>>35026983
>> "The mountains to the east. There's some kind of awful monkey-monster who's part of the cult. Maybe he's still there."
and then throw in a
>"Maybe Turtak. The cult got its first followers there. Maybe we can learn more about them there."
Because, you know, maybe. And turtak's been the home of a lot of our problems.

Also, does anyone remember where that centaur negotiator liar guy said his group were going to settle?
It was probably a lie, but worth checking out.

Scorpion girl always makes me nervous when I play it.

>>35026983
> "The mountains to the east. There's some kind of awful monkey-monster who's part of the cult. Maybe he's still there."

Or perhaps

>"How about Zagros? I know the cult has been there already, but, uh... we could get more allies there! We could double the number of giant scorpions on our side."

>>35026983
>"Maybe Turtak. The cult got its first followers there. Maybe we can learn more about them there."

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>>35027273
"The mountains to the east. There's some kind of awful monkey-monster who's part of the cult. Maybe he's still there."

Zakiti looks over the maps and growls softly. "It will have to serve. There couldn't be many places in the mountains where they could support a permanent settlement of much size, but they might still linger there if they hope to keep searching the naga kingdom for pieces of Pazuzu."

"Maybe Turtak as well," you add. "The cult got its first followers there. Maybe we can learn more about them there."

"Learn more? How? Turtak knows the cult to be traitors and deserters. They must have taken whatever pieces of Pazuzu were in the city and moved on."

> "Says who? Maybe they missed one, like they failed to get their hands on Iltani here."
> "When they were recruiting, surely some of them refused to join them. Centaurs, soldiers, that kind of thing. Maybe they know something.
> "It's the best lead we have. And anyway, I owe the centipede a visit. If I get it over with, he could lend us soldiers or something."
> "You're right. That trail is cold by now. Let's go to the mountains."

>>35027646
> "It's the best lead we have. And anyway, I owe the centipede a visit. If I get it over with, he could lend us soldiers or something."

>>35027646
oh crap, new update.


> "When they were recruiting, surely some of them refused to join them. Centaurs, soldiers, that kind of thing. Maybe they know something.

Though, really, Hunzuu is playing devil advocate at this point.
Both the mountain and the turtak plans are as hot a lead as we'll get.

>>35027798
>>35027669
both true, I suppose. Though, all our trails are pretty cold.

It got a lot harder to find them when they ran into territory with no villages to burn so we can follow.

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>>35027646
"When they were recruiting, surely some of them refused to join them. Centaurs, soldiers, that kind of thing. Maybe they know something."

She nods. "They probably do have information we could use. But it might strain our truce with Turtak to walk into their walls to openly while we still have their prince hostage. Is that something we should worry about?"

You reply at once. "No, I don't think so. Nur-Sin effectively rules Turtak now, and he's glad we have the prince out of the way. He even invited me to come back and see him."

"But why? A trap?" Zakiti's eyes look confused. She thought she understood the situation, but now she's at a loss.

> "He... desires me. But my heart belongs to another. This will not be pretty."
> "He knows what's good for him. He doesn't want us to come back and tear Turtak down stone by stone. So he makes polite invitations."

>>35028095
>> "He knows what's good for him. He doesn't want us to come back and tear Turtak down stone by stone. So he makes polite invitations."

>>35028095
>He desires me but ny heart belongs to another.

it's tough being the popular scorpion

>>35028095
Are we sure he's after us? Or do we just worry about that?

> "He knows what's good for him. He doesn't want us to come back and tear Turtak down stone by stone. So he makes polite invitations."
for now.
Though we can blushingly admit to zakiti later when we aren't in front of everyone that he might like us, and it's going to be a problem.

Shyscor 2014.

>>35028095
> "He... desires me. But my heart belongs to another. This will not be pretty."

Freaky bugmen suck. Cute Scorpion boys are best.

>>35028257
Well, mine's the wishy-washiest vote and counts for least, so if this is a draw, I guess I concede to desire camp.
Though it's so embarrassing.

