It's been two years.
Two years since you found the treasure that the old ogre seer Triune had sent you, and since then you've been doing a lot of work on New Arcturus. Passing out noble titles amongst your friends like candy, purchasing supplies to reconstruct the old ogrish city, and sitting through so many diplomatic meetings that you're all but sick of it.

You are the queen of New Arcturus. Ishelda. Sixteen years old, as of this autumn. A sorceress of immense power. You defeated a group of similarly-powered people. You killed Gareth and Eidolon. You helped the hobgoblins go free, and freely gave the lizardmen some of your land, earning their friendship. You changed the face of the Provinces, the Weave, the Wall, and even the Warped lands, which are hardly even warped nowadays.

Something wet and cold presses into your back.
With a start, you snap awake, and Grayson huffs at you, almost laughing at your reaction. It must have been his snout that woke you, just like it has almost every morning he wakes you up. You give him an indignant glare, and the dire bear trundles out of your room.

You lie in bed for a moment, eyes wide.
You had a strange dream last night. Something. . foreboding. Somewhere far, far away from the heart of New Arcturus, where you lie, something was happening.

YES SORCERESS QUEST WAFIU WARS EDITION IT BEGINS

rolled 48 = 48

Gentlemen

Here we goooooooo!

>>20373430
PffhahahahahHa oh man.

>>20373406
Well, we're awake, may as well get up, get dressed, see what there is for breakfast.

You quickly wash up, get dressed in your favorite petticoat, and strap Rikar, the artifact sword, to your hip. It glimmers violet, as it usually does, before you sheathe it in the scabbard you'd had made.
You exit the castle and enter the courtyard. There, Redglare, the hobgoblin warchief-turned-armsmaster saluted you, and then continued drilling the castle guards, most of them lizardmen. Nahzit stood there, complete with helmet and spear. Captain of the guard, ever since Vithriel lent him into your service.

High in the sky, connected to the tallest tower of the castle, was the Jormungandr, still as new as the day it was built.
You step outside of the courtyard, and Marigold is on her hands and knees, taking care of the Galadriel's Light planted there. She wipes her brow, and you see a young human child- one of the villagers from just outside the castle, no doubt- talk to her a bit, and then the two of them start working side by side.

All of a sudden, a massive, eight-foot tall troll wraps it's arms around you from behind, and makes a strange 'graw' noise.

>WAT DO?

>>20373518
"Good morning Kell."

>>20373518
Laugh, and wish Kell the Huge a good morning.

"Good morning, Kell." You say, laughing. The troll finishes hugging you, and then sets you back down and pats you on the head. After a rather. . .bone-breaking hug several months back, Kell's been exceedingly careful when it comes to doing things alongside more vulnerable beings.
The two of you walk over to your cousin, Marigold, careful not to step on the flowers as you do so.
The child she's working with stands up, and looks up at Kell, eyes wide. Slowly, he waves.
Kell waves back.
"Good morning, Ishelda. Up a bit early for breakfast, aren't you?" Marigold asked, laughing. The child looked to you. .
And took two steps back, eyes wide. He looks terrified, and stutters out a few words.

>>20373639
"Blame Grayson's cold nose." To the kid, "Hello, what's your name?"

rolled 87 = 87

Scry for dragons
If that fails scry child he is probally suicide bomber

>>20373670
C'mon man, this isn't paranoid queen quest.

"Blame Grayson's cold nose." You say, and turn to the kid. "Hello, what's your name?"
The kid turns around and runs, full-tilt, away.
"I guess he was a bit too nervous." Marigold said, tittering. "He moved into the city a day ago. His father's an ambassador from some small island nation to the west, past the provinces. Who you should probably meet, when it comes down to it."

Right. Most of the ambassadors who have arrived are people you know- Scribe, from the orcish lands, Velrid, from the lizardman lands. . there's also the elven ambassador who hasn't quite arrived yet, and the human provinces haven't resorted to bringing an ambassador- instead, High Lord Sirius has been coming here personally, to discuss things with you. The hobgoblins seem to have assumed that Redglare served as an ambassador; which he does, when he isn't training your soldiers.

rolled 22 = 22

>>20373682
We could read mind of child if you want

>>20373732
"I suppose I should. I'll send someone down to arrange a meeting later."

rolled 35 = 35

>>20373732
I will, but first I need breakfast. and some hot tea.

then I shall meet with them.

rolled 16 = 16

I vote for that we will scry for things that are happening.
Or even better go to place where things are happening but knowing life its happening in middle of sun.

"I suppose I should, but first I need breakfast. And tea." You say.
She titters again. "Of course. Also, Gehenna wanted to talk to you. Something about the money we're making off of trade taxes."
The two of you (three, with kell thumping along behind you) walk back into the castle, stepping through the halls. By the time you get there, Kristoph and Raziel are already in the dining hall, sitting as far away from one another, eating awkwardly. As always. You're still not quite sure what happened between them, but they haven't directly spoken in months.

You sit down, Marigold at your side, and you wait patiently to be served your tea and eggs.
"Morning." Raziel said, staff in hand. "We got another lumber shipment from the baron, and I'm working more on the farming towns now. Any day now we'll have enough to repair the second ogrish city."

>>20373839
"That's good, but are we actually going to need a second city yet?"

File: 1345314808035.jpg-(67 KB, 473x448, 4chan with screws in her (...).jpg)

Exabyte's back! I was almost in danger of getting something productive done for a while there.

>>20373839
(What's Arcturus's population like? Sparse? Overcrowded and in desperate need of that city?)

>>20373857
Where do you think army will train defending from siege?

"That's good, but are we actually going to need a second city yet?" You ask, knowing full well that the city you have now is more than enough for the sparse, primarily-lizardman city you have now.
"Well. . . no." She said, and grinned. "but after finding a bunch of ogrish artifacts in Triune's Gift, I want to see the ones in the other city now."
Suddenly, there was a loud horn from outside, and one of the retainers stepped into the hall.
"The Adventurer's Guild has arrived!" The retainer called.
You grin. You talk to Lewin now and then on the rings, but you haven't seen him for years, his adventures taking him and his guild all across the continent.

