Our side suffered a crushing defeat by the barbarians. Yet somehow, when the soldiers had left, I was still alive.
I picked myself up off the bloodied ground and began to wander, seeking god only knows what. All I do know is that I cannot stay, lest more troops return and find they have left a survivor.

And now I am still wandering.
I stop only briefly for water. My wounds are slowing me down, and I do not know how much farther I can go.

My name is Marit. I am a soldier.
I have been wandering for some hours now, and the gloaming will be upon me soon. In this state, I may not survive the night.
I pray to the Goddess that I may find shelter. Just for one night. Just to survive.

Sometimes, prayers are answered in mysterious ways.

I wonder...
How should I continue?

this seems good

Go on in, find something to light.

Looks like there is a campfire, though. I'd say get your weapon or shield on, just in case.

I approach the large, reinforced double-doors of the ruins.
It's only a small tower, probably rubble from a long-forgotten fort or outpost, and it's in a great state of disrepair.

There's a stone circle out front that may once have been a campfire, but now it's overgrown from the inside with tall grasses.

The doors are rusted, but don't appear locked. I could open them easily if I weren't wounded. As it is I may still be able to force them, but I don't know if I should. I might make my injuries worse if I strain myself.

>>12839916
Make a makeshift tent. One of the tower things that fell down seems like a good roof. Cover up one of the sides with rocks and take a nap.

It's better than being exposed. Grab a rock and try to use it to unjam the door.

I examine the fallen pillar. I could try resting underneath it, but I can't shake the fear that it might fall on my while I sleep. Besides, I have no spare cloth from which to make a tent.
There aren't enough rocks nearby to wall off the fallen pillar on even one side, but there is one I can pick up that has enough heft to possibly help open the door.

Hm.

>>12840007

Just break it open, it's the best cover we have and we could try to find a way to block the door off for the night.

...Weaver?

>>12840057
Ssssh...

>>12840057
Damn it anon! If you acknowledge him, he's liable to disappear -- like some sort of magical gnome who crafts raw happiness.

>SMACK
>CRACK

I rap the stone against the door's metal-banded joists and try to force it open just enough to free it from its rusty stubbornness.

>>12840121
Any luck?

we have a sword, do we believe we could pry the doors open without damaging either ourselves or the sword?

It seems to work. The doors budge, and I'm able to push them open with a bit less effort.

I peer inside. Two torches burn on the walls of the small, gray-brick chamber beyond. It seems a little bigger on the inside.
I couldn't have asked for much better. It's dry, and there's a roof.

>>12840134

Yeah, using the sword will mean less precious energy used.

>>12840141

Walk in, close door, try to lock it.
Once we secure the door, examine the main chamber

Inventory Check, what do we have?

Rations?
Flint & tinder?
Gold?

Do we recognize the name Darkhaven?

wait....burning torches in a tower where the doors were rusted shut? can we get a confirmation on this?

what's the magic situation like? is stuff like this normal?

I enter the small ruins chamber and shut the doors behind me. This seems like a fair place to stay.
I take note of my surroundings: A broad wooden board on the ground, a chest on the far edge of the room, two burning torches in iron sconces, a metal plate and a broken chain on the ceiling, and some sort of fixture on the wall that looks like it might once have been a trough for water.

I have virtually nothing on my person. I have a small skin I filled with fresh water at the river, a day's worth of rations, but no gold, no flint and tinder, and no other supplies that I would have brought had I expected to be fighting for my survival in the wilderness.

examine the chest

>>12840192
Let's get that chest open.

>>12840192

Move chest in front of door, test strength of wooden boards, get yourself comfy for the night.a

I assume the boards are a hatch?

we really need to rest, I propose we stick the chest on top of the hatch, secure the door and catch some shuteye, hopefully we will feel better in the morning.

The chest is heavy and seems well-made, but despite the strong latch it's not even locked.

Inside I find a small cloth pouch containing a few golden coins, surely worth a good amount.
I also find a strange trinket -- a gemmed pendant that gleams with a bluish, pulsing light. I'm not an expert, but its ghostly color makes me think it must surely be magical.

>>12840192
That head wound is looking kind of worrisome.

what do we have to lose? put on the trinket.

what is the board covering?

Fight the urge to try it on.
Also lets see what's under the board

>>12840265
Do we know of any connections between colors and different kinds of magic?

>>12840289

No way, putting it on would lead to bad things. Keep it safe until we can figure out what it does.

Move that chest to block the door.

I put the trinket and the gold in my pocket. I'm tempted to try on the enchanted pendant, but I've heard many stories of cursed jewelry and a little voice in my head warns me not to.

I move the thin, light board on the floor.
It looks like this old tower has a lower level.

>>12840289
>Put on the first unidentified pendant we find
Are you crazy
Haven't you ever played a roguelike before?

