>>29711832
>Accept Emily’s invitation, and hang out with her and her friends. Melissa will probably be the only person other than Emily that you know.
But, like, clean up first, yeah?

>>29711832
>Eat alone
>research Arcadia class abilities on the internet

let's figure out what we want to take when we level up next

>>29711832
Make ourselves pretty. There might be guys th-

Pfffft. Can't say it with a straight face.

But, yeah, shower and throw on Speed Stick at least before we go join Emily.

>>29711832
>>Eat alone and mess about on the internet.

>>29712117
>>29711986
May as well go out; it's not like you get invitations like this often, and if it sucks you can just pretend you're observing inferior life forms on another planet - at least, that's what you did high school.

When you walk into the bathroom, your reflection reminds you that your face is still burnt. How much effort is this really worth?

>Effort! Dig out your makeup bag and get yourself back to a normal colour. Maybe improve on your normal colour. Find an outfit that makes the best of what you have. Oh wait, that doesn't exist; find the closest approximation in your wardrobe and wear that.
>Fuck it, you'll be clean and decent and that should be enough. Who are you trying to impress?
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29712283
>>Fuck it, you'll be clean and decent and that should be enough. Who are you trying to impress?

>>29712283
>Leave face alone, wear something nice.
Let's at least pretend to care about being socially acceptable.

>>29712283
>Fuck it, you'll be clean and decent and that should be enough. Who are you trying to impress?
Who's going to give us shit for getting burnt?

>>29712283
Make it work. Blame freak tanning bed accidents if anyone questions it.

"But the rest of you is pale as a-"

"TANNING ACCIDENT!"

>>29712340
>>29712341
You're not on a date, and hey, your face will give you a topic of conversation. You shower and throw on clean clothes, a little nicer than the jeans and tshirt uniform you wear to class, and smile at your reflection. It smirks back.

You text Emily to make sure that the plans haven't changed, and she replies fairly quickly telling you that everyone's already there.

When you step outside and start walking to the bus stop, you glance down the side of the building, just in case someone's looking up at your window again. No one's there. You can see the glow of a cigarette from the smoking area, but no one else lingers in the cold.

You're only going one stop, and if you weren't on a timetable you could probably walk to the place, but you take the bus. It smells funny. They all do.

The place Emily has directed you to is a student coffee shop. Its outside walls are plastered with posters for bands and parties and second-hand goods for sale, and 'hilarious' fake missing dog jokes. They're all a bit soggy.

When you go inside, you're met with the aroma of coffee and food. A chalkboard near the door explains that Thursday nights are open poetry nights. Men have beards here. There's a collection of fucking garden gnomes on top of the counter, and amateur impressionist art on the walls.

No one in the room is wearing glasses for any reason other than to improve their vision.

You spot Emily's table, one of the largest, and it looks like this was a study group that segued into dinner, as the table is littered with highlighters and binders and people have textbooks piled under their chairs.

1/2

>>29712590
>No one in the room is wearing glasses for any reason other than to improve their vision.
Oh god, luddites.

>>29712627
Brings up a good question: Are our PC-glasses like Google Glass, or like a VR Helmet?

File: 1390441213779.jpg-(161 KB, 1005x704, motoko.jpg)

161 KB JPG

>>29712590
There are eight girls sitting around the table, including Emily and Melissa, and one guy. There's always one guy in these groups. This particular example has curly brown hair and glasses - actual glasses, with no electronics whatsoever.

"Hey, you made it!" Emily does seem slightly surprised that you're here. "This is Ash, my roomie," she introduces you and rattles off a list of names you instantly forget. Melissa gives you a wave. The guy's name is James.

"Just squish in anywhere," Emily says, but she sort of indicates with her hands a space near James.

She's not, is she?

Everyone starts clearing away their study things in preparation to eat.

>Sit near Emily.
>Sit near Melissa.
>Fine, whatever. Sit near James.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29712703
Closer to Google Glass than a full helmet, but much more chunky.

>>29712761
Sit near... no... sit in Emily's lap. See the reaction this elicits.

FUCK WITH THEIR HEADS LIKE THE TRUE GEEK UBERMENSCH YOU ARE!

>>29712761
>Sit near Emily.
We should make an effort to be genuine friends with our roomie. At least try.

>>29712785
We are WAY too awkward for that.

>>29712761
>Sit near Melissa.
Comfort zone status: OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD

>>29712761
>>Play Arcadia.

>>29712761
Sit between Emily and Melissa. Move a chair if need ben.

>>29712785
>>29712818
You squeeze in near Emily and people shift along to make space for you.

"I'm glad you could make it," Emily says. People start perusing the menu, and when a server walks past with some food, you're heartened by the look of it. Even if this place is some sort of hipster hellhole, that smells pretty good.

