"With rape."

Again, you neglect to respond, more occupied with your first genuine flight in weeks, months, if you don't count the mere transit back and forth from the collapsed dome you were using as a makeshift lair. Still, at what you take to be decent praise (especially since she genuinely meant it, without knowing whether you would take it as such,), you feel a satisfied humming, a rumble, start within you. Scinnari can evidently feel it, but is not sure what it signifies. What might be a purr in a cat is more akin to a growl, once you up the size by a few hundred.

“My lord, if I have offended you, please forgive me. I thought we were... once again on good terms, after last night...” she begins. Though she controls herself well, you are certain you detect an undertone of fear.

“Of course. In fact, I may have to offend you in the future so that we can make up again! You are a most excellent Consort, Scinnari.” you laugh. “I did not answer because I am not sure myself. There are multiple routes, certainly, and some I haven't thought of myself, I'm sure. I should assume you are referring to me as Cibach Azaladon, as opposed to Azal?”

“Of course, lord.” Scinnari replies, her confident self again. “If you are to rule, you would deserve to do it openly.”

>>12669892
“Indeed... though humanoids are often recalcitrant to such systems.” Scinnari scoffs at this.

“Hah. They know nothing and are nothing. Convince them it's in their best interest, and they will defend it to the death. They accepted the sorcerer-king Ashkente, for what would be over twenty years in eleven-twenty-nine, and the kingdom of Nevarne still worships Dispater, Duke of the second level.”

“Sadly, my expectations are a little higher than twenty seven years, and I have no interests in a nation that sits and fortifies itself beyond any measure of attack...”

“It is patently obvious that they are wealthy, my lord, such expenditures are not made lightly. As for Ashkente-”

“-He was only brought down when he turned everyone against him. Please, I intend to make no such mistakes.”

As you finish speaking, you cross the shoreline below you. Waves crash on the beach, and several sunbleached wreckages stand in the sand, or partially submerged. The tide seems to be on the out, and you can see a single small ship, apparently at anchor, floating nearly a mile out.

[Hello. Sorry I missed Monday. Anyway, action (s)?]

With fear. The cult has given me an invaluable opportunity. If I can create enough chaos and uncertainty -- starting by blowing up the tower, and moving on into other pursuits -- while showing myself as the savior and lone bastion against them... then reveal to the people that the Sealord himself is a cultist; it will rally the entire city to me. They will practically beg me to take up the mantle of leadership and institute martial law. All to save them from these horrific cultists that plague.

>>12669900
Approach invisible. Check out the ship.

>I should assume you are referring to me as Cibach Azaladon, as opposed to Azal?

Is our name as a dragon Cibach Azaladon or just Azaladon? I thought it was just Azaladon and Cibach Azal was the name we were going to use as our humanoid persona. Doesn't really matter, just don't remember dragons having the whole first/last name thing going on. Cygnis and Az both only have one name, for instance.

With wealth.
I don't need a crown or throne- far too often is such a seat rotten to the core and weak, and the trappings wrapped in foil.
kings, heroes, phrophets- all can be bought and sold by the dozen. True power lies with the person bankrolling them.

Best thread of the night is here!

I noticed some people saying that we were being manwhores at the end of last thread. I disagree. We were merely flirting with Asha and it has long since been established that there is no way we would get into a relationship with Cygnis. The flirting with Asha is fine, we don't have to continue. That's the great thing about flirting, it doesn't promise anything. With Cygnis, we are not even at the level of flirting, just friendly. If anything she trusts us more now and that makes it easier for us to eventually kill her off when we are done using her. Hell, we openly told Scinnari about both these things and she didn't even bat an eyelash. In fact, she was off flirting with the gold dragon for information too, and as long as it doesn't go past that it's cool.

In short, until we stick it in we haven't actually been a draconic manwhore. And really, sticking it in Cygnis? Ridiculous. She's a gold.

>>12670036
But we are making an empire to rule. Like, that's been our objective since thread 3 or something.

Is Scinnari invisible as well? I wasn't sure the effects would carry over to her if we were using the emerald.

>>12670073
Actually, thinking about that, the emerald usually works on our 'personal effects' such as our boots. Would Scrinarri count as a personal effect when we are in dragon form?

>>12670073
IIRC it carries over to "cargo" as well. So yeah, she would be invisible since we are transporting her. Provided she stays on us.

>>12669883
Duly noted.

>>12670022
It's your name. Whatever you want. The understanding I had was that we had ourselves a two part name, to make up for it being slightly shorter. I'm open to correction.

>>12670073
Nope. But we're flying high up, so it's not like it should be noticed. One more dot against the sky, perhaps a travelling mage.
>>12669932

"Surely you do not disagree that the fear the cult has generated is a remarkable opportunity? They may happily allow such a change of leadership in the chaos. A strong helm to take them through the storm, what with the lighthouse blowing up, and the general terror, culminating with the Sealord being unmasked as a cultist himself."

"Yes, my lord, but when will you reveal yourself? The reputation of.." Scinnari says, pausing briefly as you can tell she choses her words carefully, "Chromatic dragons would instantly create the rumor that you were behind this, to profit yourself. And that's in spite of what it would prompt from those who are already your opponents, or threatened by you."

"You have an idea?" you ask, part question, mostly statement. You feel her shift her weight in an absentminded nod.

"Not necessarily, but it does seem that Freeport is a city of... independently-minded people. It may be very difficult to convince them you are their best interest... Perhaps you should consider choosing a location more... trained, to law and ruler."

"An idea that merits thought." you concede, agreeing to nothing.

>>12669959
Confirm, if yes, 1d100

rolled 46 = 46

>>12670129
Give Scinnari the gem then, and cast invisibility on ourselves. We know the spell. That way we will both be invisible.

As for the name, I think Azaladon is fine. One of the most badass dragons ever was named Firkraag after all, and that's the same length. I don't think length really matters. After all, look at the queen of chromatics: Tiamat

rolled 94 = 94

>>12670227

If there isn't enough room on the boat to land, we could just drop Scinnari off and get her to poke around.

>>12670291
Errr, I don't think it would be wise to land on a boat in dragon form. We would split planks and shatter masts, even invisible. I was just suggesting getting close. But sending in Scinnari invisible to search below decks is something I didn't consider.

well for now we have to deal with the cult but for future plans. work our way into the counsel and act a a paragon of society/ the peoples hero.

We would have to wait a while before we reveal that we are a dragon if we in fact do at all. Get enough support that people won't mind. if fact it may boost our popularity with our apparent truthfulness.

we will have to deal with Cygnis before we reveal. preferably enslaving her, of course even better yet if she accepts her fate or even willingly helps without persuasion. We could tell Cygnis that we are offering her the opportunity of cleaning up the city and influencing international politics. In addition if she feels we are too evil for her taste. we could say that that is why she is to be our adviser, "A gold to temper the rule of a Red". basically use her ego and the idea that she has a say in our policies to keep her complacent enough to not resist and occasionally help us.


However we will also be consolidating power through other avenues. owning property, popularity, controlling the under world. We know throwing all are eggs in one basket is a bad idea.

hope this picture posts
1286707460491.jpg

>>12669900
The easiest way to power in Freeport, a rather chaotic city, is likely to gradually knock down the other leaders and have followers ready to step into the gaps when they fall. Unfortunately, as Cibach Azaladon the political figure is largely Cygnis' construct rather than mine, his followers are hers... mostly. That needs correcting. While it is ongoing, however, this cult represents an excellent opportunity to gain in power and prominence.

After it has fallen... patience and care, I think. Freeport is a city with great wealth and potential; it would be a mistake to gamble everything snatching at the best of it when there is so much within relatively easy reach. Becoming Sealord now would be a mistake, both because I don't know enough about the city and because it would make Cygnis expect too much- forcing her to be disposed of or waved off constantly. Solidify and expand holdings within the city, build contacts and ventures, and then when the next crisis strikes be ready and willing to take advantage.

>>12670433
(continued)

>>12670129
If I may wax philosophical for a moment, Scinnari you speak of being a king, an emperor, worshiped as a god, something to that effect. I prefer a more subtle approach, as you have doubtless noticed. The concept of "empire" is a declaration that you expect everyone within a certain geographic area to obey your will and that you will use force to defend this claim from either external or internal contest. I decided long ago that such declarations are a flawed means of exerting power.

What I need is wealth and the loyalty of many competent individuals who serve me of their own will, nothing more; both can be constantly bent towards the acquisition of more of each. Perhaps not as enjoyable as having cities bow down before me, but more enduring if done properly, less likely to attract potential threats, and potentially even more lucrative. In a century or two, when I have grown in personal power, I will likely reconsider the matter of ruling openly. Until then, to take the risk would be mere vanity.

>>12670410
Cygnis is too dangerous to have in such a high position. Indeed, she would think herself our equal. Unacceptable. We will have to dispose of her as soon as we've found her hoard and made most of her contacts ours.

sorry for the tangent but how do you post pictures already present on /tg/ ?

getting the same picture error. another thread uses the picture.

>>12670410

>>12670444
Ehhh, I don't like this idea. Even if we rule as Cibach (not openly as Azaladon of course) we can still use the myriad trading guilds in the city to achieve economic dominance. After taking over the city we can move to annex them, slowly but surely. Indeed, if we are able to expand our rule to other cities we will be able to expand our fortune even more. Nothing is more inherently inclined towards wealth than despotism.

In short, I don't advocate becoming a merchant prince when we can become an /actual/ prince.

>>12670410
People seem to be assuming a lot about Cygnis from her colour. My impression of Cygnis is that she was a knowledge seeker above all else, and wasn't particualarly smite-evil-esque. If we become ruler, and rule, in a lawful enough manner then we might just be able to offer her a job as chief librarian or something.

Of course, if we keep torturing people at the rate we are...

>>12670479
You can't.

>>12670249
>>12670227
That sounds pretty legit. That'll work, as long as we are carrying her, i.e., in a claw. Such arrangements are not conducive to conversation, though.

>>12670097
>>12670099
It's somewhat tricky to handle an exchange of items in mid-air, but you are an excellent flier. Casting one of your spells, you conceal yourself, then remove the emerald and hand it to Scinnari.

"Do wait around. I'll be back shortly." you speak quietly, before turning and twisting into a dive. The steep descent is exhilarating, and you pull up a hundred feet above the surface, skimming above the ship. Your wing beats do make noise, but gliding as you are, particularly as fast as you are going, the only noise is heard by you, and that's the rushing of the sea air. The ship below you is smaller than you thought. A large skiff, a sloop, maybe. It's masts offer no threat as you pass over. Your eagle-like eyesight, however, provides you with a clear view of all below.

An empty deck, a pair of rowboats, and a trio of heavy looking ropes- no, not ropes, soft tubes of some kind, trail over the side. A heavy anchor chain hangs from the starboard of the bow, and you see under a tarp, a trio of humans working pumps of some sort. Perhaps pumping out water.

A moment later, you're past, canting your wings and returning up to where you left Scinnari. You can't see her, obviously, so you circle lazily a few times, managing to avoid jumping as her weight suddenly reappears on your upper back.

>>12670515
Oh come on, weren't you there when she had to be convinced to kill a cultist who had just attempted to murder us? She's lawful good to the bone. And metallics/chromatics hate each other above and beyond alignment considerations.

And even assuming she didn't, you do fully understand that she would consider herself our equal right? Why should we permit that? I understand that you like Cygnis and want her to be our waifu or something, but it's just not strategically sound.

