol used to be a forest, but when all the forest kobolds died off completely, the whole land got fucked up and that's why I'm fucked up.
>"A noble said they did. They probably didn't actually bother. Next up, Poluputus. They've been downplaying the problem of the bandits, making it look like they're just regular bandits. But they attacked the mithril noble of Poluputus and won, but of course the noble would never admit to it. Anyways, even if they aren't a huge force, they're like the wind. They descend from the upper mountains to attack people from overpasses, and then ascend back to the upper mountains practically as fast as they descended. Dunno what they want out of it, but apparently, it's not actually mountain kobolds. I mean, they're included, too, but apparently it's mostly a bunch of gnolls that wanted to pick on the little guys."

Okay gnolls aren't much better than weird dead mutant monsters from the depths, and might actually be as bad when they're fighting on their home turf.

>"Last up is the northern deadland island. Fishers that really go out there say that they can actually see some large structures that have started cropping up on the island. So actually, it's not just some pirate operation, it's actually a whole new kingdom that doesn't want anything to do with the empire."
"They gotta have wizards to live off dead land, though. Did you hear anything about that?"
>"Not directly, but I tell you what. A couple of the several archwizards have been somewhat outspoken about their disapproval of the empire lately. They haven't been seen in awhile. People thought maybe they were killed off, but now it looks like that new kingdom's been having a lot of magical support. Coincidence? Yeah probably, but you never know. Anyway, they're so close to the western continent, that they've been able to do a lot of trade with the outsiders there. So worst case, the dragon army has to deal with a very well funded, double-archwizard backed kingdom if the signs point right. Oh, and apparently southern crafted ships have been seen coming and going to that island too from the outer stretches of the known ocean."

That is also possibly bad. I'll talk it over with Fen, but one's gotta be chosen.

Choose one of the above campaigns for Fen to go on.
>>
No. 715972 ID: f562b1

Okay, Fen managed to take out a magic-using Gold noble, but that's got nothing on archwizards or gnolls that can attack a Mythril and win. It sounds like his best odds are the necromancers; there, at least, he's got corners and walls to his advantage.
>>
No. 715975 ID: 5ad4a7

>>715971
What happened with the forest kobolds, anyway? Why were they hunted, and what did they look like? Are first-generation kobolds important?

I say go with the devil you know. You know about Erja Nokol, so send him there with advice on what it's like and what to expect in terms of mutations.
>>
No. 715979 ID: 91ee5f

>>715971
Yeah, so far Erja Nokol is sounding like Fen's best bet. Unfortunately, it also means he's risking picking up a few mutations of his own and from what we've heard, the odds of him getting a bad mutation are much higher than getting a good mutation. But this is Fen we're talking about here! He's beaten the odds before, so maybe he'll get lucky and get something good?

Anyways, let's pay like we promised we would and if Gravel is stuck, let's help him get unstuck.
>>
No. 715980 ID: 91ee5f

>>715979
Also, when we tell Fen, we should be honest and tell him he might mutate when he goes.
>>
No. 715985 ID: bb78f2

>>715971
I prefer the archwizard island campaign.

Sounds like standard warfare, much more manageable, and no risk of mutations for Fen. He's doing this for love, remember? Would SUCK if his mutations made him unpleasant to Lily. I dislike the idea of fighting in mountains. We're going to be on the front lines, which means we're NOT going to end up contributing to battle plans, so we can't play tactics to help us along, so Fen's at a higher risk.

This new country popping up sounds ALMOST like what Zizi pulled off, I mean, I guess archwizards aren't Dragon Knights, but ARCHWIZARDS.
>>
No. 715992 ID: cd1ce0

>>715971
Let's avoid the mutant campaign. Archwizards or gnolls sound safer.
>>
No. 715996 ID: c4b7c5

All of these are dangerous, but danger was accepted as part of the mission briefing, as it were. Fen has accepted the danger. That given, what we should look for is the one that'll help him most if he does survive, and the archwizard island looks like that to me.

The bandits are just bandits even if they're a threat, and the necromancy sounds like something that'll be hushed up by the nobles whatever way it goes, but the island fiasco sounds like something that'll be big. High-profile, lots of glory and glamour, names being spoken far and wide. And it'll probably have the widest variety of opponents for Fen, with wizards and their underlings and foreigners added in, which will make him more survivable in the tournament afterwards.
>>
No. 715999 ID: 825b5d

The Tower sounds like it would be the most impressive to solve. After that it would be the burgeoning Kingdom, even if it doesn't have a Dragon Knight. It depends on the information they let get out.

My vote is for the Necromancer personally. Thought the way that problem sounds we may be able to deal with it after one of the others.
>>
No. 716006 ID: 738934

Hmm I am thinking the Necromancers or the Wizard island has the most potential for glory. Plus Fen needs experience fighting against magical opponents.

If he goes to the Necromancer tower you would have the home court advantage in advising him. While you have not personally been there you know the area and risks involved in adventuring in Erja Nokol.

A few questions though. What is the mutation chance for adults? Is Fen fine as long as he does not go rolling in mud? Also Fen's tribe seems to be resistant to the affects of greater beast mutations. Any idea how that happens? He gets a lot of looks for having white eyes when 99% of barbarians from down south have the yellow glow from the forest.

You mentioned the lowest layers of the grave are Forest Kobold relics. Is that good or bad? Would a undead forest Kobold be really bad news? Or might there be a chance at sweet ancient magical graverobbing?

As for the island wizards. So how do mages make due in deadlands? Do they just have to go around enchanting everything to keep the rot away? Also Cabbage said that the southern empire might be supporting the island. Is that the sort of thing that would get the mission hushed up after the fact? Or would Fen be paraded through the streets for having struck a blow against the horrible southerners?
>>
No. 716008 ID: b6178d

>>715971

Succeeding in Erja Nokol will garner Fen respect from anyone who has any actual clue what the place is like.

Success in the Poluputus campaign might earn us the gratitude of an actual mithril noble.

Northern deadland islands sounds like the most well-funded/organized threat of the three, so prestige in general is probably going to be the highest in performing well there... although I suspect Fen will have more competition overall for that particular campaign.

I'd say Erja Nokol, but that's mostly because it sounds the most interesting of the three.

Question, though. Is success in any of these three places liable to earn Fen a noble position within the local area, or is it randomly decided where those ennobled get their domain?
>>
No. 716019 ID: 91ee5f

What's with this talk of earning glory and all that? Fen's not looking for any of that! He's looking for a mission that he can get done as fast as possible because he's trying to become a noble before Shup's wedding! We don't need to send him on a mission that'll get him famous, we need to send him on a mission that he can complete quickly!
>>
No. 716037 ID: 595d54

>>716019
Guess what lets you become a noble, mate?

Archwizard island sounds most useful.
>>
No. 716050 ID: c4b7c5

... I guess if there's a limit on the number of nobles, or if the land needs X amount of nobles to function, then the mission that would get the most existing nobles killed would be the one that opens up slots for promotions. Presumably, the archwizards are all nobles who still technically hold their titles. If they all get killed, or exposed so that they get their titles taken, then a bunch of other loyalist nobles would get upwardly mobile, others would get moved up to replace them, and so on to create space for new nobles at the bottom, so more noble titles would be given out than normal. And if Fen was responsible for those promotions then he'd have their good will.

I'd wonder if killing a bunch of nobles would earn Fen some enmity from the rest, but, the way we've seen things going, nobles don't really care about each other that much, only to keep up appearances of their superiority. Once Fen demonstrated himself to be noble material they likely wouldn't care much more about him than they would any fresh-raised noble.
>>
No. 716054 ID: 02422f

>pick a mission
Personally, I'd favor the necromancers. Getting into the mysteries of Erja Nokol sounds good, and it's maybe a chance to meet more mutants, or earn favor / respect from their faction.

The wizards on their island are interesting, but if Fen is going to come to power by opposing the status quo in the empire, I don't think we want to bump them off. Defected mages are useful leverage in politics, and long term we might even want them as allies!

>Are first-generation kobolds important?
Yes. The first generation of a new type of kobold to emerge after a great beast is slain are immortal. (Of the elf-style "live forever until slain" variety). The dragon knight Zizi killed was one.
>>
No. 716058 ID: 91ee5f

>>716037
Well, Fen's original plan was to buy his way into becoming a noble with the money he wins in the arena after he left the army. So to answer your question: money let's you become a noble. But I guess having a good reputation is another way of doing it. I still think we should get a mission that's quick to finish like Fen wanted.
>>
No. 716061 ID: dd338c
File 146050046940.png - (12.07KB , 800x800 , 405.png )
716061

Thinking it over...

>What happened with the forest kobolds, anyway?
During the formation of the empire, they got hunted down to extinction because they were enemies of the empire and because people are assholes like that.

>What did they look like
I dunno! I've seen murals of them. They looked lightweight and kinda wiry.

>Are first-generation kobolds important?
So, leading theory is that there's really only thing that differentiates 1st gen and every other generation. They got their soul directly from the greater beast. Everyone else got their soul from their parents making love or just sex. A soul from a great beast is regarded as "perfect" which gives them a couple benefits.

Like a lot better magic on average. I mean archwizards are better than most first generation kobolds sure, but just about every first generation kobold is a wizard to some degree.

And just better strength and health, supposedly because a kobold body is highly tied to the quality of the soul.

In fact that's why it's called a "perfect" soul, because first generation kobolds are immortal. That's why dragon knights are still alive. Well, that, and unlike the other kobolds, they're the wons who won the first generation war and killed every other first gen, as far as anyone knows. It's basically assumed there's a good chance there's a first gen oceanic kobold hanging out in the ocean or something.

>Is there a chance Fen would mutate?
Oh, no, the passive mutation is only while growing up. Sometimes adults get little signs of it but only over years of staying there. Er, unless he fell into a tar pit. Which there's a chance of if he goes so far underground with poorly maintained structures, but it takes more than a little splatter of tar to mutate. He'd have to dunk himself in and just stay there.

>Any idea how [Fen is resistant to greater beast mutations]?
Nope. There's enough variances that it's not like that's an amazing conundrum, it's just that white eyes stand out since people that aren't me like to make eye contact.

>You mentioned the lowest layers of the grave are Forest Kobold relics. Is that good or bad? Would a undead forest Kobold be really bad news?
A forest kobold normally isn't a big deal, but I don't know how nasty the undead versions would be, let alone if there's undead first gens.

>Or might there be a chance at sweet ancient magical graverobbing?
There'd be a chance but I mean even if there was, I wouldn't trust magic from something miles under Erja Nokol that's been sitting there for ages.

>So how do mages make due in deadlands? Do they just have to go around enchanting everything to keep the rot away?
Sorta. They actually enchant the air and the ground around them. It's easier to enchant big objects than small ones per pound - that is, it might take 2 times the work to enchant a big house than it might to enchant a tiny shack. As long as it's all one big connected item like the ground or the air. They'd still have trouble probably with individual foreign items though, but that's why they may get western armor and weapons. That stuff doesn't go bad for so many years it's ridiculous.

>Also Cabbage said that the southern empire might be supporting the island. Is that the sort of thing that would get the mission hushed up after the fact? Or would Fen be paraded through the streets for having struck a blow against the horrible southerners?
Oh, the latter. There's a small truce to not fight on the mainland, but in the ocean and lands beyond it's basically a full war, and the north empire will be happy to say that they beat up the southerners.

>Is success in any of these three places liable to earn Fen a noble position within the local area, or is it randomly decided where those ennobled get their domain?
As a wood noble, Fen can probably go wherever he wants. But he may want to choose a place where he has the most friends, so if he doesn't do bad things, it may be where he goes to fight with the army.

I mean even if a place was full of wood nobles, it's not like wood nobles usually last more than a couple years before they get killed. Sorta like what I hope happens here!

>Mission that's quick to finish
Really hard to tell even if I knew more about each area. Each one could be over in a few days, or it might be drawn out for months.

Anyways I'm still giving this decision some thought.
>>
No. 716187 ID: 91ee5f

>>716061
After you make your decision, whatever it is, you should pay the children for their services like you promised. And help Gravel get unstuck.
>>
No. 716297 ID: dd338c
File 146058691703.png - (99.10KB , 800x800 , 406.png )
716297

I'll tell Fen to go to Erja Nokol. I know how to get contacts and eyes on the place.

"Thanks, Gravel. Also, I need a letter delivered to Sir Gauche."
>"Hm? Directly to him?"
"Yes, he's expecting a letter from me. Have the delivery boy get a receipt confirming they got the letter. Then I'll pay 1 silver and 2 copper to you."
>"Then we've got a deal."

I hand him the first, encrypted letter to Gauche, with some writing at the bottom saying await further instruction. Which is just a way of holding onto it until I can get him the encrypted portion, since I don't want to hand them both over at the same time.

Gravel then explains how all the rumors are doing. It sounds like the rumor about Vackles' intent to give the merchants a tougher time isn't spreading like wildfire except where it counts - the merchant ring, which is visibly looking exasperated about this whole thing.
>>
No. 716298 ID: dd338c
File 146058692530.png - (63.20KB , 1200x486 , 407.png )
716298

>"We caught a couple big rumors too that cropped up. First, people are catching on that someone's got something of Lord Vackles. Some say it's a big item, some say it's someone who knows a big dirty secret of his. Another's that Lord Warfield is upset with Lord Vackles. That much is pretty obvious and taken as truth, but the things Warfield said and is gonna do about it is all rumor and hearsay so far.
>Another thing. Apparently Lord Vackles hired on a couple of bounty hunters to start looking for this 'someone'. That's not a rumor by the way, we found that out."
"What? I didn't think you were trying to find out what Vackles was doing."
>"Look, you want us digging up dirt on what he might have against Lord Rasyan? We're going to find some nuggets. Speaking of that, though. Looks like Rasyan's merchants had special, no-questions-asked privileges from the town guard. Supposedly Lord Vackles signed that agreement himself, but we dunno as much about that."

I keep shoving appropriate copper and silver at him for all this information anyway.
>>
No. 716305 ID: 02422f

>swords rumor seen as heresy
You need to arrange for someone credible to see somehow see it when Vackles gets them.

The fact the "Warfiled is upset" rumor and the "someone has something important to Vackles" rumors are accepted mean they could hybridize if you provide proof.

>Looks like Rasyan's merchants had special, no-questions-asked privileges from the town guard.
This should make it easier to believe something went south between Vackles and Raysan. Goes to possible motive.

>bounty hunters
Might need to take preemptive action against them. Set a trap, use murder-siblings to take them out?
>>
No. 716311 ID: 211d83

The bounty hunters sound like bad news. If Fen could find you quickly they can to. I can see two ways to deal with them. First you can set up a trap where they "find" you and then Cabbage and Tomato eat them. Or secondly you can try to lure them into a more complicated trap out in the open so people start talking about how Vackles is hiring assassins.

The sword rumor needs a push and having someone reputable around to witness some sword hand offs would help. Just have to be careful it does not hurt Gauche in the process.

The special merchant thing with Vackles and Rasyan makes a great motive. You can start a rumor that Rasyan was using his special merchant privileges to ship contraband through town. Once the sword rumor takes off with people will think that Vackles wanted a bigger cut of Rasyan's illegal business and when Rasyan said no they fought and Rasyan got killed. Now Vackles is scrambling to sweep the mess under the rug before Warfield gets evidence of his crimes.

Tell him you might have some info on the swords sighting if they can get a witness there.
>>
No. 716348 ID: dd338c
File 146059881398.png - (54.49KB , 800x800 , 408.png )
716348

"Okay, start a rumor that Rasyan was using his special merchant privileges to ship contraband through town."
>"Considering that he was, that'll be easy. Ah, we still want to get paid.

To pass some time to let things settle and information to flow, I head to check out some places I think may be good for things like traps, assassinations, and so on.

I think... that I could have someone reputable witnessing Gauche getting the swords. Or better rather, witness Gauche handing the swords to Vackles. I just don't know who I could get to do that and reliably not hurt Gauche at the same time since then, well, I don't know how that would get interpreted. But it wouldn't be good for Gauche. Uh, but it might be good for me. I'd have to, um... it would be kind of a light backstabbing to Gauche. I could though.

Then there's those bounty hunters... I can use a pretty good spot to get Tomato and Cabbage to get to and lay out an ambush. The tricky part though is to leak information that leads to just the bounty hunters going after me. If I just let it slip to the whole town that I'm hiding out under some building, I'd be more likely that the town guard would get wind of it first and hunt me themselves.

I can't think right because I keep feeling like I'm being followed.
>>
No. 716354 ID: 5ad4a7

>>716348
If you feel like you're being followed, and you know bounty hunters are active, then you probably ARE being followed. Which means they want to find the other mutants before making a move, and are hoping you'll lead them to them.

Is that light above and behind you? Don't look at the source. If the light follows you then that's your tail. You need to lead them into an ambush obviously but you have to do that without becoming the first one to die. Maybe... go back towards where Cabbage and Tomato are, then make a mad dash towards them once it gets really dark? Get some distance between you and whoever's following you, and you can alert Cabbage so she can take out the hunter without getting caught yourself.

I'm not sure how you can get someone to witness Gauche picking up the swords without them assuming that Gauche was responsible for the swords being around at all. I mean, how are you going to stick the blame on Vackles when Gauche is the only one seen with them?
>>
No. 716355 ID: 211d83

The best way to leak your location would be to pay one of the more trustworthy kids to "betray" you. Have them approach the bounty hunters and offer to sell them your location. Tell the kids there will be some money in it for them and pick of some of the bounty hunters loot after you have taken care of them.

Make sure to imply that its you who will be taking care of them. Let the kids think you have some secret mutant powers or something instead of knowing your family is here.

I don't think we want someone to witness Gauche getting the swords without the right story. Maybe you want to start the story that someone saw Vackles hiding something and Gauche is tracking down the evidence.

The trick is that you want to connect the swords to Vackles not Gauche. Maybe spread the rumor that Gauche's men saw Vackles men hiding something in the slums and they found the swords?

If you feel like you are being followed go slither through some holes in random directions to throw off any trackers. If they follow you its some of your kids or another cavebold.
>>
No. 716357 ID: 02422f

>light backstabbing of Gauche
That just kind of clouds the waters, though. Gauche being made suspect gives Vackles more reasonable doubt to weasel out of accusations thrown his way. What we really need is for someone to see Vackles with them. After. Which will be tricky, since he won't want that.

>The tricky part though is to leak information that leads to just the bounty hunters going after me.
The trick there is to either carefully give the bounty hunters the information, or put the information in the hands of someone disposable and steer them in front of the bounty hunters to be intercepted, interrogated, and give you up.

>I can't think right because I keep feeling like I'm being followed.
You probably are, then.

What are your options where you can lead them right now?
>>
No. 716523 ID: dd338c
File 146067293787.png - (27.02KB , 800x800 , 409.png )
716523

I'll get one of those kids to 'betray' me and sell the bounty hunters information to where I'm at, then have cabbage lie in wait.

For witnessing Gauche handing off the swords, I'll deal with that later, but gonna lean on no.

I slither down farther into some really tiny tunnels, but I'm definitely hearing some rustling behind me. It's got to be some kid, or less likely, a cave kobold. I can try scurrying faster, but I'm actually really kind of slow when I have to squish through tight spots. Especially since I gotta be careful since it wouldn't be the first time I've gotten stuck.
>>
No. 716527 ID: 02422f

>>716523
I think smart positioning is more important than haste. Lead them to someplace anyone following you is easy to ambush.
>>
No. 716535 ID: 211d83

Slow and steady avoids getting stuck in a tunnel until you starve enough to move again.

Head for a area that opens up suddenly where you can find a rock to bash the head in of anyone following you.

Just don't start bashing until you are sure its not a kid with a message.
>>
No. 716543 ID: dd338c
File 146067598504.png - (109.47KB , 800x800 , 410.png )
716543

They're probably lingering far enough behind, so I climb into a larger spot where I can stand up and wait a minute for them to poke their heads out. Then ambush them.

I hear my follower coming closer.

Another kid startles me as he comes up from the direction I was heading in.

>"I'm taking your money. Don't try to resist, otherwise I'll be taking a dead body's money."
>>
No. 716550 ID: 02422f

>>716543
So this is either two kids working together to rob you (how long have you had this tail? How many routes could you have gone? The longer and the more branches you passed, the less likely they could have coordinated this), or an opportunistic robber and whoever's following you in worse.

How much of a threat to you is a kid with a knife, Cheese? With your weird, rubber skin, I wonder if that knife is even sharp enough or long enough to actually reach anywhere it could do any damage. Heck, you could sit on him.

Simplest solution (if they're not together) would be to bring his attention to the person coming up the other way. Best distraction is an actual interruption. "And will you be splitting the take with your partner, then?" *jerk thumb at the direction he's approaching*

Either distracts the kid long enough for an opening, or sets your two would-be assailants on each other. Or it does nothing, cause they are together. But you lose nothing trying.
>>
No. 716551 ID: 211d83

So where is the bashing rock Cheese? I hope you were not going to take out someone with just your claws.


"Kid does it look like I carry a pile of money with me? I can barely fit through these passageways as it is. Plus if you try and stab me you will just die once you breath in my poison blood fumes so go ahead and try it. All I have to do is scratch you with my creepy purple claws or bleed on you and you die in the worst way possible."

"If you want money I pay good coin for jobs done. Like right now I am being followed by a nasty bounty hunter. If you help me take him out I will reward you."
>>
No. 716552 ID: 825b5d

You don't have most of your money on you so it's not like you'll lose that big if you get robbed. But you also can't give the kid the money (without a plan to get it back quickly anyway) on basic principle.

You might be able to reason it out of the kid, but kids are dumb so that might not help. (If you do you might mention that if he
s/he robs you they themselves are just going to get robbed later)

You can't fight him at all because you are terrible at that.

You could also wait for whoever if following you. It'll either turn out good or bad, but you may be able to leverage that to scare the kid into running.
>>
No. 716555 ID: 4546ab

Are you working with the assassin right behind me? How did you get ahead of me so fast?

Whatever he is paying you I will double it if you help me take him out. As soon as he kills me he will kill you to silence any witnesses.

Try something like this to make the kid worried. Who knows who is behind you but might as well put some doubt into the kids head.
>>
No. 716556 ID: 3cc68c

Kid if you steal from me you get to be the one to explain to the rest of the kids why Cheese is not handing out money for easy work anymore. Because as soon as I tell them what happened you won't have a safe place here anymore.

And if you kill me here you get to explain how you came upon a small pile of blood money right after the nice lady Cheese died. You know the one who pays good money for simple errands and does her best to help out the poor kids in town?

You get to be the one trying to hide a pile of coppers while everyone you know is suddenly out of work. Is that how you want things? Do you think the other kids will not notice you spending that money?

Now the other option is you help me deal with whoever is following me. Then I will owe you a nice reward for the help.

So make your choice.
>>
No. 716557 ID: 5ad4a7

>>716543
How much money would you lose if you just gave it to him?
>>
No. 716561 ID: 02422f

>>716557
Cheese is only carrying 24 Copper and 12 Silver, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the funds she has available.

Losing the money isn't a problem, but if we let the kids think we're an easy mark, or we aren't willing to stand up to them, it will be a lot less convenient to do business down here.
>>
No. 716563 ID: 5ad4a7

>>716561
Well, we could just start carrying a crossbow, or something effective but nonlethal. Like, I don't know, pepper spray.
>>
No. 716564 ID: 586c6e

>>716543

Ok Cheese, I know you're not a fighter, but, I assume you know how to stand a bit of pain by now? So just swing your fat tail at him, he'll stab it reflexively, then you yank it away and there you go, now he has no knife.
>>
No. 716578 ID: 211d83

You know what I changed my mind.

Don't bother talking to the little shit. Just maul him to death in horrible fashion with your teeth and claws in a berserk rage. Then wear his head like a hat and tell the other kids this is what happens when someone tries to mug you while you are having a bad day.

You might get some stab wounds but the scars will make you look tough.

Now if you cant muster up enough anger over how the world has been treating you recently to go berserk this plan might not work that well.
>>
No. 716585 ID: dd338c
File 146068557964.png - (107.34KB , 800x800 , 411.png )
716585

>How much of a threat to you is a kid with a knife, Cheese?
Um, somewhat. A lot of rural adults have to learn that kids from places like the Fence are not harmless. In fact, they try to make up for their inexperience and shortness by just being vicious. And not typically so inexperienced that they'd lose their knife in my tail if I take a swing.

Maybe if I were having a really bad day I'd go berserk and murder him, but... well, first, this isn't that bad of a day, just a kind of stressful one.

And my 'berserk rage' is more like a temper tantrum.

"What, are you taking the split with your partner?"
>"What's it to you?"
>"Uh, kid, you know I'm made of poison right? Like I just have to scratch you once or bleed on you." I don't bother sounding tough since it really sounds like I'm pretending, so my normal voice is best for lying about me being poisonous at all. "I don't even carry much on me, but I can get you some if you help me take care of the person behind me."
>"Hey, Gulls!"

Damnit, they're together. The person behind me pops through. I have my bashing rock but that will probably get me murdered.

>"She wants to 'take care of you!'" the original kid says.
>"U-uh, well, I already have parents."
>".... work on your comebacks, Gull. She says she's extremely poisonous."
>"Is she?"
>"I don't know. Maybe she's lying. Maybe you should go stab her hand a bit and see if her blood is poisonous?"
"Um, are you going to explain to Gravel how you stole or killed me?"

He laughs at me. I grip my bashing rock. Maybe fighting is more of an option by merit of being the only option.

>"If Gravel thinks his gang is better than mine, then he can come right to us!" he says. Apparently not all the kids are that united these days. "I think you're bluffing, anyway. You're not poisonous, that's just an Erja Nokol legend to keep us in bed after dark."
>"Are you going to test that?"
>"Gulls, go test that. Get scratched by her or get her to bleed on you. If you end up fine, she's a liar and we should just stab her. If she 'fesses up and says she's harmless, she can keep her life. Not her money though, that's leaving her no matter what."
>"Um... I don't like this plan." Gulls says.
>"You're out of the gang if you don't. If you don't like that, tell her to admit she's lying."
>"Er..." Gulls faces me. "Are you?"
>>
No. 716590 ID: 02422f

>"Er..." Gulls faces me. "Are you?"
Start leaning towards him, making the goofiest face possible with your squishy skin. Say nothing. Let a tongue slip out, and dribble a little possibly poisonous spit. It's a game of chicken, and if you get weird enough, they're probably gonna crack first.

You're going to pull a pufferfish, here. (or at least, the bluff of one). Puff yourself up, freak them out.
>>
No. 716591 ID: 5ad4a7

Intimidate Gulls by describing Tomato's poison.
>>
No. 716596 ID: 825b5d

Risky plan: Stalk up to the leader kid and spit in his face. If you get him scared then the other kid will just follow his lead.

Blackmail him for an antidote back at your base in exchange for something later. If you act like you have the upper hand then they are more likely to believe it.
>>
No. 716599 ID: 211d83

If there were any fake legends about the mutants of Erja Nokol they would be about us being harmless. Honestly being poisonous is the least of mutations you end up with.

Did you ever wonder why I have purple teeth? They started out white but got dyed that color over time by my venom. Which sucks by the way. It starts dissolving food before I can really enjoy the taste.

You know if I tickle my throat a bit and open my mouth really wide like this sometimes I can spray it a few feet. Then try to look as horrifying as possible while demonstrating.
>>
No. 716612 ID: 18b15e

"Am I lying? Seems you want me to repeat myself. Let me give you some more detail, then. I've seen one guy dying of Erja Nokol poison today. I saw the agony building up behind his eyes, and I saw him slit his own throat rather than suffer the rest of what the poison would do to him. He was a wise man to do it, too, because it would have felt like he was burning from the inside out, and the death would come from him literally falling apart. I was the one who made that happen. Maybe you've even heard about that by now, because I had to leave that guy behind, with two dead buddies of his beside him, courtesy of a friend I had with me. I'd rather not see that happen to a kid, but, that's up to you. So, Gulls, the question you need to ask is: if you're in a gang who's happy to put you in line to an agonizing death anyway, what worse can they threaten you with? And what are you getting from them? Not any kind of protection, that's for sure."

Then turn it around on the other kid.

"How old is your gang, anyway? Gotta be pretty new, if I haven't heard of you yet. Not gonna last very long, you treat your members like this. You guys don't know anything about running a gang, do you? Sounds to me like there's lots you don't know. Maybe you want to think for a minute about how, maybe, the stuff you don't know includes why a mutant like me, who's been doing business around here for probably as long as you've been alive, goes crawling around like she doesn't have to worry about stuff like this? Maybe because anyone with any wits has actually paid attention to those "legends"?"
>>
No. 716672 ID: f562b1

>"You're out of the gang if you don't. If you don't like that, tell her to admit she's lying."
Wow, why would anybody want to be in a gang that just tells them to commit suicide? If the "Boss" wants to test you for a bluff, he can test it himself.
>>
No. 717296 ID: 5ad4a7

Wait a minute we're going about this all wrong! Instead of bluffing, let's make REAL threats.

Ask them what they think is going to happen after they rob you. Do they think they're going to get away with it? You're Cheese! You know people that could get at them, and the funds to pay for it. You could have their families robbed or killed, their entire gang of kids wiped out, pretty much anything you wanted to do to them in revenge. And no, you're not even cut off from your contacts right now with the town guard on high alert. They are not safe from your wrath. They should just cut their losses and leave.
>>
No. 717298 ID: f461c5

>>717296
But that just makes them stab you.
Really it might be better to leave that unsaid and put pressure on this gang later so that people know they cant just mug you.
>>
No. 717329 ID: bb78f2

>>716585
Gulls, are you going that? I'm sorry, but I don't like the thought of dead kids, but that's not going to give me reason enough to hand you my money. Stab me and die yourself, and this guy gets ALL the money, or B. Take over your "friends" gang because YOUR the one with the knife, not him.

Whatever I have, it's not enough to die for. He's asking you to die for him, what a shitty leader. You don't need this gang. Not if YOUR the one good with the knife. Make your OWN gang. A tougher gang. Better than his. Better than this SHIT deal, right? That makes sense.

Also, knives, not so good at killing targets bigger and more trained that you. I know self defense on TOP of the poison. You have to to be a good info broker.

While they're fighting, you could ALSO pull the kid behind you down by his head. He's not prepared to resist. You'll have a hostage, then you could EASILY get the knife from the other.
>>
No. 717337 ID: 5ad4a7

>>717298
Well Cheese can just say if they stab her, even worse things will happen to them. She's not working alone.
>>
No. 717405 ID: 92a560

Smile.
Give the biggest creepiest smile you can muster.
Nothing will unnerve fighting kids more than their opponent realizing that their opponents going to enjoy the fight
>>
No. 717670 ID: dd338c
File 146102333647.png - (51.05KB , 800x800 , 412.png )
717670

I've got to play it careful with the threats. If I really overdo it, which isn't hard, they'll just make sure I never make it back. Even if that's not a good idea in general, they're still kids and have really unpredictable judgement.

So I'll keep up the bluff.

"Poison's a pretty bad death, but nothing compared to what'll happen if you do stab me. Are you willing to die for your ringleader, kid?"
>>
No. 717671 ID: dd338c
File 146102337568.png - (62.62KB , 800x800 , 413.png )
717671

Oh my god what is wrong with these kids.

>"Uh... your teeth aren't even sharp." says Gulls, pushing his finger up into my tooth, which would be enough to draw blood if my teeth weren't made for lopsided, vegetarian wolves.
>>
No. 717676 ID: 5ad4a7

You should probably just fork over the cash, then start carrying protection or travel with a bodyguard.
>>
No. 717680 ID: 211d83

Yeah it makes it hurt more when I slowly chew you to death?

Come on guys why are you robbing me of all people? I am worth much more as a friend than a quick cash grab. Its like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. If you steal all my money I can't make more to pay you with for easy jobs.

I am right in the middle of a big mess right now so maybe cut me a break?

Plus I don't want to have to start dragging one of my bodyguards around with me down here.
>>
No. 717681 ID: bb78f2

The thing about Erko Knoll muatations kids, they don't make sense. Except when they do, like mine, but this wouldn't make sense to you since you don't understand evolutionary theory because you don't have a noble's education or a barbarian's experience.

In nature, poisonous blooded herbivore creatures are colorful and don't NEED sharp teeth. Their exotic color, like purple or bright teal, is supposed to be a warning to any creature that would attack them that this animal is poisonous. The thing is, animals that DON'T eat these creatures, like fellow kobolds, would not have the instinct they gained from their ancestor's errors when they tried eating the colorful poisonous animal. Which is how instincts are programmed into speicies, according to evolutionary theory. When ancestors die because they failed at something. The more you know!

Ask your teacher or your local barbarian kids! Poisonous herbivores are colorful. I'm mostly a vegetarian, because my dull teeth really doesn't let me really bite into meat. It makes my canines actually more into molars, unfortunately. I could eat soft, processed meats, because I AM a kobold and still omnivorous, but I still reflect a lot of stuff from nature due to my mutations.
>>
No. 717683 ID: bb78f2

Okay, kids, you're probably not into my science lesson, so tell you what, I will give you a economics lesson instead. I will give you each a few copper as a protection fee. Seriously, ask your parents or whatever father figure you have in the criminal world what a protection fee is, and you'll see what exactly I'm giving to you.

Now, that will prevent you from taking all of MY money, and it's a no risk prospect for the both of you, and NOW I've taught you how to make easy money extorting businesses like how ADULT gangs do it.

Now, when you take protection fees, what you seriously have to consider is TERRITORY control, which you'll need to talk with the other gangs with about. Each gang will have their territory, and each will have protection or transfersal fees. Whatever, call it what you want. This encourages trade AND cooperation, while reaping you all a BUNCH of steady profit.

Isn't that FUN? Money, en masse? FUN!
>>
No. 717684 ID: d5cd65

Heeey, that's his left hand. And we saw his right hand was empty just a second ago... Gulls doesn't have a knife at all! Now I think of it, the other kid didn't talk like he had one, either. He only talked about "us" stabbing you, when he instructed Gulls it was just "get her to bleed on you".

You can grab him and pull him out to use as a shield. Then you can move backwards and slide yourself back into his hole, like you did to retreat from Fen earlier, and just... awkwardly pull him into the hole after you, in a misaligned way that will get him stuck for a few minutes. Or stuff him head-first into the other kid's hole the same way.

Without actual weapons, even you should be able to overpower a kid, right?
>>
No. 717686 ID: a075ba

>>717671
Gnaw gently on his hand. Slobber on it.

>"Uh... your teeth aren't even sharp."
Well yeah, if I had sharp teeth and claws for a defense, I wouldn't need poison. Nature's stingy. It specializes. It only gives out a few edges each.

>what else do
It's embarrassing, but they aren't buying your bluff. You might have to actually hand over the picante of coin you're carrying. (If you do so, claim it's to pay for the tooth-brushing you just received).
>>
No. 717688 ID: 5ad4a7

>>717684
This seems like a good plan. If they only have one knife then we can just run.
>>
No. 717697 ID: a075ba

Oh wait.

If you really want to sell the poison bluff, start describing in graphic detail what Tomato's poison does. Then drop a mention of Yortle's dead bodyguards. The underground kids surely heard about the state those bodies, and how one looked *really* sick, and turned the knife on himself.
>>
No. 717731 ID: 825b5d

Start laughing.

"Wow, that was really dumb, kid. The poisons in my fluids, including saliva. You're gonna die now."

Spit on the other kid if you can reach him.
>>
No. 717781 ID: f461c5

Why have you not beaten the boss kid senseless with your moneybag and offered the other one a job yet?
>>
No. 717785 ID: 93244f

A. Bite down. HARD. Large flat teeth are great for breaking bones. Might start an unwanted fight, though.

B. Retain your bluff. "Poison isn't the same as venom, you know. Don't need sharp teeth to poison someone."

C. Retain your bluff, but try to haggle your way out of the situation. Pretend like you are in a hurry and just want to avoid a couple of deaths (which in a way is kinda true).
>>
No. 717797 ID: 91ee5f

Do this ( >>717731 ) while describing what Tomato's poison does as seen here ( >>717697 ).
>>
No. 717859 ID: cd90cb

*CHOMP*
>>
No. 717893 ID: 93244f

>>717797
Might be a bad idea. We don't want them to think they have nothing to lose.
>>
No. 717894 ID: 87547f

Break down crying. Even the most grizzled of thieves might hesitate when confronted with a sobbing pathetic woman.

Start sobbing while complaining about how now even kids want to rob and kill you and just when things were looking up and you made a new friend it all went wrong. And now you are going to be poor and die in a tunnel somewhere after getting raped and murdered by some kids.

Just be as pathetic as possible and see if you can get them to pity you. Imply they are going to do way worse stuff than just steal from you but why not cause your life is ruined anyway.
>>
No. 717981 ID: 93244f

>>717894
This won't work. Given what we've already done in this situation, they'd catch on that we're faking.
>>
No. 717985 ID: e20159

You gotta play the role of the damsel in distress. Then Fen will swoop in, kill the villains/kids, and take you back to his castle to live happily ever after.

It's what a good boyfriend would do.
>>
No. 718033 ID: 93244f

>>717985
This gives me an idea, actually. What if we play it incredibly sarcastically? Start going "ohhh, look, I'm totally helpless against a couple of children!"
>>
No. 718236 ID: dd338c
File 146128903338.png - (103.04KB , 800x800 , 414.png )
718236

Maybe if the boss kid was in the position of Gulls I could beat him up, but Gulls is in the bad position and he looks weak enough that maybe I could overpower. The boss kid is in a better position and would kill me if I tried to fight him. He'd probably kill me if I made him think he got poisoned, too, so a bluff means I've got to make him try to avoid getting poisoned in the first place.

They're probably cruel enough to just start kicking me if I break down and act as pathetic as I did in front of Fen. And the boss kid obviously doesn't care about Gulls, so I can't use him has a shield.

Okay I'm gonna bluff. I bite down on Gulls' finger while I slobber a bit on it. He yanks back and punches my face with my other hand, and he gets free.
>>
No. 718239 ID: dd338c
File 146128911267.png - (122.37KB , 800x800 , 415.png )
718239

>"Ow!"
"Ahhhhgh! Damnit. You're thinking of venom, kid, administered through fangs! Poison seeps right through. Hey, did you hear what happened over in the blue district? A kobold slit his own throat when he realized what the poison was like!"
>"I dunno about that?" Gulls says.
"Oh. No wonder you don't just do protection fees like real gangs instead of mugging poor girls. Well don't you know that herbivorous wildlife is really colorful when poisonous?"
>"Um... oh yeah... But you didn't bite through my skin!"
"Doesn't matter. Nature doesn't give many edges, so all I got is slobber poison that goes right between scales!"
>"Uh... am I gonna die?"

I'm getting a little scared this isn't going to work at well but maybe I'm committed to the bluff now. If they get all aggressive on me I'm kinda screwed. Gulls looks concerned, but boss kid doesn't. If I'm gonna sell it, this would be a good time to start describing Tomato's poison.
>>
No. 718242 ID: a075ba

>"Uh... am I gonna die?"
If I were you, I'd be running for the nearest place to scrub off and pray you make it in time. If you're quick, you might make it before it soaks through your skin.

Then start describing symptoms. (Start with obvious things that can be attributed to nerves / fear, which he's going to have, and let confirmation bias work for you. Then start describing how tomato's poison progresses and he'll run).
>>
No. 718247 ID: bb78f2

>>718239
Slobber poison has a chance of starting influenza like symptoms, which could be lethal over a matter of days or do nothing at all, depending on the strength of the immune system. It's not technically poison in the saliva, but instead overactive bacteria.

Blood poison creates a colorless, odorless gas on exposure to oxygen which results in Tomato's effects.
>>
No. 718254 ID: dd338c
File 146129274185.png - (105.52KB , 800x800 , 416.png )
718254

"If I were you, I'd be running to the nearest place to scrub it all off and pray you make it in time! If you're lucky, you'll get it all before it soaks through your skin. You'll know it's working when you start breathing heavier, and you'll feel like something's a little wrong in your gut. Before long, it'll start feeling like a bad flu. Headaches, coughing, all that. That's about all you'll feel and still be able to make it in time, because if your skin starts to itch under your scales, it may already be too late! After that, yo-"

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the leader throw a rock he picked up. I don't dodge it.
>>
No. 718256 ID: dd338c
File 146129283056.png - (144.04KB , 800x800 , 417.png )
718256

...... I'm awake.

And alive? Probably. The last thing I remember was something about Tomato. A rock tomato.

I'm pretty sure my money's gone. That's okay. At least that's over with. I think I'm okay.

I mean I can't feel my left leg and it kind of hurts to breathe but I mean I'm okay.

I think I'm going to have to have a talk with Gravel. About how shitty the kids here are.

Or just keep on moving along like always, and get back to whatever it was I was doing.
>>
No. 718257 ID: 15a025

We should totally go rant about how shitty that was.
>>
No. 718258 ID: 5ad4a7

Good job with the bluff guys. JUST FUCKING GIVE THEM THE MONEY NEXT TIME, OR START CARRYING A WEAPON. Even if the stupid-ass bluff worked they would have strongly suspected there was no poison because the kid wouldn't have ANY symptoms.

>>718256
Seek medical attention.
>>
No. 718259 ID: a075ba

>Or just keep on moving along like always, and get back to whatever it was I was doing.
You can't get back to doing what you were doing, since you don't know how long you were out.

You need to regroup, and see what how your plots have fared / fell apart in your absence.
>>
No. 718270 ID: 825b5d

>>718259
This basically, but if you got mugged once you're going to get mugged again. Where do you land on the whole "killing kids who try to kill you" moral quandary? Because trapping fake entrances to your lair would be a good way to to lure the bounty hunters into a trap (kids try to mug you again->Get caught by booby traps->Sell you out instead, hopefully giving them the wrong location.) (I'm assuming you would use Tomatoes Spikes as the booby traps, maybe with signs warning them. They definitely won't believe them now so they'll get caught)

In that case you could probably just write your mugging off as payment for that if you set it up properly.

Either way you need to stay somewhere safe (in your hideout) for a while until you heal. It's mostly a question of how much time you have and whether you have time to just let things play out.
>>
No. 718271 ID: a075ba

Uh, Cheese, you lost the decryption letter. Can you rewrite that from scratch? If Gauche doesn't get that before it's too late (unless it is already too late) that's gonna mess up your plans.
>>
No. 718283 ID: 211d83

You need to have them made a example of. Put out the word that they stole a bunch of money from you and you will reward anyone who brings them to you in chains.

Not because you want them dead but you need to send a message so this does not happen again. Everyone needs to know that messing with you will get them hurt or worse.

If you leave this alone you will have a target on your head. Everywhere you go down here you will have kids trying to earn a quick buck by beating you up.
>>
No. 718288 ID: 825b5d

How long would it take you to build up an immunity to Tomatoes poison?
>>
No. 718301 ID: 3cc68c

You need to talk to your gang of kids and let them know what happened.

Tell them that until those two are taken care of in public fashion you will not be handing out money for easy jobs. Because if you are not safe and getting robbed then they are getting robbed.

And by taken care of you mean brought to you so you can deal with them. Not to kill them necessarily. But you need to put the fear of god into them.

I would say prick them both with Tomatoes spines. Make it look like it was your spines all along and they just got lucky before. Tell them you tried to be nice seeing that they are kids and all but they would not take the hint.

Then let them suffer a bit before you give them the antidote. Just long enough so they take you seriously and spread the word you are not to be messed with.
>>
No. 718302 ID: 4546ab

Teach them what happens to people who mess with you.

Because if you let yourself be walked on its never going to end. Every time you crawl out to do a job some kids will be waiting to try and mug you.

If killing them in public fashion is what it takes then harden your heart and do it. Cause if you go home and tell Cabbage and Tomato what happened they will start with or without your approval. And you can't lie to them about who did this to you.

So you better have a plan if you want to spare those kids. Otherwise your family will deal with them there way.
>>
No. 718321 ID: bb78f2

I hate kids.
We're killing those bastards next time we see them, I don't care how young they are or what their story is, or if they got a cute wittle sister they're taking care of.
They're dead.
If ignorance and stupidity is all it takes to be innocent and pure, I'm a saint.
>>
No. 718332 ID: 91ee5f

Well, those little shits just signed their own death sentence. All we have to do is tell Gravel that a rival gang of kids, with someone named Gulls as one of the members, just stole all of the money that Cheese was going to pay his gang. Then Gravel will go kill them to get back his money and that's the end of that.

Only problem is we don't have time for a gang war, so I'm kinda lost on if we should tell Gravel or not.
>>
No. 718339 ID: 5ad4a7

Oh yeah sure direct your anger at the kids. Did you forget that they're KIDS? Child murder is not something we want to be responsible for! You should be angry at yourselves for being so goddamn stubborn.

When faced with a mugging, and you are unarmed, there isn't really anything you can do about it. Trying to do something about it will just make things worse 90% of the time.
>>
No. 718421 ID: a0b0a1

>>718339
If you're old enough to mug someone you're old enough to be punished for it.
>>
No. 718422 ID: 5ad4a7

>>718421
Punishment for a mugging is jail time, not the death sentence.
>>
No. 718423 ID: 211d83

>>718339

Kids that beat a unarmed lady half to death for a few coins. That would have killed Cheese if she had tried to defend herself.

If we don't deal with them in some fashion its going to be a mistake.
>>
No. 718429 ID: 5ad4a7

>>718423
I agree. Which means we should get them beaten up and/or thrown in jail, not killed.
>>
No. 718528 ID: dd338c
File 146138155499.png - (114.34KB , 800x800 , 418.png )
718528

>How long would it take you to build up an immunity to Tomatoes poison?
At least a week. Maybe. It's kind of just a best guess, for all I know I never did lose the immunity all that much.

Damnit, I lost my decryption letter! Those brats must've thought it might've been valuable or something, but as long as the first letter already got to Gauche, it doesn't matter. I can just make a new decryption letter.

Crawling back to Gravel feels like people are slowly kicking my entire body, but I can't just lay down. I have no idea how long I was out for! I don't think I have any really bad injuries, at least. I'm just sore and hurting, I'll heal.

I finally make it back, and a kid runs off to fetch him for me.

>"Whoa." Gravel says. "What happened to you?"
"I got mugged. By some kids."
>"Where at?"

I give him the general location and the description of the two kids.

>"That damn splinter gang."
"You guys aren't united anymore?"
>"No. We're the biggest still, but there's been a couple small time gangs cropping up by people who think they can do better."
"I want to make sure they don't mug me again."
>"Oh, you've been good to us. We'll be making sure of that."
"Er, uh... are you going to kill anyone?"
>"Gonna try not to. It's better if we get their street grunts back on our side and just humiliate the leaders so they're left with nothin'. By the way, we got the letter delivered to Sir Gauche."
"I have... had another. How long was I gone for?"
>"Hour or two." he says, to my relief. I lost some time, but not much.
"Could I get a pen and paper? Oh, and spreading the rumors and stuff is more important, so..."
>"Don't worry, we got more spare kids than those shitstains can deal with."
"And... a cloth. I'm really dirty."
>>
No. 718529 ID: dd338c
File 146138156450.png - (82.40KB , 800x800 , 419.png )
718529

Gravel gets me some stationary and cloth and I get to it. The cloth is dirty but it's better than nothing.

I guess a small gang war is... okay. And I hope no one dies, but I always have mixed feelings on it. I don't like killing kids, and the empire frowns on it too because they can still be steered in the right direction to be valuable people in society. The problem is, is that a lot of these kids have no direction or incentive to turn out that way. Especially not the gang leaders, who are accomplished by being tough sociopaths who aren't anything more than murderers, rapists and thieves. Those ones are fully engaged in their lifestyle, and I always see those monsters keep doing atrocities until they're killed whether they're fully grown up or not. And honestly, it makes me angry when I see such horrible people get spared by people who say they're just kids and can be redeemed, but then act like it'll happen on its own and let the kids go right back into the tunnels. Gravel isn't even that great, but he's one of the better ones, meaning that he probably wouldn't plot out how to get a copper for slitting the throats of someone who spared him the previous day.

Most kids are like Gulls, though, and are just trying to make ends meet. I wouldn't want him to come to much harm. I hope the person who was bossing him around loses some teeth though even though it probably won't change his outlook.

If I could I might've wanted to use Tomato's barbs and poison them to give them some fear before giving them the antidote, but they're not worth spending the antidote.
>>
No. 718533 ID: 211d83

How about diluting Tomatoes poison so it will only make them horribly sick for awhile? Would get your message across without wasting antidote. That new kid seemed like he might turn out decent if he had the chance but the other one the world would not miss.

Life is hard when you are a kid living in the ghetto. Just remember this later on if you make it big with Fen. If these kids had something else other than gangs and hiding out in the underground and stealing to avoid starvation they would not end up this way.

But that is for another day. For now you need to get your messages out and go heal up with your family.
>>
No. 718539 ID: a075ba

>>718529
Let's consider your options, then.

In the short term, you need a non-lethal deterrent than can turn back hostile kids. Something that doesn't take great skill to use. I like >>718533 's idea of a diluted poison. Seems to me that would be a pretty good disabling weapon.

In the longer term, you would need to fix Imperial society. Scrape out the corrupt people and implement systems where this isn't what kids have to become to survive. For that, you need a position of power. Your plan towards making Fen a noble could serve this, among other things.
>>
No. 718544 ID: f562b1

>>718533
>How about diluting Tomatoes poison so it will only make them horribly sick for awhile?
Oh my god yes, I don't care if they're poor kids if they're going to be nasty at you, be nasty back at them.
>>
No. 718560 ID: dd338c
File 146139385907.png - (19.54KB , 800x800 , 420.png )
718560

I pass on the letter to Gravel to pass on towards Gauche and go back to my hideaway.

>"Cheese. Is that you coming back down to us? Yes, there you are. I was nervous. It sounded like a different approacher. You are movi - you are hurt.
"I'm - I'll be fine."
>"Who did this?"
"People who I'm already dealing with."
>"Can we not?"
"They were kids who hang out in small tunnels. Um... I do want to get back at them though. I think I'd like to give them diluted barbs from Tomato."
>"Diluted?"
"They're... yes. Just to put fear into them."
>"You have become merciful, Cheese. Not many years ago, you would have beaten them until you bled from your own claws."
"I'm not as mad as I used to be."
>"Yet you still have plenty to be mad about. Are there any others who would harm you that we may fight?"
"There are, uhm.. two bounty hunters after me, apparently."
>"How may we assist?"
"I found a couple of good ambush spots that you two should be able to reach from here underground." I tell them of a couple I found before I think those kids started tailing me, away from any gang war. "If I can leak information that I'm hiding out there, the bounty hunters may look for me."
>"Then we will lay in wait there for as long as you like if you feel this is the best course of action."

I can probably get this done by having one of Gravel's better kids 'betray' me, but I don't know if I have anything more pressing to do.
>>
No. 718568 ID: 5ad4a7

You might try getting some sleep?
>>
No. 718592 ID: 211d83

Tell them its not about being merciful its about being smart. While it would make you feel better to personally beat them up it would not solve anything. All you would end up with is two dead kids and sore hands.

But if you poison them just a bit so they are miserable and crying and thinking they are going to die for a week it teaches a lesson. To them and to there friends. They get living proof that if they mess with Cheese bad stuff will happen. And of course if they are nice to me then I will be nice to.

That and if I spent all day hating people who wronged me it would not make my life any better. Maybe if things work out I will have the resources to try and help kids instead of making them fear me.

Anyways as for stuff that needs to get done.

1. Make sure the second message gets sent and that Gauche gets the swords.

2. Have the kids responsible brought to you so you can pretend to poison them yourself.

3. Get cleaned up and have plenty of sleep until you recover.

4. Figure out the best way to have Vackles seen with the swords. Possibly by bribing one of his guards or household that will see them once he brings them home. This one is the key point to making all the other rumors fall into place.
>>
No. 718598 ID: 91ee5f

>>718560
>Beaten them until you bled from your own claws.
Wait, seriously?! Cheese would've done that?! Holy shit, she has become soft! O_o
>>
No. 718605 ID: f562b1

>>718598
She'd bleed from her own claws, though, meaning she was hurting herself in fighting.
>>
No. 718607 ID: a075ba

>outrage about kids hurting Cheese in a mugging, want to kill them
Hey guys, remember when we had Fen mug a barbarian from a rival tribe? We shot him with an arrow and ran off with the best part of his kill because it was easier than hunting for something ourselves.

>Not many years ago, you would have beaten them until you bled from your own claws.
I find Cheese having the endurance or the strength to beat someone effectively spurious. Although I certainly buy her bleeding from the claws if she hit something.

>You have become merciful, Cheese.
>explain to Cabbage
I can't bring myself to really hate kids doing bad things to survive, even if it hurt me. They don't have it as bad as we did in Erja Nokol but...

>I can probably get this done by having one of Gravel's better kids 'betray' me
You get the most control of the situation by having one of Gravel's kids to it. You might get more plausibility if one of Gravel's kids 'betrayed' you to the other side of the gang war, who would then be motivated to sell you out, plus there's a layer of protection for your allies. The risk is that you don't have any control over what they tell the bounty hunters- they might give more information that compromises the ambush, or sell your location to more than one interested party.

...yeah, it's better not to make it over-complicated.

>I don't know if I have anything more pressing to do.
Make sure the letter is delivered, make sure you have a way to defend yourself, start planning the next stage of the frame up. Do we need to make sure someone witnesses the sword hand off, and if so, who? What do we need to happen after Vackles has the sword? Who needs to find out he has them, to get him in trouble?
>>
No. 718791 ID: dd338c
File 146152639644.png - (16.39KB , 800x800 , 421.png )
718791

>Beating someone to death
It's not like I could beat most people up in a fair fight, but if they were subdued, a younger me might've. My claws - or rather, where my fingers meet the claws - don't suck as much as they used to though, so I'd have to hit them against stuff pretty hard to get them to bleed.

"Anyways..." I start telling Cabbage, "It's not about being merciful, it's about being smart. And I'm really trying to be smarter than being madder."

After I get a couple bottles with tomato's poison in it, I grab some coins and go back up to Gravel.

Maybe it's the bruises that make me slow down and let everything catch up, but I am getting really tired. Maybe I should sleep.

There's two big things to do.

One is to deal with the bounty hunters. It won't take long to just get one of Gravel's kids to 'betray' me and for me to lead Cabbage and Tomato up. I can do that and have them lie in wait while I sleep if I want, because this should be detached from the second thing.

The second thing being the sword handoff, and that's trickier. Once I hand Gravel the decryption letter, there's going to be a gap of stuff out of my hands. Gauche will get it soon after, and he'll then get the swords probably right away. Then he'll arrange to transfer them over to Vackles. That transfer is where I need something set up in time. Someone to witness the sword handoff. Buying off a guard or someone reputable for that is going to be kind of tricky and may take awhile. It might be good to get some sleep before I set things loose.

Or maybe everything will fall apart around me while I sleep who knows.

Bottom line... sleep right now so I can do things better, or set up the bounty hunter trap real quick then sleep, or just screw sleep because wasting time is really dangerous right now.
>>
No. 718817 ID: 211d83

Sleep first after maybe setting up the trap. The sword hand off can wait until we have witnesses bribed and in place. Just remember that ideally we want witnesses to see Vackles with the swords but not that Gauche gave them to him. But if need be you can spread a rumor that you accidentally ended up with the swords and Vackles was trying to kill you for them so Gauche was nice and helped you.

Right now you are just going to make mistakes in your weakened condition and you have two people to guard you and snuggle with you while you sleep.

Just make sure your money and supplies are in a safe place just in case and figure out the trap before going to bed.

Or just go to bed for a bit if you are about to collapse.
>>
No. 718829 ID: 093921

The problem with setting up the bounty hunter trap now is you won't have a bodyguard if someone ambushes you while you are asleep, unless Tomato is okay with staying back while Cabbage goes up.
>>
No. 718857 ID: a075ba

>Bottom line... sleep right now so I can do things better, or set up the bounty hunter trap real quick then sleep, or just screw sleep because wasting time is really dangerous right now.
I don't think you can afford to set up political intrigue tired. The stuff with Gauche and Vackles has to wait till you sleep.

Whether or not you can wait with the bounty hunter thing comes down to how much you can trust your siblings to adapt and control the situation if problems evolve. Obviously, you can trust them to win a fight, but how smart are they about this kind of thing? (If you're going to leave it to them, be sure to fill them in on the scams you're running, so they don't trip them up).
>>
No. 718885 ID: 91ee5f

>>718791
Set up the ambush then sleep. In fact, why don't you sleep at the ambush location? You can use yourself as bait, the bounty hunters will see you sleeping and then will try to kill you in your sleep, and Cabbage and Tomato kill the bounty hunters.

Meh, who am I kidding? This is probably way too much of a risk.
>>
No. 718895 ID: 5ad4a7

I doubt the bounty hunters have been instructed to kill Cheese. Vackles needs her alive in order to recover the dragoncloth without anyone else knowing about it.
>>
No. 719119 ID: dd338c
File 146162730633.png - (12.68KB , 800x800 , 422.png )
719119

"Okay. I'm going to have a kid betray me and lead the bounty hunters to a certain spot, and I'd like you to kill those two. I don't know what they look like, and the kids didn't seem to either, but you should be able to tell the difference between bounty hunters and the town guard, so only kill them if they look like they're from out of town. Otherwise... well, I think you can use your judgement, just be careful."
>"I understand."

I go up to Gravel and give him the money I owe him for the information. He's got nothing new for me in the short time I was gone, so I go back down to Cabbage and Tomato to show them the way to the meeting spot.

They've got a good spot to view from through a wall, so I leave them be after making sure they can find their way back.

There's almost no way I can sleep there even if I wanted to, so I finally slump in the dirt at the hideout and get some sleep. I'm almost afraid of if someone followed me down to the hideout, but it gets so quiet down here that I could hear if I was being followed past a point.

I do kinda wish they were around so I didn't have to sleep alone again.
>>
No. 719120 ID: dd338c
File 146162732393.png - (20.22KB , 800x800 , 423.png )
719120

>"Cheese. Cheese. Cheese. Cheese."
"Rrrgh?"
>"Hello, I'm back."

Oh, Cabbage is against me. Her fur always felt a little funny, but nice. Tomato gets close to me as well, but is careful not to make contact.

"Hello. Um, did you head back early?"
>"No, we waited and assaulted the bodyguards. It's been about four hours since we left."
"O-oh.... oh! How did it go?"
>"Mm... not well. They were strong, Cheese. We had to run."
"What?! Wait a second, did they - they could follow you!"
>"Ah, yes, but they did not. I laid in wait with Tomato for a while for a more suitable location for combat should they have followed. During our initial fight, Tomato managed to poison one, but the other wore a heavy cloak and had the reaction speed to cover his face and hands by turning his back. The poisoned one must be dead by now or close to it, and the cloak wearer was wise enough not to follow us. Wise, but not as strong, as it was the one who tomato killed who managed to slice through my scythe and throw a knife through the skin on my back as we ran. Nonetheless, I am sorry, Cheese, that we were not able to take care of both bounty hunters, and so I felt the need to wake you."
>>
No. 719123 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719120
Wh... help your sister! She's wounded! The knife is still stuck in her, even.
>>
No. 719127 ID: 211d83

Ok get a candle lit and tend to her wounds. While doing so you need to get info about the hunters appearance and what made them so strong. You might need to get Fen in this if he has not left.

It sounds like they managed to possibly take out the stronger of the two but I am not betting on it. If you have a antidote someone else could have another way of dealing with it. Until you see his body you assume he is alive.

And tell them its ok and you are just glad they are safe.

Then you need to consider tracking them down and have them dealt with in less honorable combat. Like poisoning there drinks or taking them out while they sleep.

The one that was not poisoned is currently dragging his friend somewhere for healing or burial. You should probably try to find them before they disappear.
>>
No. 719130 ID: b2db3f

Oh man she has a knife in her. Be really careful about moving that. Wait until you can cleanly take it out. And save the knife in case its a custom job that might point to its owner.

Whoever Vackles hired must have been expensive. And while Tomatoes poison might be nasty you need to double check on his status.
>>
No. 719131 ID: 1cebc8

Remember, take the knife out slowly and wash thoroughly with antiseptics or she might die from an infection.

Does Tomato's poison have antiseptic properties? You could mix the poison with an antidote and pour it in the wound.

So how do we deal with the remaining hunter? Randomly poison a few mooks in the local mercenary camps and lead them to the hunter?
>>
No. 719132 ID: 15a025

Tell it's alright as long as she gave it her best shot. We should probably help patch her up.
>>
No. 719134 ID: a075ba

>Nonetheless, I am sorry, Cheese, that we were not able to take care of both bounty hunters, and so I felt the need to wake you.
You're sorry! I got you hurt! Let me see that!

See to her injuries. She's got a knife in her back, and her scythe is cut?! (What are her scythes made of, will that grow back?).

...aren't Cabbage and Tomato top-tier abominations? Aren't bounty hunters strong enough hold their own against them the rare and expensive sort? I would have thought they'd be more than Vackles could afford. That doesn't bode well.
>>
No. 719136 ID: a075ba

>>719134
Also, if Cabbage did damage her scythes, we're probably going to need to pay to get that regenerated. Bone probably doesn't grow back, and she can't afford to have one of her weapons cut off, or with a weak spot / notch in it that could break on later.
>>
No. 719138 ID: 3cc68c

Cheese you are going to need to patch them up and figure out how to finish the job while they are weakened. They know your trick now and if you don't deal with them now its going to be much more dangerous.

So clean up and help Cabbage as much as you can and try to track them down. If they stayed in town you need to go after them even if its just you and Tomato while Cabbage heals.
>>
No. 719152 ID: dd338c
File 146163099922.png - (25.48KB , 800x800 , 424.png )
719152

That's information.

I gotta process it. Waking up is hard.

"Ack, the knife is still in your back!"
>"Mm, yes, I was about to ask for help about that, as tomato feared making it worse with his clumsiness, and the knife is certainly not doing much harm here.
"Okay, just a minute, I'll get this carefully... I think I got some bandages and good stuff for cuts in here! And I'll get a candle."

I do so. Fen thankfully picked me up stuff like that, so I should actually treat myself now that I think about it, but after Cabbage. There's a fair amount of dried blood that matted down her fur, but it seems to have stopped, so it should be okay.

"Oh and I'm the one who should be sorry! You two are so strong and it was my fault I didn't realize there'd be two bounty hunters who could fight you! Has there ever been anyone that could beat you and tomato in a fight?!"
>"Mm, yes, but with such an ambush, this is a first. That is concerning."
"Oh, gods, they actually got through your scythe!"
>"Mmmhm, but I can make do with my other. His blade must have been enchanted, as it seemed rather effortless."
"D-don't worry, we'll... someday we'll get a mage and regrow it! I'll get the money!"

I manage to the knife out alright. It has an inscription.

"Somehow, with Fen, I'll get the money to repair even your bones! - wait - oh gods. Oh no. Oh no no no no no."
>"What is wrong, sister? Do not worry if the knife is poisoned, as it will not affect me."
"No, the knife isn't bad, it's... the owner. We've gotta move! We can't stay here!"
>"Mm? Cheese, do not panic."
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No. 719153 ID: dd338c
File 146163101521.png - (49.83KB , 800x800 , 425.png )
719153

"This knife belongs to Croc!"
>"Ah, I have heard of him."
"We... we're dead. We're so deaaad!"
>"Ahh. Cheese. You always panic so much. But then after your panic dies out, you think clearly and come up with clever solutions. I do hope someday you will skip the first part."
"We - we can't trust the kids anymore! We've got to - there should be another hideaway around. But Croc knows we're in the tunnels, he must already be going to the kids, and the kids, he can buy them off, and... ahh...."
>"Be calm, Cheese. It will be fine."

I wish I could think of that! But, damn everything, Croc has assassinated nobles in their own home and walked out the front door! How the hell did Vackles afford him?!

"Did.. okay, first, let me ask... was the one tomato hit... was he a draconian? 2 large pairs of horns on each side of his head, wearing a cap?"
>"Yes."
"Yes that's Croc."
>"Mm, yes, I have heard of his sharp senses, and that must have been why he was able to deflect my scythe despite shooting it directly through a wall. But, there is no reason for alarm. That is the one that tomato stru - '
"No! I - sorry, Cabbage, but there is no way that Croc can't counteract that. Okay, um, he definitely didn't somehow have antidote on him, so he must have ran back to deal with it - so he might be out of it for a few hours, and he might not be in great condition, but he's not dead! There's no way! The other bounty hunter... oh geez does Croc have a partner or something? What did he look like?"
>"Ah, yes... another draconian wearing green leather, with a heavy cloak and hood that he blocked Tomato's barbs with, and hopefully nicked himself with one while taking it off. What else, what else... I saw straps across his torso, and he appeared to wield a curved scimitar. Ah! He had a chipped horn. He only asked what we were during the battle, and he had a barbarian's accent despite having white eyes. Ah. Is he of Zizi's tribe? This would explain his battle, but he seemed largely unnerved by our existence, so he appears to have little experience to the 'horrors' that the empire can produce. If he did not already have his blade out, I expect he would have appeared harmless, as he made no attack on us."
>>
No. 719154 ID: 211d83

Shit they hired Fen.

Ok you need to get Fen to help you kill Croc. Get to it fast.
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No. 719156 ID: b2db3f

Ok this is great news.

So Vackles hired Fen somehow and did not tell them who they were after or Fen went along to protect you or keep up his story about hating you. If we are lucky he is with a wounded or dead Croc right now.

All you need to do is track him down and he will help you kill Croc. If he has not already.

But you have to explain and work fast. We need to hit Croc while he is weak if possible. Did they do any damage to him other than poison?
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No. 719157 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719153
Are you fucking serious?! That was Fen! Why is Fen with Croc?!

We desperately need information. Immediately go and hire some kids to find Fen, so he can be asked what the fuck. Actually, the kids can just ask Fen directly, give him something to write on (wait can he even write?) or a spoken message to give you explaining what just happened.
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No. 719159 ID: 3cc68c

Tell them that it was Fen. And that it was your fault he was there. You told him to keep up the act that he hated you and he got dragged into this mess. He probably got hired by Vackles or Croc and went along with it to protect Cheese. God if we had told him about you two or had you meet Fen then Croc would be dead right now.

But its a good thing. You have a inside man now.
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No. 719161 ID: add40f

Ah. Hm. Maybe Fen also heard that you had a bounty out on you, and tried to pretend to be a bounty hunter himself, in order to find out things that would help you. He might have "teamed up" with Croc in order to get info he planned to give to you, or to trip him up somehow. Ask them, were they sure the two were working together? They weren't just hanging around each other? You did get the "two bounty hunters" from rumors. It might have been just one bounty hunter with another dangerous-looking person hanging out with him, but not actually a bounty hunter themselves.

Well, if Fen's still in town, you could ask him directly. If you're sure Croc would at least have to be out for a few hours after being poisoned, then you can just contact him and ask for it. And, while you're at it, tell him that those two he saw were your friends.

... if you can manage that without anyone else knowing. Maybe... write a letter that sounds like you're threatening him/warning him off, that happens to contain the question and information? He knows you're not really his enemy, if you include a bunch of other stuff that he knows is fake as well, he should be able to figure it out.
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No. 719162 ID: a075ba

>>719153
Start to laugh. Damn it, you shouldn't have sent them in alone. That sounds like Fen. That's the draconian you told them about, the one you got the dragoncloth from, who wants to become a noble to win Lily.