"James is studying economics," Emily says idly, while she looks at the menu.

"Uh huh." Just look at the menu.

"He likes nerdy stuff."

"That's a pretty broad category. What, does he LARP or something?"

"What's larp?" Emily asks.

"Nevermind."

>"Please don't matchmake. Please? Promise you'll stop."
>"Why do you think I'd like him specifically?"
>Let's pick on her and give her an uncomfortable topic instead; "Heard back from Mike?"
>Tell her about Jess and what she saw.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29713090
pls em no matchmakin

>>29713090
>"Please don't matchmake. Please? Promise you'll stop."

>>29713090
>>Let's pick on her and give her an uncomfortable topic instead; "Heard back from Mike?"

>>29712761
So these glasses. When we aren't using them, do we wear them like a normal pair or are they kept up on our forehead? How conspicuous is it if we were using them for something low intensity like web surfing or solitaire? Do they use some sci-fi neural tap thing that let's us use more than sight and sound in Arcadia?

This stuff could be important in future situations maybe.

>>29713090
>"Please don't matchmake. Please? Promise you'll stop."
Thank her for it though, and not half-heartedly. It's pretty nice what she's doing, but it's not cool with us.

>>29713090
"Emily? Are... are you trying to get rid of me?"

>>29713106
>>29713111
"Please don't matchmake, please? Promise you'll stop."

"I'm not matchmaking," Emily says with a smile. "I'm just showing you a wider variety of guys than your friends who clearly don't do it for you if you haven't hooked up once in a year and a half of college."

"Emily, look, I appreciate the thought, and you know, it's fine to make friends, but this is a bit much, you know? I don't mind if I die alone with cats." You smile, hopefully to let her know you're joking and not really planning to die alone with cats. Cats shed too much anyway, and play with cables.

"Okay, okay. I'm just saying, you don't have to marry him. Or even date him, just say hello, if you want. No pressure." She holds up her hand.
>>29713198

That's not the reassurance you were asking for. You think it's time to remind her that her own taste in men is a little skewed.

"Heard from Mike today?"

She looks a bit surprised by your social deftness. "He texted me. He seems puzzled."

"And?"

"I'm working up the nerve to break it off clearly. Just don't tell anyone yet." After all the spruiking she'd done, you guess it would be a bit hard to announce the end of the fairytale.

The server comes around and takes everyone's orders.

>Tell her about Jess and what she saw.
>Lean around and make a point of saying hello to Melissa.
>Just relax for now, and wait for your food. The conversation isn't dying without your participation.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29713227
You normally wear them up on your forehead when you're not using them. Your desktop is sent to transparent when you're not plugged in to the mains so you can surf the web and sort-of pay attention to the real world as well. Arcadia uses a neural interface but most applications don't, instead relying on eye movement feedback or voice commands.

>>29713433
>Greet Melissa

And I suppose this James jackass too. Whatever.

"Hi."

>>29713433
>Lean around and make a point of saying hello to Melissa.
Ask her how the studying went.

>>29713433
>>Play Arcadia.

Tell Emily to get you when the food comes.

I assume they don't come with ear buds then? Does the media player use a neural interface for audio? Can we then play music without anyone knowing?

>>29713433
>Lean around and make a point of saying hello to Melissa.
Social today! Social!

>>29713482
>>29713476
"Hi," you lean around a girl you don't know and touch Melissa's shoulder to get her attention.

"Hey, seen any more bugs?" she asks.

"I still haven't seen one at all," Emily says, and the conversation flows around the table, as those who are living in the dorms explain the situation to those who haven't.

You shake your head.

"Jess was gone when I went out this afternoon," Melissa says. "She must have woken up eventually."

"She actually messaged me to ask me how much of what happened last night was a dream," you say. Which was true enough, although you're not about to share the details.

Melissa laughs. "Seriously? She was really out of it. It's not good for your health to do that."

"Jess is in one of my classes," someone else speaks up. "She's nuts. She once argued with our tutor about Zelda Fitzgerald for fifteen minutes." There's no doubt in anyone's mind that you're all talking about the same Jess.

"She's always in the smoking area too. I feel sorry for her roomie; her stuff must stink."

>Well, they're picking on someone else at least. Join in the gossip.
>"Hey, that's not cool." Defend Jess 1d100
>You're not comfortable with any of this. Sink back into silence.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

Rolled 64

>>29713726
Defend Jess.

>>29713726
You're not comfortable with this. Silence.

Rolled 29

>>29713726
>"Hey, that's not cool." Defend Jess 1d100
Nightmares aren't fun.