>>12840306
>putting it on would lead to bad things.
We've no reason to believe that -- it looks rather benevolent to me.

Shout "HELLO?" into the pipe.

Well... we'd better check it out.
It wouldn't do to get ambushed by something in our sleep now!
Also maybe there is a better room to camp out in somewhere!
Or more shiny loots!

>>12840335

Better scope out that lower level, we need an idea of what will be near our 'bedroom'

what do we think, Rest or Explore? how are we feeling?

>>12840378

Use torches to heat sword, cauterize wounds. Make sure to bite down on something that's not our TONGUE.

put the board back on the stairs, put the chest on top of it, Sleep.

put the chest on top of the trapdoor and have a rest.

I don't feel very well, so hopefully I won't run into much danger -- but I can't ignore a lower level if I'm going to sleep here. I don't know what could be lurking down there, and the board is too thin and flimsy to block anything that might want to come up from below.

I descend the stairs.

...oh my.

Is resting even an option with our injuries? We've only been wandering for hours, so the wounds could easily be fatal if we don't do something about them.

go outside to the bushes, using either a piece of leather cord (from our clothes?) or the necklace set up a simple animal trap as shown,

go back inside and place the board back over the stairs and place the chest on top of it, with some luck we will be able to sleep and have some breakfast in the morning.

Loot the cupboards and drawers.

>>12840428
grab the chair or whatever you can to block the stairs down and then do >>12840412

>>12840412
Well shit. We've got a lot of exploring to do, so we might as well search the drawers and cabinets for supplies.

Could be worth it to check around the tables, as well.

>>12840412

Whelp, back up the stairs, place the board down, put the chest on top. We're not dealing with this stuff in our condition just yet.

>>12840428
We need to secure the area before we try anything like that. The chest can't possibly be too heavy for someone to lift.

I can't block the stairway. The furniture down here is too heavy for me to drag in my current condition and the board upstairs is way too flimsy to block anything. Hell, it might even break under the weight of the empty chest. It wouldn't keep me safe is something was coming for me.

I open the wooden cabinets, which are of modest craftsmanship, and begin to rummage about.
No treasure here, though. I find boxes of grains, crushed cereals, seeds, and nuts, earthenware plates and bowls, a few empty jugs, a small bag of valuable salt, and some preserved, chopped meat.

It's clear this must have been a mess hall or a kitchen of some kind once. But all the food here is dried, so it's hard to tell how old it is.

any rooms with doors down here on the lower level?

>>12840511
>I find boxes of grains, crushed cereals, seeds, and nuts, earthenware plates and bowls, a few empty jugs, a small bag of valuable salt
Vegetarians! Oh thank -
>and some preserved, chopped meat.
God damn it.

grab food, sleep outside.

Peek into the room on your right, try to stay away from that large crack in the wall, I don't trust it.

>>12840511
Let's try checking out the eastern room.

I contemplate just retreating now and sleeping outside. But if the weather were to worsen (as it often does around here) or predators -- or even scavengers -- were to find my in the night, it could easily be my end.
Still, it might be the better choice, depending on what I find. I'll have to consider my options.

I peek into the doorway East of the mess.
It opens up onto a hallway, which in turn opens up to a doorless arch at the Eastern end, and a heavy door on the North about halfway down.
The door appears to be marked as leading to a forge. It's an odd script, but it appears to be written in Common. That could be a good thing.

listen to the forge door. If there's nothing in there you could tuck in for a nap.

>Forge
Oh god oh god oh god, please don't be a dwarf fortress.

...Is that a carpet? Does it look decayed at all? Might be able to tell how recently it was put down.

Try knocking on the forge door.

I pause at the entrance to the forge. I don't hear much through the heavy wooden doors... but I can feel heat emanating from them. They're warm.

I don't think I'm alone here.

Probably shouldn't go in there, with that hole in the other room I'll bet it's like goblins trying to forge stuff or something. How's that other door looking?

>>12840651
Either that, or some horrific event occured and erased all living things from this place in an instant.

>>12840651
Of course we aren't. We haven't caught a single break in life thus far, why would we now?

>>12840651

Go to the carpet room

Carefully step over the carpet into the room after tentatively pulling the carpet out of the way.

Don't forget about the amulet guys.

I decide not to knock on the door for fear of what may lurk on the other side.

Instead, I head to the end of the hall and look in.
As I approach, I hear some sort of odd skittering sound coming from the room. But looking in, I don't see anyone.
A tribal banner is mounted on the wall, and does not appear inviting. A tapestry hangs further on, bearing the image of some kind of monster.
There are three beds here: one of straw, appearing well-used. I can smell it from here -- it smells like animal bedding.
There is also a simple wooden bunk, completely without any fancy additions, only a step up from a simple bedroll. On the far corner is a much more elegant one, with cloth bedding and a fine wooden headboard.