You told them he was tough.

Okay, okay, this might be good. Assuming Fen wasn't hired blind of the target, that means he probably heard a bounty was on my head, and signed up to help me. Aaaaand I send you to kill him. But that means Croc is working with someone who plans to betray him, which helps us.
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No. 719170 ID: 825b5d

You should probably check your and Fen's drop off thing, see if he left you a message. You should also find out if Fen and Croc are there as enemies or (secret) allies.
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No. 719176 ID: bb78f2

>>719153
Oh you can tell Cheese that bounty hunter is ACTUALLY one of your agents, so good thing you didn't kill him. He must be doing independent under cover stuff to gain info for us. He's our ace in the hole, which means HE knows where Croc is. It's also why he didn't attack you too.

He's acting independently for now, but he must be sabotaging the investigation on his own. If you come across him again, don't try and kill him, he's too useful... because he's Fen.

I wouldn't bullshit your "siblings" too much, you should be honest at this point. It's something you HAVE to do.
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No. 719220 ID: f562b1

>This would explain his battle, but he seemed largely unnerved by our existence, so he appears to have little experience to the 'horrors' that the empire can produce. If he did not already have his blade out, I expect he would have appeared harmless, as he made no attack on us.
"That was... Oh my gosh I can't believe he got on Croc's good side. That's amazing. He's not a bounty hunter, he's just on the watch for me! I guess he heard about the bounty and wanted to know what happened. I haven't really told him anything.
Um, but shoot! He's a wildcard, too. He might help Croc. He's strong, but he only kills people he can't befriend, and since I wasn't there he'll have to reason to kill Croc either!"
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No. 719221 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719220
Eh, I wouldn't say Fen only kills those he can't befriend. He's a BIT more willing to kill than that.

If he's smart he's already killed Croc, since Croc would have been weakened by the poison eventually. The main problem would have been doing so without it being obvious Fen killed him, since we can expect Croc left the tunnels before the poison weakened him enough for Fen to be able to take him out.

...is it possible for that to have happened?
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No. 719593 ID: 93244f

"Hopefully" nicked himself?
I beg to differ!
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No. 719603 ID: 91ee5f

We should probably bring Fen the antidote, just in case he did nick himself.
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No. 719718 ID: dd338c
File 146189950857.png - (39.69KB , 800x800 , 426.png )
719718

"Oh my god you two know about the barbarian I told you about who I want to become a noble?"
>"Mm?"
"That was him! Not Croc, but the other one! Oh my god that's almost funny except Tomato you almost killed him?! Ahhh I might want to bring him the antidote in case he did nick himself!"
>"Then let him! Is he not our enemy?"
"No! I mean... of course not. He's... this is good! I've got someone inside Vackles' pay!"
>"How can you be so certain? Does he know, this barbarian? Does he know of the cloth? Yes, yesssss you did say he did. And he knows. This dragoncloth has brought nobles and legendary bounty hunters to do battle. How can you say a barbarian is above this?"
"Because, I... I.... remember, he could have killed me?! And I'm willing to bet my life he's not - "
>"Cheeese. So quick to trust. So eager to get hurt more. But very well, you may have the antidote. Do you know where he stays?"
"First, I need to work on covering your tracks in the tunnel before Croc can follow us! Then hide even deeper down. Then... I'll find him. And please, don't kill him even if you get the choice."
>"I do hope he took advantage of the chaos and killed Croc." Cabbage says, which Tomato grunts in approval towards.
"I hope so too but geeeez I told him to stay out of this!" I say. I put the candle out. I'm really afraid someone may see the light even from a ways away, now.

I can try to get the kids to find him, but there's no telling how long that would take! The diner is the only place I can think of where he might be. They only said to come back if it were an emergency, but it might be!

Especially if Croc is with him.

Then again I did blurt out I'd bet my life on him?
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No. 719719 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719718
This does sound like an emergency, yes. Go back to the diner and somehow get the antidote through to your contact, instructing him to give it to Fen (via your description), along with a brief message:

"Say nothing of what you saw."
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No. 719720 ID: 211d83

Fen could have ended this cloth mess awhile back by killing you or just taking it back and letting your life fall apart. But he picked you up out of the mud and asked for your help. You know your appearance matters nothing to him. He would snuggle up with you for warmth any day. If there is any outsider you can trust with your life its him.

That being said you still need to be very careful. Fen might be smart but he is still brand new to civilized lands and even more so to a life of intrigue. He might have gotten caught up in things and need your help. He might be being manipulated by Croc or being used against you without him knowing it.

If we are lucky he might have dealt with Croc already. But who knows what happened. He probably figured out you are working with Cabbage and Tomato but that does not mean he would instantly turn on Croc. For all he knows if he killed Croc it might ruin one of your plans.

So for the moment treat Fen like he was captured by the enemy and needs our help (while hoping otherwise). Also stop crushing on him so hard. But continue to fantasize about being his second wife after he marries Lily.

Get to the dinner. This is a emergency if I ever saw one. You need info on Croc as fast as possible. If you can get Fen to deal with him before he recovers it could save your life. Also bring some Tomato poison to give to Fen along with the antidote. So he can reapply things if Croc is healing already.
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No. 719721 ID: 5ad4a7

...is there a way to CONCENTRATE Tomato's poison? So that, for instance, Fen could slip it into Croc's drink to finish him off?
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No. 719722 ID: a075ba

>"Cheeese. So quick to trust.
Cabbage, I know you're saying this stuff because you care about me. But when I say I trust him, it isn't because I want it so badly. It's because he's the first person since Erja Nokol to earn it. You didn't see how bad I was the other night. I was ready to give up. He pulled me back from the edge.

>This dragoncloth has brought nobles and legendary bounty hunters to do battle. How can you say a barbarian is above this?
Because he already hunted me down to get it back once. And then, laying in the mud, expecting to die, he gave it back to me and FORGAVE me.

>Then again I did blurt out I'd bet my life on him?
You have to. If this episode proved anything, it's how dangerous a lack of communication is. You can't afford to be at odds, or cross purposes. You're both too dangerous not to coordinate- you're getting in each others way.
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No. 719762 ID: 738934

I know it looks silly but you don't know him.

He was nice to me from the very start. He never thought I looked odd or made fun of my voice or how I looked. He treated me fairly and even wanted to travel with me on his way to the capitol. He thought I was a nice merchant and just wanted to be friends.

And then he asked if he could stay the night and we even shared a tent together. He never thought my body was creepy and even let me snuggle up with him for warmth.

And then after I stole his dragoncloth and he tracked me down he was still nice to me. He was angry with me but just wanted his cloth back and to know why I did it. And after I told him my sad story while crying in the mud he refused to kill me and figured out a way we could help each other. He gave me the cloth so that I could get out of my mess and help him get through his mess.

He treated me like a normal person Cabbage. He doesn't care if I am a mutant or what I look like. He just saw a sad girl who had horrible problems who needed a friend. He gave me a chance to make my crazy dream a reality so I am going to do anything I can to help him with his crazy dreams.
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No. 719766 ID: 4d7c27

You should tell these two that he already had a chance to take the dragoncloth from you, and didn't. It was even his in the first place! You stole it and he chased you down, killed the guards who kept you imprisoned, and had you totally at his mercy. He could have killed you, or just taken the cloth or anything else he wanted from you and left. He didn't! There probably isn't any better way to be sure you can trust someone, and he's already trusted you with a bunch of stuff. And in any case, they know you're not a super huge political schemer but he wants to be a noble so he can marry a specific noble lady and if you get him to trust you and to take your advice on politics then once he becomes a noble he probably won't have much agenda of his own and he'll probably be a really huge help for all sorts of things!

So, really, no killing him.

In fact he might end up in Erja Nokol soonish and if anything maybe he should meet them so he's more ready to meet more mutants and get on well with them.

Anyway, it really shouldn't be that hard to find Fen and/or Croc if they had to drag themselves away from a fight with huge weird mutants! There can't be too many medics/apothecaries/et cetera for hire in this city so send kids to those places. If either of them were dying of poison they would show up near someone like that pretty damn quick.

I wouldn't get Fen to try kill Croc now, though. I think Fen is fine killing someone in a fight or with finishing someone off after a fight if he has to, but I don't think he's up to straight-on assassination. Plus, once we get info from him, maybe it'll be possible to dissuade or buy off Croc somehow?
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No. 719796 ID: dd338c
File 146196305457.png - (97.68KB , 800x800 , 427.png )
719796

>Also stop crushing on him so hard. But continue to fantasize about being his second wife after he marries Lily.
NNNnnnoooooooo

"Cabbage I told you by the way! He could have gotten the dragon cloth back. He had me face down in the dirt! I even tried to fight him and wasn't any match! But he trusted me. He doesn't even care about my weird mutant body!"
>"Mmm, don't be so defensive, as I am not forcing you one way or the other. I only worry."
"I know, I... I know. Let's just go to a new hiding spot."

I lead them on, and just go to the diner since it's more convenient than going to the kids. I kind of want to only have kids look for them as a worse resort, because if they get caught, well... bad. But the apothecaries are a good fallback if I can't find anyone at the diner.

I go to the diner. There's someone leaning against the wood planks that I usually spy and talk through. Which is weird, because it's kind of a spot that the owner himself takes, but never actually leans on.
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No. 719797 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719796
Say nothing. Hope you haven't been heard.

...actually you should probably take cover, because that could be anyone. Tempting to just outright leave.
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No. 719799 ID: a075ba

>There's someone leaning against the wood planks that I usually spy and talk through. Which is weird, because it's kind of a spot that the owner himself takes, but never actually leans on.
Which would suggest someone who's not normally there, but is comfortable displacing the owner, is leaning against the wall.

Either Fen or Croc might fit that description.

Do you hear anything, smell anything, that might give away who's here?

...is this the hole you used to talk to Fen before? Could he be deliberately blocking it, to prevent you from being seen?
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No. 719800 ID: 738934

That's suspicious. It could be someone waiting for you with bad intentions. Or it could be someone waiting to give you a important message. Maybe its the owner trying to hide the spot by leaning on it. Who knows but be careful.

Play it safe and make sure to not reveal yourself without being able to see who is leaning. Is there anywhere else you can get a view of the room? If you have to knock on the wall use a stick or something so you can be ready to book it at a moments notice.

And make sure you stay and arms length from the wall to avoid any swords getting jammed through the wood into your face. Cabbage showed us that trick.
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No. 719802 ID: dd338c
File 146196510408.png - (72.67KB , 800x800 , 428.png )
719802

I move back a ways and listen. I don't hear anything, so I get a stick and lightly tap it to the wood. So lightly I doubt I even -

>"Hm?"

Ahh it's Fen.
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No. 719803 ID: 738934

Whisper to him and ask if its safe to talk.

If it is have him meet you somewhere more private to chat.

Or if this is a good spot let him know that the mutants that attacked Croc are your family and they are helping you. Then find out what happened and what Croc's condition is.

Depending on his answer we can change the plan as needed.
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No. 719804 ID: 595d54

>>719802
kissu~
>>
No. 719805 ID: a075ba

Cheese continues to make the best faces.

>>719803
Yeah, this seems good.
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No. 719806 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719802
Ask if he's okay. Then ask if Croc is alive. If Croc is alive, ask if Fen can make Croc not alive.
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No. 719808 ID: b412df

Did we tell Fen about this meeting spot or use it to contact him directly before? If not then either Fen discovered it on his own, or more worryingly Croc did, and he's there with Fen.
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No. 719813 ID: dd338c
File 146196744323.png - (64.24KB , 800x800 , 429.png )
719813

>Did we tell Fen about this meeting spot or use it to contact him directly before?
Um... I did tell him he could leave messages for me there, but he managed to find it before he even caught up to me with the dragon cloth.

Did I show him this spot? I don't know.

"Hello?" I whisper to him. There's a silence and it's weird.
>"Hi."

....

"Can we talk?"
>"Yes."
"Um... those mutants you saw earlier... they were with me."
>"They attacked us."
"Yes that was my mistake! I didn't think you'd have gotten hired with Vackles to hunt us with Croc."
>"I wasn't hired by Vackles."
"Er, what?"
>"Croc was. He only got my help. I think."
"You think?"
>"I thought he was friends with you."
"Wha- how did you think that? You believed him?"
>"No, but I thought I should follow him in case you weren't. He doesn't know that I'm with you, but he said he wanted to straighten things out between the three of us."
"He said he was friends with me, though?"
>"..... maybe."
"What?"
>"I cannot understand a word he says."

Oh haha that makes sense, Croc grew up in a lot of areas so he probably has a heavy northwestern accent mixed with a mid-eastern one. I guess a savage would have trouble understanding him?

>"He still doesn't suspect I'm with you. He thought you would show up here, and has me waiting here in case you show up through here. He's going to be here any moment."
"Is he... uh, sick?"
>"No. He developed a slight cough, but seems to be recovering. He had an antidote on him he said can negate nearly every poison from Erja Nokol. What were those things, Cheese?"
"Thi... Fen, that's my family."
>"They aren't animals?"
"Wha!! No - "
>"Keep your voice down. I have not seen any kobolds that look anywhere like that."
"That... I'm really not very mutated compared to them, no."
>"Then tell them I'm sorry."
"What for?"
>"For calling them things."
"O-oh. Well I told them you're with me, so.. they won't attack you again."
>"Alright. Croc is staying here. I've thought about killing him, but his awareness to his surroundings is among the best, and he's stronger than me, so I can't promise much."

Right, I thought as much. Ah, did - right, just before I left Cabbage and Tomato, without thinking about it, I asked them to make a vial of Tomato's poison. A couple drops should be enough to kill someone, and a whole vial may overpower an antidote even if they live long enough to take the antidote.

>"He seems to like this diner, and will probably eat here, if you have a spot under the floorboards you can eavesdrop on us from. And maybe tell me what he is saying after we meet. By the way, I forgot to pay someone a while ago while I still had money. I would like 40 silver."
"Okay, um... I can get you that, but... I'll leave it at a place." I tell him a place where I can drop it off for him at.

For now, listening in on the meeting is doable. I can be really quiet and still, but it's always a risk if I'm anywhere close to Croc.
>>
No. 719817 ID: 738934

I think you need to listen in despite the risk. We badly need more info on whats going on. Just be perfectly still and be ready to pretend you are a rat or something if he hears you move.

Some things we need to figure out.

1. Was Croc hired by Vackles or someone else?

2. Is he trying to capture or kill you?

3. Does he know or suspect about the dragoncloth?

4. Why did he pick up Fen and how can we use the situation to our advantage.

Maybe we can figure out a way to poison Croc or maybe we can figure out a way to use him in our plot against Vackles and Bardo. But right now we need to get more info before acting.
>>
No. 719818 ID: a075ba

>"Then tell them I'm sorry." [...] "For calling them things."
Huh. I wonder how they'll react to that.

>Croc, friends
I take it Croc isn't your friend? Have you even met?

>Croc and Fen
I'm really wondering how Croc met Fen in the first place, or why he asked for his help. Because Fen was looking for Cheese yesterday?

>what do
Okay, it seems to me we have two options. We either stick around and try to learn from this (how the heck Vackles can afford someone as good as Croc, if there's more going on), or you / Fen can poison Croc's food and try to kill him. (...we could even pull the trick of poisoning both meals, to be sure, if you're willing to spend the antidote on Fen). Information or attack. (Or withdraw, obviously).

I'm leaning towards information, mostly because I don't know if Fen will want to murder him without even knowing what he wants. That, and Cheese can't afford to keep acting blind.
>>
No. 719819 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719813
Being anywhere near Croc with his senses that sharp is really a serious problem. So you should be there BEFORE the meeting, and be just within earshot, and not move an inch while he's there.

...or you could pay a kid to eavesdrop for you. If a kid gets caught, that's a problem, but won't be the end of the world. If you get caught it's fucking OVER.
>>
No. 719821 ID: 211d83

If Fen could hear you barely tapping on the wood you have to assume Croc has senses just as sharp. But Fen did manage to avoid Tomato's poison while Croc did not so maybe Fen has better reflexes.

If you spy you have to be in place beforehand and make no noise. How loud is your breathing?

Spying on the meeting would be great because info on Croc is vital. Fen is confused so who knows what Croc is up to.

From what you know of Croc what is he like? Is he a amoral monster? Or just a really good bounty hunter? Could you hire him to kill Bardo or is he the type to always finish a mission? And did he get hired by Vackles or whoever and for how much?

Maybe hand off the poison to Fen for later use. You can always get more.
>>
No. 719839 ID: a075ba

Is putting ambient noise in the room to make picking up on your breathing harder possible?

Can't just turn on a fan in kobold times, but a lit fire? An open window? A wind chime? Pay a street musician to set up shop nearby? Or encourage some kinds to play street soccer? (Or whatever game kobold kids play).
>>
No. 719840 ID: 4d7c27

Better give him a little more than 40 silver, so he has some pocket money of his own.
>>
No. 719847 ID: dd338c
File 146197495183.png - (21.85KB , 800x800 , 430.png )
719847

>Better give him a little more than 40 silver, so he has some pocket money of his own.
I think he does have spending money, just... enough to get by to Graskin, not big spending like 40 silver! 40 silver is way more than pocket money!

>Is putting ambient noise in the room to make picking up on your breathing harder possible?
Not without trying to find the owner or something, and that's more risk than it's worth, or at least not with such short notice.

Still, I slip him the vial of Tomato's poison.

"That's some extract of Tomato's poison, the smaller, four footed one. Uh, use it how you want."
>"Thank you."
"How'd you and Croc even meet? You two aren't friends, right?"
>"I don't think so. He came to me. I think he called me a tracker. He spoke a lot of words."
"Okay. I'm going to eavesdrop. Do you know if he likes a certain table?"
>"He moves from table to table, but they're usually all in the same area. The opposite corner from here."
"Okay, thank you!"

I go and wait. I can hear okay and just barely see through the cracks, where I know no one can see back to me. Just no way.

Eventually, I hear someone murmur something at the front and walks into the dining area slowly and with purpose. That person being Croc, who goes and stands up by Fen's table.

>How loud is your breathing?
When I sleep it looks like I'm dead! And sounds like.

Quiet, basically.

They're in silence for awhile. Kind of weird. Like, they're just not talking to each other at all. I hope that Croc says some good stuff.

>From what you know of Croc what is he like? Is he a amoral monster? Or just a really good bounty hunter?
Even though he leaves stuff like calling cards and isn't known to be a ghost, there's a lot of baseless rumors about how he is. Some say he has a code of honor, some say he has one but he breaks it all the time. I haven't seen a trend of him being an amoral monster, in fact, they say he can be really professional and keep things non-personal to targets. But that he still goes to a lot of really nasty lengths to get those targets killed or captured, whether or not he's professional about it.

So I guess all I can really say about him right now is that's he's a really good bounty hunter.

>Could you hire him to kill Bardo or is he the type to always finish a mission? And did he get hired by Vackles or whoever and for how much?
Supposedly he got hired by Vackles, but I didn't actually see anything credible saying so!

Maybe I could buy him off, though? He is in this for the coin, judging by his prices.

Fen breaks the silence, finally.

"Are you feeling better?"

Croc makes a long, whistling sigh before he goes to sit down across from Fen.
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No. 719849 ID: dd338c
File 146197499185.png - (20.25KB , 800x800 , 431.png )
719849

>"OY them slimmies sure put a light on the jellies. Real nice turn of you usin' that green to keep them points out cause let me tell ya ya'd be ground matter if yer hide didn't hide with yer hide. Granted this ol' fishbone's taken a keen to the chipped bit, and may've kept its pedestal upright."

Er...

>"Naw let's 'ave a tongue party on the rime I told that right slimmy to play fetch with. Damn fishy wood they yep. Take it nothin squished its way up the woodcracks eh?"

Fen stares at Croc. Just an unblinking stare that he maintains for a long, long silence.

>"What?" Fen asks.
>"Akakakakak ya didn' lose the marble did yah? Been turnin' the barn for them hips all day but by the white if that curdled purple Cheese ain't the most hide an' seek pinner I've seen in my rings."
"She hasn't shown up, no."
>"Diddan think by that pinner she'd point an arrow notch to the sky. Oi where's that ear flicker with our teeth ticklers?"

What kind of accent is this? This isn't even an accent it's just... like... words!
>>
No. 719851 ID: 211d83

Keep listening? Not much else you can do.
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No. 719852 ID: 4546ab

Ok so he is saying that the poison was nasty and Fen was smart to block the spine with his cloak.

He wants to get drinks and asked if you crawled up to the secret hiding spot where Fen was standing.

He has been searching for your big butt all day but you are really good at hiding. (Also might think you are cute?)

And he did not think you would be stupid enough to come here for Fen to find so where are the drinks he ordered.

Yeah he has a rather interesting regional dialect.
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No. 719853 ID: a075ba

It's not so much an accent as ridiculous word choices.

"teeth ticklers" for food, "rings" (like a tree) for years, "jellies" for mutants, "ground matter" for dead / in the ground, "points" for needles, "green" for a green cloak, "tongue party" for talk, etc.

And using the verb "to hide" the leather "hide" of Fen's cloack and Fen's own skin / "hide" all at once.

You / someone he's hunting is a "pinner" (don't see the logic behind that one yet).

Either he had the weirdest upbringing ever, or he's too smart for his own good, maybe? Picking confusing word choices on purpose to see who can keep up with him?

>by the white
Is he alluding to some kind of patron or deity, there? That's the first time we've heard a kobold do that, I think.

>>"Naw let's 'ave a tongue party on the rime I told that right slimmy to play fetch with.
...that sounds like he's saying he sent your siblings to go find you. Like he expected them to go to you, and you to show up. Not good.

>what do
You can't do anything. Stay silent, don't move, don't change the rhythm of your breathing. No changes.
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No. 719854 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719849
No idea what the first sentence is.
Second sentence is him saying Fen's lucky he blocked the spines(points) with his cloak (green), because he'd be dead otherwise. Croc's also saying he's taking a liking to Fen (chipped bit is referring to his horn, and the pedestal is everything below it) so he might have shared the antidote.

>"Naw let's 'ave a tongue party on the rime I told that right slimmy to play fetch with. Damn fishy wood they yep. Take it nothin squished its way up the woodcracks eh?"
Hmmmm, tongue party is a talk, right slimmy must refer to a kid, not sure what rime is. Squish up the woodcracks... probably something like keeping your ear to the wall. It's almost like Croc told Fen to stand by that wall, because Croc thinks it's suspicious. He can probably HEAR that it's got empty space behind it.

>"Akakakakak ya didn' lose the marble did yah? Been turnin' the barn for them hips all day but by the white if that curdled purple Cheese ain't the most hide an' seek pinner I've seen in my rings."
"lost your marbles", "turnin' the barn for them hips" probably refers to looking for Cheese's big butt. So he knows what Cheese looks like, at least. "hide an seek pinner" must be referring to a hard to find bounty. You pin up bounties. Rings is like years, because rings on a tree stump.

>"Diddan think by that pinner she'd point an arrow notch to the sky. Oi where's that ear flicker with our teeth ticklers?"
He's saying he didn't expect Cheese to just show up, I think. Shooting an arrow to the sky is like displaying your position. Then he's wondering where the waiter is.

This dialect he's speaking is FULL of metaphor and slang. Anyway, it really does sound like he's hunting Cheese as a bounty. So we do want to kill him.
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No. 719855 ID: bb78f2

>>719849
You can't POSSIBLY even know if he'd be willing to betray Vackles or not, or if he's hiding up his sleeve.

His personality and way of speaking is an art form that has made him the PERFECT bounty hunter and spy. You'll never understand him and how many games he's playing, he's a genius! I will be sad if we create a world without him in it now.

He's just too... beautiful of a creature. Like killing a Mockingbird... that is also a bounty hunter. How could Cabbage take pride in almost assuredly killing him?

Give up on killing him, you have to kill Vackles before he even gets a wiff of you or you're DONE.
>>
No. 719856 ID: 5ad4a7

>>719852
Oh, drinks... rime is ice, so slimmy must refer to the waitress or something.
>>
No. 719859 ID: 5ad4a7

...hang on, if Croc goes to nasty lengths to kill/capture his targets... why isn't he doing that now? He seems to be taking it easy, and focusing on trying to FIND Cheese. If he wanted to go to nasty lengths he'd try to smoke her out or something.

Man. We need some kind of solid evidence either way. I suppose if we got some money to him and he killed Vackles that'd prove he's on our side.
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No. 719898 ID: 972c3c

>"OY them slimmies sure put a light on the jellies. Real nice turn of you usin' that green to keep them points out cause let me tell ya ya'd be ground matter if yer hide didn't hide with yer hide. Granted this ol' fishbone's taken a keen to the chipped bit, and may've kept its pedestal upright."
"Those mutants really [melted] the plan. Was a good move on your part blocking the quills with your cape, you'd be pushing up daisies if the leather wasn't protecting your skin. Granted, this old man has taken a liking to your chipped horn (might mean Fen in general), and might have kept you alive."
>"Naw let's 'ave a tongue party on the rime I told that right slimmy to play fetch with. Damn fishy wood they yep. Take it nothin squished its way up the woodcracks eh?"
"Now let's have a talk about the [knife?] I threw into that mutant's back. Damn [quirky] they are. [Didn't phase you a bit, eh?]"
>"Akakakakak ya didn' lose the marble did yah? Been turnin' the barn for them hips all day but by the white if that curdled purple Cheese ain't the most hide an' seek pinner I've seen in my rings."
(I'm trying to figure out if he's complimenting Cheese or insulting her here)
>"Diddan think by that pinner she'd point an arrow notch to the sky. Oi where's that ear flicker with our teeth ticklers?"
"Didn't think she'd actually show herself when it's dangerous. Oi, where's your ears when we talk?"

I... wonder if what Fen thought he said before was right and true. Maybe he's impressed with you and wants to help. Of course, it could be a trap, too.
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No. 719913 ID: 91ee5f

>"Akakakakak!"
I honestly wasn't expecting anyone to have a weird anime laugh in this quest!

>"Been turnin' the barn for them hips all day but by the white if that curdled purple Cheese ain't the most hide an' seek pinner I've seen in my rings."
Hips? A woman? Um.....oh! I think he's saying he's looking for Cheese's big butt! Wait, really? Again with the big butt comments? Well, I guess it's better than being called a freak. But still, can't they a focus on something other than her butt?!

Also, for some reason I can't help but imagine Croc with a voice that sounds like Crocodile Dundee.
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No. 719958 ID: dd338c
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719958

Well at least I can see why he's named 'croc.'

>Is 'the white' a patron or deity?
Maybe ?? Wait yeah, I think a lot of southern dieties have colors attributed to them, so... probably. For some reason, I wouldn't think Croc would really, uh, engage in dieties.

So I keep on listening. The waiter returns to serve some drinks and food. I guess I can actually mostly find out what he's saying if I have time to think about it? It's just so open to interpretation.

>"The chicken for you, sir," the waiter says, putting it in front of Fen, "And the mutton for you, sir." She puts the mutton down in front of Croc, and I can't help but notice that she said she got mutton with a big amount of hope behind those words.

>"THERE'S the tongue party I was waggin' on about. Naw see this is the fishy I was for, I go get the slimmy to fetch me a tooth pecker' an' I get a woolly instead, but bless their bones they fire up a filler that tells me I was a bird choosin' to chase the nutrition out of a cat's licker."

They eat for awhile, while Croc keeps talking with mouthfuls of food.

>"Now don't you throttle your antlers little dragon, you'll be feelin' that dragon blood on your scales before ya have the inkling to say 'fetch a stoney bask'. All I say is that wood boy with 'is head fulla silver lining better be as deep gold as he says, cause this fishbone doesn't prance with what the pits leak out just for fun an' sport yep?"
"How much did Vackles hire you for?"
>"Ahhhka ya really like to set the cave pidgeon out for a flyin' don'tcha?"
........
"Yes." Fen says.
>"Real flat tongue wagglin' I like. Now the sun's shining on every wood in town an' there isn't but a purple slimmy to show for it, an' with that last light on the jelly we had and with our slimmy bein' a ground sort, it's a real barker hiden' behind a tooth nipper. The hips ain't above ground."

My butt isn't even that big! Wait, he's talking about my hips though, not my butt I guess?

"We can't fit in the tunnels."
>"Oy yer talkin' dumb plain. But those two-ringed shorties? The open rocks got a special place in their instincts. And by my maker they'd pop their buddies for a price down there."
"Are you saying we're going to hire kids to hunt for Cheese?"
>"Bah hardly, that ain't the sport I love. Plus those stubby tongues wouldn't hold down a hushy if their own maker got on their caps and begged an' pleaded for 'em to just keep a tooth on it. Naw once they hear clinks and blessed cries for our slimmy they'll be scrabblin and rabblin for that squishy neck so we gotta have our chickens in the coop. Now we get those shorties, still, ya follow? Been havin' my senses pointin' to those two-rings gallavanting about the grounds doin' things that only 20-rings do. Our sport's already got the clinks to motivate those tunnelers, an the hips ain't jus' lookin' for moss an' rime. If you waggle for my waggles, my jellies point that those hips fully wrap 'emselves around the nature that those shorties are a wolf on a delicacy, but slimmy's gotta munch on more than the moss on the rocks, an' so you waggle for my waggles, then I'd waggle that she's gettin hugs from the sun. So we don't get the sprouts to hunt our milk, we get the sprouts to tell us where the milk's flowin'. Then we jog our crowns for where the milk's flowin' next, put a right glass at the bottom, and let it run right in an' have ourselves a good tongue party. Naw let's whap our feet." Croc says, and the two of them start getting up to leave.
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No. 719965 ID: a075ba

>Croc speech
First line is him commenting on getting the mutton instead of what he ordered, but being approving of it.

Next line is talking about Fen getting to see some action, and wondering if Vackles actually has the funds to pay what he promised. (If Vackles knows about the dragoncloth, he might be gambling on recovering that to cover costs)?

One crazy plan to get rid of Vackles might be to go after his money behind his back, let Croc catch you, then watch as Croc kills Vackles when he can't pay up. Lot to gamble on there, and the biggest problem is not knowing Croc well enough to predict his actions in a situation we set up.

That last part is his plan to catch Cheese. Seems more verbose than it needs to be, but the short version is he intends to offer a financial incentive for the kids to turn on you, which will drive you above ground.

You might be safe from Croc's senses, for the moment, since he claimed he has them tuned listening for young people acting like adults?

>what do
You still can't do anything. No moving, no talking, no changing the pattern of your breathing. You can't get up till Croc has left.
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No. 719967 ID: 211d83

That's good news. Looks like Vackles has only promised him money. So if he catches you and Vackles can't pay up then Croc will probably kill him.

He is not planning on using the kids to hunt you but knows that you cant rely on them for everything so you have to do your own work above ground sometimes. So he is going to bribe them to track you so he can set a trap for you above ground when you have something you can't trust to kids.

And once he catches you he plans to have a long talk with you about whats going on because he is curious about why Vackles hired him.

It might not be best to just try and kill Croc. All we have to do is stay out of his reach long enough for our rumors to fuck up Vackles position and Croc will start getting mad about the prospect of not getting paid. Then all we have to do is give him some incentive to go take revenge via some gold and he might deal with our Vackles problem.

That and if we can give Croc a good impression we might be able to hire him to kill Bardo. Would be worth spending a bit if you could get rid of your 3k debt.

Anyways don't move for a long while before leaving.
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No. 719973 ID: 4546ab

So his plan is not to hire the kids to hunt you but to have them spy on you so he knows when you are going to be above ground next time. And he is watching for kids that act like adults because that shows him who belongs to the gangs and who is just a kid.

He knows you cant fully trust the kids so is going to use that against you.

The Rings comment is about counting tree rings for age.

So you could ambush him again buy letting the kids know you will be making a trade somewhere topside and letting the info get to Croc. Then scoping out where Croc would most likely sit to ambush the meeting and setting a ambush there for him.

He is distrustful of Vackles because he is not sure Vackles has the gold to pay him once he captures you. And how he does not fight mutants for pleasure.

Long story short I think it would be better to try and use Croc rather than try to kill him right off. Killing him is dangerous work and might end up with friends dead or badly injured. But he is in this for money and manipulating that could get him to do some of your work for you.

So we need to get those swords to Vackles and a witness set up fast. That will spur the rumor mill and then it might be a good idea to throw a rumor out there that Vackles killed Rayson because he lost a ton in a business deal and is hurting financially.

If you can keep away from Croc long enough to get Vackles in a bad spot Croc might be open to you paying him to deal with Vackles.
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No. 719999 ID: 5ad4a7

> So we don't get the sprouts to hunt our milk, we get the sprouts to tell us where the milk's flowin'.
He's going to use the kids for information, so feed the kids false information to lure him into another trap. We already know Cabbage and Tomato won't be able to beat him though...

...I wonder if you could make him stumble upon Vackles receiving the swords. If Vackles and Croc fight, we win.

An alternative is to beat Vackle's price, and communicate that to Croc. Problem with that is that I expect we'll have to hire him to kill Cheese's debtor in order to afford the transaction at all.
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No. 720013 ID: dd338c
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720013

From what I'm gathering, I've got to be even more careful about kids, now, if Croc is going to start hiring them, too.

>I wonder if you could make him stumble upon Vackles receiving the swords. If Vackles and Croc fight, we win.
Haha I have no idea how I'd -

Fen! What if I got Fen to look at the swords? What if he got Croc to look at the sword trade? That might work, but the trouble is that I'd have to get Fen or Croc to spread the rumor.

I have no idea who else I could get, though, especially not if I want to get this thing going as soon as possible.
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No. 720022 ID: 5ad4a7

Well I mean getting Fen to do something is appropriate since he's already involved, but I have no idea how to get any messages to him without Croc knowing, except through the wall.
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No. 720034 ID: 211d83

Ok we need to rethink our main plan now that Croc is around. Here is why.

1. Vackles has hired Croc but has only promised him a big payout. If we hand Vackles two expensive magic swords that's like giving him money to pay Croc. We need to frame Vackles but handing him money is a bad idea right now. Unless Vackles can't give Croc the swords for whatever reason or Croc would not take them because of how hot they are.

2. Croc is a good witness but I doubt he cares about Rayson's death. If he sees the swords change hands he is smart enough to guess that Vackles killed Rayson due to our rumors. But the question is would he care? Only if there was say a reward out for Rayson's killer or something. Having him see the meeting and hear Gauche tell Vackles about ending the hunt for Cheese might get him to demand payment then and there.

3. No idea why Fen would need to look at the swords. He carried them for a day and we could just tell him whats up if need be. But he might make a great witness/messenger if we need him. Might be able to use his "feud" with us to have a excuse to send him messages.

Whatever we do we need to make sure we do not piss of Gauche. Right now he is waiting for the swords to do whatever political thing he is going to do. We need to let Gauche know about Croc and that you are scared to let Vackles have anything that might help him pay Croc to silence you. This would explain the wait between messages.
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No. 720204 ID: f562b1

>Now the sun's shining on every wood in town
Wait is he talking about wood nobles?
> If you waggle for my waggles, my jellies point that those hips fully wrap 'emselves around the nature that those shorties are a wolf on a delicacy,
Can't figure out what the Waggler is, but I think the jellies are his eyes.
>slimmy's gotta munch on more than the moss on the rocks, an' so you waggle for my waggles, then I'd waggle that she's gettin hugs from the sun.
Is Slimmy his way of referring to targets? Seems he's suggesting staking out where "in broad sunlight" you're getting your food.
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No. 720716 ID: dd338c
File 146231703256.png - (117.79KB , 800x800 , 434.png )
720716

>How to get a message to Fen?
Well, I've got to drop off some silver for him anyways, so I can just leave a message there, too!

But maybe even more pressing is Croc going towards the kids. I think. Ergh, if only he spoke... normal. Right. Croc changes things, but I know I should use the kids as much as possible while I can still trust.... most of them.

I pick up the silver for Fen and a bit more of Tomato's poison. The safer routes kind of place Gravel's place between the new hideout and the dropzone for Fen, so I go to gravel before dropping anything new for Fen.

>"Well if it isn't our favorite spender, Cheese. We got worried about you!"
"Yeah yeah I'm fine! Anything new?"
>"Hey, hey, don't give me that 'yeah yeah', we wouldn't be feigning concern about someone we're doing a little gang war for, you know?"
"Erm... yeah, I'm sorry, Gravel."
>"Accepted! And you bet your glassy eyes we've got progress. First up, here's your grocery bag. One fancy dress that might just fit your form given a little work - which we'll do for a little metal of course - and one cloth that the merchant says could fool someone into thinking it were dragoncloth!"
"Wha - oh, right! Yes, thank you!"
>"Progress on the rumor mill is going on ahead like normal, but nothing worth talking about, other than a merchant ring getting uppity. What is worth talking about is that we found those two kids who beat you up. We've got 'em tied up just a minute away if you want to have a word with them. Just a warning though, their gang is up in arms now about it, so even though they can't do shit to us, you'd better be careful wandering around their turf."
"I'd like detailed information on their turf."
>"Sure. I'll bring someone over. Oh, and I got a couple good scrapper kids for you. Definitely trustworthy and tough. They can protect you in the tunnels just in case you gotta go places. Anyway, want to talk to those kids?"

I kind of have a lot to do like maybe let Gauche know that the next letter is coming despite the long pause, but those kids are right there.
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No. 720717 ID: 5ad4a7

>>720716
We can do this quick. Take the diluted poison out and administer it. Tell them you may have been bluffing about you being poisonous yourself, but you do have access to poison, and they sure as hell are going to get poisoned now that they've hurt you.

If you want to get really personal, put the poison on your claws and scratch them to poison them.
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No. 720719 ID: b412df

What do we have to gain from them? Aside from being cruel to scare them, only thing I can see is finding out if it was random mugging or if they were hired.
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No. 720724 ID: 211d83

Head over to meet your muggers and have a chat with them.

"So here we are again. What do you think I should do with you two? Back in the day I would have beaten you to death myself. But I have been thinking that maybe you deserve another chance."

Then depending on how they react you can poison them or whatever. If they go and swear certain revenge after they are free you should probably kill them. If not make them sick with the poison to teach them a lesson.

Then get your dress and fabric bundled up so they stay clean. And get other stuff done that you were going to do.
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No. 720743 ID: a075ba

>>720716
Just go up to the prisoners, no talking. (That makes it freakier). Then one by one, grab their faces and administer a does of diluted poison. (Hold nose until mouth open , pour in, hold mouth shut until forced to swallow, repeat. Get one of the kids to be your assistant, if necessary).

...maaaaaybe punch the leader in the face so he looses a fang. You know, eye for an eye and all that.

Walk away, don't look back.
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No. 720745 ID: 3cc68c

Get your second letter to Gauche ready first. Make sure you can figure out where Gauche is planning on handing off the swords so we can get Croc or whoever to witness things.

To many things could change so avoid planning to far ahead. Just try to get Vackles out of the way however you can and Croc off your trail. And maybe pay him to kill Bardo if opportunity arises.

Also let Fen know whats going on. Once you find the place the swords will be handed off get him a letter saying so. Make it look like you are still trying to get him off your back and how you are giving the stuff back so Vackles will call off his hounds. Just to make sure and keep Fen's cover with Croc.

Then go put the fear of god into the kids who mugged you. Just so they spread the story that its better to be your friend then try to make a quick buck.
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No. 720750 ID: dd338c
File 146232191896.png - (137.39KB , 800x800 , 435.png )
720750

>What do we have to gain from them? Aside from being cruel to scare them, only thing I can see is finding out if it was random mugging or if they were hired.
That and to make sure this doesn't happen again! To show people that bad stuff happens to people who mug me.

>Then get your dress and fabric bundled up so they stay clean.
They're in a bag right now, and they'll stay that way until I can get them cleaned up. I only open up the bag just to make sure they are all there.

"Yeah... yeah, but first, I have that second letter to get to Gauche. Deliver it in, uh, three hours from now, about sundown." Knowing Fen... I guess... kinda... he'll pick up the silver by then and my message. Croc and Fen being the witnesses is a big wildcard, but they're the best possibility I have.

Especially since I just realized I don't think I have any way to tell where exactly Gauche was going to hand the swords over to Vackles. If Croc and Fen know about this, then depending on how I write the letter, they'll almost definitely find out where it is themselves. It's introducing more If's and As-Long-As's in my plan, but the variables getting involved are just too many and too volatile for me to try to find a 'perfect' option anywhere anymore.

Nobles usually like to do business like this sword handoff after dark, too. Once I set things up for delivering the letter to Gauche, I talk about the kids again.

>"Bring me over to them!"
>"Right this way. We'll stay close." says Gravel.

I'm lead to an open alcove, where the two of them are sitting tight to chairs facing the wall. I've got just a little to say, but I step closer and make sure my tail is making noise dragging along the ground. I start walking around to their front.

Awww hell they already have the fear of gods in them. They really don't look like heartless thugs anymore even if they're on their way to becoming that. The leader's trying to put on a tough face too but he's shaking and sweating while glaring at the wall. Gulls is avoiding my look, and before I even put a hand on anyone's head, Gulls starts squealing and screaming into his gag.
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No. 720754 ID: b412df

Oh geez, well if we decide to use the poison, I'd say only do it to one of them preferably the leader, so we have one of them lucid enough to spread fear about it. Remember to account for body weight though, don't want to kill them.

Before we possibly do that, interrogate them about whether they were hired or not, basically why target you?
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No. 720755 ID: bb78f2

>>720750
All right, all right, ungag them. Lecture them bout how you know, maybe you REALLY should think about who you're mugging. Look at you two, you've been caught now, and anything could happen. You two are vulnerable, and should anyone in this room desire, they could slit their throats. Now, imagine the consequences if we had died from our wounds. We have two mutant siblings who were absolutely PISSED about our health when we returned. They wanted BLOOD. Had I not asked them to stay out of it, they would have murdered you and your entire gang.

Their gang wasn't able to protect them at all, from even these connections of mine. If your this vulnerable, you had every REASON to be afraid of our threats, even when you saw through our lies of the poison. If you can't protect yourself, maybe you should stay out of the damn game your playing, or play it better so that you're never captured again. Stick to your territories, stick to your strengths. You're too small, too weak, too dumb, to mug the right people. It's a shit business.
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No. 720758 ID: 211d83

Oh come on Gulls don't be like that. Where is the strong unafraid kobold that beat up a helpless lady a few hours ago.

This is what happens when you get into this sort of life.

One day you mug some poor guy and nothing bad happens to you. Sure he cant feed his kids and he looses his job while he recovers from the beating but you have a few more coppers to your name.

And then the next day you rob someone who turns out to have a noble friend. And they tell there noble friend who you are and you and your family get dragged out into the streets and strung up to die of exposure in front of the main gate.

Finally you have something like today. Where you go out and mug a spymaster that works for a dozen nobles.

What do you think happens now Gulls?

Then take the gag off and let him answer.
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No. 720759 ID: 5ad4a7

>>720750
Ask them if they think they're above consequences. Then show them the poison. Tell them it won't kill them, but you're not letting them get off scott free either. Tell Gull specifically that he doesn't seem like he has the stomach for thug work. Tell him you want to see him try, earnestly, to find a better way of life. Tell the other guy you don't want to see him again at all.

Definitely poison both of them. Maybe consider poisoning Gull less if you want to make a point about him being more likeable. Also I guess he wasn't the one that threw the rock. If you can't really poison him less, then poison both but give the leader a beating on top of it.
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No. 720762 ID: a075ba

...I'm torn. Our choice is to either show them mercy in return for prior mercy (they could have easily have killed you, but they didn't) or to jam the message home.

Problem with poisoning them is I'm not sure it teaches "Don't fuck with me" so much as "kill your marks so they can't retaliate".

...if we wanted to be really twisted, we don't force feed them the poison. You make a deal. You'll let them go. You'll spare their lives, as they spared yours. All they have to do first... is drink this. Make them choose it.

>Oh geez, well if we decide to use the poison, I'd say only do it to one of them preferably the leader
That's actually worse, because then the leader will retaliate against the other as soon as he's able. And not just cause he's a jerk- he'd have to, to save face / maintain authority in his gang. Long term that works out worse for the kid.

>We have two mutant siblings who were absolutely PISSED about our health when we returned. They wanted BLOOD. Had I not asked them to stay out of it, they would have murdered you and your entire gang.
Ixnay onway ethay utantmay urdermay iblingssay.
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No. 720763 ID: 4546ab

Do you two know how hard it was to convince my family to let you live? If I had not come home tonight or been even a bit more beat up they could have killed every kid in the underground.

They would have not cared who attacked me. They would have gone through kids until they found the ones that smelled like my blood. And then anyone else around for good measure.

No one is alone in this world Gulls. Everyone has family and friends. If you keep at this sort of life you will end up dead in a ditch sooner rather than later when a angry friend of one of your victims takes you down.

Now I know you decided to call my bluff about the poison. But just because I am not deadly to the touch does not mean I do not have some.

So I have this nice vial here full of the stuff. (then tell them what the undiluted poison does)

Then wait for there reactions.
>>
No. 720779 ID: aec7be

Give 'em a little speech. How, next time, when they hear of someone wandering around with a lot of cash, they should think about how maybe there's a reason why no one else has mugged them yet. Especially him, fuzzy, since he seemed in charge, while Gulls, he should think hard about sticking with a gang as dumb and as uncaring for its members as the one he's in. Then maybe neither of them will end up in a spot like this again, where they've been hurt, and there's a real serious chance of them getting killed.

However, you have a soft spot for kids, and have hopes they can learn better. And they did leave you alive, when they could have killed you. So you're not going to do anything more to them... except make sure they remember this lesson.

Then cut off a bit of one of their ears/horns and kick them out.
>>
No. 720831 ID: dd338c
File 146233127514.png - (97.11KB , 800x800 , 436.png )
720831

"Hey, kids. You know, there's usually a reason why people like me who have money don't get mugged that often. Things happen. Yeah, you were right about calling my bluff, I exaggerated my ability to deliver poison, you know? But I do have some."

I shake the vial in front of them. The leader is wide eyed at it, and Gulls is breaking down.

"A few years ago I probably would've just beaten the both of you to death, but - Gulls, be quiet and listen! - I guess I got patient. The poison does give you a fever first, but that's the start. Soon, your skin would peel from your hide, your organs would gradually melt and you'd start bleeding. You can't stand after an hour, but it'd be a few days after that that you just start dying slowly as you bleed to death from your eyeballs, vomit and shit."
"Don't take the lesson to be 'kill your mark instead of letting them go', because people come out for revenge, and as you can tell, I know people. You made the right choice, since you'd probably be even worse off than you are now if you killed me. I've got friends, and I've got family, and they'd tear their way through kids till they found the ones that smelled like my blood. We all have family of some kind. Hey, Gulls." My lecture is probably sounding lethargic. I'm more tired than anything. "You don't seem like someone with the stomach for this way of life. What did you think would happen? Nothing?"

I undo the gag. I almost think he screams, but it's too shaky and sobby to count, at least until he starts screaming and crying for his mother.

"Gulls, that's not what I asked for! What happened to the unafraid kobold poking my teeth and beating up unconcious girls?!"
"I'M SORRY! He'd kill me if I didn't! No one's gonna miss me! I don't have family! Yoof is the only person who gave me food or did anything for me! If I got beat up and mugged no one would beat up the mugger!"
"You just said he was going to kill you if you didn't do what he said, and you were just screaming for your mother! And geez, is your mother the type of person who'd approve of this?!"

That gets him to start wailing again, telling everyone he's sorry until he starts coughing and hiccuping between sobs, starting to ask his mom why she left him and telling her he tries to be good. Ugh, he's pathetic! It's like looking in a mirror and I hate it! This isn't a thug, this is a baby!

If I was going to poison him, I should've done it sooner!
>>
No. 720832 ID: dd338c
File 146233128453.png - (62.69KB , 800x800 , 437.png )
720832

I move back to gravel.

"Hey, didn't you say their gang was going to be disbanded?"
>"Yeah, but even if we're gonna win the gang war, I don't think we said we'd take 'em out in a couple hours. He's out of the picture now, though. Told me his name was Yoof or something. We're probly gonna run him outta town after we win, and Gulls... we'll keep 'im for ourselves, assuming you don't cripple him. And if we don't slit his throat for screaming so damn much, too! Sheesh. If you can't get anything out of him, put the gag back on."

Maybe just... a taste of the diluted poison instead of a full dose, for Gulls. Or a small little chip off the horn instead. A punch in the face?

A flick on the nose.

Maybe not that little, because I don't want to teach him that he gets off easy if he screams loud enough.
>>
No. 720839 ID: aec7be

Nah. Take him yourself. Tell everyone he's not going to be able to survive in a gang and you know how to find people who have better uses for someone with a gentle disposition.

Your two mutant siblings have a hard time without someone to help them out, right? Be a pair of hands, carry things, help them eat and clean and such? He comes back and lives with them, eats when they eat, and they make sure he doesn't run until you feel he's gotten used to them and you feel he can be trusted. He'll have a safe little job with enough to live off and they'll be much more comfortable, and if you treat him well enough he should be pretty happy.

He's not Erja Nokol, but he is an orphan, if he's to be believed. Enough of something common there?
>>
No. 720841 ID: 5ad4a7

Put the gag back in and chip part of a horn off. Every time he looks in the mirror he'll remember that you spared him.

As for the leader kid, tell him you're willing to make a deal. He tells you how they cornered you, and you won't poison him. Also, if he tells you something particularly interesting, you won't beat the shit out of him. That latter deal goes for Gull too. But yeah, don't lie.
>>
No. 720843 ID: 211d83

Gulls seems like he is young enough to turn his life around if you give him the chance. Just a poor kid that ended up with the wrong crowd. I think we can let him off light this time. Maybe make him watch what happens to Yoof as a lesson. Then make sure he gets treated well so he learns being your friend is way better than the alternative.

Ask him what he thinks you should do with him first. Then after he answers re gag him and turn your attention to Yoof.

Then ungag Yoof and see what he has to say. Ask him how he thought this would end. And where he got the brilliant idea to rob you. Depending on how he answers it will let you know how badly to make a example of him.
>>
No. 720844 ID: a075ba

Give Gulls enough of a dose that he's gonna feel sick for a few days, and tell him that's his punishment. It's how long you're gonna be sore, so it's fair. The other one gets it worse.

>>720839
It's a nice thought, but he's waaaaay too big a liability, considering how dangerous the things Cheese does are.
>>
No. 720848 ID: 4546ab

Tell Gulls that his plight has touched your cold blackened heart (It really has). But if you let everyone who crossed you cry there way out of it you would get a bad rep.

Re gag him and deal with the asshole leader before you do anything to Gulls. If Yoof gives you crap you can set Gulls tied up across from him to watch the poison work on Yoof as a punishment.

Then have a chat with Yoof about bad life choices and the consequences involved. Find out how he tracked you down and why he robbed you. Oh and where you money went.

Depending on how he acts you can get a idea of how much poison to feed him.
>>
No. 720852 ID: a075ba

>Maybe not that little, because I don't want to teach him that he gets off easy if he screams loud enough.
...and what lesson did Fen teach you, in the mud, Cheese?
>>
No. 720864 ID: c8f0de

Gulls seems like a good kid that you can let off with a flick to the nose.

But don't do it until you see how Yoof responds. Cant let him see that crying will get him off the hook.

Give Yoof the same treatment and find out if he is to far gone to save or not.

Just make sure to keep your mask up so Yoof does not try to take advantage of your good nature.
>>
No. 720869 ID: 5ad4a7

Honestly taking Gull in is a bad idea for lots of reasons.

Trust only your family.
>>
No. 720874 ID: 78a3e5

Gulls seems less like a good kid and more like a coward. But... You may be able to swing this to get him on your side? If the gang does betray you maybe you could scare/get him in enough debt to you that you get advanced warning?
>>
No. 720881 ID: 59488d

>>720874

Hmm... We do still have quite a bit of money. We could get Gull into this gang, have him spill to use if they betray, with the promise that we'll give him the funds to go somewhere nice and "donate" his way into some sort of actually decent orphanage.
>>
No. 720883 ID: f562b1

>>720841
>He tells you how they cornered you, and you won't poison him.
We already know how, he predicted Cheese would go to an open area if she thought she was being followed, and had Gulls noisily follow.

>Tell Gulls that his plight has touched your cold blackened heart (It really has).
>Give Gulls enough of a dose that he's gonna feel sick for a few days, and tell him that's his punishment.
Wonder if we should maybe put these together, but from the sounds of it,
>and Gulls... we'll keep 'im for ourselves, assuming you don't cripple him. And if we don't slit his throat for screaming so damn much, too!
he might not be willing to spare the effort to care for the kid while he's sick. I think a chip out of the horn is the best deal, while a dose for the boss is well deserved. Maybe instead of saying his words touched your heart, something like "Well, seems like somebody thinks you may be worth keeping around, so I'll just keep it to this--" and take a chip out. Then you comment on how the boss won't get off so easily right in front of Gulls so he knows he got of easy, as you give him a dose of the poison.
>>
No. 720947 ID: 91ee5f

>>720883
This sounds good, let's just chip Gulls' horn and maybe a slap to the face. Just make sure you give the other kid the diluted poison. We're saving the real stuff for Croc.
>>
No. 721225 ID: dd338c
File 146250624821.png - (146.30KB , 800x800 , 438.png )
721225

>And what lesson did Fen teach you, in the mud, Cheese?
That Fen is a big softy!

I go back to talk to Gulls.

"I haven't decided what to do with you, Gulls. I'm going to talk to Yoof, first."

He goes back to making quiet whines and sobs when I gag him

"At least someone thinks you're worth something!" I tell Gulls while prying the gag off of Yoof. "And you, Yoof? You're just... no good. I'd lecture you, but how many times have you been lectured by adults?.... Talk to me or I'm chipping your ears!"
>"Save your stinky breath."
"Yeah I figured. Then I'll just get to the questions. What did you think would happen?"
>"That you'd be a good lady and just be happy we didn't kill you! My gang is going to make you wish we finished the job!" he laughs. It's a forced laugh that doesn't tell me he finds anything funny.
"Did anyone set you up to mug me?"
>"Yeah, the world is trying to tell you to crawl back into the dirt where you belong."
"Okay just forget it gosh I'm going to feed you some diluted poison now. You'll live, but the next few days are going to suck. If you spit out a drop I'm just going to kill you."
>"How do I know it's not just the real poison and it's not going to kill me slowly?!"
"If I wanted you to suffer then die, I've got a lot better ways to do that!"

He drinks the poison.

As for Gulls, well.. I can't just go doing something crazy like take him in. I mean, even if I had a good home all prepped up for him, I can't tell whether or not he's really a good kid where it counts or just a huge coward behind a thin, calloused exterior. I can't just take in every kid that has a sob story, either! That'd be a lot of kids.

I was about ready to chip off a horn, but if Croc really tries his hardest to get these kids to turn against me in some way even just to lead me into a trap, it might be good to try and convince Gulls to be on my side, but if so, I, uh, I doubt I could chip his horn. I mean I could but what am I gonna say, 'hey I just gave you a lifelong scar but want to help me out anyway?' So, one or the other.
>>
No. 721226 ID: 1cebc8

Of course you can take in every kid with a sob story!

That way they'll have even BETTER horror stories about your torture methods when you break the dumbest among them into EYE-MELTING ABOMINATIONS as an INTRODUCTION COURSE.

Basically, make them EARN their recruitments. If Gulls can't take the sheer sadistic WARZONES you will throw him into just to harden him up, then just sap the life from his bones and throw him back to his club.

For starters make him stare at Yoof as the poison melts his flesh. Then set Yoof on fire.
>>
No. 721230 ID: 211d83

Fen would have killed you out there if you had been just a thief after his stuff. He killed a bunch of people at the drop of a hat just looking for you. Never mistake mercy and kindness for being soft Cheese. He saw something in you that made him trust you enough to take a huge risk. (plus he totally was staring at your butt. Why else would he use it as a fake insult a moment later?)

While you need to set a example with these two its not because you enjoy there suffering. It's just a good idea to make sure you don't get a reputation for letting people get away with crossing you.

Drag Gulls chair so he has to watch Yoof suffer for a hour or two. Make that his punishment. He gets to watch close up what happens to Yoof. Make sure to let him know that the full dose is a hundred times worse. It will probably stick with him better than any scars.

Then tell him he works for you now until he pays every copper he stole back. If he wants to stay with Gravels gang he can but he is your personal servant until he pays you back for all the trouble he has caused you. Just make sure he gets fed well and watch him closely.

This way you can use him to set a example while getting a minion. Time will tell if he is worth the effort but if he fails you then you can easily throw him to Gravel to take care of.
>>
No. 721231 ID: 5ad4a7

If he's a sniveling coward then the threat of future violence will keep him from betraying you to Croc. What good would one child on your side be, anyway? Croc has dozens to choose from, and they're ALL more loyal to your money than to your squishy butt.
>>
No. 721232 ID: 768f23

Remember, Cheese, you're not just teaching these two a lesson, or their gang a lesson, but the kids who are currently "on your side", as well. You need to be brutal. But, at the same time, remember the principle: it's better to be feared than loved, but best is both, and above all else, don't be hated. You don't want to do injuries that will linger and fester into hatred later. Get all your worst done at once, and then let it be over.

If I were prepared to be totally ruthless, I would make Gulls watch Yoof suffer, then ask Yoof if he'd like to die, and if he says yes then kill him. Then give Gulls something that will heal. But, killing kids doesn't sit well with me, and clearly not with you, either.

So, if we can't kill him, I'd say get rid of Yoof. We don't want him to be able to go back to his gang and rile them up, or carry stories about Gulls being with their rivals. We also want that gang to know that messing with you has permanent consequences. So, if I were you, I'd pay someone to take him away. Out of the city, out of the area, just somewhere where he won't be able to make it back by himself. He's a city kid, so, it shouldn't be too hard, and you should know someone who'll be leaving the city and happy enough to drag a kid with them. Let Gulls and his gang think that he was killed, and that should work well enough, too.
>>
No. 721244 ID: 91ee5f

But if you did kill me, then someone would've found me. And then when word gets out and reaches the ears of certain nobles, they would've hunted down and slaughtered you and your entire gang, without even caring that you're just kids. Why? Because I know valuable information that they want to know, and you killing me would've denied them that information, which would've pissed them off. So, consider you and your entire gang lucky that you weren't stupid enough to kill me!

(I wonder if they'll buy this?)
>>
No. 721248 ID: 5ad4a7

Oh. Ask Yoof if Gulls joined in on beating you while you were unconscious, or if it was just him.

If Gulls kicked you while you were down, do not bother trying to recruit the little shit.
>>
No. 721265 ID: f416da

>>721248

I don't think Yoof is going to be super trustworthy about that sort of thing.
>>
No. 721308 ID: a075ba

>That Fen is a big softy!
Nothing about the power of mercy? A simple gesture on his part bought him your loyalty and trust. It's not a tool you can bring to bear effectively very often, but it can be powerful, done right.

>Drag Gulls chair so he has to watch Yoof suffer for a hour or two. Make that his punishment.
Oh, I like that.

Then come back, and take him away, and tell Gulls you own him now. He's got someone who's going to care (slightly) if someone dies, because he's going to be making this up to you.

(Cheese's response to Gulls seems to be at least half self loathing- she keeps seeing stuff that reminds her of herself at her worst, most pathetic. We get conflicting sympathy and anger over that. From this, I think it would be good for Cheese if she tried to do something positive for Gulls- whether or not he deserves it, and whether in the end she molds him into a slightly more competent tunnel rat, or he actually ends up being useful over the longer term as an apprentice spy).
>>
No. 721350 ID: dd338c
File 146257555121.png - (146.88KB , 800x800 , 439.png )
721350

>[Fen sparing you was a] simple gesture on his part bought him your loyalty and trust. It's not a tool you can bring to bear effectively very often, but it can be powerful, done right.
What's off about that and really worries me about him is that now he seems to trust me! He still slept right by me!

A different me would've just stabbed him while he slept!

Back to the present situation, I think I'll try and recruit Gulls, still. I'd have to work for a long ways to get in a position where I could make anyone earn recruitment, even though that.

"Wait. Where was my money?"
>"... your boss took it." says Yoof.
"What, gravel? Alright. Gulls, you're working for me, now."
>"Wh... What?"
"Gravel's probably not going to give it back to me, so you're going to earn back every damn copper you took! You can stay under gravel's gang while I'm away, but it's me who owns you alright?"

Gulls just clenches his throat, but when I start making a motion for him, he nods.

"If you're good under me, you'll be paid better than you'd get mugging people, and you'll be well fed. But, if you do try and betray me... Yoof is going to be an example of what the diluted poison does. You're going to watch. Then when Yoof is able to walk, he's going to be ran out of town."

Dunno enough about Gulls to tell how well this is going to go, but trust with any kids is going to be tough to come by, soon.

>"Hey, Cheese." Gravel comes in. "Wrapping up soon?"
"Yeah, actually I was just about done."
>"Good, because you guys need to move."
"What's wrong?"
>"Nothing much, but we've got to get to good drainage areas, 'cause it looks like it's gonna rain. If it starts now and goes hard, this room is going to be submerged in a half hour."
>>
No. 721353 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721350
Okay then you'll leave them to it.

Don't follow Gravel. He could already be compromised by Croc. Just keep going where you were planning before you got sidetracked by the kids.
>>
No. 721354 ID: 0a94cb

Cheese I know this is a bit off topic, but you should understand that your one fang that sticks out is super cute. Ridiculously so, even.
>>
No. 721355 ID: 211d83

Sort of paranoid this could be a trick to get you to move. Just keep a eye out for trickery. Will you have to leave just the lower levels or all of the underground? This could be a big chance for Croc to find you depending.

"Dang it how am I supposed to teach Gulls here a lesson then? Can you take these two with you and make Gulls watch while Yoof suffers? After that he is going to be my personal errand boy until he pays me back."

Then give Gravel any stuff you need to and find a dry place to hang out.
>>
No. 721371 ID: a075ba

>what really worries me is he trusts me
>A different me would've just stabbed him while he slept!
Yeah, but you-you wouldn't. So is he really wrong?

>If it starts now and goes hard, this room is going to be submerged in a half hour.
Repeat your early commentary about how comfortable mud is.

>what do
We should probably move onto implementing the next stage in your plan. Can't afford to dwaddle, and we there's always the chance Gravel's been paid off and this would be a trap he's leading you to.
>>
No. 721384 ID: dd338c
File 146258094561.png - (73.45KB , 800x800 , 440.png )
721384

>But you should understand that your one fang that sticks out is super cute.
It used to be twooooooo

>You wouldn't stab Fen while he slept, so is he really wrong?
No, but I'm worried that he's gonna do a similar thing later and then be wrong!

"Just here?"
>"Yeah. Well a lot of places, but a lot of the underground stays dry. Well, dry-ish."
"Can you make Gulls watch Yoof? I poisoned Yoof and he's going to be sick for a few days."
>"Eh? Who's gonna feed him?"
"You are, because I'm gonna pay for his food." I say, making sure Gravel is the only one who can hear that.
>"Well that settles that. Wanna follow us?"
"No, I've got to go do things. How do you know it's gonna rain? Is it foggy out?"
>"... cloudy, Cheese. Clouds are what rains come from. It's foggy too, but... it's clouds, Cheese."
"Okay, okay!"

I wanted to know if it was foggy, actually, because if it's foggy, crows might be up at the church bell. It's still daytime, though, so probably not.

Uh, geez... I might actually have some time to kill. Feels weird to say that.
>>
No. 721386 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721384
Go find your missing tooth so it can be put back in for cheaper. Then get that money to Fen's drop point.
>>
No. 721393 ID: 91ee5f

>>721384
Is your hideout in a place that won't flood? Because that's where Cabbage and Tomato are and it would suck if they drown because they got lost trying to get away from the water. They don't know these tunnels like you do.
>>
No. 721397 ID: a075ba

>>721386
Considering magic regen is already gold-level expensive, I'm not sure growing or reattaching a tooth make a difference in cost. Besides, Cheese has money, and digging around in the dirt takes time.

>dead drop for Fen
>make sure siblings aren't in a flood zone
Those seem like reasonable thing to do, though.
>>
No. 721415 ID: 211d83

Fen is as straightforward as they come. If you never betray him he will be a trustworthy friend until the end. Plus he would not stab you in the back. Is more of a set a appointment and then charge through anything in the way before killing you sort of guy.

Retrive tooth so you can have it slotted back in later. Then work on finding a few new hiding places to work from just in case.
>>
No. 721423 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721422
...I really hope Croc didn't decide to watch this drop point in case Fen was contacting you via it. Unless Fen was off on his own entirely, Croc would have noticed *something* was up.

Be careful when leaving. ...hey it occurs to me that you might be able to kill Vackles with the poison, if you can somehow ensure that it gets in his food without it being tested first. Or maybe you can bribe the food taster to sabotage the test... or give them the antidote ahead of time so they can get poisoned but survive.
>>
No. 721424 ID: dd338c
File 146258658376.png - (239.15KB , 800x800 , 441.png )
721424

At least I'm not bleeding from out of my missing tooth. Maybe someday I can get a wizard to grow it back. From what I know about body regeneration, it's easier to just grow something back. That is, if the wound is really recent and the wizard is right there, then the tooth or arm or whatever's missing can probably be jammed back in place then magically re-bound, but by the time I get a wizard, my gums will heal over and they'd have to like rip the gums back open to jam the tooth in for just a little benefit and... I'd just do it from scratch.

Oh shoot my hideout!

The first one I knew had good drainage, but I don't know about the second. I'm not far from Fen's drop point, so I wrap up the silver and go up to our dead drop zone. If it starts raining like at all though, I'm racing back down to the hideout. I'm pretty sure both Tomato and Cabbage can breathe underwater, so that's not what I'm worried about. What I'm worried about his that they'll get too cold while under there, and be forced to swim back up.

The drop point is in a broken section of building that makes a little hiding alcove, I see some stuff. It looks like Fen was already here?

There's a note on top of a small bag.

Chese. Croc told me a few drops of poisioin could kil.

I guess Fen's writing is better than most savages.

Inside the bag is a different vial with Tomato's poison, and it looks to be about half the poison I gave him.
>>
No. 721427 ID: 211d83

Did Fen just give you back half your poison so you would have some just in case? That is so thoughtful.(and cute)

Well leave him your note explaining that you are going to try and get Croc to witness the sword hand off to help your rumors and maybe get Croc to turn against Vackles. Maybe make the note look like you are afraid of him and trying to get him to stop hunting you so he can show it to Croc?

And to not kill Croc unless he gets the perfect chance cause we don't want him getting hurt and maybe we can hire Croc to kill Bardo or something.

Then head out and move your base somewhere safer.
>>
No. 721444 ID: dd338c
File 146258945326.png - (17.99KB , 800x800 , 442.png )
721444

I get my letter ready to go along the 40 silver.

Fen please stop hunting me. It isn't enough to buy off Croc, but as a barbarian, please accept this 40 silver to stop hunting me. Croc is going to be safe and sound unless the whole universe is set up perfectly to harm him. He'll be able to hunt me but it's bad enough to have him chasing me let alone savages, too!

I go back to Cabbage and Tomato.

