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>>558490
"Damn, I was hoping I'd be fast enough." Natanael appears from out of no where in front of you and calmly climbs down the stairs. "Oh, well. I'll just have to deal with it. Sorry, but you all need to die here."

So, the guy in charge of the South American front decided to backstab you. That's going to complicate things. At least your fight here is done and you're not roughed up too badly. You should be able to handle this.

"What are you talking about?" Selene screams and clutches her Silver Bow until her knuckles turn white. "Aren't you a Relic-wielder gifted with divine might to defend humanity? How dare you betray us like this?"

"I was an accountant for one of the drug cartels before I obtained the Smoking Mirror, kid," Natanael explains. "It's not like we have the records or infrastructure for detailed background checks and I kept out of the messy stuff, so I just slipped through the cracks. Unfortunately, I had the bright idea of using people I trusted as my personal armies, so my old cartel got wiped out in the early days."

"And now, you've taken this opportunity to eliminate the competition," Orianne says. "Is that it?"

"Yeah, something like that," Natanael answers. "See, I like my comfortable life, and now that Vucub-Caquix has been dealt with, I can enjoy it. Unless, of course, I get reassigned. I can counter the Tower of Babel to a certain extent, but I'm no match for some of the other Relics. Once all the witnesses are dead, I can just fake my own death and retire to a beach somewhere."

You're on a winning streak and you rather enjoy your life. Obviously, you can't let Natanael have his way.

-"You really think you can get away with this?"
-"You're a scumbag, Natanael."
-"It's been a while since I've fought another human. Make this fun, will you?"

>>558502
>-"You're a scumbag, Natanael."

>>558502
>-"You really think you can get away with this?"

>>558502
Explain to him that we killed two bosses and ask if he really believes he can win

>>558502
>-"It's been a while since I've fought another human. Make this fun, will you?"

>>558502
Enemy: Vucub-Caquix
Health: 5/5
END: B
SPD: B
DIV: S

"How do you think this is going to end, Natanael?" You ask. "Do you really think you can get away with this? That you're stronger than the Wendigo and Vucub-Caquix?"

"Can't know unless we try it." Natanael shrugs and holds up his Smoking Mirror. "And honestly, I don't have much to lose by trying."

Selene's face twists with anger and rage. "You will be for this heresy, heathen!" A Silver Arrow manifests in her hand and she prepares herself for battle once more. "The whole world will learn of your treason!"

"This is treason will not be forgiven." Natsumi steps between you and Natanael and raises her sword. "Humanity is united against a common enemy. Your actions cannot be permitted."

"This is rather selfish," Orianne says. "While I wouldn't mind retiring, I'd rather wait until the war's over."

You sigh and summon back Gleipnir. "If that's what you want, Natanael, then let's do this."

-[DC11] Rush him immediately
-[DC15] Use Gleipnir to drop Natanael's END to D.
-[DC15] Use Gleipnir to drop Natanael's SPD to D.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>558614
>-[DC15] Use Gleipnir to drop Natanael's SPD to D.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>558614
>-[DC15] Use Gleipnir to drop Natanael's END to D.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>558614
>-[DC15] Use Gleipnir to drop Natanael's END to D.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>558614
> drop speed
Sheeit, I don't even know what smoking mirror does

>>558683
mybe it dose what the mirror kignht in dark souls dose?

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>558627
>>558683
SPD

>>558656
>>558680
END

Hello, tie. It's been a while.

1= SPD
2= END

File: Gleipnir.jpg (989 KB, 800x966)

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>>558614
Enemy: Vucub-Caquix
Health: 5/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

"Bind him, Gleipnir!"

Your Relic obliges. In a flash, Natanael is hogtied and bound to everything in the room that can be used to anchor him. He retains some limited freedom of movement, but not much.

"Eamon, please, not before the third date, at least." Natanael grins and the obsidian Smoking Mirror becomes hot enough to distort the air. The stone melts and releases a thick black smoke. "Besides, I can just rely on my Relic to fight."

The smoke slowly drifts towards your party…

-[DC15] Endure the smoke.
-[DC15] Run away.
-[DC15] Find cover.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>558743
-[DC15] Endure the smoke.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>558743
>-[DC15] Find cover.
he seems pretty condfent with this smoke

>>558743
>Bind the smoke WIth Gleipnir and drag Natanel into it.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>558743
>-[DC15] Endure the smoke.

>>558743
> find cover
Shouldn't we know what his relic does if it was one of the first ones?
Selene, shoot him already!

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>another tie

Goddamn it.

1= Tank it
2= Hide

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>>558743
Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 5/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

You take a deep breath in preparation for the smoke and maintain your formation. If you break now, the momentum will slip to Natanael, and you can't take that chance.

The stinging black smoke washes over you and you feel a stabbing pain in your eyeballs. For a moment, it seems as if the light itself is dying all around you. Your vision fades into stark black and why, then a uniform dull grey, but it's only a temporary affliction. Light and colours soon return as the smoke dissipates.

"Is everyone all right?"

