[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [cm / hm / y] [3 / adv / an / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / x] [rs] [status / ? / @] [Settings] [Home]
Board:  
Settings   Home
4chan
/tg/ - Traditional Games


File: 1375487693103.png-(403 KB, 610x900, Ssen_Ranseur.png)
403 KB
403 KB PNG
You are Ssen, a Lamia raised by a human Paladin who adopted you after killing the ones who birthed you. You are grown now, and Father has passed on. After a great deal of work, you have become a Paladin like your Father, and now take up his duties.

You are accompanied by your best friend from childhood, the insect druid Tricia; Mage, a magic user who ran away from his family of cannibal raiders known as the Ghouls (Yes, his name is Mage. It was his idea); Persephone, a 22-year old thief/ex-guerllia fighter (She goes by Peri), and Mari, a 13-year old prodigy scholar/now sniper, who has her mind and soul trapped within Peri's body; and Lea, a deeply religious musician/martial artist, trained by her father, a famous trainer for arena fighters, she's covered from her mouth down in bandages to hide the horrific state her body has become thanks to the 'cures' that saved her from cancer.

Your journey continues...

Opening theme song (NEW for Season 4!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3FKgL7YVFg

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Lamia%20Quest

1d4 chan page w/battle stats: http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Quest:Lamia_Daughter_Quest
>>
Princess Mumei, Barney Pits, and Ambrose Trapp have been successfully rescued from the Phoenix Empire. Or at least they're in your custody now, as opposed to having dinner with smug Empire nobles and heavily armed guards.

This was achieved by way of a flying wagon (which was itself achieved by a magical Apparatus) and the element of surprise.

The issue is that it seemed far far easier than it should have been. There were few patrolling guards, and nearly everyone in the dinner tent, save for your three friends, had been suffering from long term poisoning by Inheritance Powder. A fact that caused quite swift death when combined with your own exceedingly potent poisons.

Mumei, Barney, and Ambrose mentioned something about a plan. A couple in fact. Still, plans and intricate webs of intrigue tend to shatter like cheap glass around you.

Also, you should probably make your escape, as you're a long way from the front lines, and even longer from your own people.

"Okay," Mage asks. "Ready to try to fly again, or are we finding plan b already?"
>>
>>26396156
>Get to my college, after the you tubes, consider refreshing my /tg/ catalog
>Lamia Quest HAS JUST BEEN POSTED
MFW, Echo, are we synced or something?
>>
Ugh, why must you continue to be?
>>
>>26396158
'It's always time for plan B, Mage. Although I'm not really sure where Kingfisher is...wait. Is there something special kept nearby that no one would want us to take?'
>>
>>26396206
Anon, just use catalog & have it ignore quest threads for you.
>>
>>26396158
Don't see any pressing need for a "plan b", but I'd like the rescuees to explain very plainly what their plans were and who came up with them. Because them being here to assassinate some nobles doesn't fit our previous idea of what was going on.

The other thing I've been considering is that we should armor up our party, now that guns are a thing. Wonder what a brillitite-inlayed breastplate would do to a bullet?
>>
>>26396158
"Actually I think plan A might work on this one, we've been having an almost suspiciously easy time. Wonder if there's some trap we missed."
>>
>>26396158
"Let's go with plan... E? E sounds good.

This was waaaaay to easy. I fully expect that Kingfisher knows that we know this is a trap, and I think that he knows that we know that he knows that we know, so he knows we're going to skip plan A and go on to plan B, but since he knows that we know that it's a trap, he'll go on to foil plan C, but because he knows that we know that he knows that we know that it's a trap, he'll be moving to counter plan D as we speak.

So it's either we make something up on the fly, or hope that he's thinking too far ahead and move forwards via stubbornness.

Stop looking at me like that. It makes perfect sense and you know it."
>>
>>26396257
I don't think brillitite is the solution to everything, anon. Steel would probably be way better. Maybe quicksilver or some other fancy alloy that we've not heard of yet.
>>
>>26396275
The fact that we'd mount a rescue attempt is kind of obvious, so our presence should be expected.
>>
>>26396286
Okay you made me chuckle
>>
>>26396293
I wasn't suggesting that it was a solution to anything, just that it might yield an interesting result. It gets there when worked into a weapon, so I was thinking it might turn a plate into reactive armor.

I think it might be worth looking into.
>>
>>26396335
from what I understand brillitite is some kind of bizzare magical piezoelectric crystal that produces light and magic when hit by electricity or force.
So it could theoretically be used in an alloy like in beacon to fuel some sort of spell via rune.
But this is entirely supposition on my part, as runes and magic aren't real.
>>
>>26396257
Probably explode, killing the wearer horribly.
>>
"Actually I think plan A might work on this one, we've been having an almost suspiciously easy time. Wonder if there's some trap we missed." You say. "This was waaaaay to easy."

"There's no way he predicted this." Mumei says. "He was betting on a convoy, or a fake prisoner, or a corpse cart. He's bribed soldiers to let you into the camp. But...you actually flew?" She shakes her head. "I'm actually not...well I'm surprised, but not as much as I think I could be."

"So he was expecting us." Mage says.

"Yeah, to show up at the other side of the camp or at the workshops." Barney says. "This thing can actually fly?"
>>
>>26396365
Which is why we test it first, though Beacon hasn't exploded yet.
>>
>>26396383
"I don't think it counts as flying. It sort of... hovers. And then sinks."

Also I'm assuming we've wiped our mouth since the last fight, since jeez that got messy.
>>
>>26396383
"Isn't he supposed to be ridiculously thorough though? I'm sure he's got measures in place, somewhere."
>>
>>26396383
"Yeah, ish. Try not to think about it."

Also, the corpse cart, fake prisoners, and bribed soldiers do sound that we might have actually pulled off a surprise attack, and that their minds might still be their own.

I'd still watch them closely for now, and I still want to know whose plan it was.
>>
So, the actual trap:

He infected all our friends with chinese polio. They'll start exhibiting symptoms a day or so after getting in our camp.
>>
>>26396383
"It rises and then falls. It doesn't really fly. I mean, would you call a leaf blown upwards by the wind "flying?""
>>
>>26396383
"It's done what we need it to do so far."

>>26396432
I also want to hear their story of how they got here.
>>
>>26396383
Bullshit, he must have predicted it. Knock the prisoners unconscious, I bet he's watching all this through their eyes. We KNOW Kingfisher can take control of people's bodies over long distances, so what's stop him over short ones? We must imprison the prisoners, that they cannot reveal our secret plans!
>>
>Kingfisher tried to get us to rescue these folk
>planned out numerous routes and methods for us to get here with minimal collateral to his people
>inflict maximum collateral upon nobles, accidentally, and bypass all easy routes

whoops
>>
>>26396536
But we don't have any secret plans

In fact, we've been thinking about posting our plans bi-weekly to help people keep up
>>
"I don't think it counts as flying. It sort of... hovers. And then sinks." You say as you wipe the blood and Black from your mouth.

"Isn't he supposed to be ridiculously thorough though? I'm sure he's got measures in place, somewhere."

"You chomped one of them." Barney says. "Kingfisher said that most of the Gold Guard was loyal to him, it's all a part of the idep...look can we NOT discuss this here? Soon the serving girls will come in to clear the plates and bring in desert, and they are without a doubt Kingfisher agents, and we don't want to be here, on the ground, when this happens."

"Fair point." Lea says. "Everyone in, and let's take off."

Tricia whimpers and pulls her hat over her eyes again as she climbs into Wagon.

The others follow, and Mage twists the dial.

Roll 1d20
>>
>>26396536
He's shown no ability to make them move around, though, just to see and speak. Even if he does know what we're doing, we'll be out of here before he can get the troops over to where we are.

We really ought to leave *now*, though.

>>26396547
Sooner or later he's going to learn what all those gods and land-spirits have learned: there is absolutely no predicting what Ssen will do. You just get out of the way and clean up the aftermath.
>>
Rolled 15

>>26396564
Here we go again...
>>
Rolled 8

>>26396564
>>
Rolled 4

>>26396564
"And while we're in the air, you can finish that sentence. Because I need to know everything."
>>
For the love of God, be a clean escape.
>>
Rolled 16

>>26396564
Sit very still and put an arm around Tricia. Because flying is terrifying.
>>
>>26396564
>>26396593
Curl up with Tricia and make sure Twang is ready in case we need it.
>>
>>26396564
"Out of curiosity, is there a way to tell how much longer this thing can stay in the air? I remember talk about a time limit."
>>
>>26396577
The take off is a bit choppier than before, must be the added weight, and Wagon shudders, a lot, and each jolt makes Tricia squeak in terror.

Mumei looks like a child on Saturnalia. She's clapping her hands softly and looking out over the side.

Ambrose is like Tricia, but he's keeping his fear a bit more bottled up. He's looking at the floor of Wagon, and NOT moving in the slightest.

Barney is amazed, and being very distracting to Mage for a bit, asking him about the Apparatus, how it works, could it be mass produced, and the implications.

"Barney!" Peri snaps. "Let Mage work on the sail. Now, tell us what exactly is going on."

"Right, right, sorry." Barney sighs. "The short version is that Kingfisher, Shiroshotu, and some other nouveau-riche nobles want the colony that they've founded, to be of independent rule and free of the Empire and the Emperor. They've been working for years on this."

"The trouble is that he sees us as more of a tool, rather than a nation, or people." Mumei sighs. "He wants to keep the war going as long as possible, so he can easily manipulate the nobility. That's why his people captured us, and then gave his own people faulty weapons, and blueprints to only the mediocre weaponry. He doesn't want anyone to win until he's ready.

"It's also why he's slowly killing off most of the nobility with poison. He wants them weak, or sick, dead means succession issues. You have NO idea how much damage you've done in those ten seconds."

"Okay, sail's out." Mage says. He points his staff at the limp pile of canvas. "Please, please, please..."

Roll 1d20
>>
Rolled 16

>>26396774
I probably shouldn't be doing this
>>
Rolled 4

>>26396774
Well, we rather want the war over as quickly as possible, so... good, I guess?
>>
Rolled 6

>>26396774
Here goes.
>>
>>26396813
Okay, everyone else stop rolling.
>>
Rolled 7

>>26396774
Just... hold still. As snake still as possible.

Also, mumei is goddamn adorable.
>>
Rolled 1

>>26396774
"And so how is it you came to know all this? And what role were you playing when we found you? Where do you stand on this colonization process?"

"Sorry to sound so suspicious, it's just that where Kingfisher is concerned I don't trust anyone or anything anymore."
>>
>>26396813
>>26396838
You know what, everyone here will thank the dice gods I rolled. But the more I think about it, the more I think that doom hasn't been avoided, but assured...
>>
>>26396774
Look over the edge. Regret it.

"I can't remember, was it essential to the plan that we be this high?"
>>
>>26396844
Let's just say hypothetically that Mumei is for it.
Would we really have any problems with immigration or colonization in the south?
>>
>>26396858
Well, I already got a nat 1 out where it does nothing.

I just hope it's like a lightning rod, and not a hint at what's to come.
>>
>>26396867
Immigration, no. Unprovoked military aggression, very yes.
>>
>>26396867
I myself am SUPER for a phoenix empire colony to the south, especially an independent one. Sounds neat!
>>
>>26396878
The thing is, if the North has taught us anything, life is never easy. This is Too Easy.
>>
>>26396897
We don't even really know what's down there, other than Ettins. That are currently enslaved. Which we shouldn't be okay with.
>>
>>26396917
Agreed. Something is up. Or something bad is happening that we are not present for.
>>
>>26396917
I'll put it like this. I'm super for more civilizations around us being unique and interesting.

I am also for doing something about those nearby civilizations which are slavers or something like that.

Don't quite know what yet, because of the orc situation.
>>
>>26396915
Statistically speaking, shit WILL hit the fan eventually. It's just a question of when and where.

