>>807128
Well, since Issei gave himself away by saying he has tendrils and having them out in front of Troy, I think it's safe to say that Issei can't say he's normal to Troy anymore. So we might as well introduce Issei to Troy as the People Eater from that one story with the Thief and the Beater. Then have Troy guess which one got eaten!

What fireside campout grub can we can we cook up for dinner? I doubt Issei will want anything but strawberries so really that just leaves you and Troy.

>>807130
Then just stay up and chat for a while before going to sleep.

Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)07:40 No. 807162 ID: 8a947d
File 149710564396.png - (455.64KB , 1212x826 , Camp 2.png )

>>807131
Issei snacks on strawberries while rest of the fruit from the fruit pack you and Troy eat, you open the pack of jerky and finish that too, a meal fit for kings.

>>807132
Troy carves tiny wooden figures as he talks to you, birds, horses and such.

Troy: So you're settin' out to "reset the world"? why?

You: What do you mean why ? Everything's screwed beyond repair, its been years since everything supposedly went to shit and it hasn't gotten any better.

You: That and the damn Regent Church assholes running amok causing hell. I can't let that keep happening.

Troy: Yeah but resetting the whole world sounds sorta... impossible, let alone unnecessary. Besides, from what you've told me you don't have a concrete method of doing it, just a hunch.

You: Anything to get rid of the Church, as much as I want to see green hills I mostly want them gone; and no conventional method's gonna take them out of power.

Troy: I've spent a good portion of my life dodgin' the Church, but aside from the fact that they're the authority and I occasionally bend the law are they worth goin' through the trouble?

You: ...

You: Believe me, I'd give my life if it meant the Church falling.

Troy: Boy, that's some dedication... Say buddy, this might be a bit of a silly question, but I don't recall you ever tellin' me your name.

Issei: yes, it has not crossed my mind until now but i've just been calling you pagan and the like, but you must have a genuine name, yes ?

Whats your name ?

>>807162
>What's your name?
Drake Irving.

Also, I'm surprised at how Troy is just casually sitting there and not freaking the fuck out over Issei having tendrils and his face splitting in half to reveal a giant mouth!

Where we're from, true names give great power.

We don't want fame or recognition, we want a better world.

Gallows, one word. Fits the cowboy motif, and sounds cool/spooky for a pagan.

Pagan McPaganface

Pagan McPaganface

>>807172
That sounds neat.

Although I kind of like Gallows Conroy better.

>>807179
Thats also fine

Supporting Gallows.

Roland "Gallows" Conroy

Why do y'all want full names anyway? I don't think we've met a single person who introduced themselves with a last name.

Gallows

>>807185
Oooh. Even neato-er

>>807186
Because the whole introduction thing is just a literary device to allow us to input a name without breaking the fourth wall or being absurd.

Even if we introduce ourselves with a first name or nick name, that doesn't mean we dont have a full name. Same goes for people we meet. Issei being an exception.

>>807185
Bingo, this is a rad name. Our parents totally loved us to give us such a rad name.

Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)14:31 No. 807201 ID: 8a947d
File 149713026983.png - (290.33KB , 1212x826 , Camp 3.png )

You: Roland Conroy, but a lotta people call me "Gallows"

Troy: That is not what I expected...Why do people call you Gallows ?

You: Well its a bit of a far-fetched story, When I was little my town got raided by the Regent Church, right?

You: Thousands of people evacuated and escaped but a few of us got caught, 8 adults and itty bitty me. So the Inquisitors that attacked us took us prisoner and brought us back to their Shrine-City, I forget which one.

You: They say they've got to make an example out of us, even me.

Troy: Oh dang, how old were you when this happened ?

You: I was 8, so we get up there on top of this large wooden stage with nooses hanging from it. They put us in and dropped us one by one while spouting some bible verse bullshit to the crowd.

You: And then it was my turn, I was crying and blubbering of course I was 8 years old and about to be hung, and right as they drop me an arrow comes soaring over the crowd and hits the rope holding me up.

You: The Pagan Knights had come to raid the city to free some prisoners, surprisingly not me or the other men, and hit my noose by accident.

