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The last few days have been...interesting. Alek was forced into fighting a werewolf, banished from a town, was told of a corrupt Abbot who delighted in younger boys, gained a Daughter companion and escaped a Tribe full of cannibals.

Alek is a Witch Hunter, a being who has corrupted his very soul in order to fight the evil that plague the continent of Isalica.

Currently, Alek and the Daughter Sophia Delport, of the High Church order, are travelling on foot through the Wilds, a forest that seems to stretch on far into the horizon. Its an old forest, filled with magiks and wondrous creatures. But it is also filled with a lot of evil, cannibals, monsters, murders, occultist and various other dark creatures, often hiding behind a fake visage.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/3235234/

https://discord.gg/rCSHDCk - Join and stay up to date on updates
>>
>>3257481
Aleks comes to in the early morning light, a pounding headache and sore muscles accompanying him. He squints his eyes, trying to block out the blinding light. Slowly his other senses come back to him, he can hear someone singing softly. Its nice, a soft tone to temper the harsh night he’s had. From his groggy memory, it sounds like the Ballad of the Lone Woman, a tale about a woman searching for her lost love in the Peak Mountains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYEWEn0INuU

He listens for a while, content. As he attempts to sit up, searing pain races through his entire abdomen and an involuntary groan escapes his mouth.

Instantly, the singing stops and Sophia rushes over. Concern clearly written on her face. “Alek! Are you ok? You’ve been dead to the world since you stumbled into camp. I’ve been trying to force water down your throat but nothing would pass your lips.”

“Its ok Daughter Delport.” Alek said, gazing into her eyes “I am fine, just a little tired from it all.”

“Well,” she says, searching Aleks face for clues to what happened “if you say so Alek.” She points at a small handful of white berries sitting on a stump “I found some of these ivory berries over there. I remember my mother picking them when I was a young child so they should be safe to consume. I’ve had a few handfuls myself with no ill effects.”

Alek fell upon the berries like a wild beast. He was starving and it felt like it had been years since his last feed.

While he smushed the berries down his gullet, Sophia asked if he still had the Fish Hook. He nodded in the affirmative and gave it to her.

As she fished, Alek took stock of the situation and, more importantly, the sack of gold that he’d stolen. 1. 2. 3. 4...they’d barely survived that cannibal encounter and even worse, Alek was thinking in terms of travelling with a partner. This hadn’t happened before. He was used to moving solo and he like it that way dammit! He needed to offload her at the soonest possible time in the capital.

“Alek,” she called from the river “I’ve got some things to ask you.”

“Like what?”

“Well, firstly.” She’d quickly caught a sizeable trout which she’d killed by smashing its head in with a rock. She pulled out a small knife and gutted it before sticking a sharpened stick up down its throat and onto the fire. “Firstly, your...Imp. Whats that about?”

Alek looks at her.

Should he tell her about his Imp?

>Yes. She deserves to know what she’s travelling with
>No. Thats sacred Witch Hunter business and besides, Witch Hunters already face enough prejudice.
>Other
>>
>>3257482
>Yes. She deserves to know what she’s traveling with

Don't hold anything back. Lay it on real thick so she knows EXACTLY what's going on.
>>
>>3257482
>>Yes. She deserves to know what she’s traveling with.
>>
>>3257482
>>Yes. She deserves to know what she’s travelling with
Also, cuddle. We are seriously in need of one.
>>
>>3257482

>Yes. She deserves to know what she’s travelling with

Sigh, she deserves to know, we gave oursekves in order to try to fight evil.
>>
>>3257520
This, maybe groan in pain and ask for a helping hand.
>>
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>Yes

“Before I answer, what have you heard about Witch Hunters? What tales have been told about us in the taverns, in the temples and houses?”

Sophia roasts the trouts, slowly rotating it around the fire before, hesitating before answering. “Well, from what our Abbot has told us, and from what I’ve heard, is that Witch Hunters are humans who have made a pact with the devil, I’m not totally sure what you get out of it, but you have to give them your soul. I’ve also heard that you make potions and spells from the bodies and souls of other humans. I once heard a story of a Witch Hunter who got into a fight at a tavern, killed every person in there. Even the barmaid! Used their eyes in a sort of strength potion.”

“You must’ve been in desperate need when I offered you a way out then? If thats what you’ve heard of us.” Alek snorted “you can’t even make invisibility potions out of eyes.”

“The Abbot was bad, but the Mother was somehow even worse. I heard she once blinded a Daughter for speaking back to her.”

Alek made a non-committal sound. “Well, to start. Witch Hunters do indeed make a pact with a devil not the devil. Big difference. We typically choose a demon who has very little influence in the Below because they’re easier to make deals with and give Witch Hunters extra time on the mortal plane. My Imp gave me till the last day of summer in my 35th year before he could claim my soul. In return, I can summon him from Below whenever I need him, he gives me information on targets, and he can *ahem*,” Alek coughs and looks away, almost ashamed “he can possess my body for a short period of time.”

“He can possess you?” Daughter Delport makes a small Sign Against Evil, probably out of muscle memory than anything else.

“Sort of. He inhabits my body but I still control my actions.”

“What about potions made from bodies?”

“Again. Sort of true. We don’t murder folk for their skin or eyes or teeth. Most are given freely in exchange for hunting monsters. After all, not every farmer has a sack of gold just lying around and we do need to make our potions to fight monsters, so we figure its an even trade.”
>>
>>3258212
“So wait,” Sophia holds up her hands “You’re saying that Witch Hunters sacrifice their very souls to fight monsters and evil around the world, you don’t get human...materials from unwilling participants and you have a demon that can take over your body?”

“Correct.”

“It seems like a very noble thing to do. To become a Witch Hunter I mean. Why do people hate you so?”

“A few reasons really. Mainly, its the rumours. We often kill popular people with dark sides is another. My mentor once told me he murdered an advisor to some Lord because the advisor was poisoning the wells around that town, anonymously of course. Very well liked man apparently, put some of his own money towards the High Church temple when the people got sick. Wanted to be known as the Good Man of the Mountains apparently. My mentor said that over three dozen people died just for some narcissistic tendencies and he was run out of town for his troubles. Didn’t even get paid.”

Alek sits back, leaning against a tree, a moan escaping from his lips. He knew there was a reason he almost never let that damn Imp take control of his body. Sophia moved over towards him and put a hand on his forehead, commenting that he was burning up.

“But I’m freezing.”

“We’ve got to get you some help. Can you walk?”

Alek nodded and they began their trek, walking in silence.

“So why don’t you just kill yourself?” Sophia asked after a few minutes.

“Huh?”

“Why don’t you just kill yourself before that last day of summer?”

“Build into the contract. Couldn’t kill myself or deliberately get myself killed or he’ll get my soul anyways. Best I can hope for is to be killed by a more skilled opponent.” Alek groans. “Can we stop here? I know its only been a few minutes but I’ll need my rest.”

Stopping, Sophia puts her hand to his head. “At least you’re not burning up anymore.”

“Its a side effect of being possessed. A human body isn’t supposed to be pushed that far. It needs time to recover. I’ll be fine. Just need a minute to compose myself.” Sitting on the ground, Alek asks “So what was your second question?”

“Well, um,” Sophia looks unsure of herself “I was wondering if you’d train me.” Alek opens his mouth to immediately deny her and she interrupts “not for ever! Just until we’re out of this Maker forgotten forest. It’ll be a good way to pass the time and it could come in useful.”

>Deny. Shes a liability as it is. She could get herself killed.
>Ok fine. Only until we reach the capital.
>Other
>>
>>3258217
>>Ok fine. Only until we reach the capital
The use of weapons, no magick, potion brewing, spell casting, or daemon summoning.
>>
>>3258217
>Other: I'll try, but if you don't have any talent I can't help you.
>>
>>3258217
>Ok fine. Only until we reach the capital.
>>
>>3258229
This.
>>
>>3258217

>Ok fine. Only until we reach the capital.
>>
>>3258217
>>Ok fine. Only until we reach the capital.
>>
>>3258229
+1
>>
>>3258229
No magik, spell casting, or daemon summoning.
Shes pretty decent at potion brewing, probably surpassing Alek.
Writin'
[Spoiler] Ill just discard this timeline and plot device [/spoiler]
>>
>>3258535
do not discard it, I want her competent if she is traveling with us
>>
>>3258535
Can she teach us some potion brewing if she is better than us?

We can get into magic if she sticks around after we arrive, but i wouldn't like her to sell her soul
>>
>>3258557
Supporting. We're damned already but she doesn't need to be as well.
>>
>Ok. With conditions
>No daemon summoning or potion making. If anons want it later down the track, we’ll begin on those things.

“You want to learn from me?” Alek says “I’m okay again. Lets continue our walk.”

“Yeah.” Sophia says “not for ever though. Just until Novodonsk.”

“Hmm. I’m not sure.”

“C’mon. How about this. Just sword fighting?”

Just sword fighting? Do you know how many years it takes to master the blade? While you were studying scripture, I practised the blade. While you were praying, I practised the blade. While you copied the Holy Texts, I practised the blade.”

“Ok maybe later then.”

Silence as they walked.

“I’ll teach you knife tricks, some bestiary things and self defence. No magiks. No potions. No daemon summonings.”

Sophia gave a little squeal and hugged Alek. “Oh blessed be! Thank you so much Alek! When can we start? Do I get a little sword? Should I have a pen and paper to note down what you talk about?”

“Sure. A sword. Hold on.” Alek was finally back to his old self, feeling much fitter and better. The weariness that comes from a possession had finally worn off. He left the path and jogged into the wilderness. He returned a moment later, wielding two large sticks he’d broken off a tree, chucking one to Sophia while chuckling. “Heres your sword Sophia. En gard!”

Choose a stance
Witch Hunter
Daemonic Possession: For three rounds lower the attack DC by 15 and increase base damage by 5. After 3 rounds, you revert back to human form and are massively exhausted. Increase your defence DC by 25 till the end of the battle.

Life essence: Steal 1D8 health from the target. Increase the attack DC +10 for 2 rounds.

Blood Pact: Sacrifice 10 points of health and deal an additional 5 points of damage for 3 rounds.

Pistolier: Deals 12 damage. No need for attack rolls. Single target only.

No Stance: Normal attack.

Alek Siminov: 25/25 Health
Silver Sword- 8 Damage Not in use.
Leather armour - 4 damage negated Not in use.

Sophia Delport
Large wooden stick
Skill set:
None
None
None
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>>3258634
No Stance: Normal attack.
I mean seriously what else would we use?
>>
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Also, heres a map I drew up today. It contains most of the major settlements around the continent (but not all).
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>>3258634
>No Stance
Not just yet.
>>
>>3258634
no stance, tell her to come at us and demonstrate some defense techniques and correct her posture and swings, focus on teaching proper form
>>
Gimme a 1D100 for attack

No stance
>>
Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>3258644

do not hurt the gal yet, if we are going to hit, just tap her
>>
Rolled 88 (1d100)

>>3258644
>>
Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>3258644
Keep on the defensive
>>
>>3258644
DC: 30
>>
>>3258649
>>3258648
>>3258647
It seems we are a hell of a good teacher
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>>3258650
Gimme a 1D100 for defence
DC: 30

>>3258647
This is how Alek was trained by his mentor. It will not be an easy process. Weed out the weak.
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3258652
>>
Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>3258652
>>
Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>3258652
>>
>>3258634
>Choose a stance
>Anons choose Pistolier
That would be a one in a lifetime lesson.
>>
>>3258653
>>3258655
>>3258659
Good teacher again

Hope she isntaking notes.
>>
>>3258661
For some reason we can't use it against humans.
>>
>>3258661
kek
>>3258670
Where'd you get that from? Alek shot the Abbot.
If you're talking about the cannibals, its because all your stuff was taken from you.
>>
>>3258672
Never mind, I misread "Not on person" and my brain was short-circuiting at the time.
>>
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>No stance

“En garde!” Alek shouts, puts his hand behind his back and assumes the position of a classic fencer. Sophia isn’t sure what to do she she holds the stick in front of her and tries to mimic Alek. “Keep your knees bent. Sword hand elbow bent as well. Other hand is keeping your balance. Spread your feet out. Good girl. Ready? Here I come.”

Alek lunges, feinting with a right swing before swiping left and down, giving Sophia a bonk on the head. “Ow!” she cries “That hurt!”

“You’ve just been killed. Don’t react blindly. Look at my feet. Look at my arms. Look at my body position. My feet are close together, it means I’m readying for a lunge! My arm is close to my chest, I can extend it! What will you do?”

“Defend?”

“Is that a question or an answer?”

“Answer.”

“Good. Defend yourself. As I strike, look to my elbow. The sword is travelling too fast to see it. Ready? Again!”

Alek pounces, extending his arm straight, poking Sophia in the chest with a hollow sound.

“Dead again Sophia! Listen to what I’m saying…”

The lessons continued on into the day, only stopping for a quick fish lunch with some white berries again.

“We will begin again tomorrow. The pace will slow in the forest now that we’re training but if you wish to learn, you will learn.”

1/2
>>
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>>3258685
>Good girl
>>
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>>3258685
As night falls, Alek starts up another fire while Sophia fishes. The night is free from any threatening clouds and the wind is only slightly there, blowing a warm breeze through the forest. A perfect night, Alek thinks as he drinks his water and idly picks at the white berries that flourished in this part of the forest.

Sophia comes back with a singular barbel fish and starts to prepare it.

“Hold on.” Alek stops her. “I’ll prepare the fish. You listen. I’m going to talk tonight about cannibals.”