And that when and where is random... ish.
>>
>>26396774
"Well, I actually admire his goal and would be amiable towards assisting him willingly if he would stop being such a dick about it."
>>
>>26396917
I'm 90% sure they will either be completely wiped out by the orks or will join the orcs up north.
>>
>>26396939
Little steps. We can't exactly change their culture, even if we find it repugnant.

Changing our own culture comes first, and we still haven't secured what we've got yet.
>>
>>26396949
He literally can't stop being a dick.
>>
>>26396985
Kingfisher isn't a dick. He's just mischievous. I find his games endearing.
>>
>>26397005
Like a retarded child trying to put a people-sweater on a mastiff.

Unsuccessful, awkward, and confusing as hell for the dog.
>>
>>26397005
PAH! He never does anything without a reason. I bet these are just clones of the real prisoners! Or dopplegangen! Or optical illusions!
>>
>>26396939
It's like I've been saying. The orc culture developed out of necessity. If they had lived any other way, they would have died. Now that they are able to finally take a step back from the edge, now that they are able to focus on living rather than surviving, their culture will change. It'll be slow going, but as they say, Rome was not built in a single day.

And it's not like we're going anywhere. If the orcs fuck up too hard we'll be there to knock their heads together. Also, there is the issue of that Faustian Bargain we coerced them into. As long as we hold that chain, Red Wolf and most of the other tribes are sworn to not engage the south on hostile terms. We didn't put any escape clause in that bargain, and we have already fulfilled our end, so they are bound forever to that contract.

We're doing a pretty good job of being Lucifer so far.
>>
>>26397066
Wait, if we're Lucifer, then who the hell is Kingfisher? Bob, Angel of Not Rebelling Against God But Not Following His Orders Neither?
>>
>>26397094
Beezlebub.
>>
>>26397094
Kingfisher is from some other theology entirely.
>>
>>26397094
Kingfisher is just a dude who wants a kingdom.

I don't think he really even cares how it's governed, as long as it is his.
>>
File: 1375491869894.jpg-(263 KB, 950x937, lizbeast_sanjitdone.jpg)
263 KB
263 KB JPG
>>26397112
"Okay, so I guess I'm Lucifer, Mage can be Mephisto, and... who the fuck are you?"
"I'M CHAKRAVARTI!"
>>
Mage starts to chants and the winds starts up.

You peek out over the side, and then regret it, you hold onto Tricia with one arm. "Was it essential to the plan that we be so high?" You ask. "And so how is it you came to know all this? And what role were you playing when we found you? Where do you stand on this colonization process?" You snap at the others.

"Sorry to sound so suspicious, it's just that where Kingfisher is concerned I don't trust anyone or anything anymore."

"A wise stance." Ambrose says. He sighs. "He told us that if we co-operated with him, and his plans, then we would be humanely treated, and maybe one day be able to return home."

"Kingfisher and Shiroshotu are very hard to pin down." Mumei sighs. "They love the Phoenix Empire, it's culture, it's people, but the loathe the Emperor and the Nobility."

"They also really hate the UFK's open to all species policy." Barney says. "Kingfisher's not a fan of the idea of non-humans being remotely equal to humans."

"That include elves?" Peri asks.

"Weirdly, no." Mumei says. "I think in his mind he considers Elves and Dwarves to be just human off-shoots...or I don't know. I don't WANT to know."

"So, was it good that we killed those nobles?" Tricia asks, with her face buried deeply into your shoulder.

"Maybe." Mumei shrugs. "Oh, this is amazing!" She laughs as the wind rushes by her.

"I'm just hoping that no one spots us." Lea asks. "Why aren't we taking the same route back, Mage?"

"It'd take too long and we'd run out of power." Mage says.

"We could run out of power?" Mari asks.

"Not for a while, but I didn't want to chance it. Now, be quiet!"

Roll 1d20 +1 (For the night camo paint job)
>>
I wonder how Kingfisher would react to learning he's descended from bird people.
>>
Rolled 7 + 1

>>26397146
>>
>>26397146
Damn, and here I was hoping that we could be buddies with Kingfisher.

As it turns out, he's kind of a racist asshole.
>>
Rolled 6 + 1

>>26397146
DICE GODS, WORK YOUR MAGIC
>>
>>26397146
>night camo
WE'Z DED SNEAKY. Also be quiet, since our wizard has given a shush order.
>>
Rolled 5

>>26397146
Here is where things get interesting.
>>
>>26397176
>>26397190
>>26397194
Things are now officially interesting.
>>
File: 1375492121887.png-(203 KB, 640x480, 1370115089600.png)
203 KB
203 KB PNG
>turns out we're not as clever as we thought
>>
File: 1375492262547.gif-(1023 KB, 500x281, appropriate_DM_actions.gif)
1023 KB
1023 KB GIF
>>26397218
Don't worry, what's the worst that could happen?

Try not to think about how the square cube law says we'll take MOST unkindly to the ground, moreso than even humans.
>>
Rolled 3 + 1

>>26397269
What drivel are you talking about? We've been spotted. Whoopdy doo. They don't have AIM-9X's, or F-16s, so they'll be stuck firing whatever the fuck magic and rocket propelled grenades they can at us. Being spotted is not an Instant Kill when we have a crew of WIZARD.
>>
>>26397269
This is for the camo, not the flying. Meaning we're about to get shot at.
>>
>>26397284
See? Nothing terrible like sudden failure of mana reserves could happen. No, completely unlikely.
>>
>>26397284
Do not taunt the nice men on the ground, sweetie. They might have cooked up something.
>>
>>26397284
Our wizard is busy keeping us flying, though. He already said he can't fire back or cast any other magic while maintaining the wind.

On the other hand, if Peri/Mari have any of those exploding fire-stones left, now would be a good time for them.
>>
>>26397296
That's nonsensical! There's NO SUCH THING AS ANTIMAGIC. It's TOTALLY UNLIKELY that a fucking KRAKEN would fall out of the sky. Are you gonna imply THAT'S about to happen because I rolled an 8?
>>
>>26397320
Of course! We're totally safe! There's no way they could use something like brillitite to discharge a wave of blank magic and cancel out any enchantments we have currently running. We've never seen that before!
>>
File: 1375493076367.jpg-(285 KB, 1000x1500, AoBM.jpg)
285 KB
285 KB JPG
So what about those workshops? Should we have destroyed those?

And what about the higher end plans that Kingfisher has? If he still has them and it looks like we're about to gain the initiative he might hand them over to the empire.

>Rolled 7 + 1
Your camo is so unbelievable that it gives those on the ground pause and we get mostly out of range before they begin to shoot at us.
>>
>>26397519
We might have to go for the workshops later. No doubt they're in a different place.

But, as of right now, we've cost them months.
>>
>>26397519
>>26397557
We've got our people back, which means we can regain our own advantage.

Also we apparently harmed independent phoenix a lot by killing old blue noble. Didn't mean that one.
>>
>>26397519
Well, if the former captives are to be believed they haven't given Kingfisher anything too vital that would win him the war.
>>
File: 1375493348842.jpg-(63 KB, 360x270, CasterAndShells.jpg)
63 KB
63 KB JPG
>>26397519
>>26397557
As long as they don't start to produce Sophie's caster guns we'll be fine.
>>
>>26397578
I think we should definitely write Kingfisher an apology. We wanted to keep that guy alive, but we had no idea he had been lightly poisoned.
>>
>>26397578
Whatever. As far as I'm concerned they can all burn until they come back and try to do things without armed invasion.
>>
>>26397592
>>26397611
I'm more of the written apology for a sloppy run than the let 'em all burn crowd.

Because really, if they didn't have those legweights we would have gotten out of there with no casualties. It's a darn shame.
>>
Rolled 12

>>26397146
Damn, We didn't bomb the camp? I should have been up earlier.
>>
Rolled 7

Damn, I'm late to the party. Oh well, it looks like we've been spotted, so plenty for me to roll on comming up.
>>
>>26397680
turns out, plan A worked perfectly.

We were a bit flabberghasted that no alarms had gone off.
>>
>>26397176
You hear the sound of screaming from below, and then sounds of bells being rung frantically.

"Well, they must have come in with dessert." Peri says.

"Ssh." Mumei holds up a hand and closes her eyes. "Different bells mean different things. That's...alarm...and...and something else."

"Well, I could guess that first bit." Mari says.

"Ha. Ha." Mumei says. "But I know I've heard that second one before, it's not a battle bell though."

"Shit." Barney says. "I think we've been spotted. I see longbow crews and those weird guys who lie on their back to fire."

"Can they reach us up here?" Ambrose asks.

"Maybe." Mage shrugs. "Kind of busy trying to get us out of here before that becomes a pertinent question."

"Uh oh," Lea says. "Princess, that other bell, would winter or cold weather be associated with it?"

"Yes!" She says. "Now I remember, that's the bell you ring when you want them to stoke the fires...oh no."

"Yes, I see the fire crews coming along the arrow line with a pit of hot coals." Lea says.

You look down, yes, they're going to be shooting a barrage of flaming arrows at you, very soon.

"Any clever ideas that would be helpful, Ssen?" Peri asks.
>>
>>26397715
I think now is a good time to use that brilltite bullet..
>>
>>26397715
I've yet to see a man who can outsmart bullet.
>>
>>26397715
"Well, we either bomb them or we fly directly over them so the arrows will fall on their own heads.
That second plan sounds suicidal, so let's lose some of this explosive weight."
>>
Rolled 7

>>26397715
Brillitite bullet time.
>>
>>26397715
"Well, you know how sometimes when your eyes have adjusted to darkness, then you look at the moon, or at an open flame, or go inside, and then go back to where it's dark and you can't see for shit?"

"We have a brillitite bullet, right?"
>>
>>26397715
Are we too high for the gas to be effective?
>>
Rolled 6

>>26397822
Way too high probably.
>>
>>26397715
Time for aerial bombardment.
>>
>>26397811
That's a mini nuke, you're thinking of a phosphorus flare.

>>26397822
Ours? It would kind of kill everyone in the wagon.
>>
"Well, we either bomb them or we fly directly over them so the arrows will fall on their own heads.

That second plan sounds suicidal, so let's lose some of this explosive weight."

"Did anyone here bring the orc oil bombs with them?" Mage asks.

You have your two. As for the rest...

Roll 1d5
>>
>>26397753
>>26397761
>>26397811
>>26397791
Don't we only have, like, one of those left? Shouldn't we go with fire bombs first? We have explosive stones and fire bombs and stuff with us, right?
>>
Rolled 1

>>26397850
>>
Rolled 2

>>26397850
Aerial bombardment a go!
>>
Rolled 2

>>26397850
>>
>>26397845
Of course it's a mini nuke. And you can't look straight at a nuke without being blinded, right? So it works.

The ones who aren't looking straight at it and get blinded have their nightvision spoiled.
>>
Rolled 2

>>26397850
Well, the bullets are way more effective when combined with bombs.

Though I have no idea whether we have the accuracy to shoot a bomb this time, without a flesh man holding it in place for us.
>>
Rolled 3

>>26397850
"Shout out to the Phoenix Empire peeps. Word to you mom, I came to drop bombs."
>>
>>26397874
>>26397870
>>26397864
KINGFISHER
>>
>>26397860
>explosive stones
>AND firebombs

Wait, we're back on the mainland now, we have access to explosive stones again
What happens if you put one inside of a firebomb?
>>
>>26397901
I'm not sure there's space for that. We could strap one to the outside of a firebomb, maybe? But I think the firebombs are basically molotov cocktails, so unless we specifically made one around an explosive stone we'd have volume issues.
>>
>>26397874
Mari/Peri were the only ones who thought to bring them along as well.

You've got four bombs, and Mari's brillitite bullet.
>>
>>26397935
Throw the firebombs down, and then fire the bullet where they land.