>>20373903
Either they train in the drill yards and fallow fields, or they don't train at all. Standing on a wall shooting arrows doesn't require special training. Plus we have elementals and undead that either don't need training or won't benefit from training anyway.

rolled 96 = 96

>>20373932
<to raziel> "I see, that's good to hear."

<to the retainer> "well? show them in Gerald! you know I don't normally stand on formality, offer them breakfast and a place to store their luggage."

"I see." You say. "That's good to hear."

"Well?" You tell the retainer. "Show them in. You know I normally don't stand on formality. Offer them breakfast and a place to store their luggage."
"Of course, your majesty." The retainer- Gerald, you recall- said, and bowed, before leaving the room. A few minutes later, Lewin entered the room, a massive, curved bow strung on his back. The scars on his face have healed a lot, but for some reason he seems to be wearing an eyepatch.
"Ishelda." He said, with a wide grin. An orcish woman stepped in behind him, also wearing the sigil of the adventurer's guild- someone familiar, but you can't exactly place who.
"Wow." He said, looking you up and down. "You got. . older."

rolled 81 = 81

>>20374091
"and you got an eye-patch. have you been doing unsafe things again?"(waggle finger at him like he's been a bad boy)

"I will admit madam orc that your are familiar to me and yet I don't remember your name, and for that I apologize. "

>>20374091
"Lewin. Of course I got older, it's been two years remember?"

>>20374091
>An orcish woman stepped in behind him, also wearing the sigil of the adventurer's guild- someone familiar, but you can't exactly place who.
The one who made the bow? Tree-something?

rolled 97 = 97

>>20374169
yeah it's her, but I cannot remember the name either...

and I'm too lazy to look it up

Scry for orc name

rolled 8 = 8

>>20374207
Forgot roll

"Lewin. Of course I got older. It's been two years, remember?"
"Well, uh," He seemed to stumble over his tongue. "I'm used to you being a little girl, I guess?"
"And you got an eye-patch." you say, waggling your finger at him. "Have you been doing unsafe things again?"
". . Yes ma'am." He said. "There were some really big and angry wyverns in elven lands a few months back. Treechild here was able to save my life, but not my eye."
He hopped on the balls of his feet for a moment.
"It's almost as if I'm a real adventurer, now."
"You're the grandmaster of the adventuring guild." Treechild said from behind him, in a dry tone of voice. "Of course you're an adventurer."
"Yeah, but I didn't *feel* like one until then." He said.
"How's Fellwind?" Raziel suddenly asked.
Lewin shrugged. "Still in Ursae, last I knew. Training to be a healer. Did the 'do no harm' vow, even."

>>20374262
"Huh. I'm a bit surprised he's actually going through with it. He's really calmed down huh?"

"Huh. I'm a bit surprised he's actually going through with it. He's really calmed down, huh?"
"It has to do with the girl he found." Treechild said. "Hobgoblins took her, and while he was wandering about in the cathedral, she ended up there when she was freed."
"Oooh." Marigold said, with a sly grin.
"Really?" Lewin asked.
"Talked to her about it." Treechild added. "That's why he's changed so drastically, we decided."

rolled 8 = 8

>>20374262
first
>>20374296
then;
so, are you ready for some adventures in lands never seen before by any living man, orc, or elf? ruins aplenty and mutants...

>>20374427
Oh, he found her again? That's good.

Pet the fuzzy thing.

>Oh I'm reading sorq not playing with my fuzz ball.

In that case ask more details about the girl. Girls love details.

"Oh, he found her again?" You ask. "That's good."
The conversation quickly devolves into small talk. Even Grayson arrives, and you all finish up breakfast. You're in a rather good mood as it finishes, and the all but empty castle beckons. You haven't spoken with Ezekiel in a bit, and you recall that Gehenna was asking after you. . and then, of course, there's the ambassador that arrived sometime yesterday that you still need to meet with. . .

>>20374550
Go check out Zeke, and see if he has any insight as to the distance that's grown between Raz and Kristoph.

>>20374580
>check out
Right, 16 now, gotta be more careful with my words. Just go talk to him.

>>20374550
Go find Gehenna. The ambassador doesn't want to be dragged out just after breakfast, give him some time to prepare. Zeke's just smalltalk but Gehenna has something important to talk about.

>>20374550
Gehenna, send a page to set up a meeting with the ambassador for after we've also talked to Zeke

rolled 46 = 46

>>20374550
lets go say hi to Ghenna and Zeke, have the ambassadors brought to us as we wander the glory of the palace and if they are offended by our aloofeness remind them that we're a 16 year old girl and get bored easily...lull them into a false sense of our incompetence...that way when we hit them hard with negotiations for materials, people, and trade they will shit their collective pants while dealing with the cute little girl with the razor sharp mind...

rolled 65 = 65

>>20374609
be sure Nahzit, redglare, Grayson, and a kalak or two are with us for the meeting. we want to make some impressions.

So does Ishelda still look like Ilya or is she more like Irisviel now?

>>20374684
>>Yeah, she is, though I never played that one.

You send a page to the ambassador, telling him you'll meet with him soon, and make your way toward the treasury, where Gehenna spends all of his time.
"You wanted to speak with me?" You ask, as the bird-like gray kalak pours over parchment. He straightens his back and turns his head all the way around to face you.
"Yes, of course, your majesty." He said. No matter how much you try to dissuade him from the honorifics, he persists in using it. "It's mostly about the trading taxes." He said. "I know the way you think, so I simply wanted your opinion on if I should lower them- we're making quite a bit of surplus. Nobody's complaining, of course, but I just wanted your thoughts."

>>20374661
Throw in Kell too if he can sit down and behave himself for the duration.

>>20374739
"Well if there aren't any complaints then it's just fine as it is."

rolled 19 = 19

>>20374739
a surplus of cash is fine. but if we have no deficits or debts then I'd prefer we re-invest it in the people. can we hire tutors, master craftsman, teachers, musicians who can teach.

knowledge grants choice just like power does. and life is a full of choices.