"Hello I'm back."
>"Hello, back, I'm Cabbage."
"... I'm gonna ignore that, Cabbage!"
>"Mmm, that's fair."
"Anyway, it might rain, and our previous hideout was fine, but this one might get submerged."
>"Ahh, I do doubt that."
"Why?"
>"It has been raining here every night for quite some time, but the ground here is rather dry. I don't believe the water comes here."

I guess that's a fair point, and maybe I should get some sleep. I didn't get much before Cabbage woke me up, so I'm still kinda drowsy.

Buuut I'm also running short on places like dead drop zones and backup hideouts. I should find more. I could also probably go near the merchant ring buildings and eavesdrop on merchants there.
>>
No. 721450 ID: 211d83

You know your own limits best. If you need sleep to keep working at top form get some now so you can go check for crows once it gets dark.

If you have enough energy you can go find some more hiding places but honestly then you would have to sleep at night and maybe miss the crows.
>>
No. 721452 ID: a075ba

>>721444
Seems like you should get some actual rest.
>>
No. 721467 ID: 4546ab

Get some sleep so you can meet up with the crows tonight if fog rolls in.

Then you will be refreshed and can search for hideouts under the cover of darkness.

Just make sure your hideout is secure before you nap.
>>
No. 721474 ID: dd338c
File 146259228762.png - (11.84KB , 800x800 , 443.png )
721474

>Sleep

I let the two of them know I'm going to get some more sleep, but to make sure I'm up in about 2 hours. I also cover up the tunnel entrance just a little bit so that it looks like a deadend if someone comes by.
>>
No. 721475 ID: dd338c
File 146259230997.png - (131.91KB , 800x800 , 444.png )
721475

Some time later, I wake up on my own. It's a little warmer than normal. There's light. I'm not in my - I'm not in the hideout!
>>
No. 721479 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721475
Fuuuuuck. Either Croc found you or something else happened to give Cheese and Tomato reason to relocate you without waking you. ...makes me wonder if you got drugged.

Look around to see exactly who's got you now. Wait, you're on your own? Check the door to the room.
>>
No. 721480 ID: 201e63

>braziers built into the walls
>what look like hieroglyphs or something marked into said walls
>on some sort of bed or platform, maybe?

Seems like some sort of fancy temple or something. I didn't think the Fence was the kind of place to have anything like this.

I don't suppose there's any magic involving sending people messages in their dreams, or similar? Or weird dream phenomena, like memories of the great beasts you're descended from? Ooooor maybe you just have weird vivid dreams sometimes, Cheese?
>>
No. 721481 ID: a075ba

Who the heck could have got to you if you were under the guard of your siblings?

...either Croc grabbed you, or a god did.

Look around, cautiously.
>>
No. 721482 ID: 211d83

Are you dreaming? Cause if not you got kidnapped by someone rich as fuck.

Take a look around calmly cause there is no point to panicking at this point.
>>
No. 721484 ID: 3cc68c

Hey Cheese do any of your noble patrons happen to be mummified undead royalty? Just wanted to check. Cause reasons.

If you do meet any gods or sorcerer kings here make sure to be really humble.
>>
No. 721497 ID: dd338c
File 146259393458.png - (84.74KB , 800x800 , 445.png )
721497

I've got to see who's around.

Oh wait. The fence doesn't have a place like this, so either Croc grabbed me and put me in a secret rich zone of mummified royalty, or a god grabbed me, or something. More likely, there's weird magic involving dream walking since there's probably a wizard or two does that, and most likely of all, I'm just dreaming myself. It's pretty vivid and I'm pretty lucid, though.

Wait. This looks like Lord Shup's place, actually.

It's a pretty big room, but... Fen? Fen's sleeping in another bed near me.
>>
No. 721498 ID: 0a94cb

You getting kidnapped while asleep isn't too surprising, but Fen? Better check if he's injured or anything. Besides the horn chip, I mean.
>>
No. 721499 ID: 211d83

Lord Shup's place? That sounds ominous.

Well if you are dreaming better make the most of it. Go sneak a peak at naked Fen while you have the chance.
>>
No. 721500 ID: a075ba

>>721497
Cheese I think you're dreaming you're Fen's wife!

Go wake your hubby up.
>>
No. 721501 ID: 4546ab

Well Fen's horn is not damaged so is totally a dream. Go snuggle up with him.
>>
No. 721502 ID: 3cc68c

This is your chance to act out all your depraved fantasies with Fen while lucid dreaming!

So get over there and seduce him already.
>>
No. 721503 ID: 201e63

Ask him if he's awake. If he doesn't answer, nudge him a bit. Prepare mentally for you to turn him towards you and his face to be missing or some other nightmare thing from your tortured subconscious.

If he doesn't wake up, or does but also acts like it's the real him summoned into a dream and doesn't have any clue where he is, ask the room if there's anyone there and if you were brought here for something. Oh, and dream test: focus on the walls and see if you can make out anything sensible. If this is just a dream, the symbols on the walls will be weird, shift around, be inconsistent or illegible, et cetera. If they don't, this is a real place, or magically derived from a real place, or just a very well-crafted piece of illusion magic or similar.

If it is really just a lucid dream, with a Fen who isn't real, and no wizards are watching you, then maybe you should indulge in some Fen fantasies, Cheese.
>>
No. 721505 ID: 63cf8c

If this is a spell it could be a spell by your enemies made to draw you out, give hints as to your plans and allies, or other nefarious ideas. Be cautious.
>>
No. 721506 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721497
How do you know what Lord Shup's house looks like?

Go look out the door.
>>
No. 721508 ID: dd338c
File 146259573611.png - (135.87KB , 800x800 , 446.png )
721508

>How do you know what Lord Shup's house looks like?
I was once there! I didn't do much, though.

Oh gosh.

I already know it's a dream but.

Maybe I should indulge in a little, uh... Fen time? I can pretend that we're just sleeping in close proximity like husband and wiii nooooo there's no way! But I could. It's just a dream. There's no harm in... at least waking him up. And seeing how he responds.
>>
No. 721509 ID: dd338c
File 146259575148.png - (86.83KB , 800x800 , 447.png )
721509

Maybe a little snuggle. His horn isn't chipped or anything, and his face isn't half melted or anything, so my subconscious is treating me well I guess.

Ohhh this is pathetic but it feels so nice. I really blew it with that dragoncloth. I could've had the best night of sleep in ages if I just relaxed against him, but noooo, had to play the big leagues.

So even if it's a dream, I'm gonna practice cuddling for when - if - it happens again for real! Ah, we're still dirty. Maybe we couuuuuld share a bath when Fen gets up? He's not waking up, but his breathing is nice and even like this.

He's warm. He feels comfy. A little rougher than I'd think? Yeah, his clothes are almost a little prickly, but as long as I don't grind on him, it's really not bad at all! Ah, he's... purring? He's making a familiar sound. Haha, he sounds just like Tomato!
>>
No. 721511 ID: dd338c
File 146259577850.png - (25.29KB , 800x800 , 448.png )
721511

>>
No. 721512 ID: 211d83

Slowly and carefully remove yourself to avoid further dosage.

Well this is a mess is it not? Guess its time to find out how well your immunity has held up over time.

That or go steal the antidote from Croc. Which I can not see going well.
>>
No. 721513 ID: a075ba

>>721511
...extricate yourself slowly and carefully, then go take the antidote Cabbage gave you before you die horribly.

Then start picking needles out of yourself before the antidote you drank is used up and the needles poison you again.
>>
No. 721514 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721511
OH NO

Don't panic, make no sudden moves. Carefully unsnuggle yourself, check to see if any spines are stuck in you. If not, wait a couple minutes to see if the fever starts. If it does, take the antidote.
>>
No. 721515 ID: 3cc68c

Why do I have the oddest feeling that Shup just tried to kill you via dream magic.

Well search yourself for spines and take some antidote. Then go cuddle with Cabbage instead.

And next time you see Fen get some cuddling in when you get the chance.
>>
No. 721517 ID: 201e63

Well that's not where you fell asleep Cheese so I think you're a sleep snuggler.

You only felt prickling, right? And you do have scales, yes? Maybe you didn't actually get any in you. Be super careful pulling away.
>>
No. 721518 ID: 4546ab

At least Tomato is enjoying your company. Get yourself cleaned up and De-toxified.

The fact that you ended up at Shup's place in that dream might be nothing or it could be a big hint that he had something to do with it.

Could just be dreams cause Fen is involved with Shup but could be more.

After you fix things get back to bed unless its been a few hours.
>>
No. 721521 ID: 93244f

better hurry before our skin melts.
>>
No. 721529 ID: 91ee5f

>>721508
So you were dreaming that Fen succeeded in becoming a noble and became rich enough to takeover Shup's house. And Fen made you one of his many wives. Or better yet, his only wife. Apparently, your subconscious has high hopes that Fen will succeed and fall in love with you! That's so adorable!

>>721511
This, on the other hand, while still adorable, is very dangerous! Either you moved over to him in your sleep or he moved over to you. You can't get mad at him either way, it's not his fault he thought you were cold or something! So, unless you want to test if you still have your immunity, I suggest you carefully get out from under him, take the antidote, and start pulling out spines.
>>
No. 721533 ID: dd338c
File 146260275949.png - (95.92KB , 800x800 , 449.png )
721533

Okay.

Removing my arm from Tomato. Easy as long as I'm careful.

Let's see, the bright side of this... is that I can test out how immune I am after all this time.

I start picking out the few barbs that got in my skin, but there were only one or two.

Pretty sure like 20 actually broke my skin though. I probably took nearly a whole vial's worth of poison.

Oh, right! We have an antidote. It's meant to counter smaller doses of poison, like ones gotten from accidental pricks, not dumb girls going full sleep cuddler over the little guy. But that just means that a deadly outcome will be an unpleasant experience, probably.

I get the antidote out of the bag, set up another candle, and wait. I'll see how long it is until I start itching. I definitely don't want to wait too long, since the poison will get some momentum and the antidote won't just instantly make things better.

About 10 minutes pass. I only feel a bit feverish. Maybe my immunity held up better than I thought! I mean I don't even know if the poison is doing anything or if I'm just so sure I should have a fever that my body is cooperating with it.

I think the general rule of thumb was fever after a moment spells death, delayed fever spells slow death, and if I last an hour without getting itchy skin, then signs are good that I'd survive the poison. I mean I'm itching now but that's because I'm nervous and also because I was all over barbs and I can still feel their pokes.

What I'm thinking is that maybe I should save the antidote and see if I really need it.

And I'd need to explain to Cabbage why the antidote is gone. Tomato is going to feel just terrible even if it wasn't his fault at all!
>>
No. 721534 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721533
Where IS Cabbage, anyway?
>>
No. 721540 ID: 201e63

Well, it was only your left side and your arm that was in contact with Tomato, right? If the itching is just from getting pricked it should be only there and only the faint nervous itching elsewhere, and it wouldn't increase from that level, but if it's the poison then it would flow through your blood and you'd be itching more all over and it would have ramped up over time.

As for the fever, true fevers come with thirst and dry mouth, whatever your equivalent of sweating is, and possibly muscle aches.

So, if you feel really properly itchy all over, not just where you were touching, and if the itching has increased over time from the prickles you had when you first pulled yourself back, and if you have any of the secondary fever symptoms, then the poison is affecting you and you should take the antidote.

If not, then not.

You could also quietly wake up Cabbage and ask to have yourself felt for a fever.
>>
No. 721558 ID: 1cebc8

Can you take half the antidote vial?

Please wake Tomato and state the nature of your medical emergency.
>>
No. 721570 ID: a075ba

>>721533
You're... not gonna fall asleep waiting to see how bad your symptoms are, and then die because you can't take the antidote, right? And you have to wait an hour to be sure. If you're having trouble staying awake at all, take it.

>What I'm thinking is that maybe I should save the antidote and see if I really need it.
Trade offs. You conserve the antidote and don't worry them if you don't take it, but how weak will even a partial dose and the lack of sleep make you. Can you afford to be weakened, right now?

If you think it won't be so bad, or you can handle it, okay.

Plus of this might be it actually strengthens your immunity back up again.

>the antidote
Who makes that, anyways. What do you even make it from?

>And I'd need to explain to Cabbage why the antidote is gone. Tomato is going to feel just terrible even if it wasn't his fault at all!
He'd feel even worse if you die. Take it if you need to.
>>
No. 721575 ID: 211d83

The person who has a fever is not qualified to check how bad it is. Go tell Cabbage what is up and have her check you out. And with how filthy you are we could not tell if you had a rash anyways.

You took enough poison to kill hundreds of people so I have no doubt that your immunity is mostly intact. Otherwise you would be showing way worse symptoms.

But that does not mean you are completely immune. If you get horribly sick for a week then its going to make getting stuff done hard. Plus sometimes you can get odd reactions while your body rebuilds its immunity to stuff.

So hold off drinking until you chat with Cabbage. Find out how many doses of antidote they have and how hard it is to get more. While saving some might be vital in case of Fen accidents or something else it wont matter if you drop over dead before then.
>>
No. 721682 ID: 5ad4a7

...ah, I just thought of one way Gravel could sell you out to Croc. He could be using the flooding excuse to move somewhere that Croc has easy access to or will be otherwise watching. Then when you want to meet Gravel you'll go to him, and Croc will be waiting.

So, it's not just that you have to avoid telling the kids where you're going. You also don't want to ever go where they tell you to go, or go to a specific spot to meet them. Just find random kids when you can from now on, and send messages to Gravel that way, or hire random kids directly.
>>
No. 721781 ID: dd338c
File 146267835208.png - (17.72KB , 800x800 , 450.png )
721781

I walk to Cabbage. At least I have my balance.

"Cabbage. Hey, Cabbage."
>"Mm? What is it, Cheese? Can you not sleep? I can curl around you, if you are cold."
"Thank you, but I... kinda did that... in my sleep... with Tomato."
>"... you touched Tomato?"
"Yes. I got a pretty big dose."
>"Mm, it is a good thing we have antidote."
"I was hoping not to have to take it, actually. It's really valuable. Where did you get this antidote?"
>"The same as always."

Peaches. That one is our antidote maker. While a lot of mutants, especially abominations, get poison, Peaches got an anti-poison. At first it felt like a rip off, but we realized how useful that was.

Tomato is fidgetting in his sleep.

"Can you check my fever?"
>"Mmhm." Cabbage comes and curls up around me anyway. "You feel... ah, you are a little heated immediately. That is no good."
"Well... I did take it 15 or 20 minutes ago."
>"Ah? So long without waking me? Cheese, Cheese... 15 minutes? Are you sure? It's important."
"I'm sure. And I didn't want to interrupt sleep."
>"Nonsense."
"Is this our only antidote?"
>"Yes. You should take it. How did your contact with Tomato happen?"
"I'm a sleep snuggler, I guess."
>"Oh, Cheese, that is beautiful. I will have tomato create lots of vials of diluted poison for you to take so that when we meet again, we will not have this issue. But only in safer times. For now, I would like to monitor you for fifteen minutes, and judging on how you feel, perhaps only half of the antidote can be used."

I wait for that long. Cabbage's verdict is that I really wouldn't die even without the antidote, just get really sick, so I take half after all.

I stay in Cabbage's fluff for a little longer just because. Tomato gets up, and starts looking at the two of us quizzically.
>>
No. 721782 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721781
Hey Tomato. Good news, I still got some immunity. Adorable news, I'm a sleep snuggler.

Go back to sleep.
>>
No. 721783 ID: a7b1dc

Have him join the snuggle pile if its safe.
>>
No. 721789 ID: dd338c
File 146267958632.png - (14.87KB , 800x800 , 451.png )
721789

"Hey, Tomato. The good news is that I've got some immunity to your poison. The... well, the other news is that I'm a sleep snuggler."

He goes wide - wider - eyed and stamps the ground.

>"Do not worry. She is fine." Cabbage says.
>"I'm... sorry."

Tomato chokes out that last word and coughs like his throat just inverted on itself.

"Ah, don't speak! Don't even apologize, it's my dumb sleep body that didn't stay still when I moved around in a dream. In fact! Please come join us, you look way too cold over there all by yourself! Cabbage can keep us seperated."

He slowly accepts the idea and goes to the other side of Cabbage, and puts his head over to look at me while I try to get back to sleep.

>"I..."
"Don't talk unless it's a super important message!"
>"...love you..."
>>
No. 721791 ID: 211d83

I love you to Tomato.
>>
No. 721793 ID: a075ba

>>721789
I love you too, you doof. I'm okay, really.
>>
No. 721794 ID: 5ad4a7

>>721789
Awwwww! Tell your dear brother that you love him too. You love both of them.

Can you at least touch him with your claws?
>>
No. 721795 ID: 9c80a6

Aww. You have the dragoncloth with you still, go get it and give him a nose bump or a cheek-to-cheek rub or something.
>>
No. 721804 ID: 5ad4a7

Oh almost forgot, tell them that Fen said he's sorry for calling them things.
>>
No. 721805 ID: a075ba

>>721804
Oh, yes, that's important.
>>
No. 721808 ID: 91ee5f

>>721789
Well, in his defense, letting you know that he loves you is a super important message. Tell him you love him also. No wait, better idea: Tell both of them that you love them!
>>
No. 721841 ID: dd338c
File 146272321085.png - (19.35KB , 800x800 , 452.png )
721841

Errngg I wanna hug him. That was a pretty important message.

"I love you too. Both of you! And I'm okay, really!"
>"And I love you both. Now do get some sleep, Cheese." says Cabbage.
"Yeah hold on!"

I get the dragoncloth, drape tomato in it, and hug him. I'll get the barbs out later, but for now, I've got to snuggle.

"You know, Fen said he was sorry about what he called you."
>"Things, was it?"
"Yes."
>"It was rather rude."
"Well okay yes, but remember that he's new and he's a pretty naive, ignorant barbarian in a lot of ways, and he's never even seen a cave kobold let alone an abomination! Once I told him you were kobolds as well, he apologized right away."
>"Mm, true, I suppose our sight is unnatural for those who have not seen much of the world. I accept his apology, then."

I drift back to sleep, and Cabbage makes sure the dragoncloth stays on Tomato.

Once I wake up, I feel better. It's probably night out, now. I hear running water, so it must be raining after all. I can go to the church bell if there's not something I want to do before hand.
>>
No. 721858 ID: 211d83

Let your siblings know where you are going before you leave.

What messages do you have left to send out? Maybe drop them off now? Sort of loosing track of what we have or have not done.
>>
No. 722348 ID: dd338c
File 146284867914.png - (16.34KB , 800x800 , 453.png )
722348

I go back to look at my scrawlings to keep most things in order.

>What messages do you have left to send out?
Actually, none.

I look over what the kids were doing for me.

The groceries are done. They're still spreading some rumors, stuff like Vackles has swords like Rasyan's, he got Yortle to melt down items, and is destabilizing trade. There's a couple others, but I think those are the most important ones that are actually spreading right, and it's to set up a lot of ire when Rasyan's swords end up in Vackles' hands.

The kids were supposed to find a motive on why Vackles' would have a motive to kill Rasyan, but there's only stretches, they haven't found anything like Rasyan spitting in Vackles' face some years ago or some other convenient thing.

And the merchants...

And the rest of the nobles...

The town guard...

The general populace...

Oh, gosh, I am practically blind. I really have no clear indicator of what's going up top. Maybe I should fix that?

Uh, like I thought earlier, maybe I could do well to eavesdrop under the buildings of some town hot spots.

Or go get the kids to tell me general news about what's going on in town.

Or go ahead and check the crow spot.
>>
No. 722350 ID: 5ad4a7

>>722348
Have the kids go out to get general news, and while they're doing that check the crow spot to talk to them and get some news about what's happening outside of town from them...

Then start eavesdropping.
>>
No. 722351 ID: 211d83

Yeah we need way more info on whats happening so we can tailor our rumors and figure out who is doing what.

Get the kids searching for info. Then maybe stop by a hot spot to listen in after meeting the crows.

So when should Gauche have the swords if you got him both messages? You need to figure out when he is handing them off to Vackles so you can find a witness for the deal. Just be ready for Gauche to have plots of his own. Who knows what he is thinking about this mess.

Just make sure that whenever you talk to the kids you give them the impression that you are doing something other than what you are doing. So they can't easily track your movements for Croc.
>>
No. 722371 ID: a075ba

I think we need to check the crow spot. You've been out of contact with them for a while, and they probably have their own games running too. Don't want to be working at cross purposes, like you accidentally did with Fen. That, and it's the one task you can't outsource.
>>
No. 722428 ID: cd90cb

Have the kids fill you in on things and check out the crow spot. You seem to be out of the loop of things.
>>
No. 722467 ID: dd338c
File 146292358823.png - (136.57KB , 800x800 , 454.png )
722467

I'll go to the crows, but since it's a short stop to the kids, I'll stop by there first.

I'm afraid to go to Gravel myself just in case he really is looking for an opportunity to get me, but I kind of think that if they really were going to lay a trap for me, I'd have to just avoid kids altogether, since they could just, I dunno, hold me at knifepoint and force me up to where Croc can get to or something.

I'm in big trouble though if the kids get after me, because it takes a lot of luck to get all the way up to the surface from my hideout without seeing any kids.

>"Heya Cheese. How's life?"
"Oh you know. You're having a fire?" I hear crackling below this hole.
>"It's damn cold out, you know! And little Farly is really learning how to hum a decent tune in front of an audience, and you got us all a pretty good meal tonight, you know? Want a bite?"

I hesitate.

"Um... I actually just want to know what's going on the surface. I'm really out of date and I'm completely blind!"
>"Well what better place than our gossip ring? Don't worry, we're still pretty deep down, we've got a chimney to deal with the smoke from our fire, so it's safe. Here's a little gossip for ya. You know Croc is after you? Judging by you not freaking out, I'd say yeah."
"Yeah..."
>"He's been asking around for info, but if he could pay us off to backstab you, I'd just punch you in the gut right here and now and have it done with. So quit acting like such a stranger, you're basically the lady of the night for us. We haven't eaten this well in weeks. Town guard's trying to find out where we got all our coin from. The beauty of that? We don't buy our food from the town guard, we buy it from the merchants, and right now, the merchants couldn't give a shit about what the town guard says. So come on and chat with us for a bit, alright? Just tell us who and what you want to know about up top."
>>
No. 722468 ID: 211d83

I don't think joining them will hurt. Like he said if he wanted to capture you he could easily. This is a great place to get info. Just do not give them any info on what you are doing that one of them could sell to Croc later.

That being said maybe Croc is paying to get you unharmed. So a bit of sleep powder in your food and a little gathering later and they have Cheese all tied up and asleep for Croc to pick up. So keep things to just chatting before heading out. You can get your own food later. Plus we can't stay here for to long cause who knows how long the crows will be around.

If Croc was not hunting for you I would say stay and network a bit. These kids are basically your employees so working at making friends with them would not hurt.
>>
No. 722469 ID: 4546ab

Ask him what sort of info Croc has been buying. And what sort of info you do not mind them selling him.

Maybe we should tell them that you are not worried about Croc because the guy who hired him does not have enough money to pay Croc in the end. And that you are working on proving it so that Croc will deal with that problem himself.

I vote to chat with the kids for info. Just be very paranoid. If they are against you already then most your plans are fucked anyways. But will save you a bunch of time lying under bars hoping to hear rumors. Get the info and head out to the church without being tailed. No hanging out for dinner.

Just don't instantly trust all of there info. Just in case some of them are planning on making a quick buck on the side by working for Croc.
>>
No. 722470 ID: bb78f2

>>722467
I mean no disrespect with my caution. Caution's always good in this business, as you know yourself, even with the point you've made in consideration.
>>
No. 722473 ID: a075ba

>>722467
Sorry, paranoia comes with the business.

Stay and shoot the breeze a little, gather info.
>>
No. 722502 ID: dd338c
File 146293450622.png - (137.34KB , 800x800 , 455.png )
722502

"I'll sit down for a bit, but paranoia still comes with the business, Gravel!"
>"Right right, whatever."
"What kind of info has Croc been looking for?"
>"Mostly what our errands have been, what we've been intentionally spreading, so on. Not gonna lie," Gravel says, lowering his voice to just a whisper. "There's a good chance there's an asshole who needs a beating who spilled too much." He raises his voice again. "But there's not much to go on, huh. I mean, we don't even know half the reasons to what you've been asking for us."

Gravel sits me down near the fire, where a bunch of kids are huddled around. The girl that I think was called Farly hums a little tune and plays some old beat up string instrument, but it's so soft it really doesn't get in the way of conversation.

The town guard apparently has been getting more aggressive in their search, and apparently a fair amount of them have been sent into the outskirts of town to search for me just in case there was some hidden underground tunnel out of town or something.

The merchant ring has been putting pressure on Warfield himself to get Vackles to knock this off or to give away what exactly he's searching for. Apparently, even Croc is getting approached to find out what's going on, since people are gathering that Croc knows more than most about it.

Interestingly, Vackles himself has been seen running from one part of town to the next. No one heckles him, of course, but I'm told that he's looking more and more stressed out. I imagine he has to ask the detailed questions in person to keep all this on the down low.

All the details I get don't seem that consequential, but hearing what's going on is nice. Apparently it's pretty lively.

Apparently it's been let out that it isn't just 'mutants and abominations' that are to be searched for, it's specifically me and two abominations. Which is a double edged sword for me, because now the whole town knows I'm wanted, but at the same time, if Vackles is searching this hard for a known informant that has a lot of dirt on people, there's got to be a lot of suspicion on him that maybe there's some dirt on him he wants collected and cleaned up.

Without any more interesting details to learn from, I start excusing myself.

"Um... thank you." a kid says next to me. "For giving us so much money."
>"Oh, uh... you're welcome."
"Let's let Cheese know she's appreciated!" Gravel yells from behind me, and a lot of people shout thank you to me.

Ack my social anxiety in crowds is activated! I gotta flee to the church, now.
>>
No. 722503 ID: dd338c
File 146293451790.png - (124.22KB , 800x800 , 456.png )
722503

I make my way to it without much incident.

It's just as crappy and uncleaned as I remember it. Moreso actually. In fact I bet no one's cleaned it since I was last here. It's kind of surprising it's still standing. I think the noble in this district just likes historic monuments, but the only people who pray to the gods in actual churches these days are southerners. And I doubt any southerners would stay in a town like this.
>>
No. 722504 ID: dd338c
File 146293454497.png - (136.66KB , 800x800 , 457.png )
722504

I go up to the church bell. The roof is kind of leaky, but at least there's a few dry spots I can sit at. The kids weren't kidding about it being colder than usual, even considering the rain.
>>
No. 722505 ID: dd338c
File 146293456899.png - (171.85KB , 800x800 , 458.png )
722505

A wind picks up, and a dense portion of fog blows through the tower.

I swear I only blinked once, and without a single flap in the wind, I'm surrounded by a lot of crows and silence.

I forgot to bring the stupid pickaxes.
>>
No. 722507 ID: 211d83

No you didn't we reminded Fen to get those. Don't go stealing his quest xp.

Well say hi to the nice crows and tell them what is up. How you and Fen are working together and such. And sorry for not listening to there message.

Then trade info so you know what is up.

If you keep those kids well fed it will do more for keeping them loyal than anything.

Oh and this might be a good place to hide if the underground gets to hot stay in.
>>
No. 722509 ID: bb78f2

>>722505
To be frank, it would be dangerous for the crows to pick them up now with all the bullshit you're going through, so no biggie. It'd be better for Fen to do that deed than you, except not wait, no this situation is totally fubar an getting the pickaxes to the Crows is going to be next to near impossible.
>>
No. 722510 ID: 5ad4a7

>>722502
>Vackles is running around out in the open
Ambush that idiot!

>>722505
>pickaxes
You can just deliver those later. Apologize for forgetting them anyways.

Ask for news on your debtor's movements, and for an update on news surrounding the Pocktown noble's death. Also any information on Vackles they have. Or Croc and Fen.
>>
No. 722511 ID: a075ba

>I forgot to bring the stupid pickaxes.
That's okay, the crows can't very easily carry them off. You or Fen actually have to pass through their territory to make a delivery.

>>722505
Greet the crows, explain you'd like to share information. Tell them the scheme you're working on in broad strokes, find out if they've been doing anything in this town with the documents Fen gave them.

...you should probably apologize for breaking down and panicking, before. You messed up, and you're glad they're still work with you.
>>
No. 722530 ID: 91ee5f

>>722502
Wait a minute! Croc is asking the kids things? How do the kids even know what he's asking for? Last time I checked, both you and Fen could barley understand a single word that came out of Croc's mouth, so I find it very suspicious that a bunch of kids can perfectly understand what he's asking!
>>
No. 722881 ID: dd338c
File 146311083580.png - (186.47KB , 800x800 , 459.png )
722881

I'm going to make a mental note to ask if the kids could even understand Croc.

Oh, and er... for some reason I thought I was going to turn in the pickaxes instead, so that I could actually have a little gift ready for them to show that I was sorry rather than having to go all

"Heyyy I'm really sorry about before, I screwed up big time. I want to make it right, though. Fen and I are working together."

Some of these crows are weirdly strong too, so they can carry pickaxes. Nearby, I hear a bag get dumped onto the ground. Once I get close, a crow lightly chatters its beak.

"Yeah, I'll leave you guys money. Don't worry."

Inside of the bag is Rasyan's documents. I start perusing it while I whisper to a couple of crows what's been going on with me.

I'm mostly finding stuff that is either legitimate business or legitimate business as far as I can tell, but knowing what I know about a lot of merchants, I can see some of the red flags here.

There's a proof of transaction from the Rockbody, a town in the Dragon's Fall. I'm willing to bet that Rasyan wasn't buying their main official export of weapons at all, though, and that it was a veil for purchasing Rockbody's main unofficial export, slaves.

Then there's a letter of acceptance for Rasyan's purchasing of glowing rocks from a wizard in Erja Nokol. And I know for a fact that that wizard doesn't deal in 'glowing rocks', but rather, in rejuvination potions, which is interesting, because that very wizard signed a deal to only sell those potions to the army!

And last of interest is a document requesting the transfer of gold and various goods between Tunna the port town in this province, Rasyan's own Pocktown, the capital, and Cati's town. There's a list of weird reasons for it that just don't quite add up right, and I feel like there's some illicit going ons between the town, and this points to some sources that I can investigate.

Nothing on what he was trying to do in the Fence.

Mayyybe I should wait on investigating this stuff later, but even though there's a lot of suspicious stuff in other places, these ones have some interest to Fen. Erja Nokol since it deals with his mission and the army.

The Turtle Hideaway weird trade network is good because if I can wedge a hole made out of dirty laundry in the right places, Fen will have an easier time getting the dragoncloth back.

And Rockbody just makes some of the best weapons and armor that Fen can use.

The trouble here is that the crows confirm to me that they want to use all of this information as well, and they may leverage it ways that don't really benefit me. Since they have a lot of alternatives to work from, they're willing to let me have these three, but I'm only one girl and shit's happening so much. I may only want to focus on one or two of these and let the crows have the rest. Or just choose to pursue all three of these things and do my best.
>>
No. 722885 ID: 211d83

Well tell the Crows about Fen's plans and ask if while taking advantage of the various plots they do so in a fashion that could help him. They might be willing to help with the possibility of having a noble friend in the future. Tell them its like a investment.

As for ones to specifically work on I would say potions and getting the dragoncloth back. Better gear would be nice but unless the gear is near magical we can always buy decent stuff before the tourney.

What do rejuvenation potions do by the way? And what do the crows need with pickaxes?

Find out if the Crows know anything going on in town. If we can't fix stuff here in the next few days Fen is not going to ever get to the army on time. He is going to miss the first portal so we need to make sure this is all wrapped up before the next one.

So get info on Bardo and everything else the crows know about. Fen never got to leave so we can't lure Bardo here without getting him a message somehow.
>>
No. 722887 ID: 5ad4a7

>>722881
Fen will most need weapons and armor when he enters the Arena, at which point you'll be able to throw some money his way, right? Besides, he can't bring enchanted items into the Arena and there's not a large difference in quality at the top end of mundane equipment is there?

I think you should focus on what's important. Him surviving his mission, and then the retrieval of the dragoncloth.
>>
No. 722888 ID: a075ba

Oh boy, long term planning opportunities, finally.

I wanna pursue the wizard lead, for sure. If you can blackmail / get a hold on the wizard, then you have your own source for rejuvenation potions, without a gold trail. Let's face it, with a campaign this long and bloody, there's no way Fen and your siblings aren't going to need a few of those before this is over. Maybe even you.

Turtle Hideaway is important. You need to keep your promise about the dragon cloth, and sketchy trade route stuff is right up your alley. You can work that.

I say let Rockbody go to the crows. You don't have the resources to pursue it. Fen can get weapons and armor by buying it with money from other schemes. Or from the people he kills.
>>
No. 722889 ID: 06b6c5

I'd focus on the Erja Nokol stuff and the dirty laundry for the dragoncloth.
>>
No. 722890 ID: ca3991

You may want to start looking to the future. If you survive this and get out of debt you'll be a mostly free agent. If you do it really well you'll be a free agent with some start-up money. You might want to try and invest in your own spy ring for hire or something, get some helpers and things.
>>
No. 722917 ID: 7de580

Fen's done crazy-ass shit for that dragoncloth. Looking into the other stuff might help him survive, but he needs something to get back to. He's trusting you with it. Let's be 100% sure we can retrieve it.
>>
No. 722981 ID: dd338c
File 146317962675.png - (149.32KB , 800x800 , 460.png )
722981

>What does a rejuvenation potion do?
It speeds up healing and energy recovery and all that. Definitely not instantly, contrary to a lot of disappointed users, but it can be used instead of a good night's rest, heal a broken bone in a week instead of months, and that sort of thing. A wound that might've killed someone might just become a bad but surviveable wound. There's a threshold to that, though. If I got stabbed through the heart, choking that down, while impressive, wouldn't help me much.

>And what do the crows need with pickaxes?
The crows need the Crow Zone slaves to survive. The slaves need to be able to work to survive, and they need pick axes to be able to work. The noble of the Crow Zone apparently can't find it in his coffers to supply the slaves with their own pick axes.

I'll let Rockbody go. There's actually some high end but otherwise mundane materials that can be used. They're crazy expensive, but if things go well and Fen lives for that long, then we'll be crazy rich and can just buy it.

"You guys can have Rockbody. I'd like to keep the Turtle region thing and the Erja Nokol wizard. Say, Fen is a guy that'll help you guys, so when you do mess with stuff, and this is just a suggestion, but do it in a way that helps him out too?"

A crow etches 'will see' in a loose paper.

"Alright, then.." I trail off. I hear someone shouting. It sounds like a newsbearer, talking about events outside of the town. Well, more like shouting it at the top of his lungs. I hear some public commotion, as well.

Among the words I catch are 'Rasyan' and 'Missing.'

While I listened to that, the crows also wrote a couple of phrases for me.

'Graskin party went poorly'
'Gauche heading to Yellow District Mellflower building'

"Wait hold on right now? Gauche is going now?"

A crow nods.

Damnit. I can actually eavesdrop on the Mellflower building if I wanted to, but I'd have to hurry and meet the crows again later if there's more stuff I want to ask them about.
>>
No. 722982 ID: 5ad4a7

>>722981
Strike while the iron is hot. Go eavesdrop.
>>
No. 722989 ID: a075ba

>Damnit. I can actually eavesdrop on the Mellflower building if I wanted to
If it's foggy enough that they can move freely, wouldn't it be simpler to send a crow to eavesdrop? They can actually do it from the eaves and not underground.

If that doesn't work, I guess go get your spy on yourself.

>but I'd have to hurry and meet the crows again later if there's more stuff I want to ask them about.
Are there more specifics we need to ask them? I've forgotten.
>>
No. 723001 ID: dd338c
File 146318740807.png - (78.95KB , 800x800 , 461.png )
723001

As convenient as sending a crow would be, they don't know the underground way, and the dense fog is coming in patches. The regular fog probably isn't dense enough for them to move freely in close contact with people.

"Okay thanks crows I'll be back but I gotta look into that!

I go to eavesdrop. At first I think I'm too early or too late, but I hear people rustling the dirt. I wish they were making more noise, because I have to assume Croc is there, and I can't sneak up while they're all quiet. So I just slitcher forward an inch every couple of seconds until I'm sure I could hear them if they'd speak, and I make sure I stay well within close confines so that I can flee fast if need be. Finally, I hear Vackles muttering.

"Is he even showing up?"
>"Do you think this is a trap?" Fen asks the noble a with a little too buddy-buddy tone for me to feel comfy.
"Be quiet, savage. He's complacent, but not a moron."

More time passes. Eventually, I hear someone running up to Vackles.

"Sir!"
"Speak."
"I have news of Sir Gauche! He veered off of the path and is entering Lord Warfield's estate by now!"
"What?! For what reason..."
"We also caught wind that Sir Gauche himself informed the people around him that he would be showing Lord Warfield what you have been looking for all this time."
"For what reason?!"
"I couldn't say, Sir."
"Unbelievable. I expected blackmail, ransom, or simply a price for it. But for him to turn it over to Warfield?! Does he think Warfield will befriend him over it enough to surpass the ire he gained from me?! It doesn't make sense. Cheese was really there. This can't simply be a ruse."
>"OY it's a slimmy huggin' wood sounds like. Want me to shake out the squishy fruit?"
"Speak normally!"
>"Yeh! Never wagged a different tune."
"If Warfield has it... Croc. I've agreed to pay you one-third of its value. We know where it is now, so we can forget about Cheese. But just in case Warfield tries something strange, keep the town guard on full alert! Continue searching everything!"
>"Ol' Fishbones thinks it's a sunny position for re-divvies on our salt shakers. Catchin' squishy hips is a smidge change than diggin' gold."
"What? Are you wanting to re-negotiate? We already agreed."
>"The hands were well met, but only under the tongues that wagged if Fishbones got yer red. Ain't a glimmer of a promise it'd happen, and ain't a thing keepin' this fishbone from floatin' downstream away from the glimmerin' coins and towards fresher water."
"..................... you'll leave if I don't pay you more?"
>"That's a bobbin."
"Come again."
>"A real head yanker."
"Again."
>"A boat in the moat."
"Fine, then! One half of its value! Now leave, whether it's to leave town or to give me what Warfield has!"
>>
No. 723005 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723001
Shit, Croc is there. Do not get spotted and caught. If you are within sight when he leaves you're boned. If you make noise within earshot you're boned.

It sounds like Croc might be going after Gauche now. Can we warn him? Do we even need to? I doubt Croc is going to try to kill Gauche, as everyone knows by now that Croc is employed by Vackles. Vackles killing Gauche would land him in hot water, wouldn't it? Anyway if Croc is just going to try to steal Gauche's stuff, he'll discover it's not the dragoncloth, and then either Croc will get fed up and leave or he'll leave Gauche alone and keep seeking the dragoncloth. ...well, worst case scenario is that he has some proof the dragoncloth is what Vackles is really after, and will throw a wrench in our plans.

Could he have that proof? ...would the letter you left with Yortle be good enough evidence, if they didn't destroy it?
>>
No. 723009 ID: a075ba

So... Gauche took the swords to Warfield, and ratted out Vackles for looking for them.

Vackles thinks Gauche found the dragoncloth, and is sending Croc (and Fen) to get it from Warfield. The swords are double-hot now, since word of Rasyan's disappearance just broke, and Vackles was searching desperately for something before that was public knowledge. And if Vackle's forces break in and attempted to steal what Warfield has, that will only confirm he was after them and involved.

The frame up is actually working, I think. Although it depends on Croc and Fen not killing Warfield and giving away their employer in the attack.

...Croc is up there with his super hearing. You know what that means. Do noting. No moving till he's gone.
>>
No. 723038 ID: 5b9f30

>"OY it's a slimmy huggin' wood sounds like. Want me to shake out the squishy fruit?"

I think Croc knows you're down here. Thank goodness he's so stubborn. Doesn't seem he likes Vackles that much, either.

>Catchin' squishy hips is a smidge change than diggin' gold.

Croc is saying that messing with a noble directly is very different from chasing you, Cheese. This'd actually be a good opportunity for Fen to pull out of this, on that excuse, especially if his "grudge" against you is no longer involved in this. In any case, you're in the clear now, though I'd be careful for a while longer until Croc gets word out that he's not looking for you any more.

It looks like it's setting up to be a right proper tangle, like we planned. The only danger I can see is that it'll somehow slip that it's dragoncloth Vackles wants, not the swords, and that Gauche will suspect you misinformed him. However, if Fen did pull out of this arrangement, then it'd leave Croc handling it, and the other two nobles should have equal trouble understanding anything out of him even if he does mention it.

There's also a danger of Vackles finding out it's the swords the other two nobles have, and trying to put the hunt on you again. But by that time, hopefully he'll be caught up in too much trouble, be being watched too closely, and Croc will be too fed up with him.
>>
No. 723047 ID: 0dfcac

>>723038

Croc mentioned Red. He knows about the cloth for sure. Lets just hope he avoids going for you because he appears to know you are here.
>>
No. 723051 ID: dd338c
File 146320121221.png - (144.99KB , 800x800 , 462.png )
723051

>"Yer some real termite bait ya - " Vackles starts talking over him, but Croc doesn't stop speaking. "ignorant floater so I'd be watchin' the indentation in the ground behind me."
"Hold your tongue, Croc! I do not care how many nobles you have tangled with, you will not speak to me in this manner." Vackles says, while Croc talks over him in that very manner.
>"Ackackack ya're like a damn bull about this. Now I'm gonna set the strokes down with my little dragon here."
"Fine. I'm leaving. You, alert the guard to continue their watch in full alert. Anyone who is sleeping is to be awoken with a needle to the hand. And you, run back and intercept Gauche if you can! Do not let him enter Warfield's palace! Go! You, go with him, if he fails, deliver a message to Warfield that what is being delivered is mine, and I will be coming to retrieve it, and Gauche had no right to give it as a present! I'm too far into this to back out, now! I will have this reward, and the forces that have their damn hands around the town guard's neck won't have leverage after tomorrow."
"Sir, the town guard is loyal to you. I do not see how your - "
"And loyal they should be, but there's - wait a minute..." Vackles says, before a silence hangs above me. ".... Gauche already lied once. Put the town on lockdown!" he suddenly bursts out.
"Sir, the merchants - "
"Can bicker all they want. They have nothing over me."
"Very well, sir."

Vackles and the rest leave. I wait a long time. Croc has huge footsteps. I haven't heard them leave, yet.

>"Oy squishy come on before that blood pumper shakes the wood pen down on us! Ackackack that waggle just put the fire in the bed didn't it?"
>>
No. 723053 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723051
Retreat away from the grate, enough that Croc can't grab you through it. Then ask how his hearing can possibly be that good. Also, what his angle is. If he's not working for Vackles, what is he doing?
>>
No. 723054 ID: 595d54

He can hear your heart and he wants to talk before someone else notices you. If he can hear you, he can find you anyway. Might as well check, but be ready to run like hell.
>>
No. 723055 ID: a075ba

>deliver a message to Warfield that what is being delivered is mine, and I will be coming to retrieve it
Oh, that's perfect. Vackles is digging his own grave at this point. He's framing himself and he doesn't even know it.

>>723051
Yep, Croc knows you're there.

Come out, but don't be too loud. We don't want anyone outside to know you're in the room with them.

Keep your distance, and show your hands, so he doesn't have a reason to attack you.

"Well, you found me, but last I heard, you're being paid to 'get what Warfield has', not catch squishy old me.

Howdy, Croc."
>>
No. 723056 ID: 0dfcac

No use hiding come on out or he will pull you out.

Vackles is about to get himself killed or start a war so might be a good idea to get on Croc's good side now by letting him in a few things. Or at least the story he is expecting.

Then tell him basically what we have been working on. The Cloth was a ruse to trick Vackles and he is about to incriminate himself very badly.

Let him ask questions and avoid revealing any info that might go contrary to the rumors we have spread.
>>
No. 723058 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723056
Whoa no, if we tell him the truth about the dragoncloth he might go for it. It's best to either tell him there was never a dragoncloth, (it was the swords the whole time) or that Cheese delivered it already.
>>
No. 723062 ID: 0dfcac

>>723058

Sorry I did not mean tell him about the cloth but that Vackles thinks there is a cloth because of our plotting. And mentioning we have a very nice red cloth that at a distance looks exactly like dragoncloth. The less we say the more effective it will be. Need to let Croc fill in the dots with what he thinks is happening and then confirm his incorrect suspicions.

Basically let Croc know we have been messing with Vackles but do our best to not let him in on the true goings on.
>>
No. 723116 ID: f562b1

Well, Croc was just told by Vackles that you are not his target anymore. Go ahead and talk with him.
>>
No. 723128 ID: 5b9f30

I don't know if he knows it's you specifically. I think "squishy" refers to his previous "squishy fruit" idiom, not to your personal squishiness. You're still a "slimmy". I think. Maybe.

Croc doesn't actually know what you sound like, right? Can you suppress your accent and just talk to him out of the hole? Put on a kind of different voice? Fen is up there, and he's still supposed to have a grudge against you.
>>
No. 723137 ID: b6178d

>>723051

'put the fire in the bed' means he thinks Vackles just screwed the pooch. He might be willing to negotiate with you now, if he thinks you no longer have what he's after and his employer is about to get majorly burned.

Don't hesitate. Get down there. Look fearful. Say hi, and that you'd like to explain a few things. If there are any guards left there, ask Croc and Fen to prevent them from leaving or calling an alarm, promising you'll explain things if you do.

Start out claiming the whole thing's been a setup to get Vackles his due. There never was a super price, that's misdirection and rumors you threw out, but the items Vackles have been so hotly pursuing ARE hot hot hot, and are certainly going to land him in big trouble, soon. Even if he suddenly backed down, it's going to look very bad for him, after all he's set in motion. Even at best he'd lose a lot of face and make enemies of Gauche and Warfield and others.

You can say it's better to let the whole thing play out, or perhaps catch a price for catching Vackles once or if there's one on his head, and there probably -will- be something of the sort since Gauche has gone to Warfield. Things might end up going down hard in town if Vackles panics, though, and starts using his guards for 'riot control' or something in an attempt to take out Gauche and Warfield before word spreads. He'd be crazy to and it's not going to save him in the end, but desperate men who have gotten the world turned on its head might do desperate things, and you'd rather not have too many people get hurt.

Anyway, you're really -- really -- just the middle management here, so you hope he doesn't decide to turn you in now, but if he doesn't there might be things you could do for him, and, uh, his friend Fen, too (excellent excuse to appear to be working for Fen now in Croc's eyes).

All of the above is fairly truthful, and can probably be spun and sold by an expert spy like yourself.

As for the options on dealing with Croc:

-Negotiate a price for him to sit tight until this blows over/leave the city for better pastures. Argue that the reason for you appearing here is that he would probably have found you if he kept it up, and you'd rather not have to spend ALL your days in terror of getting burned on that bed Vackles made for himself just because Vackles promised kingdom come to one of the most feared bounty hunters in the realm. There's also the chance Croc can easily get ahold of Vackles, and could turn him in for a bounty himself, assuming Warfield would be willing to pay one (would he?).

-Negotiate a price for you to hire him (if you even remotely think you can afford it) if you have a task you think he'd be well suited to. Surely, with all the going-ons, you could figure out a use for a renowned bounty hunter! Maybe he could bodyguard you for a while, or investigate one of the two leads you got from Rasyan's papers. You could say it's inside intel you got ahold of as part of your recent work, and you don't have time to deal with it right now. At least it'd give the man something to do so he doesn't think of doing YOU!

Even if Croc does try something, you'll have help from an unexpected source. Croc can probably kick both of your asses, but all you need is a distraction to get away. Or you can surrender, being just a spy with no hope of standing up to Croc, and then have Fen free you later, hopefully before Vackles arrives. Or you could drink some of the diluted tomato's poison if you have any left, and pretend it's going to kill you, since you know the symptoms and could try acting it out. Croc would certainly have reason to trust the veracity of that statement, having experienced some of it himself.
>>
No. 723173 ID: dd338c
File 146325140387.png - (47.18KB , 800x800 , 463.png )
723173

I don't screw around. I go up through a floor hatch to greet Croc. It looks like it's just Croc and Fen.

"Uh... hi."
>"Now if the world didn't see such fine jellies as 'at.
"Um... I'd like to explain a few things.
>"Now that's a cloud over a drought I've seen, cause ol 'fishbones'd like a few waggles!"
"Wait first off how can you hear my heartbeat?!"
>"Ackack cleanin' out the ol' tubes seems like a western concept across the whole emperor's thumb!"
>"He can't hear your heartbeat. That's impossible." says Fen.
>"Then the accomplishment's a clinkin' hush! Now this lug would like to comprehend all there is to comprehend 'bout this red turnin' everyone upside down. Let's start with its spot of dirt it's cozying up on now, yeah? Ol' fishbones has gotten a thirst for the dragonblood ever since a taste was given.
"I'm sorry, but this is just a ruse to deal with Lord Vackles. I have to deal with him, and the cloth is just a lie to get Lord Vackles to, well, get rid of himself, so to speak. The actual items in Warfield's estate, are, uh... hot. Really hot. Like Lord Vackles is going to get in big trouble for calling them his."
>"OhhhHH? I'd be ploppin' down some coins to say the little dragon here doesn't find that a tickle, eh?"
>"You've already told me you don't think I have a qualm with Cheese." Fen says.
>"Ackackackack!" Croc laughs with that laughs that literally no one else in the world ever has or ever will have. "Savagelands only got yer wizards teachin' how shoven glowleaves down yer pipes heats up the soul eh? Shoulda got a air blower to spread the fine art of actin' lies! But that's fishbones' favorite thing about the Emperor's home, ya nod? Rank, file, common copper reachers, they're as honest as a blue sky. Ain't anyone spreadin' dirt on purpose. Sure they put yer own' clanks in their palm, but then ya waggle yer accusations and they waggle back 'yeh, whatcha gonna hop 'bout it?' Most tear pullin' thing the north has."

He leans in to me.

>"But three kinds don't bask with that. Merchants, nobles, and..." He puts his finger on my chest. "The squishies. An' that tongue in front of me is the best cat in the brush that's waggled in a long time. Now let's get that squishy tongue another change to be as beautiful as the pair o' jellies above it, or ol' fishbones'll give a demonstration why he calls the wrong side squishies."
>>
No. 723178 ID: bb78f2

>>723173
Are you coming on to me?
>>
No. 723180 ID: a075ba

>fishbones
Seems to be what Croc is calling himself?

>"But three kinds don't bask with that. Merchants, nobles, and..." He puts his finger on my chest. "The squishies. An' that tongue in front of me is the best cat in the brush that's waggled in a long time. Now let's get that squishy tongue another change to be as beautiful as the pair o' jellies above it, or ol' fishbones'll give a demonstration why he calls the wrong side squishies."
He's calling you on not telling him the whole truth and threatening you, now.

We could try blatant evasion, but I don't suspect it will work. "Why do you even care anymore, Croc. You know Vackles can't afford to pay you, and he's not even asking you to chase me, anymore."

And you know what? Yes, I lie. I have to, to survive. To play the jerks around me against each other. We're not all so lucky to be able to solve our problems with a sword or strength.

What truth do you want, Croc?
>>
No. 723183 ID: 91ee5f

>>723173
Stare blankly at him in awkward silence for a few moments, then say this: ( >>723178 ).
>>
No. 723185 ID: dd338c
File 146325433200.png - (24.63KB , 800x800 , 464.png )
723185

I stare at him.

"Are you coming on to me?! I don't even know!"
>"Oy yer a cutie alright but ain't a beauty inside when I look deep."
"I don't know why you care anymore. Vackles can't afford to pay you, and he's not even asking you to chase me, now. And yes, I lie! I don't like it, but I have to, to survive, because not everyone can even reach for the copper! Not everyone can compete with their swords and muscles! I don't even know what you're saying half the time! What... what truth do you even want?"
>"I'll waggle straight. Where's the red at?"
>"Remember, Croc. It's mine."
>"AYE it's still under yer rain just like it was 10 steps back when ya waggled the same tune ya barbarian brained friend."
>>
No. 723187 ID: 91cfcf

He likes your eyes but not your personality.

"Why would I tell you, Croc? You can threaten to kill me all you like but you know how valuable it is and what kind of person's interested in it. You can't kill me any worse than the rest."
>>
No. 723188 ID: 91ee5f

>"Oy yer a cutie alright but ain't a beauty inside when I look deep."
Wow, that's a first. Someone actually called you cute based on your looks, even though you're a mutant! That makes him the second person (the first being Fen) to not treat you like a freak based on your looks! Although, I guess he did just say that he didn't like your personality.
>>
No. 723190 ID: a075ba

>"AYE it's still under yer rain just like it was 10 steps back when ya waggled the same tune ya barbarian brained friend."
You're... trying to get it for him? Why?

Croc knows the dragon cloth is Fen's, but not that Fen gave it to us? That's weird.

>Where's the red at?
Depending on why he says he's helping Fen, we could just answer strait:

On it's way to Cati! Then it'll be back to your dragon-y in friend when I steal it back, okay?
>>
No. 723196 ID: b6178d

>>723185

Take a deep breath. Waggle straight. The whole damn miserable tale, leaving out only Fen's backgroundy bits. Those are HIS to tell.
>>
No. 723198 ID: 5b9f30

"Where the red's at is with a friend of mine Croc! And I guess you don't like me being dishonest, but I think I'd be being worse than dishonest if I put a dangerous bounty hunter on the trail of where something super valuable was with someone I care about. And I'd be breaking my promise to keep it safe, anyway! I'll tell Fen if he wants to know, but not you. Uh, sorry. Vackles could still change his mind. But uuuh I wouldn't associate with him if I were you, because he's about to be implicated in the death of a gold noble."
>>
No. 723203 ID: dd338c
File 146325754549.png - (56.32KB , 800x800 , 465.png )
723203

"You can threaten me all you like, but you know how valuable it is! You know the kind of people that get after it! You can't kill me any harder than them!"
>"Now what's I spill 'bout cleanin' yer tubes? Fishbones ain't gonna keep a thing like that.
"What? You're telling me you're just helping Fen get it back? And that you'll just... let him have it?"
>"Aye well parently he put it on a hook and let the squishy hang onto it. Let's just hope the slimmy isn't gonna undo the hook behind his back yeah?"
"But.... why are you helping get it back?"
>"Tracked down a lotta teeth in my rings, but ain't dug up a red like that."
"And why do you want to?"
>"It's sport, ya hollowheaded tongue pointer! Ya don't know what fun is?!"
"I really don't! I don't have fun!"
>"Yeh makes sense for a squishy!"
"Fine... fine. It's with a friend. And you know what, I'd be worse than dishonest if I let a bounty hunter like you on her trail, so I'd lie to save her anyway!"
>"Ah save yer sound fer what I'm stickin' my head to the ground for."
"Argh.... Fen? Can I?"
>"You're the one to judge.
"Erk... alright. It's deep underground. Really deep. Vackles... that is... the item that Sir Gauche gave to Warfield, the items that Vackles might apparently be declaring are is, is... Lord Rasyan's pair of swords."

Croc cracks a weirdly conniving grin.

>"The same goldie that people are rattlin' their heads sayin' is a rabbit under the snow?"
"Tha.... yes?"
>"Now how'd the swords get up in there?"
"Uh, I can share the story, but it's long, and the short is... Fen?"
>"I killed Rasy-
"Not so loud oh my god!"
>"I killed Rasyan." Fen says, quieter.
>"Now that's a bonker! I'd give the cloth just to point my jellies at ol' Vackles' face when he sees it! Ah, shame the woody ain't gonna put on a graceful dance. Waggle you now, give 'at cloth to me for a feelin', then ol fishbones'll help get the two fish outta water outta the nest before it cooks black."
>>
No. 723211 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723203
Uh, no? The dragoncloth is safe, there's no reason for him to go anywhere near it, even if it's just to feel it. We don't need his help enough to risk it.

Tell him you can't trust him that much. This could still be a ploy to recover it for Vackles, as you know he goes to great lengths to complete his contracts. Plus, you owe it to Fen to honor your agreement and keep it safe until the time comes for Fen to retrieve it. Tell him you trust only your family, and Fen is very close to family at this point.

If he insists, tell him you'll let him see it at a distance. We can pick a spot and show him the fake dragoncloth. (let's hope his eyes aren't as good as his ears) If he tries to steal it, we can either toss it as a distraction and escape, or simply let him discover it's a fake and throw his betrayal in his face.

If he REALLY insists and threatens violence, then agree and just don't do it.
>>
No. 723212 ID: a075ba

So... he's offering to get us out of town before things get worse if we get let him touch the cloth.

This whole thing is a risk since it means bringing the dragoncloth out into the open, and trusting Croc doesn't backstab us. When all that really needs to happen is your siblings leaving town with it. (And Cabbage getting her claw regenerated). Vackles is pretty much dealt with, you'll have ruined him before the night is over.

Uh, Fen! You're the magic judge of character, you think he can be trusted?
>>
No. 723218 ID: 211d83

Tell Croc you will let him in on the whole story if he gives his word to let Fen decide what to do with the cloth.

And then ask Fen if he is willing to go through with this.

If Fen is lead Croc back to the empty church and tell him the whole story of you and Fen meeting. Then Retrieve the cloth if he wants to look at it and maybe introduce him to your siblings if he keeps to his word.

We could probably overpower him with Fen and your siblings but lets give him the chance to prove himself. He might be a decent ally.
>>
No. 723221 ID: 3cc68c

Let Fen decide to trust Croc or not.

It's his cloth and his risk.

Croc seems like a ok sort. Sounds like he has made friends with Fen and is a little suspicious of what you are up to. If you can prove to him that you have Fen's best interests at heart I think he will like you more.

Plus if you play it straight and make friends with him maybe just maybe he can help you with your little problem with Bardo.
>>
No. 723222 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723212
...well, I guess the dragoncloth does belong to Fen. In the end it's up to him whether or not Croc gets a feel of it. If Fen agrees I think we should take at least some precautions though. Like, Croc has to leave his antidote behind so that if it comes to a fight he won't survive the poison. Obviously we won't be taking the dragoncloth up to the surface, either. He'll be coming down to where it is... and we have to be sure nobody follows.
>>
No. 723226 ID: b2db3f

I like the idea of using the church as a neutral ground so you don't have to lead him to your underground lair.

Is it easy for you to get back and forth?

If you do bring him downstairs I would introduce him to the kids. They would love to meet a celebrity and would improve his view of you.

But yeah leave it up to Fen. If he says Croc is as good as his word then its worth a shot. Plus if he betrays you its better to have it happen in your turf with your siblings instead of up here with just you to.

Tell him that its not just you two that need to leave town. You have kids that you are helping and siblings that need safe secret passage out as well.
>>
No. 723229 ID: dd338c
File 146326078709.png - (17.44KB , 800x800 , 466.png )
723229

"Uhm there's really not a reason for you to go anywhere near it. I mean I'd be willing to set something up where you could see it from a distance, but... no reason to touch it."
>"Sport, ya squishy! I'm gallavanting in a nest of corruption just to see if fishbones' has the stones to prove that he could get the red! Jus' a touch of the finger'll bring a touch to my soul."
"Ugh, Fen, you've shown yourself unusually... good.... at judging character. How do you feel about Croc?"
>"I don't know."

...

>"But." Fen continues. "I intend on stealing it back from a gold noble. If Croc betrays us and steals the cloth, then I will just have to steal it back from him. It would be bad for him to be an enemy today, but before the year is over, I must be able to defeat him."
>"OY now that's the straight waggin' that's got the tear in my eye. Got my head in the clouds with hope the little dragon rubs off on the squishy more than the squishy rubs off on the dragon."
"So... you want to do it, Fen? What about precautions? If I'm going to trust Croc with this, then will croc try to get into a tunnel where he can't fight back?"
>"Tubes' tell me the squishy's gettin fishbones to trust a squishy and not walkin backwards! That's a shake."
"Ugh, fine, I'll... get the cloth. No precaution. If the whole point is to show you could get the cloth, I guess we just have to.... let me think a minute."

It sounds like we have to let him really have the dragoncloth for a moment, but now I feel that I should be able to negotiate something else on Croc. Having him actually do something for us would be so good. Maybe try to get him to help the kids and siblings to get out, too.

The church may be a good neutral ground, too. He should agree to that.
>>
No. 723231 ID: 211d83

Tell him you are going to round up your crew and meet him at the old church. Go get your stuff and the Cloth and bring the kids if they want to meet Croc. Just have your siblings go first and stay out of sight so the kids don't see them just yet. But let Croc know they are coming so he does not think its a ambush.

Put your cards on the table and see what happens.
>>
No. 723232 ID: 7de580

He wants to dig it up. How about... wait a bit. Then you can help us steal it back.
>>
No. 723234 ID: b2db3f

Tell him you will bring the cloth along with your mutant friends he already met to the old church.

But if you are going to do this he has to do more than just help you and Fen out of town. Your family needs help out and you don't want to leave your kid helpers in the lurch if the town is going to burn.

You were trying to fix the mess in your life not ruin the lives of a bunch of innocent civilians.
>>
No. 723236 ID: a075ba

>but now I feel that I should be able to negotiate something else on Croc. Having him actually do something for us would be so good.
Getting to agree to not go after the squishes who tried to ambush him before, so long as they leave him be, seems like a no-brainer.

Thinking long term, some kind of favor (helping Fen with something, or getting the dragoncloth back) would seem a useful thing to get out of him. He got the cloth once, can he get it when it's better defended? I... can't really think of anything you need him to do now we really need. There's no one / no thing you really need hunted down or killed.

>Maybe try to get him to help the kids and siblings to get out, too.
You... could just get the kids to "sell you out" to Croc by taking you to see him at the church meeting, so he'd have to pay them whatever he was offering before.
>>
No. 723237 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723234
Yeah.
>>
No. 723238 ID: 211d83

>>723236

We need Bardo dead to get rid of Cheese's debt. But we are willing to pay Croc for that if the price is right and he is open to the idea.
>>
No. 723247 ID: a075ba

>>723238
Hmm. That raises the question of whether Cheese can better maneuver / control a playing field where Bardo was murdered versus one where she paid him off.

It also raises the question of if that's too big a request for Croc to accept in lieu of getting to the dragon cloth the hard way. Which he might still be able to do, if you made a deal too expensive.
>>
No. 723264 ID: bb78f2

>>723229
Just tell Fen to remind Croc that the red has emotional significance to Fen, so it's low on the bro code to try and steal it just because he wants to fight Fen and give him motivation to.

If Croc wants to fight Fen when he's at his best, probably just best to fight him in the arena, so if Croc also REALLY wants to fight Fen as his final or near final boss, to be the Jetstream Sam to his Raiden, the easiest way would to face him there... wait no bad analogy, Sam fucked with Raiden emotionally so hard to get him to fight his best, FUCK.

Nope, sorry, it's too late, he's gonna steal it to make sure that happens.
Give up on preventing it Cheese, it's like destiny has been written.
>>
No. 723282 ID: 91ee5f

What if, in between you leaving to get the Dragoncloth and returning to show it to Croc, he runs off to tell Vackles and Vackles shows up where you're supposed to meet Croc?
>>
No. 723300 ID: 5b9f30

>>723282

We could have Fen stay with Croc that whole time.
>>
No. 723308 ID: dd338c
File 146328074831.png - (18.53KB , 800x800 , 467.png )
723308

"... um, say. What's your price on killing Bardo?"
>"Ten big gold ones."
"... ten gold?"
>"Ackackack. Big ones. Ten hundred tens."
"..... ten hun.... thousand?! Ten thousand?!"
>"Aye. Ya tell me about a goldie who taps 'round the ground without a town's army 'round his peripherals, an' I'll greet yer jellies to a goldie corpse."

Well, he got me there.

"Okay nevermind. Let's... meet at....

Damn, what if Croc tells Vackles about the church?

"Well okay, here's a fair thing to not trust you with! I'd like to whisper it to Fen, who'll lead you to the place we meet, is that okay?"
>"Bobbin' good."
"And I just want you to know... it does mean a lot to Fen, sentimentally."

I lead Fen to another room. In another building. Down the road. "The church." We walk back to Croc. "Um, I haven't decided fully yet, but is it okay if I bring my siblings, the ones you met from before? And what about kids?"
>"That's a shaker to yer womb roomies, and even if a small rabbling of two-rings is a drop in the heat cause ol' fishbones is good an' popular with 'em, showing off the red isn't gonna do any favors.."
"Okay that's understandable I guess, but hey, I still want help getting them - my siblings and the kids - out of town. I just wanted to fix my own mess, not drag a town full of innocents in them."
>"Oy I hope that little glimmer on yer inside is true, cause then fishbones'll take a real liking. A real downer I can't waggle a grand gold road to your silver cloud till I know how our woody is gonna hack down his big chair. I point you what, though, you heave open your end of our met hands, an' if there's a chip in the den I can' smooth over, ol' fishbones will sit right tight in this nest to make good that every footer between the verticals that shouldn't be in the verticals, gets outta the verticals."

He takes his hat off and outstretches his hand to me.

>"Now our hands gonna be well met?"
>>
No. 723309 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723308
Shake that massive hand.
>>
No. 723310 ID: a075ba

>>723308
That sounds fair (at least as far as I can understand it).

>"Now our hands gonna be well met?"
Give him a firm squishy handshake.
>>
No. 723311 ID: 211d83

Go for it.
>>
No. 723320 ID: dd338c
File 146328412259.png - (32.58KB , 800x800 , 468.png )
723320

>"ACKACKACKACK a real squishy aintcha?!"

I'm pretty sure he's trying to pop my claws out of my fingers while simultaneously yanking my arm off.
>>
No. 723321 ID: dd338c
File 146328413318.png - (16.81KB , 800x800 , 469.png )
723321

I head down to grab the Dragoncloth.

>"Hello, Cheese." says Cabbage.
"Hello. I'd like to grab the dragon cloth."
>"Mm, really, now? What for?"
"It... oh, it's complicated, but I think Croc isn't my enemy anymore. If things go right, Vackles is in big trouble."
>"Cheeese, Croc, too?"
"Oh, no, I don't trust him, but.. I kind of... have to. A little."
>"The caution sits well with me. Nonetheless, Tomato and myself would just love to come, even if it's simply to follow you at a small distance."
>>
No. 723324 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723321
Croc said no to that. If things go south, them being there won't help anyway. At best they can escort you to/near the church, then leave.
>>
No. 723325 ID: 211d83

Tell her the plan to meet up at the old church.

If it goes well we might introduce her and Tomato to Croc and if not they can help Fen try to take him down.

Oh and if she does notice anything going down let us know right away. And not to assume its Crocs fault instantly. No more misunderstandings because we don't talk about our plans.
>>
No. 723328 ID: 211d83

>>723324

He said it was a shaker to bringing her siblings. So he is fine with them coming but not to bring the kids because they should not see the cloth.
>>
No. 723330 ID: dd338c
File 146328478070.png - (23.95KB , 800x800 , 470.png )
723330

"Um... maybe just an escort nearby."
>"That is acceptable."
"But if something goes wrong on the way, don't assume it's Croc! I don't want any more misunderstandings."
>"I understand, but please recognize that I don't want any more death in the family."
"I know."

We go back up, and I stop them a ways before the church where I think no one ever really goes. Then I go up to the church and poke my head up through the floorboards.

I hear... fighting. And shouting. In the streets. Not like a full blown war, but there's definitely some commotion.

Croc shows up with Fen safely, though.