He holds the knife firmly and at a 45 degree angle, stabbiing into the fish and slicing all the way up to its gills. “Cannibals are a virus that has plagued the continent of Isalica for hundreds of years. Perhaps thousands. Cannibal groups are typically found in forests like this but can sprout up in times of dire need in cities and towns, most often when famine abounds.” Slicing off the head, he throws it back into the river, giving back to nature. “A cannibal group out in the Wilds or any other kind of harsh environment are typically a family of some kind and typically incestuous, led by one leader who directs where the group camps and hunts.” Alek removes the guts, the lungs and the hearts and throws them back into the river. “Cannibals are driven by their desire to feed. We Hunters aren’t entirely sure of why cannibals have the need to feed upon human flesh but once humans have been tasted, it triggers something primordial. Human flesh is something of a delicacy to them. They can hunt rabbits, fish, deer and what have you. But the desire to have humans for dinner is overwhelming and it takes a particularly strong personality to suppress it.” Alek removes the spinal column and starts picking at the tiny little fish ribs “Cannibals are primarily human like in appearance except for a few things that often take a little bit of investigation. Firstly, and most obviously, are their eyes.” He winces. “I take full blame to what happened the other night. I wasn’t on guard. Their eyes are bloodshot and the iris themselves has a red tinge around them. Secondly, their fingernails. Cannibals have blackish growth under their fingernails, almost like a fungal growth but when we’ve inspected their corpses after a battle, it quickly fades back into the body. My mentor used to tell me that it was the black actions of their soul bubbling to the surface. I’m not entirely sure what to think. Ah! There we go!” As the last rib had been plucked, Alek put a wooden skewer through it. “Finally, a cannibals gums. Admittedly, this is the hardest to detect but its a symptom. A cannibals gums are rotting, no matter how much they clean them. Red raw and often bleeding, these gums smell like a damp meat that has been left out in the sun for too long.”
>>
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Alek puts the fish on the fire and slowly rotates it. “We’ve probably got enough time for another bestiary entry tonight. What do you want to learn about?”

>Vampires
>Ghouls
>Viannvol
>Klumking
>Krampus
>>
>>3258732
>Viannvol

Lets gobwith the one I don't know what it is too.
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>>3258732
>Viannvol
>>
>>3258732
>Ghouls
*snore*
>>
>>3258732
>>Viannvol
>>
>>3258732
>Vianvoll
Haven't heard this.
>>
>>3258732
>Viannvol

compliment Sophia on the effort of the training, and take care of her bruises as retribution for when she took care of us
>>
>>3258732
>Viannvol
>>
>>3258765
Yeah, that too.
>>
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Sophia thinks for a second. “How about the Viannvol?”

“Ahh yes. That is an interesting one. Well, firstly, they are beast like, so if you see one you’re gonna know about it. Not like those pesky dopples or cannibals or vampires!” Alek laughs. He sits back against a tree, digesting his meal.

“Visually, the Viannvol is...odd. It has a large rat tail, pink and wet, connected to a grey body comprised of matted fur. It stands about four feet high and, without its tail, its about six feet long. It has four legs which end in talons as long as your little finger which hold a paralyzing poison that can be injected within seconds and can stop a full grown man from moving for thirty seconds, children up to an hour. Depends on how fat you are really. The face is almost dog like, if dogs were an eldritch horror hell bent on destroying the world. The skin has been wrapped around the skull, bulging the eyes till they’re almost popping out. The teeth have been elongated and are regularly sharpened on rocks till they eventually break and become jagged.”

“I get how you’d fight cannibals,” Sophia says “just like any other human. How would you fight a Viannvol?”

“I’m getting to that.” Alek says, looking at her. It suddenly hit him that, whilst he had been dealing with monsters for thirty years, this was all new to Sophia. The worst she’d probably seen would be the aftermath of an attack or tales. He internally shrugged. Either she was strong enough to deal with it or she wasn’t. “A Viannvol is a pack hunter, usually in groups of three but apparently in the steppes, they hunt in the dozens. Their prey is usually small rodents like rats, rabbits and voles but occasionally they hunger for something different. Humans. Their small stature allows them to creep through human settlements and find their favourite prey which is children. The younger and smaller the better. By poisoning the child, they can often make it back to their den and consume them there before the family is aware.”
>>
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“So there is a way to fight back against them.”

“Theres always a way to fight back against monsters Sophia. It’s simply knowing how.” Alek got up, stretched and walked to his sleeping area “I’m off to sleep. You did well today Sophia. I’ll try and find some herbs tomorrow to help with the bruising.”
>>
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Early morning, the sun shone through the closely knit trees. Looking directly up, it was going to be another beautiful day.

Sophia was already up. She threw him his stick. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

It was lunch time when they finished and started their walk, still following the mossy path through the forest.

While the morning had started out pleasant enough, clouds had formed overhead and drizzle had started.

“We’ve gotta find a way out of this before it turns into a full blown storm.” Alek said, more to himself than to Sophia. “I think I can see a hut ahead.”

In the distance, they could hear a crack of lightning, so they hurried to the lone hut standing by the side of the road, Alek giving it a bang and then yelling “hello? Anyone in there? We’re two weary travellers who seek shelter from the incoming storm!”

An old womans voice called from within “Enter young one! I’d be a cruel mistress if I let you suffer out in the cold!”

>Enter! Get out of the storm!
>Leave! A lone woman? Living in the Wilds? Clearly a witch
>Other
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>>3258818
>Enter! Get out of the storm!
Sure, this can't go wrong
>>
>>3258818

>enter
bluntly ask what kind of witch she is, to be alone in the middle of the woods
>>
>>3258824
+1 cover head so we not get knock out
>>
>>3258818
>Call charles

See if she sees him and if she reacts.

She is clearly a witch, so act accordinly, don't accept food or water but accept the shelter, do not let our guard down like we did with the cannibals, if she doesn't try anything, we won't bother her.

Maybe make this a class for Sophia, try to see any indication that she could be a witch inside the hut and tell Sophia about it
>>
>>3258818
>Leave! A lone woman? Living in the Wilds? Clearly a witch
Another fucking trap
>>
>>3258832
this works too
>>
>>3258833
Well yeah 100% it's a trap. Why not jump right into it?
>>
>>3258818
>Leave! A lone woman? Living in the Wilds? Clearly a witch
>>
>>3258832
Supporting
>>
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>Enter. Get out of the storm

Alek didn’t need to be told twice to come in! He opened the door, ushered Sophia in and walked in.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark. It is a moderately sized hut, about fifteen yards long and another room joining off to the left hand side, presumably the bedroom.

“I’ll be with you in a moment, Dearies!” an old womans voice calls from the bedroom “I’m just putting on my face! I don’t get many visitors these days.”

Alek turns to Sophia, whispering “Now, I don’t want you to be afraid. This woman is most likely a hermit, a doppel or anything and everything inbetween. Judge her actions, look for clues within to see if shes evil. Don’t act unless I tell you to.”

“Evil?” The old woman announces, walking out of her bedroom “Don’t be silly sir! I am but an old woods witch, living out my life here in seclusion. My name is Mary.”

“I’ve known evil in many forms ma’am, even woods witches.” Alek turns to her, startled that she could hear his whispering “My name is Alek and my companion is Daughter Sophia Delport.”

“Ah, one from the High Church. I do hope that you find this abode to your liking.”

“It will suffice madam. I hope you do not take offence to our paranoia, we’ve had...a rough few days.”

“Nonsense. If I took offence to every person who wandered through here, why, I’d never have any company!

Outside, it began to hail and thunder, great chunks of ice as big as your feet crashed down, tearing chunks out of trees and hammering the ground.

“Looks like you got out of the storm just in time!” Mary laughed “come and have some dinner with me! Its just a nice leek soup with some potatoes and onions but it gets the job done on a day like today.”

Alek and Sophia were given two wooden bowls filled to the brim with a hot, red soup. It smelt delicious. “You’ve added paprika to this.” Alek noticed.

“Oh a fellow food critic! Yes, I rarely get any travellers who are willing to trade it but when I do! Oohhh! I can’t get enough of the stuff.”

>Eat the soup
>Make an excuse
>other
>>
>>3259857
>>other
Have Sophia try it first while making small talk (how'd she end up here etc.)
>>
>>3259857
>Eat the soup
>>
>>3259857
>Make an excuse
It's a trap silly
>>
>>3259857
>Make an excuse

We ate already, we are a witch hunter, we need little sustenance for now.
>>
>>3259880
Lets do this
And keep thr hag talking a out foods and random things
>>
>>3259883
I'll change to
>Make an excuse

Don't want to use poor Sophie as a guinea pig for witch soup.
>>
>>3259857
>Make an excuse
>>
>Make an excuse

“Thank you Mary,” Alek said “but I do not need to each much. My physiology is a bit different to humans. I’ve already eaten today.”

“Oh. Vampire?”

“Witch Hunter.”

“Oh deary. I’m so sorry. I will pray for you.”

Sophia slurps hers up, giving a nod of approval. “Its delicious. Thank you.”

Mary nods, giving a smile “thank you darling. If you don’t mind then Alek, I might have your soup.” She takes his soup and adds it to her bowl, slurping it down and giving a satisfied “ahh.” she puts it down and looks Alek and Sophia in the eyes. “I’m actually a little bit happy that you two are here to be honest. I have a little problem that I hope you can both help me with.”

Not poisoned, thinks Alek. “What kind of problem?”

“Well,” she laughs lightly “this may sound silly but all my pots and pans have gone missing.”

>Sure. We’ll help you (it might look nice in front of Sophia as well)
>Sorry, we’re on a tight schedule.
>Other
>>
>>3260131

>Sure. We’ll help you (it might look nice in front of Sophia as well)

Not for free tho, as a witch she might have some nice alchemy ingredients
>>
>>3260131

>Sure. We’ll help you (it might look nice in front of Sophia as well)
>>
>>3260131

>Sure. We’ll help you (it might look nice in front of Sophia as well)
>>
“Oh. I’m not sure.” Alek said, enviously looking at the soup now. His stomach grumbled.

“Alek!” Sophia said, aghast. “Sorry Mary. He’s not used to good company. Of course we’ll find your pots and pans. Did you leave them out when you were doing the washing? Or by the river when cleaning them?”

Above the hut, the sky grumbled sending bolts of lightning racing across the sky. The rain wasn’t letting up and, if anything, the hail had gotten bigger!

“Fine. We’ll do it. But I expect to be paid. This isn’t a charity.”

“I’ll pay you fifty gold pieces to find the pots.”

“Deal.”

“Incidentally, a night on the floor of my hut costs twenty five gold pieces. Each.”

Alek groaned. Its not like they could go back into the storm now. She had them over the barrel.

“Alright. We accept. Tell me about your pots and pans. We aren’t going out tonight either. You’ll have to wait till morning.”

Mary smiled, a warm smile “Of course, Sugar. Right! About the pans! I’m not sure whats happening but about two weeks ago I noticed tiny little footprints outside my house. No big deal, some little creature had set up shop nearby. Then I noticed that whenever I left the house, what I had been cooking disappeared. I’ve also noticed that my meat traps often go missing. Then, about a week ago, I was going to cook a soup and I’d noticed that all my pans had been stolen! Those things aren’t cheap out here!”

“Any tracks leading off anywhere?” Asked Sophia, still slurping her soup.

“Yes. They go about two hundred yards off into the forest but then they disappear.”

Alek sat, thinking. Little footprints, disappearing tracks, stolen food. It could be half a dozen beasts. “Ok. This is what I’ll need.”

She only has ingredients for one potion
>Ingredients for a tracking potion
>Ingredients for a increased senses Set a trap
>Ingredients for multiple language potion You’ll be able to speak with all manners of beasties
>Other
>>
>>3260341
>Ingredients for a tracking potion
>>
>>3260131
>Sure. We’ll help you (it might look nice in front of Sophia as well)
>>
>>3260397
Whoops
I mean:
>>3260341
>Ingredients for multiple language potion
>>
>>3260341
>Ingredients for a tracking potion
>>
>>3260341
>>Ingredients for multiple language potion
>>
>>3260341
>>Ingredients for multiple language potion
>>
Multiple language potion has got it. Ill post when I'm home t-2 hours
>>
>>3261011
Thank you Spirit Bear.
>>
“I’ll need something from you though. A Rech potion.”

“A language brew? Yes. I think I can do that. I have most of the ingredients lying around.”

===

When the morning came, the storm had mysteriously passed, although it did leave behind a thick fog.

Mary had brewed the potion and gave it to Alek. “Now, there was enough for two batches. Do you know what you’re supposed to do?”

“Uh...yes. But my companion doesn’t. Sophia listen in.”

“Right, well,” Mary said, shaking around the contents “this’ll be for your benefit then Sophia. Inside this jar are two thick goblues. You simply put them in your ear when you want to ear something talk and it’ll translate it for you. Easy done.”

“How does it work?” Sophia asked, eying the jar.

“When most people think of potions they think of witches hunkered over a great iron pot, spelling doom to the local population. What they don’t know is that most of this stuff can be made in your very own kitchen.” Mary says, giving Alek the jar. “It works by combining several essences of several creatures into a thick, semi-sentient paste that you put in your ear. The paste will hear words and then whisper them by reflex. They don’t last that long though so you’ll have to be quick with your investigation when you put them in your ears.”

Walking out the door, Alek figured they had three options.

>Wait for the creature to steal some more food
>Search around for some tracks
>Look for the hunting traps Mary had put down
>Other
All options will require a 1D100
>>
Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>3261239
>Search around for some tracks
>>
>>3261239
>Search around for some tracks
>Other: put down traps for the creature
>>
Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>3261239
>Look for the hunting traps Mary had put down
Could we ask before as well to help in the search?
>>
>>3261257
Course. What would you like to ask?

I'll give the vote another 30mins before i close it
>>
Rolled 6 (1d100)

>>3261239
>>Search around for some tracks
>>
>>3261262
Tracks has it.
Gimme a 1D100
DC:80
>>
Rolled 51 (1d100)

>>3261271
>>
Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>3261271
>>
Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>3261271
>>
File: tracking.jpg (92 KB, 700x525)
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“Sophia,” Alek says, opening the door for her “come with me. We’ll search for the tracks.”

As they walk, Sophia asks what he expects to find around this area.

“To be honest,” Alek replies “It really could be anything. Goblins, hobgoblins, ferros, archos, godlings. Theres a lot of pranksters in the beast world who aren’t necessarily evil but are frustrating to live around and deal with.”

“How do we deal with them?”

“Depends. If they’re sentient, we can ask them to do something and in return we give them something. If they’re non-sentient we can give Mary a few signs to help ward them away. Either way, we could just kill them all.”

“Kill them?”

“Its just an option. Depends on the beast Sophia.”

As they were walking and talking, they were hunting for a series of clues: footprints, broken twigs, crumpled up leaves, droppings. The usual but they’d come up empty handed. These creatures were very sneaky it seems.

>Wait for the creature to steal some more food
>Search around for some tracks (in a different area)
>Look for the hunting traps Mary had put down
>Other
>>
>>3261285
>>Look for the hunting traps Mary had put down
option 2
>>
>>3261285
>Look for the hunting traps Mary had put down
>Put down some traps
If we can glean information from Mary's traps, we might learn something from our own.
>>
>>3261285
>Look for the hunting traps Mary had put down
>>
Gimme a 1D100
DC: 70
Bo3
>>
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>3261299
>>
Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3261299
sigh
>>
Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>3261299
>>
>>3261306
Oh ye of little faith
>>
File: Fae.jpg (19 KB, 236x314)
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Nothing. The tracks were clean. Not a single broken stick. No crumpled leaves. Not a single blade of grass was out of place. Whatever was plaguing Mary was light on its toes.