The only exit from this room is a metal-barred gate on the North, with no visible means of opening it.

>>12840702
Da fuck is that? It looks like some sort of bug-lamia-turtle monstrosity.

This day has been long enough. Let's go back upstairs and sleep inside the treasure chest. That should keep us safe.

>>12840702

its likely to be who'ever is sleeping in the bed with a heart in it.

try not to disturb too much here. if there is someone living here, it would probably piss them off that we've been rummaging through their stuff.

look around, but try not to bother things too much.
also peer past the metal bars, but be catious.

>>12840702
...is there something in/on/behind that animal bedding?

>>12840747

Good eye Anon.

Investigate, cautiously say hello or something.

Check under the beds, then poke the chest. It might be a Mimic.

Looking closer, it appears that there is someone or something behind the straw bed.
Possibly hiding.

>>12840762
Time to bring out the sword. Attempt to communicate with it, but keep your guard up.

>>12840762

"I know you're there, show yourself"

Say "Hey, what's up?"

>>12840762

announce your presence, then approach with caution.

>>12840788
>>12840797

Also, the bed on the right has a heart in it. It might be a girl's bed.

Or a fruity guy bed.

I'm in no real condition to fight, but I draw my sword for safety's sake and attempt to feign bravery.

"I know you're there! Show yourself!"
I hear two hushed voices.
>"What now?"
>"Shhhhh! Wait for them to get closer!"

>>12840803
Relevant.

Ho boy. Sharp objects do not bode well.

Announce "I mean you no harm! I just wish to patch myself up, catch 40 winks, and be on my way!"

>>12840808
"You guys know i can hear you, right?"

Look behind you, then back at them, just in case they are a cunning ruse.

>>12840808

although they appear small (small enough to hide enough behind a bed) they want to ambush you, and in our current state, thats not so good.

we could either bluff a bit and boast our appearance-

or pull back immediately and lure them out into the open-

boasting might be more of a gamble though.

>>12840808
"I don't want any trouble... I was just looking for someplace to crash for the night."

Throw something over there, like a small rock or whatever.

>>12840808

"I'm looking for shelter, put down that spear and I'll put my blade away. I've seen enough bloodshed."

>>12840808
We need to convince them not to fight us. Tell them the truth, that we just came here looking for a place to rest.

If they insist on being hostile, try to ask them why.

"So... Which one of you sleeps in the bed with the heart?"

"I've seen enough bloodshed for one day. I haven't come to fight. I just need a place to stay for the night."

There's silence for a long moment.
The hushed voices come back.
>"What do we do?"
>"We can't let them have our bed."
>"We could get in trouble if we let them stay."
>"Big trouble!"
>"Let me think."

Another pause.
>"We can't let you stay here! Go away! Ask someone else!"

>>12840849
"From who?"

>>12840849
Okay I think they're saying to try a different room. Check the forge, why not?

>>12840849

"can i speak to your master then?"

"Well then, who can I ask?"

Oh god psychopaths

Go back into the other room

"Can I speak to your master, then?"

>"We have no master!"
The voices are high-pitched, and a little scratchy.

"Who can I ask, then?"
>"Someone else! Go away! Go away!"
>"Please go away!"
>"Or you'll be in big trouble!"

>>12840849

"I'd rather not bumble around places I shouldn't be. You could be blamed for whatever happens in those places. How about you take me to 'someone else'?"

>>12840884
thank them for the advice and gtfo

It's Kobolds isn't it?

Go to the forge!

>>12840884

"if you have no master, then what authority do i have to fear? i only ask for a temporary place to rest."

"Tell you what, I'm gonna wait right here until someone else I can talk to comes by, or you take me to someone."

>>12840849
"If it's all the same to you I'd be just fine in a corner upstairs if nobody's using that room. I just want to know that nobody's going to shank me in my sleep, provided I don't bleed to death on my own."

Maybe we should head back to the dining hall and try one of the other doorways. That forge gives me a bad feeling.

"What if I just stay upstairs, out of your way? Can I be sure you won't stab me?"

Another pause.
>"Fine!"
>"Fine!"
>"Just stay out of our way!"
>"And don't make noise!"

I should probably get out of here. Whoever they are, they seem to have a hostile reaction to my presence here.
I decide to head back to the mess hall. The forge gives me a bad feeling and I can't explain why.

Dude it is Kobolds you can see the ear.

>>12840940

try to pocket a small amount of food. nothing too important.

also, poke our head into any unexplored rooms, for the sake of exploring.

May as well put the board back down and set up that animal trap. Then we can tend to our wounds and sleep

>>12840947
>ear
I think that's just the hay. They're more than likely bug people, like in the poster.

I return to the Mess Hall. I'm a little reluctant to steal any food, especially since I still have a day's worth of rations on me, and even moreso now that I know there are people living here.

