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Gunslinger. Mercenary. Murderer.

You have been all of these things before, and will be them until you die. It won't be from old age, you got rid of that option long ago when you made a deal with a devil in human skin. Now the only thing that will put you down is when someone else puts you down for good.

Until then, life will keep rolling, and you will keep shooting.

You awaken much the same as you always do: quietly and perfectly still. A lifetime and a half of living in dangerous territory has taught you to wake up at the fall of a coin but not to move while doing so. Your cabin is silent, but you feel something moving up your arm.

Your eyes stray down to see a scorpion with two stingers slowly moving up. Its mouth looks like the sucker on a leech. Nasty thing. Dealt with them before, though. With your other hand you casually grab its tail halfway up. Like scorpions back home, it can't do much about it.

Kicking your feet off the bed, you walk across the wooden floor to a stove. With a knife, you cut off the stingers as it tries its best to scamper away before dropping it into a pot of water. The poisonous parts don't taste very good. It can't get out of the pot and soon enough you've got the stove heated up with a fire.

Less than an hour later and you're chewing on breakfast. A bit crunchy, despite being boiled alive. Sun hasn't fully risen yet; sky's still mostly purple.

Supplies are low. Not much clean water left, nor food. So's the money to get either.

But not bullets. Bullets are never low.

'It's about time for work.'

>A) Get dressed and head into town
>B) Check on the animals
>C) Spend time cleaning your firearms
>D) Take full stock of your supplies
>E) Other (write-in)

Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Mortal+Kombat+Konquest
>>
>>245846
>Get dressed and head into town
>>
>>245846
>E) Head into town and rob a store.
>>
>>245876
>>245894

Cash is low. You need a job. They're usually not hard to find; there are always plenty around the town.

First, you get dressed. Boots. Armor. Bandoliers. Mask. Hat.

And, of course, your weapons. Revolvers, your rifle, the tarkatan arm-blade, and a few sand grenades, small bulbs of your own invention. A small bag of caltrops, and another small bag for your coins.

In a place like Outworld, you secure weapons first. Now for other supplies: a canteen of water, and another for whiskey. A bit of rope. Some trail rations. A shovel, in case you need to bury a body.

Walking outside, you find your steed. It's not exactly a horse like the home you once knew, but it gets along well enough. It's a stubborn beast, but you're even more stubborn, on top of being patient. You broke him in soon enough after acquiring him.

You saddle him up and put your extra supplies on his back. Jumping up into the saddle and readying yourself for the journey, you take a moment to survey your property. The cabin is locked, the cattle are grazing nearby, and things shouldn't change by the time you get back.

Of course, if you did come back and the whole place was burnt down, it wouldn't be the first time in your long life. Nor likely the last.

Setting aside sour memories, you kick the beast's sides and off you go, riding across the wastelands. The first few orange streaks of light from the rising sun cut across the purple sky above, softly illuminating the landscape.

>A) Head straight for the capital city
>B) Go to a nearby village instead
>C) Find the main road and ride alongside it to the city
>D) Travel slowly and keep your eyes peeled for any trouble
>E) Other
>>
>>245903
>Travel slowly and keep your eyes peeled for any trouble
>>
>>245903
>D) Travel slowly and keep your eyes peeled for any trouble
>>
>>245903
Never know what oppritunuties we will come across
>>
>>245921
>>C) Find the main road and ride alongside it to the city
Forgot actual answer choice
>>
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>>245905
>>245912
>>245924
>>245921

You're not in a particular hurry. A lifetime and a half has given you the patience and precision of a snake. Taking your time, you keep your eyes peeled and scan them across the horizon for any sign of trouble. Things can move quickly here in the wasteland. If something sneaks up on you, it could mean death.

Today it pays off. Traveling slow means you aren't noticed by a nearby group of raiders. You hone in on them almost immediately; horse archers with torches, flying the colors of the dead Emperor. That means they're in service to General Reiko, and fighting against the new regime.

Political struggle was never your interest unless it paid, and so far, neither side's made you an offer, so you couldn't much care. Keeping track of them, you see they're headed for a village under the new Emperor's protection. Likely to pillage, raid and rape to send him a message.

For a moment, your mind is taken back to long ago, to another small town in another world. Imagery of riders on the horizon, burnt into your memory, along with buildings on fire, a swirling inferno giving way to a great pillar of black smoke, darkening the skies for miles around...

You're back in the present. Shaking your head, you banish the memory. Another time. Another life. Another world. You don't care about that now. It's a harsh world, the one you come from, and this one is even harsher. It's not your problem. Or maybe it could be...

>A) Ignore the raiders; keep going
>B) Watch their attack on the village
>C) Change course to stop them before they reach the village and speak with their leader
>D) Attack them and kill them all
>E) Join them and cause some chaos
>F) Other
>>
>>245928
>>B) Watch their attack on the village
We're patient, let's follow them from a distance and see what their target is. If it looks like a good score, we can join in. If not, we can easily ride away in the chaos of the attack or join in the defense to gain the gratitude of the townspeople
>>
>>245928
>D) Attack them and kill them all
>>
>>245934
Agree with this.
>>
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>>245934
>>245942

Turning your steed, you follow their trail, keeping low and quiet. You observe them as they approach the village, firing flaming arrows at its wall. The village closes its gate quickly and a standoff soon ensues, but the raiders keep mobile, circling the village and firing at its defending archers, who themselves shoot from small towers that line the wall.

The leader of the raiders seems to be giving orders to plant explosives, gunpowder bombs carried by one of his lieutenants, at the main gate. Once done and set off, they would be able to swarm into the town. In response, the village starts throwing flaming jars of tar over their walls, keeping them at bay for the moment.

They almost appear to be stalling... and in a minute, you realize why.

Over a nearby hill appears a cavalry. The raiders are too busy to notice right away, but from your vantage point, the remainder of this battle unfolds in front of your eyes before it even happens. The reinforcements ride large lizards, quick and ravenous beasts with sharp talons, but the leader of the charge, surprisingly enough, is a young woman.

You've heard of her before. She fights for the new Emperor against the soldiers of the old. Her name is Li Mei, a young Outworld native to the village of Sun Do. She was trained personally by Master Bo' Rai Cho, a man you've encountered before in seedy taverns. Hell of a drinker, a man worth respecting, both in bars and battle.

Li Mei leads the charge down the hill, riding atop a large raptor with a lance in her hand and reigns in the other. Her admittedly skimpy outfit doesn't seem too practical to take into battle, making her look more like an edenian than an outworlder, but it matters little. This was a trap for the raiders, set by her forces, and they run them all down soon enough. The raptors overtake the horse-beasts and shred them while the soldiers attack the raiders.

With no sign of reinforcements, the raiders attempt to flee. Some of them manage to break off and escape while the bulk of their force dies. Cowards, perhaps, but a man who can run away is a man who lives to fight another day.

Unless you stop them, if you feel like it.

>A) Gun them down from a distance
>B) Chase them and take them alive
>C) Ignore them and approach the village
>D) Ignore this entire situation and continue on towards the city
>E) Other
>>
>>245957
>Gun them down from a distance
>>
>>245957
>A) Gun them down from a distance
>>
>>245961
>>245985

In a moment, your rifle is in hand. Looking down the sights, your mind goes through a number of details in an instant: the wind, the distance, the speed they're traveling at.

Three of them, moving fast, heads bouncing up and down as they ride. Low wind, but a good distance.

You make the needed adjustments to your aim and fire three times, and just like that, all of them are dead.

'Easy.'

They fall from their steeds into the dirt, with the beasts running on into the distance. You put the rifle away onto your back and steady your own beast before looking back towards the village. You know they heard the gunshots and saw the men fall dead, and you're the only person in this land, perhaps this entire world, with weapons that make noise like that.

Still, probably not worth sticking around unless you can get something out of it.

>A) Ride on to the city
>B) Approach the village and its defenders
>C) Wait and see if they approach you
>D) Demand payment for killing those men
>E) Other
>>
>>245987
>>C) Wait and see if they approach you
>>D) Demand payment for killing those men
Let's get payed, we aren't a charity worker after all
>>
>>245987
>Demand payment for killing those men
>>
>>245987
>C) Wait and see if they approach you
>D) Demand payment for killing those men
>>
>>245991
>>245994
>>246012

After waiting for several moments, you see a small number of them heading in your direction. Specifically, Li Mei and two others, each riding a raptor. The guards behind her wear skull-masks upon their faces as part of their helmets.

They spy you and adjust course. You remain still as the sky overhead turns to a complete orange as the morning sun now rises fully over the horizon. The three of them stop across the clearing from you, near a dead tree.

"Erron Black," she calls out. "Your reputation precedes you."

"Good. Then you know my services don't come cheap."

Her men look at each other, but she remains steady. "Typically, payment is done for a job that is agreed upon before the work is done. You killed those men of your own choice, not because you were hired to."

Your eyes narrow.

"However," she continues after a few seconds, "I recognize talent. I would be more than willing to pay you for those men, and more, if you would help us. We have more men to kill today, and your help would be both appreciated... and compensated for."

>A) What men do you need killed?
>B) I want the money for those three, and then I'm gone.
>C) Pay me for those three first and I'll help you kill more.
>D) No deal.
>E) Other
>>
>>246038
>A) What men do you need killed?
Wishfully tap that pocket that contains the bullet for Kaito. Maybe one day someone will pay us again to take down the sparky.

Also I have no reaction image that could convey how glad I am to see you back Damashi. I've missed Thief quest almost entirely, but I'm hoping things can be different this time around.
>>
>>246051
>Also I have no reaction image that could convey how glad I am to see you back Damashi. I've missed Thief quest almost entirely, but I'm hoping things can be different this time around.

Good to see you too, Anon.
>>
>>246051
>>246038
Second
>>
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>>246051

"What men do you need killed?"

"These raiders were only part of a larger camp. Kotal Kahn has ordered me to help lead the attack against them while his forces prepare to strike from the east. Join us, and I promise you that the Emperor will reward you."

"I'm not interested in rewards if they aren't koins. I'm not looking for imperial favor, like you. I want to be paid."

"And paid you shall be, Erron Black, on my word. Ride with us and see."

>A) Agree to her terms
>B) Demand a portion of payment first, then the rest after
>C) Ask for more details about the camp you are traveling to
>D) Deny her
>E) Other
>>
Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>246085
>C) Ask for more details about the camp you are traveling to
Are we payed for the act of taking part in the attack, or by enemies dropped? Is there anything else that is required of us? How much can she offer?

Kotal is man of his word, but always secure the details before agreeing to a deal
>>
>>246085
>C) Ask for more details about the camp you are traveling to
>>
>>246102
>>246112

Moving your steed alongside theirs as you head towards the village, you ask a few reasonable questions.

"Is this a flat rate, or am I getting paid per head?"

"Helping us defeat the enemy is all that is required. The only thing our Emperor does not wish is the execution of any who may surrender."

"So don't shoot the ones with their hands up. Gotcha. When is this going down?"

"When the sun is at its highest point in the sky."

"High noon. Fitting."

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch one of the guards staring. Out of awe or fear, you aren't certain. Li Mei's word is true; your reputation precedes you. It's what tends to keep people away from your home while you're not there.

"And what kind of koins are we talkin' about? Ruby? Onyx?"

"Kotal Kahn pays in gold, Erron Black. And blood." She smiles. "The reason he does not wish for those who surrender to be killed is so that he may kill them himself."

"He could do that on the battlefield, too."

"And he has, many times. But today his attention is elsewhere; he will not be joining our attack."

After regrouping with her fellow riders, they begin to travel eastward.

"The camp is not far from the Living Forest. General Reiko's forces have moved through the haunted woodland and, according to the ones we have captured, will soon be moving against the capital."

"How many men at this camp?"

"A few hundred only, but this is because it is not where the bulk of his forces are. Kotal Kahn is preparing an assault on them with the shokan. No, this is a smaller camp, one for men and their families."

You pause for a moment and look over at her. "Families?"

"Women and children, yes. We intend to capture them all alive."

"So your Emperor can kill them?"

She shakes her head and looks at you. "Kotal Kahn does not kill women and children who do not take up arms against him. Only soldiers. He intends to let their families live."

You don't reply. You keep your eyes forward as you keep on riding.

>A) Ride in silence
>B) Ask more questions
>C) Ride ahead and scout around
>D) Keep your distance from the main force and attack by yourself when they make their play
>E) Other
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>>246123
>A) Ride in silence
>>
>>246123
>>C) Ride ahead and scout around
Sounds like an easy job, but it can't hurt to be careful.
>>
>>246123
>>246192
let's go with this then. I have no strong opinion on this decision
>>
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>>246143
>>246192
>>246209

You spend the rest of the trip there in silence. As the group travels east, you decide to ride on ahead and see what you'll be dealing with.

"Remember, high noon!" Li Mei calls out, but you don't reply.

You ride across the wasteland. To the south, you spy the Living Forest. The dark green, misty woods are a dark mark upon the horizon. Your beast grunts as it charges on ahead, and it isn't long before your target is in sight.

Sticking to one side of a hill, you dismount and crawl on your belly to the top to get a better look. Pushing your hat up slightly, you see a large camp with walls of bone and wood, sentry towers and many hastily-constructed shacks and tents. Kahn guards, the old Kahn guards that is, patrol the walls and the main gate, armed with swords, spears, bows and axes. You can see a number of key details about the camp; your hawk-like eyes quickly identify several potential weak points in the walls, as well as several useful vantage points that you could snipe from. Of course, it all depends on how you want to proceed from here...

>A) Find a good spot, and when the fighting starts, snipe
>B) Sneak into the village now and attack from within when they make their move
>C) Ride back to Li Mei and tell her what you have seen; note the weak points to her
>D) Warn this camp about the impending attack
>E) Other
>>
>>246222
>>C) Ride back to Li Mei and tell her what you have seen; note the weak points to her
>A) Find a good spot, and when the fighting starts, snipe
We may work pretty good on our own, but we should not let our allies go to waste. Tell them about the weak points, then take up a good over watch position. As the fight continues we can move into the camp or stay sniping as needed.
>>
>>246222
>D)
Let's see who can make a better offer.
>>
>>246222
>A) Find a good spot, and when the fighting starts, snipe
I'd like to go back, but we ain't doing favors for the mere promise of payment, only finish the job. If Li Mei wants to Black-scout service, she should have paid in advance.
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>>246247
truth
>>
>>246247
You know what this does sound good change >>246242
to A
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>>246233
>>246247
>>246250
>>246257

After searching around for a bit, you find a good place to set up. It's well-covered, has a good view on most of the camp, is elevated and the only way to get up to your position is from behind you, which means you know where any enemies that try to find you would be coming from.