"That was unpleasant," Orianne says, "but I don't think anyone's hurt."

"Yeah, I noticed," Natanael says. "Quite inconvenient. I was really hoping that would work."

-[DC9] All of you attack him at the same time.
-[DC10] Let Selene shoot him.
-[DC11] Pummel him yourself.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>558871
>-[DC9] All of you attack him at the same time.
ask him what it was minght to do

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>558832
I hate to say it beleagured, but ties seem to really like you for some reason. Did you charm it and it's stalking you?
>>558871
-[DC9] All of you attack him at the same time.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>558871
Fisticuffs, men!
>-[DC11] Pummel him yourself.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>558871
>-[DC11] Pummel him yourself.

>>558871
>-[DC11] Pummel him yourself.
This nigga deserves it

>>558871
>-[DC9] All of you attack him at the same time.

>>558871
> everyone attack him
Bullrush!

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>558946
Forgot to roll

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>558877
>>558878
>>558932

>>558888
>>558890
>>558898

Why. Why does this keep happening?

1= Group Attack
2= Falcon punch.

>>558952
We are doing it on purpose

>>558952
Because ties LOVE you man!

>>558946
>>558952
Huh. That was convenient.

>>558952
stop giving such good picks to pick form
also its yoru curse

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>>558871
Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 4/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S


Orianne steps forward with Joyeuse wreathed in a golden light. She charges forward straight at Natanael, while Natsumi attacks him from the left. He manages to wiggle out of the way, only to get hit in the shoulder by one of Selene's arrows.

Natanael screams in pain and struggles to free himself from his bonds, but his efforts amount to nothing.

"I've had enough of this!" Natanael snarls. "In the name of the Smoking Mirror, become my loyal subjects!

The Smoking Mirror seems to glow black and you have trouble thinking for a moment…

Why are you fighting your emperor? This is wrong. You're his servant, after all.

-[DC11] No, you have an important task to do.
-[DC11] No, there are people who rely on you.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>558979
>-[DC11] No, you have an important task to do.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>558979
>-[DC11] No, there are people who rely on you.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>558979
>-[DC11] No, you have an important task to do.
Remove Eskathos

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>558979
>-[DC11] No, there are people who rely on you.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>558979
> there are people who rely on you
Breaking the tie!

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>>558979
Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 4/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

No, there are people who rely on you. Orianne, Natsumi, Selene, Frank, the Commander, ********* - You can't abandon them now. You have no reason to serve this man.

"Get up." You can barely whisper the words. You force your head up and shout. "Get up!"

The rest of your team snaps out of whatever mind control technique Natanael used. The man is obviously pissed that his attacks aren't working on you.

It's quite gratifying.

-[DC9] Your last coordinated attack worked. Try a second one.
-[DC10] Put another arrow in him.
-[DC11] Get a hold of Natanael.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>559082
>-[DC11] Get a hold of Natanael.
time to skull fuck a bitch
break the mirror?

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>559082
>-[DC11] Get a hold of Natanael.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>559082
> coordinated attack
One more time, with feeling

>>559089
I think the relics can go to someone else if they survive their owners

>>559108
that means it could go to someone better or worse

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>559082
Yay! A tie!
>-[DC9] Your last coordinated attack worked. Try a second one.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>559082
>-[DC11] Get a hold of Natanael.

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>>559082
Gained END B.

Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 3/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

You stomp over to Natanael and put him in a headlock, squeezing as hard as you can. Windpipe, blood flow, bone - you don't much care what gives first, just that it gives.

"Wait… we can… we…" Natanael writhes in your grasp and you put even more strength into your arms.

The Smoking Mirror floats above you. Its surface ripples and the mirror expands outward. A thousand needle-thin obsidian points emerge from its surface, all pointed at you.

-[DC14] Let Natsumi or Orianne handle the defense. Keep choking.
-[DC15] Let go and dodge out of the way.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>559195
>-[DC14] Let Natsumi or Orianne handle the defense. Keep choking.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>559195
> let teammates handle defense
Can we use the bad guy as a meat shield?

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>559195
>> -[DC14] Let Natsumi or Orianne handle the defense. Keep choking.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>559195
>-[DC14] Let Natsumi or Orianne handle the defense. Keep choking.

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>>559195
Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 2/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

You glance up to the Smoking Mirror and tighten your hold. Now isn't the time to panic, and you trust your team to cover you.

Your trust is rewarded. Before the first needle expands to pierce your body, Orianne and Natsumi are there to defend you. Obsidian is sharp and the Smoking Mirror can produce as much as it wants, but it's also brittle. One slash from either Joyeuse or Ame-no-Ohabari is enough to shatter dozens of needles.

Meanwhile, you tighten your grasp on Natanael's neck while he makes desperate gasping noises.

-[DC10] Suplex.
-[DC10] Selene should have a clear shot now.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>559353
>-[DC10] Selene should have a clear shot now.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>559353
>-[DC10] Selene should have a clear shot now.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>559353
>-[DC10] Suplex.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>559353
> take the shot Selene
As much as I love a good suplex I don't think that would stop him from using his relic

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>>559353
Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 1/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

You plant your feet and keep your arms away from Natanael's torso so they don't get in the way. Orianne and Natsumi are still keeping up their defense, but you can hear them panting. They're probably not going to last much longer.

