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ARCHIVE: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Dungeon%20Life%20Quest
PREVIOUS THREAD: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/819124/
CHARACTERS AND PLACES: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19gNVgtevar647l4ZumUaVH6GlJzvxLlDNKaH8DrQMWE/edit?usp=sharing

You are Brianna la Croix, necromancer, and you're realizing you don't have a plan beyond 'rescue the pixie'.

But that might actually be okay. You don't know the situation as well as you could or maybe should. You don't know what the people of the Sunless Sea might need.

Hell, you don't even know if you can actually restrain the ship.
>>
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>>846504
"I was going to play it by ear," you tell Scribbles. "I need more information before I can plan. Some of that will be from what you guys learned, some of it will have to be from experience."

"We do have Emily on hand to help as well," Catherine agrees. "We will follow your lead."

"You'd better, I'm about to be the one with the cursed ship," you joke, with a wry grin.

The coffee arrives, but Catherine touches your wrist lightly before you can pour yourself a cup. "May I speak with you outside?"

You blink. "...Sure?"

You and the half-elf get up from the table and slip out the front door. You're not going much further - it's raining pretty fucking hard - but you do take the chance to fish out a cigarette and light it. It honestly feels a bit more like a pipe kind of moment but you'll be damned if you're going to get it out right now.

"Something wrong, Catherine?" you ask, after your first drag.

"Not as such," the Chosen of Red Troth answers. "I have a curiosity and wanted to give you the space you need to answer openly and honestly."

"Well," you reply, with a shrug. "Hit me."

"Why do you wage war?" Catherine asks. "Do not mistake me, I understand your /motivations/. Compassion, duty, love, loyalty, I understand that you have these things. But there are other ways you could have expressed them. You waged war well before you came to this Dungeon, didn't you?"

You suck a long drag and let it out through your nose. "I did," you agree, thoughtfully.

"So why? Why choose a violent path?"

> I'm a necromancer. It comes with the territory
> You can blame Grandpa for that one. I looked up to him, and he stood up for others.
> I dunno. I guess I'm just good at it?
> Unresolved anger. Deep wells of unresolved anger.
> Write-in?
>>
>>846638
>> You can blame Grandpa for that one. I looked up to him, and he stood up for others.
>>
>>846638
> You can blame Grandpa for that one. I looked up to him, and he stood up for others.
PLEASE tell me this is the option for more storytime? Amy and Nate might get upset that they missed it.

Also, I recently watched October Sky, and Chris Cooper (though, with a darker skin tone) is totally how I am envisioning Grandpa La Croix now.
>>
>>846638
> Write-in?
>To be completely honest it's at least partly a matter of impatience, war let's me get the things I want done faster.
>>
>>846638
>You can blame Grandpa for that one. I looked up to him, and he stood up for others.
Though being a necromancer also plays part since people tend to fear/hate them, which means Bri would have to fight that much harder to inform them enough to change their views.
>>
>>846638
> You can blame Grandpa for that one.
>>
>>846638
>More often than not, it's the best way to get things done. I think. I might not have always thought things through; often it seems like the other ways wont work as well or as quickly.
>>
Getting it done faster seems conflicting with getting it done right.
>>
>>846638
>> You can blame Grandpa for that one. I looked up to him, and he stood up for others.
>>
Gonna call and write here in twenty or so after I wrap these dishes up, but in the meantime have a song a friend of mine passed to me here recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yywGI1H_oyM
>>
And called, writing.
>>
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>>846638
You smile fondly. "You can blame Grandpa for that one, honestly. He always stood up for other people, especially people who...like..." You search for the words. "You ever met someone who's gentle at heart, someone who would be a different person if they hurt someone else?"

"My brother," Catherine agrees softly, those red eyes on yours.

"Grandpa stood up for them a lot," you tell her. "Precisely /because/ he could. He taught me that some folks have to be rough so the world can have gentle people. I admired him, looked up to him, so I learned from him. I could have chosen a path without violence, but I don't regret the one I'm on."

"May I?" Catherine asks, holding her hand out questioningly. You pass her your cigarette; she takes a drag, coughs deep in her chest, and lets out a long breath. "Red God, that is foul. Thank you for sharing this with me. I hope you find the peace you're looking for, on the other side of this battle."

"So do I," you agree, gratefully. "...How's Emily doing?"

"As well as one might expect. She is still grieving, and it is no easy thing, to be unable to trust your god. Lora says many things to her, most of them filled with hints that her arm has been twisted into speaking. We cannot shut our masters out, you see. She /must/ listen."

"Poor girl," you murmur. "Let's head back inside." You hold out your cigarette case - Catherine puts out the one she's smoking and tucks it into the case - and head back in to get coffee.

"Everything okay?" Amy asks, as you sit.

"Just fine, was a private kinda conversation, not a bad kinda conversation. I'll catch you up on it later."

"That's good," Amy agrees. "I asked around a bit, and it looks like /Pallbearer/ is a bit of a way away from us right now. What do we want to do?"

> Catch Scribbles up on everything; you might not have time later
> See the town after the rain clears up
> Ask Emily what you should do; it'll help get her into the now, away from her grief
> Just rest up
> Write-in?
>>
>>847477
>Ask Emily what you should do; it'll help get her into the now, away from her grief
Be the friend she may need right now!
>>
>>847477
> Ask Emily what you should do; it'll help get her into the now, away from her grief.
We could start teaching her the La Croix way, since the family customs seem very much in line with what Lora would truly want from Emily.

Also, can we just, y'know, give her a really big hug? Girl needs it. And maybe a head rub, but I don't know how much she'd appreciate that one.
>>
>>847477
> Ask Emily what you should do.
>>
Aight folks, I need to go be Gainfully Employed. I'm running my PF campaign when I get home so there might not be an update until tomorrow morning; votes remain open, and I'll try to be on my phone from work.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!
>>
>>847477
>> Ask Emily what you should do; it'll help get her into the now, away from her grief
>>
>>847477
>Ask Emily what you should do; it'll help get her into the now, away from her grief
Let her know we can speak to Laura about things that Lora can't tell her directly too, the true things that Lora is unable to tell her properly.
>>
>>847477
> Ask Emily what you should do; it'll help get her into the now, away from her grief
>>847730
Thank you for writing.
>>
>>847477
>> Ask Emily what you should do; it'll help get her into the now, away from her grief
>>
I'm alive. Will call and write after I do some laundry and get some breakfast.
>>
>>847477
You consider it for a moment while you stir enough sugar into your coffee to feed a hummingbird. "Emily," you say clearly; the sailor startles, then looks at you. "What do you think we should do first?"