>>12670553
Well, it might be. This 'Binder', and all that... I'm getting enslaver-vibes from it/her/them.

Alternately, (or maybe not, who knows,) how would we go about researching her true name? (If that's possible, setting wise.)

>>12670547
They are exploring the ruins. It could be the cult. Take no chances, burn the ship and all on it to cinders. The ones down there will drown.

Then we go down ourselves.

>>12670589
The "Binder" might just as easily bind us if she can bind a gold dragon who is equal to us in power. Not only that, but we would have to serve the binder for a favor like this, and why would we let ourselves be ruled?

And researching her true name is, very likely, outside our power at the moment. We're only on third level spells, and getting information like that requires epic level planejaunts... even if the DM allows it. I personally think the whole True Name crap should only apply to demons, devils, celestials, and other outsiders whose mythology lends itself to such things. Primes being vulnerable to true name shenanigans has always been something that vexed me.

>>12670592
Second
We can't let the cult get down there first. That might not be the cult but better safe than sorry so kill them all.

Yea i agree with you. i believe that Cygnis will be controllable especially if we act civil. however her brother won't be. he acts like a traditional red dragon rather than a gold. We won't state this to his face of course.

The idea is paladins won't touch you if your the paragon of society. in fact donate to their church regularly for community support and they would have to be insane to try. In fact their own organization if not the populous might turn them in.

A dragon seeking to over throw us would have to fight not only us but the entire city to do so.

>>12670656
But that's just wrong. If you are an evil tyrant the paladins will depose you no matter how much you donate to the temple. And you are still ignoring the fact that she will consider herself an equal, not a lackey. We won't be able to control her.

i should refresh before posting

we could sink the ship or cut the hoses. not sure if it will break invisibility because technical it won't. objects don't count.

could go under water and investigate but it will be visible as the water we displaced.

>>12670673
Equal in strength, but not in ambition or power. I don't believe she's an active enough entity to actually do anything.

>>12670656
I agree about the brother though. Stabbing in the eyes at first opportunity.

>>12670627
>>12670673
I was referring to attempting to discover it/her secrets. We have her cult book (which is only readable by Aisha, so far, but we're fairly certain it's because she is of draconic descent,) and there may be more of her knowledge and/or artifacts floating around. Therefore, we may have an opportunity here.

oh forgot to ask how far from shore are we? will their be any survivors if we sink the ship?

the might have magical communications devices but if we are invisible they won't get much except for something is attacking the ship.

Urgh. I wish I didn't miss what happened on the weekend because people missed out something important. We heard a rumour at the party that there's an odd metal being used in construction of the lighthouse. A metal called Dragon's Blood. Yet no one remembered nor sought to look into what the hell that is as far as I can tell. And now we don't have the chance to get someone working on that while we're at this palace.

>>12670708
What?

You know that she has been actively trying to get a pawn (us) on the council and into the Sealord's seat, right? That she told us she wished to improve the city and turn it to good, eliminating the piracy, slaving, and other things and that we would be the instrument for that? That she talked to us about how she plans to assassinate the Sealord because she "thinks he is ineffective." That's right, not even because he's an evil man, because at that point she didn't know he was a cultist. He just wasn't advancing the causes of good in the city rapidly enough for her.

Just go back and read Cygnis's plans for us on the council, and how she wanted to advance us. She has been being brutal and ruthless to get her pawn into the political arena and will then use that pawn to advance her own agenda for the city. She's very ambitious.

>>12670673
Not necessarily friend.
If deposing an evil Tyrant who, at the moment, isn't really doing much more then just making sure the trains run on time, creates chaos and allows for greater oppertunity for unrest and general lawbreaking, most Paladins and paladinic orders would be unlikely to challenge the tyrant in question.

>>12670739
Not to mention she used an assassination attempt to boost political and popular favor, and gambled with Lydon's life because it was for the greater good.

>>12670739

the whole idea is that she will be able to do it. in fact is spun the right way she won't care as much that she is a slave, greater good and all. However we will be in charge at the end of the day.

>>12670741
Yet we would be a chromatic dragon to her metallic. By DEFAULT she would assume we were up to no good. And, oh, by the way we have a devil bound to us and working happily alongside. No red flags there. Oh and we've lied to her constantly, entering into agreements in bad faith. Aaaand we tried to get her to kill her best friend/lover. Oh, and have been embezzling her hoard for our own purposes when we had our own, I'm sure she'd love to hear that one.

>>12670783
>in fact is spun the right way she won't care as much that she is a slave, greater good and all.

She's a gold dragon, not a paladin. She still has draconic pride. Slavery to a red to benefit the mortal masses? Please. A gold would rather fight to the death. We've already seen that she doesn't really care for mortals beyond the typical gold mentality of "I know best, these poor little things would be lost without my guidance."

There's no way she would happily consent to slavery without magical coercion.

>>12670784
You know, I told you that would eventually come around to bite us in the ass.
But it's cool- what cygnis doesn't know won't hurt us

>>12670821
Exactly. We don't tell her and then when we've gotten everything we can from her we have plans to kill her. I don't see the problem with this plan other than some insane reluctance to kill a massive liability. And yes, she is a liability, not an asset. Once we've drained her of everything and found her hoard, gotten her contacts, and used her clout... what is left? Just the fact she is a gold dragon, the very thing that makes her dangerous.

>>12670723
There shouldn't be any survivors if we immolate the entire ship, reducing it to cinders. Even if they jump in the water we will boil them alive.

>>12670734
Yep. I was remembering, but I figured I'd wait to mention it again in dialogue.

>>12670723
Just under a mile.


>>12670592
>>12670647

"The emerald, please." you say briefly, and with a few more aerial acrobatics, she manages to hand it to you. Out of simple caution, you shield Scinnari from sight as well, as you take the emerald back. Re-activating it, you swoop in on the skiff. It doesn't stand a chance.

A sweeping cone of fire blasts out, incinerating the rigging, and sending the dry timber up in flame. A few scattered screams of agony and terror, as well as the crackle of flame.

Sweeping around for another pass, you brake, let loose another blast, and then drop heavily onto the actual boat. A horrendous cracking and splintering of wood, audible even above the crackling candescence of resin and wood. The screams are gone, displaced by the roar of the fire and hissing of the waterline, and you see one of the three who were aboard jump overboard. Idly, you sweep out with a claw, bringing the mast down on top of him. A satisfying crack of bone and wood connecting, mixed with the cushioning forces of water. A pink cloud starts to drift out into the water. Around you, the ship is on an unchangeable course downward.

>>12670875
Also brief pause as I am relocating for food. Hope it doesn't take to long. (Experience shows ~30 min, but it may be less if there's no line.

Once we are sure the ship is dead and all crew are too, we should head down ourselves. Follow the rubber lines.

keep in mind we have built up significant trust with her so far. She did not stop Scinnari from torturing the cultist for information. Showing that she is pragmatic and maybe becoming hardened if it can be justified to her. Yes she seems but she prefers to follow our example rather than lead.


Keep in mind our goals don't necessarily conflict. She wants to improve her city and see it influence international politics. we want to rule an empire.

If their is no danger can we loot the ship while it is on fire?

yes we should follow the lines down.

Here's a copypaste from the end of last thread.

Allies and minions:
Self - organises a bunch of minions. Makes plans. Occasionally gets shit done by kicking someone's shit in.
Scinnari - going to seapalace tomorrow. Working on Finn. Good at manipulation.
Asha - Sorceress, Assassin. Not doing anything specific at the moment.
Kobolds - Kobolds. Diggin' a tunnel to below the lighthouse in case we need to boom it up.
Cygnis - Gold dragon. Working on intercepting a summoning crystal.

Douchebags we gotta kill eventually:
Sealord: Is cultist.
Azdukashen: Is a douchebag. Also wants our devil.
Finn: see Azdukashen.
Lighthouse: Not a dude, but still needs its shit wrecked.
Merchant Captain Andarr: We've been hired for 250g to wreck his shit.

Items of note:
We've got an invisibility gem, a shitload of anti-scrying gear, a dragonslaying sword, a cursed amulet, and we've got an 'ace in the hole' for combat with Cygnis.

Missions:
Kill Merchant Captain Andarr (6d12h remaining)
Fuck lighthouse's shit up (? remaining)
Investigate the sea palace tomorrow (24h remaining)
Kill Sealord (? remaining)
Seduce, bind, control, or otherwise loot Cygnis (? remaining)
Keep an eye out for more quest opportunities (constant)

Asha wasn't currently doing anything.
Having her kill Andarr for us, or get a Glove of holding, or get Underwater breathing, or further investigation or the cult were suggested.

I have an idea that could make Freeport a more orderly society.

Kobolds, you see, are a very lawful species. Currently, they are an oppressed minority in the city, but that can change, given as little as 20 years.

We can pursue two separate courses of action. First, we pursue the conventional means of acquiring influence in freeport using our elven guise, and adopt the position of popular demogogue. With us being a cult slayer, it would be easy to gain the support of the populace. If we support the rule of the masses, we would also achieve great popularity and support.

While we're doing this, we work to make the kobolds in the city an accepted part of the populace. They'll have to do their part to win over current residents, but our ultimate goal should be to win them citizenship in the city.

All the while, the kobolds will be breeding, and we'll encourage kobolds from elsewhere to immigrate to Freeport. Once the kobold voting population reaches critical mass, it would be a trivial matter to have our true identity named dictator for life of the region, all of which was completely within the letter, and perhaps even the spirit of the law.

>>12671183
I'd recommend we have Asha look into what the hell Dragon's Blood is. I believe had to roll to find out that information and if the cult is using something called that in constructing the light house, it might be useful to know what it is. Either to protect ourselves from it or use it on other dragons.

>She did not stop Scinnari from torturing the cultist for information.
What? Yes she did. She and Scinnari got into a spat over it, in fact. Eventually we settled on using her detect lies and yes or no questions, no torture involved.

>>12671183
We should keep Blackjack separate from the rest of our stuff. Scinnari is smart and devious, using Asha to accomplish his missions could tip her off. Besides, we might be watched when we kill him, to ensure we can get the job done properly. It could be a test.

>“How do you intend to gain control?"
Step 1: Get nominated to captain.
Step 2: Connect Cult to Sealord
Step 3: Kill Sealord
Step 4: Organise an oligarchy (group rulership) in his absence.
Step 5: Convince other captains to support us. Murder those who cannot be convinced.
Step 6: Council votes to instate a new sealord
Step 7: Lead everybody well for a while, using Kobolds as a protection racket that only we can control.
Step 8: Popularity at all time high for leading people well, killing the cult, murdering dissidents secretly, and being the only person who can manage the kobold menace.
Step 9: Surprise dragon.
Step 10: Profit.

>>12671215
That's not how it works. This is not a democracy, it's an oligarchy. The council decides who rules.

Besides, I suggest having the kobolds breed and form a small society separate from big centers of commerce. Like, inside a mountain for instance. That way we can have them do things like work on nefarious plots, weapons of war, or whatever we want... all without raising suspicion. We could have our own kobold army in a century or so, complete separate from our nation's army.

>>12671215
hm... we'll need to deal with cygnis beforehand, since the greater presence of kobolds in the city could lead to her taking authority over some of them, and because our interest in kobolds would make us suspect.

>>12671152
>>12671015
Seeing as there is no danger but the crumbling timbers, you center yourself in the boat, and wave vaguely for Scinnari to come down. You will you spell from her, revealing her just as she alights on the bow.