First step is to make sure everyone is looking there, second is to blind them.
>>
>>26397935
The brillitite bullet is too rare and important to use on something as small as a couple of archers. Let's go with bombing them for now. Ask Peri/Mari about explosive stones, too.
>>
>>26397935
I'd be game to hit the crazy foot-archers. Those are elites.
>>
>>26397935
Commence carpet bombing! Or, you know, lob them in the general direction of the fires the archers are gathering around.
>>
Rolled 4

>>26397935
[x] Bombs
>>
>we just invented aerial warfare
>>
Rolled 14

>>26398013
Only under duress! We didn't plan to!
>>
prepare to douse. our wagon is about to be on fire.
>>
>>26398066
IT'S ALL SPUR OF THE MOMENT UNTIL PEOPLE START DOGFIGHTING
>>
thank goodness we're not using a flight balloon
>>
>>26397935
toss some bombs, have everyone take cover.

I don't think this is a tremendous threat, wagon's been on fire before.
>>
A quick spark from Mage, and the bombs rags are lit.

"Chuck them all randomly, or aim for one specific part?" Peri asks. "We can aim for the crews, the fire team, or for the surrounding tents?"
>>
Rolled 7

>>26398243
The crews and the fire team are the most threat to us.
>>
>>26398243
"Fight fire with fire. Hit the fire teams."
>>
>>26398243
Crews or fire team. This is no longer a rescue mission, this is a battle. They are no doubt trained to ignore distractions.
>>
>>26398243
The crews and fire team if possible. Two birds, one stone, no pun intended.
>>
>>26398243
how close together are the tents?
ie, can we get the fire to start spreading?
>>
>>26398270
>>26398267
>>26398257

"Hit the fire team." You say. "Mage?"

"Raining fire from the sky after slaughtering a dinner party." Mage says. "You sure we're the good guys?"

"Just shut up and light me." Peri says.

You and Peri throw a bomb each down at the fire team.

Roll 1d20
>>
Rolled 2

>>26398366
>>
I honestly think we're completely fine. Wagon's thick enough to stop arrows, as long as it doesn't set on fire.
>>
Rolled 11

>>26398366
>>
Rolled 6

>>26398366
Bombs away?
>>
Rolled 18

>>26398366
Try to aim for areas that will cause distress and distract without killing people
>>
>>26398377
You just had to roll without the plus in there, Redaeth.
>>
Rolled 14

>>26398366
Couldn't we have mage just... soak the wagon maybe?
Fuckers probably dirty and wet enough to not catch anyway.
>>
Rolled 1

>>26398366
"The dinner party thing was an accident! I knew I should have written a note."
>>
>>26398415
If you Soak the Wagon it'll get heavier
>>
Rolled 17

>>26398366
>>
>>26398379
You both slightly miss the fire team by a few feet.

Roll 2d8 for the explosions.
>>
Rolled 7, 2 = 9

>>26398550
>>
Rolled 2, 8 = 10

>>26398550
oh well, they probably won't hit us anyway.
>>
Rolled 4, 3 = 7

>>26398550
>>
File: 1375496678704.gif-(77 KB, 435x292, Ssen rolls an 8.gif)
77 KB
77 KB GIF
>>26398560
>>
File: 1375496806626.gif-(1.75 MB, 358x202, 1344577815548.gif)
1.75 MB
1.75 MB GIF
>>26398570
What have we done?
>>
>>26398605
probably just a shockwave. we DID miss.
>>
>>26398560
Yeah, Peri's bomb is pretty nice, but yours...well...maybe painting a light coating of blackpowder and mixing it in the orc oil was perhaps a slightly unwise idea.

However, from the size of the explosion and how it knocks down almost the entire longbow team, the fire team, and blows away some of the sitting archers from the impact.

Plus you're high enough that the explosion only gently rocks the wagon.

Still Mage needs a moment to refocus and get the wind back under his control again.

The army is in total disarray now. Bells are going off like crazy and you see people running around like crazy.

Roll 2d20
>>
Rolled 7, 20 = 27

>>26398637
Rolling for getting away
>>
Rolled 9, 10 = 19

>>26398637
>>
File: 1375497061043.gif-(1.9 MB, 374x211, 1369070424252.gif)
1.9 MB
1.9 MB GIF
>>26398649
>20
>>
Rolled 6, 10 = 16

>>26398637
Oh no oh jeez oh no that was probably too much
>>
>>26398649
Thank you based Taffer
>>
>>26398649
Mage's wind is great, and blows the sail quite strongly and you all take off swiftly.

Unfortunately, the wagon starts to pitch and roll, the rocking from the explosion doesn't help either. The ride is very VERY bumpy, which does mean that it takes a little longer than you'd like to be able to get out of range, seeing as Mage doesn't want to have everyone take the quick way out.

The army makes a last ditch effort to try and shoot at Wagon with the few longbow teams that they're able to bring up to speed and set alight.

Roll 1d20
>>
Rolled 6

>>26398758
>>
Rolled 12

>>26398758
>>
Rolled 12

>>26398766
>>26398758
Echo...
>>
Rolled 3

>>26398766
..... Wait what?
>>
Rolled 18

>>26398758
>>
Rolled 14

>>26398758
Oh no the ship is rocking. Hold tricia tight.
>>
>>26398781
That's the Phoenix roll.
>>
>>26398649
>MEANWHILE
>IN LOW EARTH ORBIT
>>
>>26398766
obviously echo needs a roll too.
>>
Rolled 12

>>26398797
Oh, right. Okay, that's not so bad, they missed. Hopefully.
>>
>>26398758
I feel like we should say something here, but I can't think of something that matches the height terror

usually I just freeze up when I'm about to fall from a great height.
>>
>>26398777
An arrow sails up at towards, you but you're actually able to take your tail and swat it away. (You didn't really want to do it, but you could and it was cool.)

"We're clear!" Peri says.

After a little bit you're over the familiar looking lights and tents of your camp.

"Alright, just one more little bit of prayer, and we can put this horrid night behind us." Mage says.

"I wouldn't call it THAT horrid." Lea says.

"Yeah, by our standards, this was as elegant as it gets." Mari says.

"Like I said." Mage says, as he turns the dial.

Roll 1d20
>>
Rolled 15

>>26398859
"For the light, and may we not die..."
>>
Rolled 16

>>26398859
Getting gone!
>>
Rolled 16

>>26398859
>hug Tricia
>>
Rolled 11

>>26398859
Just a bit longer. Perhaps share tricia's hat for hiding under.
>>
>>26398881
>>26398886
Man, what is with rolling doubles tonight.
>>
File: 1375498001690.jpg-(65 KB, 680x257, dilbert.jpg)
65 KB
65 KB JPG
Rolled 13

>>26398912
>muh bell curve
>>
>>26398881
It's a shuddery, slow, quivery descent, and at three feet above the ground, the last of the energy wears off and Wagon just drops onto the ground with a hard THUD, and one of the wheels pops off, the axle doesn't break, just the wheel, and that causes Wagon to tip over onto its side, spilling all of you out onto the grass.

"I will never leave the ground." Tricia says. "And if you EVER so much as mention wings, I will KILL you."
>>
>>26398859
"As long as we get to the ground in one piece, we've exceeded my goals. This whole flight business is terrifying."
>>
Rolled 17

>>26398949
"To be fair.... this is a completely untested prototype I bet later renditions will be much smoother."
>>
>>26398949
"I wanna be a dragon!"

Fix the wheel, then roll back into camp.
>>
I dunno, I found it kinda fun. I got to defy my lack of wings and almost flew!
>>
>>26398949
"Oh, that's good. I was thinking about a balloon anyway."
>>
Rolled 7

>>26398949
"Wings"
>>
>>26398949
"How about in causal conversation? What if I'm talking about a bird? Or an insect? Do I have to come up with a substitute word, like fluttery-flaps or wingalings?"
>>
>>26398949
"I don't blame you for trying, but I hope you're not very good at it.
That totally counts as flying, next time I talk to that crusty old dragon I'm rubbing it in his face. Also probably robbing him, now that I think about it. Soulgold and all."
>>
>Operation Sleep On the Couch Tonight is go
>>
Flying? Check.
Fire from the skies? Check.
Scales? Check.

We're a dragon now!
>>
>>26399051
Suits me fine, since we're probably going to have horrific nightmares.

Which we should probably mention at some point.
>>
"Oh, that's good. I was thinking about a balloon anyway." You say. "Or turning into a dragon."

Her reply is to punch you in the shoulder.

You all extract yourselves from the pile, and after a moment of celebration, you all get back to work. There's still a war going on after all.

Barney and Mumei head off to the workshops and Julian's to help with manufacturing and to describe common Phoenix tactics, respectively.

Ambrose needs a moment to recuperate but says that he needs to talk to you as soon as he wakes up, also that he'd like eggs and ham with his breakfast.
>>
>>26399068
I wonder what kind of nightmares they'll be. Oh, I'm just excited for more Citadel mindfuckery in general.

Like what happens when we go in it. What kind of inescapable temptation will it throw at us? The perfect life, perhaps?
>>
>>26399079
"Now the question is do we finally get a chance to rela-"
>>
>>26399079
I suppose now we wait for a sternly written letter from Kingfisher about how we cocked up his plans. Again.
>>
>>26399151
No, it's best that we preempt him with an apology and tell him that we're open to this idea of a PE Hong Kong.
>>
>>26399079
Keep a close eye on ambrose. we want that eggs and ham.
>>
File: 1375498951856.jpg-(92 KB, 400x300, m560.jpg)
92 KB
92 KB JPG
>Lamia Child Quest 82
>82

There's a point where this should have stopped and we have long past it.
>>
>>26399079
>Ambrose needs a moment to recuperate but says that he needs to talk to you as soon as he wakes up
I have some suspicions about that. While its true that most of what he knows could be found in the various books he had around he's got most of the important stuff in his head, along with being the most knowledgeable person beyond ourselves about our order.

Do they hope to create their own version of the Clagio clasus after the continent is theirs to chase down and deal with land spirit remnants? Something that he knows about Citadel that they need?
>>
File: 1375498991420.jpg-(163 KB, 1058x705, 1366658500620.jpg)
163 KB
163 KB JPG
>>26399177
>>
>>26399183
>>26399177
Honestly it was all set to end with one or two more missions back at like thread 60, and then we accidentally the citadel and fucked everything up.
>>
>>26399171
So we're going to send the PE drugs, have the UFK invade their continent, and force them to give us the city in the peace treaty?
>>
>>26399079
Tell him that his eggs and ham will not be served by the birds as that is absured. They shall not be on a boat or with a goat, not there but here. The eggs and ham will soon be around now that he is safe and sound.
>>
>>26399174
The eggs and ham WILL be ours.

Also, we need them interrogated, examined, debriefed, and checked for Clone Degeneration Disorder IMMEDIATELY.

No more half-assing it, we scan then with every method we got to make sure they're not MORE time-travelling magical infiltrators.
>>
>>26399079
Well, we just slept before the mission so we're probably not sleepy yet.

What do we have productive to do in the meantime?
>>
>>26399212
BRILLIANT!
>>
>>26399212
No, we're going to allow them to be an independent economic super-city state that will teem with skyscrapers to the point where they'll have to start land reclamation.
>>
File: 1375499193596.jpg-(65 KB, 365x500, Old_Man_Henderson.jpg)
65 KB
65 KB JPG
>>26399207
We Henderson'ed the plot so hard.
>>
>>26399177
Shhhh. People are having fun.
>>
>>26399207
at this point it's become like most rp campaigns. It ends when the group or dm is tired of it, until then you can just keep adding shit.
>>
>>26399245
And thank God for it.
Now we have not-Asia to wage war with, Hun allies to parlay with, another smaller continent to explore, a Citadel to raid, and a quest to kick all the Gods upstairs.

Each of those is basically a small quest in and of itself.
>>
Rolled 11

>>26399171
The Special Administrative Region of...we need a name for it. "New Phoenix" sounds silly. Something to do with "fledge" or "nest" maybe?
>>
Rolled 20

>>26399177
This may surprise you, but there is this thing some people have or experience called "fun".
>>
>>26399079
"I'd like eggs and ham with my breakfast too."