Should I return to the upstairs antechamber and try to sleep there now, before running into danger? Or should I explore some more, to make sure it's safe and that danger won't find me?

>>12840975

>explore some more, to make sure it's safe and that danger won't find me?

but please be careful.

>>12840975
Well, how're you feeling Marit? Are you liable to collapse if we go much further?

>>12840975

Head upstairs and treat the wounds. We can figure out what to do after that.

Look for some stray cloth to patch yourself up with.

I hate ending sentences on prepositions.

>>12841006
in the face of death, all clothing is extra.

You could sleep in the treasure chest. That would increase the chance that you'd be overlooked.

Make a fort out of the tables, chairs, and cupboards.

Claim it as your own.

>>12840975
Check out that room next to the pitch black one.

Well, I don't know about Marit, but I'm turning in for the night.

Thanks for the doing this, OP. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this goes.

I'm running on fumes. I don't know how much longer I can go on, so I decide that even if I'm not going to sleep right away, I should take this area of relative shelter and do some emergency field-patching. Using strips of fabric from my heavy cloth socks, I make some bandages for my head wound and for the cuts on my upper arms. It's not much, but it helps.

>I hate ending sentences on prepositions.
Technically there's no actual rule saying you can't. It's perfectly acceptable to WHY DO I KNOW THIS

While you're about it, consider returning the contents of that chest. They might belong to someone here who might not take kindly to finding them missing.

Besides, you could always re-pilfer them before heading out if that's your sort of thing.

What is Marit's gender? Also is this Weaver or not I can't tell?

>In b4 waking up as tower owner's new bride

Bandaging complete.
I also return the gold coins and glowing pendant to the chest, at least for now.

It's worth pointing out the chest obviously isn't big enough for me to fit inside of.

Well, what now? I still feel pretty woozy, but I don't know if I should sleep or not. What should I do?

>>12841164
Pull out your sword and keep it in hands reach, but not visible. There's little else you can do.

>>12841164

Draw something on the wall with an arrow pointing to you.

Something saying "Please ignore" with the arrow.

>>12841164

say "is anyone there" into the pipe.

Posting some Marit fanart.

If you can't fit in the chest, could you fit in the cupboard downstairs?

If not, just sleep here. There's not much else we can do.

Curl up in the corner, unobtrusively, and go to sleep. Hopefully nobody will bother you.

>>12841086
Well, the denizens of this place didn't immediately attack you so... they can be reasoned with!
Go find someone who isn't afraid of 'getting in trouble' and see if you can't get a REAL place to stay for the night.

Might as well.
I'm woozy, exhausted, and injured. I curl up in the corner and just hope no one will bother me. I rationalize that whoever was down there didn't attack me then, so they won't attack me now.

This place is interesting, and if there are people here (and perhaps more importantly, treasure) I should consider searching it tomorrow.

Either that or I'll just go back to wandering aimlessly in the wilderness.

In the interest of safety, it might be best if you slept with your ass to the wall.

Don't want any surprises while sleeping.

When I wake up

...I'm somewhere else.

>>12841248

uh, clothes?

>>12841248
Someone doesn't know how to follow directions!

Try to move.

>>12841248
Check clothing status.

Uhh... huh.

You're not shackled down or anything, are you?

Quick, preform a self check! Clothes intact? Any strange fluids or hairs??

THIS IS IMPORTANT

OKAY NOW, well your arms are unbound so that's good, probably, are you clothed?

I'm only dressed in a loose cloth.
My chest, midsection, and ankles are strapped down, but it appears my arms are free.

I don't feel any more injured than I did yesterday.
At least, I hope that was yesterday.

>>12841278
>only dressed in a loose cloth

>Bound down in place

>Strange designs on the wall

Are you a virgin?

>>12841278

flail your arms around helplessly.

:3

>>12841278
Strange, if your arms are free, this is probably not a hostile restraint type thing. It's more likely you were tied down to keep you from falling off the bed.

Just go ahead and release the straps yourself. You've got the arms!

Can you undo the straps?

Hm. Start untying yourself, but keep your eyes on the door in case someone walks in.

Keeping an eye on the door, I quickly manage to loosen the straps enough to get free, then work myself off the table and cover myself with the bedcloth.

This place certainly appears to be some kind of torture chamber, but I wouldn't go so far as to say there was anything "ritualistic" about it.

>>12841335
Check in the chest to see if your sword's there.

Requesting thread archive, 'cause this is good stuff.

>>12841335

pilfer through the chest and cabinets for some more appropriate clothing.

How are your wounds?

Carefully peek into the next room.

What's that in the corner?

Examine the kiddy pool.

The thing in the corner is some sort of watery, slimy pit. It could be some kind of animal den, I suppose, and it smells very strong.