"I think now would be time to head downward. You made sufficient preparations?"

"Have I ever failed you?" she replies, producing a pair of rings. You neglect to answer, but take one.

Putting it on, you are faced with a perplexing gasping feeling, as if you can't breath. Annoyed, more than worried, you merely bend your neck, putting your head below the waterline. Sure enough, you suddenly feel your lungs expanding, satisfied with the 'air'.

Scinnari joins you, and you locate the tubes. Half climbing, half swimming, you follow them downward.

You arrive on the seabed, a hundred feet below. The ropes lead to a dim glow, which you approach cautiously. It turns out to be a trio of fallen bodies, wearing oversized brass helmets. A pair of torches stand up from their back, not burning, but emitting light as a spell might. Glancing around, you see what they were after: A massive wrecked galleon, decayed and damaged, but still proud. The slant of the bow points almost directly up, and is adorned with a mermaid figurehead, the sole oddity being that her lower half seems more like a dolphin than a fish. Her eyes are open, staring blindly through the water at you, and thoughts of treasure or plunder start flickering through your mind.

[Action?]

>>12671259
I think revealing ourselves to be a dragon too early could be bad. We can rule our empire openly as Cibach Azal for a while and expand to the mainland easier without being known as a dragon. As soon as people see that we are a chromatic dragon shit will get real.

We should get several large cities and a standing army under our rule before revealing ourselves, IMO.

>>12671302
Oh my. Locate object on gold coins. Since we don't specify a unique object we should be drawn to the nearest generic one. Which most likely means chests of the stuff.

I wonder if those tubes were for pumping air to someone underwater... We should see where those lead just incase we have company or some kind or at least see what they were trying to do.

>>12671373
We just found them, dude. They drowned.

>>12671303
Hmm.... Armies? Why not navies? Let's conquer a bunch of island kingdoms.... Ships are supremely vulnerable to fire, after all, and we are totally all-right with fire. Perhaps we could make a move on those ports of Tashz that rebelled.

Further, I think we have to admit that we can deal with risk, or we wouldn't be trying to make a name for ourselves, and we desire a rich and varied hoard. If it happens to include other dragons, that's awesome. Admittedly, we want to make it as safe as possible, but perhaps we could end up with Cygnis (in humanoid form) chained to our throne with a very solid steel collar, or something, to keep her from polymorphing.

Okay, maybe that's a little too much inspiration from Conan, but something like that. Trophies, man. Of course, if I'm just one person against everyone else, go ahead and ignore me whatever my arguments are. Don't want to hold up the thread.

>>12671391
Well to determine that we sort of need a world map. But I say armies because the richest, most powerful, and most populous places are usually on the mainland. Plus, volcanos with lots of territory around them are better than ones with lots of ocean.

>>12671382
You're right. I'm obviously more tired than I thought and am not reading things completely. My mistake.

>>12671302
Can we talk to Scinnari underwater, and are we still in dragon form?

We should explore the wreck

>>12671480
Even if we can't, Scinnari can talk to us because she has telepathy.

I'm rather shocked to see all these comments about keeping Cygnis alive. I also think that we're underestimating her. I bet you that she will eventually find out about us, or at the very least escape from our clutches if we don't kill her.
Gold Dragons are well known for being the paladins of Dragon kind, and we have no idea how many creatures she can call on for aid. Or her brother for that matter.

rolled 26 = 26

Lewtan gaems.
I get the feeling Scinnari is doing more work than -we- are, goddamn.
What's our hoard currently at? We're gonna need to lewt phat lewt, and lewt it good.
For instance, let's detect some gold coins. Or ... hmm.
You know how Lead blocks scrying?
And you'd typically use a Lead container so that your valuable goods don't get found by simple scrying?
Detect Lead Containers. ;-)

>mermaid figurehead
What material is she made of?

>>12671538

LoL if anything is inside a lead lined chest we could use locate object to detect lead.

make sure to use detect object for lead before we leave :P

>>12671444
>the richest, most powerful, and most populous places are usually on the mainland
Indeed. The richest, most powerful, and most populous places are usually on the mainland's coastline, in fact.

How convenient.

LOOT THE BODIES
LOOT THE FIGUREHEAD (if it's valuable)
DETECT GOLD COINS
LOOT THE GALLEON
DETECT MAGIC SHIT
KEEP LOOTAN THAT GALLEON
SEARCH IT MANUALLY FOR SHIT
LOOT THAT SHIT
FUKKEN LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

We did bring a sack with which to loot things, didn't we? If not, a sail or tarp will do. LOOT A SHIP TO ACQUIRE A LOOT SACK WITH WHICH TO LOOT OTHER SHIPS.

>>12671588
Or rivers farther inland, which warships can't navigate. Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Moscow, and I could go on. We simply don't know what would be better until we have a world map.

>>12671598
I meant for us to buy a bag of holding before we came here, but we started enroute and didn't get to buy things beforehand.

>The richest, most powerful, and most populous places are usually on the mainland's coastline, in fact.
Not included: Rome

>>12671553
REAL MERMAID
(I jest.)
*******************

Proceeding forward across the seabed, you observe the ship, trying to gauge, among other things, how old it is, and where any treasure would likely be. You stop after a full circle, and move forward to examine the figurehead. Pale wood, unnaturally so, compared to the rest of the ship, and looking just about undamaged, too. Strange.

Passing it by, you concentrate for a moment, locking onto a gold piece. Unfortunately, it's lying in the sand a few feet from you, batter countenance shining faintly in the light of the magical torches. A few more relocations and attempts identify more of them, lying around the wreck.

[Polymorph and enter? Rip the side off and clear it out in dragonform?]

>>12671641
High five, inland bro.

>>12671670
Poly and enter. Cast Identify on the mermaid figurehead.

>>12671670
I really wish we had time to buy a bag of holding before coming.

See if the divers have bags or something we can stash the loot in. And polymorph, because ripping off the side would stir up too much silt.

>>12671670
Detect magic on that figurehead, then start gradually tearing the ship apart looking for anything significant. It's likely to be rotted after all this time, and if there is anything nasty in there I'd really rather face it at full size. We're hardly in our element here.

If tearing it apart proves unnecessarily difficult we can polymorph, but it's not ideal.

>>12671707
Good points, but personally, I think tearing the ship apart might bury some of the loot.

>>12671737
We can start a layer at a time and proceed methodically in order to avoid that.

Do we even need to reveal ourselves to the public as a dragon? It'd just attract enemies, including dragonslaying adventurers who will banish Scinnari and kill us in our sleep.

We can rule just fine polymorphed, and keep a hidden location for our true lair.

Anyways, we'll pull a Hitler. Start all kinds of shit, stick it on the enemy (Sealord) and rally public support against him. Bring him down, stage some terrorism, blame another enemy, restrictive laws to contain them. Suddenly fascism, and the people think it's all in their benefit.

Then we slowly build up a dragon cult around us. It'll be great. We'll have all the concubines and the half-breeds will serve as an elite guard.

rolled 19 = 19

>>12671772
>>12671670
Good idea. Loot it methodically with rip'n'tear organised in such a way that the debris falls away from the ship, and does not bury loot.
Rollan for loot.

>>12671685
>>12671691
>>12671707
>>12671538

You will your physical form to change, always a semi-strange experience. Even more so, a hundred plus feet below the surface. Despite that, you manage, and move to search the oddly suited bodies.

Tridents and spears, mostly. What appears to be a... crossbow of some sort? it has no string to fire the bolt, but similar construction. A net on each of them, and a few odd bulges from the inside of the suits. You consider ripping them open, but decide that that might spoil whatever they were keeping on the inside.

Turning, you move, slowed by the water, to the wreck. Pausing just on the verge of entrance, you stop to cast a spell to identify the figurehead. A minor luck enchantment, though of dubious quality, in your opinion, considering where this ship is. Leaving it, you step inside. It's dark and covered in growths, but you navigate it fairly easily for the most part. You are quite satisfied when you stumble across the hold; several decayed barrels line the walls, and half a dozen trunks also line the walls. Thanks to the water and your considerable strength, even while polymorphing, you manage to hoist out the trunks one by one, piling them on one of the nets you laid out.

Scinnari's voice suddenly rings out in your mind, silent, but still recognizable as hers , non the lss."Something's coming."

>>12671849
I ain't saying no, but before you get your Reich on, you might want to consider what kind of scrutiny such a ruler would attract.


BRB, moving again. Much quicker this time.

>>12671862
Is it large enough to be a threat?

Probably just a shark trying to eat some dead sailors.

Hopefully not anything more.

If it's one of the golds, then bug out.

drat

what are we polymorphed as currently? Places we can hide? Can we communicate back? if so should tell Scinnari to hide. Try to observe the intruder first. if cultist we should ambush.

hide, observe.
What is it?
A shark?
Cultists?
Gold dragons?

See what it is. If there is a problem we morph back and kill it. Otherwise we morph back and haul this stuff to shore then get on with finding those ruins we were here for in the first place.

>>12671283
no shit it's an oligarchy


right now.

this might be bad but do you think Azdukashen, Cygnis's brother might be tempted by an offer of power from the binder?

we know he is a douch but is he enough of a douch to sell out his half sister?

>>12671987
She did say he wanted her... What if he sells her out to try to keep her for himself?

Easy guys, we have no idea what it is. Paranoid theories don't help us if they are just wild guesses. Even worse, they give the DM ideas. Stop.

>>12671996
All the more reason to bed her first and ruin his perfect half-sister waifu forever.

>>12672019
Well if we ever fought him, I'm sure a bluff like that would make him lose his cool and not think strategically for a bit and make him bum rush us.

>>12672019
We don't actually have to nail Cygnis to say we did. He would believe it, especially after last night.

>>12672033
We're so going to need to kill that Faggold dragon as soon as this bullshit with the sealord and cult ritual is resolved.

>>12672056
Depends if he sticks around or not. If he leaves, then we have other things to focus on. If he stays, we'll have to think of a way to make his death not our fault in any way... And part of me wishes we could find his hoard but that's unlikely.

>>12672070
We know where his hoard is, but it's at least two day's flight away and concealed by illusions. We will have to off him first before going after it.

so we are hiding correct?

"What are we talking, here?" you think back, a tad awkwardly. You're used to having to do your part in a conversation and, you know, make yourself heard, as opposed to project and hope she receives you. Luckily, she comes through.

"Large."

"Azdukashen?" you think, reflexive question.

"They should be busy right now... I can't tell. Large. Getting closer. I can't see most of it." Scinnari's thoughts appear in your mind again. You may be imagining it, but you might be detecting fear again. Fear... The sea is big. Massive. Local legend has it that in it's early days, Freeport suffered frequent monster attacks; a bronze dragon or two, krakens, and other larger or worse things that are only hinted or laughed at. Allegedly, the fighting was vicious enough, usually at least resulting in them being grievously if not fatally wounded, that they've learned to avoid the region... so they say.


Reverting to your own form, you stand and prepare to fight, in defense of the the chests you have hauled out. Something large and... jagged, scaled, whatever it is, sweeps around you, circling.

[Fight or flight?]

Fight, but what do I know?

>>12672222
None too happy, but this treasure is ours. If I remember correctly, our breath weapon transforms into a blast of superheated steam underwater. And our claws and bite should still be effective.

Hopefully, though, whatever it is won't actually attack. How fast is it moving?