>"Oy a plain shine show out there. An' there's the squishy. Warfield's really swappin' the roof with the floor at our woody's. An' ol' woody's tryin' to push into Warfield's. Real stones to bang wood on stone, I waggle him that! Now lemme feel that Red, squishy, cause 'ol Vackles either waggled wide or left a real pointer down at his den that kicked up the nest not 20 foot taps back. Real raindrop in everyone's jellies that squishy here nabbed a bloody red of her very own."
>>
No. 723333 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723330
They're awfully far away. Don't take out the dragoncloth until Croc's close enough to get a hand on it without you having to come out into the open. It's possible that someone is hidden nearby watching the meeting.

...actually, if you have the fake dragoncloth on hand, you can show it off while they're far away. If someone is poised to steal it, you can let them run off with the fake then hand Croc the real deal.
>>
No. 723334 ID: a075ba

>>723330
Wave him closer. We don't want to be caught away from the hole if the fighting gets closer.
>>
No. 723335 ID: 211d83

Is this the ground floor? Have them come over to the tunnel and make sure no one is watching. No more mistakes like the last meeting.

Do not pull out the dragoncloth until you are sure no one else is watching. Have them follow you up to the roof for more privacy if need be. If Croc is going to fuck us then we are going to get fucked. But do not let anyone else mess this up.
>>
No. 723339 ID: dd338c
File 146328624153.png - (22.88KB , 800x800 , 471.png )
723339

I have a clear vision on the walls and everything around me, so I motion Croc closer and, just as he's approaching it, start to slink down after leaving the dragoncloth in its bag out for him.

>"Aww ye thas' a real cushy on the scaly ol' fishbones'd sit under the plips all night to fet a rubs a gesh all over real wart comf."

After that tragedy of communication, he just kind of stays still for a bit with the dragoncloth over his cheek.
>>
No. 723340 ID: dd338c
File 146328625336.png - (31.31KB , 800x800 , 472.png )
723340

>"Ain't any ward to the glum like a prize in the soul, real fine mesh to tune a three myth hoist." He says, handing it back to Fen, who hands it back to me after practically hugging it himself.
"What do we do now?"
>"Oy a real pain it is. Whole vertical bend is - "
>"Croc." Fen interrupts. "Let me explain. Cheese. The town knows you have dragoncloth. Vackles is using the town guard as his personal army to search every building to find you and the cloth. He is now a bandit that took over the fence. He's sent runners out of town, declaring a quarantine inside of this town to make an excuse as to why no one can enter or leave."
>>
No. 723342 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723340
Great. The frame-up didn't work as planned, Vackles just overpowered his boss. I guess we'll be fighting our way out. Get your family ready, and the kids assembled.

...also I suspect this may throw a wrench in your plans to deliver the dragoncloth to Cati. I mean, you have the money already so you can pay off Bardo, but Cati might not want the cloth anymore and would then demand the money back. If your family can kill Cati that won't be a problem, of course. Heck in that case I have no idea who's going to have the dragoncloth for Fen to legally-steal it back from.
>>
No. 723343 ID: 211d83

Ok tell them about your side plans. We have some fake cloth if that helps and can go way underground if need be for a few days.

We need to figure out a way to make Vackles look like a idiot so everyone thinks the dragoncloth thing is fake. Otherwise could have idiots after you for years.

You know what get your siblings in here and have a meeting and see if anyone has any ideas.
>>
No. 723344 ID: a075ba

>>723340
Damn. Did he actually get the better of Warfield? That didn't go as planned.

Croc, do you mind if I bring my siblings in? I think we're going to need to be working together to get out of this.
>>
No. 723345 ID: 91ee5f

>>723340
>Practically hugging it himself.
When Fen did that, did he smile at all? Fen smiling is practically just as rare as the Dragoncloth itself!

Also, did Fen get his horn fixed? It's not chipped anymore.
>>
No. 723346 ID: 53d323

Er, Cheese, just to check, you did remember to pull out any of Tomato's thorns that got in that last time you used it with him, right? You said you were going to, so, just be sure you didn't forget.

Anyway, you're kinda in trouble now, but Vackles shouldn't be able to pull this shit without someone bigger stamping him down after a while. There shouldn't be anything much stopping Warfield and Gauche from teaming up on him, right? The town guard may not be the brightest but some of them should realize this, too. Vackles is panicking, and you just need to hold on until it catches up to him. You could speed it up by getting someone out who knows the truth, double it as an evacuation if it's a way that could get a lot of people out. This is a town full of black marketeers and smugglers, isn't it? There has to be a secret passage in and out of town somewhere.

As for you... basically, you need to either escape town, or really super hide out. If you having dragoncloth is all over the place now, Gauche and Warfield will have heard of it as well, and might not be happy with you either. There's also probably a lot of coin being dumped down into the lower classes and the kids to report your location. But, also a lot of the lower class is going to be super mad at Vackles, so, it's not a sure sellout. Better be cautious.

Maybe call your two siblings in to help you plan stuff out with Croc and Fen?
>>
No. 723349 ID: a075ba

Wait, are we planning on just making a break for it now?

You can't exactly afford to leave the stuff in your tunnel hideout behind.
>>
No. 723350 ID: dd338c
File 146328818202.png - (50.75KB , 800x800 , 473.png )
723350

>When Fen [hugged] that, did he smile at all
A little!

"Oh, I have some fake red cloth, here that'll... be a distraction, I guess, if need be. Um... my sisters... I think we should work together. I think for this, all of us ca-"

>Er, Cheese, just to check, you did remember to pull out any of Tomato's thorns that got in that last time you used it with him, right?
Well yeah I
.....
...
...
...
I
....


.
...

I.

Fucked.

Up. And got distracted before I was done.

Ohhhhh that would have been sooo beautiful if Vackles did get the Dragoncloth.
>>
No. 723351 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723350
Shit. Examine the cloth for barbs, take any out that were left, then check the boys for symptoms or evidence of a barb breaking the skin. Actually wouldn't they have felt the prick of a barb anyway? ...it's probably fine, just examine them and have the antidote ready if needed.

...actually, could you purposefully put barbs in the dragoncloth now and let it get taken by Vackles? Croc could deliver it, even, and get paid for it.
>>
No. 723352 ID: 211d83

Tell both of them you might have accidentally poisoned them both. Your poisonous relative had touched the cloth and you forgot to clean it.

Apologize and figure out what to do.
>>
No. 723353 ID: b2db3f

Or poison the fake cloth and have Croc bring it back to Vackles. Killing Vackles would solve this mess rather quickly. And possibly get a reward from the other nobles.

But make sure the guys are fine first.
>>
No. 723354 ID: a075ba

>>723350
...apologize to Croc, and check his cheek for needle damage.

At least if he hears why you accidentally poisoned him, he'll probably laugh. (And he'll see that you do care about some things).
>>
No. 723357 ID: c4d71a

Quickly check them for barbs while explaining how the barbs got into the dragoncloth in the first place.
As you are explaining, momentarily forget about Fen's presence and blurt out what you were dreaming about.
>>
No. 723360 ID: 90f3c0

>>723351
>>723353
Killing a noble likely caries a death sentence, whether he's trying to overthrow a city or not. And it wouldn't be much of a mystery who poisoned the dragon cloth.

If you want to go after Vackles directly, you'll have to meet with the other nobles and get official permission first. It might be a better option then just making a break for it, and getting pursued by the entire town guard.
>>
No. 723366 ID: 53d323

Well, uh... only one side of the cloth was facing Tomato, and it looks like you had it double over, there, so... fifty fifty chance? Plus he'd already jabbed you with some and they probably don't grow back instantly... and neither of these two seemed to notice any prickling or anything.

Better explain and examine and hope for the best.
>>
No. 723373 ID: dd338c
File 146329270253.png - (20.50KB , 800x800 , 474.png )
723373

"Ohhhhh did either of you feel pricks?!"
>"Why?" asks Fen.
"Tomato mayyy have caught some barbs in the cloth annnnnd oh my gosh I so hope I didn't poison either of you please tell me you're all okay?!"
>".... ackackack ya clumsy sludge ya wanna make me stomp off to get another reverse chug? Givin' me a spook! How'd the needles get in there?"
"Ahahahahahhhh well tomato is super poison but he's a good brother and... I don't have immunity to him, but... I... really wanted to hug him!"
>"You used my dragoncloth to hug a poisonous mutant kobold?"
"Yessssss."

Fen seems a little disturbed, but Croc is laughing it up. Which is good.

"Okay, just... Fen, here's a half vial of the antidote. Please keep it if either you or Croc feel sick! Wait a second, if we give it to Vackles... oh, gosh, he might pay you, croc, and if he touches it with barbs everywhere... Ah, but we should probably use the fake one?"
>"Now there's a there's a snappin'. Cept no gander he'd get a tossup from the falsy, ain't a body with a title what gets a fool like that. Now bring on the dandy thing and bring on a stiff woody why not?"
"Um... geez, if it's a quarantine he's doing... ohh if the other nobles' knew what was going on! I doubt the kids care to fight their way out, and this place has a lot of guards."
>"Ain't a stale air way through the scaffold?" Croc says.
"What, like... a tunnel out of here? No, all the tunnels in the fence are just made by the newer parts of town getting built on top of the old. It doesn't go far. Can't we get a runner to just... make a bolt for it?"
>"No." says Fen. "Vackles had people on some odd beasts that seemed like they could run faster than a kobold. He's got the outside of the town covered."
>>
No. 723378 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723373
Really the only problem with giving the boobytrapped dragoncloth to Vackles is getting it back afterwards. If we have a good plan for that, then do it.

It almost seems like our only chance, to be honest. The town is even more secure now, so secure that I don't think Croc can get us out. Not unless he can take on the beasts while protecting a large group of kids? I kinda doubt it, so we'd have to just hide if we can't kill Vackles. If the poisoned dragoncloth trick doesn't work, can Croc just kill him? How much would that cost?
>>
No. 723379 ID: a075ba

To reiterate earlier points:

You can't leave town without your warchest of funds, which is still in the tunnels.

What happened to Warfield? Is he just unable to stop Vackles so far, or did Vackles actually beat him?
>>
No. 723411 ID: c43722

You have the crows, so if the fog is still down you could at least possibly get word out about what Vackles is doing, minus the part about the dragoncloth. Do the crows have contacts that could reliably fake that they got word from inside the Fence that Vackles dropped a bogus quarantine here out to someone who'd care about it and have the means to take action against Vackles for it? Even if the crows don't, you should still inform them of what's happening down here in case you or Fen don't make it out.
>>
No. 723412 ID: bb78f2

>>723373
Status of Gauche and Warfield is paramount, since I don't know if Gauche thinks you betrayed him or not, which means his men could also be out looking for you.

I hope it's proper fucked at this point for Vackles though and he's killed them. Depending on how the other nobles may view his murder of the other two for some fucking dragoncloth, we may have created a new interesting campaign for fen to fight.

So if he's dead, send them feelers out for the political ramifications of Vackles actions.
>>
No. 723418 ID: 211d83

From that little exchange with the cloth it seems like Croc has some history with dragoncloth. Looks like it brought back some memories of his. Might want to ask about that at some point.

So a simple escape is out because it would quickly get all the guards on our tail. We need to find out what the situation is with the other nobles and maybe help them to take down Vackles. And along the way get everyone to think that the dragoncloth was just a excuse that Vackles was using so we don't get chased by everyone and everything.
>>
No. 723420 ID: b01878

So the whole town knows you have dragoncloth, but do they know you have REAL dragoncloth?

I mean, just about everyone in this town who has seen the real dragoncloth is either currently our ally or dead.

If people are convinced that Vackles is doing all this shit for a piece of fake dragoncloth, then even his own men might have second thoughts on continuing to support this maniac.
>>
No. 723426 ID: dd338c
File 146333815655.png - (48.32KB , 800x800 , 475.png )
723426

Okay. Let me get my thoughts straight.

I'm not leaving right now. I mean, there's three mythril back in the cave!

>So the whole town knows you have dragoncloth, but do they know you have REAL dragoncloth?
I don't think they know, for absolute fact, that I have real dragoncloth, but that's what the rumor is, so I bet there's a lot of people out there who believe it's real dragoncloth. I'll deal with trying to get rumors and evidence out that Vackles is after a fake dragon cloth, but right now, Vackles is making this town into a renegade fortress, and even if he's undermined and weakened inside, there still has to be some force capable of removing him.

"Do you know what happened to Lord Warfield or Sir Gauche, Fen?"
>"No. I don't know where he is or if anything happened to him."
"Okay. I'm... we have to find out, but right now, I'm going to get the crows to send out news. It's probably raining all over the turtle lands now, and, uh, they can deliver the news to contacts who are trusted enough to be believed when they tell important people - nobles - what's really going on here."
>"Real boom it." says Croc. "Make the flappers flap, then."

I can tell nobles all over the place. A lot would jump at the opportunity to liberate a town from a rogue noble like Vackles. Still, I need to know how I'm going to word it, that is, what to say and what not say. It's prooobably enough to just say that Vackles is the one responsible for Rasyan's disappearance, and after being found out, that's the reason why he's quarantining the Fence.

Warlord Krix of Tunna. He's dangerous, and would love to take any excuse to take over a town.

Lady Cati. She obviously has an interest in this since she knows the dragoncloth tradeoff is happening here.

Lord Bardo. I don't know the full details of his dealings with Rasyan, but he may have interest

Lord Jolli. I know all about nothing about this guy, except that he's the gold noble of this region, and he definitely wouldn't want to be rescued by some other gold noble.

Lady Apanya, the mythril noble of the whole province. She might not even care, but it probably wouldn't hurt if that's the case. She may just spread the word.

I can send a letter out to any number of those nobles. Or none if I really think that I can deal with this without noble intervention and want to for some reason.

Or all of the above, if I want a huge clusterfuck, especially if I make it sound, to each of those nobles, like they're the first one to hear about it.
>>
No. 723430 ID: 211d83

Clusterfuck it up.

Also you might want to start the rumor mill with lots of fake dragoncloth sightings. The more confused the situation is the better.

Alternatively just getting Bardo and maybe one other out here might be the trick we need to lure Bardo into our range. While we can pay him off it would be really nice if we could get him killed and blame it on one of the other nobles actions.
>>
No. 723437 ID: a075ba

Remember Cheese, you were just talking about not wanting to make things worse for other people, here. We can't bring the hammer down the town too hard, or the cure might be worse than the cold.

The "warlord" title, and his description, make me wonder if he's more trouble than he's worth, involving. His first response will be to fight. (Then again, if we want to cause intra-noble conflict, that's a good thing).

Pulling multiple people in for a clusterfuck does tentatively sound like a good plan, crazy as it is. Tailored to their interests, of course. The Warlord should be told of a treasonous uprising. Catti's letter should be about her dragoncloth (maybe even make it look like it came from her agents / your siblings?). Bardo's should be the investment / financial angle (and you work for him, so it can be the most 'official' spy report). The local gold and mythril, in terms of influence / challenge to their own order / standing.

How much trouble will it be for you if / when the nobles realized you led them on so they each thought they were the first to hear of it? What can you do to mitigate that risk?
>>
No. 723440 ID: 7de580

We're planning to kill Cati or steal dragoncloth from her. What makes her most vulnerable? Making her fight alone might drain her resources more than fighting in a clusterfuck would, but if she wins The Fence, that's a prize that will increase her security. Like the Croc said, it's much harder to kill a gold noble who's guarded by a personal army.

Cati and one other who's likely to beat her? Or perhaps Cati and one other who's just a little bit shy of beating her, and we tip the scales with a well-timed betrayal?
>>
No. 723441 ID: b412df

I'm thinking Cati, she has motivation to end any uprising here to ensure the dragoncloth ends up in her hands (But not for long).

Maybe Bardo as well, so you can pay off your debt, but that could be a huge risk if he figures out what you've been doing behind the scenes. Since it's in his interest for you to remain in his debt.
>>
No. 723442 ID: 5ad4a7

Lady Cati. Be sure the message includes the rumors about a dragoncloth but also that it might be fake and Vackles is probably just trying to cover up his killing of Rasyan. Cati knows enough to guess that you're framing Rasyan, and she'll play along while downplaying the dragoncloth issue, for her own benefit. It's a win/win for her. She gets credit for putting down an uprising, and will be able to cover her own ass in the process.

Make sure your family knows not to kill Cati too early, if they're still planning on doing so.

I think it might be a good idea to have Lord Jolli in on it too, since him being involved will weaken Cati's long-term position and we want that.
>>
No. 723474 ID: dd338c
File 146335665483.png - (46.53KB , 800x800 , 476.png )
723474

>How much trouble will it be for you if / when the nobles realized you led them on so they each thought they were the first to hear of it? What can you do to mitigate that risk?
Well, if they knew that I did that on purpose, it'd be bad, so... since I'm going through a middle man, that'll kind of help wash it out initially, but I'll just let them presume they're the first to know about it, since, relatively speaking, this is going to get out fast. Like, as fast as a crow can fly, then have the recepient deliver the news to their noble, plus 15 minutes or so.

I get to the church bell, and with the crow's help, write the letters using the right names and current encryption used in crow letters.

To the Lady In Black
Please be alerted that Sir Vackles of the Fence has slain Lord Rasyan of Pocktown. Although the details are missing, he has been confirmed to be in possession of Rasyan's swords, and there are rumors that a dragoncloth has been involed. He has locked down the Fence to prevent word from getting out. Please pass this on to your mistress, Lady Cati.
-An abandoned pickaxe


To the moss south of the tree
Please be alerted that Sir Vackles of the Fence has slain Lord Rasyan. Evidence suggests it involved a botched trade between currency and dragoncloth, but how this led to a murder is unknown. The Fence is said to be in quarantine, but make certain it is known to Lord Bardo that the town guard of the Fence has turned on the empire itself.
-A buried copper


The following and last letter I send will go to Warlord Krix. I'm going to have the crows delay this one, because he will likely respond the fastest, hardest, and may not be much better than Vackles' fucking the town up on his own. I'm hoping that if he gets here, it's because no other nobles did things fast enough. In other words, Warlord Krix's involvement is if everything else is going poorly.

-To the feathered sword
If it has not been revealed yet, the Fence is under Quarantine as of 8 hours before this letter has arrived to you in a timely manner. Know that this is false, and is nothing but a desperate and hostile takeover by Lord Vackles who has been outted as the slayer of Lord Rasyan of Pocktown. Lord Krix may wish to know of this information.
-A loose mining helm


And finally, a surprisingly simple letter to Lord Jolli, which will also be delayed, however, since Jolli is closer, he'll have an opporunity to do something sooner than Krix.
Fence compromised by town guard and Vackles.

I pay the crows some for their trouble.
>>
No. 723475 ID: dd338c
File 146335668946.png - (37.18KB , 800x800 , 477.png )
723475

I go back down, and Fen helps me dismount off the ladder. It's not hard to do that, but I probably make it look hard.
>"Can we do anything about undermining Lord Vackles?" Fen asks.
"I... don't know. We can't just fight them. I mean, the Fence is just a middle sized town, but it's such a bad den of crime, that Lord Vackles has had plenty of excuse to basically raise an army to deal with it. The walls are made with heavy fortifications, and the town guard has a lot of people under its payroll, so... Croc, Fen, maybe the two of you can go to the merchants about this, because they can't be happy about this. We can buy a lot of fake red cloth from them and just start spreading it around, and people who don't know what real dragoncloth looks like - which is basically the whole town - will keep spotting fake dragoncloth, and I think oversaturating the finds with fake dragoncloth will get a lot of people thinking there may not be real dragoncloth at all."
>"Bobbin' good noggin ya squishy clawed slimmy."
"Is there anything else we should do?" asks Fen.
>>
No. 723490 ID: a075ba

>"Is there anything else we should do?" asks Fen.
Well, you should probably tell your siblings what the hell is going on before there's another accident / confusion / miscommunication.

We might want to warn the kids who've been helping you to stay low.

...actually, if Vackles is going to be cracking down on everyone who's associated with you, we might need to look out for your buddies at the restaurant too.

Plus we need to retrieve the funds and items from underground. We need to plan how we're actually getting out of the city when the hammer falls. We need to visit crowtown to deliver the pickaxes (well, one of you does).

Between Croc, you, and your siblings, you might be able to approach multiple nobles over this mess. Different messengers / helpers to play them against each other. (Siblings go to Cati, you go to Bardo, Croc offers to sell help to someone, etc).
>>
No. 723496 ID: bb78f2

>>723475
Have fun.
>>
No. 723500 ID: b01878

Keep holding Fen's hand until it gets awkward.
>>
No. 723512 ID: 0a94cb

Try not to get distracted by Fen helping you down from the ladder like you were some kind of noble lady and he was some kind of courteous knight.
>>
No. 723536 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723475
Say that you'd like to get to know Croc a little better since you're working with him now. Have a pleasant chat with him to kill time? TOTALLY NOT A DATE (maybe it's a date)
>>
No. 723554 ID: dd338c
File 146336679304.png - (16.87KB , 800x800 , 478.png )
723554

>Keep holding Fen's hand until it gets awkward.
>Try not to get distracted by Fen helping you down from the ladder like you were some kind of noble lady and he was some kind of courteous knight.
oh gosh

He's taken by a very lucky girl.

Who's also taken.

"Thank you, Fen."
>"For what?"
"Helping me down."
>"It's nothing."
"Oh gos- I mean, I should go talk with my sisters and get my things from down below. I can't think of anything else for you two to do, until we know more about what nobles will actually come. So I guess have fun??"
>"Are these merchants supposed to be nice? I do not see how fun will be involved."
"Uh... nevermind. Croc I hope to get to know you because you seem alright."
>"Ain't that a lick!"
"Y... yes. I don't have time now, so be careful, you two."
>>
No. 723555 ID: dd338c
File 146336680144.png - (16.17KB , 800x800 , 479.png )
723555

I go down with my siblings and explain everything on the way down. There's a couple kids who run into us. They scamper off like a kicked ant when they see my sisters, though. We manage to get all the way down.

"I should go speak to the kids, next."
>"The kids attract attention." says Cabbage. "I hope we can remain in the church if it is as isolated as you say without incident. Would you like Tomato and myself to hold onto our mythril and dragoncloth? While I have seen you defend yourself, Cheese, it is... unflattering."
>>
No. 723563 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723555
Yes, please.
>>
No. 723567 ID: 211d83

Yeah you had better let them guard it. Unless you have a foolproof hiding spot. Of course they do stand out like a sore thumb so up to you.

As for the kids yeah its time to let them know the stakes. Croc and you have made up and Vackles went crazy. The rumors you had them spreading worked to well and now look at what happened.

But you have a plan to deal with Vackles and need there help to make sure the town does not get hurt to badly.
>>
No. 723569 ID: a075ba

>>723555
Yeah, it would probably be smart to let them hold onto the goods.

Just... remember, if it comes down to it, the stuff isn't worth getting killed for.

>The kids attract attention.
I just want to warn them to hang low. If Croc knew to approach them to try and get at me, Vackles might figure out they're connected too. They need to avoid the guards and the street till this mess is over.
>>
No. 723570 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723555
>I have seen you defend yourself, Cheese
Wait, details please.
>>
No. 723577 ID: 33dd75

>Oh gos- I mean, I should go talk with my sisters and get my things from down below.

Dangit Cheese now Fen will think Cabbage and Tomato are both girls.

Anyway just remember to take a little money with you for surprise needs. Not the mithril but something.
>>
No. 723584 ID: dd338c
File 146336889056.png - (87.65KB , 800x800 , 480.png )
723584

>Now Fen will think Cabbage and Tomato are both girls.
Well... better than things!

"Yes, please. Be careful!"
>"You, too. Remember, this stuff isn't worth getting killed over! See you soon." says Cabbage. Tomato grunts at me.

>Details are needed on defending yourself
It's like a weird mutant defense mechanism but it's just kind of... dumb and bad.

I make my way to find some kids who point me over to Gravel. I squirm past them, through a tunnel, and see him when I poke my head out.

>"Back already?" he says. "Should I give you the news? Just about everyone knows, but you know what they say about having to live under rocks."
"Cute. I know Vackles is upturning the place. I don't know what happened to Warfield and Gauche."
>"Lord Warfield has his personal guard, of course, and they're tough and all, but it turns out the town guard didn't do what they were supposed to do when Lord Warfield attempted direct command. They say he fought his way out, and is holed up in his palace even while the town guard ransacks it."
"And Sir Gauche?"
>"Holed up in his estate, but it's more quiet over there. So, meanwhile, the town gaurd is fortifying their walls and doors and really making this place air tight. Both tunnels we know of that go outside of town are guarded like hell. We didn't even think they knew about them. They're looking for dragoncloth. We're losing a lot of kids, Cheese."
"Losing?"
>"They sent out the orders that all kids are to be put in the dungeon, and any kids seen outside of that or the underground are to be detained. They say they're treating the kids well, but they also say that so long as we're not searching the whole underground for the dragoncloth, they won't let the kids go."
"Wait, they're making you guys search for it? Down here? I was thinking of telling you guys to hang low, but I guess you have to?"
>"Yeah. The bastards are really serious."
"Well... I do have plans. I made up with the bounty hunters, for instance, and Lord Vackles... well, I'm trying to keep the collateral damage to this town to a minimum while getting rid of him."
>"Yeah, we don't like this upset of the status quo either. So what's your plan to get rid of Lord Vackles? Know where the dragoncloth is so we can give it to him?"
>>
No. 723592 ID: 211d83

That's the stupid thing. Vackles has ruined his life for a lie. Even if there was dragoncloth everyone would know that to get it all they would have to do is take out Vackles.

I made up the dragoncloth as a lure to trick Vackles but he is obsessed with it now. Remember that red cloth I had you buy? That's the closest thing to dragoncloth in town.

Have the kids cooperate if they get caught. I don't want any of you hurt because of my mess. I got word out to the outside about what is happening so Vackles will have a lot on his mind soon.

For the moment we need to stay safe and keep Vackles and his men confused. Can you get more of that red cloth? If we start showing it around town all over it will have the guards running all over the place.

Of course if you have any ideas let me know.
>>
No. 723594 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723584
Heh. Having a kid deliver it... So long as you tell them not to take it out of its bag, they won't get poisoned.

On the other hand, whoever delivers it might get blamed for the poison. ...even if you don't tell them it's poisoned, they can just say "Cheese gave me this" and then you'll be blamed for the poison and uhhhhh wait maybe that's bad. Maybe if you can get the kids to deliver it without any of them being implicated? ...or maybe Croc should deliver it since he's strong enough to deal with the repercussions?

How about you say no, and just give Gravel the fake dragoncloth and tell him to deliver that. That way the guards think the kids are at least looking for it, and the kids don't think you have it for real so they won't go after you.
>>
No. 723603 ID: 33dd75

Not now. You brought the dragoncloth here to sell it, it's with the people you were trading with, now, and you met with them long before the town was shut down. And no you don't have all the money you're supposed to get for it yet, you just got an advance. That's why you had so much money to spend on the kids and things! You're not even super sure you'll get the actual money but there was a lot of pressure on you.

You got that fake dragoncloth to help throw off the trail of the real dragoncloth, you're pretty sure the real one is gone by now.

Do you shoot blood out of your eyes or something, Cheese? I'm kind of wondering what it could be that you didn't try use it against Fen that one time you panicked against him.
>>
No. 723615 ID: 91ee5f

>>723584
Maybe if we spread enough fake Dragoncloth, then everyone will think Vackles lied or was lied to. That might make everything calm down a little.

>It's like a weird mutant defense mechanism but it's just kind of... dumb and bad.
Let me guess, you're like a pufferfish and your defense mechanism is to puff up to make yourself look big and intimidating?
>>
No. 723620 ID: a075ba

>So what's your plan to get rid of Lord Vackles? Know where the dragoncloth is so we can give it to him?
There's an idea. Just giving him what he wants.

No, unfortunately I don't, yet. Just keep your heads down, do what he wants, and don't make Vackles mad at you. If I can get my hands on the dragoncloth, maybe I can send it to Vackles through you guys. If my plans work though, he shouldn't be in control of the town much longer.

Don't tell them you have the dragoncloth, or admit that you were selling it. Don't have them offer up the fake cloth either- Vackles will probably take it out on the messenger. Sending a kid to be abused or killed isn't worth it.
>>
No. 723642 ID: dd338c
File 146337256941.png - (89.48KB , 800x800 , 481.png )
723642

>What is the defense mechanism?
I'd rather not think about it.

"Fake dragoncloth, Gravel."
>"Fake?"
"He's throwing his nobility and life away over a lie. I made him think there was dragoncloth, but... he uh, took the bait harder than intended."
>"So this is kinda your fault?"
"That's not... look, there's -"
>"A reward on your head, Cheese."
"What?"
>"Vackles put a 10 gold reward on your head. They're serious."
"His head is going to be on a pike. I've already got word out to multiple nobles."
>"We're on the same team, right, Cheese?"
"Yeah, we are! Remember that red cloth I had you guys buy? That was for a fake dragoncloth. In fact if you can get merchants to get you more, you can actually deliver it over to them to at least make it look like you guys are looking for the cloth."
>"And get our legs beaten for delivering the wrong cloth? No thanks, Cheese. 10 gold, Cheese. That's kind of a lot. More than you've been supplying, right?"
"Same team?"
>"There's no 'I' in team. We all make sacrifices for the team."

This kid.

"You said if they could buy you off, then you'd punch me in the face or something."
>"Did I say they couldn't? And before you say they won't pay up, they already gave us a bag full of silver. Over a gold's worth. Like I said. They're serious. And really. We do like you. So we hope you can be more valuable to the team by staying with us, than by being handed over to that putrid ass Vackles."

This little shit.
>>
No. 723643 ID: 595d54

>>723642
"Croc is on my side now."
>>
No. 723645 ID: bb78f2

He's not being a little shit, he's having a tough time as a leader maintaining and measuring the worth and risk of helping you, just as you are doing right now for him. And he knows that, he's trying to give you the hard decision he's being forced to make because he doesn't want to make it.

He's gotta protect his siblings, his family. You're lucky he hasn't already betrayed you. He's their Cabbage, only much more reasonable.
>>
No. 723651 ID: 0a94cb

Quick, use your defense mechanism on him!

No wait, maybe just remind him of those super mutants you know he's got word of being seen hanging out with you. And also Croc was one of those bounty hunters you made up with. This kid's got shit memory to think he can hold you hostage or turn you in. And since he apparently has shit memory and he's a kid maybe he'd be better off not thinking he can smartass his way to a solution better than you can and let the grownups work.
>>
No. 723655 ID: a075ba

>>723642
Do you really think I'd be carrying ten gold on me after I already got mugged in these tunnels once?

>So we hope you can be more valuable to the team by staying with us, than by being handed over to that putrid ass Vackles.
Hey, I just got you a big old bag of silver and neither of us had to do anything for it.

I'm from Erja Nokol, kid. If there's one thing we learned out there, it's that people you can actually trust are worth their weight in gold, if not more. It's why most mutants are so slow to trust anyone on the outside. It's why I said what I said to Gulls, if you were paying attention. So maybe cool it with the shakedown when I'm trying to check in and actually look out for you guys instead of just cutting you lose when everything goes to shit?

It's my fault things went to shit today, but everyone living under nobles knows it always does eventually. That's the way they are. That's why people like us work together to rip them off, fuck them over, and get by.
>>
No. 723657 ID: 211d83

Gravel you have to decide where you stand. I don't blame you for looking at that money and thinking the way you do. Ultimately you have to decide if the promise of gold is worth turning me in to someone who is willing to destroy the town for a rumor.

I managed to make friends with Croc. He decided that Vackles was to unstable for his liking and would not be able to pay him. Right now all I want to do is fix the mistake I made with Vackles. I did not want for any of this to happen but I need your help.

If you help me I can promise you and the kids will be rewarded. I can't throw money around quite as easily as Vackles but I will do what I can.

That and as soon as the other nobles get here in a day or two all of Vackles guards will be on the wall. Leaving his place and stuff open to anyone willing to take it.
>>
No. 723660 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723642
New plan. Have Gravel hand over the dragoncloth. Let him take the fall for it being poisoned.
>>
No. 723667 ID: 33dd75

Alright, Gravel, I've got two things. One, more money. Not right now, and maybe 10 gold or maybe not depending on how much you deserve it, but I hope by now you trust more that I'll pay than you do a scumbag noble like Vackles who has no reason to care about you after you get him what he wants this one time, since he's going to have to either get out of here soon or be dead. 10 gold might seem like enough to live off forever to you now but, believe me, you don't know how quick that's going to slip through your fingers, and there'll be no more coming your way from him or me.

Now I know that's not enough for you, so two, super valuable: not handing me over means you don't get hunted down for revenge by my two mutant buddies who a couple of kids saw me with earlier and I'm sure you've heard about by now. Now, one of them can't fit down here easily but the other can, and he's the one with the poison that you saw me give a very diluted dose of to someone who messed with me earlier. I don't like being threatening but you started it, Gravel.
>>
No. 723668 ID: 5ad4a7

Also guys don't forget what happened the LAST time we tried to strongarm the kids into not accepting money.

This is another mugging, essentially. Except it's a boss kid doing it. Let's not make the same mistake twice, hmm?
>>
No. 723702 ID: b6178d

>>723642

"You're right, Gravel. Ten gold is a lot, it's true. So... Hmm. I think I can work it. We split 50/50. I get half of that gold if I allow you to turn me in; other nobles are coming, so I'm not that worried. Vackles will chain me up and interrogate me to get at the 'real' cloth and when shit goes down above, I'll probably be locked up in a dungeon, waiting for the nobles to come bust his shit to hell and done. Probably. Or I'll be dead, but then at least it's my own damn fault.

You'll want me to at least go have a chat with my friends before we do this, though. I've told my Erja Nokol buddies that if I go missing in the tunnels, they're to come to you for answers. Not your gang; just you, so your kids can know to stay out of the way. You knew better, after all, than that l'il scamp, Yoof.

I'll even throw in a proper fake for the dragoncloth, rather than the red cloth I had you purchase; which, by the way, Vackles isn't going to fall for for a second, so don't go trying it with him. Spreading red scraps of cloth around is just to make everyone else start thinking he's that stupid, make his troops doubt him, and so on. I've got an enchanted piece, real durable, that could fool him, in which case you would be able to double, triple, quintuple, etc. that ten gold reward. That's still 50/50 split, by the way. I was going to do this differently, but discrediting him this way works, too.

And get me Gulls. He's going to be repaying his debt to me by carrying that cloth and delivering it to Vackles himself. Let the kid get a show of what it's like working the big leagues."

There's a way I think this can be done. Gravel can turn in both Cheese AND the 'fake' dragoncloth, studded with Tomato's spines. Have Gulls carry it, as he's likely to be far more terrified of you than Gravel, so he's less likely to spill on the poisoned cloth plan (and be careful enough with the cloth not to sting himself accidentally and ruining the plan). You warn him (and not Gravel) of the poison and tell him to carry the cloth gingerly and unfold it for Vackles to feel up, or else Tomato is going to give him a HUG.

Once Vackles goes down, you have to be quick, take charge of the situation (i.e. tell the bodyguards that now their lord and master is dead/dying, they can get a beautiful punishment rebate by going to Warfield with the body and swearing loyalty), and/or have backup at the ready, prepared to charge in to save your ass, wherever they took you. Maybe that can be planned with Gravel as a backup contingency (if he trusts you enough, and/or if you throw enough gold at him).
>>
No. 723736 ID: 7de580

Vackles is ripping you off. I'm worth a lot more than 10 gold, especially as a friend. Don't worry. You'll get your payday. You kids have been good to me, and I'm going to be very kind to you. But do *not* make the same mistake your splinter gang did. I won't be so merciful twice, and neither will my family when they find you.
>>
No. 723764 ID: b2db3f

Argue with him but if it comes down to it 10 gold is a small price to pay to keep them on your side.

But not in advance. If they help you then you will make sure they are well rewarded after this is done.
>>
No. 723766 ID: 5ad4a7

I actually don't think the full 10 gold is worth the help of the kids at this point. They are being suppressed by the guards so they're mostly useless now. At best, we want them on our side just so we don't get harassed in the tunnels, but I'm not sure we even need to use the tunnels anymore, what with the way things are going.

The only reason we should give them money is as an apology for fucking everything up for them. ...also I don't even think paying Gravel will keep all the kids off us. Just a small group of them could decide 10 gold is enough for them to get out of town and live comfortably somewhere.

Maybe we should give Gravel some reparations and just stay out of the tunnels from here on.
>>
No. 723799 ID: dd338c
File 146344120593.png - (90.11KB , 800x800 , 482.png )
723799

"Gravel, you dumb little fucker, do you know math? How much did I give to you today?"
>"Something in the range of 40 silver for us?"
"Whatever, I didn't count. How long would I have to do that to cover 10 gold?"
>"What, you gonna give us business every day?"
"Not every day, but more than I would being dead for a 10 gold cutoff fee. And what, you got convinced he'd give you 10 gold by getting one? That's not even half now, half later! I know how bad you have trust issues because apparently you can't recognize that people you trust are worth way over their weight in gold in this world rather than having 10 kids to make sure one does the right thing."
>"10 gold would set us up for life, you - "
"You plan on dying tomorrow?! You don't think I can go right out there and find, within 5 minutes, some ex-noble in the gutter, and get stabbed by him by inducing a fit of self-disgust by asking how he thought his coffers were bottomless?! This is why no one pays attention to you snotty know-it-alls in the ground, you're like a damn pile of ants trying to contruct a tower to the heavens by making it out of all your foot!"

Argh. I huff at him. I didn't mean to lose half of my temper.

Not like it matters, these guys are so used to shitty talk that it's just like regular speech to them.

"Besides, some guys just mugged me. And you know I've got forces behind me that are to you guys, like you guys were to those two assholes!"
>"Oh, all that high talk, now you're threatening us."
"I'm stating the damn facts."
>"How about we get an advance from you? Then we'll work to pay it off over time."

I pause and he slaps me. Not hard, just enough to catch me off guard.

>"Don't give me that look of distrust, girl. We did work for you in the past for free, and you just paid it back, and we didn't include interest or anything.
"Y... yeah. I'm sorry."
>"I am too."
"I don't have much on me what with the whole getting mugged just hours ago, but I'll come back with more."
>"That's fine. What can we do for you?"
"... how are the other gangs?"
>"Probably in the same spot we're at. Gang war is kind of on hold, sorry."

I could get them to deliver a poisoned cloth to Vackles. I can get any kid to do it, but it occurs to me that Gulls might be a good choice.
I can also use the real dragoncloth or fake dragoncloth. The chance of failure lies in the fact that I doubt the kid will directly be able to hand it to vackles. It'll have to cross the hands of a guard. It'll be in a bag, of course, but what kind of guard gets this is unpredictable. Vackles may be more likely to get poisoned if it's the real dragoncloth, but I'd have to be able to get it back.

I can also have the kids spy more.
Aside from some rough handling, they're probably not being treated so poorly in the dungeon. They just want collateral, hostages, and for the kids to be under control, more or less.

Then... maybe put the gang war back on.
It's a shitty request, but if I roll a bad pair of dice and run into a kid from another gang, alone, I might be in trouble.
>>
No. 723800 ID: 211d83

Letting the real cloth out of your sight sounds horrible.(yeah I know its with your siblings)

It would go from just Vackles raving about dragoncloth existing to several people having seen it. So would have to silence them all or have all the other nobles after it again.

If you want to get the fake clothe to Vackles I would do the following. Take the fake cloth and very carefully fold it and then put it in a fancy container(box) wrapped in another fancy cloth. Like a high end fabric store would. You know how they like to put pins in the folds of shirts and other fancy dress things? Do that with Tomato's spines. Put some in the fabric ends where the stitching holds the weave together. And along the folds so they are sharp. Make it look like its been fancily packaged up. Nobles would expect that. The idea that you have been using the cloth to hug mutants would never cross there minds. When they hear the word Dragoncloth they think of a velvet lined display case.

Guards would keep there hands off and only look in the box before turning it over to Vackles. Then when Vackles starts pulling off the wrapping fabric to get at what is "inside" he gets a few pricks. Which always happens when you get a new dress shirt so he will not think it odd.

Gulls might be a good choice but remember he directly knows you have poison. So might be risky.

As for the gang war and being safe just start having Tomato slither after you down here. In the dark kids will rarely see him and now that you have a 10 gold bounty you need a guard.
>>
No. 723801 ID: bb78f2

>>723799
Don't have Gulls do it, have his douche of a leader do it if Gravel's gang still has him. Say all will be forgiven if he just does this one thing, delivering the poisoned cloth.

If the little fucker gets killed in a double or triple or quadruple cross, boo hoo, but if anyone deserves it, it's him. If he gets poisoned while delivering it, boo hoo, he deserves it. If he scampers away with it trying to steal it, he'll die because he's an idiot kid transporting fucking dragon cloth.

It's genius. How could it POSSIBLY go wrong? Every way it could go wrong still benefits us in some sort of fashion because some shit is gonna go down, and it only puts a single douchebag in for sure danger. I mean, he might spill some beans some how, some way, but if he spreads misinformation that he thinks is true over the real truth, no harm done. We just need to make him aware of wrong things and hide the right things from him. Make the lies more believable than whatever he's already learned.
>>
No. 723805 ID: a075ba

I don't think you can afford to let Vackles have the cloth right now.

If you give him a fake cloth, with poison, and it doesn't successfully kill him? (He doesn't touch it, an underling does too soon, he sees the fake, etc). He's going to come down on the kids. Hard. He's probably use the poison on the messenger as an example.

If Vackles actually gets ahold of real the cloth, and doesn't die? That means he can change his behavior, reposition, and has a bargaining chip to use against the nobles coming for his head. And we have to go to him to recover it. (Recovering it is a problem even if he's dead, actually).

If we try the poisoned cloth at all, it should be when he's desperate. When the other nobles have started to close the gap.

Don't start up the gang war, all the kids are probably being forced to do the same thing. You might want a few kids to help you back to safe territory. If you get caught... they can pretend they captured you and are handing you in. Not ideal, but you'll have to play something from the inside. (Putting yourself at risk to protect your escort just like they're putting themselves at risk for you).
>>
No. 723808 ID: 094652

>>723800
This, but then stick a bunch of needles in the fake dragoncloth and some bones (double-fold the cloth so that the needles don't show when Vackles unwraps the outer layer, with a red-paper note saying how you personally bashed and smothered the cloth with the one of his now-dead bastard children, then dyed it red for good measure because you couldn't get it delivered in time. You were so surprised that Vackles infested some common whore with mutant spawn, but it was as UGLY as it was TASTY, so bonus points. As a final insult, declare that there was never any emperor-worthy cloth within a hundred kilometers of the town, he was completely duped by a DUMBASS in that stupid hat, and that he just did EXACTLY what you wanted so you could, and this is the cover story, "purge this town of mutant-loving heretics" (who actually had a tidbit of information that could blackmail the Emperor himself but Vackles was too STUPID to figure it out) under the orders of an even greater noble who has always had control of ALL his major forces, and the fact that you were able to find his illegitimate SPAWN and murder them all was just a fun game to pass the time.

At which point, Vackles should lose his temper. I recommend you send someone fast but expendable. Do what you will and END him.

Oh, and get Croc to sign the paper first.
>>
No. 723811 ID: bb78f2

Another idea, well, a possibility if Cheese has some sort of logistics and knowledge on how to make it possible.

You know, if you an idea on how to fake your death Cheese, now might be the time to pull it out. Maybe get cornered by a bunch of witnesses or something, and get blown to kingdom come in a huge explosion? Make 'em go "Nothing could survive that, not even a squishy mutant"
>>
No. 723813 ID: 33dd75

I wouldn't risk losing track of the dragoncloth, if I were you.
>>
No. 723814 ID: 33dd75

Randomly lost the post password...

Don't get caught up in the idea of assassinating Vackles yourself, you're going to have someone do that for you eventually. You just need to focus on surviving long enough for Vackles to collapse on his own.
>>
No. 723828 ID: 91ee5f

>>723799
Half of your temper?! I'd hate to see you when you lose all of your temper!
>>
No. 723834 ID: 5ad4a7

>>723799
The kids should be able to do a bit of eavesdropping still, through floorboards and such. That'll keep them from getting arrested. Have them do that like all over town, and give you any interesting information.

Don't give them the dragoncloth. I cannot imagine a guard taking the bag from the kids and not looking inside it to make sure it's not fucking empty. They might even cop a feel of it and spring the trap early. Poisoning a guard will fuck us over royally because then Vackles has the dragoncloth *and* knows we're out for his life.

I think only Croc can deliver the dragoncloth and ensure that only Vackles gets poisoned by it. As an added bonus, he'll get paid by Vackles when he does it, and might even be able to take the dragoncloth back soon afterwards.

Don't bother with the gang war. Maybe ask Vackles to get you an escort while you're in the tunnels, at most. A couple of his stronger kids would be enough to fight off any would-be muggers.
>>
No. 723862 ID: 91ee5f

>>723834
>Maybe ask Vackles to get you an escort while you're in the tunnels, at most.
I think you meant to say, "ask Gravel for an escort", right?
>>
No. 723863 ID: 33dd75

On reflection, the main problem with waiting for Vackles to self-destruct is the trouble the kids will get in. Perhaps Cheese could arrange for herself to be sighted in some part of town, in a way that makes it seem like they're on the trail?

As for other things to do, it'd be nice to find out what the other two nobles are doing and if there's some way we can convince/help them take more action.
>>
No. 724583 ID: dd338c
File 146371243787.png - (65.64KB , 800x800 , 483.png )
724583

"Just... spy as you can. Don't be too overt, just under the buildings and stuff. And I have to know what all the other nobles are doing! There's more than just the lord Warfield, Vackles and Gauche?"
>"You got that. There were 4 wood nobles that control overall districts, Vackles for the town guard, then a noble to oversee Fence trading laws and taxes, a noble for public taxes. Most of the nobles are just smart enough to know that they should keep their homes above solid ground or put it on the second story or something where we can't eavesdrop, but here's a tidbit since you mention it. Vackles was last seen using a bunch of town guards to storm a bunch of nobles' places. I've never seen so many damn guards, haha! But really for every guard that I've seen on duty up till tonight there must've been 50 off duty."
"Really, that many?"
>"Sheesh Cheese I didn't actually count, I don't know! I'm just tellin' you, we always joke about 'his personal army' but it really is like a personal army up there."
"What about the merchants?"
>"They're huddled together, and they have a lot of guards, so I think there's a tense standoff between Vackles' guards and merchants' guard, since neither one's gonna find it worth attacking the other. So that's all you want?" he asks.
"Yeah, uh... yeah. Yeah I guess so."

The only thing I think I may do is deliver the fake dragoncloth to Vackles, but I also feel like I should wait a bit. Make him sweat a bit and get a little more starved for that dragonclothy feel enough to wrap himself up in a fake one.

"Oh, um... if you can.... you know how fancy clothes often come in like, nice packaging, and with fancy pins, and boxes, and all.. folded up and... like wrapped in a whole other fabric?"
>"No?"
"..... well, they do! If you have access to merchants, maybe ask them discreetly for, well... just get a nice delivery box! Ask your tailors or someone to prepare a nice present box for a nice clothing gift!"
>"I'll bite, but remember that a vague question gets a vague answer!"
"Right... and last up, I'd like a couple of your best bodyguards. And by best I mean most trustworthy. That's more important than them being big and tough, especially since I have to go through tunnels."
>"Sure, I'll get a few. Couple big ones for the big tunnels, couple mean runts for when you do your weird wiggle roach thing."

And unless I'm making a mistake, I'm kind of back to a 'maybe I just sit and wait for news' kind of position.
>>
No. 724584 ID: 211d83

You need to find your siblings several good hiding places. If they get caught out in the open the could easily get overwhelmed.

While no normal guards in town could take them on they could force them into a bad spot where they could be firebombed or something else drastic. So make sure they have places to retreat.

The guards can't easily search the underground without kids help but they can eventually search any open areas.

Plus its just better if they do not get seen again.
>>
No. 724588 ID: b2db3f

The church is a nice out of the way spot but someone will get the idea to search it eventually. You need to keep Cabbage and Tomato mobile. Having them stay in one spot leaves the possibility of getting caught by searching guards. Who if they do it right will slowly sweep over parts of the town in numbers.


1. Make sure everyone knows the fallback plan. Where to run and where to hide so we can meet back up if guards come.

2. Making sure we have food and water on hand for a week.

3. If you do use the church as a base make sure that it takes time for anyone to search it so your siblings can run for it until they leave.
>>
No. 724589 ID: 5ad4a7

Hey, didn't the dragoncloth arrive in a box? Check to see if it would be appropriate, and cancel the order for a new one if so.
>>
No. 724590 ID: e55b17

Hmm. You couldn't, like... pull a scale out of the end of your tail or something, could you? Just for the kids to be able to say they had a run-in with you but you got away. With the help of someone, if it's too unbelievable that you could outpace them.
>>
No. 724592 ID: 211d83

>>724589

Wait how would the dragoncloth come in a box? Didn't we steal it from Fen? Unless the gold and mithril coins they brought to pay for it came in a box?
>>
No. 724600 ID: 5ad4a7

>>724592
Wait... I got confused. The dragoncloth has a bag that Cheese has been using for it but it's likely not anything fancy.

So nevermind.
>>
No. 724811 ID: 91ee5f

>>724583
Before you leave, ask Gravel when Croc came by to ask the kids to do things, how the fuck they were able to understand what he said to know what he was asking for?
>>
No. 724963 ID: dd338c
File 146387222309.png - (37.75KB , 800x800 , 484.png )
724963

"...actually scratch the thing about the box."
>"... okay."
"Say, when Croc came by and asked you guys stuff, how'd you know what he was saying?"
>"We didn't, but unless there's another, and I quote, "squishy purple out of the sky's glow" around that Croc is interested in, we can take a wild guess that he was asking about you."
"Right."

I got a good container with the fancy dress that the kids got me. I can prepare the dragoncloth for potential delivery through that.

I think to take a scale off for the kids to deliver to the guards to show they're on my trail, but... the guards might just take it to mean that the kids had a chance to nab me and failed.

Over a few hours, I get a good few hiding places that I personally find, but it's mostly just crevices in the tunnels. No building is safe anymore, not even the church, at least not the floor level of the church. I don't like the idea of a place where they could be cornered, but there just isn't a whole lot to choose from. Nonetheless, my sisters rest most under the church, where Fen or Croc stands guard so that we can get advance warning on if guards are coming.

I eventually send my bodyguard kids back to Gravel, since I'm not going to move a whole lot anymore.
>>
No. 724964 ID: dd338c
File 146387223765.png - (36.09KB , 800x800 , 485.png )
724964

I get Fen to get me the rations. I was going to have the kids get it, but apparently the merchants are basically hostages under heavy watch. Fen tells me that there was a slain noble nailed to the wall, there, with a sign saying that nobility no longer matters inside of this town, as a threat to the merchants to not do anything. And they probably can't. They have a lot of protection, sure, but it's not enough to overpower the town guard.

He still gets enough to feed me and my sisters for a week, and then some extra just because. Just in case Fen or Croc lose their ability to move openly.
>>
No. 724965 ID: dd338c
File 146387228276.png - (100.73KB , 800x800 , 486.png )
724965

I wait at the church bell with my finish, wrapped up fake-dragoncloth box for a long time. At some point, a whole mass of town guard comes sweeping through, but I manage to hide in a church crawlspace without being seen, and they pass by the church uneventfully. I'm pretty sure I see a fire start somewhere else in town, and there's faint sounds of fighting and crashes through the streets. Later on, a crow comes down. It takes me long enough to decrypt the message, that a second and third one comes as well. I think about 6 hours have passed since Vackles went crazy.

Dear buried copper
Lord Bardo has received this message, however, he is under close suspicion of foul play by Lady Apanya. As a pre-caution, she has informed Lord Bardo that he is not to pursue this matter, and, instead, Lady Apanya herself will consider her options. Know that the Fence is not, to put it lightly, Lady Apanya's most respected establishment, and she will be slow to enact swift judgement. Unless there are other nobles that take its fate into their hands, you will need to hold out, as Lady Apanya is sending doctors and scouts to assess the damage. If your letter is true, those scouts will return with the news.


And the second I got...

Lord Jolli has been informed. He will be sending runners to investigate this, and will return to him within hours with news. Although his forces are spread thin, he is setting up measures to gather them together should his agents report the worst.

And a third.

Dear abandoned pickaxe,
Lady Cati is alerted. She will be sending a small team of doctors and a medicinal wizard to assist the "quarantine", but she does believe that it is a front. Therefore, the medicinal wizard is only an excuse to send a large unit to investigate the town. They will attempt to gain entry and take control of the western wall long enough for you and your business partners to escape through with your lives and Cati's recently purchased goods. Be prepared in approximately 4 hours. Note that she will not be happy if her goods do not make it out, and in good condition.

>>
No. 724966 ID: 211d83

That looks like a opportunity right there.

So rough plan is that we get the box with the dragoncloth into Vackles hands shortly before Cati's forces arrive. He will be busy with that and if we are really lucky it will take him out. If not will at least distract him and some of his guards.

In the meantime we want to find a safe spot to lurk by the west wall so we can get out with as few people watching as possible.

Don't let the kids know until the last minute and give them the option of staying here or coming with you. Tell them that you have a way out but they have to go now and quickly. If they chose to stay warn them of the danger and give them some money and thanks. Make sure to let them know about the warlord that might be taking things over soon.
>>
No. 724968 ID: 398fe1

>>724965
4 hours for a clean escape? That sounds like a better idea than trying to maybe kill Vackles with either the real or a fake dragoncloth.

...let's do both. Time it so that Vackles receives the poisoned package just before our rescuers get here. Either use the fake dragoncloth, or ensure that we retrieve the real dragoncloth before escaping. I'm leaning towards using the fake dragoncloth because honestly, there's no guarantee he'll prick himself on the cloth anyway. Better to play it safe and not piss off Cati, while at the same time spreading belief that there was never a real dragoncloth.
>>
No. 724977 ID: 93244f

>>724968
This.
>>
No. 724995 ID: bb78f2

>>724968
>>724977
The clean escape seems too easy though.
Might be a Vackles trap, I mean, he would know Lady Cati is involved... probably, so he would probably try his best to cut off all communication in and out of the city.

What if Vackles sent that message to you? Does it have something to verify its authenticity?
>>
No. 724998 ID: b412df

>>724995
The code names, unless Vackles could intercept the crows, and then crack the encoding used, we can probably trust the messages.
>>
No. 725003 ID: dd338c
File 146388015783.png - (27.85KB , 800x800 , 487.png )
725003

>Do the letters look authentic?
They were encrypted, so if Vackles was able to encrypt them like the crows, then there's some pretty big problems!

I go downstairs to start explaining to Fen and Croc what's going to happen in around 4 hours, and that I'd like to have the fake dragoncloth delivered to Vackles around the same time in the hopes that he gets poisoned. We won't be giving him the real dragoncloth.

Fen and Croc start thinking about how best to deliver it to him, when Croc swings his head over to the entrance of the Church.

>"Airs' got the tells of a wound from fallen off a wood pedestal over there." he says, and I hop down the hole in the church.

I still peer over the hole when the door creaks open, and Sir Gauche limps inside, before stopping when he sees Fen and Croc.

Both of them stare right back at him, and I bet Fen's doing it because he forgot he's not supposed to, not that it might not matter right now.
>>
No. 725005 ID: a075ba

>nailing other nobles to the wall
Okay, even if he's a wood noble, that still sounds like Vackles has basically fucked himself.

>>725003
Well, Lord Gauge did play along with your plan, and it would probably help your contacts in Fence if one of the nobles who survived owed you one.

If he doesn't cooperate or makes himself a liability, he can be disposed of, and it'll be blamed on Vackles.

Head out to examine his injuries. "Were you followed?" Croc and Fen should be looking around and listening, just in case.
>>
No. 725006 ID: 211d83

Nobility mean nothing in this town now remember. He is just some guy for the moment.

Get over there and help bandage his wounds. Find out if he is being followed and whats going on. If you save his ass you get a noble who owes you his life.(don't mention you got him in this mess)
>>
No. 725007 ID: 398fe1

>>725003
I think you're gonna have to apologize to the poor guy, and offer what assistance you can give. And tell Fen not to forget his manners. Sir Gauche is still a noble, even if he's down on his luck.

Ask if he's being chased. You might have to run off into the tunnels, and... I'm not sure what Fen and Croc will do. Can't just leave Gauche to die, but fighting back against the guards pursuing him would make it obvious Croc is no longer working with Vackles. We've been trying to avoid that so they can move freely in town.
>>
No. 725009 ID: b2db3f

How did he get here on those tiny feet?

He is likely to have been followed. I don't see a sword so not sure what went down but maybe his guards managed to save him while he ran.

Did he know you where here or is he just trying to find sanctuary? Either way get Fen and Croc to help him in and watch for people following. Then bandage him up and get him out of sight before getting his tale.
>>
No. 725010 ID: e258b0

Possible Idea: If you can kill Vackles and make Gauche get the credit, could him getting more power be swung to your benefit?
>>
No. 725011 ID: d721d1

The letter said 4 hours, right? So that means it's actually less than 4 hours, estimating how long it took to get back from Cati to the crow agent, and how long it took the crow to get to you.

Anyway, I think it might be best for you to avoid Gauche. He's probably figured out that it wasn't actually the swords that Vackles was after, and would be pretty upset with you. But on the other hand, he's unlikely to turn you over to Vackles now, and you might be able to convince him you really did think they were what Vackles was after. It depends, you know him better than us, does he have a history of being a forgiving guy, or does he hold grudges?
>>
No. 725022 ID: 90f3c0

Try to offer him protection if you can.

Ask him how many people he thinks are following him. If they're are only a few, Fen and Croc can wait in ambush by the entrance and take them out.

You'll need to find him a place to hide, maybe one of the larger, lesser known tunnels. Fen can cover his tracks to throw off pursuers.
>>
No. 725038 ID: dd338c
File 146388644916.png - (31.90KB , 800x800 , 488.png )
725038

>4 hours was mentioned on the latter
Ack, yeah! It's more like 2 hours based on how fast the crows tend to fly.

"Ah, Sir Gauche?" I come out. "Were you followed here?"

He looks up at me, like he's not sure if I'm really here. He may suspect me of screwing him up, but... he's forgiven in the past, I hear.

>"Worm?"
"Oh good gods, Gauche!"
>"No... I wasn't followed. If I was, I would have been dragged back to Co... to Vackles' feet. I lost my sword."

Gotta resist the urge to ask how Gauche got here on his tiny feet.

>"I lost my guards, too."
"I can tell! Fen, Croc, please help Sir Gauche out, he was actually helpful!"
>"These two. They are not really with Vackles?"
"Obviously not."

Even if I save his life, there's nothing saying that a noble 'owes' me his life. In fact I might be bound by some empirical law saying I've gotta help him. But, I think Gauche will be friendly if I save him.

>If you can kill Vackles and make Gauche get the credit, could him getting more power be swung to your benefit?
Possibly!

"Did you know I was here?" I ask him, once he's sat down in a corner."
>"No. I am not one to attempt to speak to the gods, but... in my last moments, I did want to try to see if, perhaps, they'd answer."
"You think you're going to die?!"
>"Maybe. I feel like I'm sinking down a drain. I'm nauseous."
>"He was stabbed in the stomach." says Fen. "He may be okay, but it is difficult to tell."
"Well, if you can speak, Sir Gauche, could you tell us about Vackles?"
>"Hmph. That man was planning betrayal from the start."
"Huh, really?"
>"Yes. I had my suspicions already. His guards fight more like soldiers than peace keepers. His finance advisors and administrators and other staff come from areas of more expertise than a guard system. He wanted to increase his nobility by brute force, no doubt about that, but he wasn't ready to do this. Not like this, not so soon. Something provoked him. And something's missing. He seemed so angry at me when I attempted to give him those swords. It was not the reaction of a man who had his contraband returned to me. Cheese, have you not been entirely forthright to me?"
>>
No. 725041 ID: 595d54

"I think that's already obvious, sir. He was expecting dragoncloth."
>>
No. 725042 ID: 211d83

There might have been some goings on behind the scenes that you were not made aware of.

But I had no intention of this happening or you getting hurt. This was all a horrible mistake.
>>
No. 725048 ID: d721d1

Well, we can't tell him about the dragoncloth. Not the real one, anyway. And if we can't tell him that, then we can't tell him the whole truth, and he likely won't be satisfied with a partial one.

Tell him... you knew Rasyan was dead, and that his swords and medallion had been brought here in secret. You knew that Rasyan had had business in the Fence, and had been worried about assassins, and when you got here you found out that Vackles was looking for something that had been secretly brought into the city; looking for it in such a way as to keep it a secret, as if its discovery would get him in a huge amount of trouble. That he was searching for evidence of Rasyan's assassination seemed to you to be the most believable story. Tell Gauche you're sorry that that turned out to not be; you did want to make trouble for Vackles, because he was hunting you, so perhaps you could have voiced more uncertainty. But, you definitely didn't intend for things to end up being this bad. You had no idea Vackles would go... insane, like this.
>>
No. 725049 ID: b2db3f

Don't admit to having dragoncloth while still in town. Just in case.

I sadly have not been lord Gauche. But I never expected any of this to happen. It was all a horrible mistake on my part due to trying to mislead Vackles while he was spying on my activities.
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No. 725050 ID: 5a893f

>>725038
I haven't, he cares less for the swords than he does of cati's new property I was transporting, i came across raysan's sworrds which was also an item of interest that implicated vackles, but my contract with Cati's forbid me of freely discussing the matter with you.

Me and a couple of cati's agents, not Fen and Croc, had thought that Vackle's involvement with raysan's murder would be enough reason for you to act, that there was no need to risk revealing Cati's dealings within this town.
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No. 725052 ID: a075ba

>Cheese, have you not been entirely forthright to me?
Well, no harm in admitting it at this point. He's at your mercy, and the only alternative is that you were incompetent.

No, I wasn't. I was passing the swords to Vackles as part of a plan to ruin him, and he's well and truly snared now. It's only a matter of time before he's dead. Unfortunately, I was not aware how far he'd managed to build up his forces to increase his power. As a result his... death spasms are a lot messier than I had planned.

My apologies. You aided me, but you were harmed. Which I did not intend.
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No. 725053 ID: d721d1

Oh geeze I just thought of something. Vackles' story is that this is a quarantine, right? Well, what if he can "prove" it, just enough to prolong things?

Because, depending on how many of Tomato's barbs got left around town, there is at least one corpse and one half-poisoned kid who could seem to have a sickness. What if Vackles has some way to spread it around, to produce "victims of plague"? How many people outside Erja Nokol are familiar enough with the symptoms of that poison to identify it as such, and not mistake it for an illness?
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No. 725054 ID: 595d54

>>725053
>What if Vackles has some way to spread it around, to produce "victims of plague"?
To put it simply, that's implausible to the point where it's not worth worrying about because if he could pull off the shenanigans you'd need to make that feasible he'd be able to do much more dangerous, practical things and have done them already.
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No. 725060 ID: 211d83

>>725054

He might be able to use it if he got a hold of the kid we poisoned. But hard to keep up the plague story with just one beat up kid.
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No. 725063 ID: 595d54

>>725060
Poison is generally a very complicated molecule that cannot be easily replicated, especially if you don't know what it is or where it comes from. It also does not reproduce itself, and it is not easy to extract. Vackles would have a finite supply of poison and an extremely large population. He cannot convincingly fake a plague with the poison present in two victims, even if he could somehow get it out of their systems, which would also end their symptoms.

I suppose he might have imprisoned Tomato, but that's another problem entirely and makes this hypothetical plan much easier to ruin.
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No. 725064 ID: 211d83

>>725063

I did not mean he could get more poison from the kid. But he could present him to any doctors at the gates to show that its not just a story to outside nobles. Which would delay the invasion.

But in a town this size he probably can find several sick people to show off.
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No. 725066 ID: 2a783e

He could also use an alchemist to concoct a fake plague separate from Tomato's poison.
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No. 725067 ID: 398fe1

>"We also caught wind that Sir Gauche himself informed the people around him that he would be showing Lord Warfield what you have been looking for all this time."
This doesn't sound like he was handing over the swords to Vackles.
Is Gauche lying to us? Is this a trick, to get Cheese to spill the beans so he has leverage against her?

>Co...
What was this? Has Vackles named himself Commander or something?
>>
No. 725070 ID: a075ba

>>Co...
>What was this? Has Vackles named himself Commander or something?
The last time we met with Gauche, he addressed Vackles as "Colleague Vackles", since they were nobles of the same rank.

He started using the honorific out of habit, then dropped it. Vackles isn't a colleague of his anymore.
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No. 725081 ID: dd338c
File 146389269042.png - (50.66KB , 800x800 , 489.png )
725081

"Okay. It's a little obvious that it wasn't what he was expecting. And there were some going ons behind the scenes you weren't aware of. But I really didn't intend on you getting hurt or even all this happening! I just want Vackles to shove off and die and this town to get back to normal. This is all one big mistake. I know I have a reputation for lies and all that, and it's well deserved, but I am really sorry you got hurt."
>"I don't care about getting hurt. I have family that can take my title, except that my family is at his mercy. You mean to tell me you may be at fault?"
"... okay, no, I never went to Vackles', and he's the one who spied in on my going ons and then invaded the person who I was dealing with. He's the one who butted in for greedy reasons, is doing all this for greedy reasons, and brought it on himself! He was hunting me, and he was hunting for something that was in town, and I thought, I had the swords, so if I could plant them.... Gauche, are you okay?" his eyes are getting unfocused.
>"I'm here, but I stopped caring for your words."
>"What the waggles' bout the dragonblood red ol 'woody got a thirst for." says Croc.
>"What he's saying," says Fen, "is that Vackles is after a dragoncloth."
"Errrhng yes okay fine but I definitely didn't know Vackles would go crazy over this!"
>"Greater people have gone crazy over less." says Gauche. "Don't be so defensive, chubby worm, I told you, Vackles had this planned before. It was only a matter of time. You simply sprung the trap earlier, and before it would have been truly ready." He pauses, then laughs in that unpleasant, unhappy tone, at least until he coughs. "You may have actually saved damage from occuring, even more accidentally than starting it. Nevertheless, I don't think I can trust what you say, anymore."
"Well then talk to me! I don't want you to die, and you shouldn't want to either, so keep focused!"
>"Fine and so be it. I'll tell you that Vackles thinks that I have the dragoncloth, whether or not it really exists. I told him there was no such thing. I got back to my estate without further issue, but he ended up making a full assault on it. Last I heard, Warfield was going to gather all his power and fight his way out of this town."

I'd say that a noble fleeing his own town he's supposed to be in charge of is an incredibly shame, but no one really seems to give a crap about this place. Warfield was more here to keep it in check than make it a shining example of imperical ideals.

I don't think Vackles has the means to convince doctors there's really a plague unless he just somehow manages to collect all the sick people in town to put on a good show when they enter. It just isn't feasible.

I wonder if I could get Sir Gauche to deliver the fake dragoncloth, though. It's either that or just hide him under the church, which happens to be where my sisters are at right now.
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No. 725082 ID: 398fe1

>>725080
Shouldn't Croc have a healing potion or something? Offer to buy one off him. If he doesn't then oh well. Only thing we could do is somehow find a mage. But we can't do that.