She considers it while you drink your coffee. "Assess the damage," she says at last. "Figure out what the hell it is that ship is using to fight with -"

"Cannon," Nate, Catherine, Scribbles, and Amy say at the same time.

"Nevermind," Emily continues. "Still, here in town I'd suggest you all rest up, acclimate to the Floor, and send someone to get seasickness medicine. It won't cure you, but it'll help."

"How bad can it be?" Amy scoffs.

"Bad," Catherine says flatly. "Give me a raging dragon any day. I hate ships."

"That bad," Emily agrees, while Nate stares at Catherine in vague disbelief. "Scribbles can handle that, I think. She haggles well."

The lamia beams. "I try," she says modestly.

"I'll escort you all to my house here shortly. My parents can put up with you for a night," Emily decides. "...I'd like some time to myself once we get there."

"Sure," you agree, sympathetically. "But it might still do you some good to get to know the group too."

"No promises, but I'll have to come down for tea eventually. Deal?"

"Deal," you agree, wryly.

The journey back to Emily's house is done at speed, mainly to hide the dogs. You all slip inside, dripping water onto the floor, while Emily goes to get a mop. Coats, cloaks, and other items are arranged around the fireplace to dry while the group takes over the front room.

True to her word, Emily slips upstairs after making sure everyone is comfortable.

What to do...

> Talk with someone (who?)
> Tell a story
> Give Scribbles the catch-up
> Study
> Take a nap (talk to Lora)
> Write-in?
>>
>>851957
>Give Scribbles the catch-up
Though I would like to talk to Lora to make sure Emily gets some peace, information sharing is really important.
>>
>>851957
>> Give Scribbles the catch-up
>>
>>851957
> Give Scribbles the catch-up
>>
>>851957
>Take a Nap
Because chances are good that Emily will be talking with Lora too. and being there, we can help.
>>
>>851957
>Supporting
>>852120
>>
>>851957
>> Take a nap (talk to Lora)
>>
>>851957
>> Tell a story
>>
>>851957
>> Study
>>
Something to ask Lora: What happens to Emily if we take her outside? Is it the same thing that happens to a god's Chosen inside?
>>
>>852120
>>852407
Wait, Emily just asked for time to herself. If we're going to take a nap, should we ask Emily beforehand?
>>
>>851957
> Give Scribbles the catch-up
>>
>>851957
> Tell a story.
Are you guys kidding me? We ALWAYS take this option when presented. Fucking rocks.
>>
Just got back home from work. Won't be updating until tomorrow; you've my apologies but Thanksgiving at the end of the week is stomping our faces into the floor.
>>
>>854353
That's okay Lich, though mention of Turkey-Day begs a question; how do you eat? Does it just pass through you like the ghosts from Casper, or did you install a dimensional portal in the back of your throat, from which matter cannot escape?

I'm banking on the latter. Must make your Johns /really/ happy.
>>
>>854353
you and me both.

Have you read the githyanki dissertation?
>>
>>851957
>> Give Scribbles the catch-up
>>
>>855389
Ze vhat?

Called, writing.
>>
>>855735
I did a piece on Githyanki. Pre WotC version.

You may enjoy the cultural notes, written while half asleep and brain dead. The quest is lewd so may not interest you as much.
>>827900
>>
>>855735
I FINALLY CAUGHT UP. 3 STRAIGHT DAYS OF NOTHING BUT READING THROUGH ARCHIVES AND I AM FINALLY ON A LIVE THREAD!
>>
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>>855763
WELCOME TO THE QUEST ANON!

SLAKE MY LUST FOR FEEDBACK
>>
>>855769
YOU BET YOUR ASS I WILL.
>>
>>855769
FIRST NOTE, I FUCKING LOVE YOUR WORLDBUILDING AND THE FULLY FLESHED MOTIVATIONS AND DESIRES FOR EACH CHARACTERS, NO MATTER HOW SEEMINGLY MINOR.

SECOND, I HEARTILY ENJOY THE WONDERFUL AND (mostly) HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE GIVEN TO AMY, NATHAN AND BRIANNA.

THIRD, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, YOU ARE ONE OF THE 5 BEST WRITERS I KNOW OF.
>>
>>855763
>>855795
>>855805
WELCOME TO THE QUEST ALL CAPS MAN
>>
>>855838
GLAD TO BE HERE. AND HEY, GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE RECOGNIZE YOU. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING MAJOR IN SHAPING BRI AS A CHARACTER (or can I?) BUT ALL CAPS IS A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO NOTICE YOU.
>>
>>851957
Scribbles has the most wide-eyed and eager look whenever she sneaks a glance your way. After two or three times of her looking away quickly when she realizes you've caught her, you decide, fuck it, give the writer what she wants.

"Ready for your next interview?" you ask Scribbles.

She has the books and writing implements out before you can finish getting comfortable.

"Damn," you say with a small laugh. "Eager?"

"/Beyond/ eager," she agrees. "I've been talking with the others already, when we've had free time, but I'm dying to hear your account from your own perspective."

"You'll have to talk to Nate, Amy, and River about the Warehouse," you warn her. "I was in the Broken Jaw for that assault."

You talk, at length. The fire is warm, which is nice, and there's something comforting about the scratch and slide of Scribbles writing her notes. It takes her a minute to get used to Kat's interjections and additions, but soon she's interviewing your shadow as much as she is you, with an intrigued look on her face.

"I'll get the story of the Warehouse later," Scribbles tells you. "And I was there for a few other major events, including...well, including the battle for the Roost. I'd like to talk about the Cornucopia."

Nate and Amy immediately look uncomfortable. "I'm not sure we should," Nathan says slowly.

"People have a right to know what happened," Scribbles says reproachfully. "History happened down here in the Dungeon. The world could change and those that come after us need to know why, how, as best as we can tell them. The Lush -"

"Wanted to be remembered," Amy interrupts. She's not angry, not as such, but there's a soul-deep weariness in her that clashes with the bright and vibrant Amy you know. "He wanted the world to do exactly what you're saying you want to do. He doesn't deserve that. He doesn't deserve anything."

"What he /wanted/ isn't relevant," Scribbles argues. "It's what the world /needs/."

