Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)19:17 No. 78379 ID: fb5d8e
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That's true. A banner and a name is half an army already: First come the loyalty, then come the heads.
But I need a fixed place to put it. A base of operations. The only dedication found in a moving army is that towards home.

I feel nothing towards contacting Commander Salamander again. I believe if this man is such a destructive force than the commander was well aware of that. The number of weapons stored in that tower did nothing but suggest she is little different when moved to action.

"Do you have anyone to take care of you?"
"Uh? No, I'm a.. a traveller."
"You are a thief. That is why you were in that house."
"..Welp, you found me out. But that doesn't matter now, since all the valuables have been burned.. No, not even that! The owners have been burned to. You know, I steal from the rich, but I would never hurt someone. Not like this.."

>>78379
A theif's skills are many and varied, and she may help to defeat this manifold threat. Take her on along with the Paladin, after having him check evil.

She's right. You have far more important things to worry about. In either case, the lawmen whose jurisdiction this falls under are presently being roasted.

"I intend to bring justice to those responsible. Will you help me?"

>>78379
She may be useful, and it's not like she really has anywhere to go. Maybe your influence can steer her right. As for a base, I have no idea. But referring to the Commander, I was more thinking of telling Lina what's going on. She seemed quite taken with you, and may want to help.

Adopt her, lead her away from her life of crime.

>>78379
You have to go back to Coriander's tower, if only to try to convince Lina to join up with you.
She likes you, Ridder, you can't ignore that.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)19:38 No. 78392 ID: fb5d8e
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Lina.. You're right, I can't ignore her. I will return to the tower to speak to her, but only once I have established a proper base. I need to get a hold in the area now I still can.

The girl next to me looks up with great hope in her eyes. It feels as if she is anticipating my question.

"I intend to bring justice to those responsible. Will you help me?"
"I thought you'd never ask. I can't just let something like this slide. Besides.. I owe you."



[b]"

>>78392
... you know, she's not really very good looking.

At first i thought it was a snarky little girl... now i noticed dem tits. I guess she's a particularly short dwarf, or a gnome or halfling.

Perhaps you should walk around the town, see if anybody else managed to escape.

>>78392
She owes you nothing, you were doing the right thing. It's just a shame you weren't able to help any more than just her...

It's important that we find out for sure who did it. Or at least, find out the name of the master of the dungeon so we can tell people who we're fighting against.

Ask her about the dungeon you found. Maybe she's heard of it.

Check for additional survivors, perhaps?

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)19:59 No. 78409 ID: fb5d8e
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"You owe me nothing. I was merely doing the right thing."

She looks away, silenced.
I carry Timotei back into the city.

The fire has died out having burned all of its fuel. Buildings lie collapsed in the streets.
I call out but find no answer.
It aches my heart to know that anyone I might have been able to save would not have made it when their houses collapsed on top of them.

Only one building remains. The church stands steadfast in the middle of the townsquare. Its insides are completely torched, yet its robust outer frame remains as a memorial to its builders unwavering faith.

Would it be against your code to sift through the rubble for coins?

>>78409
Perhaps you could use the church as a temporary base of operations.
It might need some repairing, though, to keep out the elements. And make sure it won't collapse.

>>78409
What god is that a church of? Because that may very well be a good base (assuming it's not too sacrilegious). From beneath the ashes of tyranny, justice shall arise, guided by the gods themselves. If anything, the standing building is a sign.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)20:28 No. 78438 ID: fb5d8e
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Sifting through the rubble for useful remains can always be done later. I don't like it, but it is unavoidable during times of war.
I am not a religious man and I am unable to identify the charred illustrations and shattered stained glass.
The interior has been burned to the ground.

>>78438
Who is the lord of this town anyway - do you know?

Yell out a hello for people taking shelter here, then examine the thing on the altar. If its dead, everyone else that took shelter in here probably also died of smoke poisoning.

>>78438
The priest was burned alive where he stood? How is that possible? Inspect the body.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)20:50 No. 78451 ID: fb5d8e
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I call out again.
There is no response.
The lone figure in this church is standing at the alter, apparently burned where he stood. For that to happen the flames must have come in a flash.
I will investigate closer.

The body and altar look wet somehow, despite the charring around it.
I move the body to take a closer look.. and it suddenly bursts back into flame.

>>78451
That's... disconcerting. Could this have been the source of the blaze?

>>78451
I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm gonna guess this is a temple to the Sun god.