Don't let Gauche see your sisters. They are not meant to be seen. Letting some kids see them was bad enough. ...or is the secret out already? Vackles' spy saw them, after all, and then Vackles told the town there were three mutants.

If Gauche delivers the fake dragoncloth he's DEAD. Of course, if he's just going to die anyway I guess that's fine. He can even throw it in Vackles' face to ensure he gets hit by the spines! ...heck, if Vackles is threatening Gauche's family, maybe that's the best thing Gauche can do. To protect what he has left, he can kamikaze Vackles with the poisoned dragoncloth.
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No. 725083 ID: a075ba

>I wonder if I could get Sir Gauche to deliver the fake dragoncloth, though.
If Vackles really believes Gauche has the cloth, he would be the most convincing delivery. And he has reason to want Vackles dead.

But Gauche needs time to rest before we try anything (assuming he doesn't just die), and Vackles needs to stew a little longer to be truly reckless.

So we have to sit on that plan for an hour or two.
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No. 725084 ID: 211d83

Sending him to deliver it is basically sending him to his death. He might survive but Vackles will likely have him cut down if he gets poisoned.

Unless Gauche says that you gave him this box and told you to take it to Vackles unopened. Then Vackles would be angry at you and possibly ignore Gauche.

Honestly it would probably guarrenttee Vackles would be face first in that dragoncloth if Gauche limped it to him though.

Plus it might save his family.

Who knows what we should do at this point.
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No. 725108 ID: 2a783e

Well, we can't send the real dragoncloth, for certain. And with the fake dragoncloth... I still think there's too many points of failure in the plan. Gauche would have to reach Vackles himself, with the dragoncloth in the box, entirely unmolested, and then Vackles would have to personally pull it out of the box and rub it on himself right away. I mean, what type of kobold is Vackles, even? If he has fur, he would need to actually press down on the cloth for the barbs to get him. Gauche would also have to pass through the town guard, who 1) Clearly don't care about nobility any more and 2) Are probably under dire threats and rich promises to whichever one of them gets the dragoncloth for their master. If one of them gets the idea to take it from Gauche, they'll surely open up the box to make sure and grab the cloth themselves, and the game would be up before it reached Vackles, with Gauche and his family probably executed for sure. Some desperate townsperson could even catch wind of where Gauche is going with what, and mug him for it themselves.

We've been aiming to just wait Vackles out, and that's still a viable plan. The most viable, I think. What we should be doing now is just minimizing the harm he does and preventing him from stretching this out any further.
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No. 725111 ID: 094652

The town is dying. Vackles is going to lose control of his army, through insanity or death, and the whole army will go berserk trying to purge their way through their objective markers. You need to focus on evacuating as many people as possible, followed by boxing in the town with a regiment of Cati's forces and some guerilla demolitions to blockade parts of the city, thereby leaving the army to slowly suffocate itself trying to get out.

I say, make a BUNCH of Fake Spiked Dragoncloth and place them in hidden containers scattered around the city. As Vackles' sanity crumbles he'll get more and more desperate, and make more and more mistakes. One of these ought to do the trick.
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No. 725112 ID: 7de580

Sir Gauche doesn't trust us. Whether he'll hold a grudge or not, having a noble who we can't use in power may be bad.

If we can't make him grateful to us, we should kill him and get word to his heir that Vackles killed him and we avenged him. We could also interrogate him for information that we could use to blackmail his family, or other nobles.
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No. 725113 ID: 211d83

We should leave the choice up to Gauche. Let him know we have poisoned fake dragoncloth if he wants to give it to Vackles.

If he thinks that's a stupid idea we can help him evacuate. We only have a few hours until Cati's guys get here so we cant do much.

We could send Fen and Croc with the cloth but then they would have to fight there way out of Vackles core guards.
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No. 725119 ID: 2a783e

Actually... why not bust Gauche's family out of custody? Get the kids out under the floor and the rest with Fen and Croc. Help them escape with the rest of you, and you'll not only clear your debt with Gauche but set Fen up with a buddy for when he becomes a noble.
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No. 725141 ID: 15f039

>>725119
Yeah, saving Gauche's family would be a good point, regardless of whether Gauche himself survives.
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No. 725154 ID: dd338c
File 146393305073.png - (18.89KB , 800x800 , 490.png )
725154

"You know... I have a poisoned, fake dragoncloth."
>"Poisoned?"
"Deadly barbs are put into it like pins to keep it folded."
>"... and you wish to deliver it to Vackles?"
"The plan has a lot of ifs and thens, and... it's kind of a far throw with having to make sure Vackles gets it and no one else touches it, and that the barbs actually make it through Vackles' fur, but if it works, Vackles will be out of the picture really quickly even if this turns out to be a long siege! And... there's hidden tunnels out of town, and I don't like the idea that Vackles can probably escape when things go bad."
>"How do you plan on delivering it to Vackles?"
"Wellll... he'd kill me if I did it, and Fen or Croc would be considered guilty if they delivered it and then Vackles got sick after maybe pricking himself."
>"I would love to kill Vackles', but if I did this, he would reward me with a new home with a high view, just for my head."
".... okay, I won't lie about that, that's really true. Hey, do you know where your family is held?"
>"It's unknown to me if they are even alive."
"Oh... geez."
>"If they are not, then they are held under Vackles' dungeons, and if you are able to break them out of there, you are able to break out of town."

He's right. A lot of places are too careless and leave a lot of space under floorboards, but the dungeon is fully constructed stone.

>"But now that I'm thinking about it... my sister. She is at the home of one of Warfield's sons, in a place I expect you can reach. Show her safety to me. If she survives... then my title will continue. I can deliver the fake cloth. Even if my nobility is being trampled on, the town guard has been accustomed to treating me with respect, and I doubt it will instantly change. As long as I appear subdued and beaten, I imagine they will be willing to grant me an audience with Vackles."
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No. 725156 ID: 211d83

Well its not a horrible plan. There is not a ton we can do for him at this point but saving his sister would at least be something.

And if he plays his cards right Vackles might not kill him for delivering the cloth. We would have to seal up the box and he would have to have a convincing story about how he got it so Vackles would not have any reason to suspect him. Could we give him some diluted poison to take so Vackles would think that Gauche is dying anyways so does not bother to kill him?

Even then he might get killed but at least there is a tiny chance for him.

Well find out where this house is and if we can sneak under it and get some info. If you can find out where she is being held and sneak her out with Fen and Croc's help we might be able to get her out with us.
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No. 725157 ID: b2db3f

Tell him we could save his sister and try to escape with both of them. Would leave Vackles behind but at least they would be alive.

Basically make sure he is willing to do this for the right reasons. We will help him either way so he does not think he has to throw his life away otherwise we will not save his sister.

If he is going to take this risk let it be because he chose to and not because he thinks we are forcing him into it.
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No. 725158 ID: a075ba

It sounds like our next priority is determining if any of Gauche's family is ok. His sister (can the crows get eyes on her, or do we have to send a ground-based asset), and the ones who may be in the dungeon. (If the kids have been allowed to communicate at all with the kids who are being held prisoner, in order to prove they're okay, they might have seen them). You said it before- his family is important to him, and you owe him that much for the previous help, and the fact he's considering a suicide mission for you.

>if I did this, he would reward me with a new home with a high view, just for my head.
If his soldier suddenly see their noble felled and dying painfully, and a different noble standing tall after poisoning him and calling out orders, who are they going to obey? Is Vackles prepared enough to have bred the kind of loyalty that fill follow him to death? Or will they abandon the sinking ship when they see it falter?

One way to try and ensure Gauche's survival would be if we had Fen and Croc 'capture' him, and be the ones to escort him and his dragoncloth in. When things go to shit, the guards might be really loath to go up against Croc for the sake of a dying noble.
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No. 725161 ID: 3cc68c

Ok if he is going to go on a suicide mission we can at least give him as many chances as possible.

Might not be able to get enough time to do any of this but here are some ideas.

1. Replace Tomatoes barbs in the cloth with actual fabric pins or whatever people would use. Vackles getting pricked by a poisoned pin is much less suspicious then finding a bunch of odd looking barbs in the cloth.

2. Wrap or seal the box we give Gauche. Want to make sure its obvious he has not touched whats inside and does not know about our plotting.

3. Fold the cloth so it looks like our fake red cloth might be wrapping inside the box for the real dragoncloth. So if he opens it and instantly notices the difference he still will quickly unwrap it to see the "real" cloth and get pricked.

4. Give Gauche a good story to explain how he got this so Vackles is not suspicious. If he shows up with the box and just says here is what you are after Vackles will think he is the poisoner. But if he says he collapsed in a alley and woke up bandaged with the box next to him with a note on it from you Vackles might not kill him straight away.

5. Would have to have the note say something like "Damn you Vackles here is you stupid cloth. Now call off your guards and bounty hunters so I can sneak out of town."

All of this might give Gauche a slight chance of not getting killed by Vackles. Is probably still going to die but we can at least try.
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No. 725169 ID: 398fe1

>>725154
Let's try it.
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No. 725707 ID: 91ee5f

If we do attempt to rescue his family, then we'll need a way to prove that Gauche sent us to rescue them. Is there some sort of password to speak or an item to show them?
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No. 725736 ID: dd338c
File 146413486244.png - (11.57KB , 800x800 , 491.png )
725736

>Could we give Gauche some diluted poison to take so Vackles would think that Gauche is dying anyways so does not bother to kill him?
That might actually kill him in his weakened state.

>If his soldier suddenly see their noble felled and dying painfully, and a different noble standing tall after poisoning him and calling out orders, who are they going to obey?
That's tricky. It's kind of a coin flip. Normally the different noble calling out orders, but the town guard has to have some loyalty to Vackles to follow him this far.

The poison doesn't just make him keel over though. It takes a few hours..

"Well, we kinda need a good story about how you got the cloth?"
>"The fool would easily believe that I had it, and that I took the opportunity to hand him the swords instead. He probably already does."
"Yeah but wouldn't he kill you?"
>"If my title goes on to someone in my will, then my life is an acceptable loss."
"Uh, any password you have to show that I'm trustworthy?"
>"No. I doubt my sister would think that you are any more dangerous than Vackles' guards, however."
"Okay."

I think on ways to improve the nearly zero chances of Gauche making it out alive. I don't think I can find pins that'll serve as a substitute from actual barbs. I do wrap up the fake cloth though to make it look like it might contain the real dragoncloth inside of it, and put it inside of my bag all nice and snug to make it look like it hasn't been touched.

Gauche directs me to the building. I can tell off hand that it's gonna be kind of tough. There's a cellar that almost definitely has a way in for me. There's difficulty in me going, since unless they happened to store her, alone, in the cellar, I'd have to go looking for her through the building.

I could send Fen and or Croc, but if they go in to a building and help her out, their cover might be blown.

Crows would be a fast check I guess, but she'd have to be right by a window or something to see if she's around. It's pretty unlikely.

Also I could get the kids to see what they could do.

There's not really a great option, but one of those will have to do.
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No. 725738 ID: 398fe1

>>725736
Go for the fast Crow check, and see if she's in the cellar. That will eliminate possible locations she could be held in. If she's in the cellar but guarded, you will at least know where she is, and if Fen/Croc can get in to take out the guards, you can retrieve her through the cellar so that Fen/Croc can leave without having to escort her out.

The kids might be able to provide a distraction to give Fen and/or Croc the chance to enter and/or exit unseen. I'm sure at least one or two kids wouldn't mind a short stay in jail for a bit of extra money.
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No. 725740 ID: 211d83

Well you could get the kids and crows to help you survey the place. More eyes will give you more options.

We need to find out a few things first.

1. Is the house secure from Vackles? If it is being guarded by a bunch of loyal warfield guards maybe we can pass the word to them that we are helping Gauche smuggle her out of the city.

2. Has it been taken over and is being occupied by Vackles men? If so maybe we could send Croc and Fen in to retrieve her on "orders" from Vackles. We only have a few hours until we need to leave. There cover does not need to hold long.

3. How do we prove to her that Gauche sent us? Is much easier to escape with a willing person.

4. Probably a bunch of other clever stuff I am missing.
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No. 725741 ID: a075ba

First things first: plan "send Gauche in to maybe day" can't happen yet. Have to wait till noble reinforcements start arriving, so Vackles is more desperate, and his guards might be more willing to jump ship.

Could you try and get the kids to see if Vackle's non-sister family is still alive? If they are, they're probably locked up in the same place as the hostage kids. If we're lucky, they have some way to pass messages out / communicate.

Regrettably, I think Cheese is the best option for checking into this. Leave instructions with the others and go.
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No. 725742 ID: a075ba

>How do we prove to her that Gauche sent us? Is much easier to escape with a willing person.
If he's not carrying a seal... hmm. Could we take a cast of the tiny feet?
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No. 725747 ID: 398fe1

I doubt there is any way to prove Gauche sent Fen or Croc. Cheese is really obviously not on Vackles' side at this point though so her presence would be enough to persuade Gauche's sister that she's being rescued.

...that kindof means that Cheese has to be there when we get to her, doesn't it? So no matter what, Cheese has to go in. If Fen and/or Croc can get in too, we'll have a much easier time dealing with any guards that notice, but they're definitely optional.
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No. 726152 ID: dd338c
File 146430322621.png - (37.57KB , 800x800 , 492.png )
726152

>If he's not carrying a seal... hmm. Could we take a cast of the tiny feet?
Either one of these options might just tell someone that I stole Gauche's seal in the chaos, or kept his feet prisoner.

Even the people living under rocks knows that I'm not with Vackles, though.

To the crows, I have them see what they can find from spying outside of the building. It probably isn't much, but they can do it safely so it won't hurt.

I also clarify about the time of the town breakout, because "4 hours from now" doesn't help in a letter. The crow says it was to be 4 hours after the time of the letter's delivery, which was timed so that the 4 hours was accurate. So... just a bit less than 4 hours until the breakout.

To the kids, I have them start investigating if any others of Gauche's family is still around and alive. I send one of the bodyguard kids to go see Gravel about that.

15 minutes after I send the crows out, they come back. They couldn't find much, only that Vackles' guys are there after all, and seem to be occupying the building.

To give the kids time to gather information, I'll just go do a quick cellar check myself.

This part of the tunnel is submerged after all, but I can hold my breath for a long time.
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No. 726153 ID: dd338c
File 146430323411.png - (39.36KB , 800x800 , 493.png )
726153

I pushed a bunch of water out when I re-emerge. I hope it didn't make too much noise, because there's a lot of water flowing down through here, even if the cellar is right above me. It's very quiet, but I hear a torch burning above me, and a lot of shadows over the floorboards.
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No. 726154 ID: dd338c
File 146430324764.png - (18.61KB , 800x800 , 494.png )
726154

There is a hatch on the bottom, but I don't want to just leap on through, so I find a spot to the side to look through first. I can't see everything, but I do see one guard laying on a table.
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No. 726157 ID: b412df

Is the guard breathing or showing any signs of being alive? If so, can we creep past them or otherwise disable them? If not, then something might be amiss.
>>
No. 726159 ID: a075ba

>water
Careful. Dry yourself off, wring your clothes out. Or else dripping / puddles might give you away when you're supposed to be sneaking.

>guard
Who posts a guard in the basement? That suggests there's something of value down here, or that they know there's an exit to guard against.

Or that he's so tired with everything going away he snuck away to catch some "z"s down here.

Or he's dead.

>what do
Freeze, watch, and listen. Can you hear the guard breathing, see the rhythmic rise and fall of his body against the table? Ascertain if he's alive, and if he really seems to be sleeping.
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No. 726165 ID: 211d83

Listen closely is he snoring?

Is rather heavily armored and I do not see a weapon. So might be left handed. I see a hint of green on his elbow so has a green uniform or shirt under that armor.

Make sure you are dry before moving to check anything else. Then try to figure out why a guard is down here and if he is alone.
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No. 726167 ID: dd338c
File 146430496877.png - (16.25KB , 800x800 , 495.png )
726167

I wait a moment longer, making sure I'm not just splattering water all over the place. I think he's breathing. It's a little hard to tell in his armor, but yes, I think he's alive.
>>
No. 726169 ID: 211d83

Well is he in the way of everything? You can't fight a guard alone(or at all) especially armored up like that.

Is there any other exits or ways to go? Check around carefully but with the shoddy floors down here you trying to sneak by just seems like a bad idea.

And even if you did sneak by and grab the girl how would you get her through the tunnels with all the water and the tiny size?

This might work if you had a two prong attack with Fen and Croc going in up top and you sneaking in to secure the girl.
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No. 726171 ID: 398fe1

>>726167
Peek slowly into the room by opening the hatch. You can't hear any other guards so it's probably just the one. Confirm whether or not the target is here.

Uh, do be careful about the hinges though. If they're rusty you could wake the guard.
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No. 726174 ID: a075ba

Where did the light source go? There was a light, last panel.

I don't see a weapon on him. It's possible it's to the left of him, but he might have left it leaning against the wall you're peeking through. If so, you have to be careful not to knock it over.

...what's the plan here? We can't break her out, can we? All you can do is verify that she's still here.
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No. 726175 ID: b2db3f

I don't like this. A fully armored guard in the basement is suspicious. Armor costs a fortune so who puts one of there elite troops down here? It makes me think that the girl is in a a adjoining room and this is her guard or he is here because they know you might be coming.

Is that green color Gauches or Vackles? Meaning is this her guard or her captor?

I would spy as much as you can without revealing yourself but we are mostly here to just get a quick look. You can't fight a normal guard much less a elite armored foe.
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No. 726183 ID: dd338c
File 146431014534.png - (34.47KB , 800x800 , 496.png )
726183

>Where did the light source go?
Ah, the light was a little distant, but there probably is someone else that just changed the torch! I didn't hear any armor clanks, though, so it's probably someone on light feet. They might even be gone, but I don't see them come anywhere into the main cellar area. Still, occasionally I hear little creaks and stuff, but an old place like this, I can't guarantee it's not just an old house making old house noises.

>Is that green color Gauches or Vackles? Meaning is this her guard or her captor?
I'm not sure. It's not even a little common for either one to be in full armor like that, and I've seen a bunch that don't even follow standard uniform. But, Vackles does tend to use green more often.

It really isn't likely that she's in here, but it's also weird to have a guard down here for no other reason. There's a good chance that somewhere around here there's a way out of these caves that just about anyone could crawl through. Obviously not the way that I came, but just over to the side of the building or something, so a cellar would be a bad place to guard someone, probably.

Once I look around and get a layout of the cellar, I notice one more hatch. One is near a corner and won't get me far, but the other one will give me a nice view of nearly the whole place.

The bad news is that if there is someone paying attention, they can see the hatch, too.

The good news is that the hatch is right by a tunnel that I can use for a big, fast escape, so the danger to me is pretty tiny. So I am pretty tempted to just take one quick look, see if any girls are tied up, and slink right back away.
>>
No. 726184 ID: 398fe1

>>726183
If they see you, and she's down here, they will move the girl. That would make your gathered intel worthless.

Peek through the corner hatch to see if anyone's paying attention. If there's nobody around THEN peek through the center hatch.
>>
No. 726190 ID: a075ba

Cheese, have you considered the possibility of distracting the guards with your sexual wiles?

>hatches
It occurs to be if there's a prisoner down here, she's going to be tied up, and probably sitting or laying on the floor. I doubt they gave her a chair. If you explore the floor from the underside, you should might miss someone standing, but someone close to the floor, blocking more light between boards, and breathing close to the ground? You should be able to find that without poking your head out a hatch at all.
>>
No. 726194 ID: 3cc68c

Use your big butt to seduce the guards. Then escape with the no doubt grateful noble daughter. You and Fen can ravish her together later.

I like the idea of using the corner hatch to make sure this hatch is safe to look out of. Be extra careful and make sure to listen for vibrations in the floor to find if people are lurking.

They know that you and the kids are using the underground. So you better be dang sure that big passage you can escape out of is not trapped or blocked off.
>>
No. 726199 ID: dd338c
File 146431212986.png - (22.71KB , 800x800 , 497.png )
726199

>Cheese, have you considered the possibility of distracting the guards with your sexual wiles?
Nope.

First up, I walk around close to the floorboards just to see if I can't hear anyone on the floor breathing, or see any conspicuous shadows cast on the floor. I can't find anything.

I open up the corner hatch first just to check it out, but I don't see anything, and no one seems to notice.

If the girl is here and they notice me open up the central hatch, then they'll move her after I escape, making that information worthless. But! If I leave now, I'm just assuming that she's not in the basement. If she is, and I see her, then either I shut the hatch and can confirm she's here, or if the guards spot me, then escape and confirm she's not gonna be in the cellar any longer.

After I double and triple check that my escape tunnel is safe, I open the central hatch.
>>
No. 726204 ID: 398fe1

>>726199
Ok, now look around (but keep the guard in your mind's eye) and see what you can see. It's possible that the guard saw you out the corner of his visor, and if he's smart he won't move until you look away. If you keep that in mind you should be able to escape before he can grab you, if he does try.
>>
No. 726205 ID: 211d83

So one armored field kobold and one possibly armored mountain kobold sitting on a bench.

Are they next to a door? Or otherwise watching a exit? I am guessing these are the girls guards if she is down here. Or they are just relaxing between shifts.

Take a quick glance around and close the hatch. We have enough into to take back.
>>
No. 726208 ID: a075ba

>>726199
Second guard sitting next to the sleeping guard, and they're still up. Good thing we didn't go for the door right behind them- that's close enough he probably would have heard or felt the movement.

Doesn't look like they've reacted yet, you can still duck down, carefully. Shoot glances to the left and right. Two guards, taking turns sleeping, they must be guarding something.
>>
No. 726212 ID: dd338c
File 146431408667.png - (16.46KB , 800x800 , 498.png )
726212

Well, I do notice the smell of alcohol, but considering the full wall of barrels, that's not surprising.

I look left and right real quick. The wall on my right is full of barrels, and the area to my immediate left is to the corner hatch. Behind the two guards and to the left I think is the exit from the cellar. So I can't quite see if there's anyone back there, but it really looks like a no. They're just sort of hanging out in the absolute middle of the cellar apparently.

I think that's good enough for me, so I start to close the hatch.

>"Why are you here?"

I freeze. That voice was low and rumbling, so it was probably from the mountain kobold. Both are so still and unmoving, I can't even be sure.
>>
No. 726214 ID: 211d83

Well he is definitely looking your direction. Asking you that implies that they might be warfields or Gauches men.

Maybe whisper quietly after waiting a few seconds in case he was talking to someone else. "To help get Gauche's sister out of town."

Unless there is someone next to you that you missed neither of them can get to you fast enough to stop you escaping.
>>
No. 726216 ID: b2db3f

Raise the hatch slightly and point to your face and look at him questioningly.

If he nods whisper why you are here. These might be warfields men.

Just be ready to book it.
>>
No. 726217 ID: 398fe1

...I think it's very likely these aren't Vackles' men. They're elite guards of Gauche's sister, still in the house. I think Vackles' men surrounded the building to contain her but didn't bother to invade it.

Wait a moment to see if he's speaking to someone else. If not, tell him you're scouting, and ask who he is.
>>
No. 726219 ID: a075ba

>>"Why are you here?"
Take a chance. You can still try to bolt underground if it goes bad.

"I was looking for the lady of the house."

If that goes over well, you can maybe let slip that her brother sent you, but for now, vague is better. We don't know for sure who these guards work for, after all.
>>
No. 726226 ID: dd338c
File 146431702100.png - (25.39KB , 800x800 , 499.png )
726226

I wait a moment before answering, just in case it was to someone else.

"I'm, uh, looking for the lady of the house."
>"What, Warfield's wife who lives here? Forgot her name... only other girl here is Lady Jenth, sister of Sir Gauche."
"That's the one."
>"Haha, her, a visitor, lady of the house? I'm about as much of a lady of the house as her. Well, whatever."
>"What? What's going on?" the field kobold snaps awake. The mountain kobold puts his hand around his shoulder. The field sounded pretty drunk.
>"Whoa, there, buddy, don't sit up too fast. You've had a lot to drink. Almost a whole shot!"
>"Oh shaddup, sir five times as big as me."
>"You aren't that fat yet, bony."
>"Whatever, shouldn't we be goin' out and guardin' a little somesin someshin?"
>"Buddy. You spent two hours convincing me we should 'guard' the cellar from any 'booze bandits'. Now you wanna guard, what, Lady Jenth? Can you even walk the two flights of stairs and walk all the way to the south end of the house?" the mountain kobold continues.
>"Can we?"
>"Nah, they got 4 guards, 4 guards of Vackles' own that is, doin' the job. Only way she's escapin' is if someone had an insider to help out. That insider would be owed a lotta money, huh."
>"Man, we need money! Vackles' isn't paying us enough. We should be out there, hunting those mutants! Aren't we supposed to be on wall patrol? What if Cheese is there?"
>"Buddy."
>"We could've guarded the merchants, too, I bet Cheese likes going shopping."
>"Buddy."
>"And if we pulled out cards right, we'd be tearing down Sir Gauche's place!
>"Buddy you just listed the top three places where Cheese would never be."
>"Yeah but now we're here because I just gave it up. Gave up thinking we'd get so lucky to find Cheese."
>"Yeah what'd you do if you saw her?"
>"Do a nasty somersault flip over and tackle her and her dragoncloth! Then we'd be rich!"
>"Nah, we'd be dead after Lord Vackles' murdered us for the cloth. That's why we're here, in the fourth least likely place for Cheese to show up, but the first most likely place to get hammered. And you really impressed me, I didn't think I'd see the day someone could drink anything through a mouth slit like that. A shame your armor's gonna smell of alcohol for days now."
>>
No. 726228 ID: 398fe1

>>726226
BRIBE THE GUARDS!

Tell them there's no dragoncloth, but you have a large supply of gold you can spend to buy their help getting... heck, both ladies out. Why not.
>>
No. 726231 ID: a075ba

>>726226
Wow, he told you she was here, where is is, how many guards are stationed here, that you need help, and that he really needs a bribe.

Cut a deal to make them rich. You can afford to blow some gold on them.
>>
No. 726232 ID: 595d54

We could set them on fire. They're apparently doused in booze.
>>
No. 726238 ID: 84c4fd

Tell them the story of two lovers kept apart by status, staring the sister of a noble, her overly protective brother, and a lowly worm who crawled at their feet. Now that Sir Gauche is missing, you want to rescue and run away with the love of your life, and you would be willing to pay them to make that happen.

Or you know, just bribe them and hope they don't ask why you want to rescue her.
>>
No. 726242 ID: 211d83

Yeah I bet Cheese would be really happy with any insiders that helped her out. Of course they would have to figure out a way to help her without anyone noticing that they did it.

Otherwise any reward she gave them would go to waste when Vackles found out what they did.
>>
No. 726263 ID: 91ee5f

>Jenth's location.
>Number of guards around Jenth and who they're loyal to.
Well, he just flat out told us that he doesn't want to help them and he's willing to not say anything about us if we give them a bribe. Basically, I think we should bribe them.

...wait, do we have any money with us right now?
>>
No. 726278 ID: 398fe1

>>726263
Like 8 silver. Probably enough to get them to keep quiet until we get more money.
>>
No. 726279 ID: e2bc37

That's one very clever guard. We need to encourage that, preferably while his companion's back is turned, because this one doesn't feel as clever.
>>
No. 726280 ID: e2bc37

>>726279
Also, a wine cellar is the perfect place to discuss bribes. At least, in French.
>>
No. 726291 ID: b412df

That is hilariously unsubtle.

This is good but also potentially dangerous. Give them what we've got then go to fetch a more substantial bribe. We'll need to check the hatches again when we return, in case they've set a ambush or something. Also, don't give them their entire bribe at once, something like here's x amount, and the same again on the way out. That way that have less incentive to rat us out while we're sneaking about. They don't sounds like they would snitch, but best be cautious.
>>
No. 726334 ID: dd338c
File 146437921716.png - (23.67KB , 800x800 , 500.png )
726334

Huh.

What an awful time to be broke! At least broke for on hand cash.

"Okay, I - "

I get interrupted by the mountain kobold coughing up his lung.

>"Man that's gross, don't cough in your armor." the field kobold slurs.
>"Whatever, mister booze. You probably drank like a gold worth in booze."
>"A gold? If I had drunk a gold in booze, you lumbering ogre, all my problems would be gone."
>"Yeah cause you'd be dead."

I notice that the mountain kobold's finger is actually preventing the field kobold from seeing or turning his head over to see me.
>>
No. 726337 ID: 211d83

Give him a thumbs up sign and motion that your money is not with you.
>>
No. 726338 ID: 398fe1

>>726334
Give him an affirmative sign. Then leave. He's already agreed to be an inside man, and has named his price. Let Croc and Fen know who to look for.
>>
No. 726339 ID: b412df

I wonder if that implies the other guard is a little less receptive to bribes, or hasn't caught onto the fact that we're here due to booze. Either way I don't see how another way around them other than bribes.
>>
No. 726347 ID: dd338c
File 146438163568.png - (14.72KB , 800x800 , 501.png )
726347

I thumbs up and make sign language that the money isn't on me, but I'll be back. Does he know sign language? He might think I'm flipping him off or so-

>"I got you, buddy."
>"What? I didn't say anything!"
>"You were looking about ready to fall over."
>"Haha, no way, I could dance on a tight rope right now!"
>"Can't be too safe."
>"Speaking of my alcohol powered abilities, what about Lord Vackles? I bet if we guarded Lord Vackles, we'd find Cheese, cause he's lookin' for her the hardest of all, so..."
>"Buddy there are so many issues with that plan, I don't even know where to start. We're mercenaries, first off, there's no way he'd trust us that much. He's got all the mercs on tear and flair duty since he doesn't trust us. And you know what? He's probably got a point. Since he's payin' us and here we go off to take a little swiggy gulp."
>"Yeah and you know what? I'm ready for another shiggy - what are you doin' man?"
>"Makin' a huggy, buddy." the big one says as he gives the field kobold a full body embrace, except that his hands outstretch towards me.
>".... was that supposed to rhyme?"
>"Didn't it?"

The mountain kobold starts flashing a bunch of sign language at me.

>"Come back with a gold piece, and I'll get me and my friend out of the cellar and your girl out of the house."

It takes about 15 minutes to get to the church, then another 15 to get back. I could also take another 10 to stop at the agreed info drop place with the kids to hear about if they've found anything involving any of Gauche's other family members.

I also gotta think on if I do want Fen and Croc in on this after all, or just have the mercenary deal with it himself, which might help in avoiding Fen and Croc risking their cover.
>>
No. 726351 ID: b412df

I think we're better off letting them deal with it, it's a risk, but they're apparently mercenaries. So their loyalty might be more reliable if we supply more money.

My rational for this is that having Fen and Croc hand Guache in with poisoned dragoncloth might give him a better chance to get out of there alive. They may have to break cover to protect Gauche, so they'll need it intact until then. The timing will be a issue though.

I dunno if we'll be stretching ourselves too thin trying to get all our allies out alive though.
>>
No. 726355 ID: a075ba

A single gold? I was expecting the bribery to cost more.

I would bring more than one, just in case we end up needing to pay him to do something he didn't initially agree to.

>I could also take another 10 to stop at the agreed info drop place with the kids to hear about if they've found anything involving any of Gauche's other family members.
Unless it happens that the rest of Gauche's family is alive but in imminent danger, no news of them is worth potentially missing the window to get the sister out. Take too long and the situation could change.

>I also gotta think on if I do want Fen and Croc in on this after all, or just have the mercenary deal with it himself, which might help in avoiding Fen and Croc risking their cover.
Well, there's the question of where we're putting Gauche's sister. Are we leaving her to her own devices? In the Merc's care? Or stashing her with our people? In the last case, Croc and/or Fen needs to trade off with the bribed mercenary at some point.

>risk their cover
They're supposed to be looking for the dragoncloth, right? If Vackles thinks Gauche has it, hunting down members of Gacuhe's family looks like looking for the dragoncloth.
>>
No. 726358 ID: 398fe1

>>726347
If he's able to do it himself, let him.

I say spend the 10 minutes to get more info on Gauche's family. It seems like we have a good amount of time left.
>>
No. 726361 ID: 211d83

Go get them the money. Half to start and half once the job is done.

I would have Fen and Croc nearby in case stuff goes bad but not be directly involved at first.
>>
No. 726373 ID: b412df

>>726361
I'd say more 1 gold to start, and 1 at the end. We really don't want them backstabbing us, and we need this job done. Besides, we have plenty of gold.
>>
No. 726375 ID: dd338c
File 146438980740.png - (64.06KB , 800x800 , 502.png )
726375

I'm kind of glad only a single gold was expected. I mean, that's a huge amount to pay to get someone to leap off a sinking ship anyway. It could get them a new suit of armor probably! It'd probably be like 10 gold to get me a suit that wouldn't tear while crawling through these places.

My bodyguards and I head on back to the church. We'll skip seeking the kids' info, since every moment counts, so I stop the bodyguards before my sister's hideout, I explain the situation to my sisters, and then start heading back with a lot of gold.
>>
No. 726376 ID: dd338c
File 146438981770.png - (18.86KB , 800x800 , 503.png )
726376

The same tunnel is taken back up.

>"-all I'm talking about!" I hear the field kobold talking loudly. "It's dragon army, dragon knights, dragon spire, dragon this, dragon that. We get it, they came from dragons!"
>"Well, they did."
>"And they should get over it! You don't see the rest of us all talking about.... we don't even know what we came from for sure!"
>"Well, they have called this place the turtle's hideaway for an awful long - "
>"It was not a giant trashin' turtle! There is no way that - I mean look at me, I'm furry and spindly and completely not a turtle at all!"
>"Dunno, buddy, you're wearin' an awful big shell."
>"Oh the skies you can't be serious, that doesn't count!"
>"Hey, do you know what a turtle looks like under it's shell?"
>"I - no - I mean... there's just no way, you, you.... well what the hell is 'Poluputus'?!"
>"Dunno, that's just what we call our own home. It's might not be the name of the greater beast."
>"Well, isn't that what all the provinces are named after? The beasts?"
>"I'll tell you one thing, if I were a greater beast, I'd sure be pretty angry about people calling me 'the land of the conquered'." continues the mountain kobold. "Not even a real name, and it still somehow manages to be unflattering."
>"That was the name after we ran through that place! We earned a rename! I still don't grow fur on like half my backside because of that damn oil!"
>"Yeah, my scales are still pretty bleached. Course, then a bunch got plucked while we went after the northeast bandit king. Not sure if he was hunted more cause he was a bandit or cause he called himself king. Anyway, for all we know, 'Poluputus' is old language slang for 'people who got their asses beat.' I'm just sayin."
>"I'm just saying!"
>"I'm saying."
>"No, you oaf, I'm saying!"

I open the hatch while the mountain kobold says that he's saying, again.

>"Hey we gonna pay for this booze? We just have to leave one wood on the gold. Er, gold on the wood."
>"I told you, I still haven't have that much!"

I put a gold on the wood, and signal that there's another gold after the job is done. It's a lot of money, but now's the time to spend and I really don't like the idea of getting backstabbed because I paid too little.

>"Yeah that's fair. Hold on I gotta stand up for just a minute."

He comes near the hatch, and I back away a bit. He knees down a moment to pick up the gold piece, and drops a map under the hatch to me.

>"That ain't standing!" says the field kobold.

The map is semi detailed overall, but has a few drawn in details around an X mark on the map, with the words written 'She'll be waiting here, alone, in 30 minutes time. Don't be late in picking her up. Leave your pay by where you find her.'
>>
No. 726378 ID: 211d83

Ok check the map and then plan based on where it is.

If its outside in the open we might need to have some kids or Fen and Croc pick her up. You need to stay out of sight.

I am going to assume the noble born lady is probably not willing or capable of crawling around in the underground with you.
>>
No. 726379 ID: 398fe1

Bring Fen and Croc there in case it's somehow an ambush. Assuming you have time.
>>
No. 726381 ID: b412df

>>726379
The point of having the mercs do it was to preserve Fen and Croc's cover, so if we do bring them along, they'll have to be out of sight. From the way the message was implied it sounds like they're going to lead here out there, leave, then come back for the payment.
>>
No. 726386 ID: a075ba

>It'd probably be like 10 gold to get me a suit that wouldn't tear while crawling through these places.
They sell armor that smooshes as much as you do?

>map
Could you show us a close up? (Or is it basically the same as >>726212 ).

>She'll be waiting here, alone, in 30 minutes time. Don't be late in picking her up.
Dumb question, but can someone who's not you even squeeze out the way you got in?

Make sure to put that map inside a pouch or something to protect it from the water.

One advantage of this exit is if they have (small) dogs or anything else that tracks by scent, they should lose you going through the water.
>>
No. 726391 ID: b2db3f

Ok if they drop her off topside then we need to figure out a way to get her back to the church unseen.

So that means taking her underground or disguising her somehow and going through the streets.

Sort of wondering if after looking over the drop off site for traps we should just send Fen and Croc over with a bag to stuff her in it.
>>
No. 726425 ID: dd338c
File 146439992852.png - (15.30KB , 800x800 , 504.png )
726425

>They sell armor that smooshes as much as you do?
More like a skintight suit of really durable material that is like kind of rubbery and... I forgot what it's actually used for.

This building... yeah, yeah I know this building! I've never been in there, but it's in a super shitty building in a super shitty part of town.

It's one of the buildings that I had one of my backup drop zones in, but I haven't used it for that yet, so it's got to be a coincidence of just being a good dead drop zone. It's two stories, and either one would be okay to drop someone in. It's also directly surrounded by other buildings, with only tiny little alleys to separate them, but as a result, it's well hidden.

Okay! Topic One. Getting the girl out of the building to the church.
There's no way she can come back the entire way that I come through, but it's another building that has big enough tunnel gap so that, at the least, she can go under the building then pop out a block away, where she'll be all dirty, and in the foggy night and the fact that she's not a major known person, it's unlikely she'd be recognized. Nobles and their family probably don't like digging through the tunnels, buuuut I'm hoping that the current circumstances will make them more happy to do it!

I'd be more afraid about myself walking in the streets. That's not an option at all!

So.....

Topic Two. Who do I get to accompany me?
Fen and Croc are the obvious choices, but if they're seen with the girl making an escape, there'd be a real chance they'd be enemies of Vackles, too. But if I do bring them, all kinds of options open up! They can basically just waltz right in and take her and leave. Or even try and sneak in and put her in a bag if they really wanna look like awful criminals. And probably scare the heck out of the girl, too.

Then I could entrust this task with the kids, as a sort of weird medium between me doing it alone and Fen and Croc doing it.

Fen and Croc could also just walk around the area while I do it, too, and if they hear any commotion then come to my rescue.

Or I could tie like 100 strings together and have 100 crows carry her off into the night. Oh, wait, I barely have enough time to get to the church or to the kids, then to the drop zone. So this option is.... still not gonna happen.
>>
No. 726430 ID: 398fe1

>>726425
>surrounded by other buildings
This... sounds like a top tier ambush location.

Try to do it yourself and have Fen and Croc standing by in case something goes wrong. Sounds like the best compromise.
>>
No. 726432 ID: 211d83

Ok you and a small group of kids go in to do the actual moving.

Send Fen and Croc to the buildings beforehand with masks or something so they can notice anyone else trying to set up a ambush or if anyone is following the mercenaries or otherwise trying to interrupt proceedings.

If noticed they can claim they got word Cheese was trying something and are here to try and capture you.
>>
No. 726436 ID: a075ba

>who do I want accompanying me?
If you want sneaky murderers to back you up, and you don't want Fen or Croc to be seen, you do have your siblings.

I would opt for taking the girl yourself, and having them shadow you / wait near the exit to back you up if something goes wrong.

Maybe have a crow watching from above, and ready to warn them if they see Vackles forces getting close, or moving into position.

Don't forget, someone still has to guard the money / cloth / Gauche.

>Or I could tie like 100 strings together and have 100 crows carry her off into the night. Oh, wait, I barely have enough time to get to the church or to the kids, then to the drop zone. So this option is.... still not gonna happen.
Also, an entire murder of crows flying off with someone would be seen, which would hurt the crows.
>>
No. 726438 ID: 91ee5f

You want her to go through the tunnels?! One problem with that is we don't know how big and/or wide Jenth is! So, I say Fen and Croc should come and help you escort Jenth through the streets. And if your that worried about their cover, have them wear masks and get Croc to take off that hat that everyone will recognize. Also, Croc shouldn't talk if you get caught because the way he talks will just give away his identity!
>>
No. 726461 ID: 2f1082

Croc is extremely recognizable, Fen less so, since kobolds of his type seem to be more common around here. Double so if you can get him another cloak or something. So, have Fen accompany you, and Croc walk the streets nearby to watch out for you.
>>
No. 726499 ID: 726a91

>>726425
Get here out of the building yourself through the tunnels to a nearby exit, and have Fen & Croc take her from that exit over the streets.
>>
No. 726654 ID: dd338c
File 146454505247.png - (60.93KB , 800x800 , 505.png )
726654

This is the part of the plan where I get really scared and paranoid. And start thinking stuff about how, for instance, this building is actually a really good ambush spot, too.

I'll have Fen and Croc come, and just have the two of them look like they're looking for me, but Fen can get up close to the building and let me know if it looks like there is an ambush. Croc can stay back a ways to keep up some of that plausible deniability if things go bad.

I'll get a couple of my bodyguard kids to help me with the heavy moving of a girl of undetermined weight, too, if needed, but if she's too wide to fit through even the tunnels right below the building, then we may need to, well, just get her through the front door.

Someone has to guard the money, cloth and Gauche, which would leave my sisters for that. Except, I wonder, if it would be so bad at this point for Gauche to see them.

Fen and Croc are still keeping an eye out on the church exits, and Gauche is by the hatch I use. He's still alive, that's good, but I think he's asleep.
>>
No. 726657 ID: a075ba

>this building is actually a really good ambush spot, too.
Only if enemies are allowed to move forces into place unseen. Hopefully having the crows keep an eye out will prevent this.

>Except, I wonder, if it would be so bad at this point for Gauche to see them.
It would be bad for Gauche to wake up and see no one is there and panic and run off or something. You should probably leave a note, in case he wakes up, saying you're out securing his sister, and you left people to watch him, just in case. If nothing goes wrong, he shouldn't see them.

>Gauche
...why is he all dirty now? He was clean when last you spoke to him.
>>
No. 726664 ID: 91ee5f

>>726657
He's used to sleeping in a comfy bed. He was probably tossing and turning on the dirty stone floor until he miraculously found a comfortable position to sleep in. At least, that's how I think he got dirty.
>>
No. 726665 ID: b412df

>>726664
Maybe, but he was injured, rolling around might be quite painful. It's still possible, but maybe we should keep a eye out for signs of anyone other than our allies being here.
>>
No. 726667 ID: 211d83

Do you have a blanket to put over his feet? As long as you cover his cute tiny feet no one will realize its Gauche and just think its some homeless church hobo.

Your sisters are nearby right? Just have them keep on doing what they are doing and tell them that if they hear someone coming and if that person tries to look under the blanket covering Gauches tiny feet to kill them and hide there bodies without waking Gauche.
>>
No. 726734 ID: dd338c
File 146458028678.png - (48.28KB , 800x800 , 506.png )
726734

Fen and Croc approach me, and I get them up to speed on everything while Gauche sleeps and ends up lying on his side.

"Do either of you have a blanket we could cover Gauche with? I'll leave a note for him."

Croc ends up pulling out a plain looking sheet and covers Gauche with it, while speaking Croc. I heard 'tucking in' while he pats Gauche's head.

"How'd he get dirty?"
>"Despite his wounds, he can't seem to lay still. We think he's going to be fine, though, as long as he doesn't move too much. How much time before you have to pick her up?" Fen asks.
"Not long! So little time that I have to ask you to ask the crows up there to keep an eye out as well, and try and find me and let me know about anything important, although the chances of them sticking their necks out are slim."
>"I will do it anyway."
"Okay! And then... so you two please look over and, at the center of the building, there's a big hole where I'm going to come out of to get the girl. Please take a look and intercept me when I pop out if there's guards laying an ambush over there or something! Or... intercept me if there's no guards, too."
>"Ye?" says Croc. "An' if the dragon an' it's tooth can't nest up on its own rock space?"

Aw geez that was a question and it probably wasn't rhetorical.
>>
No. 726737 ID: 211d83

Oh for gods sake just ask him what he meant. You don't have to try and figure it out now that you are not spying on him while hiding. Just ask for clarification.

I think he is asking why you? And what do we do if Fen can't find a good high spot to watch from.
>>
No. 726738 ID: a075ba

>"Ye?" says Croc. "An' if the dragon an' it's tooth can't nest up on its own rock space?"
Yes you, the rest of you are a little tall to be squeezing through the tunnel to get to her. Except Tomato, but he's a really bad choice for an escort.

Aaaand "what if Fen and Croc can't find a good place to watch from?" (Repeat his question in your own words, so he can correct you if you gets it wrong). Uh, then find some hiding place nearby where you can't see, and have a crow up high ready to caw if they need to go in. ...or Croc could just rely on his hearing. If he's anywhere nearby, he should hear you call out for help, or a bunch of weapons being drawn.
>>
No. 726800 ID: dd338c
File 146463785556.png - (21.33KB , 800x800 , 507.png )
726800

Oh right, I don't need to just decrypt his awful speech patterns.

>"You're asking what if Fen and you can't find a good place to watch from?"
"Neh, the squishy waggled but a prime squishy look."
>"....... As in if you can't find me? Or can't look me?"
"Bobbin."
>"Yes, if there is an ambush, then there's a good chance that the guards there will prevent us from going inside the building out of fear we would mess it up."
"But you guys will be nearby, right?"
>"Yes."
"Okay, look, we need to get that sister out because I don't have time right now to see if Gauche has any other family, and I need to get my sisters up to speed, too, since they'll be on protect Gauche duty! As long as you two are around and willing to bail me out, I just have to be okay with not being able to sort out every little hiccup!"
>>
No. 726801 ID: dd338c
File 146463786575.png - (43.89KB , 800x800 , 508.png )
726801

I quickly get Cabbage and Tomato up to speed, while Fen talks to the crows, and I head out to the meeting zone.

No one is here trying to decapitate me while I poke my head out, so this plan is already going good. Sure enough, though, neither Fen and Croc are here, so that doesn't look good.

I wouldn't say it's too quiet, because there's still sounds of people yelling and stuff getting knocked over, but it all sounds distant. I don't hear anything inside of this building.

Also when I checked out this place several hours ago as a dead drop location, I'm pretty sure these dead bodies weren't here.
>>
No. 726809 ID: 211d83

Those do not look like soldiers. It looks like someone killed a bunch of poor civilians.

Also someone left a sword in that guy which seems really off.

I would just sit here for a moment and carefully listen and look over the room before entering.
>>
No. 726814 ID: b412df

The drop point was said to be in a super shitty part of town, so it's possible that Vackles had some resistance here from criminals when searching it or something. It's also possible that the mercs encountered criminals or Vackles guards as well, which is more worrying.

Do these bodies have anything that shows who their affiliation is towards? The one on the left is probably dead (Who leaves their sword in a body, might be worth taking it), but the one on the right looks too clean imo, is that one definitely dead?
>>
No. 726824 ID: dd338c
File 146464248082.png - (87.74KB , 800x800 , 509.png )
726824

I slink back down for a moment, but I don't hear anything of notice. I take a closer look at the bodies.

There's nothing about them that shows they belong to any faction, so they were probably just civilians. The town guard doesn't have a gentle reputation or even a great one, but they don't just murder people for the fun of it, so these two probably resisted. It happens a lot. The one laying down has a nasty gash below her sternum, though, so she's back in the land.

The other guy, though, kind of explains why the sword is in the wood. The killer ran him through and drove the sword way into the wood, and it's not coming out easy. It still doesn't seem right, because swords aren't cheap, especially not big ones like this! A soldier should be able to wiggle it free unless they were in a hurry to get out.

The blood isn't fresh. This happened awhile ago.

I hear some noise upstairs, like someone's tapping the floor up there.
>>
No. 726826 ID: 211d83

Ok I have two theories.

1. The two mercenaries wandered in here and quickly disposed of any witness's and are waiting upstairs for you. Does that sword look like one of there's? Would explain leaving it as they are in a hurry and still somewhat drunk. Plus they can't have any civilians making off with the money you leave.

2. The same happened but its a trap with Vackles men and they are waiting for you to show yourself to spring it.

Is the tapping someone nervously pacing? Or the sound of a irritated noble lady poking at things?
>>
No. 726832 ID: b412df

Big sword, huh, could be from the mountain kobold we hired, assuming they cleaned this place out. He wouldn't be afraid of leaving the sword there if he was going to be coming back to pick up the payment. But it's not fresh, which could mean it happened before the 30 minutes that transpired after you hired the mercs, depending on what's considered fresh for blood; in that case the mess couldn't be from the mercs.

An ambush wouldn't make themselves obvious, so the tapping might mean it's safe. Although, that's assuming they haven't figured out your plan, they could be using the tapping sound as bait to make you think that the job's done.
>>
No. 726839 ID: dd338c
File 146464457089.png - (69.53KB , 800x800 , 510.png )
726839

It's definitely more of a noise implying that someone is intentionally tapping on the wood, than someone pacing around. Maybe the noble lady heard me downstairs, because this wood is crappy and I can't walk without creaking the wood.

The sword seems too small for the mountain kobold mercenary. It's kind of large, though, for the field mercenary, but not unusably so, so maybe it was the mercenaries who did this.
>>
No. 726840 ID: 211d83

Tap back a few times and then scuttle down in your hole to wait for a response.
>>
No. 726844 ID: 398fe1

>>726839
...just go up there. The civs were killed to prevent any witnesses.

"kind of small" could mean the Mountain kobold threw the thing. That'd explain why it got stuck in the wood. I really doubt the field kobold is helping out.
>>
No. 726868 ID: 91ee5f

Is it "random impatiently waiting" tapping or "purposely in code" tapping? Either way, you should carefully go up there to see who it is. And if it is Jenth, you should explain the situation and then escort her to the church with Fen and Croc's help. And don't forget to leave that 1 gold at the drop point for the mountain kobold!
>>
No. 726872 ID: dd338c
File 146466269083.png - (39.02KB , 800x800 , 511.png )
726872

I pause again. The taps don't seem like they have any meaning in the rhythm, so it's probably just tapping, unless it's a code that's very well made to sound like tapping.

I tap back. It taps back, harder.

This scene isn't really promising to me, but I'm just gonna go upstairs now.

Jenth is upstairs in what I think used to be a bedroom. Geez, the building is in even worse shape up here. I have to watch my step.

She makes an inquisitive sound at me through her gag.
>>
No. 726873 ID: 398fe1

>>726872
Get her legs free, since you can't carry her. We need to get her out ASAP. Let her know you're here to get her to Sir Gauche.
>>
No. 726874 ID: 094652

Careful, she might be a decoy. Cut off her gag, then ask her for any passwords that Gauche told her. You can confirm this with Gauche later, but right now just focus on getting her somewhere safe.
>>
No. 726877 ID: 211d83

Well she is rather clean so is probably our girl. Make sure to look around carefully before you untie her feet.

Let her know her brother sent you to bring her to him. No names out loud if you can help it.
>>
No. 726878 ID: a075ba

First thing I'd to reassure her. She's probably scared out of her wits.

Hold a finger to your lips in shushing motion. Approach, quietly, and tell her you're here to get her out. Untie her mouth first. You're Gauche's sister, right?
>>
No. 726879 ID: 91ee5f

After you free her, don't forget to leave the 1 gold at the drop point for the mountain kobold!
>>
No. 726883 ID: dd338c
File 146466644166.png - (60.63KB , 800x800 , 512.png )
726883

I'll leave the gold under that dresser I guess. They did just tell me to leave it somewhere around the girl, and it won't be that hidden. I left the few kids I had with me just in the tunnels so that I wouldn't have to worry about them seeing me drop a gold here.

I put my claw to my lips for her to hush while walking over to her. I really don't like how much the wood creaks.

"I'm here because your brother sent me to bring you to him." I whisper, while untying her gag.
>"Is Sir Gauche alive?" she whispers back.
"Uh, yeah, he's wounded, but he looks like he's gonna make - "
>"She's here she's here!"

She screams that. A bunch of people start stomping in the building.
>>
No. 726884 ID: 094652

Figures.

Grab the sword on your way down, they'll have planned this so ask Jenth where the nearest secret exit is.
>>
No. 726885 ID: 211d83

This is why I said no names.

Run for it. Try to get back in your hole fast.
>>
No. 726886 ID: 398fe1

>>726883
Dive out a window. The buildings are really close together, so try to get to another building.
>>
No. 726888 ID: 91ee5f

I guess this means she's not Jenth. Or she is Jenth, she just doesn't care about her brother.
>>
No. 726890 ID: a075ba

>>726883
Bail. Back down, no looking back. Abandon her.
>>
No. 726891 ID: 87547f

Run for it as fast as you can.

If you do get caught go limp so they have to drag you out. And hope Fen and Croc can save you.
>>
No. 726893 ID: dd338c
File 146466917943.png - (31.00KB , 800x800 , 513.png )
726893

I was thinking no names but then she asked about him by his name and! Ahh I don't know I've got to run!

The exit I came through was through a hall, downstairs, back down the hall and to the room with my hole in it! I can't make it faster than guards could swarm the building, and I can't chat with this girl to ask about any other exits, so I've got to go out the window and hope they didn't think I'd choose that option.

The view from the windowsill is a building, alright. There's one a little higher than I'm at, and I think I can make it up. Not really fast, but it's a chance.

>"Wait! They'll kill Sir Gauche and myself if you escape!" she yells at me. "Don't run!"
>>
No. 726894 ID: 211d83

Ignore her. She is just trying to slow you down. Get out that window without a second thought.

Gauche would already be dead if not for you and this girl was dead the second she got in this trap. Even if it works Vackles is likely to kill her just for possibly knowing to much.
>>
No. 726897 ID: a075ba

You should have thought of that before you yelled. I was willing to help you- I'm not willing to throw away everything for you.

Go, Cheese.
>>
No. 726898 ID: 398fe1

>>726893
Tell her sorry. You're not her friend. Get out of there!

At least now we know the church isn't safe. Also they probably know about Fen and Croc if they've been keeping tabs on Sir Gauche at all. Like, just seeing Fen and Croc going in and out of the building... Everything's gone tits up... we should have just waited 4 hours.
>>
No. 726899 ID: 87547f

Yeah you can't give yourself up for someone when the stakes are this high. We don't even know who she is or what they promised her.

Get your ass out that window quick.
>>
No. 726902 ID: a075ba

>>726898
Actually, we don't know the church is blown. She could be bluffing, or it might just be what she was told. (That Gauche would die).
>>
No. 726903 ID: 3cc68c

Start getting out that window fast.

Tell her the only reason Gauche is alive is because you treated his wounds. You were going to get her out of the city but now she will have to hope Vackles is merciful.

Of course say this while climbing and do not slow down for anything if you can.
>>
No. 726906 ID: 91ee5f

>>726893
Wait, what if she IS Gauche's sister?! What if she was told that she and Gauche would be spared if she helped catch Cheese?! I'd feel really bad if we left her and she is who we're supposed to rescue! Can't we just yell for our backup?!
>>
No. 726907 ID: 13ac27

>>726906
this is a more than plossible scenario, and if it is true, it really puts a hole in our plan with the poison. maybe we can block the entrances to the room with something try to untie her so we can escape. Then we atleast have something.
>>
No. 726915 ID: 398fe1

>>726906
Well I assumed her screaming would be enough indication something was wrong, but I guess Cheese could call for help.

Croc and Fen together could proooobably take out the ambushers? If we do that, we might actually be able to get Gauche's sister out. ...now I kindof want to stay, as the ambushers won't try to kill Cheese outright, but if Cheese escapes rather than gets rescued, the sister will die and Gauche will be uncooperative.

Also honestly there are probably guards in the neighboring buildings.
>>
No. 726917 ID: b412df

Shit. Why did we ungag her?

We don't have a plan B for killing Vackles, and getting Gauche's aid to deliver the poisoned dragoncloth relies on getting his sister out. I'm thinking we may have to blow Croc and Fen's cover here, which will mean Gauche probably won't be getting out of this situation alive. Not unless Croc and Fen can kill all the guards before the word gets out, which would be a miracle.

So, if you're certain that's Gauche's sister, stay, and get Croc and Fen to save you. We need her to get Gauche's support for the whole offing Vackles plan. I don't like this, but I can't see any other way.
>>
No. 726920 ID: ffd81b

Ok, Cheese, what to do now kinda hinges on whether this is really Gauche's sister. I was kind of assuming you'd be able to tell. I'm thinking she's not, because when you said "your brother sent me to bring you to him", that should have answered the "is Sir Gauche alive" question. If she's not his sister, then it would be plausible that she didn't react properly to "your brother" in relation to who she's supposed to be pretending to be. She's also calling him "Sir Gauche", which I'd assume a sibling wouldn't, though you'd know better about how nobles talk to each other.

If there's any doubt, though, her appearance can give clues, and you just got up close to her and even touched her a little when you were taking the gag off. Everyone's roughed up and messy now, but there should still be a difference between fur that's usually healthy and well taken care of and been recently dirtied, and fur that belongs to someone who gets dirty regularly and doesn't have the resources to completely take care of themselves. She also looks like she was missing a few teeth, which a noble wouldn't unless they got punched in the mouth a few times recently, and she seems otherwise uninjured. Finally, if she's next in line for a noble position, she should be subject to the same "nobles must be strong" requirement that applies to all the aristocrats around here, so you could tell by her physique whether she looks at all athletic. Like, Gauche was pretty beefy. And, of course, though it's hard for us to tell, you could tell us whether you see any relation to Gauche in her features. Right now all I can say is that she doesn't seem to share his tiny feet, but you could probably guess better.

If she's not Gauche's sister, then get out of here.

If she is Gauche's sister, then we could have a chance convincing her by telling her Vackles doesn't have Gauche and he'll kill her either way, freeing her and then having her help fighting, because nobles all have to be at least decent fighters. But right now I don't think she is.
>>
No. 726934 ID: c43722

Whatever you do, make sure to quickly snatch the gold coin back up. You're not going to pay those double-crossing fucks for screwing you over, nor end up leaving it behind.
>>
No. 726936 ID: ffd81b

If this isn't Gauche's sister, also, try not to reveal Fen and Croc. When word of the terrible fugitive Cheese trying to meet her gets out, they'll have an excuse to go talk to her.
>>
No. 726938 ID: 233260

It does not matter if its Gauches sister or not. We can't just give ourselves up and expect Fen and Croc to save us. Maybe they can save the girl but Cheese should still not hesitate to get out of reach quick.

Cheese is not a fighter and if they capture her she is a potential hostage to use against any rescuers. We told Gauche we would try to rescue his sister but if this plan fails then we have other options. If need be we can just leave the city and give up on assassinating Vackles.

So escape and deal with the situation once you are safe.
>>
No. 726953 ID: cdfa5a

Think it's best if we just get out of here as fast as we can.
>>
No. 726965 ID: 91ee5f

Wait, isn't the floor really weak? Can't we break it to stop the ambushers from getting to you? Isn't there a heavy bookcase or something we can knock over onto the weak floor?

And if that doesn't work, then Cheese, you said that you have a "weird mutant defense mechanism that is dumb and bad", but I think you might want to use it now!
>>
No. 726987 ID: dd338c
File 146473781489.png - (72.52KB , 800x800 , 514.png )
726987

I'm almost ready to leap over to the next building.

I hesitate.

This girl.. she doesn't seem that strong for a noble, and her teeth don't have that unrealistic nobility shine and fullness to them, but her fur does seem healthy. Even though she's not in peak physical condition and she referred to her brother as 'Sir Gauche', this might just mean that Gauche's sister wasn't his first pick to be the next noble, just the first out of slim pickings.

Plus, it's not like a noble's family are really noble's family themselves. The only reason why a noble's family does well for themselves is by the noble's blessing. There is absolutely nothing stopping a noble title bearer from dropping all support from their family and sending them off to live as commoners, even that very family helped them get nobility in the first place. It's happened before. In other words, there's often a gap between a noble and their family.

But this girl. She looked on with some sense of fear when I entered, but she didn't hide any looks of disdain and disgust at me looking at her. When I touched her, even though it was to remove her gag, she was silently protesting the idea that I'm making contact with her.

When she just told me to stop, now, she didn't plead for me or her life, she ordered it, as though it's my duty to sacrifice myself for her and her brother.

I can't confirm this is Gauche's sister, but they had no reason not to use the real thing. It wouldn't have been hard to convince her to lay the trap by just saying that the only reason they attacked Gauche was to get to me, so if they have me, they wouldn't care about him or his family. In fact, it's true, except that for all I know, Lord Vackles will just kill them out of spite or something ridiculous. He will kill the girl if she fails to help capture me, I'm really not arguing against that.

Damn everything I don't think they managed to get such a good actor in such a short time, so I think this really is her sister!
>>
No. 726988 ID: dd338c
File 146473783034.png - (101.41KB , 800x800 , 515.png )
726988

Nooo I don't want to have to leave her out here and have to go on a long search for other family members and have to do this same shit and lose a gold piece to other butts! I don't want to get kicked out of my planning by some stupid drunk two faced drunkards! I don't want to have to rely on Fen to save me again!

That damn door to the room is so bad and shitty and all I do is look at it before I know I'm doing a bad idea and I know I want to just run and cut my losses but I'm already sliding the equally shitty drawer out with my tail and then kick it in the air to the spot where the door. There it goes and sure enough the damn floor is bursting through and there's people below me yelling in surprise and that sucks for them. Wait - oh okay I didn't put the gold piece in there already good! It's still safe and sound in a little pocket in my robes.

Augh what am I doing besides pissing off the guards who have to jump across now?!
>>
No. 726989 ID: dd338c
File 146473783944.png - (75.82KB , 800x800 , 516.png )
726989

The answer is jamming my claws into the knots binding the girl. They're about as well constructed as Croc's speaking habits, and were probably just there for show. They're unravelling, and she hops to her feet. She could have gotten out if she were given a minute of trying.

"Go out the building on the side, you dumb ingrateful girl!" I whisper-yell to her. "I swear to everything I will stab you if you fight me and Sir Gauche will die without his wounds treated more!"
>"Thanks. Now keep them at bay!"

She thinks I'm a fighter or something?! She's already fleeing but taking her sweet time climbing up to the other side of the building. A huge guard runs up to the room, and manages to break his sprint before falling down the hole.
>>
No. 726993 ID: a075ba

>>726989
Throw money in his face. It'll be like a bag of rocks to his eyes, and guards might hesitate to collect gold.
>>
No. 726994 ID: 211d83

Well keep them at bay then. You should feel honored to sacrifice yourself for her. I mean its not like you are good at anything else in her eyes. Might as well be a noble bitch's diversion. Am sure she will think fondly of your sacrifice when you are being tortured in Vackles dungeon.

That being said you can't fight them on there terms. So fight them on yours. You shoved a dresser several feet with your tail and then kicked it across the room so that means you are way stronger than you look.

Use the environment to stall them. Knock holes in the floor and destabilize support pillars to block off access. Bean him in the head with the chair she was sitting on. Whatever you have to do to block off access long enough to get away. Throw old curtains and sheets over people. Just make sure if you break enough stuff that you get out of the house before it collapses.
>>
No. 726995 ID: b412df

We need some way to prove to Gauche that we freed his sister, but we can't mention the hiding spot with her fleeing and the guard there. Any ideas?

As for the current situation, you could break more parts of the floor, but that might risk collapsing the whole floor, which would be bad. Cheese, what is that defence mechanism you mentioned? If it's apt here, maybe use it? Things are getting pretty dicey.
>>
No. 727008 ID: 93244f

Avoid fighting and flee if possible, but if it's unavoidable, fight dirty and fight brutally.
>>
No. 727018 ID: 91ee5f

>>726995
Yes, use your defense mechanism if you can! Otherwise, keep putting holes in the floor to slow them down!
>>
No. 727046 ID: 398fe1

>>726989
Slam the door on him.
>>
No. 727049 ID: 13ac27

wow, he is really close to the edge of that hole in-front of the door, maybe you can grab his foot and grad him into it?
>>
No. 727050 ID: e94191

If you swing your tail into his legs will he fall in the hole?
>>
No. 727132 ID: 73c49c

time to leg sweep a fool!
>>
No. 727136 ID: 0a94cb

He's too huge to jump very far and not have the floor maybe probably break on him.
>>
No. 727253 ID: 93244f

I think Cheese's defense mechanism is going to end up as a sort of Deus Ex Machina, so, not here.
>>
No. 727289 ID: 094652

Call out "NOW!" behind you, make the guard think that you set up a trap. Then jump on his shoulders and stab him while he's busy keeping balance.
>>
No. 727473 ID: dd338c
File 146491133146.png - (77.11KB , 800x800 , 517.png )
727473

>Defense mechanism
It's short range!

The guard is leaping at me, and even though his feet land fine on the ground, he puts too much weight down and the floor caves beneath him.

Aw no he caught his fall with his hands, and the ground didn't break under him! He's pulling himself up!
>>
No. 727474 ID: dd338c
File 146491134415.png - (100.83KB , 800x800 , 518.png )
727474

>Fight on your terms, dirty, and brutally
"Ahhhh!"
>>
No. 727475 ID: dd338c
File 146491140499.png - (106.37KB , 800x800 , 519.png )
727475

>Put holes on the ground
I slam my tail into his hands and face, and the ground breaks up under him. He tries to grap my tail but my tail is too fat and slippery to get a hold.

My tail isn't any good for real fighting, but it is strong.

>Stab him
I will if I have to! I just remembered I still have Croc's knife from when he threw it in my sister's back!
>>
No. 727476 ID: dd338c
File 146491142878.png - (52.62KB , 800x800 , 520.png )
727476

Another guard comes and assesses the situation. He's shorter and is going to be able to jump farther without banging his head on the ceiling like the other one had to avoid, so I toss a gold coin at him. He doesn't know what to do with it.

>"Come on, already!" the girl is shouting at me from the other building, and putting her hands out to help me up out of here.
>>
No. 727477 ID: 398fe1

Leave. If he recovers from his greed then you can fend him off with your tail and/or defense mechanism.
>>
No. 727480 ID: 211d83

Well run for it while that guy is distracted. If he grabs you tail smash him.
>>
No. 727482 ID: b412df

Leave, and hope that outstretched hand is to help. Maybe make a parting comment to imply that you bribed the new guard to push the huge / first guard through the floor; it won't hold up to any thinking, but might cause momentary confusion while you retreat.
>>
No. 727483 ID: 91ee5f

Run while he's still distracted!
>>
No. 727526 ID: dd338c
File 146492644424.png - (96.23KB , 800x800 , 521.png )
727526

Yeah, she's talking to me! I thought she'd be gone. I go run to her. I'd like to say something to stall the guards, but that'll probably just remind them that I exist.

She helps me up, and I start clambering up the windowsill. It really stinks out here, shees. She grabs my forearm hard enough to squelch it, but it doesn't hurt at least. There's a noticeable look of disgust on her face, though. Behind me, there's some commotion about that gold coin. Greed or not, most of them probably have their own crippling debts that a gold coin would clear.