Troy: Seriously ? You were right this is does sound like a load.

You: I'm dead serious Troy, I ran up to them asking them to take me back to Daesfield all crying and snotting up and I still got the noose loop around my neck. a lot of people in Pagan society use fake names as a sort of cultural thing, I never learned why really, and people just stuck me with Gallows. Bothered me at first but I learned to like it.

Troy: Damn, survivin' a raid like that would probably fuck up most children mentally

You: It's one of the few things that's made me despise the church so I guess it did a little. The funny part is when I was riding back with the Knights non of them had bows or arrows, so I always had this feeling someone inside of the city saved me...but probably not.

You: It's getting late, we should probably hit the sack.

>>807201
Yeah, let's get some sleep.

1/6 Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)18:06 No. 807219 ID: 8a947d
File 149714317530.png - (2.96KB , 1212x826 , Something Wicked.png )

...

2/6 Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)18:07 No. 807221 ID: 8a947d
File 149714322717.png - (9.45KB , 1212x826 , Something Wicked 2.png )

something's not right...

3/6 Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)18:08 No. 807222 ID: 8a947d
File 149714330747.png - (43.54KB , 1212x826 , Something Wicked 3.png )

This constant feeling of dread that weighs on you even while you sleep.

When has anything ever been right?

4/6 Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)18:10 No. 807224 ID: 8a947d
File 149714344365.png - (219.89KB , 1212x826 , Something Wicked 4.png )

Premonitions of terrors that are to come that you barely remember come morning. You feel something crawling at the back of your mind.

5/6 Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)18:11 No. 807225 ID: 8a947d
File 149714350470.png - (205.26KB , 1212x826 , Something Wicked 5.png )

something is definitely not right.

6/6 Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)18:16 No. 807226 ID: 8a947d
File 149714376287.png - (204.59KB , 1212x826 , Something Wicked 6.png )

You startle awake with a very loud yelp waking Issei and Troy as well.

Troy: Christ man, whats the matter ?

You: It's not dead! that worm it's still alive.

Issei: that's very unlikely, troy crushed that thing. Even if it were alive we're safe on top of this mesa, we have nothing to worry about.

Troy: Yeah Gallows its an issue for the morning, go back to sleep.

>>807226
Go to the edge of the mesa and look towards where you fought it. Is it trying to climb up?

Don't you have to kill every segment of a worm to make it actually die?

>>807226
I guess you'd better use Aether Sight and look at the ground everywhere. Because this worm might be digging straight up through the rock!

Listen Very quietly and carefully before you try aether sight.

Let's... hold off on the Aether Sight unless it's absolutely necessary.

Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)19:58 No. 807241 ID: 8a947d
File 149714989005.png - (91.92KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 1.png )

>>807227
>>807234
There's nothing out the way you came there no worm trails, no tremors going off, you don't even hear the worm burrowing anywhere; it's quiet. The silence rings in your ears punctuating the loud beating of your heart as the constant feeling of dread looms over you.

>>807229
That may be true for a real worm, but something brought about with voodoo may not work the same way as beings from the real world.

Check the other sides of the mesa.

...it'd be pretty nasty if it shrank down in response to damage, so it's the size of a snake now and is planning to attack you while everyone sleeps. Maybe you three should organize a watch schedule.

>>807241
Uhhh, is it just me or is there a weird looking black dot floating behind Issei over there?

Heretic 2017/06/10(Sat)20:35 No. 807251 ID: 8a947d
File 149715210015.png - (266.28KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 2 (Drrrrrrrrrrrr).png )

>>807246
Could it be possible for it to shrink down ? Its not out of the question given how little you now about voodoo creatures. You move around to the other sides of the mesa, but don't see much else.

You listen closer, there's a low humming noise in the air but you still can't feel anything below you. There shouldn't be anything digging underneath you anyway that worm burrows in the sand not in rock.