See if you can rouse Timotei.

>>78451
hmmm investigate further... examine the book likely on lectern.

>>78451
This was not simply the work of an army setting the city to torch and sword. Something is VERY wrong here. Try not to get burned alive.

Rouse Timotei and ask him about the teachings of the Sun God, and if this relates to some prophecy.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)21:03 No. 78463 ID: fb5d8e
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I prefer to look into this myself before waking up Timotei. He needs the rest.

There is no book on the pedestal, only half a globe. A steady flame comes through a small hole in the top.
Despite the fire coming out, the globe itself is cool to the touch. It's a polished copper like the two bowls on each side of the altar.

>>78463
Hmmm...

Look into the flame directly.

Look for seams or compartments built in the pedestal itself, or near it.

>>78463
It's probably connected to some sort of tube running through the altar. Why I have no idea.

>>78463
Perhaps the corpse and globe here was the inferno's source? The local dampness could have been early attempts at containment before it grew out of control?

Are there any marking on the globe itself... don't fool with it too much. This blaze could have been triggered as some kind of divine judgment for ritual impropriety on the crispy fellow beside you.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)21:14 No. 78470 ID: fb5d8e
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I touch the altar for any hidden seams or compartments. My finger finds a thin line and I follow it.
With a smothered clunk the half globe turns out to be a full globe as I accidentally pull it out of the altar.

>>78463
What if stopping the flame -say by collapsing on top of it after having a heart attack- caused the fire? Like, it had nowhere to vent the flame and overloaded?

This could be an accident.

>>78470
...huh. Whaddyaknow. Be careful with that, examine it and the hole where it was once situated. CAREFULLY.

I'm guessing this is a sun god artifact that goes crazy in the presence of great evil and unleashes great amounts of flame?

Could also be that he threw himself on the altar to stop it somehow.

Is there any liquid in the bowls?

>>78470
So it some kind of ball of everlasting flame here, any controls, patterns, buttons or knobs on the thing?

Seems like we've found the source.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)21:22 No. 78480 ID: fb5d8e
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I found it highly unlikely for the source of this devastating fire to be inside the only building that is still standing.

The altar has a simple shape-fitting dent where the globe can go.
Neither of the bowls seem to have any liquid in them, but circular stains indicate that they may have had liquid in them at some point.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)21:40 No. 78490 ID: fb5d8e
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A fire that burns even when wet..
A fire that ends when choked but rises again when stirred..
Liquids in a temple to the sungod..
I don't know what I can make of this.

Well, I'm stumped.
I think it's time to wake up Timmy and ask him how this is supposed to work.

>>78490
Rocket Launcher!

But seriously, only thing I can think of is maybe the liquid is flammable. Maybe it would become 'holier' is you used the orb on the braziers, get the rightous flames going again. Because I'm trying to reach for symbolism, and I'm stumped.

...maybe ask the thief what she knows about this church, if anything. ...and find out what race she is. She is way too stacked to be a child.

>>78490
>A fire that burns even when wet..
>Liquids in a temple to the sungod..
It's just oil, Ridder. Or possibly a flammable waxy resin. How do you think he can be wet and burning at the same time?
Anyway start bringing this place back to order! Relight the braziers, clean up the ashen piles as best as you can, remove the worn tapestries (to be replaced later) and mount your damn standard behind the podium already!

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)22:00 No. 78514 ID: fb5d8e
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Oil! Of course.
You were going on about magic and divine retribution so much that I forgot all about such mundane means of fire. The priest must have been been handling it when the fire struck and somehow covered himself with oil.

Setting my spear with the banner on the altar seems like a great idea. It is centered and symbolizes a bright future for my army.

I have wrapped the charred body in my cloak. It was the only way to douse its flames.
I will find a suitable place to bury it later.

I pour some oil into the braziers to light them.

>>78517
It was symbolic! Of being in a PUZZLE GAME.

Perhaps bring the girl with you, in case there is a lock or something. Plus, to keep an eye on her.

Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)22:19 No. 78536 ID: fb5d8e
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I call for Sticks to come down the stairs with me. She gladly obliges.

The cold narrow staircase leads down into a hallway with two other doors.

>>78536
Open the single door first.

End of Chapter 2 Ridder 2009/11/17(Tue)22:26 No. 78542 ID: fb5d8e
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What could this place be?
A crypt? Secret passages?
It may open up a whole new range of oppertunities for establishing a base.. or it may prove a whole new series of danger.