>>12672222
This can't be a bronze. Cygnis said the area is uncontested and this is well within a day's flight for her. It has to be a sea monster or something. We should be able to take that.

>>12672265
Quickly enough that whatever it is is definitely more at home in water than you are.

A roar with a strange echoing quality sweeps out through the water. Whatever it is dives into attack. You make a slowed dodge, then unleash a blast of steam, boiling the water ahead of you. It catches the thing in the head, but doesn't seem to have much effect. For it's part, it seems fast enough that you might as well not have dodged. It corrects, then latches it's head around your left foreleg's join, sharp beak shearing through scale and flesh.

[2d100]

>>12672356
1 role for moi.

rolled 86 = 86

>>12672372
Damnit captcha... Stop eating my dice rolls when I fail to read your words.

rolled 5, 86 = 91

>>12672356

rolled 61 = 61

>>12672356

rolled 12, 54 = 66

>>12672356

>>12672356
If it's head is sticking out of it's shell, then just chomp down on it's neck. BAM, fatal wound.

rolled 10, 34 = 44

>>12672356
Yowzerz! That are a painful!
But by the power of DOUBLES, we shall prevail!

>>12672451
With 2x 86 rolls I think we did okay. Plus dragon turtles aren't very tough compared to us.

>>12672375
>>12672407
>86, 86

Roaring, you bite down on it, narrowly missing crushing the head in your jaws. Instead, you end up biting the edge of it's shell, and the neck. It releases, and you attempt to release enough to relocate your bite. It turns tail, escaping your efforts, though you manage to slam your right claw down on the things tail, throwing up a cloud of silt from the sudden motion.

[2d100, and does anyone know what the proper term for a dragon's 'hand'' is? Claw sounds like it refers to a single one, as oppose to the whole... paw? Hand? Whatever.]

rolled 51, 80 = 131

>>12672475
Fin or flipper for ordinary turtles, but this thing has claws so... who knows?

rolled 64 = 64

FINISH HIM!

rolled 19 = 19

>>12672475
Combat

rolled 98, 46 = 144

>1
>1

rolled 87, 68 = 155

>>12672475
His "digit" perhaps?

>>12672475
Talon?

rolled 6, 98 = 104

>>12672497
>19

>>12672500
Damn you dice! An unused 98.

rolled 100, 16 = 116

>>12672475
Did we chase it off? If it's coming back around, flame it if it wont damage our precious loot.

>>12672602
No, don't flame it. It wasn't bothered by that last time. Just go for quick and dirty bites/clawing.

>>12672602

>100

NOOOOO

rolled 22, 23 = 45

I normally just lurk these threads as I still haven't found all the archived ones yet. Rolling for hope.

>>12672658
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=dragon%20quest

>>12672663
Thanks.

>>12672487
Talkin' about us, actually. Also, that post, in retrospect, looks a little incoherent.
>>12672496
>>12672487

Not letting it escape, you grind forward, holding it so that it can't flee or swim away. It flails wildly, and you advance mostly by touch as the dust blinds you. You place your left leg, it latches on. You growl in pain and anger, but use it. After all, it just told you right where it's head is. Head snaking down, you close your jaws over it's head, and begin to crush. Your pain and anger is somewhat satisfied by the staggered crunching and breaking sounds, as you reduce it's skull to shattered meat. You breathe heavily, reveling in the smell of blood and the primal thrill of crushing the life from your opponent.

"Azaladon?" You turn, looking for the source of the noise, something to kill.

"Azaladon! It's dead!" Scinnari's voice shouts in your head. You growl in response, but it trails off as you process what she said. You stop moving, calming yourself down.

"Of course. Apologies, Scinnari."

"We still have to find this palace, as well, if we're searching for it. We may be a bit too far out... or not, K'Staalo didn't leave us much to go with..." Scinnari 'says' from somewhere around you.

>>12672693
First things first, we transport our loot to the shore so we can find it afterward. Then we crunch some healing potions so we don't scar... chinks in our armor so early in life would be unwelcome. Then we search for the temple.

>>12672715
A dragon's scales don't actually get permanently marred. It just takes some time for them to regrow. Admittedly, like 100 years if they were completely stripped off of a large area but it still comes back just fine.

Healing to prevent the need to regrow would still be a good idea though.

>>12672715
I doubt that little combat was enough to strip off any of our scales.

>>12672715
We dont need to move the stuff right now. After all, if we want to find the boat again we can just use Detect Object on the figurehead and we'll be able to find the ship easily. Unless there are LARGE holes in the ship, which could lead to loot getting scattered all over the place, just continue on the the temple.

>>12672772
Ah, right. Well take a salvage net or bag with us then, and still heal ourselves.

>>12672793
re: healing, we can just have Scinnari do a teleport run for healing potions if we need them. No sense proceeding onwards into potential danger while injured.

>>12672715
>>12672754
>>12672793

'Voicing' the request in your mind, you feel Scinnari touch gently on your shoulder, following it up towards your face. You eat the bottle whole, to avoid risk of diluting the potion. Glass is no threat, and, if anything, provides a nice crunching sensation. It seals your wounds, just barely. Evidently one Scinnari acquired for this purpose. Your skin feels raw, your scales torn, but still all in one piece, and not bleeding.

This forces you to be fairly ginger as you start transporting the chests up towards the shore, but your efforts are not interrupted and further. Scinnari, not as strong as you, makes herself useful keeping watch as you ferry your salvage to the beach.

[Dice 1d100]

rolled 8 = 8

>>12672872
That's no good. Let's finish healing up.

rolled 65 = 65

>>12672872

rolled 47 = 47

>>12672872

>>12672914
>>12672907
Your journey is interrupted only by one of the chests literally falling apart. It is, depressingly, empty of gold; instead it reveals a pile of badly aged copper and some heavily corroded iron.

The beach is clear as far as you can see, though you are still invisible. Not that that would matter, considering you are still sloughing water off of you, and are leaving massive footprints in the ground.

[Where do we look, how do we search?]

>>12672959
Do we remember K'Staato having any iconography on him? If so, locate object for the nearest symbol like that and it might lead us there since it was dedicated to his god.

Otherwise I guess we just go to the location we saw on the map and dive in, looking around on the bottom for ruins and keeping a sharp feel out for magical stuff.

>>12672959
We keep multiple healing potions on us as standard gear now right? Crunch a couple of those. We don't even want to be slowed should we get into another fight, and surely don't want our scales torn in one.

>>12673005
>>12673021
Trying to recall some of K'Staalo's symbols, you ask Scinnari for another of the healing potions as you fix the symbol in your mind. Nothing. You try the next one you recall, and, to your great surprise get a return.

About a fifty feet below you, a dim room. Cavern, by what you can envision of it. How to access it, of course, is another problem, assuming that it's what you're after.

everyone suspects the inevitable.....

>>12673067
Well I'm assuming just digging down through stone is out of the question. Those maps were old, maybe the terrain has changed?

I don't know, just look around for the underwater palace. I really can't think of anything to do other than that. Before going into deep water we should search for openings that look like they could lead into underground caverns, both up here on the cliffside and on the seafloor.

>>12673082
hey you
stop that

>Widedda appeared
god damit captcha stop spoiling the suprise

Have Scinnari teleport down there. All Greater Teleport needs is a description. She can then backtrack and tell us where the entrance is.

>>12673142
Do this. Smart plan!

>>12673106
>>12673142
"Scinnari, how far do your teleportation abilities extend?"

"What do you need?" Scinnari promptly asks. Enthusiastic enough, you suppose.

"About fifty feet below us... A cave. Symbol is right..." you say, walking through the sand. "Here. I think it's open room right here." you add with a gesture. "Can you go down and take a look?" Scinnari nods briefly, and vanishes. A few dozen seconds later, she reappears.

"Cavern. Dark. Underground beach, air felt.... denser, there. Water lapping at the shore. Tunnels going off into the dark. And a wall with old decorations, engravings. Dragons and serpent creatures. Mostly the serpent creatures. A large double door, carved in the shape of two dragons fighting." she reports, short phrases giving you a pretty good picture.

"What kind of dragons?"

"I couldn't tell. I'm sorry, lord."

"Not a problem, of course... probably too stylized. Hmm..." you rumble, turning to look around for an entrance.

"Perhaps it has an underwater eneterance? If it was actually pressurized in there..." Scinnari begins, and you nod.

"That sounds likely." you agree, begining your search. It doesn't take long. Inside one of the bleached wrecks partially revealed by the low tide, you find the rocky ridge it ran aground on, and the cave inside that. Replacing your rings, (which you notice are matched. Perhaps Scinnari is trying to suggest something...), you proceed downward, through the tunnel.

Happily, it doesn't turn out to be the home a giant eel, or anything of the sorty, and instead you come out inside a large, vaulted cavern. Surfacing, you detect the slight overpressure that Scinnari mentioned... strange. Ideally there will be enough air, though if not, you evidently can just return to the water, with the aid of your rings.

There is a beach on the left, against the cavern wall, and a tunnel snaking off to the right of it. Around eighty degrees right of that, another tunnel curves off into the darkness, and on your right, a tunnel like the rest of them disappears down, as well as curving back the way you came.

Scinnari voices one of your own thoughts at this point.

"Well... As long as we know how to get back..."

Begin on the left and search them clockwise. Stay together, ancient ruins are no place to split up in generally.

>>12673332
> Replacing your rings, (which you notice are matched. Perhaps Scinnari is trying to suggest something...)

I lol'd.

>>12673377
Hmmm. The devils manuals do say that the more humanoid the devil the more they desire love and companionship. Then again, it also says all devils are out to corrupt and enslave. Then again, what woman isn't? I'll reserve judgement, for now. She never told us about Arman or the fact a dragonhunter was in town. And we still know very little about her past.

>>12673410
She could always be trying to secure her position as Empress too.

>>12673410
As silly as it is, part of me is tempted to see if we can contact those holy warriors who have given her problems to see what they can tell us about her. Trying to get any info out of her about her past is way too hard.

>>12673436
I say this is a good idea... for the future. During a year+ timeskip or something after we are established as ruler and have several merchant guilds and such under our control. Or maybe even after we've started conquering things.

>>12673370
Moving toward the tunnel, you notice something shining on the beach... 'glinting' to your dark vision. Approaching it, you identify it as a saber, a pair of tattered streamers bound around the hilt, standing point-down in the sand. It appears untarnished, though a few skeletons in the sand have corroded armor and weaponry themselves.

The tunnel itself, however continues forwards, winding and wending forwards. You can see it open up into a small cavern in the distance, and a span of beach with a large stone... stump? sitting on it.

1d100

rolled 60 = 60

>>12673532
Not much to do here...

rolled 94 = 94

>>12673532

rolled 15 = 15

dicean

>>12673532
Sword get?

>>12673532
Check sword for deadly traps, if it's all clear, loot it.

rolled 42 = 42

Also rolling

>>12673532
Sword get or suddenly undead, undead everywhere.

>>12673545
>>12673539

Climbing from the water, you advance on the blade. It shines, magical, you're fairly certain. You pick it up in your massive claws, and-

-swear vehemently, as something jumps on you from behind. Immediately, you dodge back into the water, hoping to drown whatever it is. The water is no hindrance, and it proceeds to claw ineffectually at you. You brush your back, and feel your claw knock something cold off of you. Turning in the water, you get a good look at what it is... undead of some sort. A mostly-solid ghost.