> Tell the whole story
> Omit the details about the Lush's atrocities and motivations
> Refuse to tell the story at all; if she wants it, she can interview his victims
>>
>>855959
>Tell the whole story
>>
>>855959
>Tell the whole story
>Couch it as a cautionary, dark tale, a warning to those who are desperate for recognition and how it corrupts them.
>Never tell about the Lush himself or what he did personally, but all that happened around him and because of him.
>>
>>855985
THIS IS EVEN BETTER.
>>
>>855959
>Tell the whole story
>>Couch it as a cautionary, dark tale, a warning to those who are desperate for recognition and how it corrupts them.
>>Never tell about the Lush himself or what he did personally, but all that happened around him and because of him.
Supporting.
>>
>>855959
>>Tell the whole story
>>Couch it as a cautionary, dark tale, a warning to those who are desperate for recognition and how it corrupts them.
>>Never tell about the Lush himself or what he did personally, but all that happened around him and because of him.
>>
>>855959
>Tell the whole story
>Couch it as a cautionary, dark tale, a warning to those who are desperate for recognition and how it corrupts them.
>Never tell about the Lush himself or what he did personally, but all that happened around him and because of him.
>>
>>855959
>> Refuse to tell the story at all; if she wants it, she can interview his victims
>>
Okay, so - not gonna be able to update before I go to work. I /do/ have all day tomorrow off so I should get some good running in. Votes remain open in the meantime.

I will be busy on Thanksgiving (for once); expect limited, if any, run.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!

>>855805
THANK YOU ALL CAPS POSTER

Favorite secondary character?
>>
>>856204
MY FAVORITE SECONDARY CHARACTER WAS SILENCE.
>>
>>855959
> Refuse
Nope, not giving him the legacy he desired. Not but anonymity for him.
>>
>>855959
>Don't say the Lush's name, or give him any title or nickname when telling the story, or any identification beyond what's necessary. If anyone really wants to know in the future, they can use necromancy or prayer or research to find out. Just don't make him famous or memorable or easy to be referred to. At most, if unavoidable, acknowledge that the takeover of the Cornucopia had a leader.

Basically focus on what happened and not who specifically did it.
>>
What's the point of telling his story anyway? "If you do bad things, you'll be remembered." There's no message about how power corrupts, or how treating others poorly causes needless suffering. He did the things he did to be remembered. Telling his story justifies the suffering he caused. It'll have worked.
>>
>>855761
Huh. That is actually pretty interesting. And didn't the Githyanki actually ride around on Red Dragons? Shit's crazy.

>>855959
Imma support this; >>855985

>>856282
I think part of his problem is that he became so desperate to create a legacy, a record of his existence (and by proxy, the giants) that he stopped caring what kind of legend he was leaving behind.

There is a very real possibility that, had Richard never fed and spurred on his darker desires, the Lush might never have become the monster he did. He still committed terrible atrocities, and was fully aware of what he was doing and why (which Natalia at least can be forgiven for, because literal insanity fueled violence).

Also, we might omit his actual name from the story if we don't want the last recorded giant to be a raging asshole. Just tell people that a random giant decided to make a terrible legend, while the rest of his kin slowly faded into myth. Maybe it could be allegory or some such about accepting Death, and that all things must have an End.
>>
>>856282
I was thinking, tell the story, but be vague as to who actually did it, and make who actually did it seem much less important than the other parts.
>>
>>855959
>> Refuse to tell the story at all; if she wants it, too bad.
>>
>Tell the whole story
We've never skimped on details for history before, why start now? He's a monster, sure, but trying to cover this up will only make things worse.
>>
>>856457
Not covering things up, just shifting focus to the actions rather than the person, with the intent of the person being forgotten eventually.
>>
>>856457
Worse? Telling would be worse. The person who did horrible things to be remembered succeeded. He surely wasn't the only person who wants to be remembered. If someone else in the same quandary he was hears of his story, we may wind up with copycats.
>>
>>855959
> Refuse to tell the story at all; if she wants it, she can interview his victims
>>
>>855985
This.
>>
>>855959
>Supporting >>855985
>>
>>856282
That's the question at hand, really. Does the world need to know? Does it deserve to?
>>
>>856679
Lora still has veto power; if she wants certain details to be left unsaid, she only has to say the word. Maybe let Riley have some input as well, since he seemed to know Herostratus before he became the Lush.
>>
>>856732
Unless she interdicts the conversation we're having with Scribes right now, no she doesn't.
>>
>>856752
Oh, I didn't mean /right now/. Later, once events have been recorded. Lora might ask Brianna and Bridgette to do a bit of..editing.
>>
>>856787
Lora can just edit it herself, she's literate.
>>
>>856787
Scribbles isn't keeping her stuff down here, is she? She'll be taking her stuff with her. Out of the Dungeon.
>>
>>855959
>> Tell the whole story
>>
>>856846
That sounds like the name of a book. Maybe something about a traveler who was born in the Dungeon going to the surface and exploring?
>>
>>857170
That is entirely likely. The Dungeon is functionally a world unto itself. You could easily live your entire life down here.I wonder what the longest chain of bloodline that hasn't seen the sun is? If we hadn't heard direct from it's creator, I'd have thought it was a bunker of some kind, a protector against calamity on the surface.
>>
>>857226
Starfall has used it that way a few times, in the completely correct belief that none of their enemies have the spine to chase them down there.
>>
>>857226
Y'know, I think its a fair bit of irony that if one of the Giants had come to Lora (Is Eli their name for her, or is that the dwarves?), she probably would have made a place for them in the Dungeon.

Also, why the FUCK does all the scary shit ALWAYS migrate down? Undead, monsters, demons, dangerous magic crap, it all seems to wind up in the Dungeon. That must piss Lora off to no end.
> Lora spends three hundred years cultivating a subterranean rainforest made entirely of bioluminescent fungi.
> Mortals dump magical toxic waste down a seemingly random hole in the ground.
> Delicate ecosystem is practically destroyed, native fauna and flora are wildly mutated into dangerous monsters that then spread to the surface and become a plague.
> Lora's face when idiots and mystics declare it a sign of the God's displeasure.
>>
>>857291
I was thinking more like an asteroid strike or (when the time comes) nuclear war. The dungeon doesn't need the surface. Also, it seems like the stories of the Dungeon are greatly exaggerated. There's nothing army-stopping in the first several levels.
>>
>>857308
Elli ("Age") is used by both cultures. The dwarves see her as an entropic force but not a bad one. Giants learned the name from dwarves.
>>
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>>857313
> Not counting Red Kells the Pirate-Croc-Skeleton as a weapon of mass destruction.
>>
This vote is one of those votes where I'll regret choosing anything.
>>
>>857769
Vhy?
>>
>>857794
I was pretty confident about my choice but sleeping and the current discussion have me in doubt. The fact that I feel anger every time someone says the word "Lush" doesn't help either.
As things are, I cannot see this having any sort of 'good' ending, with the asshole getting what he wanted.

