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You are Gunlance Vance, or 'Freelancer' as you've come to be known as. You came to the New World seeking new frontiers and monsters to brave, joined by your loyal Palico companion Vivi and your best friends. Numerous adventures await you here you feel, and you want to overcome them all.

Tonight, you led a Hunting party to slay Ukanlos, but for now you must lick your wounds. The beast's might is insane...

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Character Sheet: https://pastebin.com/tEiVJgb1
Mechanics: https://pastebin.com/x9qu33KM
Quests: https://pastebin.com/hSf9iAep
Urgent Quests: https://pastebin.com/8H13PEXs

Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=monster%2C+hunter%2C+drawquest

Previous Thread: >>4106343
>>
You grunted and coughed from the cold weather entering your throat as you made your way back through the heavy snow. Of course at this time of the night, perhaps two hours after midnight, it had to snowfall again, increasing the mass of the already thickly packed white draping over every inch of anything in sight in the Reach.

After fighting a while with your partners against the White God Ukanlos in the night here in this boreal land illuminated by auroras, you made the decision that everyone should return to Seliana for now and get well. Ukanlos was definitely weakened after the struggles that already happened, you hoped that the next clash you would have against the Wyvern would finally mean it's end, thus helping secure the Reach from the threat the White God presented. The threat of the Elder Dragon Amatsu was possibly already dealt with by now since the Star was the one who went after it. Maybe you would soon see him and the veterans again.

At last after a while of walking through the snow, you and your partners had returned to Seliana. It seemed that your Palico Vivianne was also able to make a full recovery along the way as you set her down to walk on her own.

Seliana was quiet but there were a few still out and about as per their jobs, because how else would your party be able to get past the gate?

The Provisions weren't open at the moment, so you would have to wait until morning before you could use them again. There was still some people running the Smithy and the Ironworks was being manned by the Tech Chief and his Felynes even now. Grammeowster Chef was still up, Lynians like her didn't sleep so much, but you didn't think she was about to cook at this time.

Besides that, the Gathering Hub here at Seliana was still open, it always stayed open. The place was practically a spa as well. The sauna and thermal baths were all open for use, as was the Wingdrake pad. The quest center at the Hub was still operating, but the other features were closed down.

As for where you and your mates would be at, it seemed that Hunters here in Seliana did not gather in a barracks, but rather stayed in the cabin houses arranged along the stream Seliana was positioned near. Each cabin was enough for eight people total to bunk in. You asked around until you reached the council table and came face to face with the local Deputy under the Field Team Leader and it appeared there was one completely vacant you could use tonight from what he told you, granting the key to it as well. You would return it after your party was finished with Ukanlos and had to head back to Astera.

It also appears the Researcher outpost here is just... a bunch of books left lying out in the open. Maybe you could ask to read some.

You wondered if the Star and his mates were back from slaying Amatsu yet? Maybe you could find out if you wanted....
>>
For now you...

>Visited Gramma.
>Checked out the Smithy.
>Saw what the Ironworks was all about.
>Asked in with the Felyne Housekeeper about the Star.
>Read from the library of Researcher tomes.
>Went to the Gathering Hub.
>Headed straight to the cabin for rest.
>Talked with someone.
>Write in.
>>
>>4136969
>>Talked with someone
Let's talk with Vivi, we barely talked with her and after today I thinking having a heart to heart with her seems nice.
>>
>>4136966
Fuckin nice Dire Miralis

>>4136969
>Went to the Gathering Hub
Let's go to the sauna with Atricia
>>
>>4137021
>>4137033
Why not both? The cat stuff in the hub is some of the cutest stuff.
>>
>>4136969
>>4137057
This. Relax with whoever you can find friend-wise, cats included.
>>
>>4136968
Go relax with the girls.

>"I swear to god I thought this would be a good bonding activity girls."
>>
>>4136968
Relax with Vivi, wonder what we did wrong and ask what we could've done better.
>>
>>4137057
support
>>
Went down to the Gathering Hub.

The others you invited along for the trip, Balthazar, Kentaro and Najiyya, all went back to their cabin. Balthazar mentioned something about formulating a new plan to use against Ukanlos as he left.

You were met with warm mist instantly as you entered the Gathering Hub. The place's thermal baths were bubbling all day and night light from the pockets of the earth which they flowed out. Scented candles burned, and the place looked to be in the middle of a celebration with specific decor all around. You couldn't tell right off hand if that was Mezeportan or Yukomoan, but then you connect it with the cultural background of Milard Village. Huh, it was themed.

You looked around, and it seemed that the Gathering Hub was practically empty save for the two tired looking attendants manning the quest center, and one gruff Hunter sitting at one of the tables with a drink he only stared at blankly.

Huh, you were free to do whatever you wanted it seemed.

"Boo!"

Hugnh!?

Oh, it was only Vivianne being held by Atricia.

"Oh, hey." You say. "Don't you guys want to go rest up?"

"And let you have all the fun by meowrself?"

"Seliana isn't a place you can come to all the time, you think we'd pass up a chance like this to see the Gathering Hub?" Atricia says as she sets Vivianne down.

"Yeah, I understand." You say, pressing your hands into your back and hiding a groan. "...my back needs it."

"No kidding, I can barely feel my legs from dodging all of those spikes earlier."

You looked around and spotted the door to the changing locker next to the sauna. "Well, let's get to it."
>>
"Haaaaaahhhhhhhhhh....."

"Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......."

"Purrrrrrrrrrrrr....."

You felt like a marshmallow being melted over a fire in this sauna. The foot bath and thermal ponds were great for teasing Vivi with and relaxing in, but this sauna was something else. You knew it wouldn't be good for your back, but you couldn't help but sink down in the seat as you sat across from Atricia and Vivianne.

"Meown... this is the life..."

"Why can't we move here...?" Atricia asked.

"We still got stuff to do on the mainland..."

"Someone else should just do it while we relax here..."

You chuckled and sat up.

"Hey, Vivi. You alright?"

"Mreow?"

"You uh... you did get launched today."

"Pawww! Its going to take more than an angry shovel to do me in!"

You looked at her with a slight frown about your face.

"Paw! Come on, don't be like that Meowster, we've been in stickier situations! Remember that time mew had to save me from that Rathian?"

"Heh, yeah. We used some honey to put egg bits all over you and disguise you as a lost egg to be bait for that trap, but it failed anyway."

"Har har har!" Vivi laughed.

"Heh heh heh..... ahhh..... What did we do wrong today?"

"What do you mean?" Atricia asked.

"I mean... it just seems like we could have done so much better against Ukanlos. He trashed us."

"Well, it is a really strong Monster. I think we did great personally, you know a lot of the time they say Ukanlos is the last hunt for most parties." Atricia points out.

"Really? Huh..."

"Yeah, Ukanlos is a serious threat. I remember in Dundorma only the best Hunters could get hunts for Ukanlos and Akantor from His Immenseness himself. I just think it's the first time around, Ukanlos had a lot tricks up it's sleeve... or armor shell that we didn't know. I think now that we're used to them, we'll be able to do a lot better when we go back."

"I guess you're right. I'm surprised we did that well now that I think about it.... Man, seems like it was only months ago I was still fighting Ludroths."

"You know what they say, Hunters have to adapt quick or die."

You nod. That adage was popular among the Guild Halls back home, and it was right too. The man who goes out to fight Rathalos either comes back or doesn't. It's the same with every new Monster one might face.
>>
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"Meowster, I think mew're forgetting something."

"Hm?" You perked your head up at Vivianne then.

"Come on, you know what I'm talking about!" She said as she stood up on the seat and raised her paw.

"Awh, Vivi, you know I'd never forget."

You raised your fist and brought it over, giving Vivianne a fist pump, part of a tradition you've had with her ever since you both met back on the mainland.

Atricia smiled at the display. "You two are impossible to break apart, aren't you?"

"Me and my Meowster are unstoppable together!" Vivianne cheered boisterously.

"Did you never get a Palico before?"

"I could have but I was still in University so I wasn't allowed to yet, but when I was out, the Guild introduced a new law in Dundorma that forbade Palico recruitment within the district. I think it was to turn more Hunters away to Minegarde since that place is a hotspot for Felynes."

"Why would the Guild do that?"

"Minegarde is close to Schrade. They say a legendary Monster lives there, one the Guild could barely stop" Atricia says before becoming hushed. "...The Black Dragon..."

She giggles at the tone she made. "I don't believe that though, just superstition about legends I say. If there was a Black Dragon there, don't you think it would have showed up by now?"

You remained quiet.

"Yeah, if there was one, the Hell Hunters would've taken care of it." Atricia passes it off with a wave of her hand. "But no, I've never had a Palico partner, and I didn't want to go to Minegarde either. Too dusty for me."

"Don't worry Atrish! I can be your helping hand too!" Vivianne says, having long become fond of Atricia.

You were glad to see the two acquainted well enough.

>It's been long enough, let's rest up for tomorrow.
>Ask Atricia or Vivianne something.
>Bring up another subject.
>Write in.
>>
>>4137354
>>Ask Vivianne something.
How's Shara? Is she having any trouble taking care of him, should we hire any help to care for him so she can go on more hunts with us?

>>Bring up another subject.
Ask about Atricia's plan for that seething bazel, you heard they are Savage Jho's level of trouble.
>>
>>4137359
Support
>>
>>4137354
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss rumors...

Pretty sure I found a magic sword from one of those dimensional hop over things.
>>
"So, how has Shara been with you two? Any trouble?"

"Not really, he's actually well behaved." Atricia said. "I suppose the worst he's done as of yet is break a glass cup, but that's not a big deal."

"I don't think he's the most fit Elder Dragon I've ever seen." Vivi says.

"Mm? What makes you say that?"

"Well, he just wants to sit around all day unless we make him paw-lay."

"His routine is usually... sit around, snore, eat and play, then repeat all over again." Atricia says. "Though, I have caught his interest with some of my Hunter games. He's really smart, he likes to play Draughts with us."

"Did you still want to go out tomorrow?"

"Well.... I'll see about it then. This hunt with Ukanlos might exhaust me too much to want to do anything else." Atricia said, wiping the sweat off her cheek.

"You don't have to push yourself keeping Shara, Atricia."

"Oh, I know. I trust that I can speak with you anytime, I just think I've grown an attachment to the little guy."

"Sometimes, he lets me ride on his back!" Vivi snickered.

You nod.

"So, you got any plans for that Seething Bazelgeuse?"

"Oh, I do."

"Like?"