“Lets check the traps.” said Sophia “Mary said she put some down traps and the beasts had been taking the spoils.”

“Good idea.I think she said she left a few near the river and birches.” Alek said to which Sophia beamed.

Around the river, they approached the trap to no avail. It didn’t look disturbed but contained a rabbit, dead.

“Maybe the other traps. We’ll tell Mary about her rabbit kill later.”

As they approached the other traps, they heard a small, high pitched squealing.

Sophia started to run towards it, only to be stopped by Alek. “Careful now. We don’t know what is there, we don’t know if its a trap. Calm. Careful. Assess the situation.” She nodded and started walking, careful to mind snapping any sticks or making any loud sounds.

As they got closer, the squealing got more high pitched and more intense. The beast seemed to be in a lot of pain.

Walking through a grove of birch, they didn’t believe their eyes.

A tiny fae had been caught. Standing about as tall as a child, green and covered in leaves, moss and twigs with two tiny wings, it was vaguely humanoid but its eyes were too big for its head and angled slightly, curving at the sides. They walked up to it and it pleaded with its eyes, big as dinner plates.

“Oh we must help it!” Cried Sophia and, before Alek could stop her, she’d opened the trap.

The fae looked at Sophia and then at Alek, blew a big fat raspberry and zipped away through the trees, moving with unnatural speed. It left a silvery dust behind it which disappeared after a while.

Last post for the night guys. I’ll resume in the morning
>>
>>3261354
Thanks Brother Bear. See you on the morrow.
>>
>>3261354
Thanks for running
>>
File: fairy trail.png (1.64 MB, 900x800)
1.64 MB
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“After it!” cried Alek “Don’t let it get away!”

Bounding after it as it zipped through a forest that got more and more entangled as they went on. Over fallen logs, under bushes, through low hanging branches, only barely keeping up with the silver dust trail.

On and one it goes, losing track of the fae only to see the last bit of dust dissipate and for one of them to shout “Over there!” which continued the mad dash.

After a few minutes, Alek realised that they were going around in a circle, “Sophia, stop.” he whispered “its been leading us on a merry chase.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

“This forest is strange but I’m very sure I’ve passed that tree before. Well, not all of that tree. But the lower half.”

“The lower half?”

“Its mixing the forest so we don’t know whats going on.” Alek said “heres what we’re going to do. You continue running after it, I’ll wait in the brush nearby. Try and chase it by, I’ll grab it. Ok, go!”

Sophia bounds after the fae, making a lot of noise as she crashed through the forest as they target.

Alek had hidden in the vegetation.

He heard the fae before he saw it, a high pitched giggling.

Roll me a 1D100 to see if you catch it
DC: 70
>>
Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>3263767
gothca
>>
>>3263775
ha!
>>
Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>3263767
>>
Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>3263767
>>
>72 Caught

It bounced through the brushwood, insanely nimble and flexible. Compared to how Alek and Sophia raced through it all, it was like comparing a pub fighter to a ballet dancer.

Giggling as it neared Alek,he readied his pounce.

zzzzzip

Over there! It was coming from the north!
Zzzzip

Now from the east!

Alek couldn’t lock onto it, it was simply moving too fast.

Closing his eyes, and slowing his breathing, Alek looked into his minds eye.

In an instant, he could feel and see everything and it felt like time had slowed.

He could feel the ladybug leaping off a leaf, the dew slowly being evaporated in the morning sun, the worms under the soil. He could see the birds inside the stump, the fish in the nearby river and Sophia crashing through the undergrowth in a vain attempt to grab her target. More importantly, he could feel and see the fae. It had a permanent smile etched upon its face and eyes wide in delight.

It was coming closer and closer and, without opening his eyes, Alek reached out from his position and grabbed its foot.

There was a jerk as the fae didn’t realise what was happening and keeps bouncing around, only to fall on its face in a jumble.

“Got ya, ya bastard!” Alek cries, victorious.

Sophia jogs over a few minutes later, out of breath and red faced “Did we...did we get it?”

Alek holds it up by the foot, like a fish freshly caught and nods. The fae is shouting something unintelligible and in its little squeaky voice, thrashing about and clawing at Alek.

Dividing the mixture up into two parts, Alek puts half in his ear and Sophia puts half in her ear.

“Stop thrashing.” Alek says as the swiping continued “I say, stop!”

The fae halts, knowing defeat.

“What you want humie? Lemme go!”

“I want to know why you’ve been bothering that old lady.”

“You want mean Mother? You no hands me. Me show you. Me show you.”

>Let the fae go and follow her
>Don’t unhand her. Force the confession here, now.
>Other
>>
>>3263799
>Don’t unhand her. Force the confession here, now.
>Tighten our hand to put emphasis on our words.
>>
>>3263803
Supporting
>>
>>3263799
What do we know about Faes?

Are they those kind of faes that can't break a promise? If they can't make her promise to take us there.

Otherwise.

>Other
You will take me there and THEN I'll let you go, deal?
>>
>>3263809
+1
>>
>>3263809
Bestiary for Fae: Unless said so by Alek or the Imp, you can always ask for this option
Fae, Faeries or the Fair Folk of the Forests are tiny, humanoid beasts that inhabit all forest on the continent.
All fae are pranksters and trickers who delight in giving the slip to non-fae and are often seen tormenting the more beastial members of the forest if they think they can get away with it.
Fae live in three stages of civilisation; the tribal stage, the village stage and the empire stage each defined by the great works, the government and how aggressive they are to their neighbours. An unchecked fae group can turn deadly as they expand outwards.
This is not to say that they are unintelligent as the fae can talk to humans, are sentient and can create works of art.
Fae can be destroyed by iron, silver, fire, daemon oil.
A well placed sign or ward can halt a fae expansion into its next stage but will require constant upkeep.
>>
>>3263836
>All fae are pranksters and trickers who delight in giving the slip to non-fae and are often seen tormenting the more beastial members of the forest if they think they can get away with it.
Ah, so they're all pricks and we should never trust them.
>>3263809
I really don't think this little shit's going to bargain with us in good faith.
>>
>>3263843
Agreed, if we let her go she will just scram.

Hold her and tell her she can go AFTER she takes us to mean mother.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>
“Let you go?” Alek asked, incredulous “just let you go?”

“Ya. Big man let skinny me go now. Me show. Promise.”

“Nice try, friend.” Alek replies. “You’ll just skit away like you did before.”

“No skit! No skit!”

“How about this? I’ll let you go when you take us back to your village? I just want to talk to your leader.”

“Starosta Cadmi? You want see Cadmi? Yes, yes! I take!”

Holding firmly onto the faery, Alek walks with him away from the mishmash of forest items it had created.

“Whats a Starosta Cadmi?” Sophia asked.

“Well, Starosta is like a fae mayor. Basically runs the town, tells them how to act. Cadmi must be her name.”

“Her?”

“Aye. Fae are fiercely matriarchal, even going as far to kill first born sons of their leaders so they have no claim on the throne. A Starosta means that they’ve only achieved the tribal stage, its quite fascinating really. A fae tribus is only comprised of several folk but when they hit a certain population number, they turn into a village where, through communal magiks, they get an uptick in intelligence allowing them to build bigger and better things and forge things out of the woods themselves. This doubly goes for the empire stage where they hit critical mass and start expanding rapidly. All empires of this continent have, at one point or another, had to put down a fae empire.”

“Folk no stupid!” squealed the fae “we smart! We make angry many birds around these parts!” It thumped its chest proudly “fae rule forest!”

“Is it hard?” Sophia said, ignoring it “taking down a fae empire, I mean.”

“Depends on what you call hard. Fae are naturally allergic to steel and iron which, obviously, most weapons are made out of, and they hate fire, which makes it a handy tool to use when fighting them.” Alek said “but if an civilisation has something more pressing, such as pirates or bandits, and the fae go unchecked, they can destroy many villages using their woods magik. It depends on how competent, and how much of a threat they see a rising fae empire, a kingdom is.”
>>
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>>3263871
As they walked, they’d entered a clearing, devoid of any life. But it was...hazy here. Like looking through water or through a clear fog.

The fae they were holding onto then let out a squeal that even the mixture in their ears couldn’t translate and the haze dissipated, showing several surprised looking fae.

“Lookum Starosta! Humies hold me! No let go!”

“Hush Obcan “citizen.” whispered Alek to Sophia before she could even ask Pivol. I will deal with it from now on.”

The fae they had been holding onto yanked its arm away, gave Alek a raspberry and Sophia a wink, before dashing away into the undergrowth.

“Come into my house, please.” Starosta Cadmi, gestured wearily towards a stump with a large hole in it.

>Go into the stump more of a passive stance
>We’d rather talk out here Dominant stance
>Other
>>
>>3263872
>We’d rather talk out here
>>
>>3263872
>We’d rather talk out here, if you don't mind (polite but dominant stance)
>>
>>3263872
>Go into the stump

We are in her turf, lets hear her out first
>>
>>3263880
+1
>>
>>3263872
>We’d rather talk out here
>>
>>3263880
Supporting
>>
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“If you don’t mind madam Starosta,” Alek said, bowing deeply “I think we might prefer to talk out here. My name is Alek and this is my companion, Sophia Delport.”

“Fair enough,” Cadmi shrugged “most humies can’t hit into that stump anyways.” She sits down on her ‘house’, crosses her legs and asks “what can I do for you today?”

“Firstly,” Sophia asks, taking charge “I want to know why you speak better than your compatriots. Obcan Pivol was barely intelligible but you strike me as a intelligent being.”

“Slightly rude. Your apprentice?” She asks Alek. He shrugs. “Ok Ms. Delport. My tribe is growing and I have already hit the next stage, village. It is well known that intelligence and magik ability grows with each stage, so it makes sense that the leader is the first to net the advantages, no?”

“I want to know what you’ve done with the pots and pans you’ve stolen from Mary.” Alek says, storing that information away for later use.

“You mean Blessed Mother?” Starosta Cadmi replies, raising an eyebrow. “Well, you can see. We’ve taken the tools she was using to make and give us food and turned them into a statue of her. Behold!” Sweeping her hand behind her, she revealed a mockery of a religious icon: pots, pans and rolling pins covered in moss, bark and leaves to resemble an old woman in some sort of holy effigy.

“I see. Well, I’m going to need that back.” Alek said, not beating around the bush “those items are stolen and I’ve been tasked with getting them back.”

“Quite impossible!” Cadmi scoffed “that icon is the backbone of our society and it will propell us into the future and beyond.”

“I wasn’t asking.” Alek stood up and unsheathed his sword.

“Un-Unless you have something similar to trade of course. I can always make another effigy.”

>Trade Sophia
>Tell Mary to keep leaving food out for them
>Trade something of your personal gear (what?)
>Other
>>
>>3263968
>>Tell Mary to keep leaving food out for them
>>
>>3263968
>>Tell Mary to keep leaving food out for them

the trade Sophia is to actually leave the girl here? lol seriously? that's fucked up kek
>>
>>3263968
>other

"I'll leave you alone and not hurt you, and tell Mary about you so she can decide if she wishes to help you"
>>
>>3263992
Supportan
>>
>>3263968
>Tell Mary to keep leaving food out for them
>>
>>3263968
Ask y dont they just use wood to make there idol?
>>
>>3264378
Not sure mate. Fae do weird shit all the time that often doesn't make sense.
>>
Sophia noticed the immediately tense environment when Alek had pulled out his sword, the fae looking at them through their tree houses and conjuring up their magik bows, notching them with arrows, yellow things that were somehow gas and solid at the same time.

“How about I leave Sophia here?” Alek said, too much of the indignation of Sophia “shes a good cook and she can hunt. She can make clothes and whatnot too.”

“Sorry. Shes not our Mother and we’d do anything for our Mother. Besides, too old.” Cadmi, looked to her fae archers and nodded, they drew their bowstrings, ready to fire.

Sophia, scared that she was going to meet her Maker and wishing she’d stayed at home in Shimmerhorn, still offered an resentful “Hey!” when the fae said she was too old.

“How about this,” Alek said, sword still out “I’ll tell your god, Mother, to keep leaving food and traps out for the animals.”

“Eeehhhh.”

“Not only that but she’ll cook you pies and pastries.”

“I accept your proposal. Take your pans.” Cadmi said, shaking her fists at her fae archers, telling them to back down. “Tell Mother that we enjoy blueberry pies.”
It took several hours to get back to Marys house, Alek finally cursing at the fae to stop the forest moving around and let them leave.

The sun was shining brightly, and it was a warm afternoon when they finally stumbled back to the lone hut, carrying the pots and pans.

"Oh mercy me!" cried Mary, stopping hanging up her washing "you've returned! I thought you'd been eaten by whatever beastie is haunting these woods!"

>Tell her it was the fae. The whole truth.
>Tell it was something else. Try and get a bigger reward
>Tell her it was the fae. Leave out the bit about the creepy religious icons.
>Other
>>
>>3265197
>Tell her it was the fae. The whole truth.
>>
>>3265197
>>Tell her it was the fae. The whole truth.
>>
>>3265197

>Tell her it was the fae. The whole truth.
>>
>>3265197

>Tell her it was the fae. The whole truth.
>>
>>3265197
>>Tell her it was the fae. The whole truth.
If you don't want the religious fanatics being a hindrance to you, we can take care of it... for a price.
>>
>Tell her the truth

They walked into the hut, Mary promising to feed them once they’d told her the story and offering a cup of water in the interim.

“Eaten? No.” Alek replied “Close to death? Yes.” He took the cup of water that was offered. “It was the Fair Folk of the Forest.”

“The fae?” replied Mary, hand to the mouth in dramatic horror “they are devious little bastards aren’t they?”

“Well,” Alek said, shuffling his feet and looking downwards “they actually weren’t that bad. Still in the tribal stage.”

“What did you have to offer them in order to...placate them? I see you still have your companion.”

“No, I-” Alek started

“He did offer me up.” Sophia interjected. “Out of jest I’m sure.”

“Lucky they didn’t accept. The fae are...curious about young women.”

There was an silence that seemed to stretch on for a too long.