I'm too invested in this. Way too much.
>>
>>857794
>>857806
Add in the name you gave him.

I'm not upset with you or anything, just one of your characters.
>>
>>857823
Sign of an excellent writer.
>>
>>857806

My response to that is, he's dead. His last wish was to be remembered, and that's the closest thing to holy as we have.

We can have him remembered as a cautionary tale, as a villain, as someone to never be like - in which case, it serves both of our goals. Refusing to record him in history, though, is weakening history to spite a dead man.
>>
>>858147
>Refusing to record him in history, though, is weakening history to spite a dead man.
At one point I was completely willing to do this, even if it went against what Bri would do. Hopefully not so much anymore.
>>
>>858147
Being remembered wasn't just his last wish, it was his life's goal. Every horrible thing he did was in service to that goal. Telling his story -remembering him- validates everything he did. The moral of his story is "create enough suffering and you'll be remembered". Is that a story we want to tell? If others hear it, might they do the same things he did in order to also be remembered?
>>
>>858167

I'm actually in the midst of working on some research (dissertation) on something close to this in Bioethics, dealing with the work of Mengele or Shiro Ishi.

Does the fact that knowledge come from a wicked place mean that we can't use it? Dr. Mengele, during the Shoah, and Dr. Ishi during Manchuko, wanted to advance medical science. They wanted to save lives, which is on its face not a wicked goal, but they did so through a mountain of human misery.

Much of what we understand of optics and genetics comes from those experiments. If you've ever worn a pressure suit, or top-of-the-line cold-weather gear, or contact lenses, you are directly benefiting from that research. You are giving them what they want.

Should we not have those things? Should we burn the knowledge they gained, and not profit from what atrocities they committed?

I get that there's a distinction here, but it's one of scale, not of kind. The deed is already done, the victims of the Lush are already scarred or killed, the ruin he wrought already accomplished. He can now either be useful to us - as a story about what not to fucking do - or not.

One way or another, though, his name's gonna survive. Too many survivors of that battle knew the name, too many people who worked under him, too many co-conspirators. If we try to ban his name, just like the real-world herostratus, he will be remembered for it all the more so. Call it the streisand effect.

Instead, we can control how this gets out. Scribbles is writing the authoritative book on the dungeon, and the crisis here. Paint him as tragic and wretched. Make it clear that, given Lora's/Elli's motivations in making it, that he could have approached her to have a home for what was left of the giants, could have built something that would be remembered by a nascent goddess.

Instead, he chose the path of pain and misery, and died for it. He got what he wanted, and all it cost him was everything that had ever made him worthwhile, and the tarnished name of his people.
>>
>>858319

Real talk, Lora could have written his name in the goddamn stars. He could have passed on the knowledge of his race, the book of the last of the Giants. He was already going to be famous, goddamnit, and he chose to be famous for being a monster?

No. He's going to be remembered, as a historical footnote, as one of a handfull of people twisted enough to serve Richard's whims, overshadowed by the Poet who turned against the master, or the Wyrm, who's just infinitely more interesting and a fucking dragon to boot, or the Moneychanger whose depredations extended beyond death itself.
>>
>>858319
>>858324
This is some quality reasoning.
>>
>>858324

The point that this is driving home for me is that there's always a third option, and that should be part of the story.

This isn't a binary choice he had - the choice between "Go gentle into that good night" and "rage, rage against the dying of the light." He could have worked to build something, he could have been a force for good, someone like Ataturk or Ashoka or Justinian - perhaps flawed, perhaps part of a dying nation, but having built something to leave behind that the world can't ever forget.

Instead, he was lazy. Or he was bent to the will of another. Either way, he wasted what legacy his race might have had.
>>
>>858338
>He could have worked to build something, he could have been a force for good

>"I sought my immortality in the smiles of the Firstborn, but their gratitude grew as cold as my hope and I was forgotten," the giant - murmurs isn't a word you want to use for a voice this loud, but murmurs. "I sought it in monuments and great works, but statues crumble and buildings fail. I recorded my life and wisdom for others to read, but who cares for the thoughts of the jotun? I have nothing, girl. I /am/ Nothing, son of No One, whose inheritance is ash and sorrow, and I will /not/ submit to /her rule/ like some lamb to the slaughter.
He tried to be remembered for good, but it was for naught. He didn't simply want to be remembered as the last Son of the Giants, he wanted be remembered on his own merits. Good failed, and so he turned to evil. And, if we tell his story, it worked.

>Does the fact that knowledge come from a wicked place mean that we can't use it?
It doesn't mean it can be used, no. But what knowledge is there here? What useful or enlightening works springs from his story? Nothing.
>>
>>858319 has got a quite good point with the streisand effect.

Because I, for my part, really don't know wether or not we should censor the story.

But I'm almost certain that we can't. Or rather, that it won't be of much use, and that there not being a "definitive work", as would be Scribbles book, would only lead to wrong tales and glorification.
If we however tell the story, we might at least majorly influence on how it is going to be told, and how the Lush is going to be remembered.
>>
>>858419
We're not voting whether to censor or not, we just voting to determine if we tell our part of his story. Without our part, all that'll remain will scattered stories of suffering and pain dealt by a giant.
>>
> Too tired to update when I get home
> Stay up until 8 AM playing a videogame anyway

I am not sure I'm an adult. I'll call and write here in thirty or so. The discussion has been great; do remember to vote if you haven't already.
>>
>>858450
"Omit the details about the Lush's atrocities and motivations"
That does sound to me rather like censoring our tale.
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>>855959
>Tell the story including his atrocities, but omit his real name. Just call him "the Lush" or "the cruel giant".
>>
>>858599

This is the thing im least okay with. His Last Wish was to be remembered. We respect Last Wishes. He cannot cause any more pain then he has already put into motion. This story, at least, would be used for something good.

There is no reason to spite a dead man. He's dead. Death is for the Dead. Life is for the living.
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>>858392

I don't buy that he tried and failed. I buy that he gave in to despair. Anyone with his power and resources could build a Legacy that mattered.
>>
>>858324
>>858319
>>858336
>>858338

>make a historical footnote, but respect his last wish, and record his name.
>>
I am glad to see the discussion going around. I was personally unsure, but you guys helped me make up my mind.