Rifle in hand, you lay on your stomach and wait. You're steady, nerves calm, completely at ease. Down the sights of your rifle, you mark several targets that would be good to hit when the fighting starts.

You also see children. Two of them. A little girl and a little boy, playing in a small puddle of water. Completely oblivious to what's about to happen, and likely, the wider world around them.

Time trickles by as you keep them out of sight and mind, focusing on the camp itself. You can tell from the shadow of a nearby plant that noon is here.

It starts with several balls of fire hurled at the western wall of the camp, setting them ablaze. A force of Kahn warriors, Kotal Kahn's men, appear from the east, with siege vehicles of war, lobbing projectiles of fire and stone. Osh-tekk warriors charge in ahead of them, throwing magic as they run.

As the camp begins to react, Li Mei's riders from the west charge towards the camp.

'Time to earn your pay.'

>Roll 1d100 and describe an action to accompany your roll. The higher the roll, the better!
>>
Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>246280
Try to get a headshot on whomever in the camp seems to be giving orders. Demoralize the enemy as fully as possible and leave them without leadership
>>
Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>246280
Up for turkey shoot!
Try not to damage any lootable goods tough
>>
>>246288

You look for the leader of the camp, but do not find him. He must be indoors, or coordinating the defense of the camp somewhere out of sight. You've got no clean shot on him, so you focus on something else.

>>246298

Two shots take down two of the soldiers along the wall. They fall back with bleeding holes in their skulls, and in the confusion of the attack and the shouting, nobody notices right away, nor do they pick up on your location.

Li Mei's riders have reached the camp and are strafing its walls. The other force, the one from the east, is led by a massive brute with a little girl riding on his back. They charge towards the wall and burst through it, making a hole large enough for other soldiers to run through and start attacking the enemy within.

Adjusting your weapon, you prepare to shoot again.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>246324
Try to find the one who's head might worth something. Either for the Khan, or anywhere else.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>246324
The Kahn's forces are making good progress. They don't need our help. Aim at the side of the compound that Lei Mei is attacking and start thinning out the guards
>>
>>246333
>>246349

You fire several more times, but you don't seem to be making any significant progress. The chaos in the camp is robbing you of better targets, and the fire and families are starting to become a problem.

With fewer options for sniping, you decide to take out one of your pistols and draw your tarkatan blade with your other hand. Time to get up close and personal.

Leaving your sniper position, you run down the hill towards the enemy and charge up to the wall. Bursting through one of its weak points, two guards turn and look at you.

"Afternoon," you say, raising your revolver.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>246388
Blast them both in the face, one revolver each.
>>
Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>246388
>Rip and/or Tear
>>
>>246324
I see the dice gods have once again turned their hateful gaze towards this quest
>>
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>>246418

They both charge in at you, but you drop the tarkatan blade and draw your second revolver before it even hits the ground. Raising them both up, you blast them in the face, one bullet each, and they drop to the ground.

From one corner of your eye, you see another coming. Turning to the side, you blast him in the neck and send him hurtling down to the ground.

>>246436

Taking a moment to pick your blade back up, you stride into the camp. A warrior in red and silver armor howls like a madman as he charges towards you, but you dodge his attack before impaling him with your blade, cleanly shoving it through his stomach. You stare into his wide eyes as you twist it before tearing it out and letting him fall to the ground, staining the sand red.

All around you, men clash against each other and the sounds of blades striking rings throughout the air. Fireballs and blasts of magical conjuring soar overhead as a tower falls, its occupants quickly set upon by raptor riders.

Such is a day in Outworld.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>246453
Hijack a fucking raptor!
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>246468
>>246453
Second
>>
>>246468
>>246495

Looking nearby, you see a man with a spear throw it cleanly through the heart of one of the raptor riders. Running towards his mount, you fire a pistol off to the side and blast the spear-wielding enemy before jumping up onto the beast.

You grab its reigns and pull back, getting the viscious animal under your control. It responds well to your commands, and with a pistol in your other hand, you prepare to ride the creature into battle. It's certainly quicker than your last mount.

The battle continues around you. Nearby, you see Li Mei with her sword, striking down one of the camp guards. The symbiotic pair, the brute and the little girl, are tearing through two others, each of them focusing on someone else as they fight in a dynamic duo. You've seen those symbiotes before, but these two are particularly powerful and skilled.

Nearby, a large tent opens up and a man emerges. He is a massive brute in his own right, with armor resembling the old dead Emperor and two large axes in his hands. He roars and the men of the camp rally to him.

'There's a good target,' you think to yourself.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>246502
Charge the man and have the raptor jump up and strike with its clawed feet
>>
Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>246502
Sand bomb, then one right between the eyes
>>
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>>246516
>>246517

Turning the raptor towards the man, you take out a sand grenade and hurl it at his eyes. It explodes on impact; they don't hurt much, but they are useful for stunning and surprising an opponent. As he stumbles back from the sand and force of the blast, you kick the raptor and urge it to jump up onto him. Both clawed feet of the reptillian beast land on his chest, taking him down to the ground. The hulking man shouts in pain and drops both of his axes as he struggles to get the raptor off of him.

Some of the men around him attempt to grab you or jab you with spears. With your revolver, you shoot three of them down, more than enough to keep the others at bay.

The man grabs the raptor and manages to force the beast off with his great strength. The raptor falls to the side and you roll off as the man stands up and stares you down, blood running down his chest from the claws.

You stand up and stare him back, your hands gripping your weapons tightly.

'Another showdown.'

He dives towards you in a tackle!

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>246535
Go flat on your back, and kick him over you!
>>
Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>246535
>Hurdle the punk
Also stab in the back if we have our blade in hand
>>
Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>246535
Throw a quarter up in the air to distract him and while he's looking up at it shoot the quarter to hit his head
>>
>>246574
>>246583
>And the dice gods reply "This is Mortal Kombat, Lethal attacks are for plebs"
>>
>>246593
That's because you immediately want to finish off a semi-boss fighter.
There is a health-bar to erode before you can finish him!
>>
Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>246535
Fan the hammer. Empty all 6 shots into his torso
>>
>>246548
>>246574
>>246583

You dive back as well, planting your boots squarely on his chest as he jumps over you. With your back and arms, you hit the ground and balance yourself as you kick him backwards. He tumbles behind you as you spring back up onto your feet.

Turning around and taking out your blade, you attempt to stab him in the eyes. He reaches up and manages to grab the end of your weapon as you jab it downwards. He pushes against you, but you have the leverage. You'll need a distraction...

He forces the blade off to one side and you let go, rolling away. Getting up to your feet, you use your free hand to take out a koin before flipping it up into the air with your thumb. This draws his attention for a moment as he watches the golden glint of light.

You draw your pistol and fire up at the koin, bouncing the bullet off and causing it to fire right at him. It lands right between his legs, in a place that no man should have to be shot in.

He falls down in pain as you catch the koin.

'Hmm. Wrong head.'

You slide the revolver away as the symbiote and her men deal with all of the others. The leader is sufficiently pacified. Poor bastard.

Better him than you, though.

Walking away, you approach Li Mei, who is overseeing the capture of the enemy troops. She notes your approach. "Erron Black. Good work."

"Work is work, good or bad," you reply. "So long as it gets done and I get paid."

"Yes, I understand." She faces you fully. "I don't have much money with me. I can pay you a bit now, and more later, if you accompany our forces to the city and help escort these prisoners."

"I'm not very fond of traveling with groups."

"Regardless, if you intend to collect now or later, I will inform the Kahn of your contributions to our efforts here. He will ensure that his treasurer, Countess Mira, will pay you a proper fee for your work."

The symbiotic pair approach, the large one lumbering over as the smaller one rides upon his back. "Bang bang fun!" she says. "Shoot shoot!"

Ignoring her, you cross your arms and think. You could take some of the money now, or supplies from the camp. That would solve your immediate supply issues back home. Of course, helping guard the caravan as it heads to the capital could also make you demand a higher fee.

>Select one or a few:
>A) Take some money now, get more later
>B) Accompany the caravan of prisoners north to the capital
>C) Take some supplies from this camp and bring them home
>D) Keep the raptor
>E) Take none of the money and get all of it later
>F) Other (Write-in)
>>
>>246643
F: accompany the caravan of prisoners north to the capital, stealing any possible supplies black finds in a position for easy pickings
>>
>>246643
>B) Accompany the caravan of prisoners north to the capital
We better follow up on our money. We haven't left the oven on at home, right?
Do we even have an oven?
>>
>>246643
D: we gotta keep the raptor
>>
>>246684

Yes, we have an oven.
>>
>>246696
Well I sure do hope we turned it off then. That scorpion didn't taste that good to give up our lair for.
>>
>>246643
>>A) Take some money now, get more later
>>B) Accompany the caravan of prisoners north to the capital
>>C) Take some supplies from this camp and bring them home
Let's make sure to accept an initial payment from Lei Mei and grab the some supplies so even if the Kahn decides not to pay us more we still come away with something.
>>
>>246643
>>A) Take some money now, get more later
>>B) Accompany the caravan of prisoners north to the capital
>>
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>>246680
>>246684
>>246688
>>246749
>>246752

"Pay me what you can now. I'll head north with the rest of you and take my pay straight from the Kahn himself. I better not get shortchanged, Li Mei, otherwise I'll make a bullet with your name on it."

As the raptor you rode earlier is lead nearby, you grab the reigns from the man and push him back. "Think I'll take this, too. I've been lookin' for a faster ride."

Li Mei is amused and pays little heed to your threat, and stops any protest from her men. "Very well, mercenary. Come with us and I'll see you paid."

A few minutes later and you're outside the burning camp. A long chain of prisoners is being marched north, along with their families. You watch them as they pass by, under heavy guard from the mounted soldiers. Those who cannot walk are carried on improvised litters.

As you stare, you see the same little boy and little girl from earlier. They walk behind a man and a woman, and the woman is heavy with child. Through narrow eyes, you look at them all, especially the young boy. For the briefest of moments, his gaze meets yours, and you see a strong, burning hatred in them.

Good. Sooner or later, the kid will just grow up to be an enemy. Better he learn hate now, and learn it well. When he sees his father killed by the Kahn, it'll be all he has to drive him.

Either that or he'll just die young, like many of the others.

You couldn't much care.

With your pack freshly stocked with supplies, and a bag full of koins from Li Mei, you head out and follow alongside them, leading your raptor and your other steed with a rope.

>A) Stay in front with Li Mei
>B) Stay in the middle
>C) Stay in the rear of the caravan
>D) Give the caravan a wide berth and keep your distance
>E) Other
>>
>>246781
E: travel ahead once more
>>
>>246796
>>246781
This
>>
>>246781
>A) Stay in front with Li Mei
Ah, so that's where we are in time.
>>
>>246781
>>A) Stay in front with Li Mei
Also how's it's going Cao?
>>
>>246817
Pretty shit but stable right now, as you can see.
>>
>>246817

That little boy WAS Cao.
>>
>>246832
I figured it was Cao and his family from the fact that they kept getting empasis in the descriptions and that we were probably in the past due to Black not being employed as Kotal's enforcer.
>>
>>246858
Have we ever figured it out why was he after Nightwolf in the Otiak timeline?
>>
>>246872
No idea. Maybe it had something to do with Wolf's relations with the shokan shaman or just being a defender of earthrealmers, both reasons enough for someone in outworld to want him dead
>>
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>>246796
>>246800

You're a loner. That's the way of things. After telling Li Mei that you're going to ride ahead and meet her at the city, you do just that.

Doing so helps banish unfavorable thoughts in your head about those prisoners, things that remind you of a long time ago. Another husband, another wife, another child. Another life.

Riding on, you see the city in the distance. Z'unkahrah, Kotal Kahn's capital. It used to belong to Shao Kahn, but that's what happens when you push another realm too far.

You weren't involved in that conflict between Earthrealm and Outworld, though your fate and past have been entwined with both. The only thing you remember from that time was your attempt to take out a man named Kaito. Rain, an edenian prince and someone with a severe case of stick-up-his-ass, hired you for quite a bit of gold.

You almost had him, too. Put up a decent fight. From what you've heard in taverns, he went on to help kill Shao Kahn, so that's hardly surprising.

You still have a bullet with his name on it. But that job is over. According to whispers, he's asleep in Earthrealm, pulling a Rip Van Winkle.

Rip Van Winkle... now there's a story you haven't heard in a long while. Man sleeps so long that the world's left him behind. You've got a bit of that going on yourself---only you're not asleep.

Staring ahead at the city, you think about your next move. The route seems clear of danger. You could wait for them, or move on. The market might be a good distraction.

>A) Wait for the caravan
>B) Enter the city
>C) Find a good place to tie up your mounts
>D) Head back to the caravan
>E) Other
>>
>>246938
>C) Find a good place to tie up your mounts
>>
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>>246938
>C) Find a good place to tie up your mounts
>pulling a Rip Van Winkle
>>
>>246938
>>B) Enter the city
We can wait for the caravan there
>>
>>246953
>>246969
>>247002

You approach the city and find a stable outside. For a koin, the man there will keep your mounts and feed them. For a koin extra, he'll wash them.

"Watch out for the green one. She's a biter."

You toss the man two gold koins and approach the gate. There, two Kahn guards stop you, holding spears and swords of wood and obsidian.

"Halt!" one calls out. "In this time of war, we cannot let just anyone past! Identify yourself and your business in our city!"

You stare them both down. It's not the first time guards have tried to stall you, but these two clearly aren't aware of what happened to the last pair that did.

Of course, you could be more diplomatic this time. It'll be a couple of hours before Li Mei arrives at the walking pace they're going at.

>A) Teach them a lesson
>B) Kill them
>C) Inform them that you are ahead of Li Mei
>D) Tip them off with a koin
>E) Wait for Li Mei and her caravan
>F) Other
>>
By the way, for anyone who has Discord, I just set up a chatroom for this quest. I'll be including it, alongside other usual information, in the OP of the next thread.

https://discordapp.com/invite/014EClI4Ui1s65Ir2
>>
>>247073
>C) Inform them that you are ahead of Li Mei
Tell them we come from battle, and we just shot of the balls of the enemy warleader. It's the only pair we've been paid for, but we don't mind doing extra if we are forced to.
>>
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>>247112

Folding your arms, you approach them and tilt your hat down a bit. "I just came from battle, helping out your forces wipe out a camp of General Reiko's soldiers. I shot the balls off their leader. It's the only pair I've been paid for, but it might not be the only pair I take today."