>>20374739
"Keep them as is until our surplus reaches 10%, then begin reinvesting all additional surplus into public works. In the event of an emergency, we can use the surplus and lower the taxes."

>>20374885
*10% of our total funds, I should've made that clearer.

"Well, if there aren't any complaints then it's just as fine as it is."
"Of course." He said, and nodded.
"If we have no deficits or debts, then when surplus is 10% of our total funds, we re-invest it in the people. Hire tutors, master craftsman, teachers, musicians who can teach."
"I'll do so." He said, scratching out a few marks on his parchment. "Public schooling. . I heard that's what we did back on the kalak homeworld. I think I can organize something like that here, if you have no qualms, your majesty." Gehenna said, scribbling even more.

rolled 91 = 91

>>20374927
none at all. was there anything else that you wanted to discuss Gehenna? when was your last day off?

"None at all." You say. "Was there anything else that you wanted to discuss, Gehenna? When was your last day off?"
"Today's one of my days off." Gehenna responded, completely deadpan. "But I do have something not related to the kingdom I'd like to discuss. It's about the Fell."
He opened his hand, and the golden artifact ring sat there, doing nothing.
"I. . I'm not sure why, but it's been. . I don't know, calling to me. Telling me to use it."

rolled 72 = 72

>>20375002
"my suggestion is don't, when things call out to you to use them it invariably leads to unfortunate shenanigans; perhaps you could bury it down a deep hole for a while."

>>20375002
"hmm... Maybe you should lock it up somewhere."

rolled 20 = 20

>>20375002
In what way?

>My eyes are bleeding from the cuteness.
>My fuzzy rat, not the thread.

>>20373396
Didn't you say you'd start an hour later from now on?

>>20375191
No, he said an hour earlier.

>>20375209
Yeah, just read the twitter. Last time I checked it, OP posted:
> Also, I'm pushing my starting time back an hour.

So I was a bit confused.

>>20375230
>>20375191
>I said an hour earlier. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

"My suggestion is, don't." You say. "When things call out to you to use them, it invariably leads to unfortunate. . shenanigans. Perhaps you should lock it up somewhere."
He nodded, and put the ring away.
"Anyway, that's all I wanted to see you about, your majesty." He said, back to his professional self. "I'll arrange for the tutors, teachers, and musicians to come. Perhaps I'll hire a few adventurers to serve as escorts. The mutants shouldn't be a problem anymore, but you never know."

You leave Gehenna to his paperwork- he seems to like the arithmetic, for some reason- and go up to the top tower, where Ezekiel was waving his arms about, making the clouds shift with his magic, and the enchanted gloves he bore on his talons.

He flattens the feathers on his crest as he turns to you.
"Still need more practice." He said, and chuckled. "I'm lucky there haven't been many sandstorms lately, or I'd be wiped out by now."

File: 1345321089532.jpg-(80 KB, 250x400, irisviel wire bird.jpg)

>>20374684
>>20374739
>She's like Irisviel now
Except we don't have a cute pet bird. Because you turned that into a bad end because you're a meanie.

>>20375256
"It's still quite impressive. How have you been?"

>>20375256
Tease him a bit.

Oh no, not having exact and perfect control over the forces of nature. I have no idea what it's like in the least.

My city has thus far remained unharmed by storms, you're doing just fine. It's not like anyone else can control the weather like you do, it's still impressive and helpful.

How've you been doing lately Zeke?

>>20375313
>Except we don't have a cute pet bird

Don't we have a pet mini-hydralisk?

File: 1345321404763.jpg-(1.35 MB, 1300x2000, Irisviel.Von.Einzbern.large.jpg)

>>20375341
Yes we do. And we have Kell. They're not birds, though.

rolled 63 = 63

>>20375341
no, we have a half rattata half [zerg equivalent of an SCV]

>>20375390
If you want a bird that badly, just roll for it.

>>20375400
>Half rattata, half zergling, half drone, all adorable. His name is Bob, and he's still chugging along most of the time.

"Oh, no, not having exact and perfect control over the forces of nature." You say, teasing him. "I have no idea what it's like in the least."
He just pulls down the hood of his favorite red robe, and stares at you. You grin.
"My city has thus far remained unharmed by storms. You're doing just fine. It's not like anyone else can control the weather like you do, it's still impressive and helpful."
"Come to think of it, I've never seen you do anything with weather." He said, shrugging- his wings, as usual, spread for a moment as he shrugs.
"How've you been doing lately, Zeke?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but. . well, I've been bored." He said. "Raziel is happy uncovering ogrish ruins, and Gehenna's fascinated with math for some reason, and Lewin's been off adventuring for who knows how long, and Grayson's happy when he can sleep undisturbed, but other than the weather thing, I haven't been doing. . well, anything." He said. "Evocation isn't very useful in peace time."

rolled 20 = 20

>>20375256
idly shift the clouds around...then shape one into a sailing ship just for giggles. watch it sail across the sky and let it go on its merry way

"so how have you been zeke?"

>>20375415
"Why don't you and Kristoph spend a night on the town? You're bored, and he looks so miserably all the time."

"You could spend time with Kristoph, he and Raz haven't been quite the same lately and I'm not sure why.
Gehenna is also starting up some schooling, you could teach magic if you're interested."

File: 1345321818441.jpg-(85 KB, 1280x720, Iri bird attack.jpg)

>>20375405
Why? I'm not going to beat the 100 that already failed to get us a bird.

>>20375415
"Well, I'm afraid I'm not going to start a war just so you can have some fun. Why don't you join the adventurer's guild?"

>>20375415
I've never tried to fiddle with the weather.

Well Ezekiel why don't we try and find a use for evocation in peace time. Maybe think of some way to provide a cheap mode of mass transportation for Arcturus. I'm sure you can think of something involving electricity or fire. You can also teach if you want, you might like it.

Also feel free to head out on the town, with Kristoph if you want, and do whatever men do when they go out on the town. I will appreciate it if you keep the tales of such misadventures to yourself.