And as for a thing that the Lush created, his Drink is pretty fucking potent. Still evil as hell, and I'm glad we destroyed all those who had a part in its creation, but the idea of an elixir or potion fueled by emotion actually makes me wonder if River could turn it into something good and worthwhile. Maybe summon a demon with the necessary skills and a non-evil mindset, and put him or her to work collecting and concentrating positive emotions into a new product. And, just to avoid ad memories, call it something new, like Panacea or Ambrosia.

>>858872
I have to agree with this, and that's just another reason why Dick needs to DIE. He has this unnatural and unholy talent for finding people at their lowest point and turning them into tools and weapons of his will.

Seriously, I think we would have less trouble fighting the literal Devil Himself.

>>858516
Been there, done that, fucked up my vision. You are not alone, good Lich.
>>
Sorry about that folks, waking up late meant I needed to handle my morning routine and it went on quite a bit longer than anticipated.

Called, tallying, writing. Lovely discussion, glad to have had it.

>>858911
> Seriously, I think we would have less trouble fighting the literal Devil Himself.

This makes me feel so good inside.
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>>859028
What's got me worried is that Penis literally has Lora on a leash and is doing jackshit to proactively utilize that. Sure, he's reacted by shutting lines of communication and by restraining Lora's resurrection BS, but that's nothing compared to what he could be doing. And he's not doing it at all.
He's either supremely confident that whatever he's doing with the divine tongue is preparation enough or planning something that requires the elimination of the chains or for Brianna to be on his floor. Either is bad news, given that Brianna's group has neither a counter to Lora if Penis has fucked with Brianna's heritor protections nor a counter to the divine tongue.
>>
Alright folks, the winning votes are technically 'frame it as a cautionary tale', as seen here: >>856034

However, >>858866 and >>858876 are pretty solid points. What're the feelings on splitting the difference on this?
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>>859082
I am too have to abstain. I prefer spite to indulgence in this instance.
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>>859082
I would respect his last wishes. He tried to do good, only to fall prey to Dick.
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>>859082
As long as the difference includes keeping his name out of it, sure.
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>>859082
I dislike the idea of indulging the Lush, Last Wish or not.
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>>859071
He's workign on building a world and he needs Lora to do that. He's using her, just not for the weapon or the tool you think he should be. he's using her skills and abilities to make a new world, because even with what he's been taught, he needs her to help him because he's still only mortal.

That should actually scare you more than the things you think he should be using her for.
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>>859082
My vote is we record his name for us and us along - Brianna can keep his name and be it's caretaker. That should be more than enough for him - it's certainly more than he deserves.
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>>859082
I doubt that hiding the truth will do us any good down the road. Understanding the why's (being the last son of his people, despair at being left behind and forgotten by the rest of the world, his own terrible vices) and how's (Dick's manipulations, his own further crimes against the Dungeon and Lora) are the lessons here.

If we're fortunate, anyone with an ego so huge that they feel an intrinsic need to be remembered by the entire world will look at Herostratus and think 'That's just a pitiful way to go out', and move away from becoming like him.

We can't /stop/ people from being people, with all the good and bad that this entails. We just want them to think really hard about their own motivations and the consequences of their actions, if becoming a millennia-spanning legend is worth being remembered as a monster and villain.
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>>859289
People that really want to be remembered don't care /why/ they're remembered. See: the Lush. Those folks won't look at him and go "that's pitiful" they'll go "It worked".
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>>859082
No name. If someone's last wish was "to kill that bitch necromancer," we wouldn't go along. The dying wish thing doesn't have the highest priority. Stopping his plan from working as a form of justice/vengance and preventing future peoples from following his example are more important.
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>>859500
>>859323
>>859279

I get that you guys don't want to indulge him. I can't stress enough though, he is dead. He's not even looking down from a better place. He's dead, and his soul is gone, and there is nothing more for him to accomplish.

We the players can betray who Brianna the character is, because of our morality, or we can respect the Last Wish of a Deadman while still using it to serve our purpose.

He can't win. He's dead. Death is for the Dead. What he Canby, now, is useful to us.

> tell the whole story
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>>859323

People who are driven to or who seek evil will do evil. Has there been a rash of dr. Mengele imitators trying to move Medical Science forward, since it worked so well for him?
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>>859619

Besides which, if we intentionally leave his name out, and anyone else has remembered it or write it down, it goes from a historical note to a mystery and a cover-up.

Just like the real herostratus. Are we going to learn nothing from The Real World? Vox even named The Man after the real world Story. The name survived. The fact that the city tried to cover his name up is the only reason it survived.
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>>855959
"Enough," you say softly. "Scribbles, I'm going to tell you the story. But before I do, I'm going to set some conditions on how you record this. You will obfuscate the Lush; record him as 'the tyrant of the Cornucopia' if you must. Lose his motivations to time, and do not tell the world about his Drink."

"Why?" the lamia author asks, pained.

"Because I won't leave his life as an example to others that will repeat it," you tell her, softly. "Because his victims, and the rebels who fought against him, deserve to be the center of this story. One more thing. Among the casualties of the Cornucopia, note a giant named Herosratus, who was slain at the battle for the Theater. Am I understood?"

"You're asking me to lie to history," the author accuses.

"I'm asking you to do the responsible thing for the people who will come after you," you answer, holding the lamia's gaze.

Scribbles looks away, at last, back down to her notes. "...Fine," she mutters, unhappily.

"Thank you."

In the end, you tell it as a story, about a tyrant driven mad by his obsession with death. It's true, in a way. Scribbles is shocked when you reach the point in the story where you died, and at that point Kat, Amy, and Nate take over.

You're left feeling oddly lighter about the whole affair. You knew this was coming. Now you've addressed it.

Emily comes downstairs, looking like she just came out the other side of a good cry. You frown as you realize you have no idea where her parents are. Actually, you should probably bring that up.

"Welcome back," you greet, sitting up straighter in your chair. "Hey, um -"

"I sent them to the Broken Jaw," Emily answers, before you can finish asking. "I told them I wanted to know that they were safe. Dad thinks he can encourage the wildlife back in, if the plants aren't all dead."

"They're not," you agree, blinking. "...Tea?"

Emily picks up her kettle and starts to make the drink in question. "I'll join you all to talk here in a moment. You should send Scribbles back up. The open sea is no place for books."

"But -" Scribbles looks back down at her notes and sighs. "...You're probably right."