Alek broke the silence “What I promised them was that you’d continue to feed them and leave out traps for the rabbits and such.”

“I’m supposed to give up my food just to stay here?” Mary asked incredulous

“In addition,” Alek continued “the fae will need a pie, preferably blueberry, once a week.”

“I repeat, again, I’m just supposed to give up food just to stay and survive her?” Mary shrieked, her voice growing shrill. The air grew heavy and crackled with static electricity.

“There really was no choice Mary.” Sophia attempted to placate her, putting her hand on her shoulder.

“In addition to all this,” Alek continued a bit louder “the fae will continue to grow unless something is done about it. I am willing to do something about it. For a price.”

“I’ll pay you fifty Lions to solve my issue with the fae. I’ll of course charge you for the night.”

“We won’t be staying the night. And keep your gold. I know you Wood Witches have some good, fun tomes running about. I want one. And in return, I’ll solve your growing fae trouble.”

There was a tense few moments where the air grew humid and dense, electricity crackling around her fingers.

Alek must quickly placate her!

What do you say?
>>
>>3266512
I got your pots Mary, if you want me to drive them out I'll do it for you but I'll be risking my life, try to see if my way.
If you are so mad at them you could come with me and help me, direct your anger to someone who actually deserves it, they believe you are their god afterall, and gods punish bad followers
>>
>>3266512
You are their goddess, you don't need to do whatever I told you would, you can just do this thing you are doing to me now, or we could drive them out together.
>>
I'll give it another 45 and then I'll just roll a 1D2
>>
>>3266711
But, also. Gimme a 1D100 +5 (aggressive charisma) to see how you placate her
DC:70
>>
Rolled 31 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3266715
>>
Rolled 82 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3266715
>>
Rolled 13 + 5 (1d100 + 5)

>>3266715
>>
>>3266725
It's chicken tonight boys
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

Nice pass. Writin'
>>
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The air around you all darkens, the wind picks up and sparks fly from her fingers. The hut is quickly turned into a chaotic mess as Mary is uplifted on a cushion of air.

Marys voice has become shrill and booming, like she was speaking from beyond the mortal planes “I give you shelter from the rain, I give you food and you can’t even get rid of a simple fae extermination! Not only that, I am shackled to their whims!”

“I got your pots Mary, if you want me to drive them out I'll do it for you but I'll be risking my life, try to see if my way.” Alek yelled above the din, taking cover behind an upturned table “If you are so mad at them you could come with me and help me, direct your anger to someone who actually deserves it, they believe you are their god afterall, and gods punish bad followers.”

The winds calm. Slightly. “They think I a god?” she intones, the static crackles still, but lessen.

“They do,” Alek says, hands upheld, the international sign of peace “they have a Starosta and she believes you a god of some kind because you can provide them treats and food.”

Her toes touch the ground lightly “A god, you say? Yes. This could turn out very well. Very well indeed.”

“Of course. They won’t believe you a god for much longer.” Alek said, approaching her. “They’re only a few weeks shy of advancing.”

She whips her head at him “and I suppose you’d be willing to correct that for a price?”

“Correct.”

“Bah! Take your tome! Fix my fae advancing issue and be gone!” She spits at Alek “A word of warning Witch Hunter, do not try and shackle another Woods Witch like you have done to me. They will not let you live.”

Alek nods and says that he’ll take that into account. Walking over to the Witches library, he immediately spots several tomes that could help him out in his travels.

Which one does he take?

>Daemon Lifestyles (Daemonic Possession: Instead of increasing your DC by 25 till the end of the battle, you lower it by 15 instead)
>Occult Mysteries Revealed (Witch signs, occult mysteries, groups and several of the more well known gods are revealed to Alek)
>Animal Divination (Using animal guts, Alek can track targets accurately. Passing a hard DC will allow him to see where they’ll be in a few hours time)
>>
>>3266834
Sorry.
Should be: "DC by 25 till the end of the battle, you lower to 15 instead
>>
>>3266834
>Occult Mysteries Revealed (Witch signs, occult mysteries, groups and several of the more well known gods are revealed to Alek)
>>
>>3266834
>Daemon Lifestyles
Top priority.
>Animal Divination
Useful.
>>
>>3266834
>>Daemon Lifestyles (Daemonic Possession: Instead of increasing your DC by 25 till the end of the battle, you lower it by 15 instead)
>>
>>3266834
>Daemon Lifestyles
>>
>>3266834

>Occult Mysteries Revealed (Witch signs, occult mysteries, groups and several of the more well known gods are revealed to Alek)

Magik!
>>
>>3266852
>>3266866
>not choosing Daemon Lifestyles to remove its weakness
I know that we can use the knowledge boost, but Daemon Lifestyles is too good a deal to pass up. Our defence DC for each success becomes a flat 15 instead of going up by 25. That means we won't have to worry about defence at all, barring a critfail.
>>
>>3266872
I think it just lowers the tired debuff from 25 to 15 man
>>
>>3266872
No the DC is reduced from 25 to 15.
>>
>>3266877
>>3266882
See >>3266848
>>
>>3266882
Its the after 3 turns penalty to dc that is reduced from 25 to 15.
Our defence dc was never 25, it is usually 50
>>
>>3266872
>>3266882
Clarification: it just lowers the debuff from 25-15.
Eg. Normal defence DC could be 60 then use Daemon Possession.
It would then be 60+15 until the end of the battle
>>
>>3266891
Well, isn't that just...
THEN WHY DID YOU, IN >>3266848--
Oh, I understand.
Still voting for Daemon Lifestyles. The improvement is good.
>>
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>Daemon Lifestyles

Well, strictly speaking, not all of them were tomes. The Daemon Lifestyles was a magazine, more specifically, it was one of those trashy celebrity magazines.

Top 15 ways to spice up things on the 7th Level!

Is your favourite plaything just not giving you the attention anymore? Turn to page 30 to see our new favourite torture techniques!

Mr. Beezlebub sits down and tells us where the Below we’re heading in the next thousand years! Dont miss!

Attention grabbing headlines and sultry daemons were the biggest things on the magazine cover. I guess old women are old women Alek internally shrugged.

Flicking through the magazine he saw something of note. An article detailing several techniques that would stop Your possession puppet from getting too tired! Your puppet? Alek thought I’ll have to speak to the Imp soon. Make him know who owns the power in this relationship.
“I’ll take this.” he said, turning to face Mary.

“That old thing? Take it. Finish off your fae signs and be gone.” Mary waves a hand dismissively and pushing them out the door. Before she closes it she tells him “Do not shackle another woods witch Alek. It may be the final thing you do.”

“Thank you for your support Mary,” Alek said, turning to face her “and if I do-” but her cabin was gone with only a tiny little wooden fence to mark that she’d been there.

Night crept across the land, as it is wont to do, and they’d again found the river again and had cooked some fish they’d caught. Sophia was lounging around, grateful that they were under a sky again.

“It was nice to be under a roof,” She said to Alek “but this? This is living.”

“Its nice at the moment,” Alek replied “but have you ever been in conditions where the snow is three feet deep? Or its raining and theres no friendly woods witch to help out? Its certainly no picnic.” he clapped his hands, stood up, stretched “Now,” he threw her a stick, which bonked her on the noggin “en garde!”
>>
>>3266938
Ah fuck me.

2/2 enroute
>>
File: Alek.jpg (289 KB, 1991x3196)
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Several more weeks passed like this.

Wake up.

Several hours of sword fighting.

Pack up camp.

Walk till sundown.

Set up camp and fish.

Sleep till morning.

It was a rough lifestyle and more than once, they had to hide under a big tree or in a cave when the weather turned for the worse. Thankfully, their time was coming at an end.

“How do you know that?” Asked Sophia “The trees look exactly the same.”

“I’m not looking at the trees.” he replied “I’m looking at our feet. Look. The path is well trod now, its no longer as mossy and if you look really closely, you can see bits of other path, rocks and pebbles from other regions.

“I guess I’ve still got a lot of training left.”

Alek nearly said something about only taking her to the capital and how they’ve only got a few weeks left at the most. Instead he grunted.

Two hours of walking continued after this. Sophia had opened up a lot in the weeks following the wood witch ordeal, becoming more chipper and friendly. Telling him about life at the temple, what she remembers about her family, her hobbies, her lifestyle, what she wants to achieve in her life. Mostly unachievable because of her profession but it was nice to dream.

“What about you?”

“Huh?”

“What do you want to do when you’ve finished your monster hunting? I assume you’ll eventually settle down?”

“Finish monster hunting? I don’t mean to shock you Sophia,” Alek laughed “but we Witch Hunters don’t have the longest lifespan. My retirement plan is: leave some money to my favourite prostitutes in my favourite cities and hopefully my corpse isn’t too mangled for other people to identify.”

“Thats awful!” She hugged him, tightly. “I’ll always be there to identify your corpse.”

Sophia is available in combat should you pass this fellowship roll!
Gimme a 1d100. DC: 85. Bo3. Don’t fuck it up anons.
>>
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>3267000
>nat 1
>>
>>3267000
>>
Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>3267000

we'll have other chances in the future...right? 85 is a pretty high dc
>>
Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>3267000
Please have some cuddling
>>
Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>3267000
>>
>>3266872
If we used possession we already fucked up. Also possession isn't something we can always use. Fighting alongside local militia, forget about using it. Knowledge would be much better use for us also Sophia could use it. Now our dc changed by 10. Great choice.
>>
Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>3267000

“Thats awful!” She hugged him, tightly. “I’ll always be there to identify your corpse.”


We need to at least say that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to us.

We will keep trying to get her as a companion, we need the cuddling
>>
Does the dc gets lower the more tine we spend with her? 85 was pretty high
>>
>>3267029
Yeah, but it'll have be be after a few missions.
Remember, Sophia is still more or less fresh out of the temple. She has no idea of the outside life and if you seriously put her life in danger, or do anything that could psychologically harm her, she might choose to leave
>>
>>3267029
>>3267042
Im my opinion is for the best that she stay background support.

Let's be honest if she would offer that she will go with us on a hunt we would told her to stay away.
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3267000
>>
>>3267089
If she does eventually join you on monster hunting activities, she'll be an NPC, mostly regulated to healing and
>>
>>3269890
defending herself. Whenever you get a double on a roll (even when its a fail) she'll heal you for 1D4 (my roll) Dunno why it failed to post the second half haha
>>
File: trading caravan.jpg (835 KB, 2000x1350)
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Fail roll. We’ll get them next time!

Slowly, the trees began to thin out, giving Alek and Sophia the ability to see the sky unobstructed for the first time in many weeks.

As they walked, they passed the time by calling out cloud that looked like things. Sophia would often choose the clouds that looked like small animals whilst Alek saw much darker things. He still said that he saw dogs, cats and sheep though.

“Ah,” Alek exhaled “I think we’ve finally reached the Prusstia Empire. Look, you can see a fort off in the distance.”

“Oh how exciting!” Sophia gave a little cry of happiness, skipping “we’ll be soon out of this wretched forest and on our way to the capital.”

Walking over a crest, however, their joy quickly turned to shock at what they saw.

Blood everywhere. A skirmish had taken place here between an unknown assailant and, from the looks of it, a Prusstian trading caravan. Twelve horses lay dead, large oak spears in their sides. About half were armoured but that matter little, the spears had found the small chinks in between the plates and been thrust right through. In some cases the spear had come out the other side. A large felled oak was behind them, presumably to stop their escape backwards.

By Aleks counting, there was twenty five men strew about all sporting different wounds. Some had their limbs torn off, some had oaken spears thrust through them, others still had their own swords thrust into them.

“Sophia,” Alek said “calm yourself and look. Tell me, what do you see?”

Sophia took a deep breath and refocused herself. “A lot of dead animals and men. A rival kingdom or bandits perhaps? The horses are all dead which might rule out banditry because they could sell them on. Same with the armour and weapons of the soldiery.”

Shes good. But she hasn’t had the training Aleks has had over the course of your long life.

>Check the soldiery
>Check the caravan
>Check the surrounding area
>Check the horses
>Check the fallen oak for clues

Pick three things to check
>>
>>3269998
>Check the surrounding area
>Check the horses
>Check the fallen oak for clues
If we travel with them we can check on the other two latter.
>>
>>3269998
>Check the caravan
>Check the surrounding area
>Check the fallen oak for clues
>>
>>3269998
>Check the surrounding area
>Check the horses
>Check the fallen oak for clues
>>
>>3269998
>Check the surrounding area
>Check the horses
>Check the fallen oak for clues
>>
Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>
>Check the horses
>Check the fallen oak
>Check the surrounding area


“Sophia,” Alek said, striding away “I want you to check the horses for anything that we can use.”

“What are you going to check?”

“I’m going to check the oak. It might hold some more clues.”

Alek wandered over to the oak. It was roughly his height in width and twenty feet long, easily covering the road that they had traversed. Thick and strong, it was as typical as any oak that in the forest. However, as Alek reached the base of the tree, there were several symbols etched into the base. Two were magik carved an owl and a deer, typically representing nature and wisdom but the others? Only the Maker would know! One looked like a square with multiple tentacles coming out of it. Another looked like several eyes conjoining into one somehow. Looking for too long at them gave Alek a headache and he had to look away, feeling slightly dizzy and slightly nauseous.

“Alek,” called Sophia “where are you? I’ve found something.”

Alek was glad to be away from the tree, and walked back to Sophia. The dizziness subsided as quickly as it came and by the time he reached her, he was feeling much better.

“What have you found?”

“Ok, so.” She starts “The horses obviously have spears through them right? And they’re obviously armoured right? But! While they look like normal caravan guards, these ones have been fitted with the Imperial seal!”

Alek looked a little closer. She was right. The seal was there, hidden behind a plate. The seal was given by the Prusstia Empire as a way of spreading the Imperial creed and giving the men who carried it the authority to basically do what they wanted, when they wanted and were only beholden to the royal family. This was no ordinary trading caravan. What could be its purpose?

“Where is the man who rode this horse?” Asked Alek

“Not sure. But I found a purse with forty two Lions in it.”

“We’ll have to inspect the area. If someone this high ranking is around, he’ll be worth a lot more than forty two Lions.”

Current purse: 47 Lions

Searching the area for a while, they both came up empty. Anyone who looked like they had top quality armour and weapons, and therefore important, was not in the area.

What they did find was something else entirely.

“Sophia,” Alek called and she jogged over “come look at his arm. Its obviously come from one of the soldiers over there. Look. Bite marks. Whatever came through here is intelligent and hungry.”
“More cannibals?” Asked Sophia, slightly apprehensive.