"You know how Brachydios' hurts themselves with their own explosions? I've been thinking about some ways I could use Bazelgeuse's own explosive scales against it similarly."

"Sounds dangerous. They say those things are just as dangerous as Savage Deviljho, Atricia."

"I'm not worried. I consider Bazelgeuse to be much weaker than Deviljho anyway. Those big flying pine cones can't fight well without their bombs. I'll be able to handle it."

"Mweah, Atrish is strong, she can do it!" Vivianne said with much energy as she raised her paw.

You only gave a small smile. "I trust you."

Atricia nods back with her own smile.

>Time to rest.
>Continue the conversation, ask something else.
>Let's go see another feature of Seliana before we sleep.
>See if the Star is around in his suite here.
>Write in.
>>
>>4137460
>See if the Star is around in his suite here.
Maybe he could impart some advice, assuming he's faced an Ukanlos before.
>>
Nevermind, we might as well see what he has to say on the matter.
>>
>>4137460
>Continue the conversation, ask something else.
Ask if they heard anything weird happening around Astera, like weird rumors or stuff no one can explain. There' s been a lot of weird stuff happening everywhere after all.
>>
>>4137460
Lets rest now and see what Balthazar has in the morning
>>
>>4137460
Hang out with them a bit more then head to bed.

>thank you Vivi, Atricia.
>Things have been getting really crazy, and getting crazier lately.
>I wanted to ask you both something. Do you think peace with... not all monster, but say Shara and his kind.
>Rather than if it is possible or not do you think peace is worth pursuing?
>>
>>4137460
You know I don't know if Atricia is either incredible brave or incredible stupid for trying to face off Allahu Ackbar 2.0 by herself, like yes she is our senior and all but... well worse come to worse she just abandon quest and come back slightly crisped, but hey with any luck she might actually pull it of.
>>
>>4137510
If she were stupid shed be dead already.
>>
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"Anything new from Astera? Anything... weird?"

Atricia looks at you curiously before her mood suddenly changes to one of slight worry.

"Actually, yeah, there was one strange thing that happened. In the Guiding Lands in fact."

"Really? What happened?"

"Someone was kidnapped."

"What?"

"A Hunter. Jun Lu Fen, he's usually wears a Yian Garuga set but you don't see him often. He took a quest in the Guiding Lands that was put out by the Colonel as an urgent to investigate some oil field or something."

"Yeah, I saw that with my own eyes, that oil field. But how do we know he was kidnapped and didn't just get lost or...."

"Well, that's the thing, he was in a quarters at that fort the Colonel set up when he went missing, so it has to be a kidnapping."

"I see...."

"It was only a day after he did the investigation. They found web in his quarters and one of the walls was broken. They think it might have been that Ahtal-Ka that kidnapped him."

That... was definitely interesting, enough that it made you blink twice.

"Huh, Monsters kidnapping people... well I've just about heard everything now."

"Apparently, they were going to call for some veterans to check it out and see if they could recover him. I can't imagine why Ahtal-Ka would want to kidnap a Human..."

"Well, I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it eventually....
>>
"Man, things have gone zany haven't they?"

"You can say that again. Seems like you arrived just in time too when all these Elder Dragons began appearing, staring with Yama."

"Kind of makes you wonder just how much more is gonna happen."

"Mreow! Whatever happens, we'll all get through it together!" Vivi said. You gave her a scritch on the chin.

"A lot of these Elder Dragons don't seem very happy, but at least Shara will be our friend, right?"

Atricia nodded with a smile.

You leaned back and scratched your chin.

"Do you think we'll have peace with him when he's all grown up?"

"I think he'll like us all even when he's an adult. He seems to want to be around us a lot, he puts up a bit of a fight when we have to fork him off to the Researchers."

"Mhmm..."

".....You ever think we'll be able to befriend more of them?" You asked then.

Atricia's smile disappeared, but she didn't seem anything else but slightly puzzled by your question.

"Honestly? I think it can happen, but just not so often. Shara could well be one in one thousand, you know? We can't ever forget that we're also apart of the Ecosystem, Vance. There just is no other options when an Elder Dragon starts making trouble."

"Mwyeah, if we just tried to be friends with every Elder we paw, we might not be here neow. Someone's gotta keep the peace, that's why we Hunt."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just get a bit... interested in thoughts like them."

"Mhm."

As if on queue, both Atricia and Vivianne stretched and yawned.

"Well, I don't know about you, but my thoughts are on a warm bed. What say we wrap things up?"

"Yeah, we won't have many hours of sleep." You say, leaning forward and gasping for breath. "I think we've been in here too long..."

All at once, the three of you got up and went to leave the sauna. Vivianne and Atricia were so hot from the steam that they both nearly fall over and you are hard pressed to help them while trying not to trip yourself.

Though you help them back to the changing rooms and exit, returning back out to the cold air of Hoarfrost Reach after drying off.

Atricia picks up Vivianne and takes her to the cabin while you stick around the entrance to the cabin lane.

You approached the Housekeeper and asked about the Star, but the Housekeeper tells you that the Star hasn't currently returned yet from the wilderness and that he's still waiting.

The Housekeeper does tell you that the Veterans following the Star, the Velkhana and Teostra Hunters and Crazy Charon are all in his suite right now and awake. You could visit if you'd like or wait until the Star finally returns.

Will you wait around and meet the Veterans or just go ahead to sleep?
>>
>>4137584
Go to sleep, tomorrow meet with Beltazar to plot back against Ukanlos then once we're done with the white god, go back and go do the quests for the colonel.
>>
>>4137593
>Beltazar
Balthazar darn it, I need to sleep.
>>
>>4137584
>go ahead to sleep
>>
You decided not to talk with the Veterans this time around. Perhaps you'd get the chance tomorrow.

You go on ahead and fall back to the cabin. When you enter, you already see everyone fast asleep save for Atricia and Vivi at the other side of the modest cabin.

Everyone was sleeping in their armor, you guessed it was smart since they'd be able to get right back to it immediately, but it was not going to be comfortable. You would do the same so there wasn't any hassle come morning.

You came over to the bunk Vivi was laying in, giving a pat on her head as you stuffed her under the blanket. She yawned and shut her eyes, falling out to sleep quickly.

You went across the small room to the other bunk which you shared with Atricia. She hops down and allows you to have the top bunk since that was generally your preference.

Before you laid down, you looked her in the eye and gave a strong motion with your fist, reassuring her that everything ahead would go alright.

She smiles at that and nods before laying down.

You fell back on the pillow and allowed sleep to overcome you for the few hours you could have it.
>>
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Come morning, you were awaken to the sounds of Popo mewling at the sun's rise from outside. Everyone but you seemed to get up in a hurry and fasten their equipment before grabbing their gear and getting ready.

You got up in a rush and did the same as the others began heading out. You were the last to leave as you followed them down to the middle of Seliana at it's western side, in front of the Provisions.

"Okay, Boss!" Balthazar greeted you as he yawned and shook his head. "Should be about nine I'd gander. Anyway, I think it's time I explained my plan to you before we eat and head out again."

"Yeah, I got a hankering for that roast..." Kentaro commented as lapped at his own lips behind his helmet staring down Gramma's Canteen.

"Alright, let's hear it."

"So, I've got quite a lot of cash to spare being a bonafide slayer of Brachydios and all." Balthazar bragged, running his knuckles across his plate. "So what I was thinking is that maybe we could do it my way a little."

"See, I'm quite in love with explosions, so I was gonna spend a bit and nab two Mega Barrel Bombs for us to carry back. I scouted out the perfect place to set them while we were back there. See, I was thinking that maybe we could run the big guy into one of those snow walls and get him stuck."

"And then what?" Najiyya asked.

"We'll position those Mega Barrel Bombs up on the high ledge, and while he's stuck, we'll drop them down on top of his hard little noggin', and BLOW EM' BLOODY SKY HIGH!"

"....Well, what do ya' think?"

>That's a good plan.
>That's a great plan.
>That's a terrible plan.
>That's a mediocre plan.
>That's a.... plan.
>I got a better idea.
>Write in.
>>
>>4137692
>That's a.... plan.
Not so sure about it, it's gonna make Ukanlos freak the fuck out, but I can't come up with anything better.
>>
>>4137692
>That's a.... plan.
>Are you sure no other monsters can interrupt us? I don't want a repeat of the Banbarro.
>>
>>4137692
>That's a good plan.
Sounds solid to me!
Nothing a gunlance main can appreciate more than expurosion.

>>4137556
>They found web in his quarters and one of the walls was broken. They think it might have been that Ahtal-Ka that kidnapped him.
Or a Nerscylla. . .
>>
"Well, I have to hand it to you. Its...." You started. "...A plan."

"Trust me Boss, this won't be the first time I've done something like this. Heh heh."

"How can you be so sure other Monsters won't show up? Remember what happened last time we stood in full view on that ledge?"

"Nah nah nah, don't worry Boss, most Monsters here are gonna be driven off from Ukanlos' presence anyway, we won't have another Banbaro shoving trees down our throats I swear. We can have your ladyfriend Scoutress here go scout around and scan about to see what's ahead for us. She IS known for being an expert at that around Astera after all." Balthazar says as he twiddled his fingers expressively and placed his hand on your shoulder.

Then he leans in briefly. "ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵒ ʲᵉᵃˡᵒᵘˢ." He whispered before going back away.

"Well... Ugh... I guess we'll go with that then. Kentaro, Najiyya? You two can help, right?"

"Positively..." Kentaro says in his zombie trance, his gaze fixated on Gramma's canteen.

"I'll do my best!" Najiyya says, sure of her abilities.

"I'll cover the ground ahead, if there's a Monster I'll be the first to see it." Atricia offers, aloof of Balthazar's whisper.

"Meowake that two Meowster!" Vivianne said, wanting to help Atricia out in scouting.

"That settles then. Let's get our business done here and head out." You say, the others affirmed that choice with you.

You and your teammates hit up the canteen while Balthazar made his purchase. Once the Chef's Choice meal was done after Najiyya used a Gourmet Voucher to cover everyone, you went with the others and collected the Mega Barrel Bombs.

The gigantic barrel bombs were suspended by wheels nailed into the sides of the wood with some handles to help carry it.

Kentaro and Najiyya got one, you and Balthazar got the other as your team headed out....
>>
Atricia and Vivianne went ahead as expected.

It was a long and arduous task to carry the heavy Mega Barrel Bombs that far, but a quick rest at camp allowed your party to continue trucking along through the snow and the frosty woods.