Rolled 74

>>29713726
>>"Hey, that's not cool." Defend Jess 1d100

>>29713783
>>29713812
Okay, this isn't right. You know you're probably going to feel bad either way, but embarrassment is better than guilt. You take a deep breath.

"That's not cool, guys." You could have said that louder; the other end of the table hasn't noticed yet. "Jess isn't a bad person or anything. She found my softball bat when I lost it."

"And!" Melissa leans in and raises her voice. "She made us coffee at three am. It was terrible time to have coffee, and I couldn't sleep for half an hour afterwards, but it was great coffee, I am not kidding."

Yes, teamwork! Melissa's smiling.

"And, you're supposed to argue with your tutors," you declare. "I do it all the time."

Silence. You shrug awkwardly. "Well, I do," you mutter. Maybe you overplayed your hand a little.

"Pfft!"

The table erupts with laughter. The tension breaks, and the conversation re-fragments again. That went okay, really. It wasn't a stirring speech, but there's respect to be gained by self-deprecation, even if you were entirely serious at the time. Emily looks bemused, and Melissa shares an approving glance with you. James is just observing with a faint smile.

The food starts coming out, and you are glad of it because you're starving. This actually feels pretty good, hanging out. It's not as easy as hanging out with the guys, but it's okay. You wouldn't want to do it every night though. It's tiring.

It's easy not to talk when you're eating, and you're glad to have a break.

>Bolt your food and go, this has been fun but you've really had your fill.
>You're not expected back in game for a while yet, relax and watch the conversation.
>Glasses down, bit of multitasking while you eat; you're good at that.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29714177
>>Glasses down, bit of multitasking while you eat; you're good at that.

Rolled 92

>>29714177
Multitask. Look up class tutorials.

>>29714177
relax
convo watch

>>29714177
>You're not expected back in game for a while yet, relax and watch the conversation.

>>29714225
>>29714243
>>29714299
The food is really good, if slightly ridiculously presented. You want your gravy on your meat, not drizzled over the plate where it will just get colder fast. It's also slightly more expensive than you're entirely comfortable with, but you can afford it for one night.

You slide your glasses down and look at everyone through them. Emily rolls her eyes a bit at you.

"I'm listening," you mutter. But the conversation has turned to movies you haven't seen, and you have little to contribute.

You do a quick search for Arcadia. As usual the top result is the official site, and there's a scattering of forums, but they never seem to be up. The official site doesn't even have official forums, which is pretty strange, even though most official forums are full of such absolute shit maybe it was a good call.

You try /v/.

There's a thread.

Along with the standard confirmed for viral/shitty korean grindfest/ded thread ded game rubbish, there are a couple of interesting points.

The waifu crowd is deeply unhappy because no one's managed to take any screenshots. There are official screenshots posted on the site, but there appears to be no way to actually take them in game, and people are going round in circles trying to work out how to turn them on.

And then there are the people who haven't managed to get a class at all. Are there two versions of the game? Why do some people get a class selection screen while others go direct to character cosmetics? Did you pirate it? What is the fourth class? There aren't any classes.

And on and on.

>Contribute. Yeah, there are classes. And you know what the forth one is. You don't expect to be believed, but whatever.
>Interesting but not useful. Slide your glasses up and try and rejoin the conversation.
>Well, dinner was nice. Time to go home.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29714629
>>Contribute. Yeah, there are classes. And you know what the forth one is. You don't expect to be believed, but whatever.

Brag on /v/. Get called a shitposter. Fun times.

>>29714629
>Interesting but not useful. Slide your glasses up and try and rejoin the conversation.

Rolled 12

>>29714629
Eh, /v/ as usual. Rejoin the convo, but keep track of the time.

>>29714629
>Contribute. Yeah, there are classes. And you know what the forth one is. You don't expect to be believed, but whatever.
Sometimes someone says something worthwhile on /v/. Who knows?

>>29714629
>>Contribute. Yeah, there are classes. And you know what the forth one is. You don't expect to be believed, but whatever.

i think the /v/ clan is probably all meat

>>29714824
>>29714684
You only wish screenshots were available. A shot of your mirror with all four abilities listed would probably make for an amusing thread, or at least, as amusing as /v/ got when it was on topic.

You don't have any screenshots. When you're in game, there's no screen, and yes, neural interface games usually have a way of recording the visual outputs, but the thought honestly hadn't occurred to you.

>The fourth class is called Ascended Soul.

You drop a bit of information, but not much, about how you acquired it; just enough to make it clear you know how to handle code.

Mostly, you are not believed, and are asked, again uselessly, for screenshots. People also want details.

You watch the table, making a point to join in laughing at someone's joke so you don't look entirely cut off, as you keep half an eye on the responses to your post.