“Doubtful.” Alek said, kneeling down “cannibals would take every single body here, all the gold. Basically whatever isn’t nailed down. These people have been dead for a while.” He stood up, and dusted off his knees. “We’d better get going. It’ll be night soon and I dont feel safe out here.”
>>
File: Grevin.jpg (39 KB, 504x327)
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>>3270185
The sun dipped lower and lower into the horizon and they finally left the thick forest behind. What replaced it was the complete opposite.

Huge logging gangs and mining operations dominated the landscape. Thousands of souls worked to cut down the trees and bore massive holes into the mountains and hills.

They walked past the humans, Alek telling her not to pay them any attention. The wolf whistles still hounded after her.

A logging cart rolled past them and, somehow, Alek managed to score a lift for both of them were they arrived in Bastile de la Grevin, or Grevin for short. A huge, ancient fort that had stood since the Time of the Fire.

Where do they go?

>Blacksmith. Get some armour
>The commanders headquarters. Maybe there a reward
>The tavern. Get some gossip.
>The temple. Daughter Delport might want to do her prayers.
>>
>>3270187
>>The tavern. Get some gossip.
>>
>>3270187
>The tavern. Get some gossip.
>Blacksmith. Get some armour
>The temple. Daughter Delport might want to do her prayers.
In that order
>>
>>3270187
>>The tavern. Get some gossip.

let's see if we learn more about the revolutionaries
>>
>>3270194
+1
>>
File: busy inn.jpg (602 KB, 1796x1008)
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>The tavern (we’ll hit those other places later)

“C’mon,” Alek says to Sophia “lets get a drink. See whats going on around here.”

Asking the city guards where the nearest tavern is, they’re pointed towards the Dragon Auberge, the biggest in town.

About three stories high, with a huge dragons head out the front made from wood, there is no mistaking this tavern. People spill out onto the street, drunkenly yelling, jeering and leering. A few women from across the street call out, enticing the men to spend their coin elsewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIuO3RpMvHg

They walk in and Sophia attracts more than one appreciative glance, Alek more or less ignored. These are mining and logging folk and a pretty woman is a rare thing indeed. A juggler danced and told jokes for scrap coin in the corner, while several musicians roamed, stringing their lutes and playing their drums, all for the enjoyment of the patrons.

“Grab that seat and wait for me.” Alek says, pointing “don’t move. Don’t respond to their advances. I’m going to get us a drink. Wine?”

Sophia nods and sits down, pretending to do her hair.

Walking up to the bar, Alek orders two spiced wines, turning to the man next to him. A huge bearded man, with a tankard of ale in one hand, sullenly drinking it.

“Excuse me,” Alek said “I’m new to this town. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction for a warm bed.”

“New huh?” the man replied, turning to face him. “I wouldn’t stay here long.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“Theres been incursions by the lizard folk. Killed my friend, Tor. Stabbed him right through the gut with one of those huge spears they carry around.” He sniffed “we’s just trying to earn some gold here. I’ve got three kids in Hedale.”

“Lizard folk?”

“Yeah. Scaly fuckers. Eight feet tall too! I tried to save Tor, dontcha know? I was- I was…” the man burst out crying.

“Thank you. You’ve been a tremendous help.” Alek said as he moved back to the table.
>>
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>>3270291
“I think I know what hit that caravan.” Alek whispered to Sophia. Well, he tried to whisper. The din was so loud that they ended up just talking normally just so they could hear each other.

“Lizard men.” Sophia replied. “Yeah. I heard. Its all about town. Apparently, they raided one of the mines. Killed about fifty men before vanishing. By all accounts, the governor is furious. Had the captain of the guard flogged for a breach of safety.”

“Now that is interesting.” Alek mused over his wine “I wonder why the Emperor hasn’t moved troops to deal with this emerging threat. Surely the Lizard men are something of a threat around these parts.”

They continued the conversation, late into the night. Talking about why the Lizard men would raid these camps, about what they were and about the most important thing: how to make a profit.

“Hey little lady,” they were interrupted by a drunken man and his two friends, lurking behind him “I t-t-think you’re pretty. *Burp* How about you ditch this boy and come with us men?”

“Thank you.” replied Sophia “but I am happy here.”

“Come one. How much is he paying you? I’ll double it! You’re the best looking prozzie I’ve seen in months!” His friends laugh behind him.

“You heard the lady.” said Alek “Shes happy here.”

“This don’t concern you, boy.” The man slowly puts his hand on the table “either come with us. Or theres going to be trouble.”

>Try and solve diplomatically
>Diplomacy is for the weak. Show him who is boss.
>Other
>>
>>3270366
>Diplomacy is for the weak. Show him who is boss.
>>
>>3270366
>>Diplomacy is for the weak. Show him who is boss.
>>
>>3270366

>Diplomacy is for the weak. Show him who is boss.

Nobody implies Sophie is a whore and gets away
>>
>>3270366
>Diplomacy is for the weak. Show him who is boss.
At a certain point one needs to resort to violence
>>
>>3270366
>>Diplomacy is for the weak. Show him who is boss.
>>
>>3270366
>Diplomacy is for the weak. Show him who is boss.
>>
>>3270366
Break his hand
>>
Would you like to draw steel or fight unarmed?

A duel in the street is also available and protected by law even if to the death
>>
>>3272369
Fight unarmed, but be ready to draw arms in case he tries anything funny
>>
>>3272369
Unnarmef , brawl
>>
>>3272571
+1
>>
>>3272369
Unarmed
>>
>>3272369
Unarmed
>>
Unarmed it is.
Give me 1D100 for attack
Unarmed damage: 4

0- 0 damage
1- 1x damage
2- 2x damage
3- 3x damage
Crit- instant knock out

Brawling man (leader): 12/12 health
Brawling man (lackey) 4/4 health
Brawling man (lackey) 4/4 health
>>
Rolled 39 (1d100)

>>3273211
>>
>>3273211
What's the DC?
>>
Rolled 75 (1d100)

>>3273211
>>3273224
very low I hope
>>
Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>3273211
>>
Rolled 87 (1d100)

>>3273211
We can take em
>>
>>3273211
Sorry. DC: 60.
Gimme 1D100 for defence
DC: 70
Drunken -10
Outnumbered +5
DC: 65

Lackeys hit for 4 damage
Leader hits for 8 damage
The first roll is the leaders swing
Second and third are the lackies

Alek: Full health
>>
>>3273276
Also: 1x damage.
Would you like to direct your hit towards a lackey or the leader?
>>
Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3273276
Toward a lackey, of course.
>>
Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3273276
Lackey

Our armor reduces damage right?
>>
>>3273276
By the way, what the fuck are these DCs? We're a Witch Hunter. Even if we're not focused on punching shit we should be better by a mile than a bunch of drunk bastards, unless I'm missing something.
>>
Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>3273276
Rolling again to keep going
>>
>>3273300
Alek is drunk as well. Last update: They continued the conversation, late into the night.

They're at least seven wines deep at this stage.
>>
Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>3273276
Shit, drunken guys are harder than a werewolf? Our armor will save our ass here or else we would be done for
>>
>>3273313
I hope you take my roll since this anon rolled twice
>>3273304
>>3273297
>>
>>3273316
I will take your roll here.
>>
>>3273314
But also, yeah. Fair call. I'll lower the DC next round.
>>
File: brawl.jpg (92 KB, 722x348)
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Attack: 1 Pass
Defence: 1 Pass - 8 damage taken

“This does concern me actually,” Alek said, standing up “and you’ve not only insulted me, but my travelling companion. If it was just me? I’d forgive. But her? You’ve dug your own grave friend.” And with that, Alek picked up the chair he was sitting on and threw it at the group, instantly knocking out one of them, causing them to fall into another group who punched another man who threw his glass, missing his target and hitting an innocent patron.

The bar exploded!

In the ensuing melee, Alek was tackled to the ground by the bigger man and punched square in the jaw.

“You like that?” The man said “I’ve got a more where tha’ came from darlin’!”

Alek put his legs around the mans neck and twisted, pulling him right off him.

Brawling man (leader) 12/12 Health
Brawling man (lackey) 4/4 Health
Brawling man (lackey) Knocked Out!

Alek: 17/25 Health

Brawling
Armoured - 4 damage
>>
>>3273339
Gimme a 1D100
DC: 45
>>
Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>3273342
1
>>
>>3273342
>0- 0 damage
>1- 1x damage
>2- 2x damage
>3- 3x damage
>Crit- instant knock out
>>
Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>3273342
>>
Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>3273342
>>
aaaand gimme a 1D100 for defence
DC: 45

Ya really botched those rolls anons
>>
Alek deserves to get his ass beat with these rolls.
>>
Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>
Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>3273367
Fucking dice gods
>>
Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>
Roll me a 1D100 for the attack.

Last round before the fuzz turn up
>>
Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>3273399
>>
Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>3273399
If the fuzz is coming lets put the damage on the leader to at least fuck him up a little
>>
Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>
>>3273399
Gimme a 1D100 for defence
same as before
I assume you wanna fuck up his lackey and give the big fella a black eye?
Or do you wanna ignore the small lackey and break some bones?
>>
Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>3273419
break some bones, the lackey is small fries

also, use our drain life ability to heal and maybe knock him out
>>
Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>3273419

Can we do that?>>3273423
We could drain before punching so we don't kill but actually deck him on his ass, broken jaw would be nice so he doesn't talk shit anymore
>>
Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3273419
>>
>>3273429
I mean, you could. Liable to get you hunted down though. Witch Hunters are looked down upon and shunned at the best of times simply because of the rumours that follow them. Practising life stealing magik in the front of a bunch of normies? Risky. Very risky.

Your call.
Use Lifesteal?
>>
>>3273445
No.
>>
>>3273445
na, let's just cave his face in then
>>
>>3273445
No.
>>
>>3273445
No. Fuck 'em up the old-fashioned way.
>>
>>3273445
No
Break his jaw
>>
File: Grevin Toads.jpg (8 KB, 236x294)
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0 passes- 0 damage
1 pass- negated by armour
+
2 passes - 8 damage
1 passes - 4 damage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p79IBaksXU

Getting up, Alek and Sophia squared off against the men.

With a roar, Alek rushed the bigger man, intending to knock him out with one punch. Just as his blow was about to connect, however, a man was pushed in front of him, knocking him off balance.

His punch went wild and to the left, connecting with air.

One of the smaller men saw Aleks mistake and attempted to punish him, hitting Alek squarely in the stomach, only managing to graze his knuckles on the leather armour.

Dancing back, Alek assessed his options. Two guys left. The bigger one didn’t even have a scratch on him and neither did the smaller one. Alek could feel the bruise forming on his eye and jaw. He tenderly felt it, that’d need some ice in the morning.

Feeling sorry for himself for briefly too long! The lackey charged him, just like his boss, tackling him to the ground and hitting him once in the side of the face. One too many times.

Fury filled within him, a mere human giving him a licking? He’d show him! Throwing the boy off with inhuman strength, Alek stood up breathing hard. Sophia swore that the pub wide brawl halted for a second, in awe of the alpha predator that stood in their midst.

With a bellow, Alek rushed the leader, knocking over tables in his mad fury to get to him.

With watery grace, Alek slides into the mans feet, avoiding the bear hug that had awaited him, breaking the mans ankle. With a fluid movement, he punches upwards, knocking the man down and with a ferociousness that was more beast than man, he set upon him, delivering a series of blows that bloodied and bruised the mans face.

“Oi!” a voice cried out above the din “The Toads are coming!”

Instantly, the fighting stops and is replaced by a mad dash to get out of the inn. Foes help each other

Alek grabs a man as he attempts to leave “Toads?”

“Police! Coppas!.Fakabats! Let me go or I’ll brain ya!”

Alek sits, exhausted, a top of the man he has beaten. He’s still breathing but he’d definitely be feeling it for the next week or so. His lackey has long since legged it.

“Alek,” Sophia says, pulling him to his feet “we should go.”

Too late. Toads pile into the tavern, hitting those who surrender peacefully, stabbing the ones who don’t. There aren’t many who don’t surrender. This is a theatre play, rehearsed many times.

A man strolls in, decked out in finery. Plush furs and silken robes hang on his frame, inlaid with dazzling patterns. He carries a ceremonial sword, most likely never seen a single fight with it. He surveys the scene, the carnage. He points at Sophia and Alek.

“You two. Come with me.”

Do you go?
>Yes
>No
>Other

Brawler (leader) 4/12 Health
Brawler (lackey) 4/4 Health
Brawler (lackey) Knocked out!

Alek: 13/25 Health
Brawling
Leather Armoured -4 damage
>>
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>>3273487
Last post for the night. I'll pick up tomorrow. Expect a fair amount of phone posting.
>>
>>3273487
>Yes

But if he tries something with the girl we bolt it out there with her
>>
>>3273489
Also, have we hit the stage in this quest where during a battle I can write "roll 1D100 for attack and defence" and I get 6 rolls of 100? I feel like that'd streamline things
>>
>>3273487
>>Yes
>>
>>3273498
Probably
>>
>>3273498
No prob
>>
File: stagecoach.jpg (110 KB, 1200x675)
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>>3273487
Two soldiers stood behind them and pushed them forward, out of the tavern and into a waiting stage coach. The well dressed man was already waiting for them.

He was reading a parchment when they got in, putting it aside as they sat down.

“An Alek I believe?” he said, putting aside the parchment to the side, and looking at Sophia. “And we don’t have a name to you. An apprentice?”

“Just a travelling companion.” Alek interjects before Sophia can say anything.

“Hmm.” He doesn’t sound convinced. “My name is Vetrov Andreviich and I have been keeping a close eye on you since you arrived in Grevin.”

Aleks confusion was dispersed in an instant. An Inquisitor! He’d had someone following them, ready to snatch them off the street when the time arose, only for the tavern fight to break out, forcing his hand.

“What do you want from us?” Asked Alek.

“As you’ve probably gathered, we’ve had some...trouble in the last few weeks with the local band of Lizard men.” Said Vetrov, grabbing some new parchment and scanning it quickly “Currently, we’ve had two hundred and thirty five men killed in those weeks and thats not even counting the men attacked today in the mines. There didn’t seem to be any survivors and I’m sure I’ll get the report in the morning.”

“So what do you want from us?” Asked Alek again.