We're not getting anything so good I bet.
>>
>>26399279
I think Kingfisher should name it. It's his city.
>>
>>26399238
I think I prefer the plan that has drugs in it.
>>
File: 1375499420722.gif-(1.26 MB, 100x100, m503.gif)
1.26 MB
1.26 MB GIF
>>26399261

we cant have that now can we?
>>
>>26399301
Why not both?
>>
>>26399274
actually I think we're approaching a second ending point rapidly. I am of the opinion that after we finish this citadel thing we call the series done, and move on to other characters in the universe.

Either that, or Lamia Ancient quest which is Ssen 800 years later when everything is all shadowrun.
>>
>>26399279
Special Administrative Region for Sparrows.

SARS.
>>
>>26399314
A time skip has to be tastefully done, though.
And there are shadows of future problems. Like the humanizing thing, which is not an issue now, but will be an issue 800 years from now.

And, much like the Citadel, some will call it good and worth allowing to continue.
>>
>>26399079
Yeah we need to be on serious bigtime guard duty. Kingfisher can adapt and he may choose to slay one or more of our rescued captives if there's a chance of them giving us info he doesn't want us to have. I fear we may have some of his folks infiltrating our camp tonight.

Let's have armed men checking the corpse wagon and we ought to station a heavier guard in general around our perimeter, with some of our own cadre included.
>>
we still sort of want to write to the little ones, but I've got much to say other than 'Hope you two are doing well with granny."
>>
You get some rest, and ease your jittery nerves, comforted with the fact that you are now firmly on the ground.

You get a few hours of dreamless restful sleep. Then you're up, and hungry, it was nearly dawn when you landed, so now it's closer to mid-day than morning. Still a good brunch is never a bad thing.

The others are all out helping the army, talking to the Paladins, or Sophie. Tricia is sleeping in, and refuses to budge any further than an inch away from the ground.

Ambrose is waiting for you at the mess tent, happily tucking into his food. You get your own, and sit down across from him.

"That masked girl Shiroshotu kept going on and on about how Empire food was better than ours." He snorts. "No question that she's originally from Citadel, but she's totally absorbed into that culture with the kind of mindless passion you get from convert zealotry." He smiles and wipes his face. "It's not bad, but I say you can't beat a good greasy plate of seared flesh and runny ovum with crisp bread an a glass of lactic fluid." He smirks and chuckles. "Apologies, that's a running joke I have with young Adahn. The boy's really found his own as a combat teacher, you know." He nods. "But I enjoy talking in esoteric terms and then Adahn 'translates' to the Nitor. It lets him look down to earth, and makes me look wise...at least we think it does. Probably just makes us look like twits." He sponges up egg yolk with his toast and eats it. "So, the story is that you killed a God in the North?"
>>
>>26399407
"Not entirely. He's only mostly dead."
>>
>>26399407
"Sort of. The Dark Man is still there, just significantly weakened. In worse shape I think even than Citadel. But he's been taken down a rung or two, and his hold on the North has slipped."
>>
>>26399407
"Well, it wasn't us exactly. We just helped this time. An orc named Tisgut was the one who did the deed, at the cost of his life."

Sorry to start the morning with sad stories.
>>
>>26399407
Hahaha, I just realized Shiroshotu is a total weeaboo.

"More like mortally wounded, but honestly, it was the Orcs that did most of the work. We just opened the door for them."

On that note, mentally remind ourselves to have a statue of Tisgut straddling a giant bomb built at some point.
>>
>>26399407
"More we stole his fancy orc-repelling stick, gave the orcs a bomb, and let them have at it. It was more a collection of corpse monsters than a real god, but we'll use the term for shorthand and so Tricia doesn't yell at me.
>>
File: 1375500220513.jpg-(55 KB, 600x250, Weeaboo2.jpg)
55 KB
55 KB JPG
>>26399464
Can we call her a weeaboo? It's a nonsense term to begin with.
>>
>>26399470

That reminds me. We really should put the brillitite orb under heavy guard.
>>
>>26399447
I like this.

You know something I just discovered this song and I thought it would have been perfect for the ride North to the camp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKZkkBFCceY
Also, take a look at the album title.
>>
>>26399407
"It does sort of make you sound like a ninny, if you ask my opinion. Who knows what the new guys think though."
>>
>>26399407
"Not really killed it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it wishes we killed it at this point. The thing's been beaten pretty badly, I'd like to think. You saw a bright explosion up north a while ago? Because that was us. But enough about that, what did Kingfisher want from you?
>>
>>26399407
"Nah,it's a nice little dynamic. I'm the two of you have been doing so well. I mean, outside of the abductions and assassination plot."
>>
>>26399407
"Well, I like some meat as much as the next guy, but what'd they have over there? I can't make a reasoned opinion on their food without having a wide variety.
I mean, their fish was pretty good, other than the poison."
>>
>>26399407
"Well, not entirely, but we killed it enough that it can no longer exert any power over the land.

Hopefully the gods will realise what's happening and pack up to leave once Citadel is dealt with, because I have it on good authority that all of them are dicks, and they all have someplace else to be."
>>
>>26399522
Sorry

"I'm glad the two of you have been doing so well."

Dunno what's wrong with my typing lately.
>>
>>26399447
>"Not entirely. He's only mostly dead."
And show him the sword. The sword that won't freakn' die!

All evil land spirits we banish with the mirrors will end up in the sowrd and we have to cast both Soma and our spear into the sun together so they nullify each other.
>>
>>26399559
They won't. They'll cling to what they have all the more strongly.
>>
>>26399602
What a waste of a spear. Being thrown into the sun nullifies ANYTHING. Except Sun Eating Demons.
>>
>>26399625
Now you've done it. You've summoned the Star Eater.
>>
>>26399625
beacon has a very high chance of being a sun eating demon
>>
>>26399640
Toss that bitch into a black hole.
>>
>>26399646
Nonsense! It's just a perfectly normal STAR DEVOURING ELDER GOD.
>>
>>26399647
>>26399660
And again I say we duct tape it to the bomb we use to blow open Citadel. Add in a few Hail Mary's for good measure and nuke that elitist cunt right off the mortal coil for good.
>>
>>26399690
We have to take out PE's chained up land spirit, remember?
>>
"Not entirely. He's only mostly dead." You say. "And it wasn't us exactly. We just helped this time. An orc named Tisgut was the one who did the deed, at the cost of his life. What we did was steal the God's fancy orc-repelling stick, gave the orcs a bomb, and let them have at it. It was more a collection of corpse monsters than a real god, but we'll use the term for shorthand and so Tricia doesn't yell at me." You smile. "But the Dark Man is still there, just significantly weakened. In worse shape I think even than Citadel. But he's been taken down a rung or two, and his hold on the North has slipped."

"Hmm." He nods. "Well, I hope you're up to doing it again. You and your friends need to get inside Citadel and stop whatever is happening inside there. Immediately.

"If not for the people's sake, or the army, then to save us from the Great Phoenix and the Emperor's plan for it." He takes a drink and then wipes his mouth. "That man in the Owl dress? His...ugh, I cannot keep track of those convoluted family trees, let's just call him his cousin. He's the leader of the Heron clan. The Owls are their closest kin, I think.

"Anyway," Ambrose continues. "They have this rite, or apparatus, or something, I didn't see it. They siphon off the power from Citadel, and then they use it to change people. I've seen the end result. People who are so in love with the idea of slavery, that they'd never rebel, people who want to only eat the barest minimum to survive, they get deep satisfaction from serving. It's more than just mind control, it's reaching into a person's soul and altering it.

"Of course, I've only seen the end result, and what Kingfisher told us. He's against it. Deeply. The man will always be a man of the Empire, and a bit of a speciesist, but he believes in free will." Ambrose shakes his head. "That or he knows that this is the kind of magic that spells the doom of civilizations."
>>
>>26399690
The city isn't the god. We need to find a weakness.

Also, there are people in there.
>>
>>26399717
"Well, that much I can agree with him on.

If he wasn't so prone to backstabbing I'd almost want to offer him our help.
>>
>>26399717
Well then. We need to find that, destroy it, and kill anyone who knows how it works.

We have a brillitite bomb. Hopefully we can break into Citadel and destroy the device at the same time.
>>
>>26399706
>>26399724
Btw I derped. Thought we were talking about Soma.
>>
Rolled 19

>>26399717
"How would he -- or you -- know that this kind of magic ends civilizations? We know of the Crafters and Citadel. Unless you have more data points?"
>>
I f we are sure that Soma has the soul of Peace in it then the answer is simple, take it to Old One and complete the deal with him by giving him the last Dramatae he needs to complete his collection.
>>
>>26399717
"Damn, I had hoped to put citadel off until after this whole war business.
Do they need citadel specifically for whatever it is they're doing, or is this only going to be a temporary solution? Have they mentioned a way to reverse the process?"
>>
>>26399717
"Sounds like we might not have to be enemies. Of course I'd never trust the prick, but maybe we can accomplish some common goals."
>>
>>26399717
"How under the nurturing light are they managing to Siphon power from the Citadel? Did..did you see them do it?"
>>
>>26399845
This. We may be able to reverse it.

10 bucks says one of our team mates is at least threatened with it.
>>
>>26399845
He just said he'd only seen the end result.
>>
>>26399717
"How sinister. Why anyone would want to go monkeying around in souls is beyond me.
So, did you have an idea for how to stop it, or am I going in blind again?"
>>
>>26399810
No. We've delivered enough people to that kind of torment. Never again.
>>
>>26399857
Who did they use it on, I wonder?
>>
>>26399875
Probably a civilian or the weeaboo.
>>
>>26399918
The weeaboo?
>>
>>26399948
Shiroshotu or something.
>>
File: 1375502139356.png-(595 KB, 784x588, 1359057902334.png)
595 KB
595 KB PNG
>>26399948
Shiroshotu, the woman in love with Eastern cultures.
>>
>>26399984
western cultures.

They're to the west of us.
>>
>>26399948
I think he means Shiroshotu, the masked girl.
>>
File: 1375502233281.jpg-(51 KB, 933x569, 1355874480367.jpg)
51 KB
51 KB JPG
>>26399991
Right.
>>
>>26399991
They're Not-China. They are automatically east.
>>
>>26399314
>actually I think we're approaching a second ending point rapidly.
i believe the storyteller system refers to this as the ending of chronicle.
we could end it then, but as a sometime GM, if you and the group want things to continue you can just throw in a new twist.
Ends of chronicle are good places to wrap up campaigns, or to take a break, but you never need to end a story.
>>
>>26399991
Hey Magellan, lrn2spheres. East is just superwest.
>>
>>26400074
THEN WHY DON'T THE JAPANESE CALL US EASTERNERS!?
>>
>>26400070
Yeah, and for as far as we've gotten this quest ultimately hasn't been going on for very long. It only started in March.

Not to say that Echo hasn't been working hard at it, it's just that I've seen quests that have been going on for a year or more.
>>
>>26400107
BECAUSE PERSPECTIVE

Our worldview is oriented around Europe.
>>
>>26400107
Because Europe.
>>
>>26400113
That's because some of us just process, plan and type really, really slow, and takes a year to do what others can do in a couple months.
>>
>>26400107
Because the Europe and America conquered them, for a certain value of conquered.
>>
>>26400107
Because Xenophobes don't circumnavigate shit.
>>
>>26400150
Yeah, Japan had a major westaboo faze.
>>
>>26399717
"He's a sneaky conniving bastard. Do you think there is room for sneaky conniving bastard in a world without free will? But the Kingfishers motives don't really matter in this case, because we do need to spot this abomination from being used."
>>
>>26399717
"You know, I'm not nearly as shocked by that as I should be. Strange."
>>
>>26400113
This gives me much hope for future Lamia'ing. I deeply enjoy this quest like you wouldn't believe and it's one of the few things I look forward to.
>>
>>26399717
'Well, given the choice between what the others are planning and us, he'll join forces with us just long enough to get something big out of it.'
>>
File: 1375503097305.jpg-(143 KB, 800x600, Zheng_He's_ship_comp(...).jpg)
143 KB
143 KB JPG
>>26400107
Because China ceased it's period of long ranging naval exploration before circumnavigation of the globe. Fuckers had some huge ships in the days of Columbus.
Japan was even less inclined to explore and colonize, so if the chinese didn't bother why would they?