They look at you and back at each other.

"Care to find out which pair gets taken first?"

The second one speaks up. "My apoligies, sir, we didn't recognize you... Go on in, of course."

They part and you stride into the town.

Z'unkahrah is a big town, with many different people from many different places. Accents blur and blend as you walk through the streets, as do the various species. Outworlder, shokan, tarkatan, or other mutants---it doesn't matter.

You're probably the only human in this town, but you don't care too much about that.

>A) Go to the marketplace
>B) Head to Kotal Kahn's palace
>C) Find a bar and get drink in you
>D) Find a nice brothel
>E) Other
>>
>>247183
>A) Go to the marketplace
Shhesh, no idea. We shouldn't drink before we are paid, and we don't have too much money to shop. Maybe we can look around and see if there is something nice worth purchasing later.
>>
>>247183
>A) Go to the marketplace
>>
>>247254
>>247274

The market is bustling with activity. People rush about to and fro from stall to stall and bargain with the shopkeeps. Merchants call out to anyone passing by, trying to call attention to their wares.

For the most part, you ignore them as you pick out the places you'd like to see.

>A) Water merchant
>B) Wine merchant
>C) Cattle merchant
>D) Hat merchant
>E) Other
>>
>>247286
>B) Wine merchant
You know what, let's see if something worth stocking up at home. We don't keep cattle, and our hat is the best in the land.
Maybe that water form the wellspring would worth getting, but we can do without it

Also, where the fuck is everyone?
>>
>>247286
E.Strange woman in a hut near the outskirts of the marketplace
>>
Why are we on /qst/?
>>
>>247286
>>B) Wine merchant
Let's get something to pass the time until the convoy gets here
>>
>>247286
>Wine Merchant
>>
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>>247286
>a cowboy that drinks wine

PASS THA WHISKEY
>>
>>247357

I'm giving it a shot. Both archives at /tg/ and /qst/ now link to each other, so there's little harm in hosting it here.
>>
>>247382
Y'know, except the acceptance you'll never get a new audience and the acceptance of a ghetto.

But hey
>>
>>247387
Also that without a third party help like twitter, you can't tell which quests are active, and which haven't been touched in over a day, because everything autosages after 48 hours.
>>
>>247387
>>247397

I'm only giving it a shot. I'll see how it turns out.

>>247346
>>247358
>>247371

Moving towards a stall with many different bottles of wine and other alcohol, along with small barrels, you are greeted by a woman in red with her face hidden by a mask.

"Greetings, stranger. You have made a fine choice coming to my stall."

"I imagine most everyone would say that about their stalls."

"Ah, but for me it is the truth. I have wines and exotic liquors from every corner of the realm, carried and preserved each according to their needs so that I may provide for yours. What do you desire?"

>A) Something hard-hitting
>B) Something sweet and flavorful
>C) Something to help with pain
>D) Something to steady your nerves
>E) Other
>>
>>247423
>>A) Something hard-hitting
>>
>>247423
>A) Something hard-hitting
My nerves are fucking steel, and I eat pain for breakfast
>>
>>247423
E: "Pass the whiskey"

(i mean if its an alt-universe, theres a possibility that its there)
>>
>>247423
>>A) Something hard-hitting
Lads lads lads lads!
>>
>>247423

E: pulls out a guitar and plays this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxJde5lQHn8
>>
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>>247440
>>247448
>>247452
>>247380
>>247459

"Something hard-hitting. Whiskey, if you've got it."

"I have that and many more," she says, taking out a bottle from her stock. She hands it to you and you inspect it.

The bottle is plain and nondescript, dark and heavy. You slosh it around a bit, determining how much is inside. It all seems legitimate.

"This better not be watered-down swill," you tell her, placing a few koins on the table. "I test it before I pay."

"Of course."

Popping it open, you take a swig. You taste a great many things and, having lived as long as you have, you can pick many of them out. It's not bad. A lesser man might have thought it too strong.

It'll do. You seal it back up and slide the koins over. "Much obliged, ma'am."

She bows as you walk off, sliding the drink into your pocket.

You've still got some time before Li Mei and her entourage are expected.

>A) Inspect another stall
>B) Talk to one of the blind sages in the streets
>C) Run into some trouble
>D) Take a nap while you wait
>E) Other
>>
>>247509
B: talk to one of the blind sages in the streets
>>
>>247509
>>D) Take a nap while you wait
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>247509

>1 talk to one of the blind sages in the streets
>2 Take a nap while you wait
>>
>>247509
>B) Talk to one of the blind sages in the streets
>>
>>247574
>>247593
>>247632
>>247565

Passing by one of the blind sages you've seen before, you ignore her and keep walking. You don't take much stock in what the blind have to say, certainly less if they call themselves sages. You prefer to make your own wisdom than take it from those who can't see the world around them.

But as you move on, you discover you have little choice. A blind girl reaches out and grabs your hand. She's young, and pretty, with long brown hair and cloth stretched around her eyes.

"I see you, gunslinger," she whispers urgently. "I see you and the one you carry."

You shake off her hand. "I don't carry anyone."

"You will," she says, reaching up to touch your arm. "I see the one you carry. She is hunted, as you will be hunted."

"I don't care."

"But you do. You will. One reason, or another, you will."

She sits back down and grows silent. "She waits at your home."

You blink a few times. "My home, is it? We'll see."

You walk off and find a nice, shady spot to sit in yourself, ignoring the blind woman's words. Any mystic or soothsayer can say things and make them seem true through the power of belief. You've certainly seen plenty of mystical things in your time, but you've never put much belief in seeing the future, especially from someone blind.

You close your eyes and rest.

When you wake up, a few hours have passed. You push yourself up and stretch for a moment before putting your hat back on and walking off. Perhaps Li Mei is back.

>A) Head to the palace
>B) Head to the main gate
>C) Check on your steeds at the stables
>D) Ask a guard if a caravan of prisoners has come through
>E) Other
>>
>>247670
>>D) Ask a guard if a caravan of prisoners has come through
If so,
>A) Head to the palace
>>
>>247687
got no better idea myself
>>
>>247687
>>247670
Seems good enough
>>
>>247687
C
>>
>>247687
>>247693
>>247705

Heading back out into the street, you look for one of the Kahn's guards and ask him if Li Mei has returned to the city. He says that yes, she has, and has led the prisoners to the dungeon and is currently at the palace. You walk away without thanking him and head towards the massive ziggurat in the heart of the city. There, you are once more stopped by guards, ones who are firmer and don't respond as well to casual threats.

After explaining yourself to them, they send word to Li Mei, who then sends word back to allow you to enter the palace. You walk into the palace and find yourself in a rather luxurious entrance hall. Wandering around a bit, you also discover a large interior garden.

A nice place, but not your style.

>A) Head to the throne room
>B) Explore the first floor
>C) Explore the second floor
>D) Head to the council chamber hall
>E) Step out into the palace gardens
>F) Other
>>
>>247808
fuckit

>throne room

#bitchbetterhavemymoney2016
>>
>>247808
>A) Head to the throne room
That's where the man with our check might reside.
>>
>>247823
my bad we're not playing as johnny cage
>>
>>247808
>>A) Head to the throne room
Time to aquire significant dosh
>>
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>>247851
>we're not playing as johnny cage
those were some glorious days
>>
>>247868
over time we would get an other action id go for a quick sacktap
>>
>>247823
>>247828
>>247855

Proceeding up a large staircase, find yourself entering a grand throne room of stone and gold. Here, upon a throne of rock, metal and bone, sits the osh-tekk ruler of Outworld, Emperor Kotal Kahn. He is flanked by a kytinn warrior you have met before, D'Vorah. You don't much like her, or her kind, or bugs in general. To the Kahn's left is a hinparian, Ruby, a woman with whom you have had dealings before.

Li Mei is crouching before the throne, kneeling to her ruler. As you enter, Kotal Kahn's eyes drift upwards. He bids Li Mei to rise.

"Ah... the wandering mercenary. A man I have heard much about."

"Your highness." You bow your hat, more of a courtesy than anything else. You've heard of his reputation for taking offense to certain things and an angry emperor isn't someone you'd like on your back.

"Li Mei was just informing me of the role you played in eliminating an encamptment of my enemy. I am very pleased with this news."

"Yes, well, suffice to say Emperor, I didn't do it out of the kindness of my heart."

"She was very clear on this point. I shall send word to my treasurer, Countess Mira, immediately. You shall be well-compensated for your work. But, if I recall, this is not my first attempt to earn your services, is it?"

Your eyes stray over to D'Vorah. "No, it isn't. But I wasn't very interested at the time you sent your envoy to find me."

"And have you changed your mind since?"

You fold your arms. "Depends on what I'm being offered."

D'Vorah's black eyes narrow. "You are speaking to the Emperor of Outworld. You should be kneeling."

Kotal raises a hand and silences her. "I am offering employment, Erron Black, as one of my enforcers. Loyalty to my throne and my regime. My enemies would be your enemies, and you would no longer scrape by on koins. You would have plenty to spare."

You listen to his words. Being an imperial enforcer was never your plan, but if it pays well, you'd have little to object to.

>A) I'll hold judgment until I get paid for the first job.
>B) If you throw in a bonus, I'll agree.
>C) I'm willing to negotiate my terms.
>D) Disagree and decline the offer
>E) Other
>>
>>247882
a
>>
>>247882
>A) I'll hold judgment until I get paid for the first job.
First things first
>C) I'm willing to negotiate my terms.
He knows what we want, we know he has what we want. Isn't this the perfect business relationship?
>>
>>247882
>>A) I'll hold judgment until I get paid for the first job.
>>
>>247908
Seconding
>>
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>>247899
>>247908
>>247916
>>247934

"With all due respect, Emperor, I like to take things one thing at a time, and before I take on one job, I'd like to get paid for the other first."

"You are a practical man, Mr. Black. I respect those who are firm." He turns to Ruby. "See that the man is paid. Several hundred koins, not one less."

The red-clad woman nods and moves off to take you to the treasurer.

"Right this way, Mr. Black."

You follow alongside her as she takes you to another part of the palace. "You'll have to forgive Countess Mira for not being here at the moment. She does not make many public appearances."

"Mmhmm."

>A) Walk in silence
>B) Ask about Kotal Kahn's interest in hiring you
>C) Ask Ruby about her position
>D) Ask about Countess Mira
>E) Other
>>
>>247975
B
>>
>>247975
>A) Walk in silence
nothing to say really
>>
>>247975
>>B) Ask about Kotal Kahn's interest in hiring you
We may be the only Cowboy in outworld, but we aren't the only person Kotal could pick as an enforcer
>>
>>247984
We are the best of the best, and we are utterly loyal as long as we are paid.
and he knows that he can pay.
>>
>>247980
>>247984

"The Emperor has spoken about you on occasional. Your reputation is very immaculate for your line of work. In particular, he was interested when he heard of your battle with the Earthrealm shaman, the one known as Nightwolf."

Memories of that battle flash in your mind. The shaman was powerful, perhaps one of the best fighters you've ever faced. In the end, he escaped, but you both had left a mark and an impression on the other.

"The Emperor had heard talk of your clash against him. At first, he was worried that it could be another incident of Outworld against Earthrealm, but then he learned of your origin."

You don't reply, you just keep walking in silence.

"Why did you fight him, if I may ask?" Ruby asks. "Were you hired?"

"No ma'am, that one was personal."

"Oh? You personally had a grievance with him?"

"Nope. Just hate injuns."

She gives you a confused look. "What?"

"Nothin', forget I said it."

She takes you to a waiting hall and instructs you to remain here while she fetches Countess Mira. The hall itself is below the temple, with no windows and hardly any furnishings. An odd place to meet a treasurer, much less a countess. Ruby moves off into a darker passage.

>A) Wait
>B) Expect an ambush
>C) Take a swig of whiskey
>D) Follow Ruby
>E) Other
>>
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>>248008
>"nope i just hate injuns"
>>
>>248008
c: whiskey
>>
>>248008
>>B) Expect an ambush
>>C) Take a swig of whiskey

Real men can do both
>>
>>248008
>C) Take a swig of whiskey
Consider stocking up with the stuff at home
>>
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>>248021
>>248023
>>248027

While you wait, you pull down your mask and take a swig of the whiskey. It's better than what you have in your flask, that's for sure.

When you hear footsteps approaching, you put it away and slide your mask back up. A woman approaches, with two guards behind her in dark masks. She is beautiful, with skin that seems painted white and an elegent red dress.

Reminds you of a saloon girl, honestly. She's even fanning herself.

"You picked a strange place to meet, countess."

"My apologies, Mr. Black. The day just doesn't agree with my fair complexion," she says with a smile and a wink. "Tell me... you're human, aren't you?"

"Hard thing for someone to outright guess."

"I'm familiar with humans and their weaponry. You do well to blend into Outworld, but I can still see the humanity in your eyes."

Strange way to put it.

You've been alive for a considerable length of time. You've seen things and done things that would make most men turn green or yellow.

Something about this woman is off. She makes you uncomfortable.

"I'd like my money."

"Of course, ordered straight from the Kahn himself." She snaps a finger and one of her guards hands over a small chest. You take it and feel the weight, opening it up to see the koins within.

"Good. I'll be on my way now."

She reaches out and touches your arm. "Wait, Mr. Black. I have heard of you. I would be interested in hiring you for a personal task."

Your eyes narrow. "I'm a bit busy at the moment."

"I won't take long," she smiles again.

Her hand feels a bit cold.

>A) Leave
>B) Stay and listen
>C) Shake her off and tell her you aren't interested
>D) Put a hand on your gun
>E) Other
>>
>>248100
>E) Other
>"Perhaps another time"
Sometimes, instinct is the only thing that keeps the cowboy alive. Also we got the Khan's offer to consider first. In case we refuse him, it would look bad to do private tasks for his treasurer.
>>
>>248119
>>248100
This makes sense. I'll support it.

On another note, Mr. Black is a practical man. Do you think that with additional resources, he'll consider making more substantive grenades than a sack of sand with som black powder and magnesium?
>>
>>248100
>>E) Other
Not today ma'am
>>
>>248143
I think there's a little more to them than that...

https://youtu.be/8ChD2-PGxKQ?t=1m5s
>>
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>>248119
>>248143
>>248144

"Perhaps another time... ma'am. I haven't decided if I want to work for the Kahn yet."

"This would not be a task for the Kahn," she says, moving closer even as you step away. "This would be me, paying you personally."

"Like I said, another time," you reply, leaving her and heading back the way you came.

Something about her unnerves you. You have a talent for knowing when people are hiding too much to be safe.