>You're lucky you're still alive. You play a lot.

Wha? Still alive in game? Well, yeah, you already know you'd be a target if the word got out about your class in-game. You're not going to spread it around.

The thread 404's abruptly.

You check the time. No need to rush; you've got another hour.

>Start a new thread.
>Dive back in to the conversation at the table. What are we talking about again?
>Tell Emily about Jess and what she saw, before you forget.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29715056
>Tell Emily about Jess and what she saw, before you forget.

Rolled 5

>>29715056
Instant 404? Weird...

>>29715171
Janitors conformed for Quest of Arcadia shills

>>29715056
>>Tell Emily about Jess and what she saw, before you forget.

>>29715056
>Tell Emily about Jess and what she saw, before you forget.

>>29715260
>>29715242
>>29715099
You lift up your glasses and lean over to get Emily's attention. At your lowered voice she lowers her own.

"You know what happened yesterday evening, outside? Jess saw it all. She was in the smoking area."

"So, what did she see?"

"That there was someone there, and that we went up to them, and then we started yelling and ran away. And she said she could feel warm air, even from the smoking area. We didn't just hallucinate it or something."

"But she didn't see who it was?"

You shake your head. "I asked her not to spread it around."

"Yeah. She's not exactly the kind of witness we could rely on. She didn't just make it up?" Emily asks.

"I didn't tell her anything; there was no way she could have known."

"Who the fuck was that then? Did he have a black flamethrower full of anti-light or something? A portable oven? What?"

"My knowledge of thermodynamics isn't really helping me out on that front," you admit.

"The more I think about it, the more dangerous it seems," Emily said. "The sunburnt look was kind of funny, but we could have been really hurt. Next time we should report it, no question and you know, be careful around campus at night. He was standing under our window and maybe it was coincidence, or he got the wrong one, but-" she shrugs.

>"Good idea. Report and avoid."
>"I'm sure it won't happen again."
>"Call me if you're ever in trouble. We need to stick together. I'll even bring my bat."
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29715567
>good idea, report and avoid

>>29715567
>"Good idea. Report and avoid."
And don't walk around alone when it's dark.

>>29715567
>"Good idea. Report and avoid."

> Jizz on her face

If five it's successful

>>29715692
>>29715704
>>29715713
"Good idea, report and avoid."

"And if anyone else sees this thing, we have to warn them too."

"I'll keep an eye out for suspicious sunburn." Although you notice Emily has hidden hers behind concealer. If you didn't know already, you'd never have guessed.

The group breaks up a little now the meal is over, people swopping chairs to talk to people. A few order dessert.

"Hey, thanks for inviting me," you tell Emily. You might not get a chance until later, and knowing you, you'd probably forget. "It was fun, and the food was good."

"Mike introduced me to this place," Emily said. "But I'm not letting that ruin it for me. My friends are here, and that's what matters. And I'm glad you had fun. I guess you're going to run off now?"

>Yeah, time to go.
>Spend some time with Melissa.
>Go and talk to James.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29715567
>>"I'm sure it won't happen again."

>>29715927
>>Yeah, time to go.

Rolled 12

>>29715927
> jizz on her face

Rolling for 5s

>>29715927
>yeah, time to go

>>29715967
lol what?

>>29715927
>Yeah, time to go.
Who was the one that was into games? I forget.

>>29715990
James, you mean?

Rolled 16

>>29715981
OP said if you get 5s you spontaneously jizz on her face

>>29715927
Rolling for those fives

>>29716007
No, the chick at the campus. From when we tried to science the squashed bug.

>>29716105
what? where was that said?

>>29716136
Last thread

>>29716187
Link.

>>29716200
Go look for it yourself man, I'm not your secretary

>>29715990 (Melissa has the games-capable glasses)
>>29715966
>>29715981

"Yeah, I promised some people I'd help out in game, so I can't really stay." And hey, for once your excuse is one hundred percent true. You give Emily the money to cover your meal and share of the tip.

"Bye everyone," you say, waving. You get a chorus of farewells and a couple 'it was nice meeting you.' Yeah, well, maybe. You still don't feel you really fit in with Emily's friends; they're mostly nice, but you don't have much in common.

You're on way out when James calls you name. He catches up to you and you turn with a wary look.

"Hi," he smiles. "We didn't get to talk."

"Hello."

"Um."

"What did Emily say?" you ask.

"She didn't say much, just that I should meet you."

"You do realise she's matchmaking."

"Yeah." He winces at that. "It is a bit 'hey you're obviously a dateless loser'." He catches your frown. "Well that could have gone better. I like your glasses."