Eventually, the Mega Barrel Bombs were pushed all the way up the base of the ledge's rise, getting them to go up the rise covered by heavy snow was the hardest thing to do yet, especially with the threat of the Mega Barrel Bombs' wheels threatening to break off.

"Cam on! Not much... further..." Balthazar says as he puts all his strength into it, taking care not to let the Mega Barrel Bomb fall off the ledge prematurely as you and your teammates reached it, stopping to let them down on the more even surface of the ledge.

You looked over to see how high the distance was. It was... very high, at least high enough that something falling off could achieve minor terminal velocity. You could still most likely land a jumping attack from this height, but it would hurt you as well.

"Alright, we made it." Balthazar said as he wiped the forehead of his helmet off.

"So, just one more thing." He says, pointing down from the ledge.

You look down where he points, it is to the mouth of the ice caverns from before. You see the White God Ukanlos emerging from it, freshly awake from a slumber.

"We're gonna need someone to get the big guy to ram the snow wall underneath us all. When he's stuck, we can chuck. So who's gonna be the one?"

>I'll do it!
>I'll choose somebody else to do it in my stead and brave the dangers so I don't have to get out there myself personally and risk getting an injury from the colossal angry Flying Wyvern.
>Write in.
>>
>>4137896
>I'll do it!
>>
>>4137896
Well it was Balthazar's plan so it only makes sense that he should follow it all the way through. Volunteer Balthazar o do it!
>>
>>4137890
>I'll do it!
Who better than the elder-god-angering beacon, Vance?
>>
Also I just remembered that low blow from Shara last thread. Fuck we gotta do something before our boy becomes a wizard like Z man
>>
>>4137907
You don't want (more) magic powers?
>>
>>4137909
Well we've already established that biostuff magic = bad so no.
>>
>>4137896
>I'll do it!
>>
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You sighed as you looked down at Ukanlos.

"I'll do it." You say.

"Oh! Great! You do have a Gunlance, so if the bombs don't explode, you can shoot em' and make a boom."

With that, you turned away and slide down the slope of the ledge, gliding through the snow as you made your way down and came to the edge of the ice field.

From there, you hopped down and walked into position, standing in the spot that laid straight down beneath the ledge overhead. You saw Balthazar waving from above.

Drawing your Gunlance, you fired a shell into the air before sheathing it as Ukanlos turned it's head and gave you it's attention.

"Hey! I'm over here! Come get me!" You yelled, doing jumping jacks and waving your hands at the White God.

The colossus grunted and turned itself to face you before it roared.

You expected it to come over slowly... but you are surprised when Ukanlos begins bounding over at a fast speed. You might have underestimated it's ability to move once more!

You tried to get it going to evade, but the ice nearly makes you slip as Ukanlos is coming over fast!

>1d100 to evade Ukanlos!
>Reversed roll!
>>
Rolled 52 (1d100)

>>4138787
So we want low?
>>
Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>4138787
>>
Rolled 30 (1d100)

>>4138787
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>4138787
Oh shit
>>
Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>4138787
>>
>>4138816
Whew.
>>
As you ran your feet across the ice and the White God approached, you found the catch and used it, sending yourself sliding over the ice before your feet touched snow that gave you the ability to move easier on the ice.

You jumped as Ukanlos's serrated chin shot forward where you previously stood, striking the snow wall and driving deep into the sticky cold white. Ukanlos was stuck now, the colossal Wyvern had to bring up both hands and press them against the snow to try and free itself.

"NNNOOOOWWWW!" You shouted as you ducked.

"LET ER' RRRRRRIIIIIP!" Balthazar yelled as the wheels to the barrel bombs were cut.

From the ledge above, the two massive Mega Barrel Bombs were sent over into the air, falling down towards the White God.

As Ukanlos freed itself, you looked up and saw the Wyvern reel at the sight of the bombs just before they land.

The explosion consumed Ukanlos completely and blasted the colossus back, filling the air with smoke as it became unresponsive after tanking the explosion.

Shards of it's white shell flew all over and you knew the damages, Ukanlos' armor was finished.

Your partners made it back down and helped you up as the smoke cleared....
>>
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"Did we... did that do it?" Kentaro questioned.

Through the smoke, you saw Ukanlos begin to stir again as it moved to upturn itself.

"No, we're not done yet." You say as you step forward, the others coming behind you.

The smoke cleared, and you saw the damages now. Ukanlos stood on it's legs looking down at you and your teammates. The serrated chin of the colossus was chipped, and it's back ridges were broken and deteriorated. That gaping wound in it's belly armor revealing the blue flesh underneath was even wider now.

The giant lowered itself to the ground and then eased down. You knew what it was about to do.

"Everyone! Brace for impact!"

Ukanlos jumped using it's strong arms now, coming down and landing with enough force that the entire ice field was shaken. Your team struggled on their legs from the tremor just before Ukanlos did it again, the next landing sprouting ice shards that shattered and flew everywhere from the ground, hitting you and your partners.

Ukanlos made a last jump, the final one causing more oversized ice spikes to explode forth out of the ground just before the White God roared! The wind picked up and snow began to flow around the body of the giant like a storm! Like an aura!

Ukanlos was beating the ice below with it's hands in furious anger, absolutely outraged by how it's armor was broken. The ice below cracked before the White God stood up and let out another roar, one so powerful it sent everyone off of their feet!

Ukanlos was done playing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPtWIyW6E-U

+==============+

Ukanlos' Endurance Bar has been drained, revealing it's true health!

Ukanlos Health: 9500

Destruction approaches! Ukanlos summons it's avalanche!

Ukanlos has taken 500 surplus damage from the Mega Barrel Bombs.

In the distance, you hear another roar sound off...

You. (Wounded/Iceblight)
Atricia. (Wounded/Iceblight) [Kirin Thundersword (GS)]
Kentaro. (Wounded/Iceblight) [Diablos Axe (SA)]
Najiyya. (Wounded/Iceblight) [Thunder Gaida (HH)]
Balthazar. (Wounded/Iceblight) [Dios Blade (GS)]

Palico Vivianne. (Wounded) [Felyne Rathian Rapier] [Sleeper Gadget]

+==============+

That flash freezing aura of pure frost around Ukanlos may increase the severity of the Iceblight, making anyone who gets near exhaust faster...

This battle from here on out would need to be handled with double the precaution!

>We'll strafe around and try our best to avoid anything Ukanlos does until that aura wears off.
>The Boaboa should still be here, we can try their way again and lead Ukanlos into their trap.
>We need to flee right now! This is too bad to go at with Ukanlos like this! Back to camp!
>We need to flee right now! Quickly, up the mountain, he'll have a harder time following there!
>We can still try our old plan of getting it to fall off of the ledge above we just used. It's perfect!
>Write in.
>>
>>4138901
We need to flee right now! This is too bad to go at with Ukanlos like this! Back to camp!

No multi-cart 4 U this time Ukanlos.
>>
>>4138901
>In the distance, you hear another roar sound off...
Velk coming to the rescue!

>The Boaboa should still be here, we can try their way again and lead Ukanlos into their trap.
There's no way that little snowstorm around him can sustain itself inside the cave. Let's enlist the help of the GODSLAYERS again.
>>
>>4138901

>The Boaboa should still be here, we can try their way again and lead Ukanlos into their trap.
>>
>>4138901
>Did the ledge get hit by the avalanche the last time it came?
>>
You hopped to your feet and helped the others up as Ukanlos was preparing it's ice beam.

"Into the cave!" You shouted as you ran that way, the others close behind in tow.

You dove down as the beam came out and swept the area, barely being missed along with your teammates. You wasted no time hurrying down into the icy cavern along with the others. The Boaboa were still present.

"CO-MISS-ON BACK! BRING GOD! BRING GOD INTO TRAP!" The leader of the Boaboas shouted over your way.

That wouldn't much difficult to do. There was a rumbling underneath and you turned to see Ukanlos emerge from under the ice again behind.

The thing's snowy aura didn't follow it inside the cavern, but upon emerging Ukanlos instantly fired it's ice beam again at you and your teammates. You dodged the beam as it went lower and struck the ground, but the others were not so lucky, being hit and knocked back by it while you moved towards the Boaboa trap.

You turned back and saw Ukanlos leap forward into them, sending them to the sides as it swiped forward with it's arm, slashing all of your fellow teammates with it's blunt claws.

They were out of the way and battered, out of commission again... Damn it, they all carted but you.

You couldn't let this chance to still hurt the Monster go by, Ukanlos was coming after you immediately next. This beast was so arsed by it's armor being broken that it was now reacting much faster to everything. It was determined to kill you and your partners!

Ukanlos jumped again, but you got a running start and dropped down, sliding fast across the ice and under the body of the White God as it jumped over you and fell into the Boaboa trap.

The ice underneath Ukanlos broke and the giant sunk down into the cold water beneath it. You saw it's head and claws come up to grasp at the ice it could, trying it's best to pull it's heavy body out of the water.

"BOABOABOA! BOAAAA!" ("IT IS TRAPPED! SLAY IIIIT!")

With the Ukanlos having fell into their trap, the Boaboa tribals began to chuck their seemingly unending loads of spears at it to harm it!

>1d1800 to determine the damage the Boaboa do before Ukanlos can get out.
>>
Rolled 122 (1d1800)

>>4139157
I love the shear variety of dice we roll in this quest.
>>
>>4139157
>>
Rolled 90 (1d800)

>>4139180
fuck, let's try again.
>>
Rolled 182 (1d800)

>>4139157
>>
>>4139167
Yeee... Yeah I kind of see where you're coming from with that.

You know what? Fuck the dice I'm not tacking it on, this time we're not rolling. I got a better idea.
>>
>>4139194
Personally, i'm not a fan of dice and prefer more 'the author decides how things roll' - but that guy wasn't dissing the dice.
>>
The White God thrashed around, splashing the boreal water about as the Boaboa flung their spears into it, hitting the gaps made in it's armor and striking at the more fragile flesh that resides underneath.

You knew Ukanlos would eventually get up, and you saw the Life Insurance Felynes already picking your partners up and towing them away back to the Camp. You kicked the snow behind your feet as you rose and started to run as best as you could with this Iceblight on.

The Boaboa seemed to have chucked nearly all of their spears just as Ukanlos finally managed to drag itself out of the water. The tiny furry tribals ducked for cover back into their holes as the White God rammed the icy walls with it's shoulders at them. It shook itself, throwing out spears that were stuck in it's flesh before it got the move on again.

+==============+

Ukanlos Health: 8236

1264 damage dealt by Boaboa assistance.