It's saved you more than a few times.

Like that time you met and made a deal with that sorcerer, Shang Tsung.

Of course, that deal did pay off, but still. You never liked the man. Sorcerers make your skin crawl.

Leaving the countess behind, you make your way out of the tunnels and back up to the palace.

There, you overhear some guards talking amongst themselves.

"Kotal Kahn is executing the captives in the arena. Come! We'll need to watch to help keep the crowds in line."

"I've heard stories about what he does to them. Is it true?"

"He uses blood magik. It's his way. Our Emperor is strong, and he gets his strength because of what he does to our enemies. Come on."

They move off as you enter the room.

>A) Go to the arena and watch
>B) Take your money and leave
>C) Stick around in town for a bit
>D) Get a room for the night
>E) Other
>>
>>248161
>>B) Take your money and leave

Capitals and palaces are pretty awful places. Especially those built for blood magic.
>>
>>248161
>You never liked the man. Sorcerers make your skin crawl.
Shang isn't so bad. More lonely and depressed.
Damashi, does Cao still visit Island Grandpa?
>>
>>248161
>B) Take your money and leave

>>248171
What? Cao buddied up with Shang?
>>
>>248184
Yeah sorta, when our one way teleportation device malfunctioned due to Shao kahn, we were sent to Shang's island. In return for sending him back, we got his spellbook back from his tower. He was pretty chill and seemed content to just chill on his island due to be universally hated by everyone else.
>>
>>248161
>A) Go to the arena and watch
>D) Get a room for the night
>>
>>248184
I wouldn't call it buddying up, but Cao ended up on Shang Tsung's island and eventually learned that Shang himself was alive.
But since he was hated by everyone he kind of just spent his time alone on his island being depressed.
>>
>>248212
Maybe all those surgical nut-strikes got rid of his aggression. Although I am sure he could just build a new pair if he wanted to.

>>248218
He worked laboriously hard to get that reputation, and now he shuns it? What a guy.
>>
>>248171
>Damashi, does Cao still visit Island Grandpa?
He will in time, maybe two or three threads from now.

>>248170
>>248184

You decide to leave and get out as soon as possible. With your money tucked under one arm, you head for the palace exit. But like a carriage getting stuck in mud or snow, something keeps blocking your path.

This time, however, it is green.

"Going somewhere, Erron?" Reptile asks as he decloaks in front of you.

"Reptile," you mutter under your mask, eyes squinting at the zaterran. "Thought I smelt something foul."

"Your insults mean nothing to me," Reptile hisses. "Do not think you can curry favor with the Emperor and replace me, human."

"Replacing you would be as easy as pulling a trigger. But I'm not interested, so count your scales lucky."

His yellow eyes stare back at yours. You remember the last time you met with him; he tried to hire you, but had nothing to pay you with. The lizard's eyes then drift down to the chest. "Leaving with your reward?"

"One of the benefits of actually getting paid. I'm sure you wouldn't know about it."

"I am loyal to my Emperor," Reptile says. "I am chieftain of my people!"

"A toad king is still a toad."

"I am no toad!" he hisses indignantly.

"No... you're a toadie." You approach him and brush past him. "Out of my way."

"Watch your back, mercenary. You never know when it will have a knife in it."

"I'd smell you coming."

You leave the palace, and its resident bootlicking raptor, behind.

>A) Head straight to your mounts and ride home
>B) Stop by a tavern first
>C) Stock up on some more whiskey
>D) Stay in town for the night, but leave in the morning
>E) Other
>>
>>248240
>>E) Other
Get the supplies we said that we've been meaning to. Capital prices might mean they're a bit higher than out in the wildlands, but quality should be higher as well. Food, rations, medical supplies, chemical compounds such as saltpeter or magnesium to craft more bullets, etc.
>>
>>248232
He actually mentioned that.
>He closes his eyes and shakes his head. "I tire of the game of being the boogeyman. I've been punched one too many times in the groin in past lives, I would rather avoid it again. Or being hit at all. I'm an old man and I want my peace for once in my life. Shao Kahn is dead and now I serve only myself." He brings up his head. "Now bring me the book so I can get you off of my island."
>>
>>248240
>>B) Stop by a tavern first
>D) Stay in town for the night, but leave in the morning
Maybe pick up some supplies too. Also sell our old mount as we have a raptor now
>>
>>248240
>C) Stock up on some more whiskey
and whatever else we might need at home, no sense leaving empty handed, especially with the new mount.

Maybe we should accept the Kahn's offer just to spire Reptile.

>>248261
Wow, I wish I'd been there. Perhaps next time.
>>
>>248256
>>248273
>>248275

Before leaving town, you decide to get some more supplies. Water, charcoal, some other essentials. Oil for your lamps, a few candles. You spend only for things you need, and even for things you don't need you are extremely pragmatic.

With that done, you head out to your mounts and get ready to leave town. You look at your old hound-horse mount as its knuckles tramp on the ground a bit.

Your raptor will serve fine for a primary mount now. You could sell the old one, or keep it as a pack animal.

Or eat it. Plenty of good meat from living around your cabin. Your new mount might need some food, too.

>A) Sell the old mount
>B) Keep it as a pack animal
>C) Keep it to eat it
>D) Keep them both as mounts
>E) Other
>>
>>248353
>>B) Keep it as a pack animal

It's been good to us.
>>
>>248363
sure why not. seconding
>>
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>>248363
>>248451

Putting your extra supplies and money on the back of the animal, you saddle up the raptor and move them both out, heading southwest. The afternoon sun is in its final stretch before evening and it'll be a good ride back home.

Along the way, you think about Kotal Kahn's offer. You had initially turned it down because it was D'Vorah who had approached you for it, and you don't much like her. Her kind have always seemed unnatural to you. You're fine with shokan, centaurs, even tarkatans---but she makes you uncomfortable. Like that countess.

Still, despite the company Kahn keeps at his court, he could pay well. Your only concern is that this is a time of war. Your responsiblities would be quite high, and you'd be doing a lot more fighting than usual. Not that you can't handle it, but since you're not getting any older, death through mortal injury is the only thing that can stop you.

Still, the pay would be good. The city isn't so bad a place. You're thinking of accepting the job just to spite Reptile, that hateful ball of green spit.

Pushing those thoughts from your mind, you focus instead on getting to your cabin. A few days of rest and relaxation would do you some good.

Tilting your head up, something on the horizon catches your hawk-like eyes.

Fire.

Your cabin.

'Goddamnitall.'

You kick your raptor into high gear and speed towards it.

>A) Have your guns at the ready
>B) Approach it slowly in case of danger
>C) Charge in and salvage what you can
>D) Wonder if you left the stove on
>E) Other
>>
>>248458
>>A) Have your guns at the ready
>>B) Approach it slowly in case of danger

But all the meanwhile.

>D) Wonder if you left the stove on
>>
>>248458
>A) Have your guns at the ready
It might be too late for the cabin, but if it wasn't a stove, then someone will be the new ottoman on in the rebuilt one!

>B) Approach it slowly in case of danger
now now, you need more then setting his home on fire if you want to bait old Mr.Black
>>
>>248466
>>248458
This
>>
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>>248466
>>248478
>>248503

Upon approaching your burning home, a few things become apparent. One is that several people have it surrounded, and are laughing as they hold torches. Another is that your cattle are dead. A third is that you can, underneath the sounds of your home on fire and their cackling, hear crying coming from within---a baby's crying.

You approach on your raptor and dismount, stopping near the group. You raise a gun into the air and fire, causing them all to turn around.

They're mutants. Disfigured, twisted, ugly sons of bitches.

"You picked the wrong cabin, freaks."

The nearest one's face turns pale.

"Oh, Elder Gods... This is Erron Black's house!"

One of them, an ugly bastard with his face on his chest, shouts, "Who gives a damn? Take him out!"

They charge.

Your eyes burn nearly as hot as the fire consuming your home.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>248547
Well, at least we can't miss the first one's head.
>>
Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>248547
Cap the fools, attempt to stay out of melee range
>>
Rolled 13 (1d100)

>>248547
>>248551
Did we just miss the first one's head? What the fuck? How is that even possible? It's like, half his god damn torso!
>>
Rolled 50 (1d100)

>>248547
You look funny. I am going to kill you last.

Wreck bloody order among them. Shoot anyone in the leg who tries to run away.
>>
Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>248547
There clumped together, throw a sand grenade to halt thier charge. Then blast them at our leisure
>>
>>248551

'Well, at least I can't miss that one's head.'

You raise your pistol and fire, only for the revolver to jam.

'Goddamnitall.'

>>248552

As one of them throws an axe at you, you turn and raise the other revolver and fire it at him, killing him outright by blasting his face off. As the first one that you missed nears you, you slam the butt of the pistol into his chest face, breaking his already-mishapen nose and unjamming your gun. You point it between his eyes and fire, shooting his brain and his heart at the same time, oddly enough.

>>248564

One of them throws a torch at you, but you shoot it out of the air. You turn and blast him in the legs, before fanning your gun and decorating his face with some extra holes.

Two of them drop their weapons and run. "She's dead already! Just leg it!"

"Can't leg it with a bullet in your leg," you mutter, gunning them both down with four bullets, one for each of their legs. They fall down and cry out.

From your cabin, the baby crying only grows louder.

>>248568

You see three coming at you. Taking out a sand grenade, you roll it at them. It explodes, the flash and sand halting their charge, allowing you to gun them down at your leisure.

A great roar from behind alerts you to the presence of a particularly large mutant. You look back and see him getting reach to pummel you with a massive fist. Rolling out of the way, you take out your caltrops and place them on the ground. The one-armed brute, following you, steps on them and falls backwards, grabbing his feet in pain.

There are three left, not counting the ones you put down with shots to the leg. One of them appears to be making his way to your cabin.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>248597
Let's prioritize getting the last of whatever we had in the house and the baby out the inferno. Unsling our rifle and put down the last three, then move into the house to recover our shit.
>>
Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>248597
Finish him off with the tarkatan blade. Go for the eye!
>>
>>248610
just to clarify; I meant the big one
>>
Could one anon shoot the fleeing one, telling him that we aren't fucking done with him yet?
>>
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>>248609

You run towards the house to get your things and the baby, when the big one reaches up and grabs your shoulder with an extendable arm. The bandersnatch freak pulls you back like a loaded spring, hurling you across the field. You hit the dirt like a ton of bricks and roll until a rock stops you.

The big one gets up and roars as he reaches for you again, his arm stretching like rubber. Before you can react, he grabs your leg and starts dragging you towards him, laughing like an idiot.

You take out your tarkatan arm-blade.

>>248610

When he lifts you up, you jab it upwards, right into his eye socket and out the back of his head. His mouth falls agape as you twist it, causing him to jerk and let you go.

"Laugh about that, freak."

Once you're back on your feet, you see the other two coming at you. Reaching for your rifle, you draw it and blast one in the skull before using the butt of the rifle to crack the other across the skull. He falls to the ground and crawls away, but you stand on his leg.

"I'm not done with you yet," you mutter, holding the gun up to his head. "Who sent you? Why'd you burn down my cabin? ANSWER!"

He gurgles up some blood. The sound of the child crying reaches your ears again.

You blast him and put him down for good as you run for the cabin.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>248651
Okay, now we save the baby.
>>
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>248651
It's High Noon and time for some Heroics.
Also in before Cao's family.
>>
Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>248651
Uh, kill the rest and get the baby and our shit?
>>
Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>248651
Shit, gotta save my hoster, and my extra hat!
oh and my pots! what will I cook my stuff in?
What?
Oh yeah get the baby if it's not too much bother
>>
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>>248655
>>248657
>>248658
>>248662

You run up to your door. It's locked---from the inside.

You're about to shoot when you hear the baby crying. Can't risk hitting it with the bullet. Bringing up a boot, you kick the door in.

The entire cabin is alight, and the roof is seconds from collapse. In the heart of the room is a badly injured man with blue skin, holding a crying bundle of cloth. He looks up at you with fearful eyes.

With no time to waste, you grab the man by the collar and drag him to the door, throwing him out of the house. He rolls so as to keep the baby safe. You run back inside and start hurling as many of your belongings as you can out of the window. Pots, pans, blankets, lantern, forks, your extra hat. Anything and everything you can get your hands on.

You hear a cracking sound and half of the roof caves in. Showers of embers and burning chunks of wood crash onto your bed and block and window.

Cursing your fortune, you dive out of the front door as the entire house collapses.

You look back at the inferno and take off your hat, watching your fourth cabin go up in flames.

'God... damnitall...'

>A) Grab the blue man and make him talk
>B) Interrogate the two living crippled mutants
>C) Shoot everyone in sight out of anger
>D) Start gathering up your things and get ready to move
>E) Other
>>
>>248695
>>A) Grab the blue man and make him talk
>>
>>248695
>C) Shoot everyone in sight out of anger
Time to see if we can break that record. Mind the baby and the blueberry tough. At the end of this we still want answers.
>>
>>248695
>>A) Grab the blue man and make him talk
He's just lucky we saved our extra hat otherwise we'd be picking C.
>>
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>>248707
>>248718

You get up onto your feet and dust yourself off. Nearby, the blue man sits, holding the child.

"Start talking, blueberry."

"I'm sorry... I was running, from those warriors... I hid in your home, it was the first place I saw..."

He holds out the sniffling child, revealing a large, gaping wound in his chest. "I couldn't run anymore..."

"Why were they chasing you?"

"The girl... Nania... They were chasing her."

Erron looks at the blue baby, noting her black eyes and pointed ears.

"What's so special about her?"

"Our last hope..." he breathes. You can hear it in his voice---he's breathing his last. He sits back, holding her close.

"Your daughter?"

"No... But my hope... my people's hope..." He looks up at you. "Please... You must save her..."

You look down on him, coldly staring into the little baby girl's eyes. "Not my problem."

"Please!" he desperately cries. "My people... she must reach the temple! You'll be... rewarded..."

You blink a few times.

>A) Ask about this reward
>B) Tell me where the temple is
>C) Why is she special
>D) Who wants her dead
>E) Other
>>
>>248771
>>A) Ask about this reward
>>B) Tell me where the temple is
>>C) Why is she special

ABC, easy as 123
>>
>>248771
>A) Ask about this reward
Where I come from, rewards have to be cold hard and need to have a weigh.
>>
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>>248780
>>248787

"What reward?"

He coughs up blood that runs down his chin. He holds the baby up, all but forcing it into your arms.

"My people... great reward... Beyond dreams..."

"Where?" you ask. "What temple?"