>"Where is my brother?" she speaks quietly to me while I hang out about 9 feet above the ground. "I have to help protect him if he's wounded."
>>
No. 727527 ID: 398fe1

>>727526
Tell her you'll bring her to him.

If she tries anything you're gonna have to use your defense mechanism probably.
>>
No. 727535 ID: 90f3c0

Tell her you will take her to him, but you can't just reveal his location. You'll need to take a circuitous route through tunnels and seedy alleyways to avoid being followed.

Also tell her that threatening the life of the only person that knows the location of her brother isn't the best idea.
>>
No. 727537 ID: 398fe1

>>727535
You might be misreading this. She might be ambitious, and thinking this is a good chance to take out her brother so that she'll be in charge. What she doesn't know is, Sir Gauche is probably just going to go off and die anyway.

Maybe Cheese should tell her that once they're in a more safe location? Tell her that Sir Gauche has agreed to go on what is most likely a suicide mission, and that rescuing her was part of the deal.
>>
No. 727538 ID: 09f77d

>>727526
"He's in our care, but I think he'd disapprove of you two being in the same room. Too juicy a target. He told us to get you out of town, and the best way you can help him is lifting that weight off his shoulders."
>>
No. 727539 ID: 398fe1

>>727538
He told us to show him his sister's safety. Which means we have to literally show her to him, I expect.
>>
No. 727541 ID: 84c4fd

Give her some false information and see how she reacts. Say you'll take her to him but not to rush off since you promised Sir Gauche to keep her safe.
>>
No. 727545 ID: 398fe1

>>727541
Oh hey, since we're in earshot of the guards I guess we should lie, huh?
>>
No. 727546 ID: dd338c
File 146493373471.png - (79.35KB , 800x800 , 522.png )
727546

"I'll bring you to him, but don't rush off because I promised I'd keep you safe!"
>"I can take care of myself. Shouldn't you be slinking back down through the tunnels?"
"We can talk about this while we run! Unless you're threatening me? Do you think it's a good idea to threaten the person who knows where he is?!"
>"We had fallback plans for things like this." she continues. "You're disposable, but you can make me think you're worth trusting and saving by telling me now."

I don't have time for this! She didn't sound completely confident about that last statement, so I could be wrong, but she might have been bluffing about that and just trying to get my to cave.

I can either call her bluff, or...

My defense maneuver is dumb and bad and is only good for close range against people who are not okay with weird mutants doing weird mutant things.

Which this kind of fits the bill.
>>
No. 727548 ID: 398fe1

>>727546
First, verify that she's with Vackles. Then use the defense maneuver.
>>
No. 727549 ID: eeabae

Shoot blood out of your eyes.
>>
No. 727553 ID: 91ee5f

"If I went in the tunnels then you wouldn't know where to go or how to get there because I know you won't go down in the tunnels with me and I can't tell you where he is because we're still within earshot of the guys that want to kill him! So you're going to have to follow me through a bunch of streets and try to lose those guys before I take you to him!"

>Defense maneuver.
Do you unhinge your jaw like a snake and threaten to eat her? Do you have extendable/retractable claws? Can you shoot blood out of your eyes? I really want to know what her mutant defense maneuver is!
>>
No. 727565 ID: b412df

Could be worth saying that Gauche is well guarded (Possibly also mention that the guards are mutants), who might not know who you are. So if they see you rushing to see Guache they might get jumpy, but if you're with her then they won't be.
>>
No. 727567 ID: 5a893f

>>727546
Excuse me miss, I don't even know if you're the real sister or not. I am NOT disposable, I am the only thing between you and ensuring your title passes on correctly.

Your brother would call me a fool for entrusting you with his location after your recent betrayal, and he would call you a fool For thinking Vackles wouldn't kill you as soon as he's done with you. Which is when he has your brother.

Then it's time for him to kill the both of you because that motherfucker has been planning this takeover for a long time. Except his foolishness and greed revealed it too early. I was expressly ordered by Gauche to escort you personally and NOT to reveal his location.
>>
No. 727568 ID: 29c4aa

Should probably try to get into a safe not 9 foot off the ground position, using a defensive maneuver could end up backfiring. She's obviously not his sister but she could prove useful anyways so lead her back to the cave. Tell her the way is complicated and hidden behind trap doors with guards or something.
>>
No. 727569 ID: 211d83

She is totally bluffing. Do not tell her anything. If she is Gauche's sister and could have gotten out of this on her own well then why didn't she?

And if she is not his sister then you would just be telling a enemy where he is.

If she gives you even a moment more of not helping you up then defense the shit out of her. Then have Fen and Croc shove her in a sack once you meet back up with them so you can bring her to Gauche without spy worries.

Because she is either a enemy plant or a spoiled noble brat who needs a spanking.
>>
No. 727570 ID: 87547f

You are not even his sister are you? Just some plant Vackles put out for me.

Oh well back to the drawing board then. Good luck surviving when you have to tell Vackles you failed.

Then do your thing just for kicks.
>>
No. 727614 ID: a075ba

>>727546
You don't know for sure she's Gauche's sister, and she's already proven she can't be trusted with sensitive intel if she thinks it will save her skin (when she gave away your position for no good reason).

Take her out. We'll take her in disabled or unconscious. Use the defense mechanism.
>>
No. 727615 ID: 4ab5ca

>9 feet above the ground

Oh right, you guys are all, what, 3 to 4 feet tall? Though, being smaller should mean that long falls are less dangerous to you. And you are squishy.

Anyway, to respond to her: "Me prove I'm trustworthy? You literally just tried to betray me, would you tell you anything if you were me!? Your actions have consequences, you know! But, fine, "dispose" of me, you can go run around town and either get lost and mugged or killed, or caught again, and maybe if you suck up to Vackles hard enough he'll spare you long enough for you to get executed as a collaborator with him after he gets executed as a traitor to the empire! There are four nobles who I know for sure outside the town who know what's going on, on their way, and you can bet there'll be more once people notice what they're doing. Vackles is a dead man, and the only way the rest of us stay alive is to get ourselves as far out of the mess he made himself as possible!"

It's a bit wordy, but in this case I'd actually be hoping the goon squad inside are listening in. They should be worrying about this themselves already.
>>
No. 727927 ID: dd338c
File 146514200130.png - (85.02KB , 800x800 , 523.png )
727927

"Me prove I'm untrustworthy?! You just tried to betray me not 10 seconds ago! If you're anywhere near reasonable, then you're bluffing me -"

ah
>>
No. 727928 ID: dd338c
File 146514206679.png - (109.85KB , 800x800 , 524.png )
727928

I was gonna use my maneuver, but she punched me sooner and I slipped off. She actually can punch pretty hard.

>"Catch the mutant!" she screams, even while she's running away. Maybe she really isn't with Vackles? She shouldn't have to run so desperately if she was.

I usually don't have to deal with noble's families, and when I deal with nobles, it's always like it was with Gauche, with me just bowing my head in front of their throne.

So I didn't really think, or realize, or remember, that nobles and their spoiled families are kind of.... when it comes to behaving in a public area outside of their control...

Awful. Just completely insane and detached from anything that isn't their well scrubbed walls.

This alleyway has a lot of garbage in it, so that'll help break my fall. I'll just close my eyes and relax to help.
>>
No. 727929 ID: dd338c
File 146514207506.png - (74.93KB , 800x800 , 525.png )
727929

>>
No. 727930 ID: 211d83

Oh man Fen is really the best.

Well either she is a plant by Vackles to try and get Gauches location out of you or just a very silly girl who is in over her head.

Either way we should try to capture her and throw her in a sack to bring back to Gauche. If she is his sister yay and if not can have your siblings eat her or something.

Give Fen a smooch on the cheek and let him know what is up.
>>
No. 727931 ID: b412df

Well that was lucky, good timing Fen. Downside is we have either have to explain to Gauche that his sister was a spoilt idiot and ran off before we could take her to him, or chase her down. We're not really built for running, so that would have to be Fen and Croc's job; that would be hard to do without breaking their cover, unless they played it up as recapturing the ambush bait or something.
>>
No. 727932 ID: f562b1

>"Catch the mutant!"
>>727929
Uh, well, thanks for catching this Mutant, Fen?
>>
No. 727933 ID: 87547f

As fun as it is to be lying in Fen's arms you need to get out of sight quick so you do not blow his cover.

If anyone sees him holding you or talking to you its bad news unless he is "capturing" you.

So whisper that the girl is a spoiled brat or a spy but we need her just in case she is Gauches sister. Just don't talk to her once you have her. Then you go back underground and let Fen and Croc chase her down.

Oh and giving him a quick peck on the cheek sounds like a good idea.
>>
No. 727934 ID: dd338c
File 146514555262.png - (68.25KB , 800x800 , 526.png )
727934

"Fen that girl is the worst! She ran away!" I whisper while I go lean in for a quick kiss on the cheek because he's the best.
>>
No. 727936 ID: dd338c
File 146514562088.png - (96.50KB , 800x800 , 527.png )
727936

He drops me in the garbage and turns around.

>"Barbarian! Where did she go?!" I hear a voice yell at the end of the alley.
>"She slithered into a small crevice in this wall. Search that building." Fen says. I hear them run off before Fen starts whispering to me again. "There's a small crevice about 5 feet behind you. I think it goes into the tunnels. Should I catch the girl?"
"It might blow your cover."
>"I don't like pretending."
"Oh... well, then go for it, I guess!"
>"Is there anything else I should know?"
>>
No. 727938 ID: 094652

There's two guards with a GOLD COIN about two floors above you and Gauche's sister is one big ugly sheltered dickhead.
>>
No. 727939 ID: 211d83

Dang you got kiss blocked by his sensitive barbarian hearing. Sadly for the best as if he got caught with you in his arms it would go badly.

Tell him the girl might be the sister but she could also be a spy for Vackles. So if he does capture her to put a bag over her head or something so she does not see anything she should not when he takes her to Gauche. That or be prepared to kill her later.

Also there is a short draconic guard with yellow eyes and a brown sash who has some jaw frills/spikes/whatever who recently came into possession of one of your gold coins. If the chance comes up feel free to retrieve it.

And the girl is punchy.
>>
No. 727940 ID: 935328

>"Is there anything else I should know?"
Bitch hits hard, yo
>>
No. 727941 ID: a075ba

>"Is there anything else I should know?"
She's either a bad spy, or she's been isolated as a noble so long she doesn't have the common sense required to interact with people. And she's panicking. Don't be surprised if she says things that sound really stupid given the situation. And don't trust her with any information you don't have to, she's got a loud mouth.

Thanks, Fen.
>>
No. 727942 ID: 91ee5f

When you catch her, make sure you gag her so that she doesn't scream for help. Then put a bag over her head and try to sneak her over to where Gauche is.
>>
No. 728082 ID: 398fe1

>>727936
>in the garbage
Where you BELONG.

>Is there anything else I should know?
She said that her family had precautions for this sort of thing. She might have a way of getting around unnoticed or something, so don't ignore her advice.

Also there's a mountain kobold mercenary that miiiiight be on your side but actually probably betrayed you. Be careful.
>>
No. 728116 ID: 84c4fd

Honestly?

Don't even bother trying to negotiate with her. Legit or not, she's just terrible to converse with as a normal person. She would probably only be happy if you bowed down to her feet and did everything she said.

Just knock her out cold and drag her back, you'll deal with her attitude later. She could still be a spy though, so let Sir Gauche verify her identity from further away first.
>>
No. 728232 ID: dd338c
File 146527049012.png - (100.81KB , 800x800 , 528.png )
728232

"Don't negotiate, she's awful, she punches hard and screams loud. Just nab her and drag her back to the church! I don't even know if she's really Gauche's sister."
>"Okay. I shouldn't take too long. Come back soon."
"I will. Oh, I gave a guard overhead a gold coin. Just in case it comes up. Thanks, Fen."

He's already leaving.

I guess I can't afford to be in the garbage for too long because people need me to be in a place where I don't belong.

Well, I don't want to have Fen awkwardly have to sit in a sibling reunion by himself, so I really should go back to the church as soon as possible.

Ugh. Just want to lie down and wait for Krix to push the town wall down on me or something.
>>
No. 728233 ID: dd338c
File 146527051363.png - (100.06KB , 800x800 , 529.png )
728233

But I don't fall asleep. By the time I get back, Gauche is right under the hatch.

>"Welcome back, worm." he says without making eye contact.
"Hey uh what're you doing here?" Has Fen returned?"
>"I'm alone. Resting, out of sight." he says it like he's talking to himself. He's just glaring away at the dirt. "As Vackles gains desperation, he is willing to expend more and more money and enlist more and more people for the hunt. The church has been seeing more feet, lately."
"You sound, uh, kinda down. Like, downer than than you did when I left I mean."
>"... the dirt. It does not suit me. This is wrong."
"I, um... I found your sister maybe, but..." I give him the description of her. "Does that sound like her?"
>"Yes, that's most likely her. Tell me what happened."

I wonder how I'm supposed to tell him that she's one of the most awful examples of a spoiled bitch noble that I've ever seen, but without offending him.
>>
No. 728235 ID: 211d83

He is lying in the dirt in a tunnel feeling miserable for himself.

Just say she is one of the worst examples of spoiled bitch nobles and ask if he sure he wants her to inherit his title. Then tell him exactly what happened.

I know Gauche is a noble and woo they are special because they can get people to do what they want and imperial law. But that only works with people who are not strong enough to stand up to them.

Look at Croc. He does not take shit from anyone and was freely back talking Vackles. Why did he get away with it? Because people are scared of him.

I know you don't think you are that impressive but you have probably killed more nobles through your actions than all but the biggest warlords. You might not look it but you are a power of your own and deserve respect. And right now Gauche and his sisters lives are in your hands. You decide if they stay nobles or even live or die.
>>
No. 728236 ID: a075ba

>>728233
Honestly, I think lying to him at this point will offend him more than any story you could spin. He's going to know his family better than you.

"She tried to sell me out to save her own skin, and then expected me to defend her anyways. And when I did she still couldn't bring herself to trust I was actually trying to help her.

I you're worried about her not acting like a noble, don't be. Although she's gotta learn to play her selfish paranoid looking out for herself smarter if she expects to last."
>>
No. 728237 ID: 4546ab

Tell him his sister was difficult and might be traveling back here in a sack as a result.

Oh and tell him the dirt does not suit anyone but that's how most the empire lives. They don't get a choice in the matter.

Does he think you get up every morning and have to decide between crawling around in the mud or relaxing in your estate while your servants feed you grapes?
>>
No. 728238 ID: 398fe1

>>728233
Tell him she's awful and ask if he likes his sister at all. I mean, we could send her in on the suicide mission instead...? If he can hand over the "dragoncloth" in a way that convinces her not to stick her hand in the bag, she could deliver it completely ignorant to its true contents. Maybe.

Don't lecture him though. In fact I agree, it's wrong for a Noble to be sitting in the mud without having done anything to deserve losing his station.
>>
No. 728269 ID: d3fdbc

Just be factual. Through bribery, you managed to arrange for her to be brought to a recently abandoned house. It was risky, especially in hindsight, but you judged it better than an actual raid. You found her placed in the upper floor there, tied and gagged, and when you ungagged her she asked about Gauche's health - oddly, since you had just informed her that he had sent you - and when you told her his condition she immediately called out for the guards, which turned out to be hidden downstairs, to take you. For a moment, you considered escaping right away, at which point she told you that Vackles had told her that she and Gauche would both be killed unless you were captured. She seemed under the impression that Vackles had both her and Gauche under his power, and that she perhaps didn't believe that you really had come from Gauche yourself. You managed to convince her to escape through the window, which she did immediately, seemingly expecting you to hold off the guards for her. Despite not being a fighter, you managed to block the door to the room you were in and followed her out onto the roof. You had planned to lead her back to him, but she demanded to be told where he was, and given that you were uncertain she was really his sister, and that she had only then just proved intentions to abandon you to Vackles' men, you refused. She began to demand you "prove yourself trustworthy", and when you began to point out the practical issues with her intentions, she dropped you off the roof and ran away.

Though his sister managed to preserve an... appearance of superiority, you came away with the impression that she is... under strain, and has been ill-informed, which has impaired her judgement. And that she is not really familiar with members of the lower classes, as she seemed to make, er, several assumptions that you were surprised by. You told Fen to go after her, and to be... less than perfectly diplomatic, if need be, to retrieve her.

That should be diplomatic enough. He should be able to read behind the lines there, and if he still takes offense then who cares.

It seems to me that the whole system of nobles separating themselves from the lower classes tends to lead to nobles severely underestimating anyone who isn't a noble. I dunno, maybe the emperor set that up deliberately. Like, any noble dumb enough to forget that non-nobles are perfectly capable of doing them harm deserves what they get?
>>
No. 728271 ID: 398fe1

>>728269
>roof
You mean grabbing a window across the alley.
>>
No. 728285 ID: 7de580

"She called the guards on me, punched me, and ran away." Don't apologize for her or yourself. I think it's fine to offend him, as long as it's true. A noble ought to taste honesty at least once before he dies, anyway.
>>
No. 728291 ID: 91ee5f

I wonder where Cabbage and Tomato are? You left them to protect Gauche, but I don't see them. Maybe they're just hiding around a corner or something so that they don't scare Gauche? It's probably not a good idea to introduce them to each other anyways.
>>
No. 728309 ID: dba348

She clocked me in the schnoz and ran away after betraying me like 12 times.
>>
No. 728390 ID: dd338c
File 146535415588.png - (67.85KB , 800x800 , 530.png )
728390

"She's... awful."

He waits for more.

"She might be coming here in a sack, because she betrayed me like 4 times and then punched me right in the schnozz when I didn't thank her for it! I mean, there was a lot of doubt she was even your sister because she has no idea how to act amongst the regular population! I mean, you seem like you're going to live, is this really the girl you want with your title?"
>"Of course not. She is barely out of childhood. My first picks all died so that I would live, and the next batch of picks, I doubt, are doing better. I chose my sister because the most useful she would ever be would be to marry one of Warfield's children who saw something in her I did not. She at least has a basic, if frustratingly naive grasp on what it means to be title holder, and unlike me, has not had to lay in the dirt. Or, has she?"
"She was bound and gagged, but it didn't seem to bug her much." I take a few minutes to go over everything that happened in full detail, before pausing to think. "Uh, then again, her judgement was... she really was out of her element and maybe she just doesn't usually make those really bad decisions? You know, if it makes you feel better, I don't think you deserve the dirt either because it's not like you did something bad to lose your position. But it's not like the rest of us choose between crawling in the dirt and getting served grapes by our servants!"
>"What? If that were a decision for you, then crawling in the dirt would be ridiculous. It is because you and your other kin have no other choice at down that the dirt is fitting. I, however, held a wood title this last morning."
"Uh... did you see my kin?"
>"I meant your crowd, worm, but yes, I have seen your brethren. They are around the corner. We do not wish to see each other. You wish to say something?"
"Nothing in, uh, pleasant company."
>"This is company in unpleasant times. Speak."
"I was hoping your sister would go on the suicide mission."
>"I'm glad you'd prefer me, but...." He pauses, thinking. "But.... hm. I can't say that sacrificing my sister occurred to me, but considering the fate of the rest of my family, this would be an excellent chance for her to do something useful, and many kobolds wish they could die doing something half as influential. She's certainly stupid enough to think that Vackles will reward her for delivering the cloth. Giving my title to her was obviously a desperate act. She likely would not last a year with the nobility anyway. Certainly, we can't tell her the plan in full, lest she give away that Vackles is to be poisoned. Nor can we pretend that it's full dragoncloth, either, lest she attempt to escape the fence with it. If we can manipulate her into bringing the poison to Vackles, though, then I may have a chance to regather my resources, if simply to retire and pass on the title to a more worthy heir. What do you think?"
"I, uh, hm.... you know, to be honest, I'm really tempted, but you do have a reputation for caring about family, so I'm a little bit surprised here that you'd hear that out!"
>"Of course I care for family, but the reason why my family doesn't live in a hole is the wooden title. It is the thing that lets us have a large family, a well fed family, and a happy family, things you may not be familiar with. The title is the most important thing. Moreso than any one of our lives, or even several."
>>
No. 728391 ID: a075ba

Wow, you went from saving the naive and selfish girl against your better instincts, to convincing her brother to arrange her death. Good job, Cheese. I'm sure you won't feel guilty about that in the future. And Fen won't mind having dragged someone who was no threat to him to her death!

The other serious concern is if someone that flaky and unreliable can actually be manipulated to pull this off. Especially when they don't actually know what they're doing.
>>
No. 728393 ID: 211d83

Ask him what he did to get that title.

While Gauche's sister would be more unpredictable she could make a better delivery person. That and if she ended up with his title then his clan might not make it another generation.

I think you pretending to have seen the light after talking with Gauche might work. Beg for her forgiveness and such and apologize for not recognizing her. Had to be careful about spys and such. Butter her up a bit so she does not suspect you are manipulating her.

Then get her in on your "spy" mission. With you groveling a bit she will probably love the idea to get one over on Vackles. Have Gauche help you with a plan that would motivate her without letting her know whats going on.
>>
No. 728394 ID: 4546ab

Ultimately the choice belongs to Gauche. But he would make a much better heir to his title than his sister.

But she would have to be handled carefully. She seems like the type who could mess it up by trying to be clever.
>>
No. 728397 ID: 094652

If Vackles thinks he can smell disloyalty (which he can't), then Jenth's panicky attitude and partial obedience to authority should be enough to get her to ACCIDENTALLY kill Vackles and live to never realize how stupid she is.

Organize a meeting with the express purpose of suckering Jenth. Spin a web about how the dragoncloth is, in fact, multiple pieces that have been sewn into regular cloth using an optical illusion (and some mud) to make them seem like frauds. Explain to her that the whole goose chase behind all of this is because of a treasure map hidden inside the dragoncloth, one that could unearth a fallen deity ripe for desecration and spiritual harvesting, and that Vackles has one of the pieces (with the X) but [Gauche's ally] has most of the others. Your pieces contain the clues and keycodes required for the map to make sense, as it's written in invisible ink but looks like a drunkard's scrawling on a cartographer's masterpiece. In the event that Gauche dies, Jenth will be the only person with authority to escort a caravan to [Gauche's ally], negotiate an alliance for the expedition, and save the mutants (and get Fen laid with the Emperor's daughter). Then, sew extra barbs into the middle of the cloth, explaining where to cut so that the fake map on the fake part of the cloth doesn't get included.

She'll likely kick your ass again, steal the cloth, bring the damn thing to Vackles and he'll likely prick himself trying to separate the barbs from the middle of the cloth. He might even throw her out on the street for spinning some crazy tale about fallen deities and confusing treasure maps.
>>
No. 728398 ID: a075ba

>>728391
The other downside is no matter what, she's going to die, and no one will take control of anything before reinforcements sweep in. With Gauche in place, there was the small (but unlikely) chance of his staying alive and taking control of the guard in order to save their own skin (switching from a doomed noble to a live one), especially if we had Croc and Fen "capture" him and deliver to Vackles.

Although... maybe Gauche might still be able to step into the power vacuum after his sister dies / Vackles is poisoned, but it would be harder. We're trading off a chance at immediate control / power for reliability in the survival of a useful noble. (Well, assuming we can get the flake to pull off the suicide mission "reliably").
>>
No. 728403 ID: 398fe1

...one problem with sending her off on the suicide mission. She doesn't trust Cheese. Sir Gauche will have to convince the girl all by himself. Also we need an explanation for why Cheese went out of her way to save the girl on Sir Gauche's behalf, and why the package needs to be delivered. What would be important to Vackles aside from the dragoncloth?

Of course, he IS a noble, and has been in his station for long enough to deserve the title. He should have the ability to lie convincingly to his sister.
>>
No. 728414 ID: b7e757

>>728403
Just arrange for her to steal it from Cheese. The hard part will be making sure she then gives it to Vackles instead of making off with it, but this can be arranged if Vackles "fortuitously" finds her.
>>
No. 728443 ID: 398fe1

>>728414
Hah, that'd be great. Hell, she might not even be killed for it. It'd be really obvious to Vackles that she had no idea.

I was thinking of a couple other options. Mainly we have to make the delivery important enough for her to accept being recaptured by Vackles.
1: A peace offering. Put something in there (or claim to) that Vackles likes personally.
2: Sir Gauche claims that it's Cheese's head. We wrap up a rock or a melon or something the right size. Jenth won't try to unwrap it because ewwww, gross. Yes this means Sir Gauche would have to claim to have betrayed Cheese. Maybe he can say he bought Croc off.

On a side note, maybe we can use Warfield somehow. His wife is captured too, and was even stuck in the same building. I wonder if we can find out from Jenth what that's about?
>>
No. 728712 ID: d3fdbc

Hmm. I don't want to be a bastard, but in the long term it probably serves Fen's aspirations better for Gauche to be out of the picture. He knows Fen's with Cheese and will remember if and when Fen pops up as a noble, whereas his sister will likely dismiss Fen from her mind and be gone anyway by the time he becomes a noble. Another noble job being lost and needing to be taken here also means another position open and rivals removed for a noble position in the empire as a whole.

We also want as few people to remember a positive relationship between Fen and Cheese as possible. Gauche will also probably become resentful to Cheese and anyone associated with her eventually, once the crisis is over and he has a chance to count his losses. He's admitted trouble with Vackles was coming anyway, but I don't know if it'll really be so easy for him to be rational or grateful, ultimately.
>>
No. 728713 ID: 398fe1

>>728712
I'd say the opposite. If Cheese keeps Sir Gauche alive, he will have a positive relationship with her and Fen. He already said that Cheese's actions set off Vackles' plans before they were fully prepared, so the damage was less than it could have been.

On the other hand, his sister would be a weak noble, so Cheese could in theory take advantage of that and perhaps profit off her weakness.

So really the selfish choice is between gaining an ally and gaining other possible resources.
>>
No. 728725 ID: 1d8f6b

>>728713

I wouldn't bet on Gauche having a positive relationship with Cheese. Even if he, for example, came out of this with a promotion to stone, for helping take down a rebellious noble where an actual stone noble was seemingly useless, he knows full well that Cheese never intended to benefit him. In fact, he knows she intended to deceive and take advantage of him for her own ends. She may have triggered Vackles early, and been of benefit that way, but he knows she didn't intend that. And he knows her efforts currently are to save her own skin, and helping him is only a convenient consequence.

Cheese will need to do a lot more than she has to be on Gauche's good side at the end of this, and currently, she's going to be on his bad side. Neutral-but-hostile side, at best.

Besides, Warfield is probably going to be out on his ear for letting this happen under his watch, so we'll likely be looking at a whole new set of nobles for the Fence. Without any existing nobility in place, they'll have to build their connections and resources by investing in the lower class population, so the more common people of the town will benefit more that way. Someone like Cheese could even take advantage of the power vacuum to build a strong power base here, while the nobles are setting themselves up.
>>
No. 728753 ID: dd338c
File 146559690912.png - (86.38KB , 800x800 , 531.png )
728753

"You know, if she 'ran into me' and then stole it from me, she might just run back to Vackles herself with the prize! Or maybe not. She might look inside. She might also kill me."
>"If your life is such a concern to you, I doubt she'll kill you. She may beat you up, but she isn't a killer, and won't even beat you up much if you grovel and submit to her. I know you're not above that. She is no good at subterfuge." says Gauche. "She'll have to be convinced that it's in her best interests not to look inside."
"Maybe just say it's something personal to Vackles?"
>"She'll be curious what it is. If we make up what it is, she'll figure there's no harm in looking, as she won't believe us if we say that a loosely contained bag of poison is a personal affection to Vackles."
"Not even if you order her to not look inside?"
>"She is not good at subterfuge, but it doesn't mean she isn't disobedient, manipulative and conniving. Ambitious, as well."
"Oh, uh... what if we waxed the cloth shut, er.... no, she can just break it and re-wax it shut even if this cloth holds dry wax well, since it's not like we have any real seals that mean anything to Vackles. Oh, what if we said it was my head?"
>"Hah, your head? She would love to see the dead eyes of someone she dislikes. Of course she'd look inside. This idea would only work if it really is your own head wrapped in the dragoncloth. Then she would deliver it. Why, that would be a novel idea, to put something valuable inside of that dragoncloth and have her deliver that item, not realizing it was actually the dragoncloth she was delivering! It's a shame that the whole point of this is to poison the person who opens up the dragoncloth, so this will not work."
"Okay nevermind. What if I spin a web and tell her that the cloth is actually just a part of a really complex treasure map that isn't any good to her alone?"
>"Tempting, but that girl is so dumb she might just try to figure it out herself anyway."
"Ugh, you really don't have much faith in your sister!"
>"How long did it take you to dislike her? Now imagine if you have lived with her for her whole life."
"That's.... hey, how did you become a noble, anyway?"
>"My father held the title before me, and I was the only one of our siblings worthy of inheriting it upon his death when a warlord killed him while he was travelling across the turtle."
>>
No. 728754 ID: dd338c
File 146559692289.png - (16.46KB , 800x800 , 532.png )
728754

"Oh... hey, wait a second, revisiting the idea about her stealing it from me! What if she did steal it, but before she has a chance to open up the package on her own, Vackles just happens to discover her?"
>"Then I imagine you'll be much closer to Vackles' than you would like, but this should work provided you somehow have a way to get Vackles in the right area at the right time... ah, right. Fen. You may use him. He appears to be in good standing with Vackles. Not just that, but if things went correctly, Fen ran off to 'catch' the girl for Vackles. He can simply spin the tale that instead of catching her outright, he spied on her as she had a conversation with me. She will explain, to me, that while she simply wanted to escape Vackles' hold, if you escaped as well, you would know where to intercept her. As Fen heard this, he, too, will know about this interception point on where to find both you and Jenth and, as luck would have it, the dragoncloth that Cheese brought with her that Jenth had just stolen. And I cannot imagine Vackles sending out his underlings for such a task. Yes, your idea of having Jenth and Vackles both walk into the same trap without even realizing who sprung it is novel and fitting. Unless you have a better way to bring Vackles to the trap, I would suggest using Fen."
"I, uh..."
>"You're reluctant?"
"I guess I might just feel a little guilty for the girl."
>"Hrmph, we don't live forever, and the worms who cling to life as though our short time on top of this land is the only thing that matters... they are the most disgusting worms of all."
"I still think it's up to you on whether or not your sister goes or you go!"
>"You don't want to be the one to send one to their death? Fine. Send Jenth. Unless you have a better idea, then you will speak in private to Fen about the plan, and I will talk in private with my sister about backstabbing you."

It'd be nice to know where Warfield is during all this mess, but I have no idea what's up with him, let alone how to make plans based on or around him.
>>
No. 728755 ID: 398fe1

>>728754
We should at least try to get some information about his whereabouts before we put this plan into motion. If he gets in the way accidentally things could get messy.

I like the plan, though.
>>
No. 728760 ID: 211d83

This plan was always relying on Gauche to decide to do it. We could have just bundled him up and took him with us and not tried to kill Vackles at all.

Honestly the sister has a better chance of surviving Vackles poisoning than Gauche would have. Still slim but you never know.

So let him decide and play the vicious noble game. No matter what happens someone is likely to die so just make sure it's not any of your friends or family.
>>
No. 728764 ID: a075ba

>"Hrmph, we don't live forever, and the worms who cling to life as though our short time on top of this land is the only thing that matters... they are the most disgusting worms of all."
That's really only an argument against someone unwilling to put themselves at risk for things they believe in. It doesn't address the discomfort of crushing other worms underfoot for your own selfish interests.

>silly thought
Contingency planning: does this blow up in Gauche's face if she miraculously survives? It's an unlikely outcome, but if word gets out, it might cost him reputation / political capital.

>what do
If you can do it without being heard by the girl, you probably need to tell Fen the plan. If you have him unwittingly lead a girl to her death... well, he might not be so happy with you. He's more heroic than you, right? (Don't discuss this with Gauche).
>>
No. 728765 ID: 91ee5f

Would it be a problem if, after I "rescued" your sister and she pushed me out a window, I told Fen to go catch her and bring her here? And you said she's ambitious, what if she tried to finish you off or something? I mean, I doubt she could, but she might be stupid enough to try!
>>
No. 728774 ID: dd338c
File 146560538928.png - (46.69KB , 800x800 , 533.png )
728774

"My only concern is if Warfield might get in the way."
>"He is a paranoid soldier, with good reason for both. If he catches wind that Vackles' is going to a certain location, I expect Warfield is as likely to think it a trap. If he is even alive, and has resources to do anything, I expect he is amassing a force to push through the wall to get the word out."
"And uh... would it be a problem if she lived? After you lied to her?"
>"Her word against my own. It would be ideal if she survived, but the plan comes first."

Gauche and I finalize some details. They're easy to make, and are just details that have to be made. It's not a long wait for Fen to get back with Jenth. I already told Gauche everything, so he expects it as well.

>"Stay here." says Gauche. "I will send Fen down."
"Do you want help getting up?"
>"Do not touch me."

Sheesh.

He does stick to his word, though, and Fen comes down.

>"Hello, Cheese. Are you okay?"
"Yes! Are you? Did things go okay?"
>"Yes. She is not a fighter, and I do not believe I was followed coming back. Thankfully, she is light and did not slow me down. Can Gauche be trusted alone with his sister?"
"Yes, come down here." I tell him, waiting for him to get next to me. "Gauche and I have a plan to deliver the cloth. Jenth is going to deliver it."
>"Will she not die?"
"Uh... it's not good, but... well, she might live, and really someone's probably gonna die over this. So..."

I start drawing up a map of a nearby part of town that I know well. I explain to Fen that I'm going to go from one building here, and run across the street to hide out in another building. Gauche is going to tell Jentha that I will be running there, and she is going to wait there and intercept me and steal my dragoncloth.

"And you, Fen, are going to tell Vackles to intercept us at about the same time! Tell Vackles that you spied on Jenth instead of capturing her, you spied on her having a conversation with Gauche, where she said she knew where to intercept me.!"
>"What?"
"She told Gauche - "
>"Just now?"

Oh gods.

"No, Fen, I'm lying - you're going to tell Vackles lies. That Jenth had a conversation with Gauche. Tell him you overheard Jenth telling Gauche where I was going to be to. Then you followed her to the point where she's gonna be waiting for me, and ran back to Vackles to tell him. Do you understand?"
>"Yes."

I run him through it a couple times to make sure he has it.

"So you're okay with this? Leading someone unknowingly to their death?"
>"She threw you out of a window thinking that you would be captured by Vackles. She might even have heard of what Vackles will do to you if you get caught by him. I will not kill her myself if she manages to escape this, but I will not stick my neck out for her either."
"Uh... what did Vackles say he'd do to me if I get caught?"
>"Don't get caught."

Wow that is a terrible answer.

>"Do we have a plan to kill Vackles if this fails?"
"No, not... really. It might cause some big problems for us if he keeps a vendetta against me and manages to escape out of some secret tunnels, especially if he manages to get the dragoncloth back at the same time! It's worth that risk, though, since even if he escapes with dragoncloth, there's no way he can keep it a secret or even hide it for eternity. You'll get it back no matter what, I promise."
>"Alright."
>>
No. 728775 ID: dd338c
File 146560540316.png - (44.30KB , 800x800 , 534.png )
728775

After comparing how long each of us needs to move and how much time everything is going to take, we leave. Jenth is already gone by the time I stopped rehearsing with Fen, and takes his place in the dirt. I briefly stop by my sister to explain what's going on, and then crawl through the tunnels to the deciding point.

I wait in silence. There's some people crossing the street, but they pass. They move like they're supposed to be searching for something but are just walking around hoping they'll stumble on something.

I wish we could have crows cawing out signals for timing better, but I just have to trust my sense of how long everything will take. It doesn't have to be perfect, just as long as Jenth takes it before Vackles come. But not long before. She can't get away. As soon as I think I hear a lot of footsteps that are probably going to surround the whole area.

My move is made when the street is clear as far as I can tell through the fog.

Oh my gosh I can hear her shuffling her feet to get in position for me! She's even creaking the floor! She is so terrible at this!
>>
No. 728776 ID: dd338c
File 146560545102.png - (23.02KB , 800x800 , 535.png )
728776

I walk into her as she puts one hand on my face and a knife to my neck and it's a little nervewracking having someone put a knife to my throat that's never put a knife to a throat before.

>"Drop it, girl! Drop it and keep your hands where I can see them!" she nearly shouts at me! Why is she so loud?!
>>
No. 728777 ID: a075ba

>loud
Oh gods, what if your siblings hear. You didn't tell them about this plan, they might kill her to protect you and mess this plan up. At least we're not at the church anymore, and maybe Cabbage overheard you talking to Fen.

>She is so terrible at this!
Well yes, you are setting up an amateur, here.

>what do
Do as she says, and ham it up a little. She has to think she's on top, here.

*Whisper shout* "What?! How did you find me?!"
>>
No. 728778 ID: a075ba

>"So you're okay with this? Leading someone unknowingly to their death?"
>>"She threw you out of a window thinking that you would be captured by Vackles. She might even have heard of what Vackles will do to you if you get caught by him.
Realize Fen is willing to condemn people to terrible fates because he cares about your well being. He likes you!

Man what is wrong with your life that even the signs people like you are caught up in murder plots...
>>
No. 728791 ID: 91ee5f

>>728777
If you were paying attention and actually reading the updates, you'd realize that Cheese said she already told her siblings what was going on.

>What do.
Play along and act like you're surprised she found you.
>>
No. 728792 ID: dd338c
File 146561350481.png - (116.45KB , 800x800 , 536.png )
728792

>What if your sisters show up?
I told them about it, so they won't screw it up on accident!

>"How'd you find me?!" I whisper shout while dropping the cloth.
"Shut up, drop it."

She grabs one of my hands, puts it behind my back, and pushes me against the wall.

Without dropping her knife, she uses her left hand to pull my left hand back on top of my right hand, pushing it into my back.

Wait is that rope? Is she tying me up?!

"What are you doing?!"
>"You thought I'd let you go crawl back like a roach into the caverns? I'm not wasting my time on you, but some guard is going to find you and give you to Lord Vackles, and he'll show you some manners for me!"
"Nonono don't take that stuff! I'm sorry I was mean I was just stressed and stuff and I need that stuff!"
>"You should have thought of that before, but it's mine now!"

So she wants to steal the dragoncloth herself but leave me in the hands of the person who wants me to tell him on where the dragoncloth is.
>>
No. 728793 ID: 094652

Ask her who she'd sell that dragoncloth to. Then explain that you're the best fence around, and pretty noblewhores like her are supposed to give a 200% tip to keep the commonfolk placated, so if she sells it for a few gold coins, she'll ruin her entire family name by trying to do a job that she was trained to fail. Then claim that you could sell it to a specific noble using the correct channels, who would easily gain power and influence by trading it to Vackles.

In short, get her angry, then claim that you could indirectly sell the dragoncloth to Vackles. With any luck, she'll try to one-up you and sell the dragoncloth DIRECTLY to Vackles for a few hundred gold.

Idiot.
>>
No. 728796 ID: 398fe1

>>728792
Oh god, no way to idiot-proof a plan is there.

Tell her if Vackles gets you then you'll have to tell him she stole the dragoncloth, but if she lets you go you'll stay far away from him! She'll have the best chance to get away that way, and so will you. If she asks why you're helping her tell her that you just want to keep the dragoncloth out of Vackles' hands. She can keep the damn thing!
>>
No. 728798 ID: a075ba

>rope
Use your hands to grab each arm as tight as you can and squeeze, so your flesh blorps up. If she ties tight ropes while your squished out, when you release and stop squeezing, the ropes will be lose and easier to slip out of.

If she fails to properly secure you, escaping as soon as she leaves is the simple way to salvage this.

>So she wants to steal the dragoncloth herself but leave me in the hands of the person who wants me to tell him on where the dragoncloth is.
Well you can't just tell her what to do. You could use reverse psychology.

Taunt her: "If I get taken to Vackles, I'm totally telling him you ran off with that!"

Problem is, the logical counters to that are for her to either let you go, or just kill you to stop you being a problem.

>emergency option
You could just use your secret defense mechanism on her. The plan still works if she's found passed out on top of the item, right?
>>
No. 728800 ID: 398fe1

>>728798
>defense mechanism
Okay yeah this is an even better time to use that.
>>
No. 728817 ID: dd338c
File 146562392327.png - (93.54KB , 800x800 , 537.png )
728817

"Who are you even going to sell my stuff to?!"

I start squeezing my forearms up to bulge the flesh out so that when she relaxes the knot, it'll just be kind of loose. At least loose enough for me to wriggle out of.

>"It's the dragoncloth, isn't it? I can sell it for hundreds right away!"
"It's worth thousands you idiot girl! I know how to fence things, and you'd run your family name into the ground if you sold it for a few hundred! I could sell it to Vackles indirectly for at least a thousand without him realizing it even came from me, I bet!"
>"Like I'd believe you!" she says, finishing tying a knot.
"And you're leaving me to be caught with Vackles? You think I'd keep my trap shut?! I'd tell him right away that you stole it from me!"
>"... Gah, you're right, you insolent bitch! I'll just... get rid of you now, then!"

Damnit, that's what I was afraid of!
>>
No. 728818 ID: dd338c
File 146562395278.png - (84.64KB , 800x800 , 538.png )
728818

>Defense maneuver

"AHHH!"
>"AUGH?!"

She's just gonna be madder, now, and she was already going to kill me! So I'm going to run for it! Even though shooting blood from my eyes kind of hurts badly and mostly blinds me!
>>
No. 728819 ID: dd338c
File 146562397015.png - (40.86KB , 800x800 , 539.png )
728819

I run right into a mountain kobold's outstretched hand.

I think I knocked Jenth to her feet with my tail accidentally, but she grabs the cloth and springs out after me, not noticing or caring that I got caught. Maybe she got blinded by my blood and is just blindly chasing me. She gets caught too by this surprisingly sneaky mountain kobold with an unceremonious 'erk!'

>"It's just like Fen said, Lord Vackles." the mountain guard says. "They even had a fight with each other."
>>
No. 728820 ID: dd338c
File 146562404034.png - (51.53KB , 800x800 , 540.png )
728820

There are two guards in front of me to the north, plus Fen and Vackles.

Behind me to the south along the road is another mountain kobold and Croc.

At the door that I initially came out of from the tunnels is a draconic kobold, and I hear some footsteps covering the building where Jenth assaulted me. There's probably more guards all over the block.

Vackles comes into full view as he walks around the big guy.

"It looks like a savage can bring good news after all. Cheese, I've spent a lot of brain power thinking of what to say to you when I trapped you, but I'm finding myself speechless. I thought I'd be ecstatic to finally have you, but I'm just relieved. I've been so angry, but now, I'm calmer than I've been in ages. I'm even feeling almost generous enough to ask if you're alright, since last I checked, not even mutants were supposed to bleed or cry from their eyes. We'll talk in just a moment, but first, Jenth... what is that you've got there?"
>"Ah, er, no! I mean - I was getting this from Cheese!" The guards don't come to grab us or anything, but they've got all the exits pretty well closed off since it's a pretty safe bet that neither of us can go leaping to rooftops. "I knew that you'd be hunting me if Cheese managed to escape so I ran away as fast as I could, but - I got information! From - about Cheese! That she'd be here with the dragoncloth trying to move locations! So I wanted to grab it to get to you, but - how did you know to be here?!"
"Oh, never mind that. So that's... if that's really it, then that makes this simple. It doesn't really matter what your intentions were. Tons, take that cloth from her, confirm what it is, and bring it to me."
>>
No. 728821 ID: dd338c
File 146562406225.png - (22.75KB , 800x800 , 541.png )
728821

The field kobold, apparently named Tons, takes the cloth from Jenth and carefully looks it over.

"That... is not dragon cloth." he says as Tons picks it up, with an odd mix of sounding both flat-toned and like he's about to lose his shit all over town.
>"Hold on, there's more inside." Tons unravels the outer fake cloth to reveal the real thing. "O-oh!"
"Bring it over!"

Tons carries it over without touching it with an astounding amount of care. Vackles carefully plucks the whole package from Tons, fake cloth and real cloth alike, just ogling the dragoncloth for a bit instead of rubbing his face all over it. Eventually, he runs a finger into the top of it, and I see him start smiling wider. Unfortunately, he rubs it in the middle where I didn't have it pinned.

I guess this could have turned out a lot worse. I mean, I wish I was on the other side of town, but really this plan had a lot of ifs, and I'm kind of lucky it got this far. He just needs to carelessly move his finger inches.

"That's it. This is authentic. Is this a single square foot of dragoncloth? I might have hoped for more, but - oh, no, it's folded down. I'm getting ahead of myself." he says, looking back up to us. He sounds calm, but his hands are shaking and he's practically thumping his feet. "Is there anything else I should know, Jenth?"
>"Er, no! That's it! That's what you were after, right? So I may go?"
"In a moment. Cheese, do you have anything to say to or for Jenth?"
>>
No. 728825 ID: 094652

"...Pfft. Heh. I already... spoiled it... check... inside... you... nin..."

Then feign limp. Give signals to Fen to start POKING Vackles. Do ANYTHING you need to get Vackles on edge.
>>
No. 728828 ID: 398fe1

>>728821
>unfortunately
Actually considering you are in the danger zone I'd say it's rather fortunate he didn't poison himself! You need to somehow get away before he pricks himself. Which means, hopefully, being escorted away by Croc and Fen.

Then after Vackles bites it, the dragoncloth will be fought over, and maybe then Croc can retrieve it during the confusion so we can deliver it to Lady Cati as promised.

Tell Jenth she should have stuck to the plan.
>>
No. 728829 ID: b412df

Got a couple of ideas, dunno which would be better though:

1. Try and play off the dragoncloth as a container / wrapping for something else, making him unfold it. Not consistent with what was previously said, but I doubt he's thinking too much at the moment.

2. Call Jenth a spoilt brat or other deserving insult, who knows it might make Vackles laugh and touch the barb on accident.

Honestly don't know if either of these would work though.
>>
No. 728835 ID: 398fe1

Oh! We could go "Jenth, you did pay off the guards like I asked, right?" That might make Vackles nervous... and maybe hold the dragoncloth a bit closer.
>>
No. 728841 ID: dd338c
File 146562816541.png - (26.50KB , 800x800 , 542.png )
728841

There should be at least a little bit of time between when Vackles pricks himself and when he starts feeling sick.

I've gotta do whatever to get Vackles to be on edge and get twitchy and hit a barb, but I suppose I will talk to Jenth first.

>"You should've stuck to the plan, you spoiled brat, maybe you'd find a mythril token wrapped up in the dragoncloth!"

It gets a chuckle out of Vackles, but not much.

"Tons." he says, before mock-slicing his throat with his thumb.
>>
No. 728842 ID: dd338c
File 146562819399.png - (24.35KB , 800x800 , 543.png )
728842

Jenth tries to break free.

>"Wait NO - "

Tons doesn't hesitate.

I guess this is still counting as the plan working? Vackles didn't even need to show up in person, but like Gauche said, he did. On the bright side, my knot is loose.
>>
No. 728844 ID: dd338c
File 146562830144.png - (19.47KB , 800x800 , 544.png )
728844

"Now I can see about how much dragoncloth there is, here. I'd dare hope for enough to make a bedroll out of, but I already got ahead of myself." Vackles says half to himself, which I only barely hear over the sound of Jenth choking on her own blood. "And maybe you weren't full of hot air when you mentioned that mythril?"

The plan is so close, he's going for it...

Oh no what am I thinking, don't jinx it!

Augh no he's hesitating!

"....Pins?"

Come onnnn!

"Is this a joke? Who puts pins in dragoncloth?! What blasphemer would... and the way that they're put in is practically a guarantee I'd have to prick myself. Ugh, it's like a bad joke played on the wrong audience. Or is this traditional dragoncloth packing, Cheese? If so, I may not be able to give this away without repacking it perfectly, but if it's not, who thought to put in pins?"
>>
No. 728847 ID: 398fe1

>>728844
Tell him that's just how you got it, so you kept repacking it like that.

When he discovers it's empty, stare in disbelief then ask him if that was a magic trick.
>>
No. 728852 ID: 84c4fd

It's too late. Now that he's seen the barbs there's no way he's going to prick himself, even if he think they're just regular pins.

You could pretend to make a break for it before 'accidentally' tripping into Vackles while he's still occupied. Shout loudly and play it off as still being blinded while just hoping that he loses his balance enough to receive the dragon cloth straight to the face.
>>
No. 728853 ID: 094652

> Jenth is dead
"JENTH! @#$%! VACKLES, I was going to rape her! @#$% YOU!"

Might as well vent your anger on her, because she's dead. Pity, I was hoping you could torture her later for stress relief.

> "Who puts pins in dragoncloth?!"
"Think about it, idiot. Cloth is made for containing EXPENSIVE THINGS. Those pins are made from the claws of a [legendary beast], designed to pierce even mountain kobold skin so that the cloth will stick to anyone or anything wearing it. Just try it out yourself, I hope you flail around screaming from a few needle pricks you wussy."

... Screw it.
"HEY! ARE YOU TWO GOING TO STAND THERE?! SHOWTIME!!!"

Pretend that Fen isn't the only traitor in Vackles' midst. Hopefully Fen will get the message and pretend to work with one of the other bodyguards.
>>
No. 728855 ID: 398fe1

>>728853
That's a little extreme.
>>
No. 728857 ID: b412df

Huh, he thinks they're just pins, not barbs. That can be worked with I think, and it seems like he fell for the bluff.

I'd say to say it's to keep it held together in transit, and to keep the decoy cloth bound to it, so if anyone who didn't know about it's true nature might think it's just normal cloth, and that any movement wouldn't unravel it and reveal the dragoncloth. As for why they are put in such a awkward way, well big hands and claws don't make putting in tiny pins easy (Basically play it off as clumsiness).

Goal is to imply that it's ok for him to open it (And thus see if the non existent contents is there), and justify the pins being there.

Problem is that putting coinage in there with it prepped for transport is odd, but any mention of that might get him to think about it. Basically gambling on that he's too blinded by greed to think.
>>
No. 728858 ID: 398fe1

>>728857
>coinage is odd
Well we could say that was just to mess with Jenth and there isn't any money in there. Then we'd just be hoping he unfurls it anyway to check it out, and accidentally pricks himself.
>>
No. 728859 ID: 3c708f

In >>728820 you look like you're standing pretty close to him. Can you just... kick it up into his face? Or slip your hands out and use those to knock it. Even if it doesn't go right into his face he'll probably grab at it reflexively.
>>
No. 728860 ID: 398fe1

>>728859
If we do something like that, the guards will react badly. If he pricks his finger on a "pin" he won't get really sick for a while. During that time, we can try to escape, before anyone realizes he's a dead man walking.
>>
No. 728861 ID: 84c4fd

>>728860
The biggest problem I have with a subtle plan like that is that he's literally staring right at the barbs. It's highly unlikely he would accidentally prick himself now, unless someone were unexpectedly to jostle him.
>>
No. 728863 ID: b6178d

>>728844

shitshitshitohwaitanidea

"One put pins in CLOTHES, Lord Vackles."

Now he'll have to unfold it, to check what it is. He can't give it away without knowing. If he does, and still manages not to prick himself, say you meant that this was meant to be turned into a cloak or something before you got your hands on it, and the pins were left from then.
>>
No. 728864 ID: b6178d

>>728863

Or, you know, in a desperation move, lunge forward and press the cloth onto his hands while he's handling it, hoping the barbs stick him (and not you, too much). To distract the guard holding you, you can repeat the blood-squirt maneuver.
>>
No. 728866 ID: 211d83

I am not sure lord Vackles. This is how I got it. Have kept it wrapped up to avoid getting it dirty.

As for the pins I know fancy clothes and fabric stores like to pin clothing like that. I think its to keep the cuffs and collars set. Easier to iron I guess.
>>
No. 728867 ID: 4546ab

Keep subtly working your hands free so you can book it when the eventual cluster fuck happens.

Tell Vackles that you think its something fancy shops do to fancy clothes. Keeps the cloth from crumpling and needing to be ironed.
>>
No. 728877 ID: 29c4aa

That's how you got it and that's how you keep it.
>>
No. 728879 ID: a075ba

Keep working your hands free. The poison almost doesn't matter, cause you're sitting squarely in Jenth's shoes, now. He's going to have you killed as soon as he's done taunting you. Even if he is poisoned, it doesn't work fast enough. Fen and Croc are going to have to turn on Vackle's escort so you can get away.

>"One put pins in CLOTHES, Lord Vackles."
Ooh, I like that one. He does almost have to unwrap it to check out what it is. Although the downside is, whether he gets pricked or not unwrapping, there's no time to stall after that, cause he'll be pissed we lied. We won't be able to wait for the poison to take effect.

>what say
Do you know how many hands that cloth has passed through since this mess started today? I don't think all of them even knew what dragoncloth was.
>>
No. 728886 ID: dd338c
File 146566367370.png - (12.22KB , 800x800 , 545.png )
728886

I keep the knot on my hands, but it's loose enough that I can yank my hands free if things go down.

"I don't know, that's just how I got it! But they put pins in clothes! I doubt anyone would care if it were folded back up again! It's been passed around so many hands, a lot who think dragoncloth is just myth!"
"It's not raw? These are clothes? Then let's see. Ugh, who put these pins in? They're pointed outword and are virtually made to prick the owner. I take it you were messing with Jenth about that coin inside."
"...Yeah. And please don't tell me you'd flail around screaming just from a few needle pricks, Lord Vackles!"
"Would you ram your face into a wall just because you could?" he says, eyeing the dragoncloth. "Well..."

>Kick it up into his face
He's just a little bit away, but my legs kind of suck at kicking high up.

I'm pretty sure Tons will stab me in the back if I make any sudden movements right now. I'm just too slow.

I wish I could signal for Fen to do something, but all my instincts say that the other guards are going to think I'm up to something before Fen gathers what I'm trying to say. And if I outright yell to him, it's just going to tip everyone off that he's with me. I don't know what he'd do, anyway! There's guards all over, and I even told him that killing Vackles wasn't even completely necessary.

"Alright, this has been too much trouble to just leave alone and not at least see in full. Annoying pins or not, I will see my prize. Someone light a torch."

I can practically feel Tons breathing down my throat. There was just a single second between Vackles making the throat motion and it happening.
>>
No. 728887 ID: dd338c
File 146566369668.png - (73.95KB , 800x800 , 546.png )
728887

He tugs at it a little bit, but the barbs stick to the cloth, so he starts hovering his claws over the pins, trying to poke at them with just his claws instead of his fingers.

He relaxes his grip and moves his hand off.

"Tons, come over here. You get the honors of unfolding the dragoncloth."
>>
No. 728888 ID: dd338c
File 146566371511.png - (25.79KB , 800x800 , 547.png )
728888

>"Are you sure? It's much more fitting if you do it, sir."
"Yes, it is, isn't it... but you've been with me for so long and have been helpful for all of these years! Then again, it was Fen's actions that led to this. Perhaps he should unfold it."
>"Sir, if it's a choice between a savage and myself, I feel I have to insist on doing it for you myself." says Tons.
"What do you say, Fen?"
>"I don't understand why everyone thinks this dragoncloth is so valuable. If it is, then, V- Lord Vackles, you should do it yourself."
"In that case... Tons, you have the honors. Show me my prize in full."
>>
No. 728889 ID: dd338c
File 146566374378.png - (55.97KB , 800x800 , 548.png )
728889

"HNK?!"
>>
No. 728890 ID: a075ba

Get your hands free, now.

Tons is right in front of you, right? Shove him with your hands, or spin and slam his legs with your tail. He'll fall forward, landing on the pins and/or the sword sticking out of Vackle's chest. Poisoned or stabbed, that's one less guard in the fight, and more importantly, if the dragoncloth is pinned under two bodies, none of the guards here are grabbing it and making a run for it.
>>
No. 728891 ID: 7b7ab3

>>728889
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART
>>
No. 728892 ID: 8984ef

>>728891
AND YOU'RE TO BLAME
>>
No. 728893 ID: b412df

Whelp, Plan B now, and by that I mean Fen and Croc kills everyone not on our side. Not like it wasn't going to go that way with us captured and the real cloth here anyway.

This is going to be a real pain to fight out of if they're got the building surrounded, there's about 5 directly surrounding us as well.

Here's hoping Cabbage is nearby.
>>
No. 728894 ID: 3c708f

Ok, shit. What to do... it looks like Tom is the big guy here, and probably the best fighter. Pull your hands free, and like... throw your arms around his legs from behind or something, slow him down, so Fen and Croc can get a chance to get in a better position.

Right now, the guards are all going to act on instinct, in panic. If Fen and Croc get stuck in, they all stay that way, focusing on fighting. We need to give everyone who was on Vackles' side a chance to think for a moment, to realize what's happened and what it means, so that they can realize they're double screwed now. Get yourselves into an alley or onto a roof or something where they'll be delayed getting to you, and where Fen and Croc can guard you and the cloth. Which you should grab at first opportunity, before someone else does. Fen and Croc will need their hands free.

If you get the chance, you need to shout at the guards how Vackles is dead and can't do anything for them any more. The only chance they have to survive with their lives, much less their careers, is to pretend they were in on a plot to let Vackles be assassinated. If that calms them enough to listen to more, tell them Gauche is alive and set this up, so if they all publicly declare to him and help him restore order, he might give them protection. He probably won't stand for them to stay in this city, especially now that, um, the risk his sister "nobly" took to do this has resulted in her death, but they could leave and find new lives elsewhere. It's the best they're going to get.

Then you'll need to run quickly to Gauche and inform him of what went down so he can play along with that.
>>
No. 728895 ID: 211d83

Get your hands free and roll with whatever happens. Which most likely involves getting out of harms way fast.

My suggestion would to be loudly yell. "Anyone who wants to join Gauche now is a perfect time to prove yourself."

Or something along those lines so some of the guards realize there is still a chance for them to hook up with a still living noble.

Better than having to fight all of them.
>>
No. 728896 ID: 4546ab

Yeah get out of striking range fast and try to convert Vackles guards. If you can convince even a few to switch sides now that there boss is dead it would help.

That or convince them that you have already infiltrated there ranks so they start fighting each other.

Just make sure to keep the dragoncloth in sight.
>>
No. 728897 ID: a075ba

>convert Vackles guards
I don't think we can allow any of them to live. Witness to Fen killing a noble might mess up his enlisting in the army, or our other plans.
>>
No. 728900 ID: 3c708f

>>728897

Fen killed a rebellious noble. And in a plot "set up by" a loyal noble, equal to the rebel's (former) rank. He should be fine.

This initial skirmish is probably going to end up with everyone who actually saw him drive in the sword himself dead, anyway.
>>
No. 728904 ID: 595d54

>>728900
That really assumes Gauche or anyone else doesn't want to keep the entire thing quiet and get rid of any witnesses. I say we kill them, take the dragoncloth, and fuck right off before anyone can change their minds about not murdering us.
>>
No. 728924 ID: 398fe1

>>728889
Well I guess that's plan B. Time to survive the ensuing chaos! I'm thinking you should try to stick with Croc. He's the best fighter here and can protect you.
>>
No. 728936 ID: b6178d

>>728889

Well, Vackles clearly had started suspecting foul play. Good thing Fen is quick on the uptake and gives zero shits about killing nobles, which keeps surprising them, somehow.

It's also good he has a bulk rate on assassinations, or you might've been even deeper in debt.

Might want to back off, pick up a rock and chuck it at Tons and the mountain kobold, secure the dragoncloth (since you'd not instantly die by being pricked by it) or any number of other more or less useful things to do.
>>
No. 728939 ID: 094652

And Vackles is incapacitated. Well done.

Yell at Tons and Fen to take down the mountain kobold. While Tons is busy convincing his team that he's not a traitor, Fen throws him at enemy targets and you finish everyone but Tons off. Try to get him to switch sides after that, or incapacitate and let Gauche have his minor vengeance.

Chop Vackles' head off, tie the dragoncloth to his muzzle and stick the barbs in his eyeballs. Then parade his head on a pike with the dragoncloth flowing from his teeth. Lure the guards to Cati's forces and let them finish the job.
>>
No. 731900 ID: dd338c
File 146691972705.png - (115.13KB , 800x1100 , 549.png )
731900

Everyone who isn't used to nobles dying in front of them wastes a split second with gawking faces.

I don't waste it, and neither does Fen or Croc. I run past Tons while I yank my hands out of my loosened ropes. Whipping my tail underneath Tons lets me grab it instead of Tons, who still hasn't snapped out of it. I'm afraid that these guys can pretend like Vackles' is still alive, but if I try and slice off his head, I'd have to do weird gymnastics with holding the dragoncloth, Croc's knife, and a head.

>"Snap up ya lollers!" Croc's bellowing shakes the walls. "Wrap that shroom or get gutted!"
"Vackles can't do anything for you! It's a perfect time for people to prove themselves to Sir Gauche!" I yell after him.

In a rare display of good luck, the draconian guard that was blocking my escape route bolts through the building past the hole in the ground. Fen, who I like to believe saw that I could escape, leaps up the walls and begins running on the rooftops. Trotting on top of all that shitty, breaking wood would probably be the worst idea for anyone who didn't have a life of running on top of shroomleaf trees.
>>
No. 731901 ID: dd338c
File 146691976797.png - (41.51KB , 800x800 , 550.png )
731901

I'd really like to be able to convert guards, but if Vackles came here with only a handful, he must have chosen his most trustworthy. Still, it doesn't hurt.

"Tons, take him out!"

I squeeze in the tunnels while at least one person chases me. The last thing I saw, otherwise, was Tons still looking devastated like he didn't hear me.
>>
No. 731902 ID: dd338c
File 146691979741.png - (51.38KB , 800x800 , 551.png )
731902

It'd be a lie to say I've never squeezed faster through tunnels than I am now, but I still go pretty fast back to Gauche.

>"Worm?"

I huff and puff.

"It's done. I guess it was successful. At least, better than it... your sister didn't make it."
>"Vackles is dead?"
"Yes."

He sighs.

>"Good. I hope my sister is tormenting his soul. What are your companions doing?"
"I don't know. They ran in the chaos."
>"Hm. Best to wait for everything to sink in."
>>
No. 731904 ID: 398fe1

>>731902
Alright. Time to pick all the spines out of the dragoncloth, secure it with your family, then hide. ...actually wait, can you even take the spines out without pricking yourself? Maybe Tomato should do that, if he can.
>>
No. 731905 ID: 211d83

I think Tons was rather attached to Vackles.

We don't have a ton of time to wait around. We need to get to the wall if we want to make our meeting. Need to get across town with our siblings and find Fen and Croc.

Did we have a plan for meeting up with them after this?

So Gauche whats your plan now? If you played your cards right you could end up with Vackles stuff. But this town might have a bunch of outside nobles poking around shortly.
>>
No. 731906 ID: 398fe1

Oh right, how much time until our escape arrives?
>>
No. 731907 ID: b2d501

Keep the barbs in for the moment. If anyone else grabs the dragoncloth, you'll want them to have a nasty surprise. Also, the cloth has holes in it from now on so just keep it folded that way, looks fancy.

That could have gone much better, but it was more likely to have gone worse, so good job. Tell Gauche that if you still get killed by the extended political intrigue, you always wanted to tell him that he has TINY FEET and such a small measurement is not worthy of a large title. This should stop him from complimenting your lowborn status long enough for you to snore your way through the season. Rally Cabbage on guard duty while Tomato makes some more barb weapons. You need a nap after all this.

I guess it's time to end the chapter.
>>
No. 731908 ID: a075ba

>Good. I hope my sister is tormenting his soul.
Well being stuck forever with her would be a torment so... probably.

>what do
Dragoncloth gets handed off to siblings. It's safest with them, and they need it to hand over to Cati, anyways.

It's time to lie low, until your allies return, rescue arrives and you have a chance to spin things, or an opportunity to gtfo before the armies arrive presents itself.
>>
No. 731910 ID: dd338c
File 146692500122.png - (72.96KB , 800x800 , 552.png )
731910

>Did we have a plan for meeting up with [Fen and Croc] after this?
Just to meet back here if possible. Nothing beyond that.

>How much time until the escape?
I think about... 30 minutes to an hour.

"Just a second, Gauche."

I go to my sisters and deliver the news and the re-folded dragoncloth.

"So... better than expected."
>"I'm just glad you're safe. It seems like this will end soon, yes?"
"I hope. The barbs are still in the dragoncloth, by the way."
>>
No. 731911 ID: dd338c
File 146692507055.png - (28.72KB , 800x800 , 553.png )
731911

I go back to Gauche.

"So, um, any plans, now?"
>"It's quiet out there. It's odd. I don't know enough to make plans. I'm hoping Lord Warfield has or will learn about Vackles' death. He is in the best position to sort it out. If you have any resources to send the message to let this be more than a hope, now is the time."
"I really don't."
>"Neither do I."
"Hey, Sir Gauche... now's not really the time, but do you mind if I say that you have such tiny feet?"
>"That depends on why you are telling me this now."
"It just really, uh... bears mentioning."
>"How so?"
"Nevermind."
>"They are dirty. I would like you to clean - "
"I get it, now's not the time, damnit! Forget I said anything! I'm running my mouth because I'm worried about Fen!"
>>
No. 731912 ID: dd338c
File 146692522221.png - (19.44KB , 800x800 , 554.png )
731912

The church doors swing open, and I hear some fast, light footsteps travelling across.

Fen pokes his head through.

>"We have a problem."
"Oh god Fen don't just say that!"
>"Vackles had plans to escape from this after all. He's been sending runners to Warlord Krix promising dragoncloth. Now Krix is openly challenging Cati for the cloth, and is heading here."
"Warlord Krix is coming here already?! When?!"
>"30 minutes to an hour. Right now, Croc is questioning Tons, but Tons is loyal. I am taking this seriously, as Croc is insisting that we get out of town immediately."
"Noooooo kidding! We gotta find something! One of those secret exits, somehow get one of Vackles' runners to throw Krix off to delay him, get Cati's people to hurry it up, something, anything!"
>"I do not know how to do any of that."
>"Krix?" says Sir Gauche. "That does not make it hopeless for you. Despite his reputation, he does reward people who benefit him. You can sell the dragoncloth to him, instead."
"But then I'll make an enemy of Lady Cati."
>"And you won't make an enemy of Warlord Krix. I suppose it will all be moot, if you manage an escape in the first place."
>>
No. 731914 ID: 211d83

Ok talk to your siblings and find out how bad selling the cloth to the warlord would ruin things with Cati. And if said ruining would ruin there plans and relationship with her. And how much harder would it be to get the cloth back later. (although at this rate anyone who we give it to will be a giant target that will probably get killed for it.)

Also if said relationship was ruined if it would be better to just completely trash it and keep the money Cati already sent over. (which would implicate your siblings so that is why you only consider it if they are ok with it) Plus how much would Krix pay you for the cloth.

How many soldiers are with Krix? And how fast will they get here.

I thought we knew were exits were from the kids but could not use them due to Vackles troops and dogs?
>>
No. 731915 ID: 5a893f

>>731912
Does crix even know about you at all? If he doesn't, & no one labs, then we're good and not An enemy. Kristen simply makes war with cati over it.

And we already have cati's gold, if we give it to Krix, Cati will hunt us to the ends of the earth. Now, perhaps your sisters will then be in a position to kill Cati, make contact with Crix, assassinate Cati, and split ALL the gold with your siblings, Croc, and Fen, maybe even kill Crix too, and maybe Fen can buy a Wood noble title early.
>>
No. 731917 ID: 398fe1

>>731912
How about this: we talk to or a message to both Cati and Krix saying that they both know about the dragoncloth so you don't want to make enemies of either of them, and you don't want to start a war either. Ask them both to negotiate or stage a contest to see who gets the thing, AFTER you're escorted safely out of the city.