>"I have to go. Nice meeting you." Escape.
>"Then where are yours?"
>Mumble thanks and stare at your feet.
>Write in.
>Play Arcadia.

>>29716200
>>29716136
Guys don't be gullible.

>>29716260
>"Play Arcadia?"

Rolled 14

>>29716260
>Jizz on Arcadia

Rolling for fives

>>29716260
>Play Arcadia.

>>29716333
God damn it, that should have been "Play Arcadia?".

Rolled 67

>>29716260
"Look, I'm sure you're a nice guy, but I'm not looking for a boyfriend or even a casual date right now. If you're okay with just being friends, then I'd love to make your acquaintance later, but if you're looking for a hook-up, you're barking up the wrong tree."

>>29716260
>>"I have to go. Nice meeting you." Escape.
>>Play Arcadia.

>>29716260
Uh, offer to talk now despite how awkward you feel? If we can get someone to walk us home that'd be great. Even if it's small talk we should just wrangle him into walking with us.

No reason to believe firedude is gone.

>>29716376
Well, walking us to the bus stop I just realized.

Never mind, instead I'll second
>>29716319
>>29716333
Followed by escaping.

>>29716319
>>29716357
"Do you play Arcadia?" you ask.

He tilts his head and frowns. "No? What's that?"

"It's a game. Never mind, if you've never heard of it. It's new, and you need glasses to play it."

"Sorry. So it's good?"

"Yeah, it's all right. Um, I have to go now. Nice meeting you."

"Okay. See you."

That was a whole lot of nothing, you think, but hey, you talked to him so Emily can't complain. It's good to get outside, and on your own again. People in those quantities are tiring. You walk back to the bus stop. You breath deep on the way home, but you don't smell anything burning.

The bus is late, but you make it home before your deadline.

You take your shoes off, plug your glasses in, and play Arcadia.

You're sitting where you logged out, on the top floor of a ruined tower. The roof is missing, and the place is in complete shambles. Standing across from you is an unfamiliar figure firing an arrow out the window towards the graveyard. He's wearing armour a bit like Shrike's and he has a backpack and a quiver full of arrows. He doesn't notice you.

You hear a clash of weaponry from outside.

>Hello?
>Quietly go downstairs and see if you can get an idea what's going on from the second floor window.
>Draw your glaive and attack while his back is turned.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>29716710
hello?

>>29716710
>>Quietly go downstairs and see if you can get an idea what's going on from the second floor window.

>>29716710
>Hello?

>>29716710
>Draw your glaive
Then say:
>hello.

Rolled 38

>>29716710
Lily said she was going to stay logged in, right? They're probably ganging up on her.

Draw Glaive and attack.

>>29716710
Sneak up on him, press Glaive to neck, tell him not to move while we look out the window.

>>29716901
>>29716870
>>29716823
You quietly get to your feet, and draw your glaive. There's no need to be rude, but there's no need to take chances, either.

"Hello?"

"The fuck?" He looses his arrow and whirls around. He's got an impressive set of scars on both cheeks, but you know he must have selected them from the character creation menu, so the effect is slightly less than it would have been otherwise.

"There's another one!" he shouts. And then he draws a shortsword and runs at you.

"Liandra!" That's Lily.

"Concentrate on the flyer," an authoritative voice shouts.

You hear that word again; it's blasphemy.

"Incoming angel! You and you, move."

>Retreat down the steps and shut the door on him.
>Dodge and attack with the glaive. 1d100 DC 65
>Use ability.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

Rolled 12

>>29717055
"Yeah, that's what I thought."

Disarm him. By which I mean cut off his sword arm.

Rolled 30

>>29717055
>Dodge and attack with the glaive. 1d100 DC 65
To the FACE!

>>29717075
The most effective disarming technique.

Rolled 33

>>29717055
>>Dodge and attack with the glaive. 1d100 DC 65

>>29717055
>PRAY
TENTACLE CHOKEOUT
CMON WE GOTTA TRY IT AT LEAST ONCE

>>29717055
>>29717115
Also, we should definitely hit off a foresight. For the Attack and defense bonus.

>>29717055
>>Dodge and attack with the glaive. 1d100 DC 65

>>29717075
>>29717115
>>29717123
Oh. Well I guess that works too.
>>29717141
Read the OP bro, we use a roll-under system. That dude just got murderised.

>>29717194
That's why I said it was effective. Also because they can't attack you if they don't have arms.

>>29717075
>>29717115
>>29717123
You deflect his sword with your glaive, steel grating against verdant steel as you knock it aside and swing the blade up into his face. He darts backwards, but you score a hit, and he snarls in pain as you open up his cheek and split his nose.

"Dammit," he grits out.

THOOM!