He chokes. "South! South, beyond the bonelands! Beyond the jungles of the amazons... A temple of blue fire! A temple of blue fire..."

He slumps back onto the ground, clutching his side.

"Only... hope..."

With that, he opens his mouth, closes his eyes, and his last breath leaves his body.

You look down at the little girl in your arms. She has stopped crying, and looks up at you strangely. You tilt your head a bit.

'A baby...'

You haven't held a baby in a long time. A lifetime and a half's worth of time.

You look back at the now-dead man. What was he? A mutant? Some other blue species you've never seen before? The girl does not seem to be of his kind---he has no nose, she does. His eyes were milky white, hers black as the night.

You hold the child close and consider what to do.

>A) Take the child south
>B) Take the child to Z'unkahrah
>C) Leave the child out in the wilderness
>D) One bullet and your problem is gone
>E) Other
>>
>>248889
>>E) Other
Go "discuss" things with the fine gentlemen that are still alive after burning down our house and most of our stuff.
>>
>>248889
>A) Take the child south
Well earlier today the promise of payment came true. Let's see if our luck holds.
>>
>>248897
>>248889
>Interrogation Time
>>
>>248897
>>248920

Setting the child down in a safe spot, you walk over to the two alive mutants who are attempting to crawl away.

You blast one of them in the skull before turning his friend over.

"You've got three seconds before I do to you what I did to your friend. Why'd you burn down my cabin?"

"Th-they were inside! The door was locked, it was!"

You press the gun to his forehead. "Why do you want her dead?"

"Boss said so!" he cries. "He said kill her no matter what!"

You cock the hammer back. "Who's the boss? Where is he?"

"I... I can't tell you! He'll kill me!"

You almost roll your eyes at his stupidity. "And what do you think I'm going to do?"

You let the chamber click and make him panic. "We came from south! The boss is camped in the Living Forest! Around the lake!"

"Thank you."

You stand up and leave him lay. He looks up, surprised. "I... I live?"

"You sure do." You blast him once in the head and walk back to the little girl as you holster the gun. You pick her up and look at her.

Nearby, the last of your cabin falls down and crumbles.

"Nania, huh..."

"Buh buh?" she burbles, sticking her tongue out.

>A) Take her south to this temple of blue fire
>B) Take her to Z'unkahrah
>C) Collect all of your things you threw outside
>D) Make plans to see this "boss" in the Living Forest
>E) Other
>>
>>248971
>C) Collect all of your things you threw outside
Elder Gods, it's a good thing we kept our second mount as a pack animal.

>A) Take her south to this temple of blue fire
You owe me a new cabin kiddo, and I intend to collect!
>>
>>248971
>>C) Collect all of your things you threw outside
>A) Take her south to this temple of blue fire
>>
>>248985
>>248971
This combo
>>
>>248240
>He will in time, maybe two or three threads from now.
Does that mean were going back to playing Cao full time or is going to be an episode like with Kaito during his nap?
>>
>>249026

Before we get into the proper fourth arc (New Defenders) I want to have a few character threads.

This one is Erron, something I've wanted to do for a long time now and one I would've done a long while ago if people had voted on it.

I might host a small poll at the end of this thread for who the next thread will be about.
>>
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>>248985
>>248993
>>248998

You sigh.

"You owe me a cabin, kid. Let's hope your temple pays well."

"Buh blu!"

Taking her off to one side, you set her down and collect everything you managed to throw out. Gathering it all up in a sheet, you tie it off. Just as you do, the girl begins to cry again.

You sigh.

>"Well, I can't rightly say I was ever too good with kids."

You stand up and draw your pistol, eyes wide. You heard someone say that, you know you did.

But the only thing in the clearing, aside from corpses and a burnt cabin, is you and her.

You take off your hat and shake your head a bit. That voice... it was you. Lighter, younger. A memory...

You ignore it and head over to her, picking her up and carrying her to your mounts. You count your luck that you kept the old beast as a pack animal. With all the cattle dead and the house burnt down, there's nothing here for you now.

Throwing the rest of the stuff on the back of the animal, you climb onto the raptor's back, holding little Nania tightly to you. Kicking the raptor, you begin to head south. The gentle rocking motion soon puts the child to sleep.

For a while, you just ride. You begin to feel your eyes grow heavy.

>"You're cute holding her like that."

They snap back open. A woman's voice this time.

'I'm losing my goddamned mind,' you muse. 'Should've made a deal with that sorcerer to get rid of sleep instead of aging.'

>A) Make camp for the night
>B) Press onwards
>C) Start a fire and cook some food
>D) Drink some water; try and feed the baby
>E) Other
>>
>>249044
>>D) Drink some water; try and feed the baby
Did Cao ever talk to Nitara after the ceremony?
>>
>>249052
>Did Cao ever talk to Nitara after the ceremony?

How would you like to find out in a pre-New Defenders thread starring Cao as a kind of epilogue for Thief Quest dealing with him adjusting to life in the imperial palace?

I was originally going to just write a pastebin for his epilogue but I think I'd like to do it with player involvement instead.
>>
>>249044
>>D) Drink some water; try and feed the baby
>>
>>249081
Meh, maybe.
>>
>>249044
>D)
Not going to listen to this thing scream the whole trip.
>>
>>249052
>>249123
>>249158

You sit down and take out your water canteen. You drink from it as the animals lounge nearby before putting it to the baby's lips.

She suckles softly from it. You try to be careful and not make it spill. When it's over, you look for food.

To your dismay, you don't really have anything soft. You doubt she could eat jerky. You find a jar of fruit that you can cut up and feed to her, stuff that goes down easy without the need to chew it.

>"Go on, try feeding her."

Your eyes search the horizon. You're alone.

Rubbing them softly, you set her down on a bundle of blankets you saved from your bed. You try to keep her elevated so bugs don't crawl on her.

Soon enough she's asleep. You're left sitting with your back against a rock.

You tip your hat down over your eyes and close them.

>...

>"I'm sorry."

Your eyes are open and your gun is in hand. The sun isn't quite up yet. Nania is still asleep nearby, and appears safe. You pick her up and watch her stir a bit.

'I'm losing it.'

You rub your eyes and fetch your raptor from nearby, untying it and your other steed. You put everything away on the two and mount up, ready to resume your journey.

>A) Head to the Living Forest
>B) Bypass the living forest and go around
>C) Head to the River of Blood (offshoot of the Sea of Blood) and follow it south
>D) Go hunting and get some more food
>E) Other
>>
>>249184
>>B) Bypass the living forest and go around
>>
>>249184
>B)
>D)
Ain't no way we can watch our back and keep the kid safe in that place. Plus keep and eye out for something edible. Preferably meat based but maybe some fruit for the kid.
>>
I'm heading to bed. I'll be resuming in the morning, and I'll give notifications on twitter and discord.

https://twitter.com/DamashiKonquest

https://discordapp.com/invite/014EClI4Ui1s65Ir2

The thread won't be going anywhere and we won't be hitting the bump limit, so feel free to discuss the quest, how it's going and what you'd like to see.

Are you enjoying Erron's quest so far? Who would you like to see next before we move into the fourth story arc?
>>
>>249236
You've set him up with a very basic personality and skillset. I look forward to fleshing him out. I rather like down-on-their-luck mercenaries.
>>
>>249236
It's alright so far.
>>
>>249236
I've been enjoying it a lot. Glad we are finally getting to play as Black
>>
Good morning. We'll be resuming in just a bit.
>>
>>249205
>>249206

Heading west, you find yourself approaching the River of Blood. It runs south from the Sea of Blood. Clever naming convention aside, the river is safe to travel alongside, provided you don't drink from it. The corpses that the sea is famous for don't wash this far south.

As you travel down it, carrying the baby, you reflect on how far you'll have to travel. It'll be a few days, you reckon. You've been to the bonelands, and even once to the amazon jungle, but never beyond it. You're a wanderer, not an adventurer, so the prospect of seeing new lands doesn't fill you with excitement, only apathy. You prefer to know where you are going before you get there, and all you know about this 'temple of blue fire' is, well, just that.

You hope these priests or whatever are gonna be there know the trouble you're going through for this kid and will damn sure pay well. Speaking of pay, there's Kotal Kahn's offer to take into consideration. Now that you're down a cabin and up a baby (temporarily, mind you) it might be a good idea to look into steady employment. Living in the city wouldn't be so bad, either.

Your thoughts are interrupted when you hear noise up ahead. A rustling in the undergrowth of the trees alongside the river. You're a good distance away from the Living Forest, but only a fool thinks himself safe in Outworld.

>A) Wait and see if you hear the noise again
>B) Press onwards alongside the river, gun at the ready
>C) Take out your gun and fire a warning shot
>D) Leave the river's side and walk south out in the open
>E) Other
>>
>B) Press onwards alongside the river, gun at the ready
>>
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>>250467

With your gun out and up, you proceed onwards. Sure enough, trouble appears.

The bushes rustle again, and out stumble a group of tarkatans. You've tangled with them before---and the arm-blade on your back is proof of how this would go down.

"You!" the big one shouts. "Big us food!"

"Give me one good reason."

"There three of us and one of you! That good reason!" he snarls.

"I've got more bullets than all of you times two."

The smaller one blinks. "What 'times two'?"

The big one shakes his head. "Thinks he smart. Give us food or we take the food!" His arm-blade extends. "Take it off your bones! Hahaha!"

>A) Shoot them
>B) Threaten them
>C) Ask why they are here
>D) Distract them
>E) Other
>>
>>250495
>E) Other
Double-tap the big one just to make sure, kill one of the smaller ones and kneecap the other. Cripples are much easier to question.
>>
>>250495
>>B) Threaten them
I've killed Tarkatans before (point to arm blade), get lost or get shot. Your choice
>>
>>250495
>E) Other
Shoot one
"Now there is just two of you, but still one of me"
>>
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>>250503
>>250507
>>250504

With your gun already out and ready, you double-tap the big guy, who falls down with two holes in his head.

"That's 'times two'. Speaking of two, now there is only two of you." You point to the tarkatan blade on your back. "See this? I took this from a tarkatan who got uppity with me. You wanna get uppity?"

They immediately run off, shouting, "Karbrac! Karbrac!" when they get far enough away.

Karbrac. Sounds like a tarkatan name. Best to get a move on before more show up.

The baby rustles from the gunshots and starts to cry. You curse under your breath and hold her close as you kick up speed and continue along down the river.

"Come on, calm down, it's just a gun," you whisper. "Goddamn kids..."

From the depths of your mind, another memory, another whisper, comes back to haunt.

>"What should we name her?"

You shake the woman's voice out of your head. Another time, another life. You've left it behind.

You clear the woods and keep riding south. You're entering the wastelands, now. A desolate stretch of ruins, desert and warzone. The lands of mutants, tarkatans and all sorts of things you don't want to run into. Things that wouldn't think twice about eating that little bundle of crying 'joy' in your arm.

The sun is rising, but the wastelands seem always perpetually dark. A thick smog covers it, keeping the land shady, fed by constant fires of ancient ruins and keeps being set ablaze. What little beams sunlight reach this land are few and far between.

It pays to keep on your guard here. In the distance, rising high above the Wastelands, is the place known only as the Tower, the domain of the shadow priests.

>A) Head straight south
>B) Keep close to narrow passageways; it will take longer but there's less chance you'll be seen
>C) Head for The Tower; you've heard the shadow priests can conjure portals for a price
>D) Find an underground passage and attempt to navigate it south out of the open
>E) Other
>>
>>250517
>A) Head straight south
With a baby, being heard is a bigger danger than being seen. And if the child indeed has some ritualistic importance -hence the reason the temple would accept it- then we really shouldn't bring it near the Shadow priests.
Underground might be a good idea, but our mount wouldn't do much good there I figure.
>>
>>250517
>A) Head straight south
>>
>>250517
>>B) Keep close to narrow passageways; it will take longer but there's less chance you'll be seen
It's wide open in the wastelands, it may take longer, but it's better than being a visible target for miles around
>>
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>>250531
>>250533

Heading straight south, you ride alongside the many ancient buildings and ruins. In the distance, you can hear the sounds of battle, so you do best to speed up and steer clear of any noise. It's been a long time since you've wandered through this wasteland, but you've kept out of it for a long time. There's no good game out here, only mutation, death, monsters and things that aren't fit to eat. And you sure as hell ain't no cannibal, like those damn dirty savages.

The girl's calmed down a bit. But she's staring up at you with wide, strange eyes. Like she's studying you. You try not to look at her and keep your eyes on the terrain. The last thing you need is something sneaking up on you. You think you see something streak across the sky---but it was probably just a bird.

Probably.

>A) Continue south
>B) Find a high spot and survey the area
>C) Pause and see if you can find a way to put the baby on your back, freeing your other arm
>D) Speed up and race through this place as quickly as you can
>E) Other
>>
>>250558
>B) Find a high spot and survey the area

I have a bad feeling about this.
>>
>>250558
>B) Find a high spot and survey the area
No one gets the drop on Erron Black that easy.

>C) Pause and see if you can find a way to put the baby on your back, freeing your other arm
How we gonna blast twice as fast with half an arm?
>>
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>>250561
>>250566

Setting the mounts off to the side, you find a tall pillar of stone with stairs winding around it. It might've been a stairwell in an ancient building once upon a time, but now it's all that remains.

At the top, you have a much better idea of the path to take, which areas are clear and which look more dangerous. From here, you pick out your route and get ready to move out.

But pausing to get your bearings has only made you look a bit more appealing to an opportunistic pair of hunters looking for their next meal.

A pair of harpies swoop down from the clouds, circling you overhead. You see them in an instant. They perch on a nearby set of stones.

"Look what we have here, sister! A man, all out and alone! Oh, it's been so long since we've seen one..."

"And he has a tasty little morsel with him..." the other coos.

They both fix their eyes upon you and Nania. You face them and get ready for trouble.

>A) Make a run for it
>B) Shoot first
>C) Threaten them
>D) Talk to them
>E) Attempt seduction
>F) Other
>>
>>250609
>D) Talk to them
>F) Other
Distract them for long enough to put the baby somewhere bit more out of the way where she is not at immediate risk of death (like your back as previously said). Once you have both of your hands free, shoot their wings
>>
>>250609
>>B) Shoot first

Make an example of the one who talked first.
>>
>>250609
>D) Talk to them
Birds like shiny things right? Maybe we could be persuaded to give away a few shiny coins for info.
These chicks probably know the area, and might even know where the temple is.
>>
>>250622
>>250635

With one hand, you start to tuck the baby away behind you, while the other reaches for the pounch of koins at your belt.

"Ladies," you say, cocking a brow. "You like shiny things?"