Annoyed and with no use for the thing, you unleash a blast of fire. As you're underwater, it comes out as boiling water and steam, scalding and boiling the sort-of flesh off the creature.

Throughout the combat, you manage to keep the saber in your right 'hand', not losing your grip.

"It's over?" you hear Scinnari say, and then once again as her voice echoes in your thoughts. "What was it?"

Scinnari, standing on the beach, is now holding her longbow, having teleported back to get it. She's eying your sword too, in a rather... avaricious manner.

1d100

rolled 59 = 59

>>12673738
Dice a-hoy

>>12673738
"Just some annoying undead."

Blanket the cavern in fire then identify the sword.

rolled 37 = 37

>>12673738

rolled 32 = 32

Burn anything that moves, figure out what the deal is with the sword.

>>12673771
>>12673751
"Nothing... important." you say, eying her suspiciously. Turning, you unleash long blast of flame, lighting up and scorching most of the cavern.Huge clouds of steam rise from the water. Turning back, you face Scinnari.

"What is the sword?" she asks, reaching out to take it from you. You snarl and hold it back.

"I- What? Cibach, what's-"

"If you try to take it from me, I will kill you." you state calmly, simmering with rage underneath.

"Azal- what in the nine are you doing?!" Scinnari shouts. You can see her greed, her outrage, her treacherous intent written on her face.

[1d100]

rolled 33 = 33

>>12673876
Damnit. Cursed blade. We need to drop it.

rolled 16 = 16

Oh desire. Better we check our greed.

rolled 3 = 3

>>12673876
Collect ourselves. Sword, drop.

>>12673883
>>12673888
Ugh. So much for the willpower of a dragon.

rolled 86 = 86

The only way to find out why she wants it so bad, is to better understand what it is exactly we are holding. This can't wait try to discern it's enchantment.

Our willpower seems extremely... lacking, for a legendary beast of yore.

>>12673876
Well, hopefully she's smart enough to realize that it's the sword.

>>12673935
She's smart, I think she'll figure it out. We did, though while under the compulsion I doubt we will be able to voluntarily drop it.

Maybe a 33 is at least enough to recognize that something fishy is going on.

rolled 39 = 39

Woo! Dragonquest!

Can some kind anon give a sitrep of where we are exactly? Are we in some sort of underground ruins/cave/whatever?

>>12674008
Just read and catch up. We don't really know where we are. We think it might be the temple but aren't sure. And actually exploring anything is going PAINFULLY slow.

>>12674008
We're exploring an underwater cavern. We've just found a cursed sword that is making us extremely greedy. Even more so than usual. We might end up accidentally killing Scinnari if the dice keep this up.

rolled 56 = 56

Thanks chaps. I did read up, but I was a little confused as to if we were in a cavern UNDERwater, or a cavern at sea level. Cheers for clearing that up.

>>12673883
>>12673888
Scinnari knocks her bow, aiming at you. The treacherous-

Her shot hits your claw, tearing deeply through the side of a talon. You wince and drop the sword, releasing a blast of fire in her direction....


Well, that wasn't too bright. You already know she's a devil, fire doesn't bother her. She should... You run your mind back over the previous argument. She should.... Ah...

"Thank you, Scinnari." you state dryly. The clouds of steam have moved in, heavy enough that you can't tell where she is. You turn downward, into the water, and find where the blade landed.... there. On the bottom. Glinting so innocuously.

Taking care to maintain your distance, you call upon your magic to explain this.. unfortunate item.

A string of images, feelings, lives, passes through your mind.

A wizard, enslaved. Working for an owner, hatred, spite, and nothing to live for but his hatred.

The employer receiving the blade, treasuring. Killing his wife, then his children, because they dared to covet it.

An adventurer, turning on her fellow party, killing people she had fought, and bled with and for. Because they kept trying to steal it... masking their greed with concern.

An angel... avenging one of the adventurers... no, they aren't all dead. She's... protecting one. Wounded. Her lover. Running the wielder of the blade through.

Picking up the blade, intending to destroy it.... keeping it... killing the paladin, instead of saving him as she might have. No regret... no regret.. he was trying to take it.

Stricken from the sky, in retribution...

>>12674104

A sailor, finding it lodge in a piece of flotsam... gleaming. Gained himself a magic sword.

Returning... In... port? A cavern, the cavern above. The ships crew are going about their busines, he returns to greet his love- she /tries to take it from him/- he kills her. Then realizes what he has done, and kills himself. The other sailors... watching... cursed blade. Leave it. To scared to retrieve it...

An empty cave... A large... invisible creature moving, water running off it- The vision ends as you 'see' yourself grab the sword.

Well. Well then.

"Scinnari? I've got it. Cursed. Not a problem, now." you say, to the room at large, emerging once again from the water, still minus the sword. For good measure, you think the thoughts, attempting to project them at her, as well.

No response. Still. She did get it out of your hands, you owe her for that.

The cavern is silent again, and the clouds of steam are starting to congregate at the roof, slowing their billowing.

[actions?]

Locate her. And I'm shocked that an unenchanted bow could penetrate our scales at all.

>>12674111
>>12674104
Man, that best not be Scinnari's origin story.

>>12674136
Dude. She's been getting things identified for us for free, and acquiring magical items with no apparent effort or recompensation.

What makes you think it's non-magical?

>>12674153
Point. Fortunately it's just a scratch.

>>12674111
Finding her shouldn't be a problem, collar and all.

>>12674111
Man, this sword is a lot of bad juju

Could be very useful for someone we want dead on their won accord.

>>12674145
It might explain why she's got a group of holy warriors on her tail.

> Picking up the blade, intending to destroy it.... keeping it... killing the paladin, instead of saving him as she might have. No regret... no regret.. he was trying to take it.

rolled 1 = 1

>>12674203

Devious. I like it.

> BÄBLER graisrs

>>12674218
Or it might make a minor enemy a major headache.

rolled 66 = 66

>>12674240

True. I don't like it

leave the sword in the middle of something guarded. One guard picks it up and comes across another. Sit idly by while the place tears itself apart.

Why do we always randomly try to do bad things to Scinnari whenever something bad happens?

>>12674111
"Scinnari, are you alright?"

>>12674111

uh.... Panic?

>>12674136
"Heavily cursed." you say conversationally, in a voice that carries. "Might be possible to use it as an assassination tool. Dangerous, though. Wouldn't touch it of my own accord." Your voice echoes strangely, though you hear no response. Hmmph.

Moving forward, you find that the stone 'stump' you saw was, in fact, a stone stalagmite, with most of the spire removed and the base hollowed out. A pool of mater, placid, salty-smelling, rests in the pool. Looking at the base, you see that it is inscribed with etchings of the sea goddess, prayers, holy warriors, and a leviathan sea serpent wrapping itself around the basin.

On a lark, you place your claw in the basis, attempting to assume a vaguely reverent state of mind. It's harder than you think, but either the goddess doesn't care, or you satisfied her anyway, as the water stings horribly for a few seconds, then stops abruptly as your small arrow wound heals rapidly.

Turning back, you swim leisurely back down the tunnel. There's a sizable side-branch that connects to the 'middle' tunnel leading from the center cave, and there's the 'far right' tunnel from the central cave. Scinnari still isn't answering your calls, you notice with irritation.

rolled 59 = 59

"Scinarri. Thank you for shooting me. (Honestly). You can come back now please."

Scinnari best not be trying to pick up that sword. get ready for a fight or so it would seem.

>>12674295
Again, call out to Scinnari, see if she's okay.
Ask her what's the matter is, or if we've offended her

>>12674295
Why haven't we located her with the collar yet? I mean, really, the first thing that crossed my mind is she teleported away just to be safe.

>>12674295
Alright. This is bad. We need to locate Scinnari. The choker that we gave her allows us to do that, right? Let's use it.

rolled 92 = 92

>>12674326

This. After all, she did just shoot a red dragon. I think it would be pertinent to let her know we're in a state of thanks rather than retribution.

... I thought dragonfire was special in that it could hurt things that were immune to normal fire?

>>12674380
No, otherwise dragons would fry themselves.

>>12674380
No. The only reason it doesn't hurt us is because we're also immune to fire.

We have been hard on Scinnari as of late we should lighten up on her. Also try to make it up for her.

she has been so far an exemplary minion and keep in mind. While her forms of recreation can be a bit irksome we are not to dictate every action she takes.

In short make her feel more wanted.

>>12674431
To be fair, she gets just about anything she wants. What more could we give her?

Could this blade be the reason she fell?

>>12674450
God I hope not, that would be so corny.

>>12674448
Yet another dicking?

>>12674448
Love, understanding, self respect, and acceptance?

>>12674467
You do fully understand that she is a devil, right? They are capable of acting perfect for X amount of time to win your trust.

>>12674339
>>12674330
>>12674326
"Scinnari. Please. I'm grateful that you relieved me of that rather sorrowful blade. Perhaps you woul-" you say reasonably, stopping when you hear the overpressure 'thoompf' of her teleport. Nearby. "Scinnari. Thanks for the shot. I owe you... a great debt. Thank you." As you speak, you concentrate on her collar, locating it, and moving... Ah. There she is. Hiding.

Your claw darts out, unerringly fast and accurate for how large it is, pinning her to the wall.

"Scinnari. Stop. Listen. You did well. Sword was cursed. Good. Job." you say, releasing your claws gently, allowing her to stand on the back of your arm.

"I... see. I'm sorry, I would have been back sooner-" she says, trailing off.

"But?"

"But... I teleported to the surface... A gold is circling out there. Cygnis or Azdukashen, presumably. I don't think it saw me, but it's moving slowly... very high up."

"It saw you alright." you say with certainty. Dragon eyesight is second to none. "Probably wasn't certain where you came from, or that you were you... May be waiting on me... Hmm.. The chests! Have the chests been disturbed?" you ask suddenly.

"No, but it seems to be circling between them and here, or a little farther out from here." Scinnari says.

"Right... the map. Definitely Cygnis or Azdukashen." you agree.

>>12674494
Didn't have any pictures of golds in flight, so meant to post this.

rolled 60 = 60

>>12674494

Give her a hug <3

Also - buggerment - gold dragon >.<

Any way we can ID it?

>>12674494
If you would, please teleport up there and wave it down to see what it wants. There must be some reason for it to be here. Do ask it not to disturb the chests, if you would. Do not tell it where we are exactly, just say that we are exploring what we think might be a temple.

If it's Az, he might be here for you. Teleporting back down here in such an event would be... prudent. While you are doing so, I will be exploring the rest of the cave.

Do not touch the sword. It would be most unhealthy.

>>12674524
I second this!

Should go outside and investigate. Probably in a form they would recognize.

>>12674524
Awww, that's just so sweet I have to second it. Apologize for the fire.

Shit, it's probably seen the footprints then. This might be difficult to explain away.

hey doesn't our normal form include wings?

advise against teleporting attracts unwanted attention.

>>12674545
Well, see, we said that we had favors to call in. Remember that red? Well...

prestidigitation and gone :P

Explain nothing, if someone is here for us then we had best see to them.

>You may also bring one additional willing Medium or smaller creature (carrying gear or objects up to its maximum load) or its equivalent (see below) per three caster levels.

Scinnari can totally teleport us with her.

in the monster entry it says self only (she has modified version of it)

>>12674595
Her version only allows herself plus 50 pounds of stuff.

>>12674534
>>12674528
>>12674524

"Scinnari. I owe you dearly. Thank you." you say, still feeling that mere words are inadequate. Belly deep in water and unwilling to polymorph, you head, and nuzzle her gently.