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>>35028095
"He knows what's good for him. He doesn't want us to come back and tear Turtak down stone by stone. So he makes polite invitations."

That makes sense to Zakiti. "Yes... I underestimated our power in this situation. We can get aid from them. Supplies, soldiers, and exact reports on how this mess all began."

The head Charioteer butts in. "Now we just have to decide what portion of our strength to send out on this task and what t leave behind to defend the city."

> "Just me, my centaur friend, Zakiti, and maybe a few chariots. We're going for speed here, since we're unlikely to run into the cult yet."
> "As many chariots as you can have ready, even unmounted men if you have more men than horses."
>"Monsters only. Me and Zakiti, and I'll see if I can get Patience and another powerful friend of mine to join us."
>"Everything this city has. Every man and monster who will follow us. I have a feeling we'll need them."

>>35028095
> "He... desires me. But my heart belongs to another. This will not be pretty."

this should be good

>>35028478
>> "Just me, my centaur friend, Zakiti, and maybe a few chariots. We're going for speed here, since we're unlikely to run into the cult yet."

>>35028478
> "Just me, my centaur friend, Zakiti, and maybe a few chariots. We're going for speed here, since we're unlikely to run into the cult yet."

though, I worry about bringing zakiti. she doesn't have, uh, training.

Make sure to bring as many mounted dudes as we can though.

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>>35028478
"Just me, my centaur friend, Zakiti, and maybe a few chariots. We're going for speed here, since we're unlikely to run into the cult yet."

"A prudent decision," says the old commander. "Whenever you leave Ligish, bad things seem to come in your absence. We will provide a company of chariots with no baggage train to slow them down. Each chariot will hold its riders' own supplies."

Soul-of-Lightning has already agreed to go with you, and he can easily keep pace with the est of you. You don't think Patience can do the same, though. Though her stride is long, you don't think she's great at running cross-country. You might be able to bring some of your smaller companions with you without losing speed if there are horses provided for them.

> Bring Nakurtum
> Bring Iltani
> Bring Kullaa
> Bring the hostage prince of Turtak. That should prove amusing.
> Bring some combination of the above

>>35028478

> "Just me, my centaur friend, Zakiti, and maybe a few chariots. We're going for speed here, since we're unlikely to run into the cult yet."

>>35028688

> Bring Iltani

That should prove funny

>>35028688
Crrrrap.

I'd like someone along for the trip, but I don't want to risk losing more than I have to.
I guess
>nakurtum
is the one who has the best chance of coming back whole and safe. So that one.

>>35028688
> Bring Iltani
get her out of the city for a bit

>>35028864
>>35028763
She makes me worried, anons.
Though, actually, she would make a good pazuzu detector.

>>35028892
Well, bringing her no further than Turtak might be a good idea. She will have an easy time finding any leftover pieces of Pazuzu.

However, we might have to send her back after Turtak.

>>35028688
>Bring Iltani
>Bring Narkutum
>Bring kullaa

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>>35028688
You decide that maybe it would be a good idea to bring Iltani with you. Though out of practice, her strength easily equals your own, and you mostly trust her now. She might even be able to help tell when other pieces of Pazuzu are nearby. You don't speak your intention yet. You have to decide how to break it to the Charioteers.

> Tell them the whole truth about how you secretly saved her from the king's dungeons.
> Lie and introduce Iltani as someone else.

>>35029011
I don't like either of those. Can't we put her in a cloak and not tell people who she is?

>>35029011
> Tell them the whole truth about how you secretly saved her from the king's dungeons.
They're going to have to learn how to deal with it. We can't really keep her hooded for the entire trip.

>>35029011
> Lie and introduce Iltani as someone else.

Yesh, forgot about that detail.

>>35029011
>> Lie and introduce Iltani as someone else.
Tell them that she's your cousin from some far away city called Hom'ur Asit.