Lily's angel lands. You can hear Trish and Shrike as well as a few other voices. Including the one giving orders. Just how many people are out there?

Your opponent raises his guard, on the defensive now.

>Attack with the glaive again, try and break his guard. 1d100 DC 50
>Feint, try and get him to open up. 1d100 DC 50
>Use Ability.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

Rolled 68

>>29717274
PREACH him off the side of the tower. Fus Roh Dah, motherfucker.

Rolled 95

>>29717274
>Attack with the glaive again, try and break his guard. 1d100 DC 50

Rolled 5

>>29717274
>>Feint, try and get him to open up. 1d100 DC 50

Rolled 89

>>29717274
>Use Ability.
Foresight For the buffs.
>Feint, try and get him to open up. 1d100 DC 50
With our increased defense a Feint should be easy.

Rolled 62

>>29717274
feint

Rolled 94

>>29717274
>FORESIGHT
>Feint, try and get him to open up. 1d100 DC 50

>>29717321
>>29717323
lol

>>29717321
>>29717323
phew

Rolled 96

>>29717274
>Use Ability.
Foresight

>>29717356
>>29717336
>>29717325

You concentrate and use FORESIGHT. You copy yourself as you dip your glaive to the left. He darts in, you drive the other of the handle into his stomach and as he's gasping you step back, swing your glaive up elegantly and open up his throat. He falls back against the wall, gurgling.

You have slain meat.

You hear a chime as you acquire another exp point.

>Look out the window.
>Barricade the door.
>Search the corpse.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>29717463
Go to where we heard more fighting. Our friends need help, we can loot later.

>>29717463
>Look out the window
battle going on, need to take stock of our surroundings
probs has shit loot anyway
dumb meat

>>29717463
>>Look out the window.
>>Search the corpse.

Loot him first.

>>29717463
>Barricade the door
They know we're here now, and we've got a pretty good bow to snipe with. All else fails, our new wings will keep us mobile.

Rolled 62

>>29717463
Equip bow.

We sniper now.

Start pegging off meat.

>>29717463
>Look out the window.

>>29717463
>Look out the window.
Also, Draw our Bow.

Who wants to bet it's our pals from the imageboard?

>>29717515
>>29717493
>>29717496
You go to the window and peer out. The graveyard ahead is both crowded and seething. In the gaps between the tombstones, the Wandering Hands are active, crawling over each other like so many pale, livid spiders.

Lily is in the air, dodging and weaving as waves of arrows zip through the sky around her. She's been hit a couple of times.

Shrike and Trish are on the ground, and they're lucky they're not the biggest threat on the battlefield, because they're entirely outnumbered. They leap from tombstone to tombstone, as a couple of other players try and keep them away from the row of archers trying to take Lily down.

There are a couple of corpses on the ground, and the Wandering Hands are slowly pulling them in. You see Shrike leap forward off a tombstone and and his sword rings against the shield of an opponent, who tries to batter him off and into the Wandering Hands.

You do a quick count. You guess they're mostly meat, but there are about ten of the attacking group. Their leader is wielding two maces, trying to herd Trish and Shrike into a corner while he gives orders.

You can see arrows flying from the window below you.

"Dammit, there's one still in the tower," he warns. An arrow pings off the stonework next to your window.

>This is not looking good. See if Mason's around and call for some help.
>Draw your bow and aim for the leader. 1D100 DC 65
>Go downstairs and take out whoever's on the floor below you.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

Rolled 65

>>29717704
Assassinate the leader after barring the door.

Rolled 36

>>29717704
>Go downstairs and take out whoever's on the floor below you.
Might as well take out the camping snipers. Sneak up and stab them. That almost always works.

Rolled 41

>>29717704
>Draw your bow and aim for the leader. 1D100 DC 65
gud jerb wasting foresight, guys

Rolled 35

>>29717704
>>Draw your bow and aim for the leader. 1D100 DC 65

>>29717704
>Barricade the door.

>>29717704
Put EXP into bow. It increases damage in addition to easier DC.

>>29717762
>>29717754
>>29717745
Your arrow thuds into the leader's shoulder and he looks up at you with pain and surprise before yanking it out.

Shrike cheers.

"Get her!" the squad leader (this is clearly a disciplined squad) shouts. A couple of the archers peel off, jumping as far as they can and slogging through the Wandering Hands.

Lily flies in a graceful arc and swoops down on them. Arrows fly in her wake as she swings her staff.

You can expect visitors, even as Lily sends one flying face-first into the Wandering Hands.

>Barricade the door.
>Wait at the top of the stairs.
>Call for help.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

Rolled 49

>>29717914
Barricade the door, then fire at the leader again.