"You quite possibly saved my life. At great risk to your own. Thank you." you repeat, a heartfelt statement.

"I... Thank you, Azaladon. I am glad you understand. I did my best." she replies, returning the gesture as best as she is able, with the vast disparity of forms. You pause for a minute or two, savoring the companionship, before almost reluctantly pulling away from her.

"Scinnari. I think you should return to the surface, and wave the dragon down. Contact it, ask it what it wants. If it's Cygnis, she may be here for me. Carry a message for her. If it's Azdukashen... Use your best judgment." you say, in a tone that unsubtly suggests your opinion of him. "Avoid giving away our location; I'm exploring what I think might be a temple right now, what is ideally the warning's palace. Don't reveal anything if you can help it. Play it close to the chest."

"Of course." she says, and vanishes when you nod. Onward to the rest of the complex then... Following the left wall,figuring that can't get you lost, you retrace your steps to the blessed basin room, and then down the side passage, to another room and another beach. This one... this one is larger, an apparently totally natural room. Except, that is, for the skeleton hanging on a spike in the sand, near the water. Farther back, you can see a few more... traps, and their unlucky victims.

>>12674648
Anything in the room? Exits other than the way we came in? Ect.? If not let's keep moving and just get a general overview of the layout. Once we know the structure of the place we can decide what to look at where.

Have we spotted the door that was mentioned earlier?

>>12674648
The layout is starting to get a bit more complicated, is there any hope of getting a map?

>>12674648
So I guess we poke around carefully?

rolled 47 = 47

We need to obtain a 10 foot pole

>>12674685
No.

>>12674648
Should have posted this. Didn't think of it. Also a retroactive [dice 1d100]

###############
Moving onward, you feel the passage getting deeper, and are shortly treading watter as the roof lowers slowly. It then splits- to the left, it goes longer and deeper until it disappears, presumably continuing below the water level, and ahead of you is a boarded up passage with 'Danger! Keep Out!' written on it in the common tongue. You hear a faint echo of Scinnari's return, and head back yourself to greet her.

"Cygnis. She came back to warn you and provide u- you a ride back to Freeport, should you need it." Scinnari says, as you offer her your forelimb to stand on again.

"Warn?"

"Apparently the Sealord has used the prophecy at the ball as justification to accelerate the lighthouse's inauguration. It's been moved up to 'this evening'." Scinnari recounts.

"I see... and offering a ride back? I'd like her to think I'm competent, but really?" you say, questioning the rather demanding rate of progress that would have provided.

"I don't think she was being rational, probably hoping to hurry you along. Hmm... Though... I think you should take her up on her offer."

"Oh really? Why?" you ask, curious.

"Well... you won't be able to exit yourself with her watching- she asked about the footprints, but I think I got away with expressing surprise, and claiming they weren't there when we got there,- so it would fit your disguise, there's the bragging rights for you-as-Cibach, having ridden a dragon... And for Azaladon, manipulator supreme, who got a gold dragon to offer him a ride."

"And I suppose she might have... scars, weaknesses in her scales, vulnerabilities that would be visible from close examination..." you agree, idea growing on you somewhat.

[sinking passage branch, boarded up passage branch, far-right passage from main cavern, and an exit. Actions?]

rolled 4 = 4

>>12674780

rolled 47 = 47

>>12674797
Well damn.

>>12674780
>should have posted this
LOL, clueless, forgot it again.

rolled 43 = 43

>>12674780
Alright, we need to get back there and trash the lighthouse.

>>12674801
>>12674797
Acknowledged.

>>12674780
Did she mention anything about the crystal?

This is frustrating. I guess we are just going to have to blow up the tower. Head back I guess, we can check this place out later. Then excuse ourselves from Cygnis, go home, and head through the basement and caverns to the kobold warehouse. Show ourselves in dragon form and command them to put the blasting powder under the lighthouse and detonate it.

Boarded up by whom, I wonder. The urge to at least look inside is too overwhelming to pass by. Is there a way to get a ride and get our loot back safely I wonder.

i say we hitch a ride. however we need a way of deflecting suspicion.

>>12674815
Errr, before we head back up explore the right hand passage briefly. Shouldn't take long. Tell Scinnari to pop up and convey to Cygnis that we are enroute, but our little mortal legs can only carry us so fast.

How's that world map coming, WD?

>>12674836
Why not tell her we haven't found the 'spinel sage', or whatever it was we came here for? Ask if she can wait an hour or two?

Also
> footprints weren't here when we got here.
I hope that doesn't tip her off.

Pic related. Still feeling D'aaaw for Scinnari, like some others were.

>>12674859
Incompetently, and by that I mean 'not at all'.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I have Thurs, Friday, Saturday, and, if all else fails, sunday to sketch it up while running the quest to do it an get it scanned. Alternately, does anyone have world-map making programs they'd recommend?

>>12674872
I always use paint/GIMP. I could send you one of my sample maps if you want, but I'm afraid it's probably not suitable for your world without major reworking.

could act surprised perhaps thank Cygnis for scarring off whatever it could have been.

hope this is dragon enough

>>12674836
>>12674860
"Well, she can wait a moment for a response." you declare aloud, moving back down the corridor. Guessing the strength of the boards, you don't even slow, and crash through them without breaking stride. Won't even leave a bruise. This passage, too, ends in a beach. Thisone, however, is what you were looking for. A few stones with various symbols sit on either side of a wide and low stairway, which climbs only a few feet. At the top is a massive door, with a pair of red dragons battling.... or maybe... mating? You aren't sure. In fact, they could just be posing so as to provide the arch.... perhaps it's supposed to be all three. Who knows. Of note, however, is carved dragon head protruding from the center of the door. It's not part of either of the engraved dragons, and within it's open mouth, you see a... doorknob?

You hum tonelessly as you take in the scene, surveying the inscriptions and illustrations. Just below the dragon's open mouth is a small carving that reads in an elderly version of draconic, "Those who prove their mettle/worth [to the Empress] may pass."

[verdict?]

rolled 45 = 45

>>12674935
I'm guessing the "Empress" is that crazy female voice that tried to buy us off. Maybe.

>>12674935
> At the top is a massive door, with a pair of red dragons battling.... or maybe... mating? You aren't sure.

So hard to tell with dragons.

Speaking of which, we still need to bone Cygnis so that we can brag about that to Az.

>>12674935
Tsk. Such things could be quite time consuming. What time of the day is it? How long before the lighthouse is opened?

>>12674944
That's not what we were talking about, at all.

>>12674935
Sounds like a hand-be-gone trap, perhaps try firebreath?

Who knows when we'll get a moment to ourselves again. best take this chance and approach the door.

>>12674944
Yuck, Gold cooties.

I don't think it's smart to explore this now. This is probably not the actual temple we are looking for, anyway. I really don't want to blow up the lighthouse, but I suppose we just need to.

Then again, us, Cygnis, Az, Asha, and Scinnari... plus whatever adventurers we could hire might might make an effective strike team to go in and kill the cultists inside without destroying it.

Let's prove our worth by slinging a big ass rock at it.

>red dragons
What do we have to lose?
But be sure to give things a look over first. Clearly someone has been here already.

>>12675021
>what do we have to lose?

Our sanity, free will, or life?

>>12674995
Countries are generally kind of proud of these things, you'd be surprised if it wasn't guarded.

>>12674944
If it is, it's definitely in the 'tender loving' and/or romance-immediately-preceding-The-Deed, as opposed to actually... fuckinglikerabbits.

On further consideration, you're pretty certain it was a deliberate choice in the carving, so that it could be interpreted as any of the above. You /are/ a dragon, after all, you ought to know.

Action, Course of?

>>12674995
> Yuck, Gold cooties.
A myth invented by Tiamat to stop her dragons from fucking metallics.

But think of the dragging we could do. "She'd rather mate with a red than touch you." And then on top of that we could bang Scinnari in front of him, just to be an extra dick.

>>12675033
What time of the day is it, for reals? How long do we have until zero hour?

Check it for obvious enchantments that we can identify. If nothing too horrible give the door a go.

>>12675041
It's just as effective even if we don't actually rail Cygnis. We just say we did, and voila!

>>12675041
> dragging
Bragging, you mean?

could try detect magic to determine nature or school. quickly examine to determine traps.

we don't want to keep Cygnis long.

>>12675050
He has detect lies.

>>12675064
So we phrase it like "So that night you came over and found us drinking... what do you think we were getting ready to do? Use your imagination, I'm sure it will come to someone even of your limited intelligence. Does it rankle to know that your sister would rather fuck a red dragon than you?"

And all of that is true. Even the last part, because she really would rather sex up Cibach Azal than Az.

>>12675044
It was around 10:30 when you arrived, so it should be 11:00 or a bit past it about now.

Have Scinnari pop up and tell Cygnis that we think we are on the verge of a breakthrough, and ask her to wait for a bit.

>>12675083
Plenty of time then, let's convey the message to Cygnis that we need a bit more time, and ask her to wait.

>>12675048
Spell is an illusion. Not certain what. Probably having to do with the 'prove your mettle' bit.

Just bust down the door. We don't have time for these riddles and shenanigans.

disbelieve the door. it is worth a shot

>>12675050
>>12675076
It seems fairly obvious that she didn't know what we were back then. Also, he may be experienced enough to notice when we're weaseling our way out of outright saying something. (And what if the "She'd rather screw a red than you." turns out to be a lie?)

I just think there's something emminently more satisfying about saying "I. FUCKED. Your. Sister." with an optional "Until she begged." just to taunt him.

If Scinnari can teleport based on descriptions, maybe we could send her to loot some choice niceties from his lair? Actually, that's probably a bad idea. He'll have traps and guardians, and that's totally discounting the possibility that he lied, or says that to all the girls to impress them.

Nearing autosage, so I've gone ahead and archived this.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/12669869/
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=dragon%20quest

Don't forget to vote.

>>12675113
>>12675111
Unclear communication. I'm up too late. The spell On the carved dragon head, is an illusion, whatever it does. The doors are not magical, except for the handle in the statue's mouth.

>>12675121
> I just think there's something emminently more satisfying about saying "I. FUCKED. Your. Sister." with an optional "Until she begged." just to taunt him.

And if we actually bang her we could throw in things like if she's a moaner or a screamer. That sort of thing could really rile him up.

>>12675135
Further, I forgot to mention, the doors are very big and solid. We can still try if you want. (1d100)

rolled 9 = 9

>>12675151
Might as well.

for time sake maybe we should open the door.

anyone else wants to?

>>12675147
Like, perhaps, that she WAS a virgin.

Ooh, boy, that would be pure gold.

...
Hehe. Pure gold. It's funny because- [okay, I'll shut up.]

rolled 60 = 60

>>12675153
Fucking /tg/ dice. Give us 98s and 100s when we don't need them. But the moment we do? Shit.

rolled 20 = 20

>>12675135
I think we can handle an illusion, tg dice aside. Open the door in the traditional way. Try to do it in dragon form, but go human if we need to, since we'll be shifting back soon anyway.

>>12675151
Choo choo.

Open the door by using the knob, the mouth will start to clamp down. Don't let go, it's a test of bravery. Done and done. Let's move on already.

rolled 49 = 49

Well if we can crash the doors, might save some trouble.
maybe have Scinnari teleport behind them and give us a headsup if it's even worth it?