You take out a gold koin and their eyes shift to focus on it. 'Heh. Birds.' With them focusing on it, you continue, "I'd be willing to part with a few for information. You look like smart young ladies with eyes in the sky. Why not tell me a safe way through the wastelands and I'll give you even more."

"I like those," one says. The other one seems to snap out of it and nudges her.

"He's trying to trick us!"

You shake your head. "No tricks. It'd be a shame if things had to get... violent."

With her successfully wrapped around your shoulder, your other hand can now reach for your gun.

>A) Blast them both
>B) Blast only one
>C) Clip their wings
>D) Keep talking
>E) Other
>>
>>250691
>D) Keep talking
Ask the questions. If they are willing to part with information, we won't go back on our word.
But if they are hell-bent on attacking, then I am sure harpy wings are just as nutritious as the chicken's
>>
>>250704
Yummy. Sounds good.
inb4 harpy waifu for Erron
>>
>>250704
I'll secound this
>>
>>250704
>>250723
>>250740

You keep your eyes on them as you hold up two koins. "I've got plenty here for the both of you. I'd like a guide. Or a pair of guides. What do you say?"

The one who likes the shiny things more eagerly nods, but her (older, perhaps?) sister nudges her again. "How do we know you'll keep your word?"

"That's the funny thing about trust, isn't it? You do right by me, and I'll do right by you. We'll all walk away."

The more suspicious one stares at you for a moment, but then turns to whisper with her sister. They both put up a wing to shield your ears and eyes from their conversation.

After a moment, they turn back. "We want four of the shiny koins!"

You shrug, and take out four. "I have them right here. You'll get two now, and I'll give you two after. How's that for a deal?"

They confer amongst themselves for a moment. "Deal!"

You toss two over and they scoop them up in their talons. You walk down the stairs and mount back up. "You keep an eye out for any trouble, ladies, and I'll make sure you get paid."

They both swoop up into the sky and start circling like vultures. The imagery isn't lost on you---you know that they might turn on you, so you keep one eye on the ground, and another on the sky. You take off your hat to make it easier to do so.

>A) Proceed with your chosen route
>B) Take a moment to secure the baby on your back
>C) Speed up, now that you have guides you can afford to go faster
>D) Proceed more slowly and carefully
>E) Other
>>
>>250745
>B) Take a moment to secure the baby on your back
We didn't come all this far to loose it somewhere along the way
>>
>>250745
>>B) Take a moment to secure the baby on your back
>C) Speed up, now that you have guides you can afford to go faster
>>
>>250745
>>B) Take a moment to secure the baby on your back
>>C) Speed up, now that you have guides you can afford to go faster
>>
>>250745
>B) Take a moment to secure the baby on your back
>C) Speed up, now that you have guides you can afford to go faster
>>
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>>250755
>>250778
>>250791
>>250826

After pausing to redo the makeshift harness for the baby, you secure her to your back and saddle back up. It works rather nicely; you should've done this before. Mounting up, you kick the side of the raptor and ride on a little quicker than before. With the birds in the sky, you figure you can afford to travel a bit quicker.

As you make your way south, you find yourself in a wide stretch of desert land, heading off towards a steep decline into the bonelands. It won't be long before you're out of the wastelands proper.

One of the harpies swoops down to soar alongside you. "My sister doesn't like you. She thinks we should kill you, take the shinies and eat the baby."

"You wouldn't survive the attempt."

"I think so. She's stubborn."

Suddenly, the other one flies down alongside you. "What are you talking about? Me? Is it me? I'll claw your eyes out if it's me! I said that in confidence to you, sister!"

"You always do this!"

"Ladies," you interrupt them, "you're supposed to be keeping watch. No shinies otherwise."

"We could have them all..." the older one grumbles as she rises.

"She's mean," the harpy says. "I'll keep her in line!"

After another minute, she swoops back down. "Uh, problem."

"Yes?"

"We're being followed."

You steal a glance back.

Tarkatans on pterosaurs. The large winged reptiles soar across the sky, carrying the monstrous arm-bladed fiends upon their backs. They belong to one of the tarkatan tribes, the wind-cutters or some such nonsense. Might be part of the group you shot at earlier.

"Hmm."

>A) Stop and make a stand
>B) Attempt to outrun them
>C) Slow down and shoot while moving
>D) Send the harpies to harry them while you escape
>E) Other
>>
>>250898
>>C) Slow down and shoot while moving
>>
>>250898
>>B) Attempt to outrun them
Cut loose the other mount and have it split off from us. Raptors are faster anyway, right?
>>
>>250898
>C) Slow down and shoot while moving
My survivor instincts say we should stop, and make a stand, sniping them down safely with our rifle, but sod it. I want a wild west chase with dinosaurs.
Plus you usually can't outrun what flies.
>>
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>>250914
>>250964
>>250915

Damn. It had to be flying beasts. You're not going to outrun them, so you slow down and take out your rifle.

Turning back, you have only a few seconds to aim and fire before you have to look back and right yourself. This is tricky terrain and a moment's lapse in concenstration and guidance could result in your mount crashing.

You shot a tarkatan off of his winged-beast, but the others are not deterred. The harpies swoop off, avoiding the danger---good for them, you suppose. Bad for you.

Rifle in hand, you get ready to fight for your life as the howling tarkatans draw ever nearer on their beasts, waving their arm-blades in the air. Their leader looks like he rides the biggest and brightest beast, its wings painted in red and white blood.

'Let's see how long they stay airborne with a few bullets in 'em.'

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>250991
Headshot the bird he rides. I BELIEVE IN THE DICE!
>>
Rolled 86 (1d100)

>>250991
Shoot the mounts. Go for the wings. Let's hope these guys can fly.
>>
>>251002

You turn back and aim your rifle at his mount, firing once after focusing on its head. The bullet soars across the sky and chip of the crown of the creature's angular head, causing it to cry out, but Karbrac keeps his mount steady.

On your back, the baby begins to cry again. You shut out the added noise and focus on keeping you and her alive as your mount dashes across the wastes while your other beast struggles to keep up.

>>251022

Leaning back, you fire four times at various wings on the mounts. Some of them pass through the membrane of them harmlessly, but one of them strikes a joint. The lackey and his mount tumble down to the ground and crash nearby.

The leader commands his troops to swoop down towards you. Cutting your second mount loose, you turn to one side to avoid the talons of one of the winged beasts. The tarktans begin circling you as you keep moving, staying mobile to present a harder target for them to hit.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>251079
"I'll Give you guys 2 more pieces each if you can rip some of those guys out of their seats."
>>
Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>251079
Switch to pistols, and fire a valley when they try to swoop down upon you next
>>
>>251157
I mean volley! Fire a volley!
You could try to fire a valley but I think that's Tremor's truf
>>
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>>251104

With the harpies gone and no air support, all you can do is fire from below. You blast a winged beast out of the sky, managing to shoot it right in the eyes, but this causes it to spiral down and crash alongside you, taking out the legs of your raptor with its wing.

You leap off and hit the ground running to avoid damage to the child. From here, you find yourself quickly surrounded. The tarkatans begin to dismount, drawing their arm-blades out and approaching with sneering, drooling faces.

"Hope you sons of bitches are quick on the draw," you mutter.

>>251157

You drop the rifle and take out both pistols as they charge. You blast several shots, putting them down as they move in. Tarkatans drop left and right.

A sheering noise is heard and you see a spark flying towards your back out of the corner of your eye. You turn around to protect the baby and take the blast to the chest, causing you to skid backwards a bit.

The leader, Karbrac, approaches you. He crosses his arm-blades and rubs them against each other, creating a small shower of sparks.

"Time to die," he growls. "I will sharpen my teeth on your skull!"

"We'll see."

>1d100 and an action!
>>
>>251079
Throw one of our sand grenades into the air. If we can blind the riders, we can gain some ground, and even maybe cause them to crash into one another due to their evasive maneuvers
>>
Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>251215
>Apply sand grenade to face. Follow up w shots to forearms
>>
Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>251215
do we still have that rope? Lasso the bastard to tie his arms.
>>
>>251258
This is the second time I roll 100 for a silly hijinks
>>
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>>251249

Sand grenade in hand, you toss it towards him. Karbrac sees it coming and rubs his blades together, pointing one towards the grenade. A sparky blast flies out towards it, striking it and causing it to explode mid-air. However, though the tarkatan thinks himself quick and skilled, this only opened him up to another attack.

>>251258

Reaching for your rope, you grab it and throw it out like a whip, wrapping both of his arms up in it. His eyes go wide as you entwine his arms below his blades, making it difficult to cut.

"Get over here."

You yank on the rope, pulling him towards you like a hog-tied animal. Turning around, you bring up and boot and plant it on his face, knocking him down to the ground. There you finish off tying him up.

Three more tarkatans suddenly move in when a flurry of feathers and talons sets upon them. You look back and see the harpy, the younger one, descend upon them, fending them off. The pterosaurs all chirp and howl, but she opens her mouth and screams at them, wailing like a banshee. Without their riders to keep them under control on their backs, they flee from the noise and take off.

The tarkatans run off while Karbrac struggles in the bonds you've put him in. The harpy turns back towards you and slowly approaches.

"Where's your sister?"

"She ran away," she says. "Said it wasn't worth it."

"Sounds smart. You could've flown into a bad situation."

"I knew you would be okay. She hasn't seen weapons like yours before, but I have."

You pause briefly. "What's your name?"

"Gwyn."

"Erron."

You pull Karbrac up to stand and he snarls, snapping his mouth at you.

>A) Put a bullet in his head
>B) Set him loose with a bullet in his leg
>C) Interrogate him
>D) Take him with you
>E) Other
>>
>>251329
>C) Interrogate him
Is there anyone who would pay for your damned hide intact?
>>
>>251374

You point your gun at his neck.

"Is there anyone who would pay for your damned hide intact?"

"Kill me, and Tortek will come!"

Tortek. Leader of the tarkatans. You haven't tangled with him before.

"Tarkatans die all the time. It's all you're good for. Why should he care about you?"

"Tortek cares! Tortek will hunt you down!"

"The tarkatans don't go into the bonelands," the harpy says. "Not since the others showed up."

Looking back at him, you cock the hammer. "Then I think I can risk it."

>A) Shoot him
>B) Let him go
>C) Wound him
>D) Take a new arm-blade
>E) Other
>>
>>251411
>D) Take a new arm-blade
And then
>A) Shoot him
>>
>>251438

You force him onto his knees, kicking out his leg from behind. Turning him onto his back, you plant your boot on one of his extended arm-blades.

"What are you doing!?" he shouts.

Grabbing the blade, you increase the pressure with your boot.

"I could shoot you first," you say as you stomp and yank, filling the air with a sickening snap. He shouts and cries as you sever his arm-blade and hold it up.

Taking out the old one from your back, you turn it upside down and stab it down into his neck.

"I just like to hear 'em scream a bit first."

Gwyn watches you as you walk off, observing your new arm-blade. Fresh and sharp. A little leather and you can make a good handle out of the broken end.

Your raptor has righted itself and your other mount is nearby. Fetching them both, you saddle back up and get ready to travel into the bonelands.

Taking out a koin, you toss it at her. "Thanks for the guide."

She looks at the koin. "You don't want my help anymore?"

"Almost out of the wastelands. I can make my own way from here."

She seems a bit down.

>A) Offer to have her come along
>B) Ride on
>C) Make another offer for more watching
>D) Shoot her
>E) Other
>>
>>251562
>C) Make another offer for more watching
Could always make sure. Her wages are not terrible, and she has proven useful so far. We will make a proper merc out of her yet.
>>
>>251562
>C) Make another offer for more watching
For the way back.
Kotal gave us a few hundred, right?
>>
>>251604
>>251617

"Come on," you tell her. "I've got more koins."

She looks up and takes a few tentative steps forward before spreading her wings and taking off. "This place is dangerous," she says. "Bad men live in the bonelands."

"I'll be in good company, then," you say as you ride down the steep decline into the bonelands.

"These men are different," she says, hovering nearby. "They ride strange beasts that make loud noises. They have weapons like yours."

Your eyes narrow. "Like mine..."

"That's how I knew about your weapons. They use them and attack everyone they see."

Up ahead lie the bonelands; miles and miles of terrain featuring the bones of giants. Monsters, titans of men, ancient legendendary things---now only bones bleaching in the sun and worn down by sand.

Her words make you curious. Weapons like yours... Are they from Earthrealm? Might not be. But it might be worth investigating... or it may be more prudent to avoid them.

You look at the sun. You've travelled for most of the day, but you still have a few hours of sunlight left. Might be a good idea to find a good place to make camp and spend time making it hard to find.

>A) Focus on traveling south
>B) Tell her to keep an eye out for them
>C) Tell her to fly off and look for them
>D) Look for a good campsite for the night
>E) Other
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>>251685
>A) Focus on traveling south
Like damn we aren't going to go off anywhere until we get the monetary equivalent of our cabin and lost goods
>>
>>251685
>B) Tell her to keep an eye out for them
>>
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>>251716
>>251811

One hour into traveling in the bonelands, the harpy swoops down. "I see something," she says. "West. Big dust storm."

"Bad weather?"

"No. It's them."

Your eyes look to the right, narrowing. You can see them speeding across the horizon, in your direction, but not directly aimed at you. Their convoy creates a massive trail of dust behind them, making it almost impossible to miss them.

Vehicles. You haven't seen anything like them in a long, long time. These ones are going fast, maybe faster than your raptor can run. They're from Earthrealm, you've got no doubt. And Gwyn says they have weapons like yours, so that seals it. But why are they here?

"They're dangerous," she says. "They shoot harpies out of the sky and kill everything in their path!"

Time to make a call.

>A) Speed on south, hope they don't notice you
>B) Tell her to get out of here
>C) Cut your slower mount loose and grab its gear
>D) Hold your ground and see if they go on by
>E) Other
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>>251845
>B) Tell her to get out of here
>C) Cut your slower mount loose and grab its gea
>>
>>251845
>C) Cut the slower mount loose and grab it's gear.
>A)Speed on South and hope they don't notice you.
>E)Tell Gwyn to keep low and out of the sky, trail along behind if she is able to fly low.
>>
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>>251916
>>251936

You cut the second mount loose after grabbing its gear and shoving it onto the back of the raptor, who hisses in protest. Looking over at Gwyn, you tell her to stay low and distant, out of their sight. She nods and flies off.

After only a few minutes, they're nearby. As you speed up, several smaller individuals break off from the main group. They race towards you and soon enough are keeping good pace.