>>20375415
"hmm... have you tried using evocation for arts or crafts of some kind? I'd imagine it'd be useful for blacksmithing or kilnwork or something."

rolled 24 = 24

Make it rain

rolled 49 = 49

>>20375477
Then roll a d200 or something. It'll probably get better than 100 right off the bat. Here let me help you.

rolled 115 = 115

>>20375512
shit.
redo.

rolled 67 = 67

>>20375512
That's not even a success. And everyone knows the best dice are d144s, not d200s.

>>20375523
look, better than 100. there's your bird.

rolled 10 = 10

>>20375538
neither is that.

rolled 24 = 24

>>20375557
Pathetic.

rolled 72 = 72

>>20375557
Ha

rolled 140 = 140

>>20375572
As is that.
>>20375576
Looks like a 50 on a d100.

>>20375589
Wait... So does that means we get the bird?

>>20375538
>>20375557
>>20375572
>>20375576
>>20375589
And then Grayson mauled them all into nat 144s and we got a whole flock of birds and then Grayson ate them.

"Well, I'm afraid I'm not going to start a war just so you can have some fun." You say, and reach out to the cloud, your magic rushing through your body. It swirls as it slowly compacts. . and then you feel your energy leak into the void, draining away your magic power. You're a lot stronger, now- losing this much energy, once upon a time, would have sent you into unconsciousness.
Ezekiel chuckled. "No, see, you need more cloud to make it *really* rain." He said. "There's a little bit of water in the air, so you have to coalesce it like. . ."
He gritted his beak shut, and twisted his talons. The cloud swelled, then compacted, turning into a small drizzle. .
Right above Grayson. The bear snapped awake, looking up to the cloud, and then to Ezekiel.
"Oh, shit." Zeke said, and the dire bear trundled into the castle, vengeance on his mind.

"I'll be back when Grayson dries off." Zeke said, his wings stretching.
"Why don't you and Kristoph spend a night on the town?" You ask. "Do whatever men do when they go out on the town."
"I'll invite him." He said. "But if anything big happens, use those communication rings to call me. You didn't upgrade those for nothing."
With that, Zeke leaped off of the tower, wings spread, just as Grayson walked out onto the roof. The bear shook his damp head, drying off, and glared up at the flying kalak.

>>20375623
Well, time to grab Mar and dry off Grayson, I guess.

>>20375623
Try to avoid giggling at Grayson looking all wet and indignant.

>>20375623
Ruffle Graysons hair and scratch behind his ears.

Then find the ambassador and meet him, maybe over a cup of tea.

>>20375623
"Oh, do calm down Grayson, it wasn't really his fault, he was just showing me how to do it properly."

You scratch behind Grayson's ear, trying not to giggle at his indignant expression. The dire bear huffs.
"Oh, do calm down, Grayson." You say. "It wasn't really his fault. He was just showing me how to do it properly."
The bear harrumphs, and flicks an ear. . and then sits down on the top of the tower, relaxing again, folding his paws below his head.

Leaving the dire bear where he is, you go to find the ambassador. Your page had already set up a meeting, and so you go into the room where you normally met the ambassadors. A page declares your name, and several of your titles as you walk in, taking a seat.
"Good day, your majesty." The man says, wearing some strange, exotic mantle. He had a certain lilt to his voice, an accent you hadn't heard before. "I hail from the island kingdom of Sosaria, to the west. King Vernus sends his regards."

>>20375808
"Good day ambassador. To what do I owe this honor?"

>>20375808
It's lovely to meet you Ambassador. I personally welcome you to New Arcturus.

What can I do for you and your kingdom?

"It's lovely to meet you, ambassador. I personally welcome you to New Arcturus. What can I do for you and your kingdom?"
"Very little." He said, with a pleasant smile. "For now, my lord simply bid me to 'open the lines of communication', as it were, and to extend you an invitation to Sosaria proper, if you ever feel the need. We've heard a few tales of your exploits, I must admit." He nodded. "With my professional message complete. . My name is Denegrin, and I'm pleased to meet you." He said, bowing.

>>20375913
"I'm pleased to meet you as well, Denegrin."
Polite curtsy

>>20375913
Ask him to tell us about Sosaria. Have we ever heard of that place?

>>20375913
I will be sure to visit some time Denegrin, I have a flying ship for a reason.

I met your son earlier today, he was helping Marigold in the gardens. I would like a chance to apologize for scaring him as he ran off when I talked to him.

>>20375913
No tea?

"I'm pleased to meet you as well, Denegrin." You say, and curtsy. You've never heard of Sosaria before, not even slightly. "Can you tell me about Sosaria?" You ask.
"Certainly." He says. "We're a people who moved to a small island between this continent and the one to the west, during the time the lizardman empire started to bloom, and we've lived there ever since. We're led by King Vernus, and his three sons. One of them are due to take the throne soon. We're a people who have been blossoming, in relative peace, for the past several hundred years. The entire island is a castle as well as a city, by this point."
"I met your son earlier today." You say. "He was helping Marigold in the gardens. I would like a chance to apologize for scaring him, as he ran off when I talked to him."
"Of course." He said. "He's been a rather nervous lad, I'm afraid to say. We've heard multiple conflicting stories- in some, you're a peacemaker, and in others, a warrioress queen, as terrifying as she is powerful. I believe he saw the latter."
He glances at the sword on your hip.
"I don't intend any offense, but I don't know which you truly are, your majesty."

>>20376029
>warrioress queen
That's definitely worth a very un-queenlike giggle.

"Neither do I. I try to do what's required of me. If it means fighting wars, so be it. However, I prefer peace to bloodshed."

>>20376029
"Well, I try as hard as possible to be peaceful, but I made a few enemies before, and they couldn't be reasoned with."

rolled 16 = 16

"Little of one, little of the other."

>>20376029
"Oh, Rikar? I made it all purple and pretty, look!"
We could also use this as an opportunity to see if it accepts him as a good guy.

>>20376029
"A little of both, I think. Whenever one is called for, there I am. Thankfully, I've had little cause to be the latter the past year."

>>20376029
Can't a girl be both?

I prefer peace but one should always be prepared to turn your enemies into nothing but a smoking crater.