Despite the idea that you're safe you still get the feel that something may be creeping up to you. You stay on your toes and ready yourself. (Success=8)
(Roll 1d6 adding 4 from your AGILITY)

And If you can't dodge it you ready your knife in case you need to strike at anything. (Success= 12)
(Roll 1d6 adding 5 from SKILL and 3 from STRENGTH)

>something brought about with voodoo may not work the same way as beings from the real world.
Well then step away from the ledge. Try to calm yourself down by looking at stars.

>very unlikely it's not dead
We've already seen that voodoo lets things not stay dead, sometimes.

...if it were a proper sandworm, it would have dissolved into a whole swarm of sandtrout.

Aether sight, maybe?

rolled 3 + 4 = 7

---

>Roll 1d6 adding 4 from your AGILITY

rolled 4 + 8 = 12

---

>Roll 1d6 adding 5 from SKILL and 3 from STRENGTH

>>807255
Let's use this roll and strike! Call the others!

1/2 Heretic 2017/06/11(Sun)13:47 No. 807346 ID: 8a947d
File 149721404596.png - (334.34KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 3 (Grooooooooorrrrrrrrrr).png )

>>807254
You don't hear it burrowing, you don't hear rock give as it bursts through the mesa's top all you hear is the monstrous groaning noise it makes as it makes it lunges towards you, though you're not fast enough to dodge it...

2/2 Heretic 2017/06/11(Sun)13:48 No. 807347 ID: 8a947d
File 149721412240.png - (251.78KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 4.png )

You do manage to duck in time and slash at it's face, knocking it of its path towards you and sending it over the mesa's edge.

CAN YOU FLY YOU SUCKER!?

Issei! Troy! It's back!

Heretic 2017/06/11(Sun)16:20 No. 807368 ID: 8a947d
File 149722323611.png - (135.84KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 5.png )

>>807357
You look down over the edge of the mesa the worm is gone, there are no holes in the ground indicating it's burrowed away.

>>807358
You're sure they saw what went down.

Troy: I-It came up through the rocks !

Issei: it seems it can burrow through rocks as well...

You: No. Look there's no hole in the ground where it came up from, it hasn't been burrowing at all this whole time. It just phased through through the ground !

Issei: but those tremors from earlier

Troy: Just tremors, the worm wasn't causing them.

You: That means we aren't safe here. The worms already on the move again and since we have no way of feeling where it is we need to get out of here fast.

Issei: i'm grabbing our supplies

Troy: Gallows help me get the horses ready!

Sounds like we are on a manhunt, if we find the guy that summoned the worm and kill him, we won't have any
more trouble with it. And luckily we have the best tracker around.
"Issei, what wickedness do you smell around here?"

I bet the tremors were from the worm disturbing other creatures within the sand. That means you will get more warning on sand than rock.

Let's get a move on.

>>807369
Interesting idea. I wonder if the hunter-killer hawk would work here?

>>807368
That thing can move pretty quick. You couldn't outrun it before.

We could make a stand, but we'd need a way to hurt it to do so.

>>807375
The Black Ice did harm the skull-worm. Take a look at the picture of it trying to jump Gallows. There's a chunk of its skull smashed in where the Black Ice hit. So we do have a means to harm it. Question is, can Tory generate enough Black Ice, and can Gallows stay away long enough to beat the skull-worm in with it.

The skull-worm seems to be intent on chasing Gallows, so if he could keep moving while Tory summons up Black Ice chunks to chuck at the worm, that might work. We got any ways to speed up Gallows or increase his evasion capability other than him riding a horse?

Gallows could also activate Aether Sight to call out where the skull-worm will emerge from the ground so Tory can aim at it.

>>807368
Do you think you could hit it with a Stun Spike? do you think a Stun Spike could affect it? If it could be stunned, then Troy could more easily smash it's head in!

Question is, do you have the blood necessary to use Stun Spike?

>>807381
Oh, bollocks, I completely forgot about the Stun Spike. Yeah, bait it into position and try and zap it. Just keep in mind it might not be effected as well as a physical being would.

Heretic 2017/06/11(Sun)20:07 No. 807384 ID: 8a947d
File 149723683932.png - (209.90KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 6.png )

>>807369
Issei breathes in the air.
Issei: there's no one around, that worm's not being controlled. in fact i'm sure it's exclusively after you roland.