“I’ll cut to the chase. I am a very busy man here in Grevin. The Emperor has tasked me with keeping the peace which I cannot do if these raids continue. The local peasantry grows restless and the men working in the camps are afraid to go back out there. What I want you to do, Witch Hunter, is to find these Lizard men and put a stop to their shenanigans one way or another. For this, his holiness will pay you quite handsomely.”

Alek considered it for a moment. “Why can’t you do it?”

“I am occupied here. I simply do not have the time and the city guard is mediocre at best, unable to ferret out a guerilla wartribe without an overarching hand. If you find the Lizard men, I will supply you with a dozen or so soldiers to root them out and destroy them.”

“And if I say no?”

“You’ll be free to leave.” the Inquisitor sat back, hands folded into a temple “but you leave knowing you condemn another two hundred men to the grave.”

>Yes. I accept the contract.
>No. I am far too busy
>I need to tell you about that man with the seal on the road
>Other
>>
>>3275675
>Yes. I accept the contract

They are killing innocents and tha is pretty shitty.
>>
>>3275675
>Yes. I accept the contract.
>>
>>3275675
>>Yes. I accept the contract.
>>
>>3275675
>>Yes. I accept the contract.
>>
>>3275675
>>Yes. I accept the contract
>>
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>Yes

Alek thought about it. There was definitely something amiss, something that needed further investigation. That could wait though.

“Yes, I accept.”

Vetrov smiled and sat back. “Excellent news.” He handed Alek a bag of gold. “That contains twenty five gold. If you complete your mission, you’ll get another twenty five.” The carriage slowed and then stopped, lurching slightly. “I’ve also gone through the trouble of getting you and your...companion accommodation whilst you visit this fair city.” He opened the door. “I’ll be in touch.”

Alek and Sophia got out of the carriage and looked at their surroundings. It was clearly the more upmarket part of town. Even though it was late in the night, patrols of four guards still marched around the area, illuminated by the lit torches. The ground had, at one point, been converted into big, stone slabs that kept feet from getting dirty. The various bars and restaurants had glass windows which were framed by beautiful pieces of carved hardwood.

Alek felt very out of place.

Walking quickly, he pulled Sophia into the hotel.
>>
File: hotel room.jpg (143 KB, 1024x768)
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>>3276135
The accommodation was much better than anything Alek could afford. Walking into the lobby, the floors were white marble with a series of gold inlay that had been polished to a high sheen. The walls were a oiled oak, with several gas lights flooding the lobby with a warm glow. The front desk was highly decorated, with several depictions of people fighting monsters and dragons.

“How may I help you?” Asked the clerk, hesitently looking them up and down.

“We, uh,” said Alek “have a booking? It was organised by the Inquisitor.”

“Ah yes. Right this way.” He snapped his fingers, and a small boy dressed in a suit appeared. “Take their belonging up to their rooms.”

The boy looked expectantly up at them, holding out his hands. Alek only had the clothes on his back and his silver sword, Sophia was the same.

The clerks face remained neutral. “I’ll get someone to come to you in the morning and get you some new clothes.”

Entering the hotel room, it was some how even more lavish than the lobby. Furs hung everywhere, the bed was king sized, covered in wolf skin and filled with goose down. A brass bathtub was in the corner of the room, with a privacy screen inbetween. A great big mirror, twice the height of Alek, hung on the back wall, next to an empty wardrobe.

“Only one bed.” Said Sophia, looking at Alek.

“Thats ok.” Replied Alek, grabbing a wolfskin and a pillow. “I can sleep on the floor.”

Sophia sighed.

When light came, it came too early and too harshly. The hangover both of them were experiencing was not ideal.

A rapping came at the door.

“Enter!” Called Alek

“Sir. Madam.” The clerk from last night strolled through and stood to attention. “I have taken the liberty of organising a shopping trip with a few of the merchants around this area. They have all expressed a great interest in showing you some clothes.”

Current purse: 72 Lions

>Sure. Lets go on a clothes shopping trip
>I need to get to the temple to heal. Alek: 13/25 Health
>I need to see the blacksmith about some things
>Back to the tavern. Unfinished business.
>Do you have an alchemy store?
>>
>>3276137
Pick 3
>>
>>3276137
>>Sure. Lets go on a clothes shopping trip
>>I need to get to the temple to heal.
>>Do you have an alchemy store?
>>
>>3276137
>>3276137

>Sure. Lets go on a clothes shopping trip
>I need to get to the temple to heal. Alek: 13/25 Health
>I need to see the blacksmith about some things
>>
>>3276156
Supporting
>>
“I guess we do need some new clothes.” Alek said, looking at Sophia who nodded and mouthed a silent thank you . “Lead on my good man.”

Walking down and through the lobby again, Alek was reminded of how little he belonged in this world. Rich, fat men with their make up covered wives stalked the lobby, chatting to each other, smiling and laughing at the shallow talk that ensured. Alek doubted even one of them could hold a goblin at bay but they looked down on him? The world made little sense.

They were ushered onto a waiting carriage and whisked away.

They arrived at a series of clothing boutique stores, each proclaiming to be “Emperor Approved! Emperor Used!”

The clerk, who had introduced himself as Sebastian, shepherded them into a store called The Shuffle of Things where they were greeted by a woman in a wig, caked in makeup with deep red lips.

“Darling!” She cried, hugging Sophia and giving Alek a warm handshake “what can I help you with this fine morning?”

“We need some finery. Our clothes have become a little worse for wear.” Said Sophia, taking charge and giving Alek a wink. “I was thinking about a deep red yadda yadda blah blah blah as Sophia took charge of the situation, Alek felt a wave of relaxation wash over him. It was nice letting someone else take the reins.

As Sophia talked fashion and pricing, Alek noticed two men lounging on the other side of the street, trying to hide in the shadows but watching their every move.

About an hour later, the woman and Sophia had agreed on several things for Alek.

“I have the Lullaby for you, my fine sir. You seem to enjoy your greys, browns and greens so it’ll be made into that fashion. It costs ten Lions but it has a nice padding around it that could help in your...profession.” -1 damage . She pulled out a shirt and pants combo, a deep red and black with gold thread lining it all. “Like I said, it’ll be ready by the end of the day and it’ll be a mixture of your favourite colours.” She put it away, and picked up a piece of finery that Alek had seen wore by the fops in the hotel lobby. “This is the Solace. All the rage in the capital at the moment. 15 gold.” +5 to speech rolls when talking with nobility she leaned in for a conspiratorial whisper and wink “I’ve even heard its made its way to the Dynasty its that popular!” Carefully putting it away she mentioned that it’d be in his favourite colours. Finally she pulled out a slim fitting suit. “And the Espirte! We typically make these for the officers of the army. 15 Lions. This one was meant for a man but hes gone missing it seems.” -5 for defence DC She looked off into the distance wistfully “That poor man. He left behind a family.” She snapped back into reality and smiled. “Anyways. What can I get for you Alek?”

>None
>The Lullaby -10 Lions
>The Solace -15 Lions
>TheEspirte -15 Lions
>>
>>3276227
>>TheEspirte -15 Lions
>>
>>3276227
>>TheEspirte -15 Lions
YES! reduce defence DC YES!
>>
File: High Church of Grevin.jpg (143 KB, 960x822)
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>The Espirte -15 Lions
Current Purse: 57 Lions

Leaving for the High Church temple, Alek and Sophia decided to walk, shunning the carriage that had been waiting out the front to pick them up, citing a beautiful day.

As they walked, they chatted animatedly.

Underneath it all, however, they were stressed.

“Did you notice them?” Asked Alek, making a big show to point at a dress in a shop window.

“Them?” Sophia replied “I only saw one. There were others?” Making a big show of nodding and smiling.

“I say we try and ditch them after our Communion Bath.”

“Have you got a plan?”

“Something like that.” Alek said, smiling broadly and opening the temple door, ushering her inside.

2 gold later, Alek and Sophia were feeling much better. Their cuts, scrapes and bruises had been healed and sealed up and even their lingering hangover had been cured.

Standing in the foyer, Sophia turned to Alek and asked him what his plan was. Alek smiled at her and nodded towards a Daughter that was walking towards them, monk habits in hand.

Gimme a 1D100 to see how well you escape their stalking.
DC: 70
>>
Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>3276292
>>
Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>3276292
>>
Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>3276292
who they might be? maybe revolutionaries?
>>
Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3276292
>>
File: blacksmith.jpg (152 KB, 1200x675)
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>To the blacksmith now
>Did not shake the trail


“Can you see them?” Asked Sophia as they walked with some monks out of the temple.

“Aye.” Replied Alek, head bowed. “Two men. Sitting by the well. Not sure if its Imperial or otherwise. Just keep your head down and follow the group.”

As they followed the group of monks as they wandered down to the poor section of town to deliver the alms and charity much needed by the cities poor.

As they walked, the men trailed them.

“I don’t think we’ve lost them.”

“Aye. Our disguises weren’t good enough.” Alek replied. “Lets just ditch the outfits and walk to the blacksmiths.”

Moving into the poorer part of town, Alek noticed a complete change. The ground was dirt and mud, the taverns, bars and restaurants were of lower quality and looked like they expected a riot to break out at any moment and the clothes shops sold more or less the same thing: trousers that were dyed a greenish-brown and shirts that were little better than the hessen sacks they carried potatoes in.

Walking into the blacksmiths, they were greeted by a man with a great big, black beard. “Huh? What’d you want?”

“We’re here to see your stores.” Alek said, running his hands over several metal swords and spear tips. “I was hoping you’d have some things for sale.”

The blacksmith looked Alek up and down, grunted and waved a hand. “Ok. I aint no sales man so I aint got no pitch. What you see is what you get.”

He pulled out a small sword, a bow with a quiver of arrows and a small breastplate. He gestured at Sophia. “I assume you’re buying for her as well? Sword is five Lions, Bow is five and breastplate is five. I dont haggle, so don’t try.” he thrust them into Sophia hands “have a try love. See if you like the feel of them.”

“For you.” he said, gesturing at Alek. “I’ve got some other stuff. Firstly, brass knuckles. Wont kill but your enemies’ll know what hit them in the morning. Five Lions.” +2 damage when fighting unarmed (total 6 damage) . The blacksmith pointed at a grinder. “I’ll sharpen your sword for you. Five Lions. Won’t take that long.” +2 damage (total 10 damage) for four battles . “I’ve got a scale mail breastplate thats been just gathering dust. I’ll let you have it for twenty Lions.” -8 damage per defence round . Hell, for another five, I’ll throw in some shoulder pads.” -2 damage per defence round .

For Sophia
>The bow every 2 rounds she’ll loosen an arrow. Doing 3 damage -5 Lions
>The sword every 3 rounds, she’ll cut in your fight, dealing 5 damage -5 Lions
>The breastplate Adds two rounds to save her when shes in trouble -Lions

For Alek
>Brass knuckles -5 Lions
>Sharpen Sword - 5 Lions
>Scale mail -20 Lions
>Shoulder pads -5 Lions
>>
>>3276316
Who knows?!? Could be anyone!
>>
>>3276393
buy Sophia all the gear she needs -15
our armor -20
brass knuckes -5
shoulder pads -5

see if we can trade in our current armor or if it fits under sophie breast plate
>>
>>3276393
For Sophia
>The sword-5 Lions
>The breastplate-5 Lions
For Alek
>Brass knuckles-5 Lions
>Sharpen Sword- 5 Lions
>Shoulder pads-5 Lions
>>
>>3276393
Buy everything.
>>
>>3276425
±1
>>
Getting everything. 50 Lions.
>>
>>3279209
Trade in our older armor for some cash, or if its nop possible try to adjust it for Sophie so she can use under her new armor.
>>
File: alleyway.jpg (93 KB, 640x1136)
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Taking everything
-50 Lions
Current purse 7 Lions {/spoiler]

They walked away from the blacksmith, a few coins lighter but with a lot of gear.

Sophia squealed and laughed, playing around with her sword “I feel like a proper bounty hunter!”

“Put that away!” Alek said, putting the sword back in its scabbard. “You’ll draw attention to us.”

“Ah who cares?” Sighed Sophia “those guys are still following us.” She turned around and gave them a wave. They ducked into a store. Very inconspicuous. “Yoo hoo! How long are you going to follow us for?” She puffed out her chest as they continued walking “God. I feel ten feet tall. I could fight a troll!”

“Calm down there chief.” Alek said, pulling her down an alley. “I think it might be time to have a chat with our followers.”

The alley way was long and overflowing with trash, sandwiched in between two huge buildings.

“In here.” Alek said, pushing Sophia into a dark alcove. “Get ready.”

The two men rushed past, believing that they’d lost their targets, talking to each other in rushed, quiet voices, blaming each other.

Leaping out, Alek yelled at them to turn and face him.

Sophia did the same, even copying his hands on hips.

Turning to each other, the two men smiled, bowed and bolted.

“After them!” Alek yelled.

1D100 to see if you can catch them
DC: 50
>>
Rolled 24 (1d100)

>>3279274
Kek, this is fun
>>
Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>3279274
Why do we roll so shit?
>>
Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>3279274
>>
>>3279308
lol
>>
>>3279308
I was getting worried that we were cursed.
>>
>>3279308
Big boi rolls!
Caught + 4 damage
>>
File: chase.jpg (147 KB, 1202x374)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujsCRw-eA0o

They chased them through the alleyway and onto the main street, bustling with people and caravans attempting to sell their wares. As Alek gave chase, a man riding a camel knocked him over.

“Al’abalah!” the man cursed at them “Watch where you’re going!” before pulling on his steed and moving on.

As Sophia pulled him up from the dirt and mud, they realised something.

They’d lost them!

Desperately looking around, they saw the many shapes, colours and sounds of the market, but their quarry had disappeared.

“No!” Yelled Sophia, tugging on Aleks sleeve. “Over there! The rooftop!” Indeed, the two men were pulling themselves up over the edge of some shanty town shacks, attempting to flee the crowded marketplace and into their rats nest safe house.

“You follow the through the market!” Yelled Alek, already moving “I’ll chase on the rootops!”

Feet pounding on the dirt, Sophia raced through the market, dodging horses, merchants with goods to hock and the city guard who might’ve been suspicious of a girl running.

Alek made a beeline towards the shanty town, jumping onto the housing when he got there. A quick scan revealed that they were roughly fifty yards in front of him, leaping over the crudely constructed shacks.

Sophia saw the men moving fast. Too fast for Alek to catch up to. She’d have to do something bold. Notching an arrow to her bow, she drew a bead on the target and fired.