Then European explores decided, fuck it lets go everywhere! Hey while we're here lets conquer some shit too!
>>
>>26400233
Same.

Come for the monstergirl PC, stay for the dystopian plotline.
>>
>>26400107
Basically, the British Empire's constant insistence on being the centre of the world drilled the Greenwich Meridian into everyone's heads as "the centre of the map". So America is part of "the West" because it's to the west of the Greenwich Meridian, which continues to be the 0 line of longitude for the whole world. It's also why most time zones are defined in relation to how far ahead or behind GMT they are.
>>
>>26400233
>>26400313
well it IS my current favorite, and has been for quite a while.
>>
"Well, that much I can agree with him on. If he wasn't so prone to backstabbing I'd almost want to offer him our help." You say.

Ambrose nods. "Kingfisher's a bad person trying to be a good man. We told him that he needed to contact you or the Paladins, but he can't trust them. He has to be in control of the situation, and it has to be HIS victory, HIS people's independence, and HIS great plan." Ambrose shakes his head. "He just sees this," He gestures to the war activity around you, "As background noise. He doesn't care that people on both sides are dying." Ambrose shrugs. "Not that we're much better, but..." He shakes his head. "I'm doing the old man thing."
>>
>>26400356
"How would he -- or you -- know that this kind of magic ends civilizations? We know of the Crafters and Citadel. Unless you have more data points?" You ask.

Ambrose nods, happy for the change in topic. "Yes. The Crafters, there was also a civilization that lived in the Desert, before it was a desert. They thought that they achieved an unparalleled comprehension of the world, so they began a work that would allow them the ability to merge with the land. It was supposed to allow them to shape the world as they saw fit. That then turned into shaping PEOPLE as they saw fit." Ambrose shakes his head. "And now there's a vast desert where there's nothing but dried ground and occasionally sand." Ambrose shakes his head. "Whenever a society starts to talk about things like that, wastelands and genocide follow. People can't be Gods, and from what you've told me, Gods can't be people."

"Damn, I had hoped to put Citadel off until after this whole war business. Do they need citadel specifically for whatever it is they're doing, or is this only going to be a temporary solution? Have they mentioned a way to reverse the process?"

Ambrose sighs and shakes his head. "They need an amazing amount of power. They can do it on a one-to-one person deal, but it takes a week's worth of work and three mages. Also, after that, it takes weeks for them to even start to try again. Citadel is their solution to that problem. They'll be able to use the power within Citadel to alter the souls of people as they fit, en-mass. Not to mention that they'll also be killing everyone WITHIN Citadel as well. As for the rest, I'm sorry. They didn't tell us more than what I told you."

(cont)
>>
>>26400313
Man I just love cute things/moments and tough moral dilemmas. Also explosions.
>>
>>26400369
"So how are they planning to siphon Citadel? Did you see them do it?" You ask.

"No." Ambrose says. "Kingfisher didn't want to show us too much. I think his plan was to convert us like he did with Shiroshotu. Oh, and she's not been altered, that girl just wants to be an Empire Citizen. Kingfisher doesn't NEED magic to control people."

"He's a sneaky conniving bastard. Do you think there is room for sneaky conniving bastard in a world without free will? But the Kingfishers motives don't really matter in this case, because we do need to stop this abomination from being used."

"Agreed." Ambrose says. "The only question is if you want to try and stop the Herons, Kingfisher, or Citadel?"

"Why would we want to stop Kingfisher?" Lea asks as she sits down. "Morning Ssen. Ambrose filled us in on some of the details already."

"Kingfisher's plans require you, your uncle, and the other Paladins to be very dead." Ambrose says. "Not until after he's 'broken your pedestals' as well. I think he sees you six as symbols."

"Of what?" Lea asks.

Ambrose shrugs. "The UFK, His Light, change being fought with change, the idea that monsters aren't monsters, take your pick. People believe in you and the other Paladins. Kingfisher believes that if he breaks you, he can break the UFK."
>>
>>26400356
"Yeah, big shame about the whole war thing, isn't it? Can you believe I was actually trying for nonlethal during that whole rescue fiasco?
I'm all for free phoenix or whatever, but we need a quick and decicive end to the war. None of that prolonged attrition stuff.
>>
>>26400356
"Your 'Old Man Thing' gets the point, I think."

"But for now, you three seem in good shape, we're back on track to win this "background noise", and now my group knows where we need to strike to put an end to the insanity. So really, things could be a lot worse."
>>
>>26400376
So the Kingfisher plans to break us? Better inform him that's a bad idea. He NEEDS us.
>>
>>26400376
"Even if I believed such a thing is true, and believe me I don't, that just means I have to see to it that we don't break."
>>
>>26400376
"the breaking our pedestals bit has me worried, especially when its being said by someone who has the ability to rework souls on a small scale."
>>
>>26400376
"I'll need to dissuade him of that notion somehow, then. Easiest way to go about it would be appointing new paladins. Either that or just give his folks such a thorough drubbing when they try to kill us they're forced to plan around us living."
>>
>>26400376
"You know... I don't think we should actively work against Kingfisher. We can't play his game, and fighting back would be just that. We stomp his attempts into the dust, repel him at every turn, and let the ol' Dawnchaser magic leave all his plans undone in its wake. Basically any plan involving us or our loved ones is doomed to blow up in his face. He'll eventually learn to focus first on the targets he -can- manage, like the Empire. Meanwhile, we'll be dealing with Citadel.
>>
>>26400376
"And if he manages to off us, we'll end up as martyrs. It's just one more thing he's wrong about."

"But still, I'd rather us all get through this alive. So at least we've confirmed he's after us, and we can take measures. Ultimately, I guess it comes down to where we were before: save lives, shatter plans, and grind him into the dirt before he has a chance to kill us all off."
>>
Let's pretend to be ignorant of his ultimate plans for now. Let's play the naive paladin who sees an opportunity to trust somebody. But slowly we become more and more important to make his plans work due to various allies being removed, until we are the only option to getting him his own city independent of the PE.

We set up some mutual agreements about trade and the mutually reasonable policies about the treatment of foreigners and we let him have the south.

Ultimately, our culture will creep in after he's dead. We'll simply outlive the Kingfisher. That's how we beat him.
>>
>>26400638
We could take the Assyrian approach and flay him alive before nailing his skin to the gates of his city, killing or enslaving all his people, and turning the bones of his ancestors out of their crypts and into the streets so we can trample on them.

Or we could just beat the crap out of him and decide how to deal with it later.
>>
>>26400699
But my plan is beating the crap out of him, just indirectly. We destroy so many of his options that we are the only one he can turn to. We make friends by destroying the friends of our enemies.
>>
>>26400638
I like this plan WAY better than
>>26400699
this plan
>>
>>26400758
You do realize that the Assyrian approach was purely a joke, right? That it was not meant to be taken seriously?

Let's face it, though. Dicking around and then beating people up once their plans fall apart around us just kind of works for us.
>>
>>26400798
We don't have to beat people up. That's a touch too obvious. We can also discredit them.
>>
"Even if I believed such a thing is true, and believe me I don't, that just means I have to see to it that we don't break. Your 'Old Man Thing' gets the point, I think." You say.

"Thank you for that." Ambrose says. "Lets me feel wise, if not young."

"But for now, you three seem in good shape, we're back on track to win this 'background noise,' and now my group knows where we need to strike to put an end to the insanity. So really, things could be a lot worse. I don't think we should actively work against Kingfisher. We can't play his game, and fighting back would be just that. We stomp his attempts into the dust, repel him at every turn, and let the ol' Dawnchaser magic leave all his plans undone in its wake. Basically any plan involving us or our loved ones is doomed to blow up in his face. He'll eventually learn to focus first on the targets he -can- manage, like the Empire. Meanwhile, we'll be dealing with Citadel.

"And if he manages to off us, we'll end up as martyrs. It's just one more thing he's wrong about. He NEEDS us. But still, I'd rather us all get through this alive. So at least we've confirmed he's after us, and we can take measures. Ultimately, I guess it comes down to where we were before: save lives, shatter plans, and grind him into the dirt before he has a chance to kill us all off."

"Here here." Lea says. "So, I take it we're going straight to Citadel, then? Crack it open with our special find from the Crafters?"

"Hey, speaking of the Crafters." Peri says as she joins you. "Got a letter from Tara." She hands it to you. "Everything's well, and the kids are good. Nikai's trying to seduce Isen. She doesn't really guess that the only thing she needed to do was be female. You know how Isen takes people who throw themselves at him, and suck up to him." She chuckles.
>>
Oh, and when we have time, we should probably start training some more Paladins. If his plan is to kill the remaining ones, the simplest solution is to have them spring up like weeds.
>>
>>26400809
We beat Peace with surprise arrows. We beat the singing ooze monster with a tac-nuke. We blew the Crafter zombies up with a second tac-nuke.

You can't ignore the fact that brute force tends to work well for us.
>>
Guys stop making plans. That is not the Dawnchaser way. Our plan is to blow open a hole in Citadel tomorrow morning and go adventuran' inside autistic Pleasantville.
>>
>>26400860
yes, but only when its either massively excessive or very unexpected.
>>
>>26400849
Any news on the not-Lamia? God, what was her name?
>>
by the way, echo 2 questions.

1. what is the public story on what happened with citadel?

2. can we feed everyone in the dome without causing famine?
>>
>>26400868
Do you really think it's that easy?

I currently picture Citadel to be more like the Twilight Zone right now. Remember that episode where a gambler goes to the afterlife and he ends up in a gigantic casino where he wins all the time?
That's what Citadel is probably like. I expect us to go in and be faced with a reality that has no feasible exit. Like our gang being Lamias and thinking nothing's wrong with that, expecting us to lead them like always on the next crazy adventure. You can try and fight that, but you'd end up alienating people. And going along with it is what Citadel wants.

If it's just normal Citadel, then that'd be a disappointment. It should be the perfect life that we could never possibly walk away from, even if we tried.
>>
>>26400849
"A woman. That Isen isn't flirting with? Pity we have to miss such a miracle."
>>
>>26400849
"How is..Aya?"
>>
>>26400849
"Ah, I'm relieved to hear things going well on the home front. Nikai seems to be fitting in just fine from the sounds of it- any mention of Aya?"

"As for citadel, yeah, we're going to be headed there as soon as we can set up an expedition and clear the path. It's currently in phoenix territory, right? Think we can call in that favour with kingfisher to get him to clear a path? Getting rid of citadel's soul machine use would be to his favor and all."
>>
>>26400942
Actually it is. I'm confident we can outwit (inwit?) anything Citadel throws at us by being stubborn as fuck and, more importantly, stupid like a fox.
>>
>>26401000
Well, I'm sure outwitting it is the ultimate strategy, but what I'm saying is that every single time the GM goes "what do?" it should be a terrible choice between the logical choice and the choice that only a sociopath would come up with.

Think of it like restarting the quest. We wake up, everything's great, and Citadel tells us we can go look at the bulletin board or go check out the Lamia we just saw. And no matter our choice, everything's interesting and great. Adventure's galore.
But we know what's really happening and we have to escape. The question is, how? How can we escape without burning down everything around us? Is it really a total illusion? Can people get hurt in the Citadel? And what does burning everything and everyone around us say about our Paladin ideals?