Once the situation stabilizes this can be solved like civilized people, and it won't come down on anyone's head after everything's said and done.
>>
No. 731924 ID: 486e87

Ugh, this is bad. Cati probably has the greatest influence, and she's already paid us for the close. Crossing her might mean a bounty on our head, which would severely limit us in the future.

We could make a break for it and meet up with Cati's group, they've got to be about 5-10 minutes away now, right?
>>
No. 731953 ID: b67eed

Look, Vackles is dead, right? That has to be spreading around (and you should make it spread further, if you can). That means the guards will be majorly unsure of themselves. Just go to one of the exits of the town, tell the guards Vackles is dead and they're screwed, and offer them a bribe of enough cash to facilitate them running away. Then you can throw open those gates and anyone who wants to go can go.

It'd be easier if you had some proof. If they got Tons to talk to, can they still get Vackles' head? It'd also probably help to have Gauche with you, he could hold the head and people would believe he arranged Vackles' death. A little intimidation with Fen, Croc and your sisters would help persuade the guards to take the bribe and the escape, too.
>>
No. 731962 ID: 398fe1

>>731924
Currently the time estimates are the same for each warband. 30 minutes to an hour. Best case scenario is that Cati arrives first. Worst case scenario is that Krix arrives first and can prevent Cati from getting near the city. Middling scenario is they arrive at the same time and start fighting in the streets while we're trying to get out.
>>
No. 731973 ID: dd338c
File 146695722439.png - (50.04KB , 800x800 , 555.png )
731973

>I thought we knew were exits were from the kids but could not use them due to Vackles troops and dogs?
That's true! There are a couple of exits I don't know about, but we can just use the ones we do know of.

>Does Krix even know about you at all?
Well, not personally.

"How many soldiers are with Krix, Fen? Cabbage, Tomato! Come over here!"
>"I don't know."
"Can we get to Vackles' head? If we can get that, then we can shake up the guards enough to walk out right through the front door!"
>"I believe so."
"Ugh, laws regarding dragoncloth are the dumbest, most vague things ever! I don't know if Cati is technically already in ownership of this cloth, or if she's only considered the owner once she holds it herself."
>"Why are the laws vague?"
"Probably so that the nobles above them can do whatever they can just point fingers and point out the wrong stuff they did even though it's impossible to do right! Whatever, Krix probably doesn't know us as his enemy, so I want to just go right to Cati's group. I have that wagon that's hopefully not sacked, and we can just load up everyone, have Croc and Gauche drive, and get us out Or just use one of the exits I know about, that my sisters used. Wait a second! Did he say he's specifically contesting Lady Cati?"
>"He is contesting all nobles for it."
"Is Croc, uh... still with Vackles technically?"
>"Yes. He captured Tons secretly."

Okay. We should be able to get out of town easily, either through the front gate or the tunnel that Cabbage used. There's kind of missing information and I don't know how to get it!

If Croc isn't an enemy of the guard, though, then we can send runners out to intercept all these warbands and try to get them to settle it themselves without dragging us in the crossfire. Which is gonna be a clusterfuck, because Lady Cati plays the political game, and Warlord Crix will just try and beat the cloth out of her. He won't do it like a civilized adult at all.

"Oh, Cabbage, I wouldn't hate it as much if Warlord Krix got the cloth instead of Lady Cati, but then you two might be blamed for buying the dragoncloth and letting it slip away."
>"Mm, true, but if Noble Krix confronted us, who are we to deny a loose dragoncloth? Why, he could take it from us for free, so the least we could do is sell it to him for as much as possible to make it up for Lady Cati. It is unfortunate, she will not be happy, but she is understanding, and what are we to do but. And if Krix offered us one thousand and five hundred gold, how would she contest us when we say we were only paid a thousand?"
"Oh my gosh Cabbage what you are saying is ridiculously risky! Especially in front of Sir Gauche?!"
>"I choose to ignore your plots." says Gauche. "They disgust me while having nothing to do with me."

There is kind of a difference in Krix getting it, though. His title is 'Warlord' and as a result, his accomplishments are expected to be through fighting and violence. Fen could openly challenge him by force if he had it.

Which is also stupidly risky.
>>
No. 731980 ID: b67eed

Just go out the front door and go to where Cati will be coming from, I say. Don't go right to her, just nearby enough, and send your siblings to go make the delivery.

What was the exact arrangement, again? You're not taking the money as actual cash, but having Cati pay your debt? I think you said it was more than just the debt, so maybe you're getting something, but... how was it supposed to work?
>>
No. 731982 ID: a075ba

>>731973
It seems to me the simplest thing to do is simply to stay out of the claws of Krix's minions, get the cloth to Cati, and gtfo. She's political, there are other forces around, she can finagle a situation where she's not overrun. It'll be a mess, but it's not our problem if the nobles grind down their forces against each other.

The problem of course is that avoiding Krix's forces comes down to luck without good intelligence. Unless we can depend on the crows to guide you out, I don't see know we can reliably pull that off.

>Fen could openly challenge [Krix] by force if he had it.
...let's call that plan D, okay? Fen can only get away with killing so many nobles, especially face to face in a fair fight. And even if he did kill him, that's getting to the point where it makes his exploits too public, and messes with current plans. (Like, he couldn't join the army without being thrown into impossible fights).
>>
No. 731983 ID: 91ee5f

With the number of times Tomato's poisonous spines have been stuck into the dragoncloth, it must be full of holes now. Won't the amount of damage to the dragoncloth make its selling price go down? Or will the damage make it unsellable and worthless because nobles will think a damaged dragoncloth isn't something they want?
>>
No. 732003 ID: dd338c
File 146697232856.png - (23.68KB , 800x800 , 556.png )
732003

>With the number of times Tomato's poisonous spines have been stuck into the dragoncloth, it must be full of holes now. Won't the amount of damage to the dragoncloth make its selling price go down?
Not really. Dragoncloth is kind of, uh... alive. Sort of. It's complicated. So I hear. But it can repair stuff like holes and decay.

>What was the exact arrangement, again?
The original plan is that Cabbage and Tomato would give me three mythril and some change for it, and they'd take it back to Cati. They've already given me the money, so if Cati loses the dragoncloth, she's going to want reimbursement, to say the least.

"Fen grab the wagon I had and try to get Croc to get Vackles' head. We're gonna go through the front door. Gauche, how's your yelling voice?"
>"Adequate. I will do what I can to get us through."

We make the details, and Fen jogs out.
>>
No. 732004 ID: dd338c
File 146697234443.png - (86.62KB , 800x800 , 557.png )
732004

After we get the word, Fen, Cabbage, Tomato and myself crawl through the back of the wagon under the canopy while Gauche and Croc whisper to us when we're ready. I give the go ahead.

It's quiet. I thought things were going to be chaotic, but all I can hear is the creaking of the wheels while we head to the western side. We didn't want to parade Vackles' head throughout the town since we're hoping to not catch the attention of die-hards like Tons probably was who will start thinking of vengeance. So of course I get the seat in front of a dead head.

>"Halt!"

>"You are not to pass these walls."
>"Per who's orders? I am Sir Gauche, and I demand exit to this town."
>"I am sorry, Sir Gauche! But you must know that this quarantine has been planted by Lord Vackles."
>>
No. 732005 ID: dd338c
File 146697236058.png - (41.25KB , 800x800 , 558.png )
732005

I hear commotion as the stick is pulled out of the cargo area and hoisted up by Croc.

>"He is dead!" Gauche yells. "And you must know that there is no quarantine, and Vackles' name will be on a pike with his head as this comes to light. Without him to protect you, you are nothing but a lowly band of bandits. Throw down your weapons and your guard uniforms, and mingle with the citizenry, and you may live!"

There's silence. Then the gate opens. We move on.

>"Vackles' runners aren't minding us." says Gauche. "As they should. Cheese. We are heading north towards Lady Cati in the hopes to intercept them, correct, but if we do not, then we shall continue on and deliver it to Lady Cati in person?"
"Yes, I guess that's our best plan."
>"May gander the snake eyes." says Croc. "Got a page full o' tallies up ahead."
>>
No. 732006 ID: dd338c
File 146697238192.png - (60.40KB , 800x800 , 559.png )
732006

I poke my head out. We're not far out of town at all, and there's some people just through the fog up ahead. I can't tell who. They're not fighting. I can't hear them if they're talking, but it's not a single party. There's too much of a divide between them.
>>
No. 732008 ID: a075ba

>>732006
Croc might be able to hear them talking, but there's the problem of his repeating it being incomprehensible.

I don't see any weapons obvious enough to be apparent in silhouette, which suggests they may not be a group of soldiers.

Not many hands turned in your direction, which means the cart hasn't caught their direction. That's good.

...going up to talk to them seems dumb. We should just go around them and see if we can avoid interacting with them. Probably won't work, though.
>>
No. 732009 ID: 211d83

Am guessing this is Cati's and Krix's people. Or one of those groups that has run into Vackles guards coming into town. Will have to keep heading forward to see. If we don't have any lights could we sneak around them?

I wonder if we can just slip on through. Or if this will be the site of a impromptu fight/auction for the cloth.
>>
No. 732010 ID: b2db3f

I see someone in a robe. Which usually means noble or wizard.

Stop the cart and have Croc listen in if he can. And see how long it takes them to notice you.
>>
No. 732011 ID: b67eed

They're probably the people who Vackles has been keeping out, traders with nowhere else to go, people returning to town who were out of it, messengers and et cetera. Possibly also inspectors who were sent to study the "plague". I'd assume "tallies", as in tallymen, means merchants. Could mean inspectors, but it's less likely.

You could have Sir Gauche make an announcement again, declaring what Vackles was up to and what the state of the town is. The danger is that he's a bit grubby now and might lack a little authority, especially if he doesn't have his own seal on him and there's no-one who knows his face, and if there are inspectors, it's their job to check everyone for signs of plague still. They might not react well to mutants, but if you can keep the dragoncloth hidden, it might still go all right. You could also try slink out and around while the speech is made. But I'd think these are more likely to be merchants.

How do your siblings normally move around through the country, anyway? I assume they don't just walk along the roads like everyone else. What were their original plans to get the cloth back to Cati?
>>
No. 732015 ID: e22b1d

Having your siblings sneak off with the cloth in the dark might be a good option. They got into town on there own sneaking overland so they should be able to make it back to Cati.

This is most likely Vackles men and there road checkpoint into town. Would probably be best to get past this point if we do want to let your siblings out.

Luckily we have Vackles handy to order the guards around. Just stick your hand up the neck stump and you can make it look like he is talking. (that's a joke don't do this)
>>
No. 732024 ID: dd338c
File 146697765215.png - (36.64KB , 800x800 , 560.png )
732024

>How do your siblings normally move around through the country, anyway? I assume they don't just walk along the roads like everyone else. What were their original plans to get the cloth back to Cati?
I think during one of my chillout-times with them, they mentioned they took a wagon here and were going to take a wagon back. But things probably got too screwed up for that to get used. In any case, they're really not, uh, sneaky, and trying to send them off is doable but still risky if they get found out. Plus, since there's word out that the Fence is under quarantine, and then suddenly two abominations go running through the countryside, well... that's no good.

"Turn the wagon around. It's unlikely, but we've got to try to pass them!

Croc hops off, and Gauche puts his hand to the left and starts making signals.

It didn't even occur to me that we don't have mountain kobold drivers, and Croc has been pushing this cart the whole time. I move to the back and talk with him.

"Hey, um... did you hear anything they were talking about?"
>"Lotsa calls. Felt the beckons of that war lover an' that fine slimmy an' the local mine network an' all sorts. Ah, tallies on the left talkin' like a sea floatin' community. Tallies on the right' got a pack of leaf shiners an' originals."

We go on. Somehow, either no one noticed us, or no one cared. We move on, but it's only a moment before Croc stops pushing and the wagon slides to a stop.
>>
No. 732025 ID: dd338c
File 146697782620.png - (18.58KB , 800x800 , 561.png )
732025

Out of a little hole in the canopy, I spy on what's going on. A runner is coming up to the wagon from the front side, but he stops when Gauche puts his hand up.

>"S... Sir Gauche?! That is you?"
>"That is me. State your business.
>"I am a messenger from Lord Jolli." he says, to which I recall that Jolli is the local gold noble. "What is going on inside of the Fence?"
>"There is no quarantine. Lord Vackles has attempted to take over the town, but he has been slain."
>"Why would he do such a thing?"
>"He was an unremarkable kobold that went mad with ambition, like most other single-day rebels."
>"I see... I have to deliver the news, but Lord Jolli will wish to speak with you. He is the other way, Sir, if you would not mind following me. I do not mind walking."
>"No."
>"Excuse me?"
>"Simply deliver the news. I am on business."
>"........ deep apologies, sir! But Lord Jolli has ordered that all people, goods, and cargo leaving the Fence are to be investigated ."
>"One moment. Allow me a moment."

Gauche flips his ear comically backwards to me.

>"There is no personal reason for me to decline him further, but know that I will not let your assistance, however modest and circumstantial, go unrewarded. He does have Lord Jolli's seal, however, and my declining him would be my inviting ruin."
>>
No. 732026 ID: b67eed

Well, if you're only going as fast as Croc can push anyway, the only downside to leaving the wagon is that your siblings won't be covered any more. You could have Gauche and Croc go off with the wagon, and the messenger, and slip yourselves out the back. Gauche would have to try think up what his "business" was, though.

Wandering around exposed isn't so great, but... it's still dark, for now. You could sneak around where the merchants are, in the dark, and come at them from a direction away from town, and buy one of their wagons. Or go to a farm and offer them a similarly healthy bribe. Or steal a wagon or cart from a barn and leave money behind to pay for it.
>>
No. 732028 ID: 211d83

Ok have a couple of ideas.

1. Just go with him for now and get a feel for things while moving. On the way Gauche can chat with the guy and we see how many men Jolli has with him and general outside news. Can then decide if we want to hide the cloth or whatever.

2. Kill this guy and move on if there is no one else watching. If there is no witness there is no crime.

3. Send Fen or your siblings to hide somewhere nearby with the cloth while this guy is not watching closely. Then we chat with Jolli and have them meet back up with us afterwards. But could be risky for the cloth holder and we have no idea what other forces are lurking in the dark. A lot depends on how thorough the search is.

4. Hide the cloth on Croc's body so no one would dare search him.

Ask Gauche what he knows of Jolli. And what you know about him. Is this someone reasonable or are we better off not encountering him at all costs.
>>
No. 732030 ID: a075ba

>Felt the beckons of that war lover an' that fine slimmy an' the local mine network an' all sorts.
People working for... Krix, Cati, and the crows? Not sure I remember a noble associated with mining.

>what do
It occurs to me this guy, being from one of the armies, might at least have a general idea of how the forces are aligned. Which direction different people are in. That might be useful if Gauche could get him talking.

We can't afford to bring the dragon-cloth to Jolli, though. Either we need to slip away and split up, leaving Gauche and Croc with the cart, or the messenger needs to die after we pretended to agree to no witness can fuck Gauche over.
>>
No. 732040 ID: 796d20

>Gauche flips his ear comically backwards to me

You just find everything about Gauche funny, don't you?

Anyway, just because this guy is alone doesn't mean he is the only person that can see us at this moment. there may be others spying from afar (telescopes are a thing in this world, right?)

SO I say no to attempting to sneak out someone with the dragoncloth when he isn't paying attention.

>>732025
>Hide the cloth on Croc's body so no one would dare search him.

PUT IT IN HIS PANTS.
>>
No. 732042 ID: dd338c
File 146698654113.png - (15.18KB , 800x800 , 562.png )
732042

>Other's may be spying
It's possible, but it's pretty foggy out, so they would have to be pretty close.

>Not sure I remember a noble associated with mining.
Knowing croc, mining is probably some ridiculous metaphor. Maybe the working class. Maybe 'mine network' is the worst way to say 'nobility' ever.

"Let's move for a bit. We can have Croc move slowly. I need to get a feel. Chat with him for what this is about. Uh... we can't kill him, can we?"
>"I will not. Do not suggest that." says Gauche, as he turns back to the other kobold. "Very well, messenger. Lead on, but understand we will move slowly. Furthermore, there are many factions about that may also be interested in a wagon from the Fence."
>"Yes, but Jolli's seal will prevent the unexpected."
>"How many does Jolli have?" Gauche asks as the wagon creaks forward.
>"A short force here, but it is his territory."
>"And other forces?"
>"I believe you may have crossed close to a group of Lady Cati's that is investigating the plague, but they are discussing logistics with a group under Warlord Krix, who's forces are all around us, at an estimated 400. However, thousands of the warlord's soldiers, and the warlord himself, are expected to march from the southwest at any moment. I believe they will soon be making a push for the fence."
>"Are there that many searchers out here? I was not riding on the road itself, yet you found me."
>"Oh, there are many, but it was lucky. You are on the outskirts of where my lord is searching. Warlord Krix had scouts, of course, but they are focused directly on the Fence. If I did not find you, then I doubt anyone would have interrupted your business from here on."
>"And Lord Jolli. Does he merely wish to speak to me, or does he plan on disassembling my wagon?"
>"He is kind, he simply has to know everything that you know about the fence! He will search you and any companions of yours simply as a matter of practice, and I imagine he will be kind and polite about it."

Okay. The problem with Krix coming here is that he can say this area isn't even Jolli's to lord over anymore with Vackles taking over town, hence he can do what he likes. So I don't know if Jolli can really protect us, but I don't know much about Jolli.

We're not far out of town, but we're probably past where any merchants trying to get into the fence are hanging out. I do know this area pretty well, though, and can probably find some farm houses where we can get a wagon or something if we want to ditch this one, except Croc's the only one who can push this through mud anyway.
>>
No. 732044 ID: 211d83

Are your Siblings personal envoys of Cati? Or secret troops? Basically could they claim diplomatic immunity from searches due to working for another gold noble?

We need to hide the cloth and the mythril coins if we go through with the searching. That and the whole wagon full of dangerous mutants thing. As Gauche if its safe even if we manage to hide the dragoncloth.

You know I wonder if the crows could be trusted with it? It is foggy and a few of them could cart the package out of the danger zone to a safe drop off. But that does depend on you trusting the crows. Of course all you would have to do if they betrayed you would be to start reporting sightings of them all over. I don't think they would be willing to take the risk.

Maybe we could go with the farmhouse/wagon plan. Have your party members start exiting one at a time while Croc and Gauche slowly travel along and sneak off. And then Gauche and Croc meet with Jolli. Then they meet back up with everyone else farther up the road.
>>
No. 732045 ID: b67eed

Ooohkay, new plan. By the messenger's words, we're near enough to Cati's people, though she's embroiled with Krix.

You and your mutant siblings slip out of the wagon and go find a place to hide, a barn or farmhouse or something. You leave the dragoncloth and the most valuable coins with them, and go to Cati's camp. Hopefully, she's come herself, or if that's not the case (and it probably isn't), someone high enough to be in on her plans (ask your siblings who else who's with her and knows them is in on it, their position and what they look like), and (making sure it's in secret) tell her that her agents have her item, they just need help getting back to her. You might need to bribe some people along the way, to grease the wheels, but be careful about it in case they think they can just rob you. She or her representative gives you a wagon, or sets up some place for your siblings to go safely, you lead the way back to them and take your coin back, and off you go on your way.

Maybe bring Fen, but it would probably look odd for Gauche to only have Croc with him.

Do your siblings maybe have some special codephrase or the like that they can use to authenticate/get help from Cati's underlings?
>>
No. 732046 ID: a075ba

Not only can you not trust Jolli to protect you, you can't trust him not to make a claim on the dragoncloth himself.

Also a reminder: we don't all need to get to Cati. In fact, considering the plan is for you and Fen to steal the cloth back from her someday, it's probably better you and Fen don't have any contact with her now. Only Cabbage and Tomato need to reach her forces. Everyone else just needs to get out alive.

>Krix and Cati forces back the way we came, scout taking us that way
...you mean the group of two forces we snuck past before?

That's not good. We can't get your siblings close to Cati without getting tied up with Krix. In fact, we might not want to pass by that group again. If they see the cart doubling back with someone leading it, they might infer someone found something worth having and investigate. The messenger should lead you on a more roundabout path, where you don't cross those groups, if possible!
>>
No. 732048 ID: dd338c
File 146698956015.png - (15.89KB , 800x800 , 563.png )
732048

"Cabbage, do you have any idea who might be in Cati's group? I have a feeling that group we passed earlier was them."
>"Mm. I do not. Tomato and I correspond only with Lady Cati and our direct caretakers."
"So no secret passcodes or anything?"
>"Not that are relevant, no." she says. She's speaks while looking at Croc, and Croc is keeping an eye on her and Tomato. In fact now that I'm looking at it, it feels a little tense. But I think if there was going to be any trouble, there would've been some by now. Er...
"F... Fen. You don't need to keep your hand on your sword."
>"I must be cautious."
>"No, no." says Cabbage. "A mere misunderstanding, barbarian. I do not trust you, either, but Cheese has only spoken wonderfully of you. I do not dislike you. And I do not feel ill will towards even Croc, who sliced my weapon. It is expected."
>"Ain't thata sugar."

>Crows

Crows.

Oh my gosh the crows! It's so foggy that they could show up. In fact...

I go out the back and look under the wagon. There's a crow under there! I can just send this one off to fetch some strong ones, and they can safekeep everything! They might ask for a big fee for this, but it won't be anything obscene, and they've got to be trustworthy!
>>
No. 732051 ID: 398fe1

>>732048
Perfect. Get them to take the dragoncloth for us and anything else that's suspicious, and we're in the clear. Joli can search everyone if he wants, all we have to do is avoid Krix.
>>
No. 732054 ID: a075ba

>>732048
...I really hope the Crows value you and Fen working with them more than several mithril and a dragoncloth.

But yes, literally flying the dangerous contraband away is probably your best option. Then once you guys get past the perimeter, you can reclaim your stuff and your siblings can double back to Cati.

Make sure there are no needles to stab the crows.

Also, you might want to ask it if it saw anything dangerous coming your way in the air. Just nod or yes / no tap, no cawing and giving itself away to the messenger.
>>
No. 732057 ID: 211d83

If you trust the crows enough its a good plan. I say give it a shot if you think they will not get seduced by the siren song of the dragoncloth.

Or the tons of money.
>>
No. 732059 ID: 35b7a2

The crows don't solve the problem of you having a pair of mutants in your wagon when you meet Jolli. Better to ask the crow to help you/them hide, to find you somewhere good or similar.
>>
No. 732076 ID: dd338c
File 146699483316.png - (54.06KB , 800x800 , 564.png )
732076

"Did you guys see anything dangerous on the way here?"

The crow nods.

It might just be referring to Krix, which we know.

"I want to fly my dragoncloth and mythril out of here. Can you grab some crows to do that?"

It nods again.

"Please do it!"

Pretty soon, we're tying off bags to crows that approach the wagon's back end. The gold is heavy, though, and they get most of it out of there, but we're still looking at a couple hundred gold pieces on us. That's not a big deal. We fly the dragoncloth right out of there after making sure there's no barbs in it anymore. It feels almost too smooth to be thread, but there weren't even any holes in it when we removed them.

>"Ohh, I should say, Fen, I will kill you if you hurt Cheese."
"Cabbage! Don't be rude to Fen!"
>"Mm, the truth is more important than sensibilities."
"Well, still! I'm going to tell Gauche what we've done and that we're all going to see Lord Jolli to get his blessing to get the heck out of here!"
>"Is it okay for me to go as well? I know many nobles do not appreciate the sight." says Cabbage.
"Oh, yes, they might not like it, but it's safe. Well, as safe as it is for any of us."
>"Mmm. I appear to be holding onto the late Rasyan's necklace and clothing."
"And to a crow it goes! Better let Gauche hang onto that gold, too, since he's the only one of us with reason to hold it. Oh speaking of stuff belonging to others, Croc I have your knife."
>"Oi wrap 'em for yer squishy purple. Ol fishbones' waggles he made it a present for the tarbold."
>"Hmm? Is that a joke?" says Cabbage. "Did he say he gave me the knife? By throwing it into my back?"
"Yeah let's keep his knife."
>>
No. 732078 ID: dd338c
File 146699490416.png - (49.32KB , 800x800 , 565.png )
732078

We wait in some gravelike silence some more with Croc and Fen just kind of watching Tomato and Cabbage. Fen finally breaks the silence.

>"Why do you look like you do?" Fen asks to Cabbage.
"Fen, don't be rude!"
>"Mm? What is rude? There is nothing wrong with how I look." says Cabbage.
"No, you're wonderful, Cabbage, but that's a pointed question!"
>"Fen, do you think there is something wrong with how I look?"
>"Is there?"
>"No."
>"Then no. You would not lie for this."
>"Mm. I do not dislike you. Tomato and I swam in the pits of Erja Nokol."
"Yeahhh that's the place I was going to recommend you go to when you fight in the army, Fen!"
>"I will look like this if I fall in a pit?"
>"Oh, no, dear, you'll only sprout a strange horn or two if you only fall in. You must be in there for hours for this to happen."
>"I will have to be careful."
>"Oh? So you do think there is something wrong with the way we look?"
>"I would prefer not to change drastically."
>"It is fair. We did not have healthy bodies when we swam. Where in Erja Nokol are you sending him, Cheese?"
>"The mausoleum. Apparently those necromancer rumors might be true?"
>"Ohh. Don't worry, Fen, even though the smell of rot and decay will never leave your nose, you will grow accustomed to it. It is a wonderful building. Do try to not damage any of the tombs. The poor souls of Erja Nokol do have ill will. Why, Tomato's room was haunted, once."
"Oh my gosh don't spook him!"
>"I do not believe in ghosts."

Cabbage fails to contain a giggle.

>"So brave. So naive. What a lovely place to send him to, Cheese."
>>
No. 732079 ID: dd338c
File 146699491589.png - (39.64KB , 800x800 , 566.png )
732079

Gauche hushes us up as the wagon approaches a camp. There's a lot of people around, as we can hear them. It's a commotion. Once I get a peak, I can confirm that this is the sort of hastily assembled gold noble camp.
>>
No. 732080 ID: dd338c
File 146699495768.png - (21.99KB , 800x800 , 567.png )
732080

We drive right into a huge war tent, and then some guards pull us away search us. We're granted some privacy in tents. No small amount of guards are on edge about my sisters, but it's not like my sisters are illegal, and they're not going to get attacked for no reason here. All three of us go in to a tent together.

Fen, Gauche, and Croc all are taken into another tent to be searched. Male female divide, I guess.

Well, male and other divide, but given our searches are female, it was probably meant to be the former.

>"Oi watch 'em nubbins on the knickers ya got? Ol' Fishbones ain't trottin' so don't be twitchin' to get my hide in the air."

They really are searching Croc. I think.

>"Do not touch Tomato, guards." says Cabbage. "He is terribly poisonous. I am safe, however, so long as you stay away from the blades."

The guards are silent, and they're managing to shout with their body language how much they don't want to be the ones to search us.

>"Um... open your mouth, please." says one, getting a sight of, well... oh geez it's a good thing Fen isn't squeamish otherwise I'd be second guessing my choice.

Another official looking guard comes in.

>"Let's not waste time, as we can question you while searching. What are mutants and abominations doing around the Fence?"
>>
No. 732082 ID: 211d83

I am a traveling information broker/merchant. I travel all over the empire and just happened to be in the Fence when things went down.

As for Cabbage and Tomato they are my siblings. They came by to visit me.
>>
No. 732084 ID: 398fe1

>>732080
Family visit.
>>
No. 732088 ID: a075ba

I don't think we should admit to being family. We can work against Cati more effectively in the long game if she never hears about the connection, and if we let it slip here it might get back to her.

>what are you doing here
I'm an information trader. This is Fence. Why wouldn't I be here?

The abominations were hired muscle working for someone. It didn't suit my interests to dig too deep into their past, but we fell into an alliance of convenience when Fence went to hell.
>>
No. 732090 ID: b2db3f

Good point about the relationship. The hired guards story should work.
>>
No. 732091 ID: 35b7a2

You're a merchant and information broker. Your two mutant buddies are mercenaries, you've known them for a long time. You were meeting in the Fence to arrange business.

If pressed, you could fall back on the whole "Rasyan's death/swords" thing, and tell them that that's obviously no longer news/has fallen apart since then and that Rasyan's things ended up with Gauche. You came here with Gauche, who has obviously come out of the Fence, so pretending you haven't been in the Fence at all isn't necessary.
>>
No. 732092 ID: 398fe1

If we say they're mercenaries, Joli will ask who they work for. They'd either have to make up something or say Cati, at which point Joli would ask what their job in the Fence was, and the story continues to unravel from there on.

Keep it simple! Cati ALREADY KNOWS that they're siblings of Cheese, anyway.
>>
No. 732096 ID: 35b7a2

>>732092
>If we say they're mercenaries, Joli will ask who they work for.

The whole point of being a mercenary is that you DON'T work for anyone specific. They could easily be between jobs, or working for Cheese.
>>
No. 732097 ID: b2d501

If Gauche wanted to betray you, he could start right now.

Just declare yourselves as independent contractors who have signed on to Gauche for the time being. You're not saying any more until Gauche is present.
>>
No. 732098 ID: 398fe1

>>732096
WORKED for, then. If they were in town for business, then they were working for someone. If they weren't in town for business then Joli will just ask again why they were there.
>>
No. 732100 ID: 35b7a2

>>732098

They're working for Cheese. She was coming to the Fence and had something she wanted delivered securely. Information, Rasyan's swords, his seal, proof of his assassination, whatever. We can make up a mysterious assassin to take the blame, someone who killed him and took his swords and seal as proof but then chickened out and sold the stuff to Cheese and then vanished forever. Cheese knew the other two beforehand, she grew up with them, they were willing to do her a favor, and she asked them to come by and meet up with her so when she found someone to sell the stuff to they could deliver it. Something like that.
>>
No. 732105 ID: 91ee5f

>>732088
Cati already know they're siblings. In fact, that's the reason Cati sent Cabbage and Tomato to meet Cheese and get the dragoncloth.
>>
No. 732107 ID: 398fe1

>>732100
That's another overly complicated story that can have holes poked in it. Like, Joli will ask for a description of the assassin, where they met, etc.
>>
No. 732116 ID: 5a893f

>>732080
I am a merchant, and these are my siblings. It was a family meet up in addition to a business trip, though the chaos in town has verily disrupted and ruined my business. I managed to carry enough favor with Lord Gauche for him to assist me and them in transport.

Should you like specifics of how we helped him, we mostly performed as information brokers and body guards during these trying times as Vackles went mad with power and greed. My business is in shambles and I have much to do before I can start up again.
>>
No. 732133 ID: 398fe1

Oh and try not to think about fondling Croc's nethers like whoever's searching him is doing.
>>
No. 732184 ID: dd338c
File 146706701139.png - (49.44KB , 800x800 , 568.png )
732184

>Try not to think about Croc's search
The less I know about it, the better!

On a better look she looks less like a guard and more, well... definitely high up.

"I'm an informant and a merchant. Well, mostly information merchant."
>"For Gauche?"
"For a lot of people, but I've dealt with Gauche, too!"
>"And you." she says to Cabbage.
>"I am here for my sister. The Fence is a wonderful place to have a private conversation, at least, until today."

She eyes Cabbage, then turns to Tomato.

>"He cannot speak." says Cabbage.
>"Then I won't waste my time. Back to you." She faces me. "It should be clear we don't typically appreciate kobolds like you coming to our lands, but today we will make an exception given your honorable company. Hence, you are potential guests, but we want to know anything regarding Vackles. Tell me everything you know or knew of him that is unknown or conflicts with public knowledge."
"Is anyone speaking to Gauche?"
>"Lord Jolli and Sir Gauche are chatting as we do."
"Well... I told him what I know, and he seems like his head is sharp, so there's nothing I know that Sir Gauche doesn't."
>"We found Vackles head with all of you. If you don't tell me a lot, then just tell me who killed him."
>>
No. 732186 ID: c441c1

>>732184
The barbarian.
>>
No. 732187 ID: 211d83

How much trouble would Fen be in for killing a noble? Even if it was a crazy one? We should probably reference Gauche so it looks like Fen did it under his orders.

Try to keep it as close to the truth as possible with a bit of spin. Less problems from conflicting stories that way.


Well it was a group effort. We had all been hiding from his troops for days and were getting desperate. Gauche came up with a great plan to lure Vackles out in the open so we could escape and things were going well until Vackles murdered Gauche's sister in front of us.

Realizing that we were all soon to follow if he did not act Fen managed to strike him down in the chaos.
>>
No. 732188 ID: 35b7a2

"If you mean, who is responsible for his death, then Gauche, ultimately, with some assistance from myself, some more from the two male fighters who came here with us, and Gauche's sister, who risked herself in creating the chance and sadly lost her life in the doing. If you just mean who landed the killing strike, it was Fen, the smaller of the two fighters."
>>
No. 732204 ID: a075ba

>>732188
Ceding any of the credit to Jeneth is a hilarious master stroke. And it even support's Gauche's rep as a family man, and gets us further political capital with him, and helps him come out of this looking better too.
>>
No. 732224 ID: 398fe1

>if you don't tell me a lot
This is a very good opportunity to say very little and not contradict whatever Sir Gauche is saying. Just tell her it was a bit of a team effort, but Fen dealt the killing blow.
>>
No. 732227 ID: dd338c
File 146707534360.png - (18.65KB , 800x800 , 569.png )
732227

"It was a group effort between most of us, and also to Sir Gauche's sister, Jenth, who didn't make it out. But, uh, the barbarian was the one who landed the killing blow."
>"The barbarian? Alright. Our last concern, one that you should not dance around with us, is the matter of the dragoncloth. We have second hand talks about how Vackles received it at the last moment, before he was killed. Who took it, and where did it go? We have a wizard coming to determine its original owner, but we would like to know as much about that as possible. For this answer, I want you to swear on the emperor's legacy that all you are saying is forthright, honest and thorough to the best of your knowledge and with great respect to the empire."

Well, they probably don't have some truth wizard behind the curtains, but if I lie, I'm going to put on my best lie face like my life depends on it, because if they found out I lied under that oath, then my life is gonna be spent wishing I was dead.
>>
No. 732231 ID: b2d501

>>732227
You know what? If she's using the law as a rental titan, then just grime it up and she'll be forced to clean it while you skip your way through the market and out.

Call the 8!+(# out on everything you hate about classic nobles, then explain that the dragoncloth is in your possession, as an extension of Gauche's will, and filled to the brim with poisonous needles. Saturated with poison, it is no longer a luxury item, but Gauche has intended to use it as a trap item, and may do so further.
>>
No. 732235 ID: 486e87

Well, we can't deny we don't know about it, having said we were there we he was killed, and them saying he received it just before he was killed.

If we admit having anything other than passing knowledge about it, we'll probably get further interrogation that we can't wriggle out of with lies and half truths.

Full truth is out of the question, since it puts us firmly responsible for this entire mess.
>>
No. 732236 ID: 211d83

Plead the fifth if you can.

Ok can see two decent options here.

1. Lie but go with the fake dragoncloth story. So can tell the whole tale but say the dragoncloth was not real and was part of the plan to lure out Vackles. Plus almost no one personally witnessed the actual cloth close up. (mostly true)

2. Tell them that it's Fen's and he employed you to sell it to a third party. Things got all messed up and Vackles found out about the upcoming transaction. Luckily you were able to retrieve it and its now on its way to the new owner via secret messenger. (the truth but avoid naming the crows)
>>
No. 732237 ID: 398fe1

>We have a wizard coming to determine its original owner
Uhhhhhh... Cheese, what are the technicalities of that? Would Fen be the "original owner" since it was given to him willingly, and the dragoncloth knows that? Or does transfer of ownership require a ritual or magic or what? Who will the wizard point to?

>>732227
We basically can't lie here, because they're going to try to track it down.

Tell her you took it, and you sent it away into safekeeping. The method of which you would prefer to keep secret to keep some friends of yours safe. Would it be enough for them to be assured you can retrieve it easily?
>>
No. 732238 ID: bb78f2

Ask how the wizard original owner thing works. Like, what does that mean? The last noble to get it legitimately? Or the last person, noble or common, who acquired it legitimately through legitimate means, before it was taken away illegitimately for the first time? Or it's super very first owner, who could be dead for all we know, or shit the dragon it came from?

As for where did it go, it should be on its way to Cati, if the rumor mill's correct. I mean, we used it to help kill Vackles, then we gave it to an unnamed messenger to deliver to Cati, because by all rights at the time, we think it belongs to her, so we didn't fight it.
>>
No. 732239 ID: 398fe1

Ah, GUYS. She only asked "Who took it, and where did it go?" She didn't ask what it was doing in town or anything.
>>
No. 732242 ID: b2db3f

Yeah about that "dragoncloth" he received. It was not really dragoncloth. Just some really high end fabric wrapped up fancily so it would pass as dragoncloth during a quick inspection.

It was how we lured Vackles out of his stronghold. Rumors of dragoncloth had already been spreading for days so we used a fake to trick him. I think we might have it back in a bag in the cart but it might have gotten lost in the shuffle when we escaped town.

But this story could get torpedoed by numerous people in your party. Even if they do not mean to. So might be less dangerous to not lie or keep quiet.

That or tell them a simple version of the truth. You were hired to sell dragoncloth for Fen and Vackles tried to steal it before the sale could happen. As soon as you left the fence you sent it off with a messenger and have no idea where it is now.
>>
No. 732243 ID: 35b7a2

Well, feck. Hmm. Ok, how about honesty, but not the honesty they want.

Tell her that that puts you in a bind. You're sorry, you really have to dance, because if you told her the full truth, she would probably think you're lying in any case. And if she DID believe you, the full story could potentially scandalize a mithril noble's house. You will swear to that. You will also swear that the dragoncloth came from a member of that mithril house as a freely given gift to a particular person, and that that person who received it, in turn, allowed you to have it for sale to another noble. You made that sale and the dragoncloth has already departed on its way to reach them; you don't know where it is, currently.

While you're swearing, you'll also swear that telling her any more particular details really will just cause more trouble for everyone. If she and Jolli will swear in front of witnesses not to reveal it, you will disclose the name of the noble from whom the dragoncloth originally comes, but not otherwise. With respect to the empire, and its stability.
>>
No. 732246 ID: a075ba

>I want you to swear on the emperor's legacy that all you are saying is forthright, honest and thorough to the best of your knowledge and with great respect to the empire
You're honestly using all your knowledge to make a thorough and a complete a lie as your able, based on your great respect for the empire, all right.

>We have a wizard coming to determine its original owner
So... it would ping the guy who originally made the dragoncloth? Or Shup? Or whoever had it before Shup? Or would it be Fen, because the magic would recognize that Shup / Lily gave it away, but Fen still considers it his? Or would the magic ping Cati, since she paid for it? Or would it be you, since Fen lent it to you to use in your plans until you return it to him?

What the heck is the criteria, here. Does the dragoncloth itself magically bond with it's current owner in some way? Does the spell just read who that is?

>Dragoncloth
Say the last person to hold it was one of Vackles people. Tons. Vackles it to him right before the fighting started and then you were kind of preoccupied staying alive. You haven't seen Tons since you got out of there- you don't know where he ended up.

(Technically, you're not even lying. You're just leaving out some facts after that. And we know Croc grabbed Tons later, so he's going to be missing. Easy to cast the blame on him).
>>
No. 732247 ID: 35b7a2

>suggestions to give partial truths

You guys saw that "forthright" and "thorough" part of the oath, right? They'll be super suspicious if Cheese seems to be skipping over anything.
>>
No. 732248 ID: 398fe1

>>732243
>scandalize a mithril noble's house
Ah, right! That's our leverage! Lord Shup outranks Joli. If the dragoncloth reads as owned by Shup then we can easily just say nothing about it.

What if we told her to wait until the wizard comes? Once the original owner's identity is revealed, you shouldn't have to say ANYTHING.
>>
No. 732249 ID: e22b1d

Panic and squirt blood out of your eyes at her.
>>
No. 732250 ID: dd338c
File 146707808267.png - (49.28KB , 800x800 , 570.png )
732250

"Before I answer your question, I have to ask, how does a wizard know who owns it?"
>"Hunstine, the blood wizard, will investigate who was last attuned to the cloth by holding it close for several weeks, then we will seek them out. Now answer before I believe you are dodging the question."

It's not like that even answered my question aside from probably having to do with blood, but that does tell me that it will recognize Fen. And that also helps confirm that, to my knowledge, there isn't some super secret magical ceremony to properly transfer ownership of the cloth around. I'm almost surprised there isn't.

I still have to answer, but at least that gives me something to work with.
>>
No. 732255 ID: 398fe1

If Fen reads as the owner then we can be mostly honest. He is, after all, your friend. He'll back you up.

Tell her you made friends with Fen and since you were in a dire financial situation he agreed to let you sell it, but Vackles found out before you could sell it so he took over the city to try to get at it. Fen posed as your enemy and lucked into Vackles' good graces by cooperating with Croc, who also wound up being friendly. The three of you lured Vackles out using the dragoncloth and Sir Gauche's sister, then Fen stabbed him in the back. You snatched the dragoncloth during the ensuing chaos and have since sent it into safekeeping via a contact who you would prefer to remain nameless, for their own safety. Fen is friends with that contact as well, and is fully aware that you've sent it away.

Note: we left out who we were going to sell it to. Cheese can say she was still looking for a buyer-- after all, we don't have the payment for it. I don't think we even told Gauche who the buyer was.
Also, we left out how Fen got the dragoncloth. Unless he spills the beans we should not volunteer that information.
>>
No. 732258 ID: 35b7a2

The trouble now is, in order for them to confirm Fen is the owner, they need to have the dragoncloth.

And I'm not feeling too confident in the nobility respecting the property rights of a savage, especially with the amount of witnesses to all this still low.

So, I'll still go with the plan in >>732243 , basically saying something like "ok hear me out on this please, it could cause problems for a mithril noble if I told you the full story, you probably wouldn't believe me anyway, the dragoncloth was willingly given from someone who had also been willingly gifted it in order to be sold, it left with a courier on its way to be delivered to the person who bought it, I have no idea where it is currently and I'll give you more details on where it came from and who it's going to only if you and Jolli swear in front of witnesses not to let anyone know".
>>
No. 732261 ID: 211d83

Who took it: We did.

Where did it go: I have no idea where it is currently. (crows have no names)
>>
No. 732269 ID: a075ba

I'm still confused how they can do detailed scrying on the dragoncloth without access to it. They mentioned blood magic- some kind of ritual where they sacrifice enough blood to brute force an answer? Maybe all the blood split over the dragoncloth in Fence has a kind of connection to it, and acts as an anchor the wizard can use?

I wish we knew how wizards even work, here.

I wish we knew enough about how magic works to guess if she's just bullshitting you to try and get you to tell the truth, or if that's even a real thing.

>what say
Well, if we believe her, it's going to eventually tell them the dragoncloth was Fen's. Which they will find very confusing.

Flat out telling the whole story is not an option. Nor is trying to make vague excuses about how telling will cause problems for people in authority- that just makes us look like an idiot who knows things and will lead to the thumbscrews being tightened.

We can tell truths, but be selective about them.

We can tell them, honestly, that Tons was the last person seen with the cloth before Vackles died, and you don't know where he go to since. You know Lady Cati had a representative somewhere in town who was trying to secure the cloth for her. The barbarian also seemed very interested in tracking down the cloth initially, but seemed far more interested in dealing with the mess and Vackles. You don't know how to explain his attitude, really. (You don't!).

All of that is technically true, and it will make it not such a surprise if and when the magic comes back "Fen."

Our biggest problem is no matter what we say we're still story spinning, and we have no idea what Gauche, Fen, and Croc are trying to sell their interrogators. Which almost makes me want to play dumb, but as the self proclaimed information merchant in the middle of this mess, you won't get away with that.
>>
No. 732270 ID: a075ba

>>732269
Oh, but if we don't believe her, or if they need to find the cloth, we can tell any lie we want so long as we make sure the dragoncloth gets safely to Cati and hidden away from prying wizard snoops. Then it coming up Fen is a non-issue.
>>
No. 732320 ID: c441c1

>>732258
This.
>>
No. 732340 ID: 486e87

>>732269
This seems good, not sure if mentioning Fen was interested in the cloth is a good idea though, as they may question him about it; and knowing him he might say it was because the cloth was his.
>>
No. 732349 ID: d1fde2

This situation requires spin, not lies or half truths. The truth is all largely in our favor, we just don't want to throw the crows under the bus for being out of their territory picking up stuff. We can't expect that Fen WON'T say the cloth is his, if asked. If we have any reason to believe the magic will work, it would be better to get ahead of it and not have it said that he stole it.

I propose: To your knowledge, Fen was given the dragoncloth as a thank-you gift. Nobody believes a barbarian could own such a thing, but he is smarter and stronger than he looks. You've been trying to get it moved for him, but people keep trying to steal it instead. And then their worlds come crashing down, as if fate itself turns against them. That's personal experience talking, by the way. Never again.

As for its current whereabouts, you guys grabbed it. The cloth was sent via a trusted network you maintain sporadic contact with in another direction. The hope was that you would figure out something to do with it once everything settled down. You can't get it right now.
>>
No. 732354 ID: 6ee895

The trouble with any sort of lie is, they're probably questioning the guys at the same time, and if the stories don't line up then someone's getting in trouble. Gauche doesn't know the whole story and Croc and Fen are honest types, so they're unlikely to lie, and if they did it probably wouldn't be the same lie Cheese tries to tell. So some form of honesty's the best chance.
>>
No. 732390 ID: 233260

Keep your answers simple and as close to the truth as possible. Hide the whole story by letting them fill in the blanks with what they think they know.

To many people have seen the dragoncloth now for us to easily sweep this under the rug. Even if we had never shown it publicly the power of rumor is not easily dispelled.

Our best bet is to let them know the basics without going into to much detail so that our story will not conflict with our friends.

So say that its Fen's cloth and your group retrieved it after Vackles tried to steal it. And you sent it off with a trusted third party as soon as you were able to get out of the blockade. Do not tell them how Fen got it unless pressed for the info. Heck do not give them any extra info if you can help it.

Any lie you tell should be to hide the crows involvement in the matter. If they press you say it was handed off to a mutant/spy/whatever friend of yours who is a master of stealth or something. Do you know any flying mutants? Just keep the crows out of the story.
>>
No. 732413 ID: a075ba

Don't forget you might have to account for Vackles spreading the story that you had the cloth. Witnesses will have reported that.
>>
No. 733179 ID: 93244f

Should be honest here.
Huh.
That's new.
>>
No. 733428 ID: dd338c
File 146757698365.png - (19.54KB , 800x800 , 571.png )
733428

"Okay.... okay. I swear by that oath. I heard that Fen - the savage out there - was given the dragoncloth as a thank-you gift." I say this shakily like I have my doubts, and she does look at me incredulously. "I know! I'm just saying what I heard! I know he had interest in it, but he seemed more interested in dealing with the mess with Vackles for some reason that I really don't know. He's weird. Anyway... we did have it for a little while, but we send it down to a trusted network that, well... under my oath, I can't tell you who. This information would scandalize a mithril house." I shake again as I say the end, out of fear that they won't believe me and that I might be breaking the oath in their eyes.

This time it wasn't acting.

She stares at me for a long time.

>"We will see. Do you have anything to add, abomination?"
>"I do not." says Cabbage.
>>
No. 733429 ID: dd338c
File 146757699838.png - (21.78KB , 800x800 , 572.png )
733429

I overhear talk that the blood wizard is here. Thankfully, someone reminds Fen to not look.

>Panic and squirt blood out of your eyes at her.
The good part of this is that I'd be killed quick.

All I really know about dragoncloth is that there's a steady output, and the emperor himself hands it out and lets it spread across the empire.

What I do know about magic and wizards....

When a greater beast explodes or dies or whatever, it makes us kobolds and the land and stuff, but it's not like it made these things separate. Both the land and the kobolds are still part of the greater beast, so there's a big connection between us even if most of us can't feel it at all.

A wizard is just a kobold who can breach the gap between land and kobold, in ways that they can control what the land does. The land isn't just physical, either, it contains the souls of all the dead kobolds, and they have a communal memory, so in theory a wizard is able to see the history of everything that ever happened on kobold lands.

And that's all there is to it. It's just the wizard using the power of the land and all the kobolds that have ever lived and died. Which is why it's really tough to make plans around gold nobles because they can just send a messenger off and pull out some wizard who can get the land to just give off the answers! I haven't heard of Hunstine, though, so he can't be amazing, which is why I'd be impressed if he was able to do it with blood alone.

Blood is said to be what glues the souls to bodies, and bleeding on the land helps bridge the gap a little bit for a blood wizard. So to them, it's almost like a little magic battery.
>>
No. 733430 ID: dd338c
File 146757701221.png - (46.61KB , 800x800 , 573.png )
733430

I'm led out to the back of the tent, where some mountain kobolds are piling dirt, and some field kobolds appear to be carving a design into the mound. We wait for around 10 minutes while they work.

Jolli comes out of the tent, and walks up to the side of the dirt pile. Hunstine looks away, as he's probably a stone noble.

>"Thank you for arriving on short notice, Hunstine." I hear Jolli say.
>"It is my duty, there is no need to thank me."

It's like a rehearsal from actors who don't like their play.

>"Do you have the dragoncloth I may use for this, my lord?" Hunstine continues.
>"Certainly. I trust it will not be damaged?"
>"On the contrary. This process is known to rejuvinate dragoncloth. Where is the barbarian? We are about ready, and he will be needed for this if the testimonies we've heard are accurate."
>"Where is the barbarian?" Jolli asks.

Fen gets pushed forward. I can tell he's concentrating way too hard on not looking. I want to just shove his head to the side because it's way easier to look away when the head is turned.

>"I am." says Fen.
>"You are not a native barbarian?" says Hunstine. "You have white eyes."
>"I am native."
>"Of Zizi's tribe?" asks Jolli.
>"Yes."

Hunstine lays the dragoncloth carefully over the top of the mound, takes Fen's sword without even asking, then faces one of his guards.

>"Without the original dragoncloth, I will need additional materials. Bring out a slave."
>>
No. 733431 ID: dd338c
File 146757705969.png - (53.65KB , 800x800 , 574.png )
733431

A draconic kobold approaches the mound, making a display of staring directly at Jolli, then at Hunstine. He then places his head over the dragoncloth, and Hunstine slits his throat. The blood sprays and runs down the mound through the carved grooves.

I hear a distant but overwhelming roar, and looking to the side, I and the others a hail of lit arrows sailing over the fence wall.

Jolli does not look happy about that, but he turns back to Hunstine.

>"Do you see anything?"

Hunstine hesitates, then thinks better of that.

>"The dragoncloth has passed hands, and the barbarian did accept it as a gift. Whether he will be acknowledged as the rightful owner, though, may be up to Lady Apanya."
>"What makes you think she will want to hear about this?"
>"Because this is the sword that has slain both Vackles and Lord Rasyan. And despite everything, I cannot find where the dragoncloth is. It travelled with Gauche and his party, and then it simply disappeared."
>"... Thank you for your services, Hunstine. That will be all."
>"I understand this is unlikely, my lord, but I assure you my visions - "
>"That will be all, wizard. My town is getting ransacked by Krix, and I can do nothing about it with what scraps of soldiers and guards I managed to collect across the region! Gauche, see me in my quarter!"
>>
No. 733436 ID: 211d83

Well nothing we can do but wait and see what happens now.

Hopefully Fen's connection to Zizi will help and he did kill Vackles in self defense.

As for you just keep thinking up reasons to keep the crows out of this mess.
>>
No. 733438 ID: a075ba

>>733430
That's a turtle shell, I think. The ritual invokes the image of the great beast of this region.

>uses a different dragoncloth as an anchor
Makes sense. They must be connected somehow.

>>733431
Well of course blood magic would require a ritual sacrifice.

>Because this is the sword that has slain both Vackles and Lord Rasyan.
Shiiiiiiiiiit. So basically everything came out. We have almost no secrets left. How the heck do we spin this?

>And despite everything, I cannot find where the dragoncloth is.
...huh. I wonder if that means sending it to the crow zone was the prefect choice. The land is dead there, right? No magic? So if the wizard is tapping into the land to see it, it's in a blind spot.

>what do
Is there much we can do but lie low and hope nothing comes crashing down on us? Speaking up seems a bad idea when we're surrounded by guards and cheesed off nobles.
>>
No. 733446 ID: dd338c
File 146758439922.png - (53.49KB , 800x800 , 575.png )
733446

>Just keep thinking up reasons to keep the crows out of this mess.
It's tough! I hope the dragoncloth doesn't get traced back to them. I wonder how ignorant this blood wizard is. I didn't even think about it, but the reason why he wasn't able to see the dragoncloth is, most likely, because the crow zone is a dead zone in the land, so his magic didn't reach there.

>That's a turtle shell
Huh, yeah, it kind of just looked like a groove system to get the blood flowing over a wide area, but now that I think about it, it did look like a shell.

>Everything came out. How the heck do we spin this?
Well I guess we don't need to! The guards lean in close to Fen, but they're not putting him in chains or anything.

I'm not gonna speak up, here, though. I don't get the impression I'm allowed to just leave the camp, but Jolli and Gauche glide away and we're all left standing around. I'm told that we're to wait for news and things to hopefully not crash down on us, and we're all given rooms to stay in for the night since I guess the sounds of a town screaming and burning should soothe us to sleep.

It doesn't. I don't sleep much at all. After several hours, the fence is still getting ransacked. A guard comes into our room.

>"Cheese, Cabbage, and Tomato. You have been summoned to Lady Apanya's palace in Graskin for a hearing on recent events. It is 7 hours of travel time with us, and the meeting is this coming evening in approximately 12 hours. We will be leaving in 2 hours at dawn. You will be expected to be presentable and respectable towards the presence while inside of her throne room. Do you have any questions?"
>>
No. 733452 ID: 211d83

Ok questions.

1. We do not have any change of clothes. Mutants might get a pass but if you want us presentable then we need to get bathed and dressed. Plus Tomato should get a do not touch sign around his neck to avoid accidents.

2. How goes the fighting with Krix? Is the town guard falling apart or has the news of Vackles death not been spread.

3. Can we hang out with our friends Fen and Croc while waiting/traveling?
>>
No. 733453 ID: bb78f2

>>733446
So are we being slapped with Criminal Charges yet, is Vackle's taking full responsibility for the mess in the Fence, and what's Fen been charged with, if anything? Or is that being all settled at Lady Appolsula's? Payaya? Pinapple? Apanya Whatever.
>>
No. 733454 ID: 4dece0

>>733446

Yes, how are we supposed to make ourselves presentable please, do you have baths and laundry anywhere around here or where we'll be going?
>>
No. 733461 ID: a075ba

>but the reason why he wasn't able to see the dragoncloth is, most likely, because the crow zone is a dead zone in the land, so his magic didn't reach there.
Someone else will think it through and realize there's probably dragoncloth in the crow zone.

The crows will have to move it out of their own territory before anyone shows up looking for it! Too bad you're in no position to send messages.

...I suppose nobles might not assume the crows themselves have it. Anyone who grabbed the dragoncloth and wanted to hide from a blood ritual would run to the nearest dead zone, wait a bit, then start moving before any nobles came to check or the local crows descended on them.

>>733452
>>733453
These seem reasonable questions.

Although I might rephrase the last as "what's being done with Fen / the barbarian and Croc". Are they being brought anywhere or what.
>>
No. 733468 ID: dd338c
File 146759207271.png - (16.85KB , 800x800 , 576.png )
733468

"I, uh, have no change in clothes. Or a bath."
>"Oh, yeah, don't worry about that. You'll be treated well, and can bathe and stuff. I'm sure they'll have clothes that fit."
"Okay. Also, Tomato is really poisonous! He might need a warning for people not to touch him."
>"I doubt that will be a problem, miss."

Tomato groans at the ground.

"How's the fighting with Warlord Krix?"
>"He's essentially looting the town by this point. I doubt he and Jolli will be on good terms after this."
"Umm... am I being hit with criminal offenses?"
>"Actually... well, any sentences will occur at the hearing itself, by Lady Apanya herself."
"Oh okay. Can we hang out with Fen and Croc while we wait and travel?"
>"Yes, as long as you do not stray from guards, you will have freedom of movement. Now, someone will be meeting you, shortly, if you have a moment? It was asked to be in private, just outside of camp."
"Well.... okay, I guess."
>"Are you sure, sister?" asks Cabbage.
"If they just wanted to kill me... yeah."
>>
No. 733471 ID: dd338c
File 146759220249.png - (56.51KB , 800x800 , 577.png )
733471

I'm led outward, and the guard who escorted me stays off to the side after gesturing me towards a tent.

"Uh, hi? Wait, aren't you that one guard from the breaktown where I met Fen in?"
>"Good memory. I'm Moss."
"And I'm Cheese and that's my job I guess. So uh, I didn't expect to see you again. Uh, are you okay? You don't look well."
>"I'm not a runner, but that didn't stop me from having to run from my breaktown, to Graskin, to here, because of some wizard's vision. You don't look that great, yourself, but you look fine considering Fen apparently didn't kill you."
"Hahahaha I still can't get over that. So what's this about?"
>"Fen's in trouble, unsurprisingly. How far as you willing to go for his sake? I spoke to Apanya, briefly, preparing for today's hearing. She didn't tell me what was going to happen, precisely, but she's making some big plans about this. She told me that she can't just have barbarians go killing nobles, because it makes the turtle's hideaway look weak."
"Uh I'd go pretty far to be honest."
>"Honestly enough to pull the rug out from a gold noble?"
>>
No. 733478 ID: 4dece0

If she's worried about the Turtle's Hideaway looking weak, maybe she should have tried harder to make it not weak. She'd deserve to get embarrassed if she let all this happen under her watch.

>How far as you willing to go for his sake?
>enough to pull the rug out from a gold noble?

If he's looking at execution, or long-term imprisonment... yeah, that far, easily. At this point, you basically owe him your life, you're going to owe him your freedom, and you promised to help him achieve what he's effectively given over his life for. Plus he's really only in all this trouble because of you, Cheese.

If he was just going to be sent to the arena, well, he was planning to go there anyway... though he wouldn't have the advantage of army experience, and would need to get the dragoncloth back some other way from what you had planned. So, even if somehow that was the certain outcome (which it isn't), it wouldn't be good.
>>
No. 733481 ID: 91ee5f

After looking at the stats screen, if Fen and Cheese combine all of the Copper and Silver they both have on hand right now, Fen could pay the 40 silver he owes Moss right now.
>>
No. 733484 ID: 4dece0

You know... blackmail could work, if she's so worried about seeming weak. Fen knows where Rasyan's body is, and I'm sure we could gather up other little bits of evidence of how badly things went down here... or bluff that we have. Plus, Fen isn't just from Zizi's tribe, he's his brother. If Apanya were to be informed that, if anything bad happened to Fen, a good few people will find out how feeble her domain is... and a few other dangers, such as a legendary hero deciding to have a brief walkabout and casually humiliating a few more nobles? Well, as things stand, this is all in a pretty hush-up-able state, still. Fen isn't aiming to stay around here, after all. She might be persuaded that things would be safer for her overall if he was allowed to quietly leave without a fuss being made.

Of course, it would take a little setting up. Some letters passed, contingencies put in place, certain people told to do X if message Y doesn't come by a certain time... that sort of thing.
>>
No. 733485 ID: 211d83

If that's what it takes yeah. Fen is a friend and I owe him.

What's your plan? And what wizard vision made you run all the way here?
>>
No. 733486 ID: b2db3f

That's what rugs are for right? If it keeps Fen safe its a easy choice.

So what vision brought you here and how can I help? Oh and pay him 40 silver if Fen never got around to paying him back.
>>
No. 733502 ID: dd338c
File 146759806978.png - (20.09KB , 800x800 , 578.png )
733502

"Well, if Fen was going to get executed or imprisoned or something, then I'd go that far! I basically owe him my life. Hold on though, what vision?"
>"Never heard much of it myself, but some hours ago a runner came bursting into my house and telling me to sprint to Graskin, shoving a stone noble seal in my face. Something about a blood wizard looking at dragoncloth and finding out what Fen did."
"Oh, dang, that vision? He must've moved fast."
>"He sent runners everywhere, and by the time I got to Graskin, I got thrown into a meeting with Apanya then thrown out to run here."
"Well, that was some quick action. So uh, if Fen was just going to be sent to the colloseum or something, he was sorta planning on going over there anyway."
>"He mentioned something like that, but while Apanya is going to do something with him, and it's going to be up to you to make sure it's a token punishment that was probably something he'd do to begin with. Regardless, here is the plan. You will be representing your two sisters, as they will will get a message halfway along your journey to head back home to Erja. Lady Apanya, during the hearing, will ask you who you were trying to sell the dragoncloth to. You will explain that it was supposed to be Lord Bardo."
"Uh, why?"
>"Hey, don't ask me. I'd suggest you follow it, though, because this idea wasn't mine."

>40 Silver
Fen sent off that much while we were still in the fence. I don't think he said much past that, though, and I wasn't going to press him!
>>
No. 733504 ID: 211d83

Who's plan is this exactly. Its starting to sound like Lady Apanya's honestly.

Not that it sounds like a horrible idea. Just would like to know who is plotting behind the scenes.

Because I have some history with Lord Bardo and would not mind seeing him brought low. This sounds like a attempt by her to deal with him for his wrong doings and while I would love to help can see it getting complicated.

Ok other than implicating Bardo is there anything else to watch for? And any messages I can give to Fen from you?
>>
No. 733508 ID: 486e87

>>733506
Well it wouldn't be erased I guess, more unnecessary since we're going to make him a enemy if we dob him in this mess and word gets out.
>>
No. 733509 ID: 91ee5f

>>733502
We're pulling the rug out from under Bardo?! Isn't he the one Cheese owed a huge debt to? Cheese if you do this, would your debt to him be erased? Will you finally be free? I'm asking because I honestly have no idea if it'll work like that and if it does work like that, then this is a really good opportunity to get rid of Cheese's debt and set her free!

Also, should we ask Moss if the 40 silver Fen sent off reached him yet?
>>
No. 733511 ID: 4dece0

Ok, who's plan is it? No reason not to go along with it, you guess, unless it's a plot to get you to be caught in a lie while under one of those oaths. Could also be Cati, maybe, diverting attention away from herself? Or any other noble angling for some complex scheme against another noble and just taking this opportunity. Getting caught up in random noble plotting has to work out for the positive sometimes, right? Anyway, it's believable enough. Trade the cloth to Bardo for your freedom plus some pocket money.

Right now I'm leaning towards doing that, but you could try setting up your own plans as well, and the blackmail scheme is one to begin with. You'll need someone to pass messages out of this camp for you, and Moss here could fill that role.
>>
No. 733513 ID: a075ba

So... Apanya wants me to pin the blame for this mess on Bardo? Well, I can't say I have any problem pulling the rug out from under him. That would suit me just fine, actually.

Did the planning mention anything about your siblings, or any other specifics?

(Do we need to double check they're no one in the tent listening to this?)

>slap on the wrist punishment
So... we get him thrown in the dragon army, with a stint in the coliseum if / when he survives a tour of duty. Supposedly a death sentence, but really exactly what he wanted.

>Uh, are you okay? You don't look well.
Actually, I take it back, you're looking pretty good for someone who just got roped into noble politics and betrayals without any warning.

Fen let you in on his crazy plans too, right? Almost doesn't seem crazy now, considering how big this blew up, and how quick.
>>
No. 733515 ID: 4dece0

Oh, we should make sure to talk to Fen and actually include him in the decision-making process.
>>
No. 733516 ID: c441c1

Is Lady Apanya the gold or mythril noble in Turtle?
>>
No. 733518 ID: dd338c
File 146760172854.png - (49.95KB , 800x800 , 579.png )
733518

>Is Lady Apanya the gold or mythril noble in Turtle?
Mythril.

"Is... is it Lady Apanya's plan?"
>"That, yes."
"Well, uh... hm. Yeah I can do that. So anything else to watch for?"
>"Considering you're probably going to have to keep your mouth shut for the duration of the whole hearing other than that, no, not that I know of."
"Well, I have a history with Bardo, and... you know, for a random guard in a breaktown, you're looking pretty good for someone who got roped into stuff like this!"
>"Running for 6 hours does wonders for the nerves."
"Hahahaha I disagree. Anything you want me to pass on to Fen? I mean he might want to be involved in this."
>"Somehow I think he'll make it worse. I've got to ask you to not mention anything or that I was here. I'll catch up with him in Graskin. Just give him a hug for me."
"... wait really?"
>"I'm only half joking. I appreciate what he's done more than I think either of you would know. I can't see him myself, right now, and I need to get back to Graskin once I catch my breath."

He's hiding something more that he doesn't want to tell me. I also can't tell if there's anyone in that tent.

I could also get Moss to deliver something back to Apanya probably. Like blackmail. Threats about Zizi and all that. If I wanna.
>>
No. 733523 ID: 5a3919

Moss, I think, might not trust you. Last he knew of you, you stole from Fen. Maybe you should make a little more of an appeal? Like "Moss, I know you probably don't think highly of me, since I pretty much got Fen tangled in all of this. I kinda wish you were able to talk to Fen so he could tell you what's up between us now. I really do owe... a ton, my life and my freedom, as well as the other debts, aaand he's really attractive, so. If there's anything more you could tell me, that could help me help him, please let me know? I know how to use information."

As for blackmail... well, you kinda need to set it up. Contingencies and all that, the "if I don't leave a certain message in a certain spot bad things happen" stuff. You might be able to send letters with your siblings when you part from them, and you might be able to find someone besides Moss to send letters without reading them, but it's chancy. And typically it's after you do all that that you send the actual blackmail letter.

Not phrasing it as blackmail, of course, just "earnest advice" from an anonymous tipster who suspects "some dastardly scoundrel" has set up certain things to happen if a certain someone gets too hard a sentence. You know the style.

Also really, we should talk to Fen. We don't need to give away the whole plan or involve him in that, just ask questions like "hey Fen if you had the choice would you want to get punished by being "forced" into the army or "forced" into the arena? I'm trying to pull some strings and I'd like to know what you want." That sort of thing.
>>
No. 733525 ID: a075ba

>Just give him a hug for me.
>half joking
Cheese you have half an excuse to hug Fen, I say you grab onto it.

>I've got to ask you to not mention anything or that I was here.
>He's hiding something more that he doesn't want to tell me. I also can't tell if there's anyone in that tent.
We could stall for time, extending the conversation. Just flop down besides him. He's going to rest, and you might as well take a few minutes off yourself, right?

Would also give you the chance to smack your tail into the tent, checking for occupants.

>Bardo
Why would Apanya want you to bring him up? Are you aware of any politics between them? Could this be an attempt to pin the blame on him, or help him- making him the 'rightful' owner of the dragoncloth?

>I could also get Moss to deliver something back to Apanya probably. Like blackmail. Threats about Zizi and all that. If I wanna.
Seems a bad idea, to me. Even more so since before we know what Moss is holding back and what's motivating him here.