You: What? How can you be sure ?

Issei: it's just a hunch, but the way it went for you first instead of me and troy. we were much closer together and next to the horses even.

Issei: if it wanted food 5 unalert targets would've been better than one aware and ready.

Troy: That's good means we don't all have to worry about it attacking us.

Issei: but its still going to try and get roland

You: That's even better, it means I can lead it away while Troy hits it again with Jet Black.

You: I'll use my Stun Spike ritual to catch it off-guard and you'll drop another chunk of black ice on it.

After sleeping a little and eating at the camp you 're at around 15 oz and 1 Liter (49 oz) of blood to spare, Stun Spike takes half a liter of blood to cast (about 17 oz) and if you want to check for the worm's presence with Aether Sight you'll have to spend 10 oz of blood and 5 more ounces for each minute its active.

>>807384
Again, I must ask: Troy, how are you staying so calm around Issei? I expected him to freak out by now!

1/2 Heretic 2017/06/11(Sun)22:24 No. 807398 ID: 8a947d
File 149724507764.png - (275.12KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 7.png )

>>807387
Troy seems like a pretty laid back guy, that and you're pretty sure he's gotten use to Issei by now. Issei opened his weird face mouth thing like ten different ways on the ride over here.

Troy grabs one of the horses by their reigns.

Troy: C'mon lets book it before that Skullworm comes back!

2/2 Heretic 2017/06/11(Sun)22:25 No. 807399 ID: 8a947d
File 149724512123.png - (294.64KB , 1212x826 , Returned Deathworm 7_5.png )

You reach for the horses reign- OH SHIT!

>>807399
Oh crap... okay... soooo...

Stun spike?

>>807399
Well at least you have animal viscera now.

Stun Spike it so Troy can smash it again.

>>807398
>Troy seems like a pretty laid back guy, that and you're pretty sure he's gotten use to Issei by now.
I know, but I was kinda expecting at least one "OH SHIT!" from Troy.

>>807399
>OH SHIT!
Yeah, like tha- OH SHIT!

Stun Spike it!

1/2 Heretic 2017/06/12(Mon)17:03 No. 807535 ID: 8a947d
File 149731222847.png - (327.86KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 2.png )

You line up Stun Spike and fire it at the Skullworm, the blast knocks you off balance but hits the worm center mass.

2/2 Heretic 2017/06/12(Mon)17:10 No. 807537 ID: 8a947d
File 149731262495.png - (278.12KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 1.png )

The worm's movement is slowed, it twitches erratically. It doesn't seem like the Skullworm can burrow right now but it's still able to move its body, it must be too big to be fully effected by Stun Spike!

The worm lunges at you once again! You could try firing another shot, after that last blast you have 32 oz of blood left, but you're not sure if any more shots would do any more, you could summon something if you have to.

Troy prepares Jet Black

It's already moving predictably. Dooooodge!

Letting a summon deal with this is definitely reasonable.

Is Issei a credible enough threat to screen you while you do?

How about we go back to the classic Flagellum? That should be enough to go toe to toe with this thing, and we have the viscera. Reflective items are pretty easy to come by, too.

>>807544
Jeffery Cuddle-Trousers, I CHOOSE YOU!

1/2 Heretic 2017/06/12(Mon)20:11 No. 807565 ID: 8a947d
File 149732349102.png - (390.16KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 3.png )

>>807544
>>807550
You don't have anything reflective to use as a catalyst and summon the Demon Flagellum! The Hunter-Killer Hawk is the only demon you're able to summon at the moment.

The Skullworm lurches forward at you, but Issei pushes you out of the way and catches the worm's face holding the whole thing in place. Issei struggles but thanks the the Stun Spike the worm is greatly impaired.

2/2 Heretic 2017/06/12(Mon)20:18 No. 807566 ID: 8a947d
File 149732392415.png - (373.12KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 4.png )

Troy: Issei! Gallows! Stand back!

Troy fires a barrage of black icicles all hitting the worm square in the side, they lack the weight or size to crush the worms body but do inflict a nice amount of damage. The Skullworm backs off and phases back down into the mesa.