You put a hand to your mouth, and giggle.
"A little of both, I think. I prefer peace to bloodshed. I try as hard as possible to be peaceful, but if one can't be reasonable... so be it."
"Of course." He said, his face perfectly neutral. "Work towards peace while preparing for war. Is it true what they say about your prowess as a wizard?"

>>20376175
"I prefer sorceress, and that depends on what they've said about me."

>>20376175
"Yes and no. Prowess with magic? Certainly - but I'm not a Wizard persay. My magic is a Talent."

>>20376175
"I'm gifted with a bit of a talent when it comes to magic, but I'm sure people are giving me too much credit."

rolled 57 = 57

Wizards wish they have my prowess for magic.

>>20376029
"I'm both, as needs require. Though I prefer the peacemaker, of the two."

rolled 21 = 21

>>20376175
No, I have no magical power to speak of.

Say this as we levitate off the ground and spark raw magic off ourselves and into the room.

>>20376175
Well that depends on who've you been listening to but in general they are telling the truth or at least they are telling of something I could do should I feel the urge.

Though unlike some rumors I did not boil the seas to catch a fish or split the heavens asunder because it was cloudy that day.

>>20376175
"It's sourcery, it doesn't really work like wizardy."

>>20376227
No, we want to be approachable. Not pants-shittingly terrifying.

rolled 22 = 22

>>20376246
Then we can smile while we do it, to show it's a joke.

"Yes and no. Prowess with magic? Certainly. But I'm not a wizard, persay. My magic is a Talent."
"Ah, a talent." He said. "I've none of my own, but it's said that the King Vernus has powers over the sea."
"I prefer sorceress, and I'm sure people are giving me too much credit."
"They say that you've defeated immortals, made the earth itself rise up against demonkind, purged the warped lands, and tore a hole into this world from your own." He said. "The ogres spoke about you, once. Something about a prophecy about a silver-headed queen, with a blade this world has never before laid eyes upon."
"Ogres?" You ask.
"To the west- a proud people. Large, but not crude. They're almost as noble as the orcs."

>>20376292
"hmm... Well I didn't open the portal myself, but the rest of that is accurate."

rolled 8 = 8

>>20376292
"I feel I must correct you, I did not send myself here."

Leave him to assume what he wants about the rest.

See if we can pull up a hologram/scry of his hometown, and display is above the table. I want to know what his island looks like.

"I did not know that the ogres were still alive."

>>20376292
"Fascinating. I assume you know that this was once ogre land, before the lizardmen… eradicated them? I think I'd like to meet a living ogre."

>>20376292
Well every one of those statements about me is true, and the blade I have was never before seen since I made it.

I found that a brick was rather effective against one of the immortals.

I would love to meet some of these Ogres, I have much to thank their people for.

>>20376328
haha, yes. "I also made this thing" <indicate sword> "It's slightly sharper then usual." <Slice something in half perfectly>

>>20376292
>a prophecy about a silver-headed queen, with a blade this world has never before laid eyes upon
Inb4 it's a prophecy about the void queen and they think we're evil and try to kill us.

"Hmm... well, I didn't open the portal myself, but the rest of that is accurate." You say, and consider the ogres a bit. "I found that a brick was rather effective against one of the immortals."
". . A brick, your majesty? Enchanted, or. . ."
"Just a brick." You say. "I assume you know that this was once ogre land, before the lizardmen… eradicated them?"
"I do." He said. "They call these the 'old lands', and said that they were honorably won from them."
"I think I'd like to meet a living ogre."
"You may have some problem with that." He said. "They've stopped responding to our trading ships, lately, and no ships have returned. There's something strange in their land, recently."

>>20376357
"Strange? What do you mean."

Can we cast some magic yet? I'm getting cravings...

>>20376376
Calm down buddy. We'll get our magic sooner or later. There's no need to cast anything yet though.

rolled 45 = 45

>>20376357
Sounds like plot hooks!
Are our scrying dice still cursed?

rolled 40 = 40

Fuck reality
Create other self in these new ogre lands later we can fuse back

>>20376390
But what's the point of Phenominal Cosmic Power if we never use it?

rolled 46 = 46

>>20376397
Scrying dice still cursed? Of course not. We're older.. wiser..more Queenl- ah fuck it they're still cursed.

>>20376406
We use it all the time. Can't be a one trick pony you know.

rolled 62 = 62

>>20376419
Looks cursed to me. Rolling again just because.

rolled 27 = 27

DEY SEE MY SCRYAN
DEY HATAN

rolled 18 = 18

This is not a roll. This is not a scrying attempt.
This is not a spoiler

rolled 5 = 5

Fuck scrying
Cast spell that makes scrying literally impossible at any level in any way in any time everywhere where our magic can will and was reaching

>>20376447
>>20376465
It's just getting worse. Looks like we'll just have to go there in person. Except we can't really drop everything and run off to another continent any more because we have responsibilities as Queen now. Hire the adventurers guild to do it.

Ok, I'm going to vote we stop trying to scry, for the rest of the quest within reason.

It's going to get us killed, if ever it matters.

rolled 52 = 52

>>20376477
You forgot rings and that we can see throught elementals
Rolling to make place in our tower where we can teleport at will from anywhere

We can just send a traditional ambassador you know. That's a legitimate thing for a monarch to do.

rolled 23 = 23

>>20376485
No it wont.

>>20376490
Ah, question, what do the upgraded rings do? Can we now see faces as well as hear voices?

"Strange? What do you mean?" You ask.
"Well. . they've stopped sending couriers. One ogrish courier left, saying he would be back in a month, and then nothing. We sent our own scouts, but they never returned, either."

You close your eyes, and focus your magic into scrying. .

Your power leaves you, but you see a few glimpses of. . something. The smell of smoke, and some kind of roar. .
And you see a kobold cub, just sitting there, playing with a doll of some kind. .
And then nothing.

You gasp, and open your eyes again. The ambassador looks at you, quite worriedly.
"Are you okay, your majesty?"

>>20376509
"Yes, there's definitely some sort of trouble there, but I couldn't divine anything specific."