> Send her back up
> Encourage Scribbles to stay
>>
>>859323
This. My vote is to leave his name out of it. He committed atrocities in order to be remembered. If he gets his wish, those actions will have been validated. He will get what he wanted. And that seems unconscionable.
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>>859636
> Send her back up
Anyone else think Scribbles will look into the Lush on her own and add the details to her notes?
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>>859636
> Send her back up
>>
>>859629
Funny thing about Herostratus.
>There's a movie of the same name
>The story is about a man who wanted to die by jumping and turn the suicide into a media blitz in order to be remembered
>The director and the lead actor both died of suicide later on

Considering the implications, it's frighteningly eerie.
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>>859636
>Encourage Scribbles to stay
>>
>>859636
>> Send her back up
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>>859904
That's...kinda creepy.

>>859636
Could we have Scribbles stay in Port Atrium? I mean, she wants to be here to witness events in person, but I'm not sure I want to see her get hurt.
> Encourage Scribbles to stay. Maybe she can link up with the locals?

Does she have a communication bell? If we have an extra, we can give it to her. That way, she can share information with the locals about what's been going on further up.
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>>859082
Is this a secondary vote? I'll stick with my own write-in:
>Leave the Lush's name out.

>>859284
I'm okay with this. He asked that his name is known and it is by Bri, but he won't get everything (that everybody for all time knows it).
>>859323
Correct.

>>859629
We will just omit his name from THE historical recording (so it is forgotten), not do a huge cover up (which would end as the real world).
There's a difference between
a) "there was an evil giant that wanted to be remembered. If you really want to know his name, you can look through a thousand archives an you may find it." and
b) ""there was an evil giant that wanted to be remembered. His name was [bold italic blinking fontsize100] Herostratus [/end], please remember it, it is a mandatory question in every quiz."

>>859636
This is okay.
>She can stay, but should leave the finished notes someplace safe.
>>
>>859629
>it goes from a historical note to a mystery and a cover-up.
That isn't an issue because if someone else does it, it isn't our responsibility to take care of it. A last request is one thing, but if someone else finds the name out and spreads it around, we don't have control over their lives, only what we do with what we have to work with.
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>>859636
>Encourage Scribbles to stay
Yes she does books but she's also a mean one with a crossbow if I recall.

Right now I'm more in the camp of making Lush a sidenote to a bigger, badder evil but I have no idea how long that will last. The only thing I really, REALLY want is for Lora to either heal exceptionally well or not have to live with his face haunting her forever.
Anything less seems like it would feel like a hollow victory. (Vox is a great writer though so stuff might change, I don't know.)
>>
'm awake. Give me a bit to attend to Real Life and I'll call and write.
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>>861133
Wooohoooo
>>
Called, tallying, writing.
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>>859636
"Look, Scribs, you don't have to leave," you tell her. "Just put your writing supplies somewhere safe. Like, say, the bookshelves in here? That way if we end up in a drowning sort of situation we're covered."

"I won't be able to take notes like that," Scribbles protests, but you can tell she's thinking about it.

"You can't witness history as it's happening if you go," you point out. "...Actually, can you swim?"

"Yyyyeeeesss," Scribbles says slowly. "But I'd rather not."

"I can't," Amy admits. "Never had the chance to learn."

"Let's try not to sink the boat," Emily suggests. "Feel free to store your notes here if you want to stay, Scribbles. I didn't want to make you feel unwelcome. You've more than proven yourself."

"What did you guys /do/?" you ask, curiously.

"I shot a lot of things," Scribbles admits. "...I should get more bolts." Scribbles gets up and, after stashing her books and writing utensils, slithers out into the rain.

"Do you have any idea why she's like that?" Emily asks, curiously.

"At this point, you know her better than I do," you admit. "I think she's just good at knowing what she wants."

Emily nods and starts to get mugs out; the tea will be ready any minute now. "Thank you for...well, for everything," she says softly. "I've been studying under Catherine. The differences in our powers are making things difficult, but I feel like I'm learning."

"You are," Catherine reassures her. "...In most respects."

"Theological issues?" you ask.

"You could say that," Emily says tersely. "I'd really rather not get into it."

> Any plans for after the Sunless Sea is clear?
> What /are/ your powers, anyway?
> Talk to Catherine instead (about what?)
> Write-in?
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>>861656
>What are your powers anyway?
I am VERY curious about what she can do as a literal avatar of death.
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>>861656
> What /are/ your powers, anyway?
> Compare notes?

It would be cool if we could learn some new tricks, or teach Emily some of ours. Hell, we could include Catherine, just to see what kind of offensive spells we could come up with. Like, say, creating a type of trap that curses stamina, and basically makes our enemies too exhausted to fight us.
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>>861656
> What /are/ your powers anyway?
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>>861676
I support this option.
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>>861656
>If there's anything you need to talk about, feel free to talk to me.
>Also >>861676, if possible.
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>>861676
So you get Bri, Emily, and Catherine to come up with a ... new technique?
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>>861674
'Avatar' is going a bit far, but this is a good spot to talk about the Chosen in general, so -

Called, writing.
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>>861656
You sit up a little straighter, curiosity crossing your mind. "Well," you begin, "what /are/ your powers?"

"Give me a minute," Emily tells you. The kettle starts to go off, and the young woman takes it from the stove and starts pouring the tea. She adds honey to it while it's still steeping, with the air of someone who's done this a thousand times before. She passes out the cups before taking her own seat by the fire. The Chosen of Death removes the hat covering her head feathers and runs her hand through them. "Okay, so, the thing is - we're not exactly sure."

Catherine clears her throat. "To clarify," she elaborates, "a Chosen generally has three parts to their power; they have the power inherent to all Chosen, they have the power that flows from their god, and they have their badge of office. My cloak is my badge of office, for instance. It serves as my armor, and my armory. But I still have power without it."

Emily nods. "As near as we can tell, my sword - Heartbreak - is my badge of office. I don't even know where to start with what it can and can't do and I think I may actually die before I ever master it. It looks like metal but it's not, it's almost like -"

"Sorrow," you interrupt softly. "Folded sorrow, beaten into physical form. Lora had the blade made when she was tasked with ending a civilization."

Emily doesn't know what to say to that; she looks down at her cup with awe and, yes, fear, shadowing her eyes.

"Emily clearly demonstrates the changes inherent to all Chosen," Catherine cuts in, sparing Emily from having to respond to your revelation. "She is removed from physical concerns to an extent; she can walk on water, manipulate smoke and mist, sense the things which fall into the authority of her god, and can go for longer without food, water, and sleep. In all likelihood she will, as all Chosen could, enjoy the benefits of an extended lifespan and the wisdom and comfort of her lord and master."

"Right, comfort," Emily mutters. "...You're sure I can't tune her out?"