The Maker must’ve guided her hand and that arrow in that instant, because it hit one of the men in the calf, causing him to stumble and fall through the holes in the rooftops. His friend hesitated for a moment before jumping down to help him.

Alek didn’t even hesitate before jumping into the hole.

He landed with a thud and it took a second for his eyes to adjust to the dark.

A second he didn’t have!

One of the men rushed Alek, yelling. The sword was deflected at last second, saving Alek from having to sow his throat back together.
>>
>>3279401
Unknown Assailant 1: 16/20 Health
Quality Sword - 8 damage
???
???

Unknown Assailant 2: 20/20 Health
Sword -5 damage
Shadow strike -Lowers defence DC by 10
???

Alek Siminov: 25/25 Health
Silver Sword- 8 Damage (sharpened +2 4/4 battles remaining)
Scale Mail - 8 damage negated
Shoulder pads -2 damage negated
The Espirte -5 on defence DC
Brass Knuckles +2 when fighting unarmed (6 damage)

Choose a stance
Witch Hunter
Daemonic Possession: For three rounds lower the attack DC by 15 and increase base damage by 5. After 3 rounds, you revert back to human form and are massively exhausted. Increase your defence DC by 15 till the end of the battle.

Life essence: Steal 1D8 health from the target. Increase the attack DC +10 for 2 rounds.

Blood Pact: Sacrifice 10 points of health and deal an additional 5 points of damage for 3 rounds.

Pistolier: Deals 12 damage. No need for attack rolls. Single target only.

No Stance: Normal attack.
>>
>>3279403
No Stance.
>>
>>3279403
no stance, I want at least one of them alive
>>
>>3279403

Pistolier: Deals 12 damage. No need for attack rolls. Single target only.


Shoot the unarmed guy on the leg.
>>
>>3279407
>>3279414
Actually if we want to incapacitate them will bringing their health to 0 still count?
>>
>>3279420
I imagine yes

or maybe use the brass knucks to get those last hp points out
>>
At least one of them will survive this fight.
Unless you don't want them to.
>>
>>3279430
>>3279414
then start shooting
>>
>>3279430
>>3279433
Fine switch to pistol then.Targeting the first guy.
>>
Gimme a 1D100 for defence
DC: 60
+10 enemy stance: Shadow Strike I know it says lowers the defence DC. I fucked up
-5 Espirte
Defence DC: 65
Defence
Crit fail - Basic damage x3 plus your defence DC is increased by +15 for the next round
0 Passes - Basic damage x3
1 Pass - Basic damage x1
2 Passes - Basic damage x0.5
3 Passes - No damage taken
Crit Pass - No damage taken plus you give back 4 damage to the enemy
>>
Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>3279440
time to get fucked
>>
Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>3279440
>>
>>3279447
Oh boi!
>>
>>3279447
lol,what the hell is happening to us?
is this compensation for all the shit rolls during the bar fight?
>>
>>3279454
Nearly gets knocked out during barfight
Kills trained soldiers with ease
>>
>>3279455
We took some punches at the bar on purpose so Sophia could treat our wounds after we defender her honor
>>
The man screamed at Alek, bringing his sword to bear which Alek deflected with a parry of his wrist and a kick to the gut.

As the man stumbled backwards, Alek drew his pistol and shot the man, hitting him in his shoulder and knocking him to the ground.

The air tasted like acrid smoke and all were temporarily deafened and blinded. Spots danced in their eyes and they could all hear a ringing.

However, death awaits those who nurse their wounds for too long and Alek was quickly back into the fray!


Unknown Assailant 1: 16/20 Health
Quality Sword - 8 damage
???
???

Unknown Assailant 2: 4/20 Health
Sword -5 damage
Shadow strike- increases defence DC by 10
???

Alek Siminov: 25/25 Health
Silver Sword- 8 Damage (sharpened +2 4/4 battles remaining)
Scale Mail - 8 damage negated
Shoulder pads -2 damage negated
The Espirte -5 on defence DC
Brass Knuckles +2 when fighting unarmed (6 damage)

Choose a stance
Witch Hunter
Daemonic Possession: For three rounds lower the attack DC by 15 and increase base damage by 5. After 3 rounds, you revert back to human form and are massively exhausted. Increase your defence DC by 15 till the end of the battle.

Life essence: Steal 1D8 health from the target. Increase the attack DC +10 for 2 rounds.

Blood Pact: Sacrifice 10 points of health and deal an additional 5 points of damage for 3 rounds.

Pistolier: Deals 12 damage. No need for attack rolls. Single target only. 3 round cooldown.

No Stance: Normal attack.
>>
>>3279462
>No Stance
>>
>>3279462
No stace, punch the shadow guy out
>>
>>3279462
no stance

knock him out
>>
>>3279462
No Stance.
>>
Gimme a 1D100 for attack
>>
>>3281355
DC:50
Unknown assailant: Steel defence +10
DC: 60
>>
Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>3281355
>>
Rolled 56 (1d100)

>>3281355
>>
Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>3281355
>>
Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>3281355
>>
>>3281355
Gimme a 1D100 for defence
DC: 60
-5 Espirte

>>3281889
Ill include this as the first roll for defence because its so goddamn good
>>
Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>3282111
>>
Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>3282111
Allow me to ruin this defence
>>
0 passes for Attack
2 passes for Defence

Writing
Attack
Crit fail - You lose your sword for one round, causing your attack DC to increase by +20
0 Passes - You miss your attack
1 Pass - Basic damage x1
2 Passes - Basic damage x2
3 Passes - Basic damage x3
Crit pass- Basic damage x 3 plus a bleed effect (2 damage per round for 3 rounds)

Defence
Crit fail - Basic damage x3 plus your defence DC is increased by +15 for the next round
0 Passes - Basic damage x3
1 Pass - Basic damage x1
2 Passes - Basic damage x0.5
3 Passes - No damage taken
Crit Pass - No damage taken plus you give back 4 damage to the enemy
>>
File: Sophia the Archer.jpg (71 KB, 500x634)
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0 Attack Passes
2 Defence Passes 0.5x damage taken. 4+3.
Damage negated by armour

Alek, unfortunately, joined the fray a little too quick! Slashing blindly, he found only air. His silver sword clanged against the brick of the enclosed air, causing his ears to ring.

Both the men took advantage of Aleks sudden disadvantage.

“Priduyok!” the man with the arrow in his calf yelled at Alek to distract him, “prepare to die!” as he made a very elaborate change of stance, knees bent and sword pointed at him.

Alek changed his attention to this man, ready to accept his charge.

Only for the other assailant to leap out of the shadows, weapon raised high.

If it weren’t for his armour, Alek would’ve been cut in two. As it were, a deep gouge was made against his newly bought armour and the assailant moved back to protect his

You’ll pay for that Alek thought as he gritted his teeth and launched himself back into the fight. Now that he had both of them in his sights, no more trickery. Time to die.

As Alek jumped back in, Sophia had arrived at the point where the man had fallen through the hole. Thinking quickly, she started to notch an arrow.

Next round, Sophia will loosen an arrow
Unknown Assailant 1: 16/20 Health
Quality Sword - 8 damage
Steel defence +10 to defence DC
Blistering Blade - Bleeds for 2 damage for 3 rounds.

Unknown Assailant 2: 4/20 Health
Sword -5 damage
Shadow strike- increases defence DC by 10
???

Alek Siminov: 25/25 Health
Silver Sword- 8 Damage (sharpened +2 4/4 battles remaining)
Scale Mail - 8 damage negated
Shoulder pads -2 damage negated
The Espirte -5 on defence DC
Brass Knuckles +2 when fighting unarmed (6 damage)

Choose a stance
Witch Hunter
Daemonic Possession: For three rounds lower the attack DC by 15 and increase base damage by 5. After 3 rounds, you revert back to human form and are massively exhausted. Increase your defence DC by 15 till the end of the battle.

Life essence: Steal 1D8 health from the target. Increase the attack DC +10 for 2 rounds.

Blood Pact: Sacrifice 10 points of health and deal an additional 5 points of damage for 3 rounds.

Pistolier: Deals 12 damage. No need for attack rolls. Single target only.

No Stance: Normal attack.
>>
>>3282291
No stance, put plan knock the guy on his ass in action again
>>
>>3282291
>No Stance: Normal attack.
>>
>>3282291
>No stance
We can focus on faggot #1 while Sophia shoots faggot #2
>>
>>3282322
The thing is, the arrow won't finish faggot 2, that's why I said to knock faggot 2 with the brass knuckles and she can shoot faggot 1 to get some more damage going.
>>
>>3282340
>>3282322
Of course, that depends on how many attack hits we get, if we get 2 we can finish off faggot 1 in one attack.
>>
>No stance

Gimme a 1D100
DC: 50
>>
Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>3282384
>>
Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>3282384
>>
Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>3282384
Nat 1, here I cum
>>
Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>3282384
>>
>>3282406
>>3282407
Anon.....
>>
File: 1500368390313.gif (1.27 MB, 242x242)
1.27 MB
1.27 MB GIF
>>3282408
>>
>>3282408
Welp, at least we can kick faggot's 1 ass and Sophie's arrow will leave the other guy with 1 hp, hopefully he surrenders and we can interrogate him
>>
>>3282407
Lets make this guy sweat a lil.
If you roll me anything above a 60 using a 1D100, I'll make your roll the defence roll
>>
Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3282412
Yeah OK
Don't count mine
>>
>>3282414
Ya lucky hombre. I'm only counting akSatScWs rolls
>>
>>3282414
Why are my rolls this fucking bad today? It's not like I shat in the dice gods' bed or something. What the fuck
>>3282411
I don't know if he's going to surrender: to be safe we should settle for knocking him out.
>>3282415
You should've made him sweat a little more, Bear
>>
Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>3282412
>>
>>3282412
>>3282419
Thanks RNGesus.
>>
Once more, we fucked up professional soldiers and took a beating to 3 drunk guys, dice gods are fickle kek.
>>
2 passes - 20 damage
Crit pass - no damage taken, 4 damage reflected back

As Sophia was notching her arrow, Alek moved like lightning. Time had slowed for the man and his wrath would not be evaded.

Dodging under a wild swing made by the first man, Alek cut his hand off in an upward swing before punching the man square in the jaw, knocking him out.

The other man, furious at Aleks display, charged with a wild swing.

Alek, barely looking at the man, sidestepped the thrust and beheaded him, spraying the wall in gore.

Sophia leapt from the roof and landed beside him.

“What do you plan on doing with him?” She asked

“I agree.” Said a little voice on his shoulder “What do you plan on doing with him? A little torture? Some interrogation? Ohhh. I think I’ll stay for this.” The Imp had appeared, almost salivating at Aleks road to damnation.

Alek turned to Sophia and looked her dead in the eye. “Sophia.” He said “I have given my life to getting rid of evil in this world. That means doing evil things to banish evil. You have given my life a romantic view so far, all swordplay and maiden rescuing. What is about to happen is, there's no other way to say it, evil. I am going to torture this man into giving me information. I will not hold it against you if you wish to step away and go for a walk.”

Sophia stared back at him. “I have told you many times Alek.” she said, steel in her voice “I am learning from you. If that means I have to learn the bad as well as the good, so be it.”

“Very well.” He said, taking off his hat and wiping his brow. “Let us begin.”

Welcome to the interrogation section of it all! The aim of this game is to ask the prisoner questions that might lead to whatever answers you seek.
You achieve this by getting as close to the DC number as possible. For example, if the DM was to choose 55 as the number, you should be attempting to get 54,55,56 in order to get as high a mark as possible.


Interrogation

Within 15: 2 passes
16-40: 1 pass
40-50: 0 passes
51+: You’ve killed the individual. You were too rough

0 Passes: You learn nothing. The prisoner knows nothing beyond what he was told to do. A mindless soldier.
1 Pass: The individual has little knowledge of it all, but does know some names
2 Passes: The individual is a reasonably high ranking in the grand scheme of things. He knows several names and several locations of interest.
3+ Passes: This individual is a high ranking individual, known to the inner circle of whatever group they belong too. Names, locations, timings and financial records, among other things, are known to this person.

The DC for this particular individual is 60. Get as close to 40 as possible.
1D100
>>
Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3282494
Sorry in advance for this shitty roll
>>
Rolled 71 (1d100)

>>3282494
>>
Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>3282494
>>
>>3282494
*Get close to 60 as possible

4 Passes
Well done
How did that work out? Every understand how it works?

What questions do you want to ask him?
>>
>>3282508
Nice, within 15
>>
>>3282510
Who send them after us?
Why are they following us?
What are they planning?
Where are they based and how many more are there?
>>
>>3282510
Now I do.
>Within 15 OF TARGET: 2 passes
>16-40 OF TARGET: 1 pass
>40-50 OF TARGET: 0 passes
>51+ OF TARGET: You’ve killed the individual. You were too rough
>>
>>3282514
Supporting
>>
4+ Passes
Who send them after us?
Why are they following us?
What are they planning?
Where are they based and how many more are there?


The man was in his mid-thirties, black beard and green eyes. With an arrow imbedded in his calf and his right hand missing, he had looked better. He stared at Alek, hate burning within. But also fear. He had been sent to spy on Alek and fully knew what he was capable of. At this point in time, Alek was holding him at knifepoint, the blade cutting into his skin.

“Lets begin easily enough.” Alek said “What is your name?”

“You won’t get anything from me.” Spat the man. “Not a name. Not an answer. Not even a beg for my own life.”

“Come now, boy. We both know what I am fully capable of. Why make this harder on yourself?”

Silence met his threat. Alek didn’t like silence when interrogating. As quick as a whip, he bought his knife down, slamming into his hand. Sophia heard a crunch as bones broke.

The man screamed. “N-n-nothing. You’ll get...NOTHING!” the man spat.

“We’ll see.” Alek said, sharpening his blade. “We’ll see.”
>>
>>3282630
What followed was an hour of beating, dark rituals and amateur surgery.

“All I want to know is your name.” Said Alek, in between punches “Why won’t you tell me your name?”

“Ok, Ok!” shouted the man, spent. He spat out his last remaining tooth. He had hardly a working bone in his body, all either broken or, much to Sophias disgust, removed. His brow was covered in sweat, giving off a light sheen. He was spent, exhausted. He tried his best but there was no knight to save him. Not here, not with this monster. “Its Vispar. I work for the Midnight Insurgency.”

“Why were you following us?”

Vispar stared at Alek, if looks could kill. But then, it was over. He was thoroughly defeated. “I run the cell here in Grevin. I’d heard that a Witch Hunter had been employed by the Inquisitor for something, we were following you to try and find out what.” He chuckled “but all you’ve done is gone on a shopping spree.”