The cabinet contains a strange array of things. Small glass lenses, whole fruits, a few wooden eating utensils, a few small fragments of what appears to be colored glass or possibly gemstone, no larger than splinters, and more dried, chopped meat.

Perhaps most noticeable is a number of sharp metal implements marked with what appear to be bloodstains. They aren't big enough to be used as weapons, practically, but they look quite painful.

What about the chest opposite the bed?

I think this is a medical room, not a torture room. That would explain the presence of food.

>>12841393
Are they big and sharp enough to be used for dismembering a body and turning it into dried meat?

>>12841352

It could be either. Peek outside the room.

The tools don't seem big enough to hack someone apart. They're more precise, and look like they were specially designed to cause a great deal of pain. Fits the room, I suppose.

The chest is locked tight, I can't open it.
As for my wounds, some rest has helped, but I still feel a little out of it.

>>12841393

its probably a medical room.

some of the stranger things (such as the water pit) are probably for the bug people.

What are those markings on the wall? And look outside the room, what do you see?

>>12841443
Let's go out.

The markings on the wall are a combination of scratches and smears of what appear to be blood. But still, it just seems to revolve around torture -- nothing about this really says "ritual" to me.

I step outside.

...you know what, I take back what I said.

>>12841443
Is that blood beneath those... Whatever is on the center of the wall?

>>12841464
I've got a baaaaaaaaaad feeling about this, scooby.

>>12841464

dont. touch. anything.

Check the cupboard, but try not to step in the ritual circle on your way over to it.

GETTING FLASHES OF METAL GLEN HERE

You know?
Just don't even fuck with this room. Go south and see if you can find someone. Maybe those little fellas had someone drag you in to fix you up.

>>12841464
Keep going out in the direction you're going.

Maybe you should just leave the room. Quickly.

>>12841464
>>12841464

O LOOK, ITS THE WHEEL.

FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK

I check the cabinet, but it's locked.

You know, it's a lot bigger than it looked.
Something about the perspective in this room is playing with my head. Even the cabinet itself seems to be facing me at every direction. The geometry is so alien.

>>12841508
Did you shrink?

>>12841508
Okay uh... check that door there.

Yeah okay, enough of this room. Go peek out the unlocked door.

>>12841498

Same as before.

>>12841508

check the door, if its locked, take the door going out south.

>>12841508
>Alien geometries

Try not to bump your head on the underside of the floor.

This door appears to be locked too. That sure narrows down my choices.

>>12841529
That's because it IS Weaver.

>>12841532
Go through that ==> then.

>>12841532
Well, DON'T open the door in the center.

What about the one behind you?

>>12841532

well, go ahead and examine the center piece of the room, but again, don't touch anything.

>>12841532
did you just get taller?

I leave the very unsettling room and its ritualistic markings, and -- hey, a place I recognize! I'm back in the mess hall!

It shouldn't be f- WHAT THE HELL IS THAT

>>12841579
'Sup nemel-er, Beholder.

>>12841579

B- beholder!?

OKAY LOOK IN CABINET NEXT TO YOU is there anything useful you do not want to be chasing after one of those now.

...it looked scared, though.

>>12841579
WELL FUCK

>>12841579

see if you can talk to it before it leaves.

Just back up a little, it's facing away, let it leave.

...wow the geometry is strange in that room

>>12841579
Watch that cloth, young lady, you don't want to be running about this dungeon in the altogether.

>>12841579
Ben?

Never mind, names can wait. For now we'd best get the hell out of its sight. And then stalk it, if feasible.

>fuck yes Weaver's back

Well'p, time to find a mirror at the earliest convenience.

The floating, many-eyed creature leaves the room, heading into the next.
Thankfully, it didn't seem to notice me.

But there's no telling when it might be back.

>>12841586
There's no point in searching these cabinets a second time!

>>12841618
Well, uh...

Follow it?

>>12841618

head upstairs to our familiar room, see if anything has changed.

>>12841618

There could be something new in them. You've been asleep for who knows how long, after all...

now that the beholder is gone, grab torch and follow, I guess!

>>12841618
Try going back to were you went to sleep. Some of your stuff may still be there.

Peek upstairs, if there's nothing there, go look in the room you first saw creatures in.

uh
follow the beholder.

Why would I want to FOLLOW a monster that could swallow me whole?

I hurry back up the stairs. Unfortunately, I don't see any of my stuff here. The chest is gone, too.

examine slime

>>12841663

HOLD IT what's that goo

>>12841672

>>12841663
Examine slime.

ib4 a series of comic meetings with various harmless denizens.

I got a feeling that looking outside isnt going to lead to good results.

A translucent, goopy blue ooze is... oozing out the little metal trough. It's like a syrup.

I kinda doubt it could swallow you whole, it's a giant ball. Bite the crap out of you though, that might be a danger.