The Citadel could break us.
>>
>>26401091
Can we cross that bridge when we get to it? I'd like to focus on the invading army at our doorstep right now.
>>
>>26401091
Then we just go ask every city official where the poop goes until we bring to light that there is no legitimate sewage system or infrastructure of any sort, for that matter.
>>
>>26401137
Hey, I'm not the one saying we go into the Citadel tomorrow morning.
>>
>>26401152
let's pack a lot of mind-potions. It takes what, two weeks to brew?
>>
>>26401152
Agreed. Citadel takes planning. Beating the PE invasion and disabling their Citadel soul-tapping trick takes a really big bomb or two.

I say it's high time we built some fliers and oil bombs and channeled Mad Bomber Harris.
>>
File: 1375505991687.jpg-(16 KB, 320x240, 1338236765945.jpg)
16 KB
16 KB JPG
>>26401206
Agreed.
>>
>>26400849
One does not 'seduce Isen. One is and Isen hits on it.
I don't see anything bad coming from that. Worst come to worst Tara will just cave her head in. Hopefully Granny will be able to take care of our not-Lamia.
>>
>>26401137
But that's what we brought an army to do. We're no general, we let the Orcs and the other forces led by our red occuli buddies wage war, seeing as how they know what they're doing. Maybe we should leave them a little box of Dawnchaser plans, all ready to go, just in case they need a little crazy to turn the tide of battle while we're away in Citadel.
>>
File: 1375506094313.jpg-(131 KB, 600x600, 600px-Fotothek_df_ps_0000(...).jpg)
131 KB
131 KB JPG
>>26401206
>>26401228
We didn't ask for this. It could have been avoided.
>>
>>26401272
That statue just seems like he's saying "WTF guys, this city was still here when i went to bed. What happened!?"
>>
>>26401374
Gargoyle Quest: Bad end.
>>
Echo? You there, buddy?
>>
>>26401502
oh it's only been 30 minutes, he's probably just having minor difficulties or making a big blob of text.

Or the coyotes came back.
>>
>>26400926
>1. what is the public story on what happened with citadel?

Magical Disaster.

>2. can we feed everyone in the dome without causing famine?

No. There should be massive stores of food inside Citadel, and the wasteland will (hopefully) fade, but...there will be logistic problems.

>>26400989

"A woman. That Isen isn't flirting with? Pity we have to miss such a miracle. I'm relieved to hear things going well on the home front. Nikai seems to be fitting in just fine from the sounds of it- any mention of Aya?"

"Uhhh, ah. It seems that Granny has taken her under her wing." She says. "Heh, Nikai is having a very unpleasant time. She's exceedingly rich, thanks to her selling her gems, and she's got a nice house to herself, and...hah! Aya is her 'live in maid,' basically she runs the house...and the money...and everything else. Nikai just swans about, failing to pick up Isen, and annoying the Schola Nitor. She's been a big help on the history project."

"Heh, that's good. As for Citadel, yeah, we're going to be headed there as soon as we can set up an expedition and clear the path. It's currently in phoenix territory, right? Think we can call in that favour with Kingfisher to get him to clear a path? Getting rid of Citadel's soul machine use would be to his favor and all."

"Heh, you sure he's going to be willing to talk to this after last night?" Peri asks. "Because Jesse-May says that the army has been going insane. The Cranes are blaming the Owls for the death of two of their kinds, the Owls are mad at the Herons, and it's just a mess. Forces are being pulled back or just not marching."

"They're not blaming us?" Lea asks.

"Well we're the enemy." Peri says. "What are they gonna do? Go to war against us more? Nobility gets weird when they get hurt, they'd rather punch the person next to them, than the person who punches back. Plus, there's a lot of..." Peri sighs. "Short version: Political bullshit and personal grievances are working in our favor."
>>
Sounds like a good time to discredit some of Kingfisher's allies... or place a few knives in their backs.

Advancing ourselves might just unite them again.
>>
>>26401628
"Aya's fine, Army's in dissaray, History being compiled, everything seems to be going along smoothly. Again, weird. Anyhow, do we have much stalk of mind protection potions? We should really get on the merfolk about that."
>>
>>26401770
Should we also run experiments with the Bliss mace to see if the mind protection works?
>>
>>26401628
"Whoops, didn't mean to kill some nobles and send them into turmoil. I guess I'll just try to think of it as a happy accident."
>>
>>26401770
"Merfolk, I know y'all hate the fuck out of us, but we need some of your precious fluids."
>>
File: 1375508122596.jpg-(50 KB, 900x599, sterling-hayden-jack-ripper.jpg)
50 KB
50 KB JPG
>>26401963
"I fucking knew it."
>>
>>26401999
Just a bit of them!

I mean, you can have our skin in exchange if you want. We just need some fluids for a little while.
>>
File: 1375508359807.jpg-(57 KB, 670x510, SL.jpg)
57 KB
57 KB JPG
>>26402020
"Hmmm... skin...
I was planning to make a book out of human skin, but I guess it could be made out of lamia skin too.

You got yourself a deal."
>>
"Whoops, didn't mean to kill some nobles and send them into turmoil. I guess I'll just try to think of it as a happy accident." You say.

"Happy accident could be the story of your life." Peri says. "That sounded more clever in my head."

"Well, anyway, Aya's fine, Army's in dissaray, History being compiled, everything seems to be going along smoothly. Again, weird. Anyhow, do we have much stalk of mind protection potions? We should really get on the merfolk about that." You say.

"Alright." Mari says. "I'll go see if I can get my hands on the other alchemical crap I'll need. Nothing too difficult to get, the merfolk secretion is the only stuff we need for sure."

"What exact kind of secretion are we talking about?" Lea asks.

"It's an oily residue that they make like sweat. Find one with hair, and they'll have the gunk we need on it." She nods.

"Mmph." Ambrose finishes a mouthful. "I know the substance you're talking about, and the potion. I'll help."

"Excellent." Lea says. "We'll have to find one of the Mer that are here."

"Dana's here." Ambrose says. "She's in the river helping us with supplies and sub-aquatic spying. She's also working with the spell-shooters. She help design those very nice hats of theirs."

"Great." Lea says. "Let's go visit them, and make sure that Sophie hasn't forced Mage to marry her at enchanted gunpoint."
>>
What is it with Mage's fear of commitment? Is it his sister?
>>
>>26402206
Are we going to have to invent Freudian (Ssenian) psychology? "Why don't you tell me about your relationship with your sister?"

On the plus side, we don't need a couch -- we can recline on ourselves (or let the other person recline on us, however it's supposed to go).
>>
>>26402152
"You know, the circlet is such an unfortunate design. Sure it's all official, but I can't play with hats. Let's go get mage a divorce then, maybe get some... goo. That's going to be awkward to ask for."
>>
>>26402152
"Dana, I need your scalp scum for science. I have a comb, a trowel, and a small bucket. Are you ready to be a hero?"
>>
File: 1375508913586.jpg-(26 KB, 500x375, What are you gonna do.jpg)
26 KB
26 KB JPG
>>26401628
>"What are they gonna do? Go to war against us more?"
You might be surprised.
>>
>>26402249
>Mage reclining on Ssen
>"I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this..."
>>
>>26402355
>"And why is that? Tell me about your other Sister, Ssen. How does she make you feel?"
>>
>>26402265
this is the best possible way to sell our pitch.
>>
>>26402402
Or to sell her pitch, rather.
>>
>>26402152
"Do the phoenix have a lot of boats to spy on sub-acquatically?"
>>
>>26402474
And why are we not blowing their boats up?
>>
>>26402547
Who says we aren't? Echo hasn't described every facet of the front in detail.
>>
>>26402576
Fair point.
>>
"You know, the circlet is such an unfortunate design. Sure it's all official, but I can't play with hats. Let's go get Mage a divorce then, maybe get some... goo. That's going to be awkward to ask for." You say.

"We've asked for worse." Mari says. "Tell Mage I want to be the one catching the bouquet." She leaves with Ambrose.

"Do the Phoenix have a lot of boats to spy on sub-acquatically?" You ask as you and Lea head off.

"Maybe, or maybe they're just spying. I don't know of dishwashers or laundry maids who don't gossip." Lea says. "Or maybe it's something else entirely and the mer are just calling themselves that because they're mer and they're odd and like to do things like that." She shrugs. "So, how long should we make Mage worry about the idea that we're here because Sophie wants us to marry him?"
>>
>>26402773
"I don't plan at any point to deny the notion unless specifically asked. Let mage think what he wants."
>>
Let's just go ask for the precious bodily fluids.

We need to test it, control group and all. It might not even work with Citadel or the PE soulrape, but it's the best defense we have.
>>
"I don't plan at any point to deny the notion unless specifically asked. Let Mage think what he wants." You ask.

You have to pass through a civilian camp to get to the spell shooters. There's merchants, whores, people who will sew your shirts, mend your shoes, and all sorts of other small things for a gold coin or two.

"It's amazing at how much civilization is found in war." Lea says. "I think there's a story at how two armies were at war for each other for so long that their civilian camps turned to cities themselves." She shakes her head. "Sex and commerce. How humans will rule the world." She shrugs. "There are worse ways to conquer."

You make your way through a group of people who are aggressively hawking blankets, tin products, and baked goods. It's a pretty crowded scene, soldiers, civilians, merchants, and other. Many different species here, orcs as well. They seem to be enjoying the 'shove to the front of the line' idea that's become the rule of law. A few officers are keeping things from getting too out of control. Still it's a general crush of people, and slow going.

Roll 1d20
>>
Rolled 3

>>26403091
>>
Lot more conversation than dialogue prompts tonight. Oh well, it happens.

>>26402773
"We'll see how it goes. Mage might actually go along with sophie's advances. Stranger things have happened."
>>
Rolled 14

>>26403091
darn pushy orcs. Always making things more difficult.
>>
Rolled 1

>>26403091
>>
Rolled 15

>>26403091
>>
>>26403091
"Lea, knowing what I think I know about you and certain skills involving woven hemp, I'm torn as to whether or not I want to be hearing you speak of sexual conquering."
>>
File: 1375511174833.png-(380 KB, 826x626, 1366647436267.png)
380 KB
380 KB PNG
>>26403160
GO SUCK A DICK
>>
>>26403160
Oh god orcs, what did you do
>>
>>26403160
I suggest a reroll, as this is a PEACE CONFERENCE with ORCS and ELVES in attendance.
>>
>>26403186
I don't think we have any rerolls!
Also this is gonna be great. Terrible. Great and terrible.
>>
>>26403111
"Lea, knowing what I think I know about you and certain skills involving woven hemp, I'm torn as to whether or not I want to be hearing you speak of sexual conquering." You say.

Lea chuckles. "Hey don't knock it until you try it. I know a few things you and Tricia could try next time you two want to bab..." She pauses and leans against you.

The two of you step out from the crown. Lea looks down at the spreading red stain on the side of her chest.

"Ssen...I think I've been stabbed." She says before she slumps into your arms.
>>
>>26403275
"oh what bloody terrible luck! TRICIA!"
Try to hold the wound while we look around the crowd for whomever is looking particularly stabby.
>>
>>26403234
I blame you for this.

>>26403275
Well, bugger. Oh well. Back inside, get everyone behind cover, apply healing potions if in possession, otherwise apply pressure. No punctured lung as she had enough breath to speak. Certainty of shock, potential of severed arteries. Determine color of blood. If it's dark, it's an arterial injury and the only way to save her would be to put her into some form of stasis.
>>
File: 1375511710615.gif-(2.45 MB, 208x131, 1371763286368.gif)
2.45 MB
2.45 MB GIF
>>26403275
>"Is it anywhere vital? We don't want to cause a major scene, so let's keep this quiet and get you to a doctor."