>>35029011
> Tell them the whole truth about how you secretly saved her from the king's dungeons.
She's technically a highly cooperative prisoner. She'll be helping us by detecting bits of the cultists. They were after her because she's got a piece of their pazuzu in her.

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>>35029011
You decide not to tell the Charioteers who she is. You'll just keep her cloaked and say that she's your squire or your handmaiden or something. With any luck, either she'll never need to reveal herself or she'll prove her worth in a fight and win everyone else's trust.

After the meeting is adjourned, you go back to the pyramid to tell Iltani the news. She's still in Nakurtum's room playing with the little black kitten. "Go with you? Into the north? Maybe that will be good for me. I've been inside so much... for over a year... sometimes it feels like this is all there is, and Pazuzu already came and destroyed everything outside. But I know that' silly. When he comes, he won't spare me. I don't deserve it..."
> Try to cheer her up. You may write in any ideas for how to do it
> Find some practice weapons here in Nakurtum's room and spar with her a little to see how her fighting skill has held up. Roll 2d6.
> Get her the most convincing disguise possible with the help of the new Sand Priest.

>>35029466
>> Get her the most convincing disguise possible with the help of the new Sand Priest.

Rolled 2, 1 = 3 (2d6)

>>35029466
Lots of close decisions today.
> Try to cheer her up. You may write in any ideas for how to do it
> Find some practice weapons here in Nakurtum's room and spar with her a little to see how her fighting skill has held up. Roll 2d6.
My idea to cheer her up is a little bit of friendly sparring to take her mind off it. And she'll probably beat us a bit.
I am neutral as to illusions, but cheering is usually good.

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>>35029466
>> Try to cheer her up. You may write in any ideas for how to do i

Give her a ride.

Courtesy from deculture's drawthread

>>35029603
That's amazing.

Rolled 3, 4 = 7 (2d6)

>>35029466
> Find some practice weapons here in Nakurtum's room and spar with her a little to see how her fighting skill has held up. Roll 2d6.

>>35029603
If I had known we were heading out so soon, I'd have taken another trip to that dang orphanage.

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>>35029466
"Hey, focus on the positive! Fresh air! Seeing the world! Maybe saving it a little." You take a pair of training spears off the wall. "Come on, how about a little sparring practice? I know you haven't been training with Nakurtum, because you only come in here to play with the kitty."

Iltani takes a spear from you, then hangs it up again. "I haven't forgotten my moves. And I don't use spears. I use knives."

Using some old unsharpened daggers that Nakurtum hasn't gotten around to fixing up yet, she practices sparring with you up on the terrace where there's room, as the sun goes down. You were expecting her to be a little out of practice, but she absolutely mops the floor with you. Several times she roll past your claws' defenses, climbs up onto you and puts her weapon to your throat. The second time she does that and you move to sting her in retaliation out of instinct, she drops her left hand dagger and catches your stinger in her bare hand just in time. Hunzuu's Mercy squirts from your singer ineffectually. The strength of her grip is a little scary. You wonder how you ever managed to beat her before. Has she actually gotten better?

> "Good job! And you taught yourself all that? You're really a prodigy."
> [Lie] "I... I was just going easy on you! Now you will witness my true power!" Roll 5d6 to restore your bruised ego.

>>35029978
be upbeat an happy for the poor girl ego be damed

>>35029978

> "Good job! If I didn't know better, it's like you've gotten better since last time. We should spar more often."

Rolled 2, 5, 4, 1, 4 = 16 (5d6)

>>35030039

Also
> Roll 5d6 to restore your bruised ego.

>>35029978
> "Good job! And you taught yourself all that? You're really a prodigy."
To tell the truth, I was never very good at fighting humans who were particularly agile.
Big monsters yeah, big formations yeah, but if they get on my back...

>>35029978
>"How did I beat you again?"

>>35029978
>> "Good job! And you taught yourself all that? You're really a prodigy."