You. (Wounded/Iceblight)
Atricia. (Carted) [Kirin Thundersword (GS)]
Kentaro. (Carted) [Diablos Axe (SA)]
Najiyya. (Eliminated) [Thunder Gaida (HH)]
Balthazar. (Carted) [Dios Blade (GS)]

Palico Vivianne. (At Camp) [Felyne Rathian Rapier] [Sleeper Gadget]

+==============+

You had made it out to the Ice field when your Iceblight kicked back in and the cart pushing Felynes had already made it away safely, abandoning you as Ukanlos caught up, coming out of the mouth of the cave angrily and staring you down.

You could barely move just as it approached. You thought you were next as it came up and raised it's massive claw to slam down on you.

And then you heard another piercing roar through the air that made Ukanlos flinch and turn it's attention away.

The White God had not enough time to react before the figure of an Elder Dragon descended from the air and bashed against it at full force. The White God was sent down in a roll over the ice, landing on it's belly as the Elder Dragon hovered there in the air.

It was Velkhana, the Iceborne Wyvern had returned to have it's next clash with the White God, but this time Ukanlos was injured, not at full capacity to effortlessly repel Velkhana. The odds were evened now between the Dragon and the colossus.

You were allowed the chance to retreat back to the camp then as the White God instead faced off with the Iceborne Wyvern.

What came next was...

>Vance making his way back to camp and rethinking things out ahead.
>Velkhana and Ukanlos fight becoming the spectacle of the Reach today.
>>
>>4139214
>Najiyya. (Eliminated)
Oh oh.
>>Vance making his way back to camp and rethinking things out ahead.
Regroup and plan
>>
>>4139213
Well that is the way I took it, and the way I want to. I need to lesson the copious use of dice just enough in this quest.
>>
>>4139214
>Velkhana and Ukanlos fight becoming the spectacle of the Reach today.

Can i ask what we did wrong here level? I feel like we pretty consistently got our ass blasted. Wwre we being to reckless?
>>
>>4139219
Level is Najiyya kill?
>>
>>4139214
>Velkhana and Ukanlos fight becoming the spectacle of the Reach today.
Is this going to do what I think it will do?

>>4139219
I agree. It made sense for the evasion since we were slipping and could only be saved by chance but I think not for deciding an arbitrary number of damage that little creatures deal.
>>
>>4139220
This is the first time you've ever faced Ukanlos so you weren't used to it yet, or what it can do once it's armor is broken.

>>4139226
No, she's just out of carts. She won't be able to participate anymore.
>>
>>4139214
>Velkhana and Ukanlos fight becoming the spectacle of the Reach today.
Maybe with cracked armor, Velk, can do something? I also want to see if we can plan an attack with it - a far shot, but we have little to lose at this point. Already fucked up big time.

>Najiyya. (Eliminated) [Thunder Gaida (HH)]
>ELIMINATED
Ah shit, would've thought making the natives do the dirty works would be "safe". Nah. Hopefully eliminated means 'out of commission for the quest, not 'a crippled retard.'
>>
>>4139228
Nice for a minute though we lost a HH and gained a popsicle. We gonna need to be more strategic, try to see if the Velkhana has the connection and if so try to team up.
>>
>>4139219
Would've mentioned this if you asked for feedback last thread; though, I did mention it the thread prior to that.
>>
>>4139249
You're the one who made the list? I remembered what you said. I'll go over it again try to be a better QM.
>>
As the White God and the Iceborne Wyvern both glared daggers into one another, you used the chance you had and ran out of sight while the two were occupied with one another now.

You went as best as you could through the snow with the Iceblight, wanting to conserve your Nulberries as you made your way through the woods and back to the camp with the others...
>>
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...

You are now Velkhana, the Iceborne Wyvern and lord of the Hoarfrost Reach.

These lands belonged to your ilk, but with the death of your sibling previously, it is yours alone.

This hulking invader has given you much trouble and put up incredible resistance to your attempts to ward it off from conquering this place as it's own territory. Normally, anything that opposed you was frozen solid as punishment, but this great white beast was also one of the ice.

It's pure innate physical strength allowed it to easily overpower you, and it's shell shrugged off the ice you sent at it, but now it was shattered. This big brute was vulnerable and you weren't going to let the chance slip by to slay it.

Either now or a time ahead, it was going to die, and hopefully by your hands.

Those Humans did a splendid job weakening it, but they seem to be near their own demise.

Ukanlos rose as you landed on the ice below opposite of it. The thing roared, and you roared back. It was summoning it's avalanche, but you would have no problem with that. You just needed to strike at the flesh that lay beneath it's fractured armor.

You had only a choice couple of good options here and so...

>So you propelled yourself up and landed on top of the beast where it couldn't reach you, and bit down to reach the flesh of it's nape
>So you unleashed your beams of frostbite at it's legs to hold it in place long enough to allow you the chance to tackle it down with all your might.
>So you flew up and forward to batter it's face with your tail, granting you the chance to take hold of it's head and uplift it into the air for a drop.
>So you flew up out of it's reach and attracted it over. You would get the thing to follow you up the mountain nearby, before you would dive into it and take it back down hard.
>>
>>4139272
>>So you propelled yourself up and landed on top of the beast where it couldn't reach you, and bit down to reach the flesh of it's nape
>>
>>4139272
God I wish more quests would do POV changes

>So you flew up out of it's reach and attracted it over. You would get the thing to follow you up the mountain nearby, before you would dive into it and take it back down hard.
>>
>>4139272
>>4139272
>>4139272
>>So you propelled yourself up and landed on top of the beast where it couldn't reach you, and bit down to reach the flesh of it's nape
>>
>>4139272
Haha, I completely misinterpreted the previous vote, but this is fun too!

>So you propelled yourself up and landed on top of the beast where it couldn't reach you, and bit down to reach the flesh of it's nape
This is the only option that truly makes use of its shattered shell. Other options could have and probably were tried already (by Velkhana). We already saw how she(?) fared before.

>>4139267
No pressure dude. It was just a slapdash list of my opinions at the time. Quest is still great, being the only one I follow these days, and all.
>>
>>4139322
>being the only one I follow these days
I'm the exact same way, I don't follow many quests. I just prefer to make them because they're fun. Glad to hear you like it though.
>>
>>4139332
Yeah, it's generally a lot funner to make stuff than to consume stuff, if you're inclined that way.
>>
>>4139194
>>4139219
I meant no offense. I genuinely love the rolling. At some points it adds a real tension no matter how many people roll. But you do you, I'm just along for the ride.

>>4139272
>So you propelled yourself up and landed on top of the beast where it couldn't reach you, and bit down to reach the flesh of it's nape
>>
You propelled yourself up with a flap of your wings, the ice that covered them glittering as you made your ascent.

Ukanlos looked up your way and you heard the primitive and animal mind of the thing.

"TERRITORY....... MINE!"

The brute let it's pulse of ice out at you in the air, but you were far more swift than the giant, easily maneuvering around it.

Your wings flapped, sending you forward as you soared over the body of the giant and spun around, letting yourself fall down on top of the brute. The thing tried to look up at you, but it could only articulate it's head so much.

You dug your claws into it's damaged fins, pushing them deep into it's exposed inner flesh. Ukanlos wailed and jumped, but you remained fixed on it, latched like a leech.

The nape was fairly harmed as well, so you pecked it, and then bit down onto the weakened plates and pressed with all your bite force. As you expected, the plates crumbled under your teeth and you tore it them off, revealing another layer of weaker armor underneath hiding the flesh. Your teeth would go right through.

So you bite down onto the spot, wrangling with your teeth and dragging them as they sank into the flesh of the Ukanlos. The White God stood up, but you didn't falter. It really needed you off.

Before you could fatally wound it by ripping off a chunk of the flesh there, the Ukanlos went down, breaking the ice below and shoving itself in to tunnel. You couldn't allow yourself to get dragged down there with the giant, or else it would have you in a spot you couldn't escape from.

With no choice, you let go and hopped off as the giant disappeared under the ice....
>>
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Not even a minute later, the giant came back up, blowing itself out of the ice in front of you and taking you down in a bash of it's shoulders.

You were able to get up, but the tail of the Ukanlos came around and struck you in the face as the creature twirled with renewed stamina from it's survival instincts.

You were shoulder blocked again by it and you felt it's claw land on your chest, holding you down by the torso. Your own survival instinct kicked in, you knew just what it was going to try and do.

Crush you with it's superior strength.

It held you down with one arm and you saw it raise the other. One arm alone could seriously injure you, nearly breaking bones. With both arms, it would seal your fate.

You couldn't die now!

You saw in full view the wound the Humans made. They managed to break it's weaker armor open completely, exposing all of that juicy flesh underneath. Not only that, it's neck was exposed as well.

You brought your tail around quickly as the giant moved slowly with it's raised arm. Your tail could impale almost anything.

You needed to stab the more vital spot to stop it.

With your tail, you...

>Stabbed deep into it's vital arteries and belly organs by piercing the chest wound.
>Stabbed deep into it's vital jugular and throat muscles by piercing the weak throat plates.
>>
>>4139410
>Stabbed deep into it's vital jugular and throat muscles by piercing the weak throat plates.
Pez him.

>>4139399
>"TERRITORY....... MINE!"
He makes a persuasive argument, you know.
>>
>>4139410
>>4139410
>Stabbed deep into it's vital jugular and throat muscles by piercing the weak throat plates.

Metal.
>>
>>4139410
>Stabbed deep into it's vital arteries and belly organs by piercing the chest wound.

It's the one place were we have a clean shot.
>>
>>4139419
Hm, yeah in my mind I imagined the tail going through the wound and up into the throat, but it specifies 'through the throat plates,' so I was mistaken there. On the other hand, this thing needs to die NOW or else Velk gets smashed, and a jugular snap is the best way to do that.
So it's a matter of 'do we trust Velk's tail to instantly pierce the throat plates?'
>>
>>4139425
I don't think we should try, remember it's still has some armor even if still weak and Ukanlos is a mass of muscles he might survive the blow and still crush Velkana, there is an exposed weakness which even if not being a fatal blow still gonna hurt like a bitch, enough to stagger it and get it out of our hair.
>>
>>4139439
You're right. Flinching it and watching it bleed to death is just as effective with less of the risk.

>>4139413
I change my vote to eviscerate it!
>>
>>4139419
This
>>
>>4139410
>Stabbed deep into it's vital arteries and belly organs by piercing the chest wound.
Im going to assume its heart and lungs are within reach.
>>
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Stabbed deep into it's vital arteries and belly organs.

The chest wound was like paper, pierced easily, as easy as it was for you to make a simple footprint in the snow.