>>20376509
"Sorry Denegrin. I just tried to scry the Ogres. I didn't get much, but what I did get didn't look very good. Are there any other nations on that continent? Anyone who might've attacked the Ogres?"

>>20376509
"Yeah, magic, don't worry about it. I'll look into it tomorrow."

After we get some stamina back.

Lets take the ambassador on a tour of the city. I want to see what we've acomplished.

>>20376509
I'm rubbish at scrying. There was smoke? Maybe someone's cooking dinner or maybe the whole continent is ablaze.

"I'm rubbish at scrying." You say. "There was smoke? Maybe someone's cooking dinner, or maybe the whole continent is ablaze."
"I see." He said.
"Are there any other nations on that continent? Anyone who might've attacked the Ogres?"
"Not at all." He said. "The ogres have lived peacefully with the kobolds for many years, and there's no other race. From what I know about kobolds, they're not ones to be unkind to those who help them. Perhaps a civil war between the ogres? This is worrying news."
"I'll look into it tomorrow." You say. "For now, would you like a tour of the city?"
"I'd like that, your majesty."

You lead Denegren and several of your retainers through the city.
"We've taken to calling it Triune's Gift, as Raziel, our necromancer and vizier, said that the city's true name is unpronounceable by human tongues." You say, leading him through.

The city was made out of white marble, made with curving, smooth roads, and massive domed buildings, with archways for doors. The city was massive, and sprawling, with grass already growing between the streets and the buildings- with Marigold's help, of course.

"Good day, Ishelda." Velrid- the lizardman ambassador- said, bowing. At his side was Sanoklek, the local lizardmen's Mother. She bowed as well, the tail in place of her legs making the movement rather awkward

>>20376659
>The ogres have lived peacefully with the kobolds for many years, and there's no other race
Weren't the dwarves from the other continent as well?

>>20376659
I'd imagine she would need to sit down kind of on her tail and lean forward, after that. Not sure though. It'd look weird regardless.
Curtsy "Good morning Velrid, Sanoklek. How're you?"

>>20376659
"Good day Velrid, Sanoklek. This is ambassador Denegren of Sosaria."

>>20376694
They're from the continent in the other direction. Although they might have contact with the ogres by going around the other side of the planet. We don't know if there's anything between them on the opposite side.

>>20376659
Hello friends. Anything the matter? I was just showing Denegrin around the city.

>>20376736
Oh right, there's another other continent. These things really need names.

If (when) we leave the city to go adventuring again, we need to set up some kind of system to report back and ensure that if something happens to us or we do die that the city follows a logical succession without us. I propose having a set time each day where we call back on the rings, and talk to whoever we leave in charge. That way, if we miss a day they'll know something's up

"Good day, Velrid, Sanoklek. This is ambassador Denegrin of Sosaria."
"Pleased to meet you." Velrid said. "I am ambassador Velrid, of the lizardman empire."
"Sanoklek, Mother of Triune's Gift."
"Erm... " Denegrin said. "Excuse me, but what exactly does 'Mother' mean?"
"A clan leader, of sorts." Sanoklek said. "Magistrate or, elder, of sorts. My authority is only on others of our race that live here, save for Nahzit, who are part of the queen's clan, and Velrid, who is part of Vithriel's clan."
"I see." He said. The four of you continued walking (Or slithering, in Sanoklek's place) and discussing lizardman society, as you view the completely restored Triune city.
While they talk, you look down to your communication ring, which was made out of silver, and enchanted with a powerful spell that Gehenna and yourself worked on- it was similar to the old rings, but had a much longer range, and multiple people could talk to one another at a time, which was problematic with the old rings.

Soon enough, your tour of Triune's Gift comes to a close, and you lead Denegrin back to his house.
"I thank you, Queen Ishelda, for the tour of the city." He says, with a bow, and pushes aside the curtain of his domed house, his mantle flowing out behind him.

"He was interesting." Velrid said. "Eager to learn."
"Yes." Sanoklek added.

You see Zeke and Kristoph walking through the street, arms on eachother's shoulders, laughing.
"And then- Get this- and then he tries to cast that same spell, and the tree *fell* on him this time." Kristoph's saying, chuckling. "I think he's a knight by now, though."

>>20376804
How are the lizardmen tribes at the moment? Still bickering?

Does Velrid still freerun? How is the ogre city for that?

>>20376980
Oh yes! Go check up on our little swordmage friend.


"Kristoph! Which spell was he casting? Is he alright?"

>>20376980
"Hey Zeke, Kristoph!"

"Do you still freerun?" You ask Velrid, as the three of you make your way toward Kristoph and Ezekiel. "How is the ogre city for that?"
"I do." He said. "And it's wonderful. The sloped rooves are wonderful to kick off of, and to climb up, and the inhabitants of the buildings can't even hear it, so they don't mind. Nahzit says he's going to try to train the guard to do it."

"Hey Zeke. Kristoph."
"Lady." Kristoph says, and stands straight in a sloppy salute.
"Isheleda." Zeke said.
"Which spell was he casting?" You ask. "Was he alright?"
"Well, Leon was casting some. . I don't know, some spell that made plants to weird things." Kristoph said, chuckling. "The first time, it grabbed at him, and the second time, it fell on him. This was years ago, and I still don't even know if he ever got it down pat. If you meet him, lady, ask him how well he can cast 'entangling' for me, if you can. It'll be hilarious."

>>20377078
"I shall, is he around here?"

Did we need the heart for teleporting? I forget. It's a rose now anyway, where does it sit?

and as we leave, yell back at Kristoph "Get back with Raziel already, I want to see babies!

>>20377078
"I'll be sure to. Are you drunk Kristoph? It's a bit early for that don't you think?"

rolled 52 = 52

>>20377078
Kristoph, Zeke, if you're drunk, you both must know that I have something much better to drink at the castle.

>Rolling for swampbrew.

rolled 32 = 32

>>20377144
Retry.

rolled 96 = 96

>>20377219
Shits.