>>12675153
Fail abjectly. The solid stone resists the best of your attempts, even in dragon form. Perhaps it was designed to resist such powers?

>>12675159
Dice 1d100 to confirm.

>>12675161
> Pure gold

That was bad and you should feel bad.

rolled 73 = 73

>>12674766

(For poking things with that is)

>>12675172

I'd rather not - what if she teleports into something solid?

rolled 86 = 86

Open it normally.

rolled 61 = 61

>>12675176
What's the worst that could happen?

>>12675181
> I'd rather not - what if she teleports into something solid?

It's greater teleport, so no risk of that. If she would appear inside an object, the spell just fails and nothing happens.

rolled 19 = 19

>>12675182
With a roll like that, why not?

rolled 30 = 30

>>12675193

Ahh right. What about traps etc?

>>12675213
That is the more problematic part. It will ultimately depend on Scinnari's own skill. How well she can continue to manipulate Az, plus getting past the traps. We'll see how much info we can gather before moving against Az.

>>12675159
>>12675164
>>12675166
>>12675167


"While I normally wouldn't be concerned with keeping Cygnis waiting...." Scinnari begins, her meaning obvious.

"Right. One moment." you say, giving up and reaching your hand into the proverbial dragon's maw. Sure enough, it begins to clamp down on your hand, and you can feel teeth biting into it, then starting to grind back and forth. To chew.

Gritting your teeth in turn, you remind yourself that you saw the illusion, and the stone isn't actually moving, it's solid rock. You fail to ignore it, the pain being unerringly real, until Scinnari speaks.

"Er..Azaladon? Are you ...okay?" she asks, obviously confused at your actions. That she literally doesn't notice anything going on is enough for you, and suddenly the mouth is no longer grinding down, and your hand is feeling very surprised but intact. You twist the knob, and the doors start grinding downward, revealing a welcome room, of sorts. A statue of a woman, this 'Empress', presumably, sits in a chair before you, unimpressed and appraising as it stares unseeingly at you.

"Welcome to the palace of the Binder." a small plaque reads. Evidently that was considered enough, as there is no further explanation.


[Stop here for the evening? I'm told we're approaching autosage.]

>>12675226
I suppose. Maybe we should get Scinnari to get up there and tell Cygnis "Critical juncture, might have solution, please stand by." before we call it a night.

rolled 58 = 58

>>12675226
Depends, how massive is this palace?

We will need to investigate this more later we should get back to Cygnis and Scinnari.

rolled 37 = 37

moar! =3

>>12675226
Autosage is somewhat meaningless, all that matters is if you are willing to continue.

>>12675226
> [Stop here for the evening? I'm told we're approaching autosage.]

I'd rather continue, but that's just me.

Sure, it's almost 2:40 in the morning where I am, but fuck sleep.

>>12675244
At least half a dozen more posts on my part.

rolled 63 = 63

>>12675271
I'm here for it, if you are.

>>12675271
In it to win it, here. Fuck class.

rolled 31 = 31

I'm here also! :D

*beams some caffeine to WD*

>>12675271
If you are feeling the drive to continue you could always make another thread.

rolled 56 = 56

>>12675271
+1 vote for continuing

we've still got at least 2 hours after we hit autosage before the thread dies, /tg/ being what it is.

>>12675264
>>12675269
>>12675270
>>12675280
Alright, I can keep it up for another hour, but if /I/ start to notice a (significant) drop in my writing quality (jump in errors, incoherent phrasing, that kind of thing,) I'm out.
##########################

You take a cautious step forward into the 'palace', around the statue in front of you, and are greeted with a strange sight.

It looks like this might once have been a straight corridor, maybe forty by forty feet wide and tall. Large. Something you could have walked down comfortably. Square.

Now, though the corners are still there, it seems that someone perfectly scooped the walls out of the corridor in a sphere, almost large enough to inscribe the corridor in it's cross section.

This would normally make you think of a circle, with how it is presented, and perhaps a dwarven boring machine of some kind (though it looks far too perfect for that,) except that it rounds out in a perfect hemisphere where you are, against the back of the passage.

The corridor has some dust and dirt lying on the 'floor', lots in some places, where it fell from the cieling.

>>12675337
Orb of Annihilation?

Anyway, we seriously need to get word back to Cygnis that she should stand by and we are on the verge of something here, we just need some more time. And explore.

should we bring back up? Cygnis and Scinnari?

>>12675337
>against the back of the passage
Against the back of the statue. Gaaaahg.


>>12675358
"Scinnari... Please return to Cygnis and ask her to wait, as I believe I have just found the palace." you order dryly, approaching the depression in the floor.

"Of course, lord." she replies demurely, and vanishes.

rolled 7 = 7

Looks like a summoning ritual wen t awry. Check for engravings or anything that might have been scrawled somewhere?

>>12675382
or perhaps a banishing ritual worked all too well.

>>12675382
Let's not roll unless we are told to.

So uh, let's go look around and find some shit.

>>12675316
Definetly not feeling up to using another thread, or at least, using it enough to justify making it.

>>12675382
None are present as far as you can tell. The corridor does extend, in this same manner, a few hundred feet. You think you cansee an open cavern at the end.

[dice 1d100]

rolled 45 = 45

>>12675403

rolled 57 = 57

>>12675403
Dice.

rolled 23 = 23

i do hope this is a good roll

rolled 16 = 16

>>12675403

rolled 55 = 55

>>12675403

>>12675408
>>12675409
>>12675411
>>12675412
>>12675414

Huh.

>>12675409
>>12675408
You think you can hear a faint noise from up ahead, echoing eerily. Moaning or weeping, of some sort.

[Confirm move forward? only one person mentioned it so far.]

rolled 91 = 91

>>12675425

sounds good. Be wary

>>12675425
Of course we move forward, there's a whole lot of nothing elsewhere. Unless there are any tunnels we haven't explored yet.

rolled 85 = 85

>>12675429
Backing this up due to great roll.
Also there's certainly nothing in this room for us.

>>12675425
Be careful though, this is likely some sort of magical trap, with that sound as the bait.

rolled 24 = 24

>>12675461

I agree - same reason I suggested being careful.

>>12675429
You follow the tunnel forward slowly, attempting to occupy your time with mental calculations... assuming that the tunnel IS forty feet wide, then it stands to reason that the sphere that did this 'drilling' was under forty four, may around forty two feet? You aren't certain.


Your thoughts abruptly come to an end as you come out on a ledge overlooking a vast cavern. Vast. It's not a mile across, but it might be half a mile, and certainly gives a good impression of Vast. Unfortunately for the explorer in you, however, you see dozens, maybe even hundreds, of tunnels exiting from all sides, generally perfect circles, or near-perfect, like the one you occupy. Yours is definitely in the upper quarter of the sphere, and high up on the wall, or ceiling, as the chamber is also, as far as you can tell, a perfect sphere.

The haunting moaning and weeping, mourning, you recognize, is louder, and coming from a nearby tunnel. It seems heartbroken, lamenting a loss. It is also, you are somewhat disturbed to register, doing so in draconic. Fluently. On the bright side, it doesn't seem to be aware of anything.

rolled 92 = 92

Suddenly I feel I know all too well what made these tunnels. Perhaps we can approach with the best intentions and make a new ally?

>>12675474
Mark the tunnel we're in so we can find it later, then follow that wail!

>>12675474
Onward and soundward. While invisible.

>>12675479
What?

Or is it bad enough that you fear WD might get ideas?

>>12675474
> It is also, you are somewhat disturbed to register, doing so in draconic. Fluently.

Well fuck. If it's been down here the whole time, it's a hell of a lot older than us, and for anything draconic age = power. I'd recommend caution.

rolled 7 = 7

We should be relatively swift about how we go about investigating this.

Realizing you might have a small problem should you get disoriented, you wait at the mouth of the tunnel, and wave Scinnari to join you when she arrives. You, for your part, have just finished packing a small pyramid of dirt in the entrance, something relatively unique and dracopogenic.

"What is that fo- Oh." Scinnari says shortly, understanding, or at least being cut short, as you gesture to the room behind you. Massive.

Satisfied, you flap out, not scared, but with a healthy worry of the strangeness. Circling around nearby tunnels, you get a better vision of the room as well.

For one, there are actual rooms visible in place, with parts of the walls and ceilings, and, in some cases, floors, removed if they might have impeded into the... sphere. Nothing particularly grabs your interest, so you go back to searching for the source of the noise.

You find it, relatively close by. A few tunnels away, you catch sight of a draconic figure in the tunnel, and freeze, stalling momentarily. When no alarm goes up, you circle back, being as light on your wings as possible, and try to catch sight of it again.

"Ghost." Scinnari says from beside you, following you on her ashen wings. "Or spirit. Not alive, whatever it is, not completely corporeal, either."

"Thank you." you nod, turning and flying inward. Still cautiously, as anything disturbing the total silence of the spherical cavity seems... unnatural. Perverse.

>>12675590
Advancing, you land gently in the tunnel, again with the almost perfectly round tunnel, excepting the corridor corners. Advancing, you're puzzled to see it gone from your sight, despite being sure you'd seen it a moment ago. Hmm...

You literally jump, practically out of your skin, as a female bronze dragon appears next to you. One older than you are, significantly so. You spin around preparing to fight for your life, until you realize that it is not registering you. Speaking. Crying. Mourning. But evidently not aware of you. Your extremely potent swearing trails off, as you realize it is a ghost... or an image, at least. Older than you indeed...

"--give. My son, my hatchling. Taken from me. Bahamut above, what have I done to deserve this?" it sobs. Metallic or not, you can't help but feel a twinge of sympathy, watching her weep, plead, even demand, refuse to believe, that her son is dead.

Just when you are about to give up, and leave the pitiful and depressing scene, you almost jump again. A solid wall of blackness... not shiny, not dull, but black. Blacker than anything you have ever seen, a quintessential void of light, appears at the exit of the corridor, moving towards you.

"The ghost. The memory." Scinnari whispers beside you, as you start to take a step back. You glance at her and nod, standing your ground. For a brief moment, you notice that Scinnari actually seems... torn up, affected by the sight as much as you felt, if not more. More pressing concerns quickly reassert their hold, though. The wall... no, sphere, approaches, carving out the walls of the stately corridor, carving out, obliterating, the bronze dragonness, and leaving nothing in it's wake. An empty void where it passed...

It suddenly vanishes, and you find yourself facing the empty corridor... the one you entered. Beside you Scinnari stands, silent.

rolled 65 = 65

2 choices:

Leave the ghost to it's business
or
Ask it what happened

rolled 88 = 88

I think we need answers, and maybe the chance to loot a little but that can come much later if need be. Let's try to make contact, I'm sure anything this old will undoubtedly be able to answer a few things that could come in handy.

So, we learned here that... the destroyer blows shit up? We knew that. Search around. See if the ghost responds to stimuli.

rolled 82 = 82

What was our original mission here again?

this would have been an awkward encounter if we were a bronze instead. Bronze came in second in votes for the first session i think.

>>12675639
Original mission is to find out anything that can help us stop the cult. Not finding a lot, though.

well we don't have much time we should hurry up

check what is down the hall and then return to the surface we have kept Cygnis waiting long enough and we don't have time for a throughout check

>>12675619
>>12675603
After an annoyingly long wait, nearly half an hour, the scene appears to loop. You attempt to intervene.

"Bronze. Do you have a name?" you ask, an effort to be polite, and an innocuous question. To your horror, the illusion stops completely, turning it's neck to stare directly at you.