Rolled 6, 2, 5, 4, 5 = 22 (5d6)

>>35029978
>> [Lie] "I... I was just going easy on you! Now you will witness my true power!" Roll 5d6 to restore your bruised ego.

>>35030112
she totally beat us, but we jabbed her from behind with poison.

She's been extraordinarily cooperative, as she can just sort of slit our throat pretty easy.

Rolled 5, 2, 6, 5, 4 = 22 (5d6)

>>35029978

> Kung fu scorpion of justice. Strike after the compliment for maximum efficacy.

No need to go full monsterfight on her.
Don't want to bring down the pyramid.

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>>35029978
"Good job! If I didn't know better, it's like you've gotten better since last time. We should spar more often."

Iltani lets go of your stinger and puts her dagger away so she can better keep herself balanced on your back. "Thanks. I guess it was all right. When I'm fighting, sometimes I don't feel like me, but this time it was all right. I think it's mostly when I'm fighting humans. I see them and I know where they're soft, and where they can't reach to defend themselves, and somehow that knowledge comes with some hate... but I'm okay. I'll be okay. I still want to go on your trip." She hops down from your back. "How's my hair? Now that it's growing back, I find I have to take care of it again."

And it's true. It's not as long as it was before, but it makes her look healthy again. The only token left on her body to remind you of your battle with her is the blackness of her eyes.

It will be a few days before the chariots are all ready, so you have some time to prepare for your next journey. You have time to put significant progress into two of the following:

>Keep studying literacy with the Rain Priest. You think you're finally making some progress.
>Practice blood magic with Kullaa. Try to progress further in your knowledge of spells.
>Practice spear fighting with Iltani and Nakurtum. If the two of them don't get along, make them. Roll 2d6.
>Help Ninlil's family rebuild the pyramid. This will mostly consist of hauling stone around all day.
>Spend time with Patience and work out plan for her to defend the city while you're gone.
>Find homes for kids back in the old orphanage. This will consist of carrying them through the streets one at a time and demanding that people take them in.
> Spend a lot of time with Meluku to make sure his time being raised by your creepy slave hasn't affected him.
> You miss Hillallum. Go back to the Archers and ask their new commander if you can talk to some of her boys, maybe tousle their hair a little.

>>35030516
>Keep studying literacy with the Rain Priest. You think you're finally making some progress.
>Practice blood magic with Kullaa. Try to progress further in your knowledge of spells.

Rolled 6, 5 = 11 (2d6)

>>35030516
>>Practice spear fighting with Iltani and Nakurtum. If the two of them don't get along, make them. Roll 2d6.
What could go wrong?
>Spend time with Patience and work out plan for her to defend the city while you're gone.

>>35030516
>>Practice blood magic with Kullaa. Try to progress further in your knowledge of spells.

>>>Help Ninlil's family rebuild the pyramid. This will mostly consist of hauling stone around all day.

Rolled 6, 6 = 12 (2d6)

>>35030516

Damn, tough decisions.

> Keep studying literacy with the Rain Priest.
Literacy means being able to better organize and utilize our time, which will make it possible to attend to more of these things in less time.

> Practice spear fighting with Iltani and Nakurtum.

Rolled 5, 5 = 10 (2d6)

>>35030516
>pick two of 8
Fuck.
Well, we need to at least spend some time with meluku. we've been putting that off too much.
> Spend a lot of time with Meluku to make sure his time being raised by your creepy slave hasn't affected him.
and then let's practice some spear fighting, as it's our weak point.

Can we make another donation to the orphanage? I don't think that method of finding parents will work, but I want to help the orphans.
And maybe let them ride us. Please?
We're always in such a darn time crunch.

>>35030516
Okay, so three votes for spears, two votes each for literacy and magic, and one vote each for Patience and Meluku. Tiebreaker time?

>>35030700
we keep having ties.
Anu makes difficult choices.

>>35030700

>Literacy

I prefer literacy to magic. While both are our weakpoints, literacy will help us acquire everything more efficiently.