"I'll be sure to." You say. "Is he around here?"
"No, lady, I haven't seen him in months. He's likely still in Cerulean." He said.
"Are you two drunk? It's a bit early for that, don't you think?"
"Oh, no, we haven't started drinking yet." Ezekiel said. "It's just about noon, anyway. Much too early. and Kristoph can't hold his swamp brew."
Kristoph gave Zeke a glare.

>>20377245
We do have something other then swamp brew in stock, yes? We should have something which won't offend every single diplomat's sensibilites.

rolled 15 = 15

>>20377245
>noon
>too early
Haha.

Anyways do the swampbrew thing. then whatever story think you have in mind.

>>20377245
Giggle a bit.
"Well, have fun anyways."

>>20377245
You can't glare, it's perfectly true.

>>20377245
It's okay Kristoph, I don't hold you being unable to hold swamp brew like I can against you.

"You can't glare, it's perfectly true." You say, and giggle a bit.
"Perhaps." Kristoph says, frowning.
"Well, have fun anyways."
"We will, Ishelda." Ezekiel said, and you make your way back up to the castle. As you do so, Sanoklek bids you farewell, and makes her own way to her home. As you do, you see Marigold, hands on the ground, white light streaming from her back- she's pumping life magic into the soil, as she usually does at around this time. Apparently, she's more powerful during the day- most powerful at noon, from what she's said.
"Today's been a slow day, hasn't it?" She asked, as you approached.

>>20377371
Slow days are nice.

>>20377371
It's nice to have a slow quiet day every once in a while.

Though now that you said it I'm sure something is going to go horribly wrong. It's the nature of the universe.

>>20377371
Not for me! I met a diplomat, and he had news from other continents. What more can one do in a day, save the world and free all the slaves?

"Not for me!" You say. "I met a diplomat, and he had news from other continents. What more can one do in a day, save the world and free all the slaves?"
"We freed all the slaves once already." She said. "In a single day, remember?" She asked, and stood, brushing the dirt off of her dress.
"It's nice to have a slow, quiet day once in a while." You say. "Though, now that you said it, I'm sure something is going to go horribly wrong. It's the nature of the universe."
"You're right!" Marigold gasped, and then started giggling. "But Gareth is gone, and Eidolon is done with. What other problems could there be?"

You suddenly remember the pungent smell of smoke.
It... was in your dream this morning, too, you suddenly remember.

>>20377503
"Well... There might be something bad happening on the western continent, but I'm going to look into it tommorow I think."

rolled 51 = 51

>>20377503
Rolling to manifest the dream as an illusion for ourselves and Marigold. And whoever happens to be nearby, as well.

>>20377503
"Well, there's two whole continents we haven't seen yet, and Denegren said the ogres Sosaria has been in contact with have stopped communicating entirely recently."

>>20377503
Marigold my dear, there's always more problems.

Given that I had a foreboding dream last night, a scrying that revealed smoke and fire, and the news from the new Ambassador about the Ogres on the Western continent recently having stopped sending any couriers I would say there is trouble on the horizon.

"Marigold, my dear, there's always more problems." You say. "Given that I had a foreboding dream last night, a scrying that revealed smoke and fire, and the news from the new Ambassador about the Ogres on the Western continent recently having stopped sending any couriers, I would say there is trouble on the horizon."
She nodded. "Right. And. . what do we plan on doing about that? If you really have to leave, I can keep things together here, as regent, but. . "
She trailed off, and shook her head. "I don't want to be tricked again, like Gareth did."

>>20377546
Yep, all the way over the horizon, miles away from us where we can just ignore it.

>>20377613
Don't worry, I'm not planning on going galavanting off. Any trips I make will be kept short and I'll keep in communication with whoever I leave here to take care of my kingdom. It will be annoying to have to split my retinue between home and abroad but I suppose I'll have to.

Don't worry Mar, I trust you. Just maintain some paranoia, you've learned from your experiences.

rolled 88 = 88

>>20377613
Ah, but that sort of trick doesn't happen twice. And besides, you're looking for such things now.

Still, if I were to leave, which I am not, then I would leave plenty of trusted advisors, like Ghenna or Velrid

>>20377613
"Well, we have to see how bad it really is. It might not be something we should meddle in."

"Don't worry, Mar, I trust you." You say. "Just maintain some paranoia. You've learned from your experiences."
"You're right." She said.
"Still, if I were to leave, which I'm not, then I would leave plenty of trusted advisors, like Gehenna or Velrid."
"Okay," She said, nodding.
"Mostly, we should see how bad it really is. It might not be something we should meddle in."
"Well, hopefully you can scry for it and find . . . out. . . "
She trails off, looking behind you.
You turn around, and there's the young boy from before, simply. . standing there.

In his hands was a dagger.

His eyes met yours, and they were empty- you clearly feel some magic connection to somewhere. . somewhere in the east. Elven lands? He twirled the dagger in his hands, and snarled, in a twisted, unnatural voice- something that shouldn't come from a young child, ever.
"The Children of the Great Wyrm desires your blood."
And then he charged, dagger in his hands

>End of thread!
>Sticking around for a bit to answer questions- mostly about things that changed during the timeskip, because presumably Ishelda would know that kind of stuff.
>My twitter is @futureexabyte , and I like to screw around on the IRC ( #Exabyte on Rizon )

rolled 19 = 19

>>20377791
Fireball, to the face!

>>20377791
Good thing we've got the magic sword of "Being amazing at whatever you do with it, including parries and disarms"

>>20377833
What?
We need to not kill this kid. He's a diplomat's son, and he's being controlled remotely.

>>20377791
>"The Children of the Great Wyrm desires your blood."
Bad boy. It's "desire" not "desires". Go back to school.

>>20377833
He's being mind controlled, we can just break that. And killing ambassadors' families probably won't go over well. Why so bloodthirsty?

>>20377855
Whoops, it was supposed to be
>"The great wyrm desires your blood."
Goddamnit, Exa, more proofreading.

>>20377833
That seems excessive.

This is a little kid who is unlikely to be an amazing fighter. We've spent the past couple years being trained in combat by Kristoph and Redglare, we won't even need to pull out the magic to take him down non-lethally.

>>20377885
so we're not supposed to know about "The Childeren"? Rampant speculation time!