You pick up the Horses Head.

Troy: Damn, now we're down a horse! this is gettin' worse by the minute.

You: We can't stay in one place, that worm may be gone for now but it will come back, it came back when you caved its skull in and it'll come back from some pain in its side.

Hmm... is the hawk big enough to carry you? The worm can't follow you into the sky.

>>807568
Couldn't we also summon up our gluttonous arachnid to give us a ride?

>>807575
We don't have the shards. We have 1 crystal shard and 3 obsidian shards. I guess we could try substituting obsidian in, but we don't know if that would make a good mount.

1/2 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)04:03 No. 807638 ID: 8a947d
File 149735181586.png - (180.31KB , 1212x826 , Hunter Killer Hawk Summon.png )

>>807568
A Hunter-Killer Hawk isn't big, but it is strong enough to carry you through the air.

>>807576
>>807575
You don't have time to experiment with different summoning substitutions ! If you don't hurry that worm will come back around and get all of you!

You: Issei, Troy, ride out without me I'll catch up to you guys.

Troy: You sure Gallows ? We don't know when that worms gonna be back

You: I'll be fine, you're in more danger if you're near me when it comes back.

You prepare the Symbol on the Magnifying Glass, the feather, a chunk of horse meat, and one obsidian shard.

2/2 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)04:04 No. 807639 ID: 8a947d
File 149735186903.png - (209.82KB , 1212x826 , Hunter Killer Hawk.png )

You've summoned the Hunter-Killer Hawk!

Now you've gotta get of the ground fast before the worm strikes again...

Is the hawk big enough to get you off the ground?

>>807640
Did you not read on what he just said?

>>807656
Clearly I did not.

That solves, one problem...

How nimble is this thing in the air if its carrying you? If this worm comes back I think I have a plan, but it requires our new friend, I think I'll name it Petey McBeaky, to be faster than that worm.

>>807639
Do a running jump off the side of the mesa!

>>807639
Flying cucco, away!

1/2 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)16:32 No. 807753 ID: 8a947d
File 149739673243.png - (97.56KB , 1212x826 , Take Flight.png )

>>807710
It'll be a little slowed down by holding you, but it'll still be fast enough to out maneuver the Skullworm.

>>807712
>>807749
You leap off of the mesa and have the Hawk fly you into the air. You fly behind of Troy and Issei at a safe distance so the worm will not target them as well.
At the height you are at you won't be able to listen for the slight humming noise the worm makes when phasing through the ground.

2/2 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)16:51 No. 807755 ID: 8a947d
File 149739791460.png - (406.98KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 5.png )

You can hear the agonized groan it makes as it emerges to grab you in mid air! The worm is large enough to grab out of the air, but you should be AGILE enough to dodge it, especially while riding the Hunter Killer Hawk.

Roll 1d6 adding 4 from AGILITY and 2 from riding the Hunter Killer Hawk (Success = 10) You will avoid being attacked but the worm will continue to follow you if you succeed the roll

Or you can attempt to hit it with another Stun Spike to stop it for a little, this will also allow you and Troy to advance with another follow up attack. Hitting a Stun Spike will be difficult however, last time it knocked you off your and aiming will be even harder mid air

Roll 1d6 adding 5 from SKILL but subtracting 2 from riding the Hunter Killer Hawk (Success = 9) Rolling this will force you into combat with the worm instead of running even if you fail.

You can only choose one roll.

rolled 1 + 6 = 7

---

>>807755
Not sure we can afford the additional blood loss from stun spike, and losing our grip from light headedness would be bad.

Let's go with plan A.

rolled 2 + 6 = 8

---

>Roll 1d6 adding 4 from AGILITY and 2 from riding the Hunter Killer Hawk (Success = 10)
Dodge!

>>807761
FUCK!!! DX

Well, time to see what a failed combat roll does, I guess.

Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)17:33 No. 807769 ID: 8a947d
File 149740040487.png - (270.53KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 6png.png )

The Hawk is too bogged down by your weight to weave out of the worms path. The worm doesn't catch you in its mouth but it does hit you and the Hunter Killer Hawk hard enough to knock you out of the air.