Rolled 32

>>29717914
>Wait at the top of the stairs.
Use the stairs as a funnel so we can engage them one at a time. We should have a definite power advantage that way.

>>29717914
>>Wait at the top of the stairs.

>>29717914
>Wait at the top of the stairs, arrow nocked.
Well, I was advocating barricading the door earlier, funny how things change.

>>29717914
>Wait at the top of the stairs.
Put EXP into Preach. It'd be stupidly useful here.
Also consider putting a piece of Arcadia in our bow and the other in our glaive.

Rolled 54

>>29717972
Aheh...

>>29717994
seconding arcadia if it doesnt take long

>>29717994
Also voting to put Arcadia in our bow.

Rolled 94

>>29717914
>Barricade the door.
>EXP into Preach

Rolled 68

>>29717994
>>29718066
But we have no idea how long that will take.

Let's put our EXP into Ascend or Pray, because that's what it looks like we're going to tell players what we are.

Vote against upgrading Preach.

>>29718140
Seconding. Ascend sounds useful.

>>29717994
>>29717972
>>29717964
>>29717958
You retreat from the window and hurry across the mounds of rubble piled up in the room to the stairwell. You noch an arrow and stare down into the gloom.

The first person who sticks his head in is going to get an eyeful. You hear Lily yelp. They must have got her.

You see movement and you loose your arrow just as one sails by your ear. You hear a grunt of pain from down below, and whoever it is retreats again.

If Lily retreats out of range, they'll kill Trish and Shrike easily enough. If you leave the doorway for the window someone will try and come through it.

Whoever is downstairs is being very cautious about coming up now they know you're waiting for them. You could escape by ASCENDING but your wings are slow and temporary.

>Level up now (you have 1 exp)
>Use a Piece of Arcadia on your bow.
>Call for help.
>Go downstairs.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>29718163
We could be like an oriental war god, plinking at chumps with our bow and sweeping in with our magical glaive! Ascend seems so cool, especially if we can make it faster!

>>29718194
>Use a Piece of Arcadia on your bow.
We will hold like a good soldier.

>>29718194
>Use a Piece of Arcadia on your bow.

>>29718194
>>Use a Piece of Arcadia on your glaive.

Looks like we're gonna be in close quarters fighting. Bow will be useless.

>>29718194
>Use a Piece of Arcadia on your bow.
Let's see how this works.

>>29718277
It won't get close quarters if we have a strong bow. Don't forget guy that we don't have armour and Forsight's on cooldown.

Rolled 32

>>29718194
Give Lily the Piece of Arcadia for use on her artifact. Maybe it'll get big enough for an air rescue for our meat companions.

>>29718277
Not if we barricade the door!

>>29718194
Level up Ascend.

>>29718366
That's not a bad idea, actually. Hopefully they're all meat, since apparently they can't see why players love Pieces of Arcadia.

>>29718366
She already has one though. We found one at the beginning of the adventure, remember?

>>29718366
I don't think that'll work. When we asked her about it she only told us that it got faster and easier to control after putting more pieces in.

Rolled 41

>>29718443
I know, but more = better. Trish and Shrike aren't going to last long, and they're outnumbered three-to-one.

>>29718463
True, but she's only got four pieces in. Who knows what adding more will do.

>>29718477
Then let her put her own piece in. Seriously, we need all the advantages we can get.

>>29718235
>>29718257
>>29718281
You duck to the side of the doorway and take out one of the Pieces of Arcadia. You feel like you're bidding an old friend farewell.

Or you would if you weren't more worried about the looming threat of death.

Okay, how does this work then? You press the Piece of Arcadia to your bow and both it and the weapon seem to writhe, lively, in your hands. It feels a bit like foresight; what do you want from your bow?

>Raw power; just make it bigger.
>Faster; more arrows, same amount of time.
>Temporal Inversion. Arrows start at the end of their trajectory and fly backwards. No, you will not shoot yourself if you miss.
>Ghost Arrow; no need for ammunition.
>Not just now.
>Write in.
>Quit Arcadia.

>>29718515
>Ghost Arrow; no need for ammunition.
2useful2ignore

>>29718515
Wait, so, Temporal Inversion makes it so they shoot... upwards?

>>29718515
>>Ghost Arrow; no need for ammunition.

>>29718515
>Ghost Arrow; no need for ammunition.
Definitely the best.

>>29718515
>Ghost Arrow; no need for ammunition.

>>29718546
I think they would immediately cause a wound when fired, then fly back to us.

>>29718515
>Raw power; just make it bigger.
Temporal Inversion sounds silly, but we should get it eventually. Hopefully it won't be an effect we can't turn off. Ghost Arrow sounds completely useless. Arrows are cheap, fuck, the guy in the other room has a whole quiver full.