“How many more of you are there?” Sophia asked, stalking over to him. She’d been quiet during the torture, unable to stomach many of the dark things Alek had done to him. “Where are you based?”

“Theres about a dozen of us in the city. We’re not based anywhere. We are ordered to meet up by messenger. They come to our houses and deliver a note that contains all the information. One day, it might be the market. Another, the sewer underneath the city.”

Sophia looked at Alek who nodded. “Pretty standard guerilla stuff.” He said “stops them from ratting out each other.” Alek turned to the man “Final question: what are you planning?”
>>
>>3282634
“Now that I can’t say. My life will be forfeit. My families life will be forfeit.”

“Vispar. The Mortal Plane is fleeting.” Alek said, grabbing his chin and making him meet his eyes “the soul last for eternity. I can chain your soul to a dozen daemons who will tear out your eyes daily, feed you your own liver and make you rape your own daughter. Is that what you want?”

“Oh yes, yes! cried the Imp “Give him to me! I’ll spend the next two hundred years feasting on his spinal cord! I’ll have his cock cut off and feed it to my dogs! I’ll bind his hands to molten rock! Ohhh yes, yes!”

Vispar said nothing, head looking down at the muddied floor.

“You’ve wasted enough of my time.” Alek said “Tyuh o’dun f’rah illak to-”

“Ok! Ok!” Vispar stopped him, desperation showing in his eyes. He did not want to see the Below. “We’ve been tasked with diverting resources away from the capital by any means necessary. We’ve been making plans to divert the river into the city, causing a mass flood.”

“That’d kill hundreds,” gasped Sophia “if not thousands!”

Vispar shrugged. “The tyranny must be overthrown. Whats a thousand lives against the weight of a million?”

You’ve gained all that you can from him
What do you want to do?

>Kill him
>Let him go
>Other
>>
>>3282637
>Kill him
We gotta kill all evildoers.
But maybe don't give him to Imp
>>
>>3282637
>Let him go

"Send a message to your leaders, I aeme here to eliminate the tyrant too, our goals are the same, but if you keep putting innocent lives in danger I will eliminate you as well"
>>
>>3282658
Supporting
>>
>>3282658
Support.
>>
>>3282658
Supporting
>>
>>3282637
>>Kill him

If we let him live they'll know he said something and they're gonna kill his family
>>
>>3283342
that's an entirely good point, we could ask him if he wants us to kill him to protect his family and where we could leave a message to his supperiors
>>
>Let him go.

Where would you like Alek & co to head now
>Tavern (you've got unfinished business)
>Hotel (report back to the inquisitor)
>Bargeman (Down to the waterfront)
>Barracks
>other
>>
>>3285139
>>Bargeman (Down to the waterfront)

is this the barrage? we need to investigate if it's sabotaged, and maybe find some clues about the lizardmen
>>
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>>3285143
Barrage? Nigga what?

Do you mean the river diverting plan?
>>
>>3285143
+1
>>
>>3285145
yeah, that was the idea, but maybe I didn't get something right.

anyway, we have to investigate those lizardmen appearances that are killing people so let's start there I think
>>
>>3285139
>>Bargeman (Down to the waterfront)
>>
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>Let him go
>Down to the bargemen

“Vispar,” Alek said, “I am not going to kill you this day. Although currently I am employed by the Emperor, I am only doing so to rid the world of evil. Tell your masters that this Witch Hunter will not stand idly by as your group murders innocent civilians, so change your plans lest you find yourself on the wrong side of my sword.”

With that, Alek walked away, wishing he’d bought that dramatic cape from DeBurp.

As they entered the marketplace again, Sophia asked “So where to now?”

“Vispar spoke about flooding the city. I say we head down to the waterfront and see what their game plan was. Maybe it could prove profitable.”

The waterfront was a myriad of docks, stalls selling river fish and and warehouses.

There was an important looking stone watch tower with the Emperors sigil was located at the end and four guards lazily stood guard.

It was a quiet day at the waterfront, with only a dozen souls lounging around or vainly attempting to sell their wares. A few bargemen stood around, chatting idly, waiting to take customers across the river.

“So where to?” Asked Sophia, not very impressed with it all.

>One of the fishermen
>The market place
>The warehouse
>The bargemen
>The official tower
>Other
>>
>>3285317
>>The warehouse
>>
>>3285317
I really don't know......

we are supposed to investigate the lizardmen attacks right?
we could investigate the last place they attacked I guess, we are not paid to investigate or report the midnight guys, and if we report them we will only give the emperor reason to start killing innocents in search of them
>>
>>3285317
>The warehouse
>>
>>3285329
Correct, youre only being paid to investigate the Lizardmen at this point.
>>
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>The warehouse


The warehouse is a great big brick building, with several high windows and a thick wooden roof. Its bland. Very bland.

Walking in Arlo saw two men, smoking a brand of Hogs Moss, a semi addictive grass that was mixed with several types of chemicals that lowered heart rates and gave you a carefree attitude, according to the adverts.

“Ahoy,” shouted Alek, walking up to them.

“Ahoy?” laughed Sophia “they aren’t sailors Alek.”

“Its all nautical terms around here.” he replied smiling.

“Ahoy matey arrrr.” replied on the men, laughing. “What can I help you with Captain Bones?”

“I’m wondering if you lads have noticed anything strange around these parts?” Asked Alek, ignoring the jibe “specifically, people that you haven’t seen around these parts before.”

“Hmm I dunno. Stepf.” the man turned to his colleague “you seen anyone dodgy around here?”

“There was those fellas who kept the bargemen paid, Yakiv.” replied Stepf. “They stored some stuff here as well. Axes, pickaxes. Construction equipment y’know?”

“Oh yeah. Forgot about those folk. Haven’t seen them for a while.” Yakiv rubbed his chin. “Been a good week I’d say.”

“Do you know which bargemen? Can we have a look at their equipment?”

“Don’t see what harm there is in lookin’.” Yakiv slyly said “but it’ll cost ya. A silver stag.”

Alek flipped him on, Yakiv bit it and ushered them on.

He showed them a large wooden trunk, opened it and they peered in. LIke Stepf said, it was filled with axes, pickaxes, hammers, nails and the like. However, peering a little longer, Alek saw something. He picked it up and showed Yakiv.

“Whats this?” He asked. It was a metal cylinder, about half a foot long and weighing about ten pounds. It was dense. Very dense.

“Hm,” Yakiv rubbed his chin again “I’m no expert on buildin’ stuff buuut it kinda looks like a visphot canister.”

Alek quickly put it down, softly though. A visphot canister was a canister filled with tiny exploding granules that, when lighted, blew up in such a force that the area around was flattened for miles. His pistol worked in similar fashion, albeit on a micro level.

“Aren’t you afraid it’ll explode in your warehouse?”

“Ain’t no fuse around it.”

Can’t argue with that logic Alek thought. “You said the bargemen ferried them around?”

“Aye. Took them up to the dam.”

>Go to the dam
>Report the dealings to the wharf authorities
>Other
Sorry for not being around yesterday. Was swamped with work
>>
>>3286884
>>Report the dealings to the wharf authorities
Let the inquisitor deal with the dam and the Insurgency; let's settle our own job first.
>>
>>3286884
>Go to the dam

I don't want to give anythong to the inquisitor since I want to kill his boss too.
Let's see if we can stop this quietly and put some sense into these rebels
>>
>>3286884

>Go to the dam
>>
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>Go to the dam

Walking down to the water, Alek quietly spoke to another several men, asking the same general questions that he had asked the warehouse men.

“Ok, so. From what I’ve gathered,” Alek said, going back to Sophia “is basically what the warehouse guys said. Seven guys pay the bargemen to go up to the dam with a trunk load of shovels and stuff.”

“I say we go up there.” Sophia said “If we can stop them from doing this, we can save the city. Thousands could die.”

“I agree. Failure to do so would be a blemish upon my soul.”

Walking over to the bargemen once again, Alek organised a trip up to the dam for a Silver Stag for the both of them.

“It’ll be a pleasure to transport Cap’n Bones to his destination.” Said one of the bargemen.

“Word travels fast around here doesn’t it?”

“Faster tha’ you know Cap’n.”

The barge trip only took about an hour, fighting the current.

“Why do you need a dam?” Asked Sophia.

“Well, Miss,” Replied one of the bargemen as he used his barge pole to maneuver around the river. “During aestas and autumna its ok, and it freezes during hiems. But when the thaw comes, there used to be a massive flood that’d wipe out the docks and the market.” He wiped his brow “at least, thats what they used to say. My grandpappy said that the work on the dam was the best thing the empire did. Worked on it himself.”

“What about the builders up there?” wondered Alek.

“Not sure. Theres about four of them. A tall, skinny pale fella and three others. The tall one I think is their boss, he was barkin’ orders at them.”

“Any markings?” Sophia questioned “tattoos? Distinguishable features?”

“Uhhh,” pondered the man “Yeah. Actually. An upside down triangle with a line through it, right side of the head. Not sure what it means. Maybe the business he worked for?”

An upside triangle? Alek was sure he had seen that marking before. But where? Maybe a few years ago. He dismissed it from his mind.

“Stop just over there.” Alek said “its a better surveying spot.”

“You guys are with the other group then?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Yeah, they came up about two-three hours ago? Paid me a pretty penny too!” he laughed “told me to spend it quick! Dunno what they mean by that but its been a good day for Igor! Yes it has! Anyways, I’ll just drop you off here.”

Alek and Sophia jumped off the boat in the shallow waters and bounded in.

“Ok. Game plan. What are your thoughts?” Sophia queried.

>Observe and report
>Go in, dicks swinging
>Other
>>
>>3288471
>Observe and report
>>
>>3288471
>Observe and try to grab one of them while its away.
>>
>>3288504
+!
>>
>>3288504
+1
>>
Try and grab one while they wander away from the group?

How luck are you punk?

Gimme a 1D100 to determine how lucky you are. DC: 75
Bo3
>>
Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>3288544
pretty not lucky punk here
>>
>>3288545
Alright no need to roll already.
>>
Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>3288544
Nat 1 to shatter your hopes
>>
>Observe and report

“Lets sneak up there and just see what they’re doing.” Alek said, walking quickly towards the dam “from what bargeman said ‘spend it quick’, I don’t think we’ve got much time.”

Marching quickly towards the dam, they picked a spot from where they could see everything.

The bargeman was right: there was three men and a tall, skinny man with a upside down triangle, barking orders. What the bargeman didn’t know was that there was four Lizardmen working with them!

About seven feet tall, the Lizardmen looked subservient to the pale, tall man and shuddered when he talked at them, like there was unbridled rage bubbling under the surface but they couldn’t act. Snarling and snapping at each other, their movements were stiff and awkward as they dug through the rock of the dam.

The lot of them were digging holes around the dam, filling them with, Alek assumed, visphot canisters.

“Alright lads.” shouted one of the men, putting down his shovel “I gotta take a piss.”

“We’ve gotta grab him.” Sophia said, pointing him out.

“Agreed.” Alek replied. “How do you want to do it?”

Give me a 1D100 to see how well the abduction goes. DC: 70
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>3288544
>>
>>3288591
>>3288590
Lol QM can you just use this roll for the latest DC?
>>
>>3288593
>>3288591
>>3288591
haha posted at exactly the same time.
But yeah sure. It looks like its after I posted.
>>
Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>3288595
there you go

so the guy is calling the shots and responsible for the lizardmen attacks
It seems we will have to kill both the prince and the rebel leader
>>
Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>3288590
>>
>>3288638
kek

looks like the dicks will be swinging
>>
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>>3288638
Ah bro! I just finished writing it all!
>>
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>Kidnap: No beuno

Alek and Sophia watch the man split off from his working party and wander over to the forest tree line, drop trow and whistle nonchalantly as he empties his bladder.

“Ok, heres the plan.” Alek said “I’m going to go up behind him. I want you to distract him, maybe draw him closer into the forest. When hes significantly away from the group, I’ll kidnap him.”

Whistling softly, Sophia walks past where the man is pissing and catches his eye with a giggle and wink, looking pointedly down at what his hands were holding.

“Hey you…” she whispers, before disappearing into the undergrowth.

“Hey.” he says, hitching up his pants “hey!” he chases after her.

Alek follows.

As Alek followed, the rest of the group party noticed that one of their members had been gone for too long.

“Go get him!” hissed the pale man “I’ll continue with these beasts.”

The other three, terrified of what the man could do, race off to find their friend. They find him, tied to a tree and being questioned by Alek.

“Hey!” they called “Do you know who you’re dealing with?”

“Do you?” replied Alek, rising up to his full height. His eyes going black and drawing his sword “I am the the Beast of the East, I make monsters quake in their beds and despots wish they’d never been born. My sword is slick with the blood of a thousand warriors and I thirst for the souls of mortals. Enter this battle if prepared to meet your Maker.”

“Yeah?” the man looked unphased “Well...fuck ya. I’ll still feed your guts to the fishes!”

Alek Siminov: 25/25 Health
Silver Sword- 8 Damage (sharpened +2 4/4 battles remaining)
Scale Mail - 8 damage negated
Shoulder pads -2 damage negated
The Espirte -5 on defence DC
Brass Knuckles +2 when fighting unarmed (6 damage)

Tyir leader
18/18 health
Sword - 8 damage
???
???

Eloi
12/12 Health
Crossbow - 5 damage - Armour piercing
???
???
Louis
15/15 Health
Great Sword - 10 damage
???
???

For defence, you will be facing off rolls from each attacker. E.g. first roll is first person, second roll is second person etc
>>
>>3288696
Choose a stance
Witch Hunter
Daemonic Possession: For three rounds lower the attack DC by 15 and increase base damage by 5. After 3 rounds, you revert back to human form and are massively exhausted. Increase your defence DC by 15 till the end of the battle.

Life essence: Steal 1D8 health from the target. Increase the attack DC +10 for 2 rounds.

Blood Pact: Sacrifice 10 points of health and deal an additional 5 points of damage for 3 rounds.

Pistolier: Deals 12 damage. No need for attack rolls. Single target only.

No Stance: Normal attack.
>>
>>3288698
Pistolier: Deals 12 damage. No need for attack rolls. Single target only.
Shoot the crossbowman.
>>
>>3288702
agreed
>>
>>3288702
Yes, finish him off before we start dancing.
>>
>>3288702
+1



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