You stop your mount and turn around, watching as these bikes surround you by a good distance. They keep going, their engines making loud whining noises. The riders themselves seem to have cobbled-together armor: leather, straps, bits of metal that have been pounded into shoulder pads and chestplates. Scavengers. Some of them have bone necklaces or other similar decorations.

"Lookie here, it's a cowboy on a dinosaur!" one of them calls out. "Never thought I'd see that in all my days."

"Look," one of them says, pointing at your hip. "He's got guns."

Soon the others have stopped. They've got a circle around you; about seven in total. You don't see any firearms, but plenty of improvised weaponry, like a board with nails in it.

"What's that on his back?" one asks.

"Looks like a baby!"

>A) Say you're just moving through
>B) Mention you are from Earth
>C) Ask them who they are and where they are from
>D) Threaten them with your pistols
>E) Other
>>
>>251989
>A) Say you're just moving through
>E)In the meantime have a hand near one of our guns for a quick draw.

I don't really know how we can get out of this aside from trying to shoot our way out or talking them down.
>>
>>251989
>C) Ask them who they are
>>
>>252000
>>251989
This
>>
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>>252000
>>252023
>>252023

You keep steady as they look at you from their bikes. "I'm just passin' through."

"Where'd you get those six-shooters, cowboy?" one asks.

"He's got a rifle, too," another says. "Something tells me this ain't a local boy."

"He one'a us then?"

Slowly, one of your hands drifts down to your pistol, just in case things are about to take a turn for the worse.

A loud horn draws all of your attention. A vehicle drives up, a big one, with the skull of an outworld mammoth strapped to its hood. The lights turn off and a few men climb out of it.

"The hell's goin' on over here?" one of them asks, before his eyes settle on you. "The hell're you supposed to be?"

"Could ask you the same question."

He looks you up and down. "You from Earth, man? You look like it."

"Haven't seen him around before," one of his fellows whispers.

"We all got scattered," he says to his side, but still loud enough to hear. "Might be we just never found him..."

>A) That's right, I am.
>B) That depends.
>C) I really need to be going.
>D) Are you?
>E) Other
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>>252039
>Are you?
>>
>>252039
>D) Are you?
>>
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>>252056
>>252060

"Are you?" you ask him, turning your raptor to face him fully.

"Of course we are!" he says. "Brought here from the flashes of light, about... oh, it was eight years ago, wasn't it?" he asks his companion, who shrugs.

"Then you're right," you lie. "I am one of you."

All of the throw up their arms. "Hurrah! Another one for the pack!" the man says, walking up. "Welcome, brother! It's good to see another lost soul added to the flock. Come with us. We're headed back to home."

"Where's home?"

"We got a temporary fort set up to protect the gas truck. We're headed back there now. We had a good haul today, brother! Plenty of meat and other goods."

He looks over your shoulder. "What's that?"

"Mine."

He holds up his hands. "Hey, say no more. We all take what we like out here as it is, and I know the boss will definitely want to meet up with you."

As the motorcycles fall in line and head back to the convoy, you think about your next move. They think you're one of them. That might be useful. You could use protection in this place. But they've only been here for eight years... that means they came here during the invasion.

Things are getting interesting. Maybe you should see this "camp" of theirs and mee this so-called boss.

>A) Go with them
>B) When the coast is clear, make a break for it
>C) Signal to Gwyn to remain hidden
>D) Go with them, but plan on leaving when you can
>E) Other
>>
>>252039
> a long time ago.
>>
>>252100
>D) Go with them, but plan on leaving when you can
>C)Signal to Gwyn to remain hidden

Need to have a ce in the hole just inc ase.
>>
>>252100
>C) Signal to Gwyn to remain hidden
>D) Go with them, but plan on leaving when you can
>>
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>>252119
>>252125

As you ride off, you look off to the side. You catch a glimpse of Gwyn poking her head out from the bones.

You signal to her, subtly, to stay quiet and remain hidden. She nods and ducks back down out of sight.

Riding alongside them, you pick up the pace until you rejoin the main group. As you head towards their camp, you take this time to observe them. You note their armor, weaponry and vehicles. Everything looks cobbled together, patched with whatever they can find. Your earlier assessment hasn't been disproven yet. This gang seems mostly made out of young and angry people, but there are some actual older and more hardened men here. It reminds you of a group of criminals more than anything else.

Eventually, you see it. Their camp looks rather weak structurally, but well-defended with men. Old vehicles and sheets of metal make up its walls. The doors are pulled open to allow vehicles to pass inside.

You look up on the walls and see men with guns looking back.

Reminds you a bit of home, honestly, but more of a sad immitation of a half-remembered memory.

The vehicles all park and you get a lay of the camp from one simple glance-around. There are designated areas for the cars, and small campfires out of burning barrels. You also smell food cooking.

>A) Get out of here before anything happens
>B) Stick around to meet their leader
>C) Get some of that food
>D) Look for any useful supplies
>E) Other
>>
>>252291
>>C) Get some of that food
Try to get some extra for birdbrain
>>
>>252291
>C) Get some of that food
>>
>>252291
>C) Get some of that food
Hold on a minute, when was that baby fed? I doubt the temple pays for dead babies
>>
>>252291
>Get some of that food
Food would be great about now actually. I think we did feed the baby, some fruit I think.
>>
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>>252310
>>252314
>>252326
>>252362

Tying up the raptor nearby, you approach one of the campfires and look at the stew. Getting a bowl, you accept a spoonful of it and start feeding it to the baby.

"That one yours?" one of the masked ones asks.

"No."

"Figured. Didn't look like you. Unless you found yourself some pretty blue lady out there," he chuckles.

"Hey, there's plenty'a fine girls out there," another one around the fire laughs.

"You probably like those ones with the sharp teeth and the bones comin' outta their arms," his friend laughs.

"No, I'm serious! I saw a four-armed chick. Hottest goddamn thing I ever seen in my life. She was with the others back on earth when them portals opened up."

"Sure, sure."

"Hey, I saw one too!" someone else called out. "She had four tits! Hahaha!"

You sit in silence and make sure she gets fed, all the while listening to them. Getting a feel for their dynamic. All the while, you also note how many of them there are. You estimate about thirty, maybe forty, maybe more you can't see in the tents and shacks.

You also notice the big tank in the middle of the camp. Lots of hoses sticking out of it, and people are guarding it well. Must be important...

Keeping your ears open, you hear word that the boss isn't here at the moment. He's out on some kind of scouting mission.

Looking back down, you see Nania has gone to sleep.

>A) Talk to the others while you wait for the boss
>B) See if you can pick up some new gear
>C) See if you can trade for anything
>D) Make plans to leave when nobody is looking
>E) See what you can steal
>F) Other
>>
>>252405
>>F) Other
Just try to leave. We arent a prisoner or anything so walk out like you own the place
>>
>>252405
>D
No sunset to ride into, but we'll leave in a similar fashion
>>
>>252405
>B) See if you can pick up some new gear
>>
>>252419
Maybe, but these people now think we are one of them. They probably want us to throw our lot in with theirs, or at least wait and meet their boss.
>>
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>>252419
>>252422

Standing up, you put Nania back into her place behind you and walk away from the fire as they continue their conversation. You approach your raptor and start to load up.

You hear someone approaching from behind. "Going somewhere, friend?"

"Got somewhere to be."

"But you only just arrived. It's hard for new guys to adjust, but you can't just walk on outta here. We're being hospitable." He leans forward a bit. "It'd be nice if we could keep things that way."

You look back at him and stare at him over your shoulder. "Give me a reason."

"Everyone new's got to test their stuff before they can just walk on out of here. You want free roam, you need to prove you've up to snuff."

"And how do I do that?"

"In the Thunderdome, baby."

You start hearing other conversations drop down. A murmer of excitement starts making its way around the camp. A small chanting of 'Thunderdome, Thunderdome, Thunderdome!' can be heard.

'Great.'

>A) I don't have time for this.
>B) Make a dramatic exit
>C) See what this Thunderdome is
>D) Shoot the man as a warning
>E) Other
>>
>>252582
>See what this Thunderdome is
If nothign else it will be entertaining to see.
>>
>>252582
>C) See what this Thunderdome is
>>
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>>252637
>>252638

"Alright then, show me."

He stands aside and leads you to the side of the camp. As you go, others follow, softly chanting.

"Fresh fish!"

"New blood!"

"I wanna see a cowboy bleed, ahahah!"

You are taken before a large pit. An arena, a hole dug all around the western half of their camp, with a massive cage build around it. Already people are climbing onto it and hooting and hollaring with glee.

You can see where this is going.

The one who led you here throws out his arms. "Thunderdome! Prove yourself and you're in the gang! Survive two minutes, or beat our biggest lad---" he pauses to laugh at the notion, "---and then you'll be one of us. Everything that's ours is yours, and you can come and go as you please."

You roll your eyes a bit. "I'd rather just shoot."

"No weapons allowed," the man says, and two burly fellows step up to your back. They reach for your guns, but in an instant, they're in your hands.

"Touch them and die," you warn them. You point them at their heads.

The man laughs. "I like this guy! He's quick on the draw!"

The crowd hoots their support. "But unless you survive Thunderdome, you'll never get out of here."

You notice men along the wall with their rifles. They're not aiming at you... yet.

"Your choice, amigo."

>A) Attack
>B) Lower your pistols and take off your weapons
>C) Find someone to watch the girl
>D) Try and see this chamption and measure him up
>E) Other
>>
>>252699

>chamption

My bad.
>>
>>252699
>>B) Lower your pistols and take off your weapons
>>C) Find someone to watch the girl
I find it hard to believe there arent any women here
>>
>>252699
>B) Lower your pistols and take off your weapons
>>
>>252699
>B) Lower your pistols and take off your weapons
>C) Find someone to watch the girl
>>
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Sorry for the pause, resuming.
>>
>>252870

>Forgot to take pic off

>>252756
>>252767
>>252775

You slowly lower your weapons. You look between the three of them. "No offense, but between the three of you, I'd just as soon trust the girl with a gun than trust her with any of you sorry lot."

Fromthe nearby crowd, someone pushes through. You turn and see that it is a woman; a little bit young, with rough clothing. A few layers and a bit of caked-on mud, but there's a woman in there alright.

"I'll take her then," she says. "I'll keep her safe."

You look her up and down. She seems tough. A bit spunky.

"Something happens to her, you owe me a cabin," you say, taking Nania off of your shoulders. The girl doesn't understand your meaning, but you hand the baby over to her all the same. Afterwards, you take off your belt with your holsters and hand them to someone else, along with your rifle, arm-blade and hat.

They don't notice you slip a single sand-grenade into a pocket.

"I better not see anyone wearing that," you threaten the man you handed it to. The skinny man nods and you leave him behind, approaching the arena.

'Get this over with and get out of here with some new supplies,' you think to yourself.

After all, you've fought plenty, with and without your pistols. You'll be fine.

Upon entering it, the people chant, cheer and stomp their feet. The entrance behind you closes.

A man outside the arena cries out. "LAAAAADIES AND GEEEEEENTLEMEEEEN! Boys and girls of the wastelaaand! Welcome... TO THUNDERRRRRDOOOOOOMMMME! Two men enter! One man leaves!"

The crowd cheers harder.

"Tonight, we've got new blood! He's the cowboy who rides dinosaurs! A lost soul from Earth, but has he got what it takes to survive? LET'S FIND OUT!"

The other end of the arena has two large doors connected to a massive metal container. It opens up, and a symtiotic pair emerges, wearing armor like the rest of them.

"MASTER BLASTER!" the crowd chants over and over again.

You look up. "Hey! You said two men enter!"

The announcer shrugs and everyone laughs. "I said two men enter---there they are!" He points at them both. "The man leaving is you! Alive or dead, that's up to you!"

You look around. Most are cheering and howling as the large of the pair cracks his massive knuckles. The woman holding the baby isn't cheering, though.

You look back down at the two. You've tangled with symbiotes before---they're a tricky bunch.

"Ready to die, skinny man?" the small one cackles. "Blaster! Blast him up!"

The big one shouts and they both charge!

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>252942
Wait for a charge attack then leap up to roll over the big ones' back taking the little one down. Try to snap her neck if you can.
>>
Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>252942
Trip up the big one if we can. Then while he's down kick the little one in the face.
>>
Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>252942
If there is one thing you cant protect its the brain. Give that big boy an axe kick and rattle that brain!
>>
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>>252954

You know the key to fighting symbiotes: attack the head. The small one has a mental link with the big one. Separated, they are useless.

As they charge, you kneel down and spring upwards, flipping overhead. You attempt to grab the small one off of the bigger one's back, but as you try, he reaches up with a small dagger and stabs your hand.

You hit the ground rolling as they right themselves and turn around. The small one cackles. "Heheheh! He can jump! Jump! Jump!" The big one gets on all fours. "But so can we!"

With all four limbs, he pushes himself up and into the air, ready to bodyslam you!

>>252961

You leap backwards, dodging the attack. The bodyslam kicks up a lot of dust, but you charge back in and kick the little one off his back, landing your foot right in his face. He flies off the big one's back.

"AHHH BLASTER HELP ME!" he cries.

The big one, Blaster apparently, groans and gets up. He puts himself between you and the little one, even as you punch him in the chest and sock his black helmet.

>>252969

You turn around and twist, attempting to smash your leg into his head. The helmet is strong and thick, though, so all this results in is a hurt leg.

He reaches up and grabs your leg as it bounces off his helmet. He then turns around and around, holding you as he spins, dragging you along with him. You find your world spinning as he twirls you around---all you can hear is the crying of the crowd around you.

Eventually he lets go and you fly across the arena, smashing into the wall. The people grab and pull at you, chanting all manner of things.

The small one hops onto the big one's back, grabbing hold of his handles.

You manage to get the people to let go as the big one starts to lumber over towards you.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>252978
Taunt him into charging at you, let him smash into the wall. Try for an attack at his knees to bend them forward...
>>
Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>252978
Jump on the big ones back and spin the helmet around. Have him go crazy in the arena.
>>
>>252987

You get up and watch him approach. You hold up your hands a big him onwards.

"Come on, you big ugly bastard, I've seen bulls with bigger balls than you!"

And like a bull, he stomps his feet and charges blingly. You fall back, making him crash into the bent, caged wall of the arena.

"You idiot!" the small one shouts.

From the ground, you kick out at his legs, attacking his knees. He falls down onto his knees as you crawl off to the side, getting up as he groans in pain.

>>253000

Pushing off the little one, you get onto the big one's back, attempting to grab onto his handles, but like grabbing the bull by the horn, you find yourself suddenly dealing with an out-of-control brute. He begins rampaging around the arena, stamping and smashing the walls.