You hit the ground, hard. One of your legs is hurt bad, but not broken. Your Hawk is still present but is injured as well. you see the worm phase back into the ground, no doubt coming back to finish you off. You see Troy's horse in the distance stop and circle around to come back for you, you hear the gentle humming in the ground.

Get up and put your weight on your good leg. Arcane sight and be ready to jump away.

Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)18:12 No. 807780 ID: 8a947d
File 149740272580.png - (103.12KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 7.png )

>>807771
You balance yourself on your good leg and activate Aether Sight (32oz==> 22oz) you see the worm below you circling around your location getting closer as it spirals. Troy is getting closer calling out to you, and the worm is starting to advance on you.

>>807771
Yeah, but we need to kill it this time. Troy needs to build up a big piece of black ice again, and Roland needs to lure the worm into the trap.

Can we use the hawk as a kind of boost? Like letting us jump to the side at a good distance? Think of a cucco.

>>807780
Can you point at the worm so the Troy will know where to aim? That way there will be an ice spike waiting for it when it comes up!

Another thought is: Does its tail continuously go down or is its tail coming from a certain direction? Could you possibly follow it's tail all the way back to its summoner and kill him/her? Or will the worm not disappear like that because it's a voodoo summon?

1/4 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)21:54 No. 807831 ID: 8a947d
File 149741604316.png - (166.12KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 8.png )

Troy hops off his horse and stands by you, you point out where the Skullworm is underground and tell Troy its location.

You: Troy! We have to get out of here!

Troy: We can't keep runnin' Gallows, now's a great time to strike we know where it is and what to do!

Troy: Just stand still Gallow's, I got this.

2/4 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)21:55 No. 807832 ID: 8a947d
File 149741613405.png - (331.95KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 9.png )

The Worm begins to surface, you can see it heading right towards you and Troy

3/4 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)21:57 No. 807833 ID: 8a947d
File 149741622142.png - (278.68KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm 10.png )

The Skullworm lunges

You hear Troy whisper behind you

Troy: JET BLACK

4/4 Heretic 2017/06/13(Tue)22:01 No. 807835 ID: 8a947d
File 149741648130.png - (310.09KB , 1212x826 , Skullworm Skewer.png )

Black ice spikes emerge from the ground and skewer the Skullworm's body. It squirms on top of the icicles but after a while becomes still and starts to evaporate into purple vapor. All thats left is a human skull etched with voodoo markings.

Troy: After I saw you fall I knew the worm would come for ya again, so I knew exactly where it'd be.

Troy: Makin' bigger chunks of black ice takes longer, so I started growin' some under the sand near you and waited.

Troy: it's as simple as that!

Is it though...?

Better to a double tap to make sure.

>>807835
>All thats left is a human skull etched with voodoo markings.
Let's smash that to make sure it stays down!

"And stay down you..." *stomp* "ugly..." *stomp* "mother..." *stomp* "fucker!" *stomp* *stomp* *stomp*

And when we catch up with Issei, say to him, "Hey, Issei, promise me that when we find out who summoned that thing, you'll eat him or her and make it as painful as possible for them."

>>807835
Break the skull. Then keep the bone, it'll be useful for summoning.

There is no kill like overkill.

1/2 Heretic 2017/06/14(Wed)01:28 No. 807854 ID: 8a947d
File 149742890417.png - (202.64KB , 973x826 , Skullworm End.png )

You crush the skull underfoot and pick up three Runic Skull Shards.

Heretic 2017/06/14(Wed)01:29 No. 807855 ID: 8a947d
File 149742898281.png - (216.88KB , 1212x826 , Next Stop New Olmec.png )

You: Issei, if we find the guy who summoned this please make sure you eat him, slowly.

You: I'm not sure who's sent the Skullworm but I don't think we should make anymore stops.

Troy: You're right, We don't know what else could be out here...

Issei: I'm ready to get out of the desert, the dry air is irritating my throat.

You: No complaints then ? Good.

You: Next stop: New Olmec.

End Chapter 3

>>807855
Victory!