Rolled 29

>>29718515
Ghost Arrow. Buff our agility and I foresee some rapid fire action. Then again, it's going to be just barebones arrows, so likely no hitting undead/ghosts/etc.

>>29718578
Yes, but they also take up room. Room we could use for loot.

>>29718579
>Ghost Arrow
>Not hitting ghosts
I will be sorely disappointed if they don't hit ghosts.

>>29718515
>Raw power; just make it bigger.

I will not stop voting for this every chance we get until we get a Dark Souls Greatbow level of ridiculous HUGEness.

Guys, why do you think Ghost Arrows' so good? We haven't and won't be hurting for ammo, especially since we aren't a pure archer. Of all the upgrades I say it is absolutely the worst.

>>29718631
Because it's cool

>>29718515
>>Raw power; just make it bigger.
we can loot arrows easypeasy and they wont help us not dying here

>>29718515
Wait, guys, we need something that can fire around corners or the meat outside the door will just camp.

>Rubbery Enchantment: Arrows can bounce once.

Rolled 98

>>29718631
Arrows are plentiful -now-, plus if it's anything like D&D, it'll be a Brilliant Energy weapon, so we can hit ghosts/damage resistant creatures. Plus, without needing to knock a new arrow every time, we can theoretically fire faster.

>>29718664
AoE arrows an option?

>>29718546
You fire at a target and if you hit it hits them in the back. Useful against someone with a shield, or someone hiding behind something or protecting a weak spot. Not so helpful if their back is to a wall.

>>29718687
That is so cool, did you make that up one day or did you get the idea from somewhere else?

>>29718664
We suggest enchantments? In that case

>>29718515
Explosive arrows.

>>29718515
>>Raw power; just make it bigger.
It's like none of you play video games. Unlimited ammo is shit when it's plentiful.

>>29718686
There's no reason to think they'll suddenly be hard to come by. We also have a glaive we're good with and 4 fucking powers to use.

If we want increased speed there's a specific enchant for that. And there's nothing to suggest anything more then unlimited ammo. We have a fucking Verdant Steel weapon to deal with ghosts

>>29718515
>Write in
Can't go wrong with arrows that are also on fire.
Adding fire to almost any weapon is a net plus really.

>>29718712
I thought it up thirty seconds ago, when I realised that flaming arrows are almost identical to 'more power' and aren't very interesting.

Uh,it's storming quite hard here and I just realised my roof is leaking. I should probably go and take care of that. So. I'm open to enchantment suggestions; we can come back next time and argue indefinitely about which one we want.

Anyway I really should go. Long weekend so I'll be busy. Next thread next Mon or Wed evening EST. Twitter will tell.

Thanks for playing, everyone. Sorry to cut and run. Again.

>>29718827
>use fire weapon on zombie
>good news: the zombie is on fire
>bad news: the zombie is on fire AND DOESN'T CARE

>>29718855
No problem. Thanks for running.

What about: Double bow?
Fire two arrows at once.

>>29718855
Thanks, I should probably follow the twitter so I don't show up late again.

>>29718687
So if we choose it we can't fire normally?

>>29718855
Thanks for the thread Arcadian, hope you don't have too much trouble.

Rolled 59

>>29718855
Good luck, and thanks for running.

I think AOE Stun.

>>29718855
>enchantment suggestions
To borrow from vidya;

>Knockback
>Stun chance
>Range (smaller DC penalty at long range)
>Projectile Protection (weak passive bubble when bow is equipped)
>Mana Burn

>>29718855
Enchantment ideas:
>Armor Penetration
>Any elemental based attack
>Tracking Arrows
>Some sort of Stun or pain effect
>Fire arrows faster

Just to name a few.

I think I've got a good one.

Burst Shield - A bubble shield projected from the bow. Protects you for about one second. Can be used to stop an arrow, fireball, or sudden lunge giving you time to equip another weapon. Long long ass cooldown though. Like once every 24 hours.


A lot of what's suggested would probably be better as arrow properties IMHO

Rolled 56

>>29719181
I still think an artillery bow, something with an AOE attack.

>>29719198
>>29719181
>>29719063
>>29719005
>>29718932
I've c&ped all your suggestions for next time, thanks.

>>29718855
Ghost Arrows is clearly best, but here's some ideas:
>Retracing Arrows: after expending energy entering the target, the arrow reverses course, accelerating at the same rate it decelerated.
>Stabby Shooter: bow can be used as a (crappy) melee weapon.
>SUDDENLY, TENTACLES: arrows become tentacles upon impact and attempt to restrain or incapacitate the target.
I like tentacles. Sue me.