"Selene!" You call out to your team's archer. "Take a shot!"

Selene nods and raises her Silver Bow[/blow]. A blue-white light streaks across the battlefield and pierces Natanael's chest; you can feel the arrow through the exit wound, but it's just a slight poke.

It's not just a poke to Natanael though. The man growls and the Smoking Mirror's needles stop. Instead, the Relic begins to spin and unleashes a powerful wind. Natanael isn't affected, but Natsumi and Orianne are both blown away.

The wind picks you up, and you're forced to let go of Natanael.

-[DC13] Take a hard landing.
-[DC14] Ride the wind.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>559515
>-[DC14] Ride the wind.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>559515
>-[DC14] Ride the wind.

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>559515
-[DC14] Ride the wind.

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>559515
>-[DC14] Ride the wind.

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>>559515
Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 1/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

You stretch your arms out and twist your body to try and guide your flight.

Then you slam into a pillar of jagged obsidian. It fucking hurts, but at least it didn't ruin your face much.

You hit the ground hard and push yourself up while Natanael laughs at your predicament.

Given how sore everything above his shoulders must feel, he's not laughing very hard.

"Not so tough now, are you?"

His gloating doesn't mean much either, seeing as how he has two arrows sticking out of him and you beat him up pretty badly.

Not far away from you, Natsumi and Orianne are getting up as well. Their uniforms are torn, but they're not doing too badly. Selene, who was the farthest away from the Smoking Mirror is the least affected; her hair was just blown a little.

-[DC9] All of you attack him at the same time.
-[DC10] Let Selene have another shot. She's been doing well so far.

-[DC10] Punch him in the face.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>559667
>-[DC10] Let Selene have another shot. She's been doing well so far.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>559667
-[DC10] Punch him in the face.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>559667
>-[DC10] Punch him in the face.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>559667
-[DC10] Punch him in the face.

....We're not doing so hot about this are we?

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>>559667
Enemy: Smoking Mirror
Health: 1/5
END: B
SPD: D
DIV: S

You take a running charge, pull your arm back and punch right through Natanael's smug fucking face. Something - probably a lot of somethings, by the feel of it - breaks and his head lolls. He won't be fighting back after this.

You crack your knuckles and think about how you're going to end this. It's unfortunate for him, but he's too dangerous alive. You need to end him and his treason with a one-way ticket to hell. No doubt his Relic will be able to show him the way.

-[DC9] Hang him with Gleipnir.
-[DC9] Have Natsumi behead him.
-[DC9] Have Orianne behead him.
-[DC9] Let Selene have the honour.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>559807
>-[DC9] Hang him with Gleipnir.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>559807
>-[DC9] Hang him with Gleipnir.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>559807
-[DC9] Hang him with Gleipnir.

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>>559807
Gleipnir's thread unwind and reweave themselves around the room. Natanael is pulled upwards and the noose around his neck tightens. His body twitches and spasms. You can't tell if it's because he regained consciousness and is trying to struggle, or if it's just his body's reflexive reaction.

It hardly matters. You don't even bother to watch him die. It's more important to check on your team.

"Is everyone all right?"

"We're better than you, I think," Orianne says. She has a difficult time walking, but there are no obvious wounds on her. She must be covered in bruises though. Natsumi is much the same.

Selene is curled up in a corner. She doesn't say anything.

"The interference stopped, so I assume Natanael is dead. Any casualties on our side?"

And Commander Blumstein is checking in on you. That's some good news, at least.

"We're banged up, but we're all alive," you answer. "We could use an extraction though."

"Francis is on his way," the Commander says. "I'll have things in hand here by the time you get that."

"Thanks, Commander."

You killed Vucub-Caquix and put down a traitor to humanity back to back. The fight's on a break for now, but you suspect the ride back to base will be anything but easy.

>>559987
And that's all for today's thread. The next Relic Quest will take place on Sunday September 18th at 7PM EDT. As a reminder, I also run Beleaguered Prince Quest on Fridays, also at 7PM EDT. You can check my twitter @BeleagueredQM for updates.

Goodnight and thanks for playing.

>>560001
Thanks for running.

>>559987

well Natanael was an idiot. He wanted a comfortable life? he could have used whatever pull he had to get assigned to guard duty somewhere cushy. Hell it would even have made sense, he could free up a lot of other relics and having a heavy hitter in your rear line as a just in case measure is a decent strategic choice.

but no! clearly he should go after the team who's killed 2 of the 6 most powerful creatures known! much better than calling favors that could be spent on getting good booze!

>>560001
Thanks OP

>>560024
Probably thought we were weakened and/or all hype

>>560304

weakened maybe, but if we were all hype we would have died to Vucub-Caquix. Maybe he figured whatever trick we were using wouldn't work on a relic user?