"Absolutely certain," Catherine answers, sadly. "Her circumstances are not of her making, Emily. She needs you now more than any god has ever needed their Chosen."

"So why not Choose /her/?" Emily demands, gesturing at you. "Huh?"

"Hold up," you raise your hands, peaceably. "Hooold up. Emily, do you want your power revoked?"

The sailor woman scowls down at her tea, then sighs. "...No," she admits. "I'm just on edge. Just...on edge, all the time."

"What do they make Lora tell you?" Amy asks in a small voice.

"Tell isn't the right word. I keep reliving John's death."

You suck in a deep breath.

"From his perspective," Emily adds, her voice barely a murmur.

> What do you say?
>>
>>862982
>> What do you say?
... welp. We /are/ the 2nd best expert on death around.
But generally, put a positive spin on it; how it was his choice and he asked for it, and the state he was in when he made the request.
And the good that it brought in honoring his request.
To let that serve as a reminder of his love for her, no matter how their enemies try to pervert it.
>>
>>863131
Not that death.

His first death.
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>>863188
Wellll shiiiit.
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>>862982
>Richard is trying to break you.

>He wants to make a new world, and in doing so he will destroy this one. He chained your patron to his will, and is forcing her to help destroy everyone and everything, including the things she cares about, because he's an arrogant, egotistical madman who thinks he knows better than Death herself does.

>If he can get you to kill us, then he can destroy the world unopposed. This is how he is doing it. By making you suffer until he says, 'kill Brianna and her friends and you an have peace'.

>I will try to help you through this....but remember - all he needs is to break you and then turn you against us to win.
>>
>>862982
I'll support this; >>863593

Also, we should teach her the La Croix's Ancestral Summoning techniques. She'll feel better if she can talk to John, though it might not help her move on.
>>
>>862982
Supporting this>>863593
>>
>>862982
>Can we help Emily figure out a way to talk to the dead? so she can talk to John one last time, to give her some piece of mind, and then helping us help Lora and to put an end to the shitfest Dick started.
>>
>>862982
>Supporting >>863973
Not sure we should imply that Emily might kill us.
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>>863991
Are you implying that Richard would even hesitate to convince her to kill us?

We're the only threat that matters at this point, in a very literal sense.
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>>864050
I can see why mentioning it could lead to problems but the most important thing right now is trying to help /her/, or it might seem like we are only doing this to make sure she doesn't kill us.

Emily needs guidance and a friend.
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>>864050
It's a valid concern, but it might seem like we don't trust her. That could make it worse.
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>>864060
>>864071
He's corrupted strong willed, moral, and ethical people, and turned them into monsters.

Please tell me that you honestly believe a shy, unprepared, teacherless Chosen who is being manipulated through the deity bthat Chose her is going to be able to stand up to a manipulative bastard like richard who has control of her goddess.

We can phrase it in a way that indicates we trust her sure - but the man is a genius at using people's weaknesses and strengths against them to the point of absolute loyalty and self destruction.

We've seen this time and time and time again!
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>>864085
I thought that Richard specialized in taking bad people and turning them into monsters, or forcing good people to help him. Nevertheless, warning Emily is a good idea.
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>>864085
I'm not saying we shouldn't warn her about Dick's tactics, just that we shouldn't be specific about what he might try to make her do to stop the visions, or at least try to name a different thing than "He might try to make you kill me". Avoid making suspicions that we're doing this (partly) for our own benefit when we genuinely do care about her well being.

Not sure how else to word it.
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>>864177
That's understandable.
>>
Okay, so - I'm alive. However, I'll be spending the day doing Actual Holiday Stuff. Presuming I'm sober enough (and not slain by the food coma) to do so, I'll update tonight when I get home. In the meantime, votes are still open. Please, if you haven't voted, consider doing so.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!
>>
>>864338
Thanks for writing, Vox. Have a good Thanksgiving.
>>
>>862982

>What Richard wants is to break you. Maybe not all the way, but he's good at finding cracks and saying just the right thing.

>It'll sound reasonable, simple. Appealing even. Like he has your best interests at heart, like he's just trying to help you see the bigger picture.

>The man's a devil though. He's tricked and manipulated a lot of people, and he's caused a lot of suffering to get where he is now. This is a man who's chained an angel with words and bound each floor in chains. Even if the Diviner froze the Jaw, Richard's the one who gave her the chain.

>Whatever happens in those dreams, it's over. It sucks, but it won't be forever. John died, and he came back. He fought, and in his last moments his thoughts were about what he could do to protect you. Not about that freezing cold or the terrible gnawing hunger. You. He's dead and gone now, but you're not.

>If you need an ear to talk to, some coffee, a shoulder to rest on, anything at all, just ask. That's what I'm here for.

Bit long and wordy, but it gets the point across. He might not be manipulating her specifically to get her to kill us, but he's a silver-tongued devil. A day of dragged heels, or considering one solution over another, a moment's hesitation. All these things could give him the edge he needs.

Make it not about us, but about Emily. Dick wants to crawl inside of her head and twist it. Let's not let that happen to someone right in front of us.
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>>863719
Changing this to a combo of this >>863593
and this >>864440
>>
>>862982
>>864440
Support this I do
>>
>>863131
>>863188
Welp. Hmm.
Talk about the future. How when this is all over; Lora /will/ be free, and you, her, and yourself will be able to settle the issue and provide closure. (We might be able to do this with the next chain)
Also in the meantime heres some stress management stuff and fantasy!kittens and such.
>>
>>865575
Good point! Where's Feathers, the adorable stuffed griffin?
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>>865752
He was with Lora, wasn't he?
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>>866204
I think Lora gave him back.
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>>866742
That whore might be sleeping around in that case. Love Nate and Amy, but Feathers is clearly best.
>>
I'm gonna be straight, I woke up feeling like shit to a shit day and I don't have the will to write at the moment.

We're open for Q&A.
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>>867132
Did you get sick Vox?
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>>867132
What music instruments are most common in the Dungeon?
>>
>>867623
The humanoid voice. A close second place belongs to various kinds of drums (but especially in the Sunless Sea where they're used in timing rowing) and various kinds of flutes. The Athenaeum used to have musical whistles that developed from a tradition of safety whistles but so many died during Brigette's takeover that no one's really feeling like taking it back up. The Caretaker will likely reintroduce the practice once things cool down.
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>>867659
How's recovery on the previous floors going, anyways?
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>>867659
So no one really does stings then.
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>>868070
Stings?