The people go wild as you hold on. You dig your heels into his back and hold on for dear life. He swings his arms madly as you attempt to wrench his helmet off, to no avail.

"Smash him!" the smaller one cries. "Smash and crash! Smash and crash!"

You start hearing a new chant: "Crashsmash! Crashsmash! Crashsmash!"

Ignoring it, you try and get this wild bucking bronco under control.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>253027
Lean back and let gravity drive him into the ground
>>
Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>253027
If the kid wants to smash and crash...
Direct the brute to the vague direction towards the little one to smash him
>>
>>253027
Try and incapacitate one of the big guy's limbs.
>>
Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>253064
Forgot my roll
>>
Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>253064
>>
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>>253043
>>253044
>>253069
>>253070

But this is one colt that won't be broken in. The big one manages to get his arm around your, and he grabs you and hurls you off. You hit the ground rolling as the little one hops back on.

"ONE MINUTE DOWN!" the announcer calls out. The crowd cheers harder.

"FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM!" they cry.

For a moment, your eyes steal off to the side. You see the girl, holding Nania. The crowd around her is briefly illuminated as the headlights of a new vehicle appear and are turned off; someone has just pulled up to the arena.

You look back at Master Blaster. The small one laughs.

"TEAR HIM APART!" he orders his larger subordinate. The big one growls beneath his large helmet.

You feel the sand grenade in your pocket. There's plenty of sand around the ground at your feet.

Maybe it's time to fight dirty.

>1d100 and an action!
>>
>>253076
Sand in the eyes and then a kick in the nuts
>>
Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>253083
Forgot the dice
>>
Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>253076
Look for a gap in the helm and push the grenade through the gap
>>
>>253087
oh man, shit on me
>>
>>253087
D E A D
E
A
D
>>
>>253087
nothing like 4chan dice failing you at a critical moment
>>
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>>253087

You grab a handful of sand and run up to him, throwing it in his face, aiming for the small one. However, he hides behing the big one, who is unaffected by it thanks to his helm.

His meaty fingers curl into a fist, which them pummels you in the chest like a train. You soar back against the wall, where the others hold you up.

They approach and begin to punch you again, and again, each blow robbing you of a breath, each punch keeping you from fighting back. Like a well-oiled machine, he pounds into you again and again, smashing your chest with fists the size of your head.

You feel a rib snap and everything goes white for a moment.

>>253090

As they hold you up, your hand strays to your pocket. You look up as you stare into the big one's helmet---and see a hole near the side for his mouth.

As he and the small one take a moment to taunt, throwing up their arms for praise from the crowd, you wrench your arm free and slam the grenade into his helmet through the hole.

It explodes and they both fall back, the small one crying out as he drops from his perch. The big one stumbles around for a moment, his helmet ringing from the explosion. Sand pours out of the holes in his helmet, and his eyes and ears are disabled for the moment.

You manage to get up and tackle him to the ground, delivering a series of punches to him. Your knuckles become bloody as you pummel him back, smashing your hands against his helmet. He is helpless, his senses overloaded and stunned.

Suddenly, two men pull you off. Over the roar of the crowd and the heat of the moment, you hadn't realized---two minutes were up.

You are dragged off and held up. You see the small one crawl over to the big one, trying to help him.

Breathing is difficult. You shake your head as images fly past your mind and you fight the darkness back to remain conscious.

Someone has walked into the arena. He approaches the symbiotes, then turns to you. You look up and see him as he stands nearer.

He wears all black, with a matching helmet. The obsidian-colored glass shows no hint of his face. As he looks at you, judging your worth, he holds up a hand to take.

After a moment, you reach up and clasp his. His grip is firm and strong. Through his voice is muffled, like yours, he speaks.

"Welcome to the family. Let's get you cleaned up."
>>
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>>253127

Well, I've got work in the morning, so I'll call it here.

Thank you all for playing this first part of Erron Black quest. More will be coming this next weekend! But as always, if anything changes, I'll keep you posted.

The thread will take some time to bump off, about a week, but I'll be busy with work throughout the week. If you liked this quest, I encourage you to stay posted on Twitter or Discord for updates.

https://twitter.com/DamashiKonquest

https://discordapp.com/invite/014EClI4Ui1s65Ir2

How did you like this first part of Erron Black's little side story? Who would you like to see after his story is done? What do you hope to see in the future?
>>
>>253146
About that pastebin... What do ya have finished?
>>
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>>253155

Cao talking with Sanra, Ruby, Hua, Ashrah, avoiding Ferra and about to go talk to sundad. The intro talks about some time he spent with Cassie and Jacqui after the big party at the end of the #20 thread. About nine/ten pages long. I've more planned, with Kotal, Skarlet, Khameleon, other New Defenders, etc.

I could've written a lot more by now, but I was on vacation and I was working on a different writing project, related to Star Wars.

Now that I'm back writing for MK, I'm just wondering if I should do it as a pastebin, or a special epilogue thread; the paste itself takes place roughly a month after the end of the last thread, so it would be a bit appropriate, time-wise.
>>
>>253174
I'd like it as a paste, you could just have it in the top of the next thread.
>>
>>253188

I still have plenty written. I could include it as a paste, either at the start or end of the next thread.

When Erron's story is finished, who would you like to see next?

And how has /qst/ been? I'd like to see opinions.
>>
>>253188
I agree with this.
>>
>>253242
Fuck /qst/ and all it stands for
>>
>>253246

Noted

>>253243
>>253188

Alright, sounds good. I'll put some more work into it and will have it ready in time for the weekend.

I was thinking of having a thread for Sub-Zero's son Tundra. Him and Frost going on an adventure together to the frozen reaches of Outworld. What do you think?
>>
>>253279
Tundra is cool.

get it
>>
>>253279
Maybe also include vapor to round off the Lin kui trio
>>
>>253325

Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention her but she's planned as well.

She's just invisible so I didn't see her is all.
>>
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>>253343
>>253325
>>
>>253246
I concur.
>>
>>253146
Is Jerrod still suffering from multiple-personality disorder? Back in /tg/ when we had a lot of players present, playing a quest with him and the voices in his had would have been a really neat. Here, I am not so sure.
I'm curious about the places we could go with a Rokuro Quest, but that's more of a wild idea than an actual desire.
How would a star wars qust sound?
Also, what's the discord's purpose in relation to the quest?

It's been overall neat as always, thanks for running.
>>
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>>253246
>>253498

I'm not against moving back to /tg/, but this place hasn't seemed so bad. The average is 20-25 unique IDs per thread throughout all my runtime in /tg/, barring #20 for MKK and #20 for Thief Quest, which were all higher.

I wouldn't have run it here if the archives at sup/tg/ hadn't merged, either.

But I'm looking for honest opinions: what do you hate about this place? Speaking strictly as the man running the quest, I didn't notice a great difference, other than the IDs.
>>
>>253529
>Also, what's the discord's purpose in relation to the quest?

Well, if you ever wanted to chat with me and just shoot the shit, you could message me on twitter or on Discord.

The discord thing is new, I'm giving it a shot.
>>
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>>253529

Oh, right, other questions, sorry.

No, Jerrod is back in the flesh. I could do another period piece starring him, but we've moved beyond that a bit.

Rokuro is definitely a possibility, I like him a lot.

And you know, I've actually been thinking about a Star Wars quest. Pic related.
>>
>>253536
It's buggy, slow and the only reason you got readers because of your twitter.

Add in the fact this is a containment board that only whiny faggots wnated and you have a recipe for a cluster fuck.

Also threads last too long and the auto sage is only there to make the board look faster. Which it fails at.
>>
>>253572
>only reason you got readers because of your twitter.

Well sure, but is that not usually the case?

I mean, it's pretty much always been a consistent 20-25-30 people per thread, that's about the same number that follow me on twitter. I don't know how many new people posted in this thread, I don't know how many returning. That's no different from /tg/, really. It's very difficult to measure how many people on average post in my quests who just wandered over from another thread on /tg/ versus how many people posted in this quest who wandered over from another quest on /qst/. But I do look at the IP averages, I've done so since I ran the first thread, and it's always been fairly consistent.

Someone came on the discord chat, a lurker who had never posted before but was a long-time follower. I don't know how many people lurk, either.

Maybe it's buggy, but I didn't encounter any bugs this weekend.

I do agree about the autosaging, though.
>>
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>>253597
>that's about the same number that follow me on twitter

And to clarify, I also can't really measure how many people follow me on twitter and are actually fans of the quest. Some just follow me because I followed them, like Daniel Pesina, who definitely isn't in here.

Right, Danny?
>>
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>>253600
I don't know anyone named Danny, but...
>>
>>253536
>what do you hate about this place?
I wouldn't call it actual hatred, but a continuous discomfort, like sitting on a pea.

Back on /tg/ you knew a quest was ongoing at the moment, and being occupied, because it constantly jumped back at the top of the catalog. Here autosage merely messes things up. You cannot just join or check up on a new quest, unless you've dedicated yourself to it, and watching the twitter, which you can't do for all of them (or at least it's really uncomfortable)

There is also the pacing. I know that this particular quest usually manned trough a single thread, so we had to bump it when you weren't active, but it was fine it wasn't a chore.
Other quests are more episodic, they move in plot/time in a certain distance, then stop because of storytelling, or the QM's schedule restrictions. In /tg/ it just disappeared between the two session not disturbing anything, here it just floats there. If you look you can see that quests running more than twice a week, and are longer than a oneshot usually duplicate with the older one still lagging behind in the catalog.

Also there are a lot of young quests that die very easily. Somehow players and QMs slip by each other.
In /tg/ those just got washed away, here they just clog up the board because someone comes along 3-4 hours later, reads that unfinished piece, gets interested, and votes. QM is already somewhere else, and ain't coming back.
Here, it wasn't an issue because you are technically a veteran with your own playerbase.

I think the ID's are an improvement tough, they throw out the chance of easy samefagging.
>>
>>253551
Personally, I could go for a Star Wars quest. Maybe that light-blue hope I've been feeling for the franchise when I was young and got taken over by the yellowish-green emotion of despair, and disgust

>>253597
Maybe not the twitter, but you already have a playerbase who know what you write, and are interested in it.

If you would have started QMing today, or you wouldn't have had some other form of signalling the start of the quest, I believe your work would have most likely been lost here among the clutter.
>>
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>>253613

Ah, good to see you, buddy.

Look, Mortal Kombat just doesn't draw in as big a crowd as most other quests based on its subject material alone. I've always had a very consistent poster base of about twenty to thirty people, and that's not so bad.

>>253618

I know where you're coming from. Quests die more easily here, and with so many to choose from, it's hard to tell which ones are going to stick and see it through, like mine, so new players might be hard to come by. But I've always had a very consistent reader base, and I like my fans, since you guys recall things and follow my plot threads and often give me good ideas.

Now, I haven't made any final choice yet, I'm going to just let it sit until next week, but I, personally, didn't notice much of a difference in running on here versus running elsewhere. It was a bit slow in some parts, but honestly, MK quest has always been a little slow. It doesn't have the drawing-in potential that an anime or drawquest has. But for those of you who are in it with me, I think we've had a lot of fun and more's yet to be had.
>>
>>253626
>Maybe that light-blue hope I've been feeling for the franchise when I was young and got taken over by the yellowish-green emotion of despair, and disgust
.. might return, I've been saying. Sorry for running my mouth for so long
>>
>>253626
>>253629

Well, my initial idea was to start out a Star Wars thread with a baby-killing murdering psychopath and then maybe we'd become a good guy later.

Kidding.

I had a few ideas for a Star Wars quest; one starring Kyle Katarn in an alternate-universe setting, and one based on a fanfic I wrote once: http://pastebin.com/ks4KZ7H6
>>
>>253628
S'all good in the hood man. I just hate this place with the burning compassion of 10000 salty EVO contestants.

You see Injustice 2?
>>
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>>253628
>I think we've had a lot of fun
You know we did.
>>
I'm just sad that if we stay on /qst/ I can never bump with mileena again....
>>
>>253632
>You see Injustice 2?

Yeah I saw it

Supergirl's fat and the armor fetish has gone a bit too far
>>
>>253641

Well, you could still. If you wanted. I wouldn't stop you.
>>
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>>253641
Milennanon! I never thought I'd see you again!
>>
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>>253643
Hey man, Grod and Atrocitus looked dope.

also

>NRS making attractive female models
bruh

>>253652
pic related
>>
/qst/ is a strange place
Sometimes I hate it and sometimes I love it. I mean I'm pretty new but I've seen quests that seem amazing either never draw enough attention or are just completely trianwrecked.
But on the other side I have seen seemingly dumb or Simple quest have so much draw and attention and sometime having great story and detail.

I don't know though I still can't imagine starting my own thread, but I still want to.
>>
>>253662

I know, I know,

>NRS

Just saying
>>
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>>253670
>>
>>253671
What the actual
>>
>>253669
Starting your own quest is surprisingly light, much easier it looks.

I started my own quest once, and went on for two thread, (it always happens when my favored QMs are absent for a time).
I stopped only because I realized if I wanted to run the quest I envisioned, I'd need much deeper understanding about surviving in nature than I have.

>>253674
That indeed happened
>>
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>>253674
>>253675

Give it time, I've been building up to him since the beginning.
>>
>>253677
Oh fuck no
>>
>>253677
At last the true mastermind reveals himself! The one behind Onaga, Shinnok, Red Lightning, and the Entity! All the threads come together in one hoof!
>>
>>253681
That reminds me: I think, if there was one thing I've come to regret, but I only realized it much later, is that after the Otiak/Entity saga I should've done a few flashback threads for Shinnok's invasion of edenia, where we'd play as other characters, like Johnny and Raiden and Liu and Mileena and such. I think that would've been better than the exposition I did originally, but it just didn't occur to me at the time, since we just got Kaito's body back and we were all eager, myself especially, to see how the world had changed.

Ah, well, I'll fix it in the novelization.
>>
>>253686
Yeah that would have been arguably better. It feels like a huge chunk of history we've been left out of.

But we could just say it was part of the whole timeskip part, because it would have beaten the whole purpose of "Things moved on, shit went down. You are in a new world son."
>>
>>253686
>The novelization

I wish you could make money off that...
>>
>>251411
>Tortek cares!
I must say that really warmed my heart.
>>
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>>253701

Poor guy.

He just wanted food.
>>
Thank you based op. I love mk and mad max. So this was a really fun adventure. I liked the part where we get a new armblade sword.
>>
>>253864

Happy to oblige, anon.
>>
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See you soon.



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