Decendents from dragons, maybe? Would they have also been genocided, I wonder?

>>20377932
>Actually, the 'children of the great wyrm' was mentioned on my twitter. . which I'm going to fluff as part of the cryptic dreams from the start of the quest.

>>20377902
We do need to cut off the magic that's controlling him.

>>20377995
Our silence spell hasn't failed yet. It's like it gets all of scrying's luck.

Also, for those that don't read my twitter, here's all of the cryptic tweets I've made. For Reasons.

>"And now," The high lady said. "Rise, as a knight of the provinces, Sir Leon." Leon stood, and a shimmering blade burst into existence.

>The Lumber Baron nervously tapped his fingers against his desk- He'd met her before, but now she was a Queen. That was completely different.

>He pulled the bell again, and the world key rung. He looked up to the newcomer, and his jaw dropped. "Rikar?" She asked.

>The young man scratched at his chin. "Really?" He asked. "I'd like to meet her." "As you wish, milord."

>Far, far away from the castle of New Arcturus, the Children of the Great Wyrm awaken, and feed their god the blood of their young.

>A race, displaced. A race, enslaved. A race, at war.

>He leans back in his throne, lichen covering his face. "They've all passed their tests." His servant said. "Wonderful. Get them Reborn." "Really? Why?" "We go to war."

>"Are you sure, boss? I think I'm a bit too small. You're a lot bigger, b-" His master replied with an earthshattering roar. "Righto, boss."

>>20378040
So leon knighted, lumber baron either wants our pants or is betraying us, rikar gets laid, leon(?) wants our pants, evil things are happening, to misfortunate people, DWARVES, and I don't even want to speculate on the last one. Far too lewd.

>>20378090
>lumber baron either wants our pants or is betraying us
I think it's more of apprehension at meeting to set up lumber shipments.

>leon(?) wants our pants
We've already met Leon, probably some one new.

>>20378090
> lumber baron either wants our pants or is betraying us

I think he was just nervous to talk to a proper queen, instead of some possibly insane teenager.

>rikar gets laid
Or, perhaps, Rikar sees Ishelda for the first time in years. She 'did' grow up nicely, it seems.

>leon(?) wants our pants
Doesn't seem that way to me. I think it's somebody new.

>>20378137
I think it's Rikar and the girl he once lost, and found again.

>>20378137
Now it's a possibly insane queen! Tee hehehehe.

>>20378129
If it isn't leon, could it be this possessed kid?

>>20378156
Or that.

File: 1345335105528.png-(41 KB, 1622x215, twitter annotated.png)

Tweets, now with helpful annotations.

>>20378040
He missed one out.
>"Ladies do not start fights, but they -can- finish them." Ishelda said, giving him a brilliant smile, then went back to training.
This is obviously highly significant if he's trying to hide it from us now.

>>20378222
That reborn one wasn't mentioned here, and what you have is different to the tweet I see.

>"Wonderful. Get them Reborn." "Really? Why?" "We go to war."

Ogres maybe?

>>20378265
Wait, shit, I did miss this one. Add this to the list.

>>20378266
I was fucking around with the 140 character limit, which was problematic. The 'reborn' and the 'lichen' are part of the same tweet, or should be.

>>20378266
Yeah, that got cut off for some reason. The lichen one too. Shitty RSS client.

>>20378265
And an actually significant one that he missed:
>"My girlfriend is sleeping with my liege-lady!" Kristoph said, drinking swamp brew as if it were water. "Help me, Zeke, help me!"
Wait, no, I meant this one:
>For the first time in two hundred and two years, the Gearworks starts ticking. A pale hand grips the golden sword, and an empty smile grows.

>>20378359
Yeah, but we knew the gearworks was going to be driving teh plot for this one, and that <She> would be an antagonist.

Remember that she can read OOC text sometimes, so be careful what you say.

>>20378359
Shit, 'Gearworks' is one I forgot too. 'leige-lady' isn't canon in any capacity, though.

>>20378385
Yeah, it doesn't really give any new information, but it's all ominous and weighty.

>>20378393
Oh really? Then why did Raz and Kris break up, huh? HUH?
Yeah, checkmate.

>>20378393
yet. We just need to get them back together first.

>>20378425
Kristoph started asking her to do weirder and weirder transformations for him. It got awkward, but the real breaking point was when he asked her to become his dead sister.

>fun fact- from a certain perspective, all of the sosarian rumors about Ishelda are true
But we didn't tear a hole into this world from our own. That was wizard dude. We only tore one in the opposite direction for the elemental.

>>20378480
Actually that's a point, we tore that hole in the other direction. Did the elemental surviving it's meeting with not!us?

>>20378498
Haha, no. She ate it.

>>20378023
But the kid isn't the one casting. We could probably disarm him and use our Control Magic ability to fuck it up, though.

>>20378683
But why the kid? They presumably could have mind controlled anyone to get at us. So I'm assuming that he's special in some way, has magic or a talent. So silencing him might help.

>>20378521
Damn.

>>20378711
Maybe they want us to win. To try and cause a political incident, to try and lure us out of the country and find them, something like that.

>>20378728
Actually, scratch the maybe. Even if the boy was the only person weak enough to mind control, if they wanted to kill us they would have just rushed us and stabbed us in the back. He stood there until we noticed him and then announced who sent him, essentially challenging an immensely powerful sorceress-queen to fair combat with a little boy. Assuming he didn't get to the position of 'god' by being incompetent, he's going to know the outcome of that. It's a direct challenge, to make the matters on the other continent personal and get us involved.

>>20378848
They can't expect this to work, so their goal is probably to stir up diplomatic trouble and lure us to them.

>>20378869
so the best course of action is to ignore them?

>>20378886
Yep. Exabyte said this quest was meant to be a sandbox, it's time to stop following his plot. We have farms to plant and immigrants to attract and laws to pass.

>>20378939
i wonder if we can make the magical eivalent of the combine harvester

>>20378965
Well we have tireless undead and elementals, so I figure the quality of life is already way up there, since they can do all the plowing and other time-consuming but necessary tasks.