The point of your tail went in like a harpoon. It hit an artery, as you see Ukanlos flinch from that and cease it's advance on you to instead try and back away.

You were able to stand up as the White God backed off slowly with it's two smaller feet, but you didn't let up, you kept your tail impaled through the hulk's innards and walked closer, almost sadistically running it back and forth through to make the beast suffer more.

That was a hallmark of your attitude. A superiority syndrome you tried to suppress often, so as to not let the arrogance overwhelm you. You failed this time.

Though you landed an excruciatingly painful blow against the beast enough that it backed off, you made an inadvertent mistake here being too weak willed to suppress your arrogance. It was your undoing for a minute.

Ukanlos brought it hands up and then slammed it down on your tail, tearing the barb of it out and pinning it to the ice. You struggled, kicking then as you tried to get away, but the giant pressed it's other hand down there and kept you down, preventing your escape.

You looked back in horror as it took it's jaw and smashed it into your tail. Your bones inside crunched under the serrated jaw and you let out a cry of pain as Ukanlos snapped your tail, reducing it to no more than an extra appendage you could not longer use.

The beast let go and you hurled yourself forward, almost falling as you slid over the ice, still kvetching internally over the torture of having your tail broken like that....

+==============+

Ukanlos Health: 5588

2648 damage dealt by Velkhana.

Velkhana Health: 3167

+==============+

Damn this brute, it just seemed to never lose power. It kept going and going and going without stop! You've been fighting it for weeks! How much longer can it keep this up?! At this rate, you'll be done in before you can do it in.

Both of you were close to death now.

The Ukanlos stood up, roaring loud enough that you winced at it. It called back it's icy aura and summoned it's Avalanche...

>Meanwhile at the camp...
>Lunge at it and try to take it down by the shoulders. Those small legs can't keep it up for long.
>Go for a tree to uproot and fly up, we'll bash it with the sturdy wooden frame to stagger it.
>Smash one of the ice spikes and attempt to turn it on Ukanlos, getting it to stab the chest wound.
>Write in.
>>
>>4139494
>Meanwhile at the camp...
Hopefully we got a plan by now.
>>
>>4139494
>Lure it back to those humans to weaken it further before the final blow.
>>
>>4139494
>Keep your distance, watch for his freeze breath and projectile throw by it and return fire with our own breath and throwing stones and trees at it.
Let's change our approach and attack Ukanlos from a distance as safe as possible.

>>Meanwhile at the camp...
>>
A lot of good writein choices here.

I'll vote:
>Lure it back to those humans to weaken it further before the final blow.
>Meanwhile at the camp...
>>
>luring Ukanlos into the humans
>thus getting in the way of any plans we might come up with barring metagaming
ISHYGDDT
>>
>>4139546
Luring it to humans means we can fight alongside Velkhana ASAP. Safety in numbers, and all. I think that's a solid enough plan.
>>
>>4139556
>>4139556
Oh no, this is very bad for Vance and co.
>>
>>4139568
Hm, what did you have in mind?
>>
>>4139569
Its a good plan for Velk.
>>
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>>4139570
Eheheh.
>>
You couldn't keep it up from here, Ukanlos would just tank through whatever else you threw at it from here on and then find a way to return more punishment back to you than what you could scrounge up and send it's way.

The Human Hunters did cross your mind... but then again, they were also apart of the same band that slew your brother. To be fair, he brought it upon himself but still...

If only Shara was here, he'd have killed this brute invader on sight.

No use standing around here waiting then. You turned and leaped, sprinting away through the snow as the Ukanlos gave chase, faster than you expected as well. The big icy brute, despite it's wounds, galloped right after you, keeping up through it's determination to slaughter you.

You didn't know where those Humans retreated to, but you could sniff out their scents to an extent and see their footprints. You would follow their trail while the brute followed you...
>>
>>4139573
Its not INHERENTLY bad for hunter team. Just likely.

Being used as somebody elses turf war is... an amusing irony? A chance for Velk to catch its breath? A chance for our team to secure the kill?

Maybe I DO want us to work together but want to dress it up in savagery and ruthlessness.

It doesnt really matter I think.
>>
CENTRAL CAMP 7

You are now Freelancer Vance.

You and your partners had made it back to the camp, which was hidden inside of an icy little alcove. The entrance was under two almost collapsed blocks of ice like pillars.

Your partners were set aside... well, roughly thrown off of the carts by the Life Insurance Felynes who just wanted their pay at this point.

Poor Najiyya, she had gotten injured to the point of no longer being able to participate in this quest. She would have to rest for now and then see the Doctor once Ukanlos was dealt with.

You used the First Aid's from the trunk to patch everyone else up. They all gathered around the small fire that burned there to warm themselves up as they all recovered.

Everyone, including you, had only one more cart to spare before the quest would automatically be considered a failure by Guild law. If anyone else went, they were done, and if you went, this whole operation was a goner.

It was then that Kentaro stood up and opened his satchel, setting out a few things.

"What are those?"

"Some extra things I bought back in Seliana."

There were some Thermal Water Balloons, six Mega Potions, two Shock Traps and and a Stun Knife.

"Sooo... Boss... eh.. the plan did go mostly... as we wanted... but what now?" Balthazar spoke up.

Hmm...

"How many restoratives do you guys have left? How many potions?"

"Six Potions here, and a Herbal Medicine." Kentaro says.

"Nine Mega Potions and no more." Atricia says.

"I've got three Potions and two Megas." Balthazar tells you.

Hmm... perhaps you'd need to distribute these among them.

There was only one canister of that flammable Lamp Oil left. And one incomplete Barrel Bomb. Though Balthazar had some gunpowder that could complete it.

Outside, you heard noises, it sounded like Monsters...

You could either let them stay while you go check or tell them all it was time to move out. There was plenty of Hot Drinks left.

What will you do?
>>
>>4139595

Let's split like this:
Atricia and US keeps 3 MPotions and 1 potion each Kentaro and Baltazar will keep 2MPotions and 2 potions while Valthazar keeps the barrel bomb to be used on Ukanlos.

We're going first to draw Ukanlos attention since we have a extra cart and the rest comes after and set up the barrel in a strategical point and don't forget to drink the hot drinks.
>>
>>4139595
Courage they say...

>Split up the Health potions as just about evenly as we can. (Also god damn atricia 9 potions nice work!).
>Ask anyone in the party if they have a glider mantle they know how to use. Then ask if they are confident in being able to mount the Elder dragon. If they arent give it to Atricia.
>buff whoever takes the glider mantle with every last drug and powder we have left, then WE head out.
>Switch to your vileblood set if its in camp (skip if its at base town), head out, and clutch claw this thing in the fucking face. Scream at it with telepathy. Get it pissed and STAY ALIVE!
>everyone else heads out and does the following. Use the barrel bomb and picks to weaken the ice shelf over the whirlpool.
>once thats done whoever has the glider mantle clutch claw glide mounts the White God.
>Then we rodeo that mother fucker over to the weakened ice. If WE are still alive at this point help lead it to the cliffs edge after healing up. We have some kick ass lungs and the whirlpool will have to spit us out eventually.
>Lastly. STAY ALIVE TEAM. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT HUNT, BUT NOT MORE THAN ANY OF OUR LOVES!

BOOM!
>>
>>4139613
Also be sure whoever rodeos the monster and ourselves take energy drinks before this.

And because I forgot to mention...

>the person rodeoing jumps off Ukanlos and flies back to base with the glider mantle once the ice goes out from under it.
>>
>>4139613
Support
>>
You decided to arrange things yourself now with the roars outside encroaching ever further.

You had only five Megas left, so you took three to raise it to eight. You passed out one each to Atricia, Kentaro and Balthazar next before you stood up, letting Kentaro handle the rest of the supplies.

"So, anyone have a Glider Mantle?"

"I do." Balthazar says.

"So do I." Kentaro tells you.

"Alright. Anyone here willing to mount Ukanlos then?"

"I'll do it, can't be that hard." Balthazar offered as he stood.

"Okay. I've got a plan. First, Balthazar, get that bomb operational. Then, let's take our enhancements. Trust me, this will all go swimmingly."

You downed another round of your enhancements along with the others, an Energy Drink, Demondrug, Armorskin, Dash Juice and Hot Drinks to get everyone ready.

Using his gunpowder, Balthazar was able to make the barrel bomb operational, turning it into a Large Barrel Bomb.

When they asked was next, you explained your plan. It wasn't too complex. There were nearby ice shelves that weren't sturdy, they were prone to falling, and a wind rising from there meant that you could all safely drop Ukanlos off by mounting it and directing it there before flying back using the mantles.

They all thought over it for the moment and you saw no objection, so you put it into play.

You were the first to crawl out, as you would be getting Ukanlos' attention first...
>>
>>4139656
>Trust me, this will all go swimmingly."

Famous last words.
>>
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"Neh... stupid ice sheets.." You say as you crawl out, the frost glittering all over going up through your nose as you inhaled and came out of the mouth to the Central Camp.

As you did, something large zoomed right by, nearly hitting you as you got onto your feet in a crouched position outside the mouth. Was that Velkhana?

You hear a growl from above and look up.

It was Ukanlos, standing right above you with it's hand against the ice.

"HOLY SHEET!" You screamed impulsively as you ducked forward, narrowly getting out of the way as the colossus' claw slammed down where you were, almost caving in the entrance to the camp.

You hopped up the rise in the ice as you ran, turning back to see the Ukanlos wasn't even where it was previously, this thing was already nearly touching you with it's chin's tip! It was insane how much it really wanted you dead!

You rolled to the side, avoiding it's chin coming down in that place. You saw your companions come out then, putting the rest of your plan into motion as they exited the Camp. Balthar and Atricia were carrying the bomb, but Kentaro made a sound as he noticed Ukanlos.

The giant around and indiscriminately fired an ice beam in his direction. You saw his Ingot set get hit and thrown against the ice below. He becomes unresponsive as you get Ukanlos' attention back with a snowball you throw into it's eye! Damn it, he must have fainted like Najiyya!

Atricia came to your aid as Balthazar detonated the bomb and donned the Glider Mantle. The shelves below him began to churn as they slowly moved downwards.

Ukanlos smashed the ground crazily like a Rajang that just drink an Energy Drink, focusing only on you and Atricia! Balthazar couldn't seem to get the traction to fly over and mount it! You had to improvise...

Latching onto it's face and pulling yourself up with the clutch claw, you held onto Ukanlos' face and kicked it's eyes, blinding the thing and making it charge forward mindlessly. It's tail swipes Atricia, sending her into the side of the snow covered rocks.