What's that slimy stuff, and is the doors locked?

why is it increasing so fast

I have a bad feeling about this

...look outside look outside

>>12841694
Poke it.

>>12841694
You could use the cloth to test if it's acidic.

>>12841694
It's a monster. Run away.

It must have only just started coming out. Uh... try tearing off and using a bit of cloth to touch it with.

try to leave D:

>>12841709

if its like syrup, maybe its food for the bug people?

Before my eyes, the gelatinous ooze begins to take shape, moving seemingly on its own!

>>12841748
hehehehehehe

Make a funny face!

Uh

A funnier face!

>>12841748
Oh sweet, a slime girl. The drawfags will have a field day with this one.

Say hello, it looks just as flabbergasted as you are.

>>12841748
Wave hello to your ooze doppelganger.

Then run for it. It's a well known fact that doppelgangers always try to kill and replace those they copy.

Oh god okay try moving back to the corner of the room

Poke your tongue at it, see if it copies you.

have more randombad marit fanart

let's see how many sparkles I can put into something like this...

The slimy creature appears to be copying me. I raise my hand, it raises its hand. I stick out my tongue, it... well, that's about as close as it can get, really.

I'm feeling very unnerved by all this.

>>12841816
Say Hi.

>>12841816

O... kay...

...take a look outside the door now? looks like our slime twin won't hurt us at this point in time. Might be good to know what time of day it is too

>>12841816
D'aaww.

Go eat some salt and see if the slime does the same thing and dissolves.

>>12841834

It might be useful! Once we figure out a way to use it. No point getting rid of a handy useful mirror thing.

go outside

>>12841816
Turn your back on it for a second, then quickly turn back around to see if it's morphed into something mindshattering

Step back a bit and say "hello?"

I get so caught up in observing the slime-thing, I don't even notice someone's come up behind me until I hear them speak suddenly.

>"Shel!"
OH GODDESS.
>"Quit messing around and go get Hedda."
GOBLIN! Oh hell, where's my sword?!

>>12841909
Whimper.

>>12841918
Also cringe.

Come on, you were trained in the arts of unarmed combat!

Two step back, get into a defensive stance!

The slime shuffles down the stairs making goopy sounds.

>"Sorry about that. He's just curious. Anyway, it's good to see you awake. My name's Godwin. Can I ask who you are?"
The Goblin extends a giant clawed hand out towards me oh god what is he doing

"... where are my things?"

>>12841966
He's trying to befriend you to make sweet half-breed babbies. Humor him for your safety, but be on the look-out for one of those rape things!

>>12841966

...Shake... hand...?

'Uh, hi. I'm, uh, Sturgeon. It's nice to meet you.'

just play it cool for now

Shake hand, inquire as to what the hell this place is.

I'm not shaking that THING'S hand.
>"Oh, all right. I understand, you're still shaken up. Well, just take it easy. You're still hurt."
"...Where are my things?"
>"What things? Oh, your clothes? Bob -- ah, a friend of mine -- had to remove them and examine you for injuries before we got to patching you up. Now, don't worry, you know. I didn't get there until after you were examined and draped. I only worked on your arm."

...
>"Oh! Right, um, your clothes. They should be stored safely somewhere. Bob would know. Come on, shall we go ask him?"

>>12841966
Stay defensive, ask him where your clothes are and such.

>>12841979
Bam! Right in the taco!

>>12842017
Go with the goblin you RACIST.

just go with him, if he wanted to kill/rape you he would have done so already.

He seems friendly enough. Ask him to lead you to this 'Bob' so you can get your clothes. That drape has to be itchy.

>>12842017
He's just a goblin, maybe he's a pacifist? Maybe if you get to know him, he'll turn out to be really cool! Don't let stereotypes prevent you from making awesome friends, Marit!

Follow the goblin for now under the guise of being his friend. Look for a weapon while he leads you to your equipment.

>>12842017
So... have you ever even heard of a sentient creature other than a human before?

I've never met a Goblin before, not in person. But I've read that they're vicious, cunning, warlike monsters. Like a Kobold, but more organize and certainly hardier.

He leads me downstairs. I guess I have no choice but to go with him. If he wanted to kill me he probably could. I'm unarmed, and my military training consisted primarily of throwing me a sword and saying "go get 'em".

Downstairs, another horrible sight -- the Beholder!
>B: "Hey!"
>G: "Bob, we were just looking for you. Look who's awake."
The giant creature focuses all of its eerie eyes on me. I feel paralyzed with fear.
>B: "Well well well! Hey there. You're lookin' a lot better, girl. So hey, I'm Bob. What's your name?"

>>12842017
Monsters are people too.

>>12842076
Stammer out your name and/or faint.

Just say "Scared now..." and stay paralyzed

>>12842076

"...what a coincidence. I'm also called Bob."