>>867755
Fairly well, for a given value of 'well'. The Basement is doing the best, and the Lichyard is back to normal, if still grieving its dead. The Athenaeum won't be the same for quite a long time. The Mine...is what it is. New Hell soldiers on, as it always does. The other floors connected to the Roost are still feeling the sting most keenly.
>>
A few questions then, Voxy.

What is the most surprised you've been, so far, by how we've taken the plot / a thing we've done?

What is the most proud you've been of us?

What is the most disappointed you've been of a decision we've made / thing we've done? If not those exact words, what's a decision we made that you didn't feel was in character, or the right call?

A buddy and I are opening a tabletop gaming bar, what should we have there?
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>>868535
For the last one, spare dice and writing utensils. Also WiFi.
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>>868418
Think he meant "strings." Fiddle, lute, lyre, guitar. All are pretty popular traveling instruments.
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>>868535
Maybe rulebooks as well.
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>>868541

Of course. Part of it's also a lexan/sheet plastic covering on the table, that's dry-erasable. Any notes you need can be kept on the tables - which have a grid cut in the middle of one side, and a hex on the other. Reversible.
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>>868551
If I ever come into possession of a building, I want to cover every available surface in unpolished slate tiles and turn the place into a giant blackboard. Something similar might be useful, but I don't know how expensive it'd be. Chalk dust might also be a problem.
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>>868535
> What is the most surprised you've been, so far, by how we've taken the plot / a thing we've done?

Saving River still stands out, if only because it was early enough in the quest that you hadn't established Bri as the woman she was to become, but a close second place was the vote to continue the assault on Sprawl.

> What is the most proud you've been of us?

When you walked away from the Lush

> What is the most disappointed you've been of a decision we've made / thing we've done?

I wouldn't necessarily say disappointed, but the decision for Jack to cling to life when he needed to move on was a bit of a Moment.

> A buddy and I are opening a tabletop gaming bar, what should we have there?

Gamers, like drinkers, crave salty snacks. Be generous with napkins and/or paper towels; people will need them if they're eating/drinking while gaming. If grid maps (washable, preferably - hard plastic cover over a grid?) can be done on the tables that'd please the tactical gamer crowd. If you can host wargames, having in-house terrain elements would be a godsend to the poorer players and an attraction to the same. Get a cook and pay him what his work is worth - not everyone drinks, but everyone eats, and it's hard to go wrong with sandwiches, finger food, and/or pizza.

Spare dice or, more likely, dice for sale will be helpful. WiFi should be a given.
>>
>>868592

Remind me, where was Sprawl again?

RE: Jack - ... yeah, it was a moment. To be fair, though, it was Jack's character through and through - he was willing to hold a chain just to have more time, why wouldn't he try to come back?

RE: The bar - yeah, in-house terrain and tables made for it. When it comes to food, though, we're looking at doing smaller things at first instead of a full kitchen (think more coffee house style) and then setting up, once we have the money, a food truck that sits semi-permanently outside. It lets us get around most of the distinctions in health code between bars and restaurants (no dogs inside, for instance) while still having food.
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>>868592
For Jack, I thought it was a kind of "I've already failed so much and am about to die before I fix any significant part of it, like hell I'm going to just let that happen" thing. Sort of seeing death as running away, if that makes sense.
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>>868705
>Jack'
I feel the same. It was OOC for us as voters, but fit Jack perfectly. It felt good, honestly, despite being the "immoral" choice. Too many times we're making decisions for characters with radically different personalities, but vote like Bri.
>>
Aight - called, writing. Thank you, so very much, for your patience.
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>>870743
You're welcome.

Have a dragon with a wizard on his head.
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>>862982
You let out a long breath. "You know that she's being forced to do this to you," you begin, quietly. "She wouldn't if she could avoid it."

"I know. It doesn't make it better," Emily answers. She looks away. "...He died crawling. Crawling towards the corpse of a man he knew, who he'd greeted and talked to every day. Trying to live just another few moments. He -"

"He tried to survive," you interrupt, not harshly, but firmly. "The John I knew died thinking of /you/. Not his own survival, but of your safety. Draugs are victims, not victors, Emily. This is Richard's game. The man who's enslaved Lora finds people while they're down and he picks at them. He talks them into thinking he has the way out, the opportunities that will make their dreams come true and solve all of their problems. Some...maybe even most...of these Chain-Bearers were good people once, Emily. Do they seem like he made them happy?"

Emily shakes her head. Catherine scoots a bit closer and puts her hand on the sailor's shoulder.

"If Richard's plans succeed, a lot more people are going to die," you continue, solemnly. "Lovers. Mothers. Sons. He wants you out of the action or, even better, to hold the rest of us back. His minions froze the Jaw and caused this devastation in the Dungeon, and I'm not saying this to make you hate him. I'm saying this so you understand the stakes."

You set your cup down and lean forward, elbow on your knee. "I'm here, any time, any place, if you ever need me," you murmur. "To talk, for coffee, just to have some human contact, whatever you need. Just ask, alright?"

"I appreciate it," Emily murmurs. "...You sound like what Catherine talks about, with the priests."

"She's not wrong," Nathan agrees, looking up from his coffee; you catch the approval in his broken eyes.

"I've been trying to teach her about the gods but it's been slow going," Catherine admits. "The religion of the Sunless Sea is in a deplorable state."

"The Captains of the Ship of the World don't need people bothering them," Emily retorts, with a tired roll of her eyes. "And they can't even /hear/ us down here."

> The what now?
> Change the subject (to what?)
> Get some rest; you've got a big day tomorrow
>>
>>871018
> The what now?
>>
>>871018
>> The what now?
>>
>>871018
>> The what now?
>>
I gotta hit work but things are lookin' up schedule-wise. If I can push through the depression inherent in my Decembers (nothing like poverty and separation from your beloved children to make you really just fucking feel the HOLIDAY SPIRIT) things should get more regular again. Votes remain open.

Questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms remain welcome and appreciated.

Thank you all for reading and participating!
>>
>>871018
>The what now?
>>
>>871188
Thank you for writing.
>>
Called, writing.
>>
Or Comcast can eat my soul. I'll write tomorrow, fuck it.
>>
>>874869
Wait a second,how could Comcast eat your soul? I thought your immortal spirit was safely tucked away in your coffee maker/phylactery? Unless..the utter fiends! The villainous cads! They stole it! THE STOLE THE PRECIOUS!

We must have vengeance, in the name of Vox!
>>
>>874869
Take care of yourself Vox even liche's need their souls.
>>
>>874869
good luck Vox
>>
NEW THREAD

>>877382
>>877382
>>877382
>>877382



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