Balthazar tried to land, but Ukanlos rose and swung it's head side to side, catching him in the kidneys with it's serrated chin and knocking him back down to the ground painfully.

You began to walk up the ridges of Ukanlos' finned back as the thing slowly tilted forward. You jumped to it's tail as it began to fall off with the collapsing shelves underneath it.

As Ukanlos plummeted to the abyss below, you jumped and caught the ledge that just formed with your hand!

Neither of your companions were there to help you, they were trying to get up from their own hits.

Your fingers were slipping over the slightly damp frost! You had to pull yourself up by reaching your other hand around! But it was difficult and your arms were straining!

>Number to beat: 510
>Roll a 3d65
>Failure will result in a penalty that increases damage received in the future.
>>
Rolled 48, 30, 63 = 141 (3d65)

>>4139671
>>
>>4139671
WOW

That went terribly! heh.
>>
Rolled 42, 40, 27 = 109 (3d65)

>>4139671
Hope the others are still awake.
>>
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Rolled 2, 58, 60 = 120 (3d65)

>>4139671
HAhahahaha
>>
Rolled 61, 19, 56 = 136 (3d65)

>>4139671
Heh, easy.
>>
>>4139671
Holy ass we did it.

Now... we need to know if its actually dead or not...
>>
>>4139685
>>4139671
Oh no, were off by 4.

Fuck it I am gonna go wake up a my roommate.
>>
File: 1550535586456.gif (186 KB, 304x300)
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>>4139686
>waking someone up for a roll
>>
Rolled 61, 52, 24 = 137 (3d65)

>>4139671
>>4139687
He said he'd make breakfast if I did this. Good luck.
>>
Rolled 14 (1d643)

Final score is 643. Now as a trick I will do a reduction roll for added chance of failure. Whatever number lands is how much is removed from the final score.

If enough is rolled to make it a failure, I make a mercy roll. If not enough is rolled to make it a failure, the end result remains a success.

Let's see now.
>>
End result remains successful.
>>
You swing yourself, nearly falling and losing your grip as you went back and forth. You arched your right arm up and carped in much pain as you reached up and managed to catch your other fingers on the ledge, taking care not to let go again as you nearly slip off but get the catch once more.

Slowly, you pulled yourself up, getting your hands onto the ledge before snaking your arms over and pulling yourself up by your chest. You pushed with your knees and got as far away from the drop down as you could, crawling for the minute before you got back onto your feet.

You heard the booming of Ukanlos' fall come to an end much before you got up, but afterwards you heard the shuddering of the ice down there. You assume it was Ukanlos digging it's way through and think that mayhap it is returning to try and rest to heal it's wounds.

You quickly dashed over and helped Atricia and Balthazar up. Kentaro was already taken back through the crawlspace to the camp by the Life Insurance Felynes, he was out of this fight.

Now, it was just you, Atricia and Balthazar. There were few carts left to carry you back should you fall.

"Boss... should we go back for supplies?"

If Ukanlos was perhaps going to try and sleep, barrel bombs would do the trick to give it a rude awakening...

>"Stay here, I want to go look back that way for a moment... I think I saw something run that way."
>"Let's head back to Seliana and grab some more things before we finish this."
>"No more games, let's end this like real Hunters."
>Write in.
>>
>>4139704
>"Stay here, I want to go look back that way for a moment... I think I saw something run that way."
>>
>>4139704
>"Stay here, I want to go look back that way for a moment... I think I saw something run that way."
As if I could resist.
>>
>>4139704
>"Stay here, I want to go look back that way for a moment... I think I saw something run that way."
We need to make friends with Velk as smug as she might be.

Just you guys don't get any OTHER wise ideas.
>>
>>4139704
>"Stay here, I want to go look back that way for a moment... I think I saw something run that way."
>>
>>4139728
>don't get any OTHER wise ideas
What do you mean?
>>
>>4139867
>>4121623
>>
>>4140042
>implying you wouldn't want Flora to grope you with her tentacles
While I personally wouldn't mind Velk crushing my head between her thighs, the farthest we've considered is a Wyverian.
>>
>>4139728
Don't worry anon! I am already set on Flora route.
>>
>>4140152
Now THIS is a man of high taste.
>>
Once this fucker dies, lets make sure to carve enough for the fallen.
>>
File: Velkhana.png (189 KB, 512x351)
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"One moment..." You say as you begin trailing off the opposite way.

"Boss? Where are you going? Ukanlos isn't that way."

"I know," You say, looking back to Balthazar and Atricia. "Just give me a moment. Stay here and look after the others. I think I saw something run that way from Ukanlos. I want to check it out."

You begin walking again, nearly leaving their sight as they looked at you with confusion.

"What did you see?" Atricia asked, raising her voice so you could hear her.

"I don't know." You yelled back before vanishing behind the ice, leaving the two there. You weren't sure if they would follow or not, but you just had to count on it as you went on a hike through the snow.

You found footprints along the way, big ones. They clearly matched the feet of the Dragon you saw as you followed the trail of them deeper into the Reach. There was a Barioth usually prowling out this way, but it seems it is nowhere to be found.

You turned the corner then as you saw the footprints multiply, seeing that which you were after down around a small clearing of snow. It was that Elder Dragon, Velkhana.

The Dragon was moving strangely, trying to reach back and grab at it's tail as it got lower on it's legs. The tail was flimsy and limp, it didn't seem to move anywhere other than at the base, and even then it was a few inches rather hard to notice at first.

You listened in closely, hearing the voice of the Dragon using Shara's connection. It was like that of a younger girl with quite the zealous attitude.

"Damnable growth...! Aahhh... ahhh..."

This Elder Dragon was clearly quite pained. It seemed the tail was broken. Did Ukanlos do that?

Then it sees you. The Velkhana froze where it stood and glared over at you, becoming defensive.

"Aahhh....? The Hunter... not them... why can't they stop letting their curiosity get the better of them?! Oh just flee... leave me be tiny creature...."

You could hear what she was thinking. She wasn't yet aware of that.

What will you do? One wrong move and she may attack, being fearful for her life.
>>
>>4140547
"I'll have you know that I'm quite tall/average(not sure which) for my species."

Do potions even work on Dragons?
>>
>>4140547
>"So you're the supposed sister Shara has mentioned? I see Ukanlos hasn't been very kind to you"
Let's namedrop Shara's name so we can pick her curiosity then let's try to seek an alliance to fight against Ukanlos.
>>
>>4140557
If healing mist worked on yama, and thats the same stuff potions are made from (plants and mushrooms), yes, presumably.
>>
>>4140547
Dont name drop shara. Were our own hunter. Were not going to hide behind a literal child. However immortal they might be.

>I am not curious, I knew you were here. Your also hunting the Ukanlos?
>>
>>4140606
In hindsight this statement is basically nonsense.

I still want to not hind behind Shara. We can make or own reputation.
>>
"Hey, I'm pretty tall for a Human, who are you calling tiny?" You say aloud.

Velkhana perked her head up at that, still looking at you with the deathly glare before it hit her just what you said exactly.

"You... You heard what I said?!"

"Yes." You say, stepping closer and raising a hand to show you meant no harm. "I learned from the best."

Velkhana tilted her head as she pondered what you meant by that, and then you saw her eyes light up with a sudden dawning realization over the implication. She shot forward towards you without warning and you had little time to react before her claw suddenly pinned you down to the ground.

"I know only one who can impart the ability to speak with us like that... so tell me! Tell me he's still alive! It's been so long!" She demanded, dread in her eyes.

"Y-Yeah! The Everwyrm is alive! He's alive and well!" You gasped for air. She let her claw off of you.

"He.. he is...?!"

"Yeah he's just..."

"...!?!?"

"He's just a bit small now."

"Ahh! So it was true what he said about reincarnation then! I knew he wasn't lying to me!"

"Yeah, he's fine." You say, standing up and looking at the Elder Dragon. "And would I be right to assume you're that 'sister' he mentioned?"

"Indeed, if he did. Me and my sibling have lived here with the Everwyrm for generations! I had thought he succumbed to the feralhood and vanished to be as an animal..."

Hmm, you see now. There was a Velkhana the Star slew, that must have been her sibling then... so there are two of them.

"Well don't worry now, he's being taken care of, by me in fact."

Velkhana studied you, looking you down from head to toe. You could tell by her demeanor that she wasn't considering you as much. But then, why would an Elder Dragon?
>>
"I came because I want to help." You say, making Velkhana squint at you suspiciously. "I see Ukanlos has been giving you some trouble."

"The brute invader? I will do away with him in time myself."

"True, you might, but there's still the chance it could do you in."

"Pah! Elder Dragons cannot be killed by lesser beasts!" She insisted.

"I don't know, he sure seemed to be doing a good job at it until we came along and did most of the work." You point out.

Velkhana huffed, somewhat in denial over that. "Hmph! Your lot was lucky!"

"Look, we can finish this all today right now. What say you to a little cooperation? Come on, it's only for the benefit of us both. I want to just go collapse and sleep as much as you do right now, but neither of can rest with that big guy out there."

"I don't know if I should trust you so fast. We've only just met!" Velkhana complained.

"Will it really hurt your pride that much?"

"N... NO!"

"Then for Gogsake just go with it!"

Velkhana reeled at you, shaking her head. "Fine! But only this once! I don't need a Human to save me!"

With that, Velkhana outspread her wings and ascended. "But I'm not giving you a ride! Catch up on your own if you're so great, Human!"

You shrugged and groveled in annoyance as you saw her hover away above your head. You had no choice now but to run back yourself along the way you came.

As you did, you pass by the camp. Balthazar is standing out there, and Atricia and Vivianne both emerge from the camp tunnel too. Balthazar stands in your way and stops you.

"Wait! Wait, Boss!" He says as you came to a halt.

"We just seen Velkhana fly off back that way, are you sure we should go with an Elder Dragon in the mix...?" Atricia questioned.

"You can't go at it alone, Meowster!"

This complicated things a bit. They all wanted to join you and finish the fight, but they might become suspicious if Velkhana sticks around to speak with you after it's all said and done.

Will you take your partners or tell them to stay?
>>
>>4140783
Take our partners we're gonna need more than Velkhana if we're gonna slay the Ukanlos.
>>
>>4140783
Ya, just dont expect the Velk to be
Careful around us. Were both just after the same prey.
>>
>>4140783
Also, do we care if they know we can talk to dragons?

I never really got why we kept it a secret beyond "they never asked".