>>12842076
"My name is Bob."

>>12842076
Try to keep your cool, and remember that they haven't brutally murdered you yet, so they probably don't intend to.
And be polite, at least stammer out your name. Bob seems like a nice guy...holder.

"...m-my name is... Marit."
>B: "Well hey, nice to meet you, Marit! Good to see you're doin' better!"
>G: "When we found you upstairs, you were very injured. Bob helped patch you up."
>B: "Aw, don't listen to lop-ears here. He did most of the work. All I really did was take your clothes off!"

>>12842112

take my clothes off with WHAT EXACTLY

>>12842112

ask him how he managed that.

>>12842112
He saw EVERYTHING from EVERY ANGLE.

Ask if they have someplace you can take a bath.

>>12842112

TRY not to think about just... how he got the clothes off and ask him for them back. And your sword too, please. And thank you.

Whenever I see a beholder, I think of two things.

A: Making fuckloads of cash selling eyedrops and contacts.
B: Huge, deliciously open critical spot to hit. All it takes is a decent stab and splat.

How the fuck can beholders undress anyone?

>>12842137
With their eyes, silly.

>>12842146

oh that gives a whole new meaning to 'he undressed her with his eyes'...

>>12842112

Ask if he/she/it is related to Chain Chomp Chan, the similiarity is rather apparent.

That how can you keep your eyes moist, jesus christ.

>B: "OW! Hey!"
>G: "Bob, that was inappropriate."
>B: "I was just kidding around! I don't even have a gender for crying out loud!"
>G: "Our guest is still in shock, give her some space."
>B: "I didn't even touch you, I'm telekinetic!"
>G: "She probably didn't know that. Now come on, quit whining."

GOD.

>>12842152

I'd like to see that, that is physically impossible.

I mean, why beholders would strip their victims, they don't even have penises or orifices outiside the humongous mouth with many sharp, pointy teeth. How they can get satisfaction out of that?

>>12842165

HAHAHHAHA these two guys-

wait, let's not get distracted here. Clothes! You will be wanting them back, sword too. Also, what was with that torture chamber? That... geometrically weird torture chamber? Questions still need answering.

>>12842165

CHOO CHOO!

Wait, wait. I am starting to spot similarities here. Jumping from trip to trip again, are we?

Okay, okay, back to the relevant questions:

"Where'd you put them? Really, this sheet isn't that comfortable."
and
"What were those ritualistic symbols meant for?"

Better question, is there any other 'residents' you should know about?

Where sword? Give sword!

>>12842165
Scream in confusion and begin to weep.

Just say "CLOTHES. PLEASE." and hold your head in your hands.

"Can I just have my clothes already?!"
>B: "Right, sorry. I'm on it."
"And my sword, too?"
>G: "...I didn't see a sword. What kind was it?"
"Uh... steel, soldier-issued?"
>G: "Oh dear. Um. That might be gone."
"Great. What's with that weird room back there, with all the runes?"
>G: "That? Oh, that used to be some kind of ritualistic chamber... but now it's just Manny's room."
"So there are more of you? What other inhabitants should I be aware of?"

Goddess help me
how did I get into this

>G: "Look, I know you're uncomfortable right now, but in a minute we're having a meeting, and we'll explain everything. You can meet everyone then. Just... relax for now, okay? Nobody's going to hurt you."

>>12842245
Might want to apologize to Bob sometime, I doubt beholders have a good grasp on the whole "clothing and privacy" bit...
And if you're going to be stuck here for a while, you're probably going to want as many friends as you can get.

>>12842245

Okay... well if they'd wanted to eat you, they'd have done so already-

Actually, wait a moment. Aren't you and goblins and beholders supposed to be enemies? Why are they being so helpful? Not that you don't appreciate the help (not being close to death is probably nice) but... what's the deal with that?

Ask what that fabric was last used for...

And sit down.

compose yourself. If you want any chance at escaping you'll need to just play along...

ask what happened to your sword

>>12842268
She went to war with barbarians, which presumably means either other humans or, at most, orcs. Goblins and Beholders notwithstanding.

>>12842245
He's so nice. :3

>>12842300

Yes but her first reaction to seeing a goblin was
>GOBLIN! Oh hell, where's my sword?!
Which... doesn't look like she considers goblins to be allies. And she refers to them as 'things' and won't shake their hands, so I'm guessing this kind of helpful behaviour is pretty unexpected.

"What happened to my sword?"
>G: "Uh... I have a feeling I know, but-"
"And look, since it's not like I can make things any worse for myself, just tell me: Why are you being so polite? You're a goblin! I thought goblins hated humans. I figured you'd be trying to eat my skin by now."
>G: "Well... ha ha.. look, it's very complicated. I promise I'll explain everything at the meeting."