"Leave this mourning one to her tears." it says, an order, a plea.

"I need help, matriarch." you say, but she ignores you, turning away. Taking a shot in the dim, as it were, you add, "I work to stop the Unspeakable One's cult from summoning it again. I oppose the destroyer."

"You... again? Summoned again?" it says, in a voice that could be on the verge of madness, despair, or rage.

"Yes, matriarch. I need... anything you can tell me. How your son died. What happened. What this place was." you repeat, doing your best to enunciate flawlessly, politely, and back away a few steps.

"It... his cultist... my hatchling... he was..playing in the hall. They came through, and killed him. Killed him. My poor son..."

"Why was he up here?" you ask, wishing you had more to go on, and trying to prevent the scene from reverting to it's previous course.

"He... I don't know. I just found him. Weak. Mad. Dying. He died in my hands, begging for me to come for him." it weeps.

"Then what were you doing here? Help me, matriarch! I seek to avenge you!" you plead, trying to interest the spirit in your search.

rolled 92 = 92

>>12675725

Indeed. I second this

>>12675737

"The.. Binder's vault...."

"Binder's vault. Where?" you ask, almost frantic. The wall of darkness has appeared at the end of the corridor again.

"Down the hall of course. Don't you know?" it says, surprise momentarily showing itself beneath her sorrow.

"No, no. There's nothing down the hall." you say quickly, "Is it hidden by an illusion? A password?" you ask. The bronze, though turns back to face the darkness, though judging by her movements, you aren't even sure she's aware of it. She lets out a haunting, mourning wail, and the wall swallows her up before you can get your answer. The sphere passes up to you, and vanishes, leaving you with an empty corridor again.
you ask, but she doesn't respond. Before you can ask again, suddenly the wall of oblivion is eating away at her as it drifts forward, and she and her son's body are gone. Again.

>>12675737
We can put an end to this, your suffering.. Your son's just tell us what we can do.

Well, down the hall we go.

Perhaps there is something we don't see here?
If it's true that we only need go to the end of the hall, then surely there must be some way to do so.
Perhaps Scinnari can tell us something we we don't already know, if nothing else her thoughts may at least shed some light.

well this might be madness but we could try getting to the other side of the hall by going through the void, it may not harm us since it might be part of the ghosts loop.

However this is completely suicidal.

we could try investigating before the darkness comes back judging by time we have half an hour.

>>12675792
The darkness is just an illusion, a memory fragment.

I'm slowly becoming more and more convinced that everything going on is just one huge plan of the Binder, and that the only way to throw a monkey wrench into the plans of everyone is to blow up that tower.

>>12675725
>>12675741
>>12675762
You walk down the hall. A few minutes into your walk, Scinnari gets back, and quickly catches up to you.

"Cygnis isn't happy, she, ah, suggested that if you wanted to spare her embarrassment from her brother, you would make it swift. She'll hear no /end/ of it if she waits on you for much longer."

"She's really upset about that right now?" you ask, moderately surprised. "Here, help me feel the walls." you add, walking blind with your hand following the wall.

"She seems... distraught. I fear the cult's plans are downright terrifying, to her, as well, and her fear of them is pushing her impatience to the forefront." Scinnari elaborates.

"I see... then perhaps we should give up." you say, coming down off the high of apparent success. "Perhaps we- Right after this." you declare, as you feel your arm sink into the 'solid stone' wall.

The room inside is small, barely larger than a closet. On a pedastal, though, in a iron ring holder that could store a crystal ball, is a strange gem. Extremely magical, whatever it is, though nothing else is. Searching briefly for traps, as thoroughly as you know how, you eventually give up and grab the pale white-pink gemstone. And promptly cut your hand, as the points and edges of the star are sharp to the point of being blades, or damn near. Shifting your grip to the iron holder, you heft the crystal.

"Now we can leave, I think." you state to Scinnari, wincing as you are forced to walk with your right foreclaw.

"Of course. I'll go tell her that we are on our way."

"And bring another potion." you add, as she blinks out. Treasure in hand, you start moving for the exit.

[It's 4:40 here. I flat out have to stop soooon. I assume a direct exit, or is there anything you want to do on the way out, besides 'carry whatsit' and 'leave'?]

>>12675810
Instead of wasting money on the potion, dunk our hand in the altar again. Otherwise, let's scram.

>>12675810
If there's anyway we can "quickfind" some other loot, perhaps as a question to the Bronze, something like "is there anything else we can make use of", if not out we go.

>>12675810
Identify on the artifact real fast.

exit

we have been here long enugh

could they be summoning the binder instead of the destroyer? going back to a previews thread.

should show Cygnis what we found

rolled 76 = 76

>>12675810

Thanks for staying up for making this an awesome episode WD :D

Exit as swiftly as possible if I may suggest, and apologise to Cygnis.

>>12675820
It's hardly like we're BUYING those potions.

>>12675825

we can do that while in transit.

>>12675830
Well then how do we get them, I have to wonder. Free from the temple of Alset?

>>12675828
Yes, they are summoning the Binder not the destroyer. I am just worried that this artifact we have is the final element they need to summon her, and that we might have just been better off blowing up the tower.

>>12675846
Well, whatever it is we can sell it for a good chunk of money after all is said and done. Or keep it for our hoard, whatever we feel is best.

rolled 69 = 69

>>12675846

By my count, it's probably about 12pm to 1pm. Plenty of time

>>12675850
Yeah, if we hurry we can still blow up the tower. I think getting back to town, getting a mage to Legend Lore the artifact, and deciding our course from there is our best bet.

Cygnis had best be grateful we uncovered this prickly artifact, and apologize for rushing us.

>>12675810
When is the next thread?

>>12675829
>>12675828
>>12675825
>>12675824
Retreating, leaving, you pause at the overlook onto the empty spherical cavern, and wait for Scinnari to return. While you wait, you decide to see what you can learn about the bladed star. Once more willing your innate magic to identify the item, you are disappointed; you see... almost nothing. Creation. A... human? Wizardess or sorceress, creates the gem, an elaborate ritual... to store knowledge. Over the years, it gains knowledge... and dispenses it. Most of it's time, it seems to spend alone in that alcove, a dozen feet off the ground, but... there are glimpses. Flashes of other settings, whether it being moved, relocated, or the subject of questions being asked, you cannot tell.

Scinnari returns shorlty, both with a healing potion and Cygnis' standby message. It's a pain to land while holding the hellishly sharp device, but you manage, and proceed rapidly outward, reverting to elven form to swim up the exit tunnel, and emerge from the now-higher tide. Cygnis stands on the beach, near the chests you hauled out of the surf.

"Cygnis! I'm sorry for making you wait, milady, but I got what we came for, I think this was overall a profitable venture." you say, gesturing with the artifact.

"Finally. Excellent. Please, we must get back, they'll be officiating the lighthouse at sunset. I fear that that's when they plan to... enact their plan." Cygnis says. "Do you have a method of transportation?"

"Not with you here." you think to yourself. Aloud, however, you apologize, "No, I'm afraid not, all I could secure for was at sundown myself. I hate to impose, but... You offered a ride?"

"Indeed." Cygnis replies nervously, "I... Here. 'Mount me'." she says, the last in an ironic tone, obviously in mind of a riding beast or horse. She stretches out and bows down on one side, allowing you to ascend her arm to her back.

>>12675893
> 'Mount me'

Well, if you insist.

>>12675893
I'd mount her.
If you know what I mean.

>>12675893
"A request I'm sure not many gentleman dragons have ever had the pleasure of hearing." you quip back at her, covering the fact that your capabilities are just about maxed between not cutting yourself and ascending her proffered arm. While you can't tell if she blushed or was angered by your comment, you noticed that her whiskers totally stopped moving for a few moments. However, looking in the wrong direction, you mis-step and stumble, just catching yourself on her scales, and barely holding the gem above her.

"Sorry. I should keep my mouth shut." you apologize, trying to play off your accident and the potential insult. "Can't talk and climb at the same time."

"It's... alright." Cygnis says shortly, "Are you read for take off?"

"As I'll ever be." you reply, hoping you can comport yourself with as much grace one-handed as Scinnari had on your trip out here.

[Okay, that's it, I'm about to crash painfully. At least my first class is around 3:30 today. (Only ten and a half hours away...).
>>12675882
Sunday, I should think.
>>12675843
Generally, I think we've just been sending Scinnari out, and she's been using her charms to get them. At least, we assume so. We haven't been asking too many questions.]

>>12675909
Ah, the many varied uses of Charm Monster.

Night, good thread WD! Looking forward to the next one.

rolled 70 = 70

Thanks again for putting yourself out WD!

Could I pester for a sooner thread? =3 I'm really quite excited to see how this now pans out!

>>12675905
Not really, by the way. Golds are icky and have cooties. I just couldn't resist saying it.

If you know what I mean.

Dragon Quest is the only thing I come to /tg/ for. Can't wait for the next installment.

>>12675905
>>12675901
Unfortunate gap while I used the break in the post to add some final comments. I didn't realized I'd cut it off Right THERE.

>>12675922
Glad you're enjoying it too. I don't think so. I need sleep on Saturday, as well as having work to do, and I have work tomorr- today, as well as eight to twelve hours of sleep to get. Friday I've got a DH group. No can do, I'm afraid.

>>12675915
Glad you're enjoying it. Here's my email, I'm going to go crash and burn. Eve- Morning, all.

Oh, and I'm curious, what DO/DID >>12675479 think made these? Them. Speech centers shutting down.

yea i use to only lurk

this is the only thread i post generally.

oh hate to quote warhammer 40k but it would be applicable for this picture, "a wise man learns from the deaths of others"

Exhibit A

>>12675940
Email. There we go. Bye.

Quick question: Is there any precedent for metallic/chromatic crossbreeds? Are they even viable, or would it just be a dead egg? We have a great chance to make a rage-inducing mary-sue here.

The child would be all kinds of fucked in the head, too.

Also: The kobolds mentioned a prophecy way back when we first met them. We should find out the exact prophecy. It may involve the Binder.

>>12676000
There's only one way to find out.

>>12676000
Yeah, they can produce viable offspring. As I understand it, such creatures are exceedingly rare and are usually torn apart by either chromatic or metallic before they can reach maturity, as they are seen as an abomination.

It'd be like a drow and a dwarf having a child. And no, I don't mean like Sandwich.

>>12677478
Fairly accurate, from what I understand. My impression that cross breeds are always possible, though kind of rare (and even then, it's usually metallic/metallic or chromatic/chromatic,), and that it either generates a sterile mule, or it ends up basically counting as one of the parents. (Though it can look/act/be totally different. For technical purposes it could be a blue dragon, but it could look and act like a green, or whatever. Imagine adventurers gearing up to go fight a green, gas masks and acid resistance, and then suddenly OHGODSLIGHTNINGEVERWHERE)

Also: seven hours of sleep. Not quite enough, but I feel like a living creature again.

And I think it's time to give up on this thread for dead. I'm surprised it hasn't 404'd yet, with autosage.

>>12678592
> And I think it's time to give up on this thread for dead. I'm surprised it hasn't 404'd yet, with autosage.

We're on page 14, so we're almost there.

Also, kinda crazy how we were checking up on this thread at around the same time.

>>12678610
I'll concede, I am rather surprised.

Posting without name so as to get rid of it. If this thread is about to die, go ahead and email me questions, I guess. Unless you can ask them RIGHT NOW, and all that.