Also as cool as being able to talk to drsgons is we DO have bigger fish to fry.
>>
>>4140851
Having to deal with questions and rumors would be a problem I don't want to deal with.
>>
>>4140851
Revealing it would be a bad idea.
>>
>>4140783
The hunt is in it's climax, there is very little point in turning tail now. Tell them that because the Velkhana is in the mix is the perfect opportunity to finish this fight. As it's clear it wants it slain just as much as we.

That said I do believe we should find a chance to talk with the Velkhana. That said the main priority is slaying the Ukanlos, there is very little need for senseless heroics right now. The flow of battle is ever changing so we might be able to find a chance to talk in between the fight.
>>
>>4140891
Y
>>
>>4140912
In it's our best interest to keep the past buried per Shara's goals which work perfectly fine for us. The connection might be apart of that considering most EDs are like animals now and very few are civil like Velk and Shara.
>>
>>4140783
Anyway,
>take your partners
Let's finish this together.
>>
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I would also like to reenact pic related by the end of this quest.
>>
I genuinely believe that this Velkhana is a Tsundere, a very big Tsundere

And until I have any information on the contrary, no one can convince me otherwise
>>
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"Hmm." You nod quickly. "Come on, we have a job to finish!"

"Now we're talking!"
"Lead the way!"
"Mreow!"

Gaining them back, you and your teammates shuffled through the snow quickly as you led them back the way you had to go.

Reaching the ice field didn't take long, but as you did, you and your partners stopped and spotted Velkhana standing there in the middle of it, looking around on the defense again.

"Velkhana!" Balthazar blurted.

The Iceborne Wyvern looked up and noticed you and your partners. Your presence made her lower her guard as she began to step forward casually. It put your partners on edge and you played along.

"Human, I cannot find the beast!" You heard her say through your mind. Thankfully, the others couldn't hear it.

"Okay... listen, they don't have the connection same as I do, you have to act like you don't know me around them."

"Why not? I don't see the trouble in i-"

Suddenly, without warning, Ukanlos burst out of the ice below and tackled Velkhana down! She wailed as the White God slammed it's left claw down onto her face and kept her unable to move. It laid right on top of her, concealing it's gaping chest wound by pressing it's stomach against her shoulders.

You were prepared to move, but Ukanlos' face shot in your direction and you pushed your partners aside as you dove with them to dodge the ice beam Ukanlos let out your way!

The White God roared, signaling the summoning of the biggest avalanche yet as it nearly pierced the sound barrier with it's terrifying roar! You were sent back into the snow by it!

+==============+

Ukanlos Health: 2983

Velkhana Health: 1896

You. (Healthy)
Atricia. (Healthy) [Kirin Thundersword (GS)]
Balthazar. (Healthy) [Dios Blade (GS)]

Palico Vivianne. (Heowlthy) [Felyne Rathian Rapier] [Sleeper Gadget]
+==============+

The ice was beginning to crack under Velkhana's head again as the White God applied pressure with it's strength! It was aiming to crush her as she howled in pain and struggled to no avail!

Ukanlos began to inhale air. It was going to roar again, but for what reason?

>We need to take out those legs and trip it!
>Clutch claw to the rescue!
>Flash pod!
>Write in.
>>
>>4141011
>Clutch claw to the rescue!
>>
>>4141011
>Clutch claw to the rescue!

>Ukanlos began to inhale air. It was going to roar again, but for what reason?
Because monster hunter
>>
>>4141011
>Flash bomb.
>Enough Roaring. Have somebody hurl some thermal water in its mouth.
>>
>>4141011
>>Clutch claw to the rescue!

>>Flash pod!
>>
>>4141011
Its probably gonna cause another avalanche with its roar.
>>
>>4141011
>>Clutch claw to the rescue!
>>
>>4141031
Good idea. Let's claw its face and have it gargle water!
>>
You ever tried inhaling water? Ukanlos isn't exactly piscine.
>>
>>4141031
Seconding for a shower
>>
"Balthazar!" You shouted as you floundered to your feet. "I need one of those water balloons!"

"Got ya'!" He says, throwing one of the Thermal Water Balloons.

Catching the thing as you rose, you ran forward towards Ukanlos as the White God gathered it's breath and stored it. Your hand shot forward with the clutch claw, shooting up and grasping the serrated jaw of Ukanlos, pulling you up.

But as you did, the White God unleashed it's next roar and you grabbed onto the faux teeth to hold on. The roar it gave out was different from the others, and it rang like a sonic blast through the air. The ice spikes around seemed to chime back with their own tingles as Ukanlos' roar began to die down and you stood up on it's chin.

"Oh shut up already!" You shouted as you took the Thermal Water Balloon and dropped it into the throat of the White God.

Ukanlos gagged on it as it popped and clogged it's air holes. You jumped off in time as this gave an opening for Velkhana, who proceeded to kick the colossus back with her limbs before she upturned and came at it, biting down onto the nape of it's neck again.

Just as you landed, slipping to your hands, you looked up and saw what the roar was for as the ice spikes all around the place suddenly exploded into wide sprays of shards that went all about!

Vivianne was able to evade them, crawling lowly against the ground, but your other partners were not so fortunate. Atricia and Balthazar are both hit.

If it wasn't bad enough already, you looked up to the damning sight of the Avalanche coming down next!
>>
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You saw Velkhana hesitate as the Avalanche tumbled downwards. This allowed Ukanlos to gain the upper hand quickly as the giant shook it's neck, freeing itself of her jaws. It's claw came around and swatted Velkhana's chest, knocking her back.

Ukanlos stood up on it's two feet and raised it's other arm, threatening to bring it down on her head in one powerful slam, but you were able to stop it from where you lay at by firing a Flash Pod from your slinger over to the ground in front of the colossus.

The giant was blinded while Velkhana's eyes remained shut. Ukanlos hesitated and then went back down to it's hands as Velkhana looked over to you and your companions.

With only a few seconds remaining before the downpour would bury you, Velkhana leapt to the side, falling in front of you and Vivianne and shielding you both from the rain of snow as it pelted the place.

Though you were safe, Balthazar and Atricia were not, both were hit by the massive clumps of hard packed snow, which shrouded them in no time. No doubt about it, they must have fainted from that. The snow fell with the same force as Ukanlos' strikes! It almost sounded like a mountain collapsing all around!

+==============+

Ukanlos Health: 2790

193 damage dealt by Velkhana.

Velkhana Health: 1666

230 damage dealt by snowfall.

You. (Healthy)
Atricia. (Carted) [Kirin Thundersword (GS)]
Balthazar. (Carted) [Dios Blade (GS)]

Palico Vivianne. (Heowlthy) [Felyne Rathian Rapier] [Sleeper Gadget]

+==============+

"Enrgh! Do not think it is because I like you! I cannot win without your help! Now stand and fight!" Velkhana's voice rang through your head as she brushed the snow off.

You jumped up, Vivianne was right beside you.

Ukanlos was still blinded by the Flash Pod you used. Velkhana got up and came over with haste, using her wings to go up and her foot's claws to grab the chin of the White God. With a great amount of effort, she manages to twist it over, pulling Ukanlos to it's shoulder and exposing that chest wound.

You ran up with your Usurper's Roar in hand, preparing to attack!

>2d300 to deal damage to Ukanlos!
>>
Rolled 168, 76 = 244 (2d300)

>>4141125
Let's do this.
>>
Rolled 247, 21 = 268 (2d300)

>>4141125
GET THAT STAKE INTO SOMETHING THAT MATTERS
>>
Rolled 121, 120 = 241 (2d300)

>>4141125
VISCERAL ATTACK
>>
Rolled 84, 152 = 236 (2d300)

>>4141125
Let's do this.
>>
Rolled 33, 222 = 255 (2d300)

>>4141125

>"Enrgh! Do not think it is because I like you! I cannot win without your help! Now stand and fight!"
Tsundere dragons. Revolutionary.
>>
>>4141143
To be fair, canon Velkhana only had two moods: Bitch and Dead. And that was the male one.
>>
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Charging, you let out a cry of fury as you drove the tip of the Usurper's Roar into the blue flesh inside Ukanlos' armor gap, sending a current of electricity coursing through the delicate meat as the White God squirmed and snapped it's jaw.

You pushed it with both hands and then clicked on the receiver, firing out a deadly combo blast of Wyvern's Fire and soft-fire into the wound. The damage was such that Ukanlos even lost it's breath entirely!

And if the White God wasn't already in enough pain, it didn't make it's situation any better when Velkhana lands on top of the colossal wyvern and thrusts her snout into the wound. You see her rip out a patch of the frosted flesh just before Ukanlos manages to swipe her off and tunnel into the ice.

+==============+

Ukanlos Health: 2025

268 damage dealt by you to Ukanlos.

497 damage dealt by Velkhana.

Velkhana Health: 1633

33 damage dealt by Ukanlos.

You. (Healthy)

Palico Vivianne. (Heowlthy) [Felyne Rathian Rapier] [Sleeper Gadget]

+==============+

Appearing at the other side of the field, you saw the White God begin to breath heavily, panting and gasping for breath. It was tired now from the condition it had been reduced to by these fights.

But this wasn't the end yet, Ukanlos was either going to win here today or die fighting to it's last. The White God became reinvigorated with renewed testosterone as it channeled it's desire for your destruction, unleashing it into another thunderous roar.

First, it began to pound the ice field below with it's hands in anger repeatedly. Ice spikes began to sprout one by one with every pounding as it clobbered the ground. Then, it raised both hands to the air and smashed them down onto the ice!

What resulted was the entire region feeling like it was suffering the effects of an earthquake! The mountain shook, the ice cracked and everything vibrated! It was hard to keep balance!

Then, when you didn't think it could get any worse, the ground below suddenly exploded! The hot thermal geyser was expelling everything it had as the field became split between three different parts that were fractured into platforms.

Velkhana tried to fly up and reach Ukanlos, but as soon as she did, her head was met by it's hand and you saw her fly into the second platform, almost about to fall off from how she leaned! It paralyzed her!

>Jump into the thermal water source and use the geyser's jet to send yourself upwards to Ukanlos.
>Pick Vivianne up and throw her to the high platform to use her sleeper gadget on Ukanlos.
>Use your slinger hook to climb up slowly, you don't want to end up like Velkhana did.
>>
>>4141157
>Pick Vivianne up and throw her to the high platform to use her sleeper gadget on Ukanlos.
The thermal jet plan sounds risky, If Vivi can put him yo sleep we can give some potions to Velk to make sure she lasts longer and if possible team up on Ukanlos for a final blow.
>>
>>4141157
>Pick Vivianne up and throw her to the high platform to use her sleeper gadget on Ukanlos.
She should be small enough to not get immediately swatted.
>>
>>4141157
>Use your slinger hook to climb up slowly, you don't want to end up like Velkhana did.
I'd rather Vivi not get fucked over again.
>>
"Vivianne, you'll be able to use that gadget for this next move, right?"