To be honest, I never even knew Goblins had names. Godwin seems to be doing his best to keep me calm, but I don't like it.
It's really weird being this close to a fanged goblin and a floating beholder, but the truth is the most unnerving thing is how... NORMAL they're acting. It puts me on edge. I can't help but feel they're waiting for something.

The beholder, Ben, returns.
>B: "Here, I got your clothes. You can go change in my room."
>G: "That's the, uh... the one with the table..."
"You mean the one that looks like a torture chamber?"
>G: "...yes."

>>12842324

... Okay. I- I guess there's no choice but to go change for now and try not to pay too much attention to the whole torture chamber thing. We know of Shel, Hedda and Manny (Slime thing... and the two things that were talking to us earlier?) in addition to Godwin and Bob.

Seems like the only thing to do is wait for that meeting and some proper answers.

snatch clothes, run to room, change. Also grab anything sharp just for tool purposes.

>>12842334

OH RIGHT and it might be good to apologise to Bob for smacking him in the face.

Or maybe not.

>>12842324
Better get changed. Even if your clothes are a ragged mess it has to be better than a sheet.

>>12842324
>Ben

I return to the 'torture chamber' to change.
The first step to getting my head in order is just to get dressed already.

>>12842342
You're right. His name's Bob. Why did I call him Ben?
I must be more out of it than I realized.

OH GOD THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE CABINET TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT IT

>>12842351

Is that an eye? On the left? WATCHING YOU CHANGE?

... ... Someone needs punching in the eye.

....okay, this shit is weird. You'd expect a place like this to be at least a LITTLE weird, but these things are acting rather......normal. Human, even. Which makes me think they aren't even monsters at all.

They're polymorphed.

==>

>>12842361
oh fuck..
If you're right then this is gonna be pretty disturbing/interesting.

I can't help but feel like these guys aren't the original owners of this place. They're just as much squatters as you are.

Also, prepare to meet your next off-puttingly normal monster in that cupboard.

Or maybe it's their incredibly dangerous pet that they assure you is completely safe and will never threaten to stab you.

>>12842376

I'm thinking this as well. Considering that the place used to be Darkhaven and that there's a torture chamber not being used as a torture chamber... it feels more like a typical dungeon that's been refurbished and beds with little hearts carved into the headboard, I'm getting the feeling that they're squatters, yes, but that they've also been here for a considerable time.

Either way, it seems that the meeting will hold SOME answers. But before that, thing in closet watching, SHOUT AT IT. Or. Wave hands. Or something.

I keep thinking how this would make a great flash game.

>>12842351
Now might be a good time time to throw a boot at the cupboard.

You're right, they're so normal. Too normal.
Maybe they were human once. Is there any other explanation? Monsters are supposed to act like... monsters.
I've always tried to keep an open mind about some things, but these are the kind of creatures that when you were a kid you would have checked under your bed for. The kind who would jump out from the darkness and scream--

>"SURRENDER YOUR LUSTFUL FLESH TO ME GIRL, AND I WILL END YOUR LIFE IN THE EUPHORIC HEIGHTS OF PAIN."

>>12842407
D'aawww, he's just teasing.

>>12842407

...

REACH OVER GRAB TONGUE YANK HARD

>>12842351
(Good to see you back on /tg/).

Throw boot at cupboard! Someones peeking!

Then again your a soldier, and might be used to the absence of privacy, in that case, be proud of your warrior body!

Either way, continue listening to the voices in your head that may or may not have come from a concussion!

That's it for tonight, folks. Thanks for sticking with me as usual.

But stay tuned for more later this week!

I'll try to keep the speed up so the quest doesn't drag on.
See you soon for the continuation.

>>12842407
...That is a thing.
Yell out for Bob and/or Godwin to help you because there's something trying to eat you in here?
Try to avoid dying!

>>12842412

Seconding this. You're a soldier with a soldier's instincts. And currently less injured than before. Time to teach this interloper a lesson about why you shouldn't interrupt soldiers in the middle of /changing/.

>>12842421

Ohhflkasj okay! This was an awesome quest start. Just out of curiosity, though, what's Marit's hair colour?

>You're a soldier with a soldier's instincts.
>soldier's instincts

>my military training consisted primarily of throwing me a sword and saying "go get 'em"

>>12842432
>what's Marit's hair colour?
She's a Viking (albeit with no real combat training) so I'd say blonde probably. Maybe redhead. I don't know, it could go either way.

>>12842425
Isn't she a conscript that barely survived her first battle? Not exactly regular army material.

>>12842454

Barely survived a battle that everyone else perished in

there's got to be something going for her, maybe? Incredible luck?

>>12842421
Is this really weaver??

>>12842477
Yes.

Redhaired!

Redhead rock <3

Bumping this thing.

Captcha: Hemorser terms.

sage for kina