Then put pressure on the wound.
>>
>>26403275
Call for tricia, call for guards, call for doctors. In roughly that order, since tricia is the closest to a paramedic we have.
>>
Fuck, Lea, you really come into far too much hazard in this line of work. Who stabbed you anyway.
>>
>>26403275
pressure on the wound, and call for a medic, or Tricia if she is with us/nearby.

and call the guards, this could be an assassination attempt by Kingfisher.
>>
>>26403275
Healing potion quick. If we have none on hand, we give her a bit of the black to slow her heart rate so she doesn't bleed the fuck out and rush her to our tent where we keep our stock of potions. Get Mari, she knows her shit. Mage's flesh-shaping magic can help greatly if need be.
>>
Rolled 3

"Oh what bloody terrible luck! TRICIA!" You cry out. "GUARDS! MEDIC!" You put a firm hand over the wound. You check to see how bad the wound looks.
>>
>>26403426
More like it is an assassination attempt by the Kingfisher. Lea is our moral compass. She dies, we lose direction.
>>
>>26403275
My vote would be apply pressure and snaketrain through the crowd back to where Tricia might be. That's really her best chance.

And from now on, we don't separate. We check corners. We avoid crowds. Don't murder everyone we meet, but have a plan to anyway.
>>
>>26403454
damnit kingfisher how did you know it was my secret plan to retire when Lea died
>>26403453
"Just hold on Lea, we've been hurt plenty, you'll get over this one just like all the others."
Then grimace because the wound is terrible. or not if we rolled well.
>>
>>26403503
Well, he wants to make us fall.
>>
>>26403453
Okay, it's not as bad as it looks. No organs, but it must have grazed something vital. She's not going to die instantly, but she needs attention swiftly. However, putting her on the ground, with pressure on the wound and using her own bandages to cover the wound is actually helpful, and you hear the sounds of people running towards you.

You scan the crowd, trying to see if there's any clue of who's the dead man who did this. If it was an orc doing a 'friendly' stab...

Roll 1d20
>>
>>26403503
It's kind of middle-ish. Not great, but not mortal.
>>
>>26403503
Hell no. That's action movie dialogue. You pull out that kind of action movie dialogue they immediately die.
>>
Rolled 9

>>26403534
Tell everyone to stay the fuck back.
>>
File: 1375512440051.png-(142 KB, 727x418, asshole.png)
142 KB
142 KB PNG
>>26403275
>Kingfisher
>>
Rolled 17

>>26403534
>"Friendly" orc stabs
My god, Ssen's peacekeeping job must be super difficult.
>>
Rolled 13

>>26403534
>>
>>26403534
Man give it a century and our overcrowded prisons full of orcs are going to be fucking nightmares to police.
>>
>>26403592
Or the orcs will wise up. They're objectivists. They'll learn that the law benefits them.
>>
>>26403630
I hope so.
>>
>>26403592
We should really nip this problem in the bud
>>26403630
using proper education and cultural bleedout. I guess.
>>
>>26403560
>My god, Ssen's peacekeeping job must be super difficult.
It is, this actually is JUST what an orc 'friendly' stab would be. This wouldn't be anything to them. But the orcs quickly learned that this kind of thing is NOT allowed with other species, even though, and you've knocked a few heads together to reinforce that point. They've been good, shoving and pushy, but stabbing non-orcs is bad because it weakens the army. Better to stab bird people.

Orcs get cheered and get thank yous, in the form of food and supplies, when they stab a LOT of Bird People and DON'T stab others. They made the connection very swiftly. They don't see it as gifts really, it's more of 'tribute' now, but it's less of 'Give ME tribute' but more of 'I EARNED more tribute today than THAT orc, and if tomorrow's tribute requires that I stab MORE bird people than what got me tribute today...then so be it! I'll go stab more bird people and stab fewer others! Also I don't want the Snake Lady to yell at me or hit me because she's scary when she's mad.'
>>
>>26403675
>>26403630
You know what? One problem at a time, rest-of-Ssen's-brain.
>>
>>26403688
See? They'll be ruthless stock traders within two generations.
>>
>>26403700
Aw, but we can talk about so many problems while getting nothing done! Fine fine. We're still looking for that damn stabber.
>>26403688
Well I'm glad that at least the orcs aren't stabbing our guys too often. that does imply they're stabbing each other. Damnit orcs.
>>
>>26403688
Well note to ourself: After we stabilize Lea, we make it clear to our band of orcs that stabbing any ally, orc or non-orc is an executable offense. An we make sure they understand that it's because the war has just intensified after last night's raid and we can't fucking afford to waste resources dealing with unnecessary injuries. They'll sympathize with that notion.
>>
>>26403800
No evidence it was an orc. >>26403560 will probably show us who it was.
>>
>>26403800
The orc may have been paid to stab Lea.
>>
>>26403560
You look around, concerned faces, a bunch of orcs that are confused as to what the big deal is, a few people trying to book it who keep looking back to make sure that it's not them being yelled about, and...there!

A blonde woman is Not-Looking at anyone and trying to casually and calmly walk away. However, you notice a few things. One is that she's wearing way too nice and clean clothes, that are a couple of years out of date style-wise. She's got this weird tan line that covers half of her face, and she's got the smell of Lea's blood on her.

Not to mention that she narrows her eyes at you when you make eye contact with her and starts to run.
>>
>>26403868
"Extra rations for the orc that catches the blond!"
>>
>>26403868
We can't leave Lea until medical help arrives.
Heck, we can't even take one of our hands off of her wound for pressure.

Do we have anything to throw?
>>
>>26403868
Do we have Twang? If so, yell for everyone to get the fuck out of the way and arrow the runner right in her ass. If not, stay with Lea.

Making sure she gets proper attention is more important than retribution.
>>
>>26403901
you're a GENIUS. Be sure to point at the blonde.
>>
>>26403901
I like it. Extra orc booze, I'd offer. A whole cask of it.
>>
>>26403901
Yes, but specify, "That running blonde in [the color she's wearing]!" we want to facilitate capture and minimize innocent blonde ladies getting orc-handled.
>>
>>26404003
Agreed. But we should shout it at the top of our lungs too.
>>
>>26404011
But of course. I'm thinking we turn the volume up to Eulalia and get the whole army in on this shit.
>>
>>26404011
>>26404031
I like how we're canonically able to yell really loud.
But is it because we're a paladin or because we're part dragon?
>>
>>26404081
A little of column A, a little of column B.
>>
>>26404081
Both bonuses stack.
>>
>>26404003
>>26403901
Don't forget "And I want her ALIVE!"
>>
>>26404148
"Bruise at your own discretion!"
>>
>>26404148
"The orc who catches the blond in the [clothing and color] alive gets TRIPLE rations. Kill or hurt her and you get HALF rations tomorrow."
>>
>>26404204
Might be too long, though.
>>
>>26404204
that's just too complicated. Also we shouldn't penalize for killing, just incentivize for capture alive.
>>
we could always just shoot her. try for a leg so it lames her but doesn't kill.
>>
>>26404226
Right. So shorten it to "The orc who catches the blond in the [clothing and color] ALIVE gets TRIPLE rations."

We could even say "alive" in orcish just so they understand all the better.
>>
>>26404204
If they can't hurt her, it's gonna be a greased-up deaf guy chase. Face it, she's not gonna get caught by an orc without getting savagely sucker-punched, tackled or having something twisted out of its socket. It's how orcs do. It's the dance of their people.
>>
>>26404227
I would be for that, but we should really apply pressure to lea.

I knew we should have got our own pistol. One handing is so useful!
>>
>>26404252

As long as she's alive, it doesn't matter.
>>
>>26404227
Shooting arrows in a crowded market is ridiculous, trying to aim for her legs as the "nonlethal" option is even sillier.
>>
>>26404273
Thats just a plain silly reason not to shoot. We're a trained archer. Been using a bow all our lives.

>>26404253
This is a better reason not to shoot.
>>
>>26404311
That justifies nothing. You do not fire in crowds ever. Someone is either going to die or be seriously maimed and it probably won't even be who you're aiming for.
>>
"Extra rations for the orc that catches the blond!" You shout and point directly at her.

"Alive." You hear Lea groan.

You roll your eyes. Fine. "ALIVE!" You shout.

The only real shame about the next moment, is that when the girl saw the mob of grey skinned orc charging at her from all sides, squat and muscled, their tusked teeth gleaming in their open mouths that were roaring...was that her back was to you and you didn't get to see her face right before she was tackled and then buried under a dogpile of orcs.

A few medics have arrived. One of them a magic user, and they're seeing to Lea.

You head over to the orcs, who have decided that the six of them who were touching the girl when the crowd hit her, will all share the honor of being the one who 'caught' her.

The six orcs are guarding her, looking very proud. Two of them holding her arms, and a third pinning her legs as she's forced to her knees.

She glares at you as you approach.

(cont)
>>
>>26404397
"Fucking mongoloid races." She mutters and sneers at you. "You have no concept of how to fight honorably. No wonder you all stink of mud and your own feces!"

She looks really really familiar to you. The voice too. You think you've seen her before but it's more than that...your eyes widen when you put it together, the same semi-broken nose and jawline, the blonde hair, and that arrogant look in her eyes.

"Princess Karen Newgate?" You ask.

"That is NOT my name any more!" She snaps. {I am Shiroshotu! And YOU are a FUCKING DEMON!} She closes her eyes and blinks away tears of anger/defeat/and fear. "He told me not to do this, but Master doesn't understand! Something like you CAN'T just be planned away...you're evil...you're one of the heads of this army of evil and you need to be stopped!" She sobs. "I tried. I can go to the Great Phoenix knowing that I tried, and I can be finally reborn as a proper being of grace and beauty...so go ahead 'Paladin Serpent,' I'm a spy and a murderer, and if you let me go I swear to the Great Phoenix that I will try again and next time I'll slit the next of that dyke abomination you fuck!" She's almost hysterical. "My only regret is that I didn't twist the blade when I stabbed that hideous zealot!" She grins at you and bears her neck.

Oh...oh fuck...that wasn't the trap. This is. People are watching...foolish mercy or savage death...either way, people will say things about the Paladin Serpent.
>>
>>26404397
Please be Sideways... Please be Sideways...
>>
>>26404425
"Time to say high to your brother."
Drag her ass off.
>>
>>26404425

Lock her up under heavy guard. I'll let family deal with family, traitor or no.
>>
>>26404425
Smile. Its a pretty shitty death.

"I think your brother will be overjoyed to see you, Princess. Shall we go talk to him?"
>>
>>26404425
There is only one answer.

Headbutt.

And then say, "Nice try, but we have court system in UFK, and until you're properly tried, you can rot in a cell."
>>
File: 1375515145000.jpg-(45 KB, 300x400, post-110408-0-56491300-13(...).jpg)
45 KB
45 KB JPG
>>26404425
"I take it that you are not contesting Isen's throne? Very well, off to Uncle you go."
>>
>>26404425
"Words are wind. I waste nothing. Let's have her in irons. Someone summon Julian if you please!"
>>
>>26404491
>headbutt

Clearly the best option.
>>
>>26404491
This with >>26404490

>Headbutt
>"Nice try, but we have court system in UFK, and until you're properly tried, you can rot in a cell. And I think your brother will be overjoyed to see you again. I'll see what I can do to arrange a visit to your cell."
>>
>>26404425
"PRINCESS. KAREN. NEWGATE."

"You are hereby under arrest for crimes against your own people and attempted murder of an Occulus agent. When the war is won you will stand trial. Until then, you will remain in custody."

"And remember, you draw breath not just because that's what Lea would expect, but because I ALLOW IT."
>>
>>26404425
"Actually, Lea's going to be fine, it was a good try though. And now we have a wonderful bargaining chip! The death threats are unsettling though, let's get you under heavy guard and see about your brother having a chat with you. He'll be very dissapointed."
>>
>>26404531
After we say what we're going to say, I propose we bite her neck and give her the black. A swift and intimidating way of subduing her.
>>
>>26404425
You know, you remind me of a Paladin I met once a long time ago, when I was first given the Mantle. I could't help or save her, she wouldn't let me. What happened to her was... terrible. No one, not even her, deserved that. And you know what? I still think I can save her. Hopefully I won't fail again.

Take her way. I see to it that her captors are rewarded properly. She will be tried by the law. May the Light have mercy on you, and I sincerely wish you have a happy future.