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>>35030516
You get into a routine of spending your mornings doing weapons drills and sparring on the terrace and your afternoons working on your reading with the Rain Priest. When you look down from the terrace, sometimes ou can see Ninlil's father and brothers at work, and you like to invite them in to have some goat with you. You get the feeling that this annoys the Blood Priest to no end, but you do it anyway. You finally start feeling a little bit comfortable doing some writing of your own. You copy a prayer to Ea onto a fresh clay tablet, and for the first time the Rain Priest doesn't look like he's stifling a laugh when he sees it.

You do, of course, find some time in the evenings to go see the orphans and deliver them both necessities and valuables you've weaseled away from the pyramid. They say they've herd that Ettu is well and expecting her baby soon.

> Your Weaponry and Literacy are both 2.
> Give the orphans rides outside, where people might see you
> Keep it inside

>>35030901
>> Give the orphans rides outside, where people might see you
I'm pretty sure we knocked over buildings or something last time someone threatened the kids, so why not have fun with it.
We played in the street a lot before, right?

>>35030901
> Give the orphans rides outside, where people might see you
yay public relations

>>35030901

> Give the orphans rides outside.
Hunzuu is a proud citizen of Ligish from very humble origins. Rather than concealing that, it is best that she emphasize it. People who catch sight of the spectacle may also look toward the orphanage a little more.

Wonder if lizard lady would like to come along.

>>35030901
>> Give the orphans rides outside, where people might see you

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>>35030901
You let the orphans pile onto your back and ride you as you walk around the streets in the last light of dusk. You can get four or five of them on you at once. You know you should be worrying that they're all holding on tight, but something about having riders makes you feel extremely mellow. It's like a warm, fuzzy feeling moving up your back to your human half. Lady Amata, whom you haven't seen for a while, warned you about this. It's an instinct female flesh-eaters have. Your body thinks the riders are your own scorplings and is rewarding you for being such a good mother.

>See if Zakiti is cool with giving rides, too.
> Don't. She'll probably take it as an insult.

>>35031105
That is a weird instinct, but I suppose accurate.
Is zakiti... here? If she's here, see if she's interested. If not, then don't even bother. Too mellow.

>>35031105

Damn, tough decisions again. On the one hand, Hunzuu is completely oblivious enough to do this. On the other, she totally would.

> Ask Zakiti if she would like to meet some of the children of Ligish. Phrase it carefully that the children wanted to see the new defender of Ligish.

If she wants to give them rides she can. The children will likely ask, but that gives her right of refusal and a minimum warm and fuzzy feeling for having a bunch of bright-eyed children looking up to her.

>>35031105
> Don't. She'll probably take it as an insult.

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)

>>35031105
>> Don't. She'll probably take it as an insult.

>Hey zakiti, wanna come outside and play with orphans?
>Hunzuu I'm busy trying to make a lizard chariot!

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>>35031105
Zakiti is nowhere near here, so you don't try calling on her yet. You'll get the chance to talk to her later about the joys of helping the city's forsaken children, in a more respectful manner than asking her to give rides right away. You're not sure if she's a child-lover. Maybe not, since she chose monsterdom as an alternative to marriage. Oh, well. That just means more riders for you.

Even though you might be a little bit high, you successfully keep all the kids on your back and lay them down gently back home. It feels... humanizing. You used to feel alone except for the whispers of the dead. Now you keep the company of the living. It gives you strength to go on, on another quest for your city and your world.

> I'm going to break here. Decu, if you're here, thank you! Your fanarts are more wonderful than uncooked goat.

>>35031418
Thanks for running, anu!
Someone archiving this?

Glad hunzuu always makes at least a little but of time for havin' some fun, no matter how pressed time gets.

>>35031418

Thanks for running, Anu. Any inklings if we're back to a standard Sunday run at this point?

>>35031586
Not sure. Might have to do Saturdays sometimes instead.

>>35031466
Archived at http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html

>>35031751
thx 4 runin budi gud thred

>>35031874
have a good one, guy.