>Is Lady Apanya the gold or mythril noble in Turtle?
I've been getting confused too, so I went back and made a table of all these noble jerks.

http://tgchan.org/wiki/Fen_Quest#Nobles
>>
No. 733529 ID: 211d83

Blackmail in this situation sounds dangerous. Fen coming from Zizi's tribe is already going to spook them and put that thought into there heads.

Just be up front with Moss. He seems like that sort. Motion to the tent and make ear motions and a questioning look before saying anything important.

"I understand where you are coming from Moss. Fen has done more for me than I could ever hope to repay. He could have struck me down for what I did to him but he was understanding enough to listen to my sad tale and forgive me. So until he completes his quest and possibly long afterwards I am working with him."

"But I have history with Bardo. Possibly the type you had with Raysan if I am guessing right. And if I am going to help Fen while he is in the army and the Colosseum I need to keep our heads above water. I might not be able to do much during this trial but if there is anything else you think could be relevant it would help."
>>
No. 733536 ID: 5a3919

Hey, wait a minute. Ok, ask him to forgive you for being paranoid but you want to look inside that tent for a second. Then... there's a little problem. Fen will be asked to testify too, right? And he knows the buyer is Cati. I'm not sure but I think Croc knows that too? If he's asked, him being honest, that's what he'll say. Then if you say Bardo, one of you will be called out as a liar and suffer for it.

So we have to talk to Fen about it. And, you know, we don't want to tell him to lie, he's an honest kinda person.
>>
No. 733537 ID: a075ba

>>733536
Don't say out loud that the buyer is Cati. It doesn't help us if more people know that, and if Moss is hiding something, it might be that he's fishing for information on someone's behalf.
>>
No. 733556 ID: dd338c
File 146760930917.png - (87.43KB , 1000x800 , 580.png )
733556

"Moss, I know you don't think highly of me, but I wish you could talk to Fen and he'd set things right! I owe a ton to him and I need to make it up to him when all I've really done for him so far is just... steal his shit."

I sit down with him. He leans back and grabs his sword, although it just looks like a cautionary thing.

"Sorry, I need to rest, too. My tail, you know... huge. Sucks. Anyway, that history I have with Bardo... I'm going to help Fen while he's in the army and stuff, and I need to keep my head above water, so if there's anything relevant you think I should know, then..."
>"I really am just some guard in a breaktown, and I got caught up in all this because some asshole called out a barbarian as a theif with no evidence. If Apanya is planning something, she wouldn't tell me."

>Why would Apanya want you to bring him up? Are you aware of any politics between them? Could this be an attempt to pin the blame on him, or help him- making him the 'rightful' owner of the dragoncloth?
I have no clue. No clue at all.

>Blackmail
I'll hold off on this.

"So, uh, what if other people know the buyer wasn't actually Bardo?"
>"I don't know, but I was told to tell you about this and only you. Nothing's gonna stop you from spilling the beans to whoever, but just remember that this is Lady Apanya's plans you might be screwing up."

I "accidentally" bap my tail into the tent.

I accidentally fling it way off to the side. No one is inside.

>"... why?"
"S... sorry."
>"If that's all, then you'd better head back."
"Y-yeah."
>>
No. 733558 ID: dd338c
File 146760933043.png - (37.56KB , 800x800 , 581.png )
733558

I go back and find Fen in his room. He's sitting on his bed like he's trying to relax, but he looks kinda tense. Maybe I should tell him what happened, maybe I should just let him be.
>>
No. 733561 ID: a075ba

>>733558
You should totally give him that hug from Moss. You have an excuse, and he's all tense, he could use a hug!

Plus it'll make you feel better and there's no one else to see.

>I have no clue. No clue at all.
If you have no information on which to act, it seems to me your best move is to not try and get clever. Ab libbing or interfering with Apanya's plans if you don't have any clue what she's pulling will probably blow up in your face.

Don't tell him about Moss, or what he passed on just now.
>>
No. 733562 ID: 211d83

Well your big butt ruins yet another special moment Cheese. Need to get Moss something nice as a apology later.

Whisper to Fen and ask how he is holding up. Tell him the basics but avoid giving him any info that he could hang himself with.

And tell him that Moss said hi and to give him a hug for him. Apparently he is very very grateful for what Fen did and just wanted to let him know.

Then just sit and chat with him.
>>
No. 733564 ID: b2db3f

We sort of know that Apanya is trying to take down Bardo for some sketchy stuff he did. So am guessing she will use you to publicly take him down. What you have to ask is what trouble could Bardo be in if he was the dragoncloth buyer and you say that in court?

And why has she not taken him down yet? Is there lack of evidence? Is she planning on outing your relationship with him so she can blame him for your actions? And how bad would it be for you if she does?

I think we have to play along but keep getting info from anywhere you can.

As for Fen ask if you can give him a hug from Moss. Then see what they asked him and how he has been treated.
>>
No. 733565 ID: 5a3919

Ask if he'd like you to help relieve his tension.

...
...
... with a back massage! Oh no wait you have huge claw hands never mind.

And talk to him. Tell him about this apparent plan that Moss relayed to you, about what you're going to try and do, about what's going to happen, and ask what he thinks. Say you're thinking of going along with it, and he would just need to avoid saying Cati was the actual buyer. Just... imply but don't say you didn't know who the ultimate buyer was supposed to be, something like that.

... And tell him that, if it comes down to it, you'll try take the blame. It was your fault he got tangled up in all this. If Apanya wants to string someone up as an example of not messing with nobles, a conniving merchant mutant who's already known around the area is a better show than a random wandering savage. You can make yourself out to be a manipulator. Gauche should be pushing to help us, and Apanya really should be grateful for flushing Vackles out, so you hope you'll be able to either get him off or have the punishment be army service or the arena, something he already planned to do, but if it looks like it could be something to endanger his life or his appointment with Lily, then you'll do your best to turn it on yourself.

You'd deserve it more than him.
>>
No. 733630 ID: dd338c
File 146765708319.png - (47.81KB , 800x800 , 582.png )
733630

"Hey, Fen?"
>"Hi, Cheese."
"Are you alright."
>"Yes."
"... cause, uh, you look tense and sound a little unhappy."
>"Nothing of note."

I approach him without really any kind of tact and I give him a hug even though I really don't think it was the right time but I don't know good times.

>"Are you alright?"
"Ahaha this hug is definitely because someone out there appreciates you and I'm not just trying to get touchy feely. Um, I shouldn't tell you this, but Moss was here. He wanted to give you a hug."
>"What for?"
"I dunno, something about Rasyan." I whisper.
>"Why did he not do it himself?"
"Uhhh I can't really say! You'll see him again sometime, though, so don't worry about it."

Oh, gosh, he can't hug me back, because I hugged him from behind! Why did I do that? Can I just slide over to his front to change? No that's weird. That's weird and I'm so bad at this.

"You sure you're okay?"
>"Just homesick."
"Oh, geez. I don't know what would help."
>"I don't need anything. It will pass, and I'm not interested in returning home right now."

We stay like this for a bit. I don't know how I'd get any information on what Apanya may be doing, because while I'm under guard, here, trying to get reliable information would be tough.

I think I'm ready to go to Graskin, unless I can think of anything else to do here.
>>
No. 733637 ID: a075ba

>I think I'm ready to go to Graskin, unless I can think of anything else to do here.
Dunno, you could ask Fern what they've told him. You know you're supposed to get dragged off to testify, but what's happening with him? Or Croc? Geeze, where did that guy even go.

You could maybe awkwardly apologize for Cabbage looming over him ready to kill him the whole cart ride.
>>
No. 733641 ID: 91ee5f

Another reason hugging him from behind is awkward is his horns are poking you in the face now. If you're not careful, he might accidentally poke you in the eye with his horns!
>>
No. 733643 ID: 211d83

Other than checking with Fen to see what sort of questions they asked him and maybe doing the same to Croc there is not much else we can do.

Oh we should talk to your siblings and let them know to expect a recall. And give out hugs. Cept no dragoncloth so Tomato gets left out sadly.
>>
No. 733649 ID: cc6431

Tell him about you needing to say the cloth was going to Bardo! Just to make sure he avoids saying it's Cati if it comes up and he can do it without lying. And tell him you're trying to set things up to avoid him getting in any trouble, but that it's possible you'll only be able to reduce the trouble. So tell him what that might turn out to be like and ask what he'd prefer.

Also ask about Rasyan and his guards' bodies, for potential blackmail purposes. Whispered super quiet, of course. I still think you should try set that stuff up, but, I guess others aren't agreeing with me.

I think you also need to tell your siblings about how they're going to get a message to leave? If they're going back to Erja and somehow Fen does still go there himself they could be contacts with him, so long as they're cool. You might also want to give Fen tips about going there in case you end up not getting another chance to talk to him.
>>
No. 733652 ID: 6c8091

Oh hey, his broken horn has healed up pretty nicely so far.
>>
No. 733686 ID: dd338c
File 146767432474.png - (50.18KB , 800x800 , 583.png )
733686

>Where did Croc even go?
I don't know, but he's been around. His voice carries far, so sometimes words about berries and upwards rafts just kind of float to me.

>If you're not careful, he might accidentally poke you in the eye with his horns!
Worth it though.

"So Fen, what did they tell you?"
>"Very little. I'm surprised I'm not locked up after they found out about Rasyan."
"Yeah, I mean, don't try to run or anything, cause then you'll get an arrow somewhere in you."
>"That's one of the things they told me. The other is that what happens to me will be up to the mithril noble."
"Right. Well, don't worry. If it comes down to it, I'll take the blame, and they'll gladly string up a weird mutant sooner than a barbarian."
>"That isn't right."
"Maybe not, but I do deserve it as a person more, soooo it works out."
>"Thank you, but I do not want people taking the fall for me."

So nice.

"I guess all I can say is that if it comes up, don't tell anyone who the dragoncloth was going to. Not Cati, not no one as far as you know."
>"Alright."
"And it's okay if you're forced into something like the army right?"
>"I am not changing my plans just because someone tells me to do what I plan."

I also ask about Rasyan and his bodyguards looks just in case I want to blackmail, but I'll save it for how the hearing goes. Then I talk to him about Erja Nokol for a little bit just in case we don't get to chat for awhile.
>>
No. 733687 ID: dd338c
File 146767435094.png - (58.88KB , 800x800 , 584.png )
733687

We head off to Graskin. I let my sisters know in advance about the message they'll get, and sure enough, my sisters end up turning off towards our home. Our goodbyes are shorter than they might've been normally, but if things go right, I'm going to be heading towards Erja before long.

Once my sisters leave, I get put next Croc.

For the entire remainder of the trip. He just doesn't stop talking.

I didn't think I'd ever be happy to return to the sight of Graskin with the mountains of Poluputus looming behind it, but here I am. People are yelling at the mountain kobolds to run faster, so I guess there won't be any time to relax when we get there.
>>
No. 733688 ID: dd338c
File 146767436356.png - (55.49KB , 800x800 , 585.png )
733688

The outer part of town is like the good parts of the fence. Plenty of poverty, but no one in their right mind would start a rebellion here. There's well trained and well armed guards all over the place. And these ones actually keep the peace, not act like glorified tax collectors.

Once we start getting into the upper levels of the central structure, the walls start getting clean, smooth, and, well, rich.

We're lead in seperate directions to a bathing house. It's used by way more people than could be involved in this hearing, and before I can even ask what to do three girls come up, toss me in a bath, and start scrubbing.

>"Deary, you don't need to hide in the water! Leave the judgements to the nobles."
"I wanna hide though."
>"Nonesense. Well, we'll have a nice, modest set of clothes for you."
"Do you really have my measurements?"
>"Haha, miss, this is Lady Apanya's palace. You'll have a selection. Just don't sully it, of course, and return it to us once your business is over. Now, loosen up! You're way too uncomfortable, here."

Geez it's not like this could go horribly.

"So uh... is this your job? Just, scrubbing people in the bathhouse all day?"
>"Yes it is. It's tough work, but it pays for my home overlooking the town."

I'm sure it's sooooo tough.

>"Dear, I'm going to give you some oils. Your scales are as dull as they get."
"I dunno, I don't think I want to stand out that much?"
>"Nonsense. No one's going to listen to anyone who doesn't look like they take care of themselves. Even Kajos, of all people, has a brilliant sheen. Besides, everyone else is going to just just wonderful for this hearing of yours, so if you look like leftover porridge, you'll just stand out in ways I don't think you'll like."
"I guess that makes sense. What's with this water... oh my gods is it enchanted?"
>"Yes, dear, we have a full time bath wizard."

Oh god. Oh god. Don't laugh, Cheese. Don't laugh about the fact that I share the world with a bath wizard.
>>
No. 733689 ID: dd338c
File 146767437760.png - (55.17KB , 1211x882 , 586.png )
733689

After a long time of that, I feel.... fabulous.

Guards are around us all the time, and we meet up with Fen heading towards the hallway to Apanya's throne room. I think this is the waiting area for people who want an audience, but we probably don't need to wait. There's a lot of conversations about what I assume are some big topics, and a lot of sensitive information could be learned if people listened in.

Which is probably why the chorus is to the side, chanting a tune that drowns out stray voices.

I thought Shup's place was the most massive structure we've ever built from the ground up besides the emperor's palace. And it probably is. But this place comes pretty close.

"Are you okay, Fen?" I whisper to him.
>"There's just... so many Shups, here."

I think I'll appreciate that sentence better if I let my imagination do the work.
>>
No. 733691 ID: dd338c
File 146767442972.png - (38.22KB , 821x683 , 587.png )
733691

There's no waiting after all. We go right into Apanya's throne room, or hearing room, or whatever this is, and she's sitting up at her hundred foot high chair. I hope the acoustics here are good because I doubt she's going to bother raising her voice to yell down at us. Considering the echoes from stray chattering though, it'll be fine.

Croc and Gauche and all sorts of people are here. There's 5 gold noble seats under Apanya. Rasyan's seat is empty, because he is dead and even if they found his corpse it would be weird even for the empire to put his corpse up there. He ruled over the eastern portion of the Turtle's Hideaway, which is weird since Pocktown is right in the middle of Krix's territory so he had a portion of the west side too. Krix will probably get that town now just so that the gold noble territories make more sense.

Otherwise, Cati, Bardo, Krix and Jolli are already in their seats.

Fen and I take some seats and wait in relative silence. Just before it starts, we're all made to swear under the same oath I had to, take earlier for the whole duration of the hearing.

>"Let the noise die. Lady Apanya shall now speak about the recent events regarding the Fence." I hear someone call out.
>>
No. 733692 ID: dd338c
File 146767444340.png - (48.66KB , 800x800 , 588.png )
733692

Lady Apanya looks like she just wants to wave off the whole situation and isn't even bothering to hide it. Bardo is right under her, and he doesn't exactly look at ease.

>"Krix." She essentially yawns out the name. "Tell me about the state of that stain of a town, the Fence."
>"The town guard is eliminated. Same as all the other resistances."
>"Damages to the town?"
>"Significant."
>"Avoidable?" Apanya asks with all the care that a bird has for to the interior design of a fox's hole.
>"Hardly. The buildings there were so crude and out of shape that one fell down when I sneezed on it. I did 'em a favor giving them an excuse to reconstruct the town."
>"How generous. Perhaps the citizens there will have the chance for an honest day's work, too. Where is Warfield?"
>"Dead."
>"Is that so. What nobles of the Fence are still alive, Jolli?" I notice Apanya does not even ask how Warfield died.
>"Sir Gauche, and Lord Rumu." says Jolli. "That I am aware of, but others may still be discovered while I am away.
>"And did either of them do... anything?"
>"I believe that Sir Gauche orchestrated the assassination of Vackles."
>"Then I would suggest that you consider Gauche be placed as the new stone noble of the Fence, since Krix proved to be merciful towards the town and left it repairable." says Apanya.
>"Then I, Lord Jolli of the southern portion of the turtle, declare that Sir Gauche shall be the stone noble, and mayor, of the Fence, and is now responsible for its reconstruction."
>"What a fast consideration and decision you came too, based on a mere suggestion. Let's move on, then."
>>
No. 733693 ID: dd338c
File 146767447071.png - (18.67KB , 800x800 , 589.png )
733693

>"Vackles' rose to power. Someone could have prevented it. Jolli, explain this."
>"He had been recommended to me by Warfield himself to oversee his guard."
>"Well, it's a bit of a shame that Warfield isn't here to defend himself, so I suppose we'll consider him guilty, yes? Let's not bother charging him with it, though, I dislike speaking to dead people. I suppose that's that. Now continue to explain why Krix had to be the one to eliminate the remainder of the guard from far west?"
>"My region is plagued with bandits, my lady." says Jolli. He's not bad at speaking I guess, but I can still see that he's a lot less enthused about this explanation. "My soldiers were hunting across my land, and to pull them back to the fence would simply let the bandits cause as much strife."
>"I suppose children with sticks can pass for bandits these days, since your army can be called an army. You are so attached to your army's strength that you were too patient, too willing to wait for opportune moments to strike, that your army was left scattered and thin waiting for ideal moments that would never have come."
>>
No. 733694 ID: dd338c
File 146767449802.png - (16.16KB , 800x800 , 590.png )
733694

>"Now we will speak of the dragoncloth, Jolli, where is it?"
>"I do not know."

Apanya's eyebrow snaps up and down faster than she blinks.

>"I suggest you try answering again."
>".... Sir Gauche was in custody of it, but he and the others claim to have given it to someone else - it is unclear, and I simply had more pressing matters to attend to than chasing a single dragoncloth. I summoned Hunstine, who claimed untrustworthy things, like how the barbarian, Fen, was the owner of a dragoncloth, and how he was the one to slay Lord Rasyan."
>"I suppose that is unlikely, but I also heard you simply dismissed him. Is that so?"
>"Yes, it is. I only summoned him to find the dragoncloth, but with no concrete about Lord Rasyan, and the idea that a barbarian would own -"
>"And yet, dear little Hunstine went on to retrieve Rasyan's corpse. Did you not even think to do this?"

...

>"... I was not aware he could tell where Rasyan was."
>"It is hard to hear their testimony when you dismiss them, isn't it? That's a good lesson to learn. Now, Moss. Do tell me Moss is here. Ah, there you are."
>"My lady."
>"You were in contact with the barbarian shortly before Rasyan's death. Is that so?"
>"It is."
>"And you searched Fen, correct?"
>"I did."
>"And dragoncloth?"
>"I believed he had it."
>"Now tell me all about why you didn't report this?"
>"I'm sorry, my lady, but I was an unremarkable soldier turned guard to an unremarkable breaktown. Dragoncloth is beyond me, and I simply thought he had an unusually valuable cloth, but upon reflection, it must have been dragoncloth after all. Please forgive my stupidity on that."
>"Let's not confuse humility with self deprecation, now. You did not think it strange that a barbarian had a valuable cloth?"
>"I saw his white eyes, and sensed there was no wrong doing, so it wasn't my place to question it."
>"Normally I would admonish such a judgement, but in light of the judgement shown by the present nobility, I cannot even manage that. I declare no wrong doing from Moss. Now, Jolli. You let one of your biggest towns grow an army right under your nose, you cannot squash rebellions and bandits, and your choice in advisors and staff has been untrustworthy, you summon a wizard to spend time and a slave for a ritual that you immediately toss out without so much as sending a runner to investigate its validity. You are now demoted to a wood noble, and will be given a small entourage to hunt bandits yourself. Do well, and you will work your way back up to stone swiftly, and do poorly, and you will die. Your possessions will be split by the standard decree."

Can't say I expected that.
>>
No. 733698 ID: dd338c
File 146767527263.png - (34.40KB , 800x850 , 591.png )
733698

>"Now, it appears that Hunstine's vision had truth to it after all, and so it is fairly obvious that the dragoncloth is located within the Crow Zone. Thank you, Jolli, Hunstine, for acting so remarkably obtuse on the matter so that I was able to announce this deduction myself. Gauche, you are inheriting the Fence's... wealth, let's call it, but Krix deserves a token of appreciation for his trouble, as I hear that Vackles' second in command, Tons, resurfaced and was ready to lead the guard on before Krix dealt with them. Therefore, we will extract the dragoncloth from the crow's reach or wherever they sent it off to, and Krix will receive it. And while I'm thinking of it, Moss is clearly a well experienced guard in healthy shape, and he is doing a disservice to the turtle letting himself rot with the breaktown wood. Krix, you have a good guard position for him, don't you? Put him to good use, and treat him well as he does a good job. Now, Cati, I hear that your abominations were in town and had relations with the dragoncloth. What were they doing?"
>"If Colleague Krix is to receive it, then he will have it, but when I heard about a wandering dragoncloth, I wished to pursue it with my abominations."
>"And why would you ever send those abominations, which I'm sure you trusted so much, for such a task?"
>"They are the siblings of Cheese, who is sitting there, and I felt that they would be an adequate choice to attempt to take the dragoncloth from Cheese, given how much the siblings of Erja Nokol mean to each other." Cati explains.
>"And why is it that I received word from one of my spies that those abominations had three mythril coins and five hundred gold?"
>".... I do not know, they do not appear to be present to this hearing."
>"If purchasing a dragoncloth was appropriate, it would cost about as much. Were you attempting to purchase a holy relic handed down by the emperor himself, as though it could compare to mythril or gold coins? Well, it's no secret that I have done it before while in your position, even if I am ashamed of it. Well, it must be either that, or you simply let abominations get away with over three thousand gold pieces? Whether you gave it to them or they managed to steal it, I'd love to hear how that came to be."
>"It is impossible for me to doubt your messengers, Lady Apanya, but are you sure their word is true?"
">You have done the impossible, Cati. Well, if we look at your books, and they come up cleanly, we will consider my messengers at fault, then?"
>"Oh, no, forgive me for my out of place suspicions, Lady Apanya. It is true, I was to purchase the dragoncloth from Cheese. I do plan on getting the funds back one way or the other. I know where their family is, and that is more valuable to them than the money."
>"Well, that's wonderful, I'm sure your coffers will thank you. It's interesting to me, though, because Bardo explained to me that Cheese was selling him the dragoncloth. Is that so, Bardo?"
>>
No. 733699 ID: dd338c
File 146767529234.png - (17.99KB , 800x800 , 592.png )
733699

>"I did tell you that, and it is true." says Bardo. "Cheese is under my employment, and she was to sell me the dragoncloth. I do not know where Lady Cati gained her information from."
>"Which means that one of you is a liar under oath. Let's have a tie breaker, then. Cheese, step forward. Tell me, who was to purchase the dragoncloth from you? Know that I, under the oath of all my power bestowed by the emperor, will not charge you with crimes if you were attempting to sell them to both parties or other such nonsense. Tell the truth, no matter how ugly."

Oh my god.

She's getting rid of her gold nobles so that she can have a new pair of gold nobles that are inexperienced and easier to control.
>>
No. 733703 ID: f562b1

>I'm sure it's sooooo tough.
Any idea how sore your hands get doing the same back and forth scrubbing all day? And how much water soaks into your fingers when you're scrubbing in water itself? They're not just scrubbing floors and walls, either, but fur and scales. A bit harder on the fingers, that.
Though getting to enjoy the bath salts is a plus.
Maybe it was a hidden comment about "Oh god I have to clean this gross abomination."
>"There's just... so many Shups, here."
Pff, that's a funny way to say "Field Nobles." ...Er, nobles who happen to be field kobolds.
>She's getting rid of her gold nobles so that she can have a new pair of gold nobles that are inexperienced and easier to control.
Huh. Gauche will probably remain at the Stone level for now, so I wonder who she'll bring up for it?
And, I wonder if she maybe intends to bring Fen up to Wood since he "worked with Gauche," so that in controlling the new Gold above him, she'll have control over all of the levels? Would skip the army stage of things, but it would also be dangerous to have a Mithril in control of him, even separated by so many levels.
>>
No. 733710 ID: b2d501

If I remember, you were going to use a long supply chain to verify the dealer, set up a meeting position, rent out a base, then set up a bid with another dealer, etc. Let's go with that.

State that for all purposes and intentions, you never had a single buyer even though the cloth was not meant to be divided. In preparation of the sale of an artifact worth thousands of gold, you set up a series of supply links that intertwined across multiple nobles for various intentions; some wanted to use the cloth as bait, others were planning to steal it for themselves, etc. It was the only way you could get through this without a noble deciding to shoot the middlewoman, by ensuring that the consequences would affect them and everyone.

And when she demands to get to the point, claim that TECHNICALLY this entire event was orchestrated by the efforts of all of the gold nobles under Lady Cati's command, due to the stake that each of them put in the command chains and how they used the authority under Cati's rule to get this far in the dragoncloth trade.

Let's see if Cati can handle a losing the stability of ALL of her gold nobles at the same time.
>>
No. 733711 ID: f562b1

>>733710
Cati's not the one getting rid of her Golds. Cati is a Gold. Apanya is the Mithril.
>>
No. 733714 ID: cc6431

So, it's Cati that we're supposed to betray. I guess Apanya considers her a little too... proactive. And, possibly, her dealings with mutants shameful. And it must be Apanya's plan, Moss just lied (on thinking it was just valuable cloth, not dragoncloth) and got rewarded with a promotion. With Jolli getting demoted with a chance to climb again, too, I think he's been convinced to play a part as well. Half the people here have been fed their lines, I think.

Well... we can't go pissing Apanya off. She's the one in control. We don't want to piss anyone off, but if we have to shove Cati off a bus I guess that's what we have to do. The only trouble is her power over your siblings, Cheese. She probably won't keep that power long enough, though. Still...

If you think you can act, hesitate for a moment and give a twitch like you're trying not to look at Cati. Say something like "Forgive my anxiousness, Lady Apanya, I am... also concerned for my family." Pause a moment, as if steeling yourself, to see if she answers with an assurance, but whether she does or not, go on to say: "The dealings with the dragoncloth were complicated, my lady, and I did investigate several nobles as alternative buyers in the case something went awry, but... with apologies to Lady Cati, I must say that in the end, the intended recipient was to be Lord Bardo."

Which is kind of not really a lie, since he was to be recipient of the money we got for the sale. Just not of the cloth.
>>
No. 733715 ID: 211d83

Ok a few thoughts Cheese.

1. Do you think she is trying to get rid of both Cati and Bardo? Or just Cati if the suggestion from Moss did in fact come from Apanya and not Bardo sneaking into the chain somehow.

2. If you did say Bardo was the buyer would that throw him under the bus as well for buying dragoncloth? Or would it save his ass because lying under oath is the worse crime?

3. She went out of her way to say you would get immunity for the crime of selling to both of them. Is that her trying to hint that you should throw both of them under the bus?


Well I guess the normal choice would be between Cati or Bardo. Cati did just threaten your family and getting her killed would save you having to pay her back. But getting Bardo killed would drop your debt directly.

But if the advice Moss gave you was from Apanya its probably best to play it her way. Having a judge who is not pissed at you is the best option regardless of what happens.
>>
No. 733719 ID: 91ee5f

>Oh god. Oh god. Don't laugh, Cheese. Don't laugh about the fact that I share the world with a bath wizard.
What's so funny about bath wizards?

>Jolli's demotion.
Well, it doesn't look like Jolli's having a jolly time, does it?

>>733698
Oh shit! Who's that scary guy?! And Cheese, no matter what happens, DO NOT laugh at the fact that he might get stuck in that tiny little booth he's sitting in!

>Apanya's trying to get rid of gold nobles.
>Choose Cati or Bardo.
Moss' message said that we'd be "pulling the rug out from a gold noble" and that it was Apanya's plan. I'm guessing there's going to be some kind of punishment to whoever lies under that oath, but who do we call a liar?

If we tell the truth, then Bardo will be the liar and Fen will probably be hit with a big punishment because we didn't go along with Apanya's plan.

If we lie, then Cati will be the liar Fen will probably be hit with a minor punishment because we did go along with Apanya's plan.

>>733703
>Bring Fen up to Wood Noble and skip the army.
I hope not. The army will give Fen some valuable combat experience and sure he wouldn't like having to miss out on that.
>>
No. 733722 ID: a075ba

>my sisters end up turning off towards our home
Huh. They're gonna need to double back and get the dragoncloth for Cati, unless they want to make an enemy of hers.

>Now, loosen up! You're way too uncomfortable, here.
You're made out of squishy glorps. If she can tell you're not loose enough, you're really tense.

>I dislike speaking to dead people.
Would... they have actually summoned his shade or called his voice from the earth to charge him with his crime? Is that a thing that's done, making (high ranking) dead actually answer for crimes they've been charged with?

>Moss assigned to Krix
I don't think that's a promotion he'll enjoy or wanted. He was living the good life out in the country, we jut got him roped back into the military. More collateral damage.

>Oh my god.
>She's getting rid of her gold nobles so that she can have a new pair of gold nobles that are inexperienced and easier to control.
Maybe.

Let's consider our options:

(A) We say Bardo. Cati is declared a liar and is killed or demoted. Apanya is (hopefully) pleased with Cheese and gives Fen the slap on the wrist we want (military service and coliseum after). Status of Cheese's debt to Bardo: unknown. Maybe we could still pay him off with Cati's money, maybe he would just claim it from us, saying it was his to purchase the cloth in the first place.

(B) We say Cati. Bardo is declared a liar and is killed or demoted. Apanya is cheesed at Cheese, which is bad for Fen. We don't owe Bardo a debt anymore, and still have Cati's money. If she doesn't reclaim it from us before we squirel it away, or let it go as repayment for saving her ass.

(C) We say we were playing both against the other, and selling it to both. Both are spared. Bardo's debt stands, though we can pay him back if Cati doesn't get her money off of us.

(D) We tell the 'truth' that we intended to make sure the dragoncloth ended up in Fen's hands. There would have never been a sale. Both noble lose, more of a clean house.

Now, I think the important thing to remember is Cheese felt Moss was holding something back. Like, Apanya's message was to "say Bardo, but *also* still tell the truth about Cati". He could have been holding back a detail, or context. Figuring this would still save Fen, but payback Cheese.

Also, Apanya is leading the witnesses. The way that question is worded, it sounds like she expects the answer to be "I was trying to sell it to both of them, playing them against the other."

I think that's the answer you go with. For once, your right move isn't to screw over nobles and get them killed. You're actually going to save two. For some reason, Apanya wants them alive.
>>
No. 733728 ID: 486e87

>>733722
Yeah, she's leading our answer, we just need to make it sound plausible. Maybe she's looking for a excuse to punish them, but not with anything severe enough that she has to get rid of them.
>>
No. 733730 ID: b2db3f

It looks like Apanya wants you to say you were selling to both of them? She was rather leading the witness at the end there.

Whats the penalty for lying under oath?

I would go along with what the judge is leading you say. She can make life horrible for you and Fen if you don't play along.
>>
No. 733739 ID: da5b77

You did a lot of flailing, trying to get out from the mess you found yourself in. You could tell her that you made it known through a lot of channels that there was valuable merchandise for sale, but not everyone knew precisely what it was.
>>
No. 733741 ID: cc6431

>>733722

If Moss held something back, to get Cheese in trouble instead of Fen... well, she did tell Fen she'd take the blame if she had to. And if he didn't, it's still best to go along with Apanya's plan, I think.

It might be possible to fudge a little between the two, by saying "ultimately Bardo but I did put out feelers to other possible buyers and I did consider Cati". Or something like that.
>>
No. 733743 ID: a075ba

>>733741
The sticking point there is if Cheese can't trust Moss (who seemed like he was holding something back, and was in fact the first person to warn Fen away from Cheese, saying she was a spy who can't be trusted) we can't be sure what Moss said is what Apanya wants.

And the one reason I can think he didn't want Cheese to tell Fen: if Moss is trying to screw over Cheese, he might not want Fen to know that's what he's doing.
>>
No. 733747 ID: cc6431

>>733743
>we can't be sure what Moss said is what Apanya wants.

In which case we can't be sure what Apanya wants at all. But we do know Moss is in with Apanya and, at least, looking out for himself, probably looking out for Fen, and probably wouldn't have wanted to do anything to piss off Apanya either. She knows Moss is the one who she sent to relay the message to Cheese, and if Cheese doesn't say what she wants her to say she could go after him as well. It'd be easy for Apanya to ask, after Cheese got thrown in a cell or something, why she was disobedient, and for Cheese to say "I did what Moss told me to".

For all we know, what Moss was holding back was just that he had his own instructions, which he could have revealed to Cheese to let her in on more of the plan, and he didn't.
>>
No. 733753 ID: e22b1d

Ok when Cheese asked Moss "Is it lady Apanyas plan?" he said "That, Yes."

Which implies to me he was lying or at least holding back info. This plan could be sent from Bardo possibly.
>>
No. 733763 ID: 5a893f

I'm sure what Moss was holding back was his promotion to Working for Krix and that he's not plotting some weird bullshit. He's not a master manipulator or calculator so he couldn't predict what may happen when he makes machinations.

If Moss lied to us about what to say, it's another nobles machinations.

I'd play it safe and accuse Cati, we PROBABLY keep the money, and Bardo was clearly told to lie about a deal with cheese by somebody, because otherwise he would have been surprised when he was accused. Bardo is expected to take the fall in regards to the deal or it wouldn't have come up. So it's either Bardo's plan or Apanya's and she's informed Bardo that he will accept responsibility for the deal.
>>
No. 733794 ID: 0d302a

For starters, we can say that we were initially planning to sell it to Bardo (so he speaks the truth) until meeting Cati's emissaries scrambled the situation.

Then you contemplated several strategies, including selling it to Cati and paying back Bardo with Cati's money.
>>
No. 733796 ID: 0d302a

>>733794
ADDED: And then Vackles came in looking for the dragoncloth, and that's when things got crazy.
>>
No. 733823 ID: cc6431

>>733763
>He's not a master manipulator or calculator so he couldn't predict what may happen when he makes machinations.

See, that's the thing. Moss is smart, and also a pretty humble guy. Apanya wouldn't have told him everything she was going to do, he would only have gotten his instructions and Cheese's, to relay. He wouldn't be dumb or arrogant enough to think that he could add or subtract whatever he wanted from either of those without screwing things up; he would know that he has no idea what Apanya's full plan is, or what key step it's depending on to go off properly.
>>
No. 733863 ID: 398fe1

You're supposed to say Bardo is telling the truth, which would screw over Cati. Bardo is likely in on the plan, and was promised that he would be let off easy for the crime.

Cati was going to betray you, and your family, and you'd have been stuck with Bardo. So fuck her. Say she's lying, and you were going to sell the dragoncloth to Bardo to clear your debts with him.
You can still pay Bardo off, of course, because your family has the money and Cati isn't getting it back after this. Another reason to say Bardo is lying is that if you diverge from Apanya's plan you will anger her. Don't anger a mithril noble.
>>
No. 733864 ID: 398fe1

Oh and >>733687 did you enjoy talking to Croc? How do you like the big lug?
>>
No. 733869 ID: dd338c
File 146776892307.png - (29.18KB , 800x800 , 593.png )
733869

>What's so funny about bath wizards?
Even if wizards aren't so great in a fight a lot of the time and they do mundane things, they're still a huge generator to the empire! Without wizards, we couldn't support nearly the population we do, a lot of diseases would run rampant, construction would be tougher, so for a wizard to just be... bath wizard.

>Who's that scary guy?!
That's Krix. I won't laugh at him getting stuck in that tiny booth made for regular sized kobolds, because if he did get stuck, he could break it.

>Did you enjoy talking to Croc? How do you like the big lug?
I might actually like him if I could understand a word he said! Considering he said he didn't like my personality, he sure talked to me an awful lot. At least he's quiet, now. He's way too casual around nobles, but even he'd have to have a deathwish to start shouting something dumb over Lady Apanya.

>Would... they have actually summoned his shade or called his voice from the earth to charge him with his crime?
In a mithril court... yeah, that could happen.

>Whats the penalty for lying under oath?
If the person to deal with the sentence is generous, death. But normally the oath is so serious that they torture you until your spirit and soul are broken so hard that when you do die, your soul supposedly won't contaminate the land with those rebellious thoughts.

So, okay.

This situation.

What a mess. She's leading me to say both of them.

I was told by Moss that Apanya actually wanted me to say Bardo.

Moss, who I'm pretty sure thinks I'm nothing but trouble, with good reason, and I think might've been holding back when we met.

But Apanya is leading me so hard.

And at the same time, I think I've gotten a read on her. This is all the telltale signs of cleaning house, and even if it's slight, I can tell detect a little bit of dismissal in Apanya's voice when she speaks to, and about, Cati and Bardo.

I hope I don't screw this up. I hope so much. If Moss is trustworthy, then Apanya wants me to say Bardo, but she didn't say anything about....

"Neither?"

Give me a sign, Apanya! Don't give me that face! Did I mess up? Did I do something right?
>>
No. 733870 ID: dd338c
File 146776895407.png - (35.43KB , 800x800 , 594.png )
733870

Maybe?

>"Neither? What a claim. Let's make sure we didn't mishear up here on our high chairs. Are you sure you did not make plans to sell Bardo or Cati dragoncloth? That you are accusing both of lying under oath?"

No!

"Yes! I'm sure!" I say, because changing my mind means I've lied, and that's no good. "I'm sure! I've sworn to say the truth, and I'll swear again for that!"
>"Welllllllll." She trails off for a moment. "What a bind. To lie under oath... dear immortal, it's best if you explain what that means."
>>
No. 733874 ID: dd338c
File 146776938096.png - (86.02KB , 1200x800 , 595.png )
733874

There's a Dragon Knight on the balcony to the side.

>"It means to say they are above the oath. That they are above the emperor's legacy. That legacy is strength, and so breaking the oath is a declaration that they are stronger than the emperor himself. The golden title bearers Cati and Bardo shall have their title and services up to this point recognized, and shall be given the chance to prove their strength through combat against myself, as the emperor's brother. Should they be victorious, their crimes shall be absolved."
>"Sir, no!" Cati yells. Bardo gawks backwards, though he doesn't look right at Apanya. "Even if we are under suspicion, the gold nobles are still a high ranking position of the empire! To place a mutant's word over our own... is that what you are doing?!"
>"No, but it is what Lady Apanya is doing." His voice is weirdly hollow but echoing, like he's talking into two tubes facing each other. "But it is a fair point. Lady Apanya, would you mind explaining your reasoning to me?"
>"I stated to Cheese that I would not charge her with crimes should she claim she was selling to both or 'such nonsense', the latter of which meant nothing. Against my temptation, she claimed the very opposite. I then gave her the chance to back out of her first claim, further leading her towards a path. Once again, she chose the opposite. The only possible reason she would ever go against my direction, that of a mithril noble, would be because she is following the oath to an even higher power, the emperor himself."
>"So be it. We will battle, and because I must be places, we will do it now. Bardo, Cati, prove your strength to me, or die."
>>
No. 733875 ID: dd338c
File 146776939381.png - (90.43KB , 800x800 , 596.png )
733875

They die. Cati tried to jump back, and dodged the throat slice just to get cut down her torso.

I don't even see what hit them. The Dragon Knight's cloak flipped out, and I see what looks like it might have been a wire going outward, but the wound is like they were slashed with a blade. It came out so fast, it was like the last word to the sentence he said prior.
>>
No. 733876 ID: dd338c
File 146776941674.png - (21.65KB , 800x800 , 597.png )
733876

The daggers were on strings, and they get snapped back to the immortal. People down here shuffle reflexively, but no one dares call attention to themselves by moving too far. We just keep staring down and forward. Some of us are better at looking at the edges of our peripherals than others. Apanya waits silently for Cati to stop screaming.

>"Well, Krix. Cati and Bardo's belongings will be liquidated to pay for the legal debts they owe. The debts in their favor, and their remaining wealth, will be transferred to their replacements. Illegal debts, for example, Bardo's hidden merchant ring bribes, mutants, and general riff raff, are null and void. As they lost their titles in bad standing, their families will receive nothing. As for the mithril and gold coinage that Lady Cati had stolen or misplaced, it will be returned. It will be placed into the fence coffers for purposes of rebuilding and improving the town's reputation on the whole. The next time that it gets ransacked, I would like to feel mild disappointment. I suggest you gain control of the spy ring, and to do so, I suggest you place an illicit ally at the top and give them adequate funding. We will cover this in more detail, later."
>"I will, Lady Apanya." says Gauche.
>>
No. 733877 ID: dd338c
File 146776947065.png - (15.58KB , 800x800 , 598.png )
733877

>"Now, about you, barbarian. You killed Rasyan, correct?"
>"I did." says Fen.
>"Why?"
>"He attacked me."
>"And you killed him by means of ripping his throat out with your mouth, yes?"
>"Yes."
>"Since you did not strike him down like an opportunistic assassin, I will say that he had it coming if he was that weak. Nonetheless, Rasyan did have political power, and you have created a vacuum in the empire. We can't simply let barbarians come running in and slaying our nobility. That is banditry, which I'm sure you're aware of our opinion on that. Your sentence is to make up the power vacuum you've created, by means of mandatory military service. Do you have any preferences to where you would serve?"
>"I would like to join the Dragon Army and participate in the campaign I heard about in Erja Nokol."
>"How agreeable. I will send you an escort to see that you make it to the warp in a few hours to the dragon army's headquarters, where you will be given standard training before being sent to the mausoleum of the dead forest. You will be known in the army as the barbarian who slew Rasyan by means of ripping his throat out like a wild animal, the brother of the kingslayer who managed to defeat a Dragon Knight, and the once-owner of dragoncloth. Should you survive your campaign with such high expectations, I will recognize you as a legitimate potential owner of dragoncloth."
>"Does this mean I will get my dragoncloth back?"
>"No, but it does mean that if you manage to take another dragoncloth either as a gift or to take it by force - not thievery - then you will be the legitimately recognized owner. Even if you commit other crimes, even if that crime is to get another dragoncloth, your right to own dragoncloth will not be revoked even if other punishments are enacted. I will stop this hearing now, before Warlord Krix somehow gets killed too. I will work with those those who require personal attention, starting with Sir Gauche and followed by Woodlord Jolli. Krix, do you have anything you would like publically heard?" says Apanya.
>"Yeah, I do. I want to hear what Croc there was doing in all this mess." Krix says.
>"Then ask him in a public place. Dismissed."
>>
No. 733879 ID: b2d501

>>733875
Holy @#$%^&*(s!

This isn't disturbing because of the lack of bureaucracy. This is disturbing because that execution was bloody and intrusive, yet it came from an emperor's praetorian guard, in the middle of the seats that everyone here craves. It implies that those in emperor-class power simply DON'T CARE; they don't care about the commoners, they don't care about the nobles, but most importantly they don't even care about THEMSELVES.

And that's a scary thought.

>>733876
At least he's using a top-tier weapon. Seriously, I hope that any champion worth his salt isn't forced to downgrade to something less artistic.

... That one game trailer was a serious @#$%ing disappointment.

>>733877
Property IS nine-tenths of the law. Hm.

Okay, it looks like you're going to leave Fen's squad for a while. Officially. Map a campaign route and try to meet up with Fen at your discretion over the course of his tour. For now, take the cash prize and use the opportunity of your current location to buy yourself a nice house, preferably in the middle of nowhere but within two days to at least three major hotspots.
>>
No. 733880 ID: 211d83

Well guessing from Apanya's speech there you might work for Gauche now. Or at least she is leading him to hire you as his spymaster.

Moss looks a bit miffed at you. Might want to ask him whats up later.

Well this turned out better than expected. You are (mostly) debt free and Fen is on his way to where he wanted. And Cati can not touch your siblings. That last bit about the money is probably directed at you personally so you might want to get the crows to drop off the money (or at least most of it) and cloth so Apanya does not get irritated at you.

Give Fen a hug and tell him that you will send word to him as soon as you can and to make sure to let you know if he needs anything you can provide.
>>
No. 733883 ID: 486e87

God-damn that was some nasty politicking, I think we did choose the right answer, as she put emphasis on Bardo's hold over us being void, and letting Fen choose his punishment. On the flip side, it sounds like Gauche is our boss and we have to give up Cati's gold, which isn't too bad but still, right choice I think
>>
No. 733884 ID: 4546ab

I bet you that bath wizard is a older kobold who got the position after years of sanitation work. Probably has spent there lives working on water quality magic and disease prevention and dousing. A water mage would be vital for any big city or public health would plummet. Plus being able to find places quickly to set up new wells and keep them clean would be important.

Could be wrong but is probably a cushy position for veterans to reward them for service. Who knows.

Well good job at doing what the scary mythril noble wanted you to do. Looks like she might be rewarding you with a position working for Gauche. Which looks horrible to Moss as you get a nice job and Fen gets forced conscription (and Moss gets a new job with way less nap time). You had better explain to him that this was the best option and we had planned to get Fen in that campaign regardless. You don't want Moss on your bad side if you can help it.

It would be nice to be able to keep our illicit gold but Apanya wants it in the fence treasury and its probably not a good idea to cross her. It might be best if you help "find" the misplaced funds with the help of the crows and turn it in. Do not let anyone be able to prove you had it.
>>
No. 733885 ID: a075ba

I feel bad for whoever has to clean those bloodstains off those hundred foot pillars they're running down.

>>733876
So... it sounds like your next project is getting those mithril coins from the crows and handing them to Gauche before Apanya kills you. And then helping him seize control of Bardo's spy network / cutting away pieces of it for yourself / secretly taking control of it for yourself under Gauche. Sounds like your kind of thing! And no more debt! And working with a noble you can sort of stand who owes you his life. Could be a lot worse.

I suggest a "no hard feelings, but please don't try that again" to Moss, when you're out of the noble's earshot. He tried to get you killed, or misslead you, or cut a deal with one of the other nobles. But if he's Fen's friend it's better if he just gets over it and moves on.

You already have. People lying to you, or trying to get you killed isn't anything new.

...and/or the other way to play it is blackmail. Moss owes you one now, especially if he doesn't want Fen to find out what he just tried to do.

>>733877
And Fen got what he wanted. He's going into the dragon army hotter than we would have prefered, but it still works out, I suppose. You'll have to say your goodbyes, for now.
>>
No. 733886 ID: cc6431

Well, looks like you're going to be busy for a while, Cheese. Gauche may want to employ you (though possibly not), you have to help retrieve the dragoncloth and coins (or at least make a very, very convincing attempt to retrieve them), you have to send some influence back home to Erja to make things as much easier for Fen as you can, aaaaaand you need to get yourself out of the sight and reach of Bardo and Cati's remaining resentful family, friends and loyal underlings.

Important to remember: you have to set up some way of keeping track of Fen's dragoncloth. Keep in mind, he doesn't want any dragoncloth, he wants that specific piece. You'll need to know if Krix tries to pass it on or, like, make himself a pretty dress out of it or whatnot. You still owe Fen a ton!

But aside from all that... well hey, you're free, Cheese! You can work for fair pay! You can visit home! You've basically gotten everything you wanted, and all it took was a little treachery and murder. And basically a whole town being decimated but that was on Vackles not you.

See if you can find some privacy with him to talk things over. Offer him some sympathy for the terrible mess an honest guy like him's had to involve himself with, but let him know (gently) that what happened up there was a vision of what he might expect to have to be prepared for, when he becomes a noble. If he doesn't find some other, better way to hold on to power, at least. You might take the opportunity to talk to Moss, as well, and to Croc. Wrap things up with everyone together.
>>
No. 733888 ID: a075ba

Oh and if you're going to be Fence a while longer, that means you can look out for those kids who helped you! (And one who didn't help you but you now own).
>>
No. 733893 ID: 398fe1

>>733870
>No!
Was that to mean you did not do something right? Did you earn her ire? Better get that shit back from the Crows and deliver it to where it should be! Unless the Crows will be handing it over anyway? I'm unsure exactly how screwed those poor birds are now that you've outed them as complicit. And yourself as one of their contacts. Didn't they say if anyone found out you were a Crow-friend you'd die?
You solved a lot of problems just now but you have a bunch more to worry about before you're in the clear!

Maybe Gauche can help. Work closely with him now that he's a big man again in the Fence. He might agree to be your umbrella to shield you from the remaining shit that hit the fan.
>>
No. 733895 ID: 91ee5f

Since you're free now (I think), does this mean you're going to be in Erja Nokol when Fen arrives for his mission? If so, that means you and your family can help him out!

It sound like it might be a while before you'll be able to see Fen again. Make sure you give him a hug and tell him goodbye and you'll miss him or something like that.

And absolutely DO NOT forget to return those fancy clothes you're wearing! I know it sucks that you have to return them, but you've gotta. There's no telling what they'll do to you if you don't return them.
>>
No. 734095 ID: dd338c
File 146785782914.png - (22.47KB , 800x800 , 599.png )
734095

I don't need to run out the nearest window or anything, but I do need to get the dragoncloth and money from the crows. If I don't, Apanya or Krix or both will do it themselves. It won't be pretty or go well.

>Was that [No!] to mean you did not do something right?
No, it meant I really wasn't sure what I was doing was right! I think it was the right thing. Certainly not the worst.

>Implication that Dragon Knights don't care
I don't know for certain, but this is a big suspicion. They just kind of wander around and do empire things as they want. There's a big disconnect between them and everyone else, differently so from the gap between a noble and the peasants.

We start shuffling out. Gauche gets my attention and approaches me.

>"Worm, meet me in the fence tomorrow. You will work for me."
"Wow, I'm actually your choice?"
>"You're the best choice I have of all the people who are still alive, right now."
"Gosh, thanks."
>"Don't thank me. That implies you think that I proudly chose you."
"Well, will I get to travel around much at all?"
>"Once things are in order. I will expect you to devote all of your time in the Fence for at least the first three weeks."
"Okay. Uh... well, I'll show up tomorrow as soon as I can, then."

I should've given long goodbyes to my sister. I shouldn't mess around, I really want that startup boost, because most of my contacts are just associates and whatever. I can't really make people go out and do tasks without blackmail or whatever.

From Rasyan's documents that Fen stole, I found that mess of shady deals between the hometown of Krix, Rasyan, Cati, and the capital here. Some of that may be moot with this shakeup, but at the same time, that shook out a lot of dirty leaves that I can see.

Then there's that potion wizard in Erja Nokol. Also I should keep track of the dragoncloth, but I doubt Krix is going to do much with it fast.

Later. Or at least tomorrow.
>>
No. 734096 ID: dd338c
File 146785784814.png - (23.88KB , 800x800 , 600.png )
734096

Fen is talking to Moss, and I don't want to interrupt the friendly tone there. Moss leaves, and I step in to give Fen a hug before he gets taken away.

"I'll send you a letter!"
>"I'll be able to receive letters?"
"Yeah! I mean, they're not one hundred percent reliable, but you know."
>"I have to go. I will see you sometime again."
"Okay!"
>>
No. 734097 ID: dd338c
File 146785786061.png - (94.69KB , 800x800 , 601.png )
734097

Wait that was it? He just left? That was so fast. Maybe he's not into long goodbyes.

I look for Moss. He's wandered off pretty far to an untravelled hallway, and gone between a pillar and a wall, which is not part of the main walkways. He's noticed me, but is making a point to stare forward and away. After trying to read the nobles that play hard to read for a living, and Fen a weird foreigner, Moss is an open book. He's distressed, angry, and I interrupted a keep-his-shit-together session. I have stuff to say to him, but maybe it's stuff that doesn't need to be said.
>>
No. 734098 ID: 3fae9b

"Fen got what he wanted anyway. I suspect you were trying to cause problems for me, but I do still hope I didn't cause problems for you."
>>
No. 734099 ID: 398fe1

>>734097
"So I think I'm in a fairly good position now, how about you?"
>>
No. 734100 ID: 211d83

So hey there.

I wanted to check and see if you were ok.

I know we got off on the wrong foot but I really am trying my best to help Fen. I hope I did not ruin anything for you.
>>
No. 734101 ID: a075ba

>>734097
Maybe you should give him a few moment or minutes to finish his keep together session before interrupting him? I mean, there are obvious advantages to keeping him off balance, but this might be easier if he were more rational and less panicking.

"So... you okay?"

I also liked "no hard feelings, but please don't try that again".

The other important thing to cover: "You know Fen will be coming back for that cloth first chance he gets. We've both seen how he gets, and Apanya as good as gave him permission. And you'll be working for Krix when that happens."

He needs to decide what side he's own. If possible, we need to turn him to be our inside man. Use his friendship to Fen, and what you have over him now. Find weaknesses. Information that Fen will be able to use.
>>
No. 734116 ID: 91ee5f

Gauche hiring you was probably his way of saying "Thanks for saving my life" without actually having to say that out loud. Or maybe it was just a logical choice to hire you, which means he acknowledges your skills. But it's more likely that he's doing a "keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer" thing.

Fen probably would've had a longer goodbye if he was more familiar with you as an ally. You haven't know him long enough for him to think of you like that.

One reason Moss is stressed out might be because he actually has to do work now, instead of just lying around and taking naps whenever he wants like he usually does in the breaktown. Another reason could be because he has to work under a scary guy like Krix. Or maybe it's both of those reasons.
>>
No. 734213 ID: 5a893f

I'm sorry you lost your job at that town and have to work for Krix now. I have contacts in the crow zone if it isn't obvious, which is where I imagine you're heading to. I'll have some people try and make your job easier there.

Keep sending me letters once I'm at the fence and keep me updated on what needs to be done. I'll take care of it.
>>
No. 734346 ID: dd338c
File 146793109031.png - (78.79KB , 800x800 , 602.png )
734346

I wait in silence for as long as it takes, before the awkwardness turns into silent hostility.

"Hey."

....

"I wanted to make sure you'll be okay. Fen got he wanted, and I can't complain, but I hope I didn't cause any problems for you."
>"There's no point to feeling guilty in my name."
"Still, uh, there's no hard feelings from me."
>"What?"
"For, you know... I suspect you told me to say one thing, but it looks like I should've said the other."
>"I had nothing to do with that."
"R-really? You looked kinda miffed in my direction after I said that."
>"Yeah? I saw every remaining gold noble in the province get theirselves demoted or gutted aside from the warlord, who I could only ever speak good of. Everyone gawked at that, and I wasn't looking at you. Besides, going off script worked out, didn't it?"
"Well, yeah... but, you know Fen's gonna come for the cloth the first chance he gets. When he gets out of the army, well... you'll be working for Krix.
>"Thanks for reminding me."
"Uh... back when we first spoke by the Fence, well, maybe I was wrong, but it kinda felt like you had something to say to me, and I'm getting the feeling you're holding back some information from me."
>"I was and still am keeping myself from telling you how much I despise you."
>>
No. 734349 ID: 211d83

Yeah I can understand that. What I did to Fen was a horrible thing. Even if things worked out in the end.

I know you probably don't care but I was basically a slave to Bardo. He had me piled up under so much debt I would never see the light of day or have any chance of seeing my family again.

And then Fen showed up and even though I knew it was wrong I saw a way out. I knew it was wrong but years of desperation drove me to make a horrible mistake. I am just glad Fen could forgive me.

And now I have a chance to be more than the creepy mutant spymaster. If I can help Fen with his goals maybe I can find redemption and improve my own life.
>>
No. 734350 ID: bb78f2

>>734346
That's fair, long as it isn't because I'm a mutant. Then its not fair, cause I didn't have a choice in that matter. In all frankness, I'm not my biggest fan either. Imagine having to deal with me 24/7, day and night. The worst.
>>
No. 734352 ID: 90f3c0

That's a pretty strong reaction based on your limited interactions. He must see a lot of crime in his position, what you did can't be all that special. Surely you must have done something else to piss him off.
>>
No. 734353 ID: a075ba

>>734346
I'm... kinda used to people hating me, to be honest. For the mutant thing, or what I do.

That's sort of what makes the way Fen treats me so different.

Look, I'm not going to apologize for Bardo or Cati. Neither of us thinks they were good people, and one tried to enlave me with debt, and the other tried to control me by threatening my family.

I'm sorry you got stuck with Krix. I know how shitty it is to be stuck under a bad noble.

But I'm not here to rub it in. Fen's your friend, and you're going to be working for his future opponent. You have an opportunity here, if you're willing to act like someone you despise. We can stack the deck in his favor.
>>
No. 734354 ID: 398fe1

>>734346
Why, for what you did to Fen? You made a big mistake out of desperation, and you're making up for it.
>>
No. 734369 ID: 42b77a

"Is that all? Most people don't bother hiding what they think of me. If telling me would make you feel better, go ahead. Or do you want me to try justify myself to you? I'm a mutant. I can't be a big strong honorable warrior like the empire imagines its ideal kobold is, like Fen or Croc or you, to get showered in praise and loyalty, and mithril noble ladies commenting on my... "healthy shape"."

*wink*

"... So I became an information trader. I deal in bribes and blackmail and secrets and lies. I deal with terrible people who do terrible things, sometimes to me. I figure I've turned out pretty good, considering. I had a moment of weakness with Fen, but I've done everything I could to do right by him since. It's up to you whether to believe anything I say, though."
>>
No. 734371 ID: 42b77a

Let's not push Moss to be our spy or sleeper agent or anything, by the way. He seems a pretty straightforward, upstanding guy, he doesn't seem the type to carry out straight-up treacherous acts himself, he's already done a lot for Fen and he doesn't like Cheese. We'll see how things stand with him when the time comes.
>>
No. 734372 ID: 91ee5f

>"I was and still am keeping myself from telling you how much I despise you."
Why? If you've got something to say, then go ahead and say it. I mean, look at me. Do I look like I can stop you? Just go ahead and tell me exactly how much you despise me. I probably deserve most of it anyways.
>>
No. 734394 ID: dd338c
File 146794109335.png - (21.11KB , 800x800 , 603.png )
734394

"I'm used to people hating me. I mean, can I stop you? I'm not some big empirical warrior ideal and it's tough enough to get people to look at me without grimacing, let alone having mithril ladies talk about my 'healthy shape.' I hope it's because of the dragoncloth and not me being a mutant. Fen helped me out and didn't kill me and I owe him so much, so I'm gonna help him to pay him back! You've got to have seen worse crime as a guard. I mean, dragoncloth or no, thievery can't be the thing that turned your stomach."
>".... about 6 years ago, they say you told a noble's war band that some town was hiding funds. They set it on fire and searched it top to bottom. You did that so another town, less than a quarter of the population, wouldn't get attacked instead. Is that true?"
"I... was more despicable back then, but I did. I'm trying to redeem myself, though, because lately I've been seeing how shitty I've been."
>"It was three nights ago you just stole a pricless artifact! How hard have you been trying when you just failed?!"
"I told Fen how sorry I was! Ask him about - "
>"You have yet to make it up for him, and you still want him to save you!"
"I was stupidly desperate and got caught in a moment of weakness! One noble has me hopelessly in debt, the other threatens my family, I just see a dragoncloth and my mind - "
>>
No. 734396 ID: dd338c
File 146794145982.png - (22.12KB , 800x800 , 604.png )
734396

He grabs me by the shoulders and slams me back into the pillar.

>"You saw it?! I had my family and friends and every place I loved killed and razed while Warlord Krix did his rebellion. I had to hide for months in a dead land, and when it finally ends, I see him rewarded with wooden nobility. Today I saw my wife. I could only visit for about 30 minutes after not seeing her for weeks, after she made it clear to me that she's been wanting a husband, not bundles of coins. Today she finally did it and left me. And I don't blame her. Guarding is the only thing that I can do that even lets me save anything and support us, but it keeps me from her, and she... and I left to come here to see Krix, in person, for the first time, and get told by Apanya that because of my 'healthy shape,' I'm working for Warlord Krix now. She even knew my history with him and still... and then kills or demotes every single remaining gold noble except him. Now I've got just a friend or two in the world, and work for..."

He chokes before his voice steadies.

>"Fen wasn't followed. He was ignorant. His back was turned. I could have stabbed him, taken his dragoncloth, and be treated to dinner by some bigots for ridding the world of someone south. I can't fence dragoncloth myself, but I could've taken it, and if I found a way to sell it for a 10th of the price, I could have retired for ten lifetimes. But I didn't. Because I'm decent.. I learned to be happy with what I've got, and it's not easy, but I'm determined to keep it that way when I keep seeing people like you go running off and making huge messes, siccing warbands on towns and coaxing nobles to set other towns on fire intentionally or not. That's why I don't like you."
>>
No. 734397 ID: b2d501

"@#$% this country, it's built on monsters that pretend to be kobolds, to the point that everyone in power is SUPPOSED to be twisted in some way, shape, or form, and then asked to fulfill some personified ideal that's far from anything they're worthy of! The only reason I'm not up there on that golden tower getting my head chopped off is because I can't fit!

... Metaphorically and physically."
>>
No. 734407 ID: 398fe1

>>734396
Tell him that within a year, things will change. If there's anything he needs in the meantime you will try to help, because he's a friend of a friend, and you're trying to keep the one friend you have.
>>
No. 734409 ID: 42b77a

Make sure you're both being quiet while you have this little... discussion.

"Fine. That's fair. I could try tell you that everything shitty I've ever done was me being pushed into a corner by some noble being terrible first, but I'd bet that's the excuse they'd offer themselves. And I bet you know it already, don't you? But you can't touch the nobles, so you want to vent on me. I deserve it too, so go ahead. I could be worse, but you are a better person than I am, I won't argue it. Look, if you hate the idea of working for Krix, I can try spin things with Gauche to get him to ask Krix to... lend you out, I don't know. The Fence needs to rebuild its town guard, and he'll need someone who knows the job and has integrity, to train and organize it. Gauche mostly just wants to provide for his family and keep quiet, so he'd suit you. Or, if you want to get payback you can stay with Krix and wait for a chance. If Apanya knows your relationship to him, then I'd bet she's aiming for a full sweep, four out of four, and installing you as someone who'd be willing to help it happen."
>>
No. 734414 ID: a075ba

>Because I'm decent.
....Yeah, you know what, you are.

And you know what? You're a rarity. I don't think most people are that decent. I think there are a lot of kobolds who would have stabbed him in the back, and very few who would have helped him like you did. If Fen's really gonna be a noble, he's gonna need people like you.

Me? I'm scum, but at least I know it.

I'm sorry you got burned by this. There's not a whole lot I can do to make this better, except help make it an even set. There's one gold noble who's past due for a fall.

...as long as the empire's a tinderbox of greedy bastards though, it doesn't matter if there are people like me to light the fires. Something always will, until we change. Fen's the first person who's ever made me hope that might happen.
>>
No. 734416 ID: 211d83

Yeah life is a miserable unfair mess isn't it? Assholes get ahead and the common man gets fucked. But for all the harm I might have caused I was doing my best to improve my life. You say you don't like me? Well I don't like cowards who hide from the world after it beat them down.

I am not going to pretend I am some saint working for the greater good. Most of my life has been a mad scramble to keep myself alive. You can at least get honest work. I am pathetic mutant and not even a abomination that can get hired on as a death machine like my siblings. I spent years just trying to get by. And honestly for a lot of it I did not care about the people that got hurt along the way. When everyone spits on you and the only way you can go outside without getting beaten is if you have bodyguards you get a twisted view of things.

But you know what I never hid and hoped that the world would fix itself. I was out there every day trying to improve things for myself the only way I knew how. And I regret so much of it now. But if I stop trying now just because I helped hurt people before then all if it goes to waste.

I had no idea she would stick you with Krix or that you had a history with him. But you know what? You only have to live with him for a few more months at most. Cause a friend of ours will be back soon and he is going to get his property back. Hell I think Apanya knew that and she did get rid of all of her nobles back in that court room. Just one of them does not know it yet.

So you might hate me but can you work with me? I have hitched my horse to Fen's wagon and will do anything I can to help him. And if he knew about your sad tale he would be doing the same for you right now. If you can stomach your hatred of Krix long enough your revenge will be soon coming.
>>
No. 734422 ID: 5a893f

>>734396
Not everyone is strong like you, Moss. You can't expect them too. Krix will get his one day, just keep your head down and you'll see it. Most nobles meet the same fate as Bardo and Cati, their too hungry for their own good.

4 nobles have died in the last week, all for the same reason. Too hungry, too ambitious. It won't be long before Apamya does the same thing to Krix. Hell, it's probably why she put you there. She's probably been filling his armies with people who have all the reason to hate him, and now she's sending him after that accursed dragon cloth. She's cleaning house, Moss.

The main difference between Krixs demise is that Fen or me won't have anything to do with it. You want him dead, Moss, find whatever plot Apanya's doing, and help it along yourself.

Just know it's probably going to get a lot of people killed in the process, and you won't be decent by the end of it. You'll look into that abyss and become a part of it. Funny thing is, you don't even really have a choice in the matter. What's going to happen is going to happen, and you'll do you, regardless.
>>
No. 734472 ID: dd338c
File 146795791425.png - (14.66KB , 800x800 , 605.png )
734472

"I'm not a saint, either! I'm not my biggest fan either, you know, and I've gotta deal with me every day of the week. Maybe you're decent, and that means you're a huge rarity. You want the warlord dead, right?" I ask, making sure no one else is around and whispering during all of this.
>"More than anything now, but I don't want to burn down the people Tunna just to indulge myself."
"And how many towns are gonna burn down because you didn't want to burn down that place? Yeah, what happened to the Fence is awful, but Sir Gauche is... not the worst. I think he can turn it into a good place, especially with Lady Apanya ordering him too. If he's supported, then maybe it's for the greater good that the Fence got sacked today."
>"I'm sick of hearing about all the shit that happens for the 'greater good' that never comes."
"And I'm sick of the empire being built on monsters that pretend to be kobolds. And watching strong, decent people like you just sit around and let things be. Sir Gauche is going to need a town guard. If you just want to have a cozy job, then maybe I can have him buy you off of your new employer, because you're a friend to my friend and that counts as something. But, you know, if you want to make some change, you can be the best guard under Krix and, over the next few months, find out how some barbarian could sneak in and mess things up."

He looks away.

>"Spare me. I'm going to have to kick innocent people out of homes, 'interrogate' random citizens who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and topple merchant wagons because they didn't load Lord Krix's coffers. I'm not so optimistic to assume Fen is going to make it out of the army, but if he does, I'd never forgive myself if he got killed by Lord Krix when I might've been able to prevent it. That's what will convince me, not Lady Apanya's plans, not your lectures, not telling myself the 'greater good' while kicking kids' teeth in for feeding themselves."
"That's a good reason. I don't know why or if Lady Apanya would bank on Fen making it out, but she isn't the sort to just throw random assassination plans out and hope they stick. Who knows how many other people she's put under Krix's payroll. Lady Apanya completely cleaned her house of gold. One of them just doesn't know it yet."
>>
No. 734474 ID: b2d501

That was fun. See you later, Cheese.

... Ask Moss if he wants to hit the bath salts. Your treat.
>>
No. 734476 ID: b68e40

oh no someone turned off the chroma key compositing too early!

Anyway, good luck Cheese. See if you can find enough spare money to afford some good clothes and grooming more often. It'll make a good/intimidating impression on the kinds of people you're going to be dealing with. Also you actually look kinda pretty now, not just weird-cute. It'll do wonders for your confidence.
>>
No. 734502 ID: 3d2d5f

"For the record, it was actually the kids kicking in my teeth."
>>
No. 734506 ID: 398fe1

It occurs to me that Apanya's agent might be Croc. That's why he was in town- he was doing spy work. Which means he might not actually be interested in Cheese, heartbreaking though the possibility might be.

Cheese should try to eliminate that possibility before bothering to learn his dialect so she can understand him. On the other hand, learning the dialect might be handy for the purpose of speaking in code.
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