Meanwhile I shall form an appropriate response for your masters offer of ransom.
>>
File: 1375515597509.jpg-(34 KB, 500x500, 1333903064453.jpg)
34 KB
34 KB JPG
>>26404491
Now that's just great.
>>
>>26404634

Damn. Paladin/10 line here.
>>
>>26404425
>Fucking mongoloid races
?????
Is Ssen considered mongoloid or is that the orcs?
>>
>>26404695
I think she meant it as a blanket insult.
>>
>>26404695
"Mongoloid" = "non phoenician."
>>
>>26404425
She's such a fucking WEEABOO. Gods, someone mock her taste in poorly drawn comicbooks while eating steak in front of her.
>>
File: 1375515775788.gif-(208 KB, 250x219, 1359266377719.gif)
208 KB
208 KB GIF
>>26404634
While its amazingly tempting to go with a headbutt, this is by far the most Paladin answer.

This.
>>
File: 1375515870297.gif-(85 KB, 320x240, citizen-kane-bravo-clap-a(...).gif)
85 KB
85 KB GIF
>>26404634
This
>>
File: 1375515895313.jpg-(79 KB, 704x396, 1345685547322.jpg)
79 KB
79 KB JPG
>>26404728
I'll have you know that it takes over 10000 hours for a single frame of Japanese anime to be drawn with carefully folded pencils of the purest lead.
>>
>>26404564
Slight modification.
"PRINCESS. KAREN. NEWGATE."
"You are hereby under arrest for the crimes treason, espionage and attempted murder of an Occuli. Fortunately our King and your brother is a fair man. After you've been questioned and the war is won and over you will stand trial.
Until such time..."

*HEADBUTT*

"The rest of us shouldn't have to listen to your seditious comments."
>>
>>26404634
This.
>>
>>26404491
You smile at her and lean in close. The crowd hushes and she closes her eyes. Which again is a damn shame because you don't get to see the look in her eyes when you headbutt her. Hard.

Ow. Still, worth it from the sounds of approval from the crowd.

"Ughhh..." She groans.

"Nice try, but we have court system in UFK, and until you're properly tried, you can rot in a cell." You say. "Let's have her in irons. Someone summon Paladin Graves, if you please!"

"What?" She asks, looking around.

"I think your brother will be overjoyed to see you again. I'll see what I can do to arrange a visit to your cell." You say.

"No...no. This isn't allowed! I'm a murderer! I hate you fucking monsters! You're all pig faced sav-"

"PRINCESS. KAREN. NEWGATE." You shout over her as she struggles. "You are hereby under arrest for crimes against your own people and attempted murder of an Occulus agent. When the war is won you will stand trial. Until then, you will remain in custody."

"No!" She snaps. "You can't do this! Death or mercy are your only options! You're a PALADIN! That's what that MEANS!"

"You know, you remind me of a Paladin I met once a long time ago, when I was first given the Mantle. I could't help or save her, she wouldn't let me. What happened to her was... terrible. No one, not even her, deserved that. And you know what? I still think I can save her. Hopefully I won't fail again.

"Take her way. See to it that her captors are rewarded properly. May His Light have mercy on you and I sincerely wish you have a happy future.

"Meanwhile I shall form an appropriate response for your masters offer of ransom."

Shiroshotu screams and swears at you which turns into incoherent blubbering and she's led away.

The civilian camp empties out quickly. The drama is over and there's going to be Occuli about so it's best to duck down until this blows over.

You go back to Lea. She smiles at you, and nods. "Personally...I would have broken her nose." She says softly.
>>
>>26404803
"Aaah, I think what I just did hurt her more than a broken nose ever will."
>>
>>26404803
>You can't do this! Death or mercy are your only options!
Bitch don't you know? Paladin Patrick is all about dat third option.
>>
>>26404803
"I think it already was."

"You're gonna live, right? You can get a crack at her later if you want."
>>
File: 1375516152234.jpg-(78 KB, 689x602, 1333378765933.jpg)
78 KB
78 KB JPG
>>26404803
>Death or mercy are your only options!
>>
>>26404803
"To be fair, Lea, I think a little part of me tried. You've just got a much nastier headbutt than I."
>>
>>26404803
"I'm not actually very good at headbutting people.
Isen's gonna flip when she finally makes her way back to stone hall."
>>
>>26404803
She really didn't think this through, did she.
>>
>>26404908
>"My sister is back? Oh, finally. Wait, my sister has gone full weeaboo? She's ineligible for the throne? Goddamnit."

>>26404951
No. And has clearly heard vastly inaccurate stories of our behavior.
>>
>>26404803
My my. Should we switch places, and have me lecture you on His Will?

I'll wait till the wound closes before I wag my finger. And honestly I'm beginning to think you get more out of the self-flagellation than religious euphoria.
>>
"Aaah, I think what I just did hurt her more than a broken nose ever will." You say. "To be fair, Lea, I think a little part of me tried. You've just got a much nastier headbutt than I."

"You're gonna live, right? You can get a crack at her later if you want." You say.

She nods. "Healers say that I'm lucky, I only have two nicked arteries. I'll be back on my feet soon enough. Although," She chuckles. "It's going to leave an ugly scar."

You smile at your friend. "Isen's gonna flip when she finally makes her way back to stone hall."

"His big sister in chains and at his mercy?" She laughs softly. "Ssen, he may just kiss you again."
>>
>>26405007
'And just wait till she meets Tara.'
>>
>>26404951
>He told me not to do this, but Master doesn't understand!

While she's kinda right, Kingfisher still isn't going to be pleased with her. When we talk to him we need to tell him that the deaths in the rescue were ENTIRELY unplanned because we can't plan for shit, and that we do not hold him responsible for her actions.

Hell, we'll even make the ransom easy. Some shiny rocks, a ball of twine, and a 10 foot square of canvas.
>>
>>26405060
We're not giving her back.
>>
>>26405060
Our reply to his ransom demand will be sent back in the form of a crushed egg.
>>
>>26405060
Six barrels of rice wine and the Kingfisher's favorite fiction book. Not his copy, of course.

>secret messages

>>26405071
Why not? She's probably going to be punished if she goes back to Kingfisher. And she's technically a POW. They can be traded.

>>26405083
Whoa. No need to burn bridges.
>>
>>26405071
This.

Unless he fills out the paperwork for criminal extradition and has them pass she's going to be trialed in her homeland.
>>
>>26405007
"You'd think he would have learned after last time. We should get you a bed. And some guards. None of this stretcher nonsense."
>>
>>26405088
>"You are hereby under arrest for crimes against your own people and attempted murder of an Occulus agent. When the war is won you will stand trial. Until then, you will remain in custody."

No matter how much you want to be buddies, the Kingfisher is the bad guy.
>>
I'm going to call it a night for now.

Next thread will be Sunday, August 4th, 4-6pm PST

May His Light watch over you all.
>>
>>26405275
Night.
>>
>>26405275
Night, Echo. Thanks for running.
>>
>>26405179
yeah, Mab is the sneaky conniving sort we can work with. Kingfisher has too grand of plans and to extreme of positions.
>>
>>26405275
Good enough point to end on. Crazy spy lady, why stab our precious zealot?

Without our zealot, how would we know any of the religions!
>>
>>26405324
In the correct circumstances, he may side with us. Siding with us would be understanding that Destiny is manipulating the crap out of him, and seeing the effects of said manipulation first-hand. That said, racism.
>>
>>26405179
>>26405324
I figure once the war is over and he no longer has a pretense to murder us over, he'll be a lot less dickish. We just have to force the war to be over against his will.

Also possibly annex that southern colony and declare it a free colony, claiming that the UFK liberated it to operate free of the phoenix empire. That would throw the kingfisher for the biggest loop.
>>
>>26405324
The benefit of Mab is that she knows we're not stupid, don't want to take her power, and are sane to the extent that any Lamia is.

We wont betray her, as long as she wont betray us, which most-likely means we wont betray her.
>>
>>26405404
well actually we are sort of planning actively to semi-betray her by releasing the citadel army.
>>
>>26405387
Yes. Let's trust the man whose entire life revolves around cloak and dagger and backstabbery on the principle that "Well, maybe he won't try to kill us in the future."
>>
>>26405473
We won't have to keep watch on him long. A decade or two. He's pretty old, after all.
>>
>>26405490
That's what he WANTS us to think. He's actually two midgets in a bathrobe wearing an Old mask.
>>
>>26405387
Kingfisher isn't going to change unless he's forced to.
>>
>>26405490
I'd like you to take a moment to truly appreciate how long a decade is. Now I want you to think about how many things he can royally cock-up for us in the mean time, and that's assuming he doesn't have some bullshit life extending magic up his sleeve, which he does.
>>
>>26405512
I have no way to disprove or discredit this notion, which distresses me more than it should.
>>26405533
I figure we change the situation, he'll no longer be able to try to kill us without his plans collapsing. Either that or we set up a government around his ears completely indipendant of his plans, rendering them moot.
>>
>>26405576
You put up a new government, he starts over. The only way to stop a spymaster for good is a knife and incineration.
>>
>>26405576
>>26405512
>The Kingfisher isn't one man
>Its a title passed down from master to student in such a way that people think that there is only one Kingfisher
>>
>>26405576
The only way he'll realistically change if he sees that his current method of action makes him little better then that which he fights, that he's been institutionalized to this.

That said, he has his own choices to make. We just have to have a persuasive argument, and show him that while we're different, he's got bigger enemies to fight then us.
>>
>>26405668
goddamnit if this becomes one of those batman re-occuring villain schticks

I mean, we're not even doing the no-kill thing batman does, we might kill kingfisher. Lousy cell based spy orders.
>>
>>26405653
>>26405710
Maybe we'll lock him up then. In one of those nice cells for diplomatic prisoners. Do we have those?
>>
Kingfisher aside, we've got a new person of royalty to deal with.
We don't have the best success rate of criminals redeemed.
>>
>>26405783
Lock up a spymaster, he pays off the guards to send messages for him or just does that telepathy thing. His plans go unchanged while everyone is baffled at how he's doing it from inside a high security prison. Come on, man, this is Villainy 101.
>>
>>26406025
well, I'm still reticent to just kill him because he seems so darn reasonable when he's not being a racist backstabbing dick.
>>
>>26406081
That's how they get you. Try and deliberately subvert the whole SKULL FORTRESS ON MOUNT DOOM thing by being charming and reasonable whenever he's dealing with someone, with just a hint of ulterior motive - which is in fact a disguise for his actual motives. All he is is a salesman, and you don't want what he's selling.
>>
>>26406081
I still think we can reason him out of his racism. After all, if he thinks that dwarves and elves are technically human, what does he call our upper body?
>>
>>26406140
well, it's PRETTY human sure, but we also have all manner of claws and shedding and weird eyes.

Also ow, our claws, I entirely forgot but they're broken and still regrowing.
>>
File: 1375522239810.png-(369 KB, 1389x871, 1375349180946.png)
369 KB
369 KB PNG
>>26406140
To play the devil's advocate:
A lure?
>>26406132
Well, I'm going to make my own version of the thing he is selling because it's a fair idea. In this case being a non-empire phoenix settlement.


[Advertise on 4chan]

Delete Post [File Only] Password
Style
[a / b / c / d / e / f / g / gif / h / hr / k / m / o / p / r / s / t / u / v / vg / vr / w / wg] [i / ic] [r9k] [s4s] [cm / hm / lgbt / y] [3 / adv / an / asp / cgl / ck / co / diy / fa / fit / gd / hc / int / jp / lit / mlp / mu / n / out / po / pol / sci / soc / sp / tg / toy / trv / tv / vp / wsg / x] [rs] [status / q / @] [Settings] [Home]
[Disable Mobile View / Use Desktop Site]

[Enable Mobile View / Use Mobile Site]

- futaba + yotsuba -
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective parties. Images uploaded are the responsibility of the Poster. Comments are owned by the Poster.