"Of cour- our- ourse! Me-Meowster!" She said as she was rocked back and forth by the quaking ice.

"Alright! When I throw you up, you need to spray it all in the big guy's face!"

"You got it.... w-wait... throw me up?!"

You grabbed Vivianne up by her chest and looked her deep in the eye with a sorrowful gaze.

"I'm sorry." You apologize.

"H... HUH?!"

Without another word, you spun around and heaved.

"Ah! AAAH!"

And then you threw Vivianne with all your strength! She was sent flying up through the air screaming and flailing her arms and legs as she went up the way of the first platform, then second and third.

You saw her catch onto the ledge of the third one and become faced by the threat of falling. Her head bopped between looking around the top there and then looking down, which invoked much panic as her feet kicked and she crawled up.

You saw her run forward and disappear. You couldn't see anymore of her then, but there was a loud crunch of the ice and your heart sank.

Then you saw her stand at the edge, unharmed thankfully. But she jumps! You almost dodge by instinct, but you stay and allow her to land on you to break her fall. She plummets right into your head and takes you down, bouncing away across the ice from the terminal velocity.

That had to hurt, but it wasn't serious it seemed.

What was serious was the bulk of Ukanlos' fins appearing over the edge of the third icy platform up. It seemed that the big guy was about to jump off.

Oh frack.

You kicked like a Kirin on Demon Powder as you got to your feet and picked Vivi up, sprinting out of the way just in time as Ukanlos suddenly fell into place, nearly crushing you and knocking you down.

The big guy didn't seem to be immediately under the effect of sleep, but it's head was wandering and it's movement was sluggish. It was disoriented. And soon, it was again knocked over as Velkhana came down and landed as well, ramming into it with her arms.

Velkhana was about to attack again, but Ukanlos swung wildly as it turned over, smacking her head and repelling her.

You were given the perfect chance however!

>2d300 to bring the hurt!
>Critical Window activated! Bonus critical damage will be dealt!
>>
Rolled 172, 151 = 323 (2d300)

>>4141177
Give me some good rolls this time, you fucking dice!
>>
Rolled 16, 144 = 160 (2d300)

>>4141177
>>
Rolled 178, 170 = 348 (2d300)

>>4141177
>>
Rolled 163, 156 = 319 (2d300)

>>4141177

>Velkhana was about to attack again, but Ukanlos swung wildly as it turned over, smacking her head and repelling her.
This bitch magnetizes slaps towards her.
>>
And you wouldn't let it slip by!

Quickly reloading by swinging the Gunlance around your shoulders, you brought the barrel level and charged forward, giving a sideways slash to the soft flesh ripped away by Velkhana. By now, you could see through the thin mesh you just sliced many of Ukanlos' bloated internal organs, blue as everything else within. This creature was tremendously durable and capable of taking much in a fight. Even now after no doubt having many of it's vital internal organs ruptured and torn, it still refused to die.

But that was coming to an end.

You pushed the Usurper's Roar into the wound, gouging it inwards all the way to the handle before you held the trigger and unleashed a charged shelling that blew you back. Ukanlos didn't move much, it only overturns itself again and lays down for a moment, brought ever closer to it's inevitable death.

You wondered why it wasn't sporadic in movement for the second again as you looked it over.

Then you came to regret that foolish move of observation as it shoulder launches itself over and rams you with it's shoulder, spinning around and hitting Vivianne as well with it's tail!

You saw Ukanlos tunnel under as Velkhana rose, but she was taken off of her feet from underneath then as Ukanlos dug out below and struck her chest with it's chin blades. She howled and spewed as she was lifted up and then brought around, crashing down into the ice as Ukanlos threw her.

You tried to rise to your feet, but Ukanlos was faster and it's multitasking in a fight made it deadly as it's head came around and it let out a blip of it's ice beam at your torso from it's chest, dragging you further back across the ground as it beat at Velkhana with it's arms.

+==============+

Ukanlos Health: 1477

348 damage dealt by you to Ukanlos.

200 bonus damage dealt by critical hit!

Velkhana Health: 906

You. (Fatally Wounded/Iceblight)

Palico Vivianne. (Fainted) [Felyne Rathian Rapier] [Sleeper Gadget]

+==============+

"I... I can't go on.. Meowster.." Vivianne crooned as she fell face first down into the snow.

Ukanlos turned back to you again as you rose after it finished pummeling Velkhana into submission. It started to walk over, charging up the ice beam in it's throat again.

>I have a shock trap. Let's throw it down and hope it works on his big frame.
>Smoke bombs will work here.
>I'll have to block it! There's no other choice!
>It's risky, but I'll try using my rocket jump to reach it's head.
>Write in.
>>
>>4141234
Jesus. Fucking. Christ. I feel like if you decapitated it, the head would roll around like a sawblade trying to get'ya.

>shock
/might/ work now that it's incredibly weakened

>smoke
Ukanlos beam is U L T R A W I D E. It's not precise like Velkhana. Smoke wont work.

>block
'no'

>rocket jump
The beam is, again, ULTRAWIDE; that, and this fucker has a history of beating things up that try to charge at it midair (Velkhana *999)

Out of all the provided options, I'd say shock trap is the best, but not ideal.
Could we perhaps get behind a pillar of ice that it erected?
>>
>>4141238
Honestly? It doesn't look THAT big. I say we should rocket jump over it. We'd be too fast for Ukanlos to catch in time.
>>
>>4141251
Huh - Oh, I think I was remembering Akanator's burp.
>>
>>4141238
>>4141251
I don't think we should rocket jump didn't the smithy said doing this fuck our weapon? If we do this we might not be able to use it on the remainer of the battle. I think we should use the smoke bomb and rush to Velkhana and feed her our a few of our potions so at least she would be healthy enough to help us finish the job.
>>
>>4141292
Ukanlos' beam still has some retarded AOE effect on it. I'm not confident a smoke bomb will be enough.

I'm voting shock trap. He's already a monster weak to elec, so hopefully that'l compound with his preexisting weakness.

>healing velkhana
Good idea but we'd need a really good opening. Shame we dont have vigorwasp mist. Could fart n' run.
>>
>>4141294
Isn't Ukanlos immune to shock traps? I don't think it will work to trap it but it definitely interrupt its attack and might give us a windown to heal Velkhana... The main problem it's the setup, we might get blasted while trying to build it.
>>
>>4141326
It's hard to tell where game mechanics end and intuition begins. Hopefully it'l do "something"
>>
Reaching into your satchel, you pulled out the one Shock Trap you had and looked at the ground as the White God approached.

You had heard before in your life of Hunters pulling off the trick you were about to attempt now, deploying the trap and throwing it. Usually, these traps were only meant to be placed down, they didn't function so well being in motion. Something something it messed with the thunder coil, something something it displaced it.

Well, you didn't care, there wasn't anyway you were dodging that beam at this short of a distance, so either the trap would work or you would faint and join the others.

Triggering the mechanism, you hurled the trap through the air and it landed at the claw of Ukanlos, releasing it's energy charge and electricity. Ukanlos' hand stepped right on top of it and the White God ceased to charge it's ice beam, it's hand taking the electricity that coursed up through it's arm, paralyzing it in place.

But this pause was only a temporary inconvenience as Ukanlos manages to tear it's claw away. You see the White God use it's chin to shovel up the ice underneath the trap. You backstepped to avoid a block of solid ice from falling right on you, but the trap fell off of it and landed on your chest, causing you to take the brunt of the shock.

Your Khezu set absorbed most of the electricity, and you saw Ukanlos smash the block in front of you, standing over you with it's jaw agape and the ice beam about to fire. Ripping it off of your chest while the coil still had charge, you threw the trap up into Ukanlos' mouth, lodging it into the colossus' throat.

The giant gagged and fired it's ice beam, but with the trap in the way, it only froze it's own mouth, filling it with solid ice which it had to work to crunch as it moved backwards.

Just before Ukanlos could do anything else again, Velkhana came back to the fight even despite her injuries. She jumped up on the back of the giant and bit into it's nape.

You watched as she slowly but steadily pulled Ukanlos back as she jumped down with a hold on it's nape. The giant's arms flailed and it fell backwards as Velkhana tugged it with one strong jerking of her neck arching down. She allowed it to tumble backwards onto her so long as it was overturned.

"NGH! HNGH! HUMAN! NOW!" She mentally relayed back to you.

You drew your weapon and prepared to attack again! It was almost over at last!

>2d300
>>
Rolled 27, 57 = 84 (2d300)

>>4142009
TELL THEM
>>
Rolled 225, 15 = 240 (2d300)

>>4142009
JUST THROW IT IN THEIR FACES!
>>
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>>4142021
These are my worst rolls yet.
>>
Rolled 94, 96 = 190 (2d300)

>>4142009
And again!
>>
>>4142009
Playing frisbee with ukanlos is one of the most bizzare extreme sports yet...
>>
Rolled 120, 202 = 322 (2d300)

>>4142009
>>
>>4142061
In this quest, a mediocre roll is a blessing
>>
Rolled 125, 291 = 416 (2d300)

>>4142009
>>
>>4142073
We might be saved.
>>
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Jumping up on Ukanlos' tail and grabbing onto the rim of it's open wound, you took your Gunlance and shoved it down inside again to release your Wyrmstake rod and and a charged shelling that ignited it all instantly inside the ribcage of the colossus.

The giant squirmed, but you plunged the Gunlance back down inside again, and then you pushed it to the side, prying the wound even more open.

With a red splash of Ukanlos' blood spraying to the air, you blew out the rest of your loaded shells and fell safely back to the ground as Velkhana let go.

Ukanlos lost the last string of animal sanity it might have had. The white giant screeched the air with what noise it could gather from it's eviscerated lungs and spent it's last ounces of energy attacking all the ground around it.

It's claws pounded the ice, quaking the area again as it thrashed. The ice all around cracked and split like shattered glass. Velkhana couldn't find ample balance to use her wings either before Ukanlos charged her down. It pounded her with it's chin and claws, pushing her deeper into the ice with each strike. That was a series of blows that almost outright killed her. She was saved by Ukanlos' same actions ironically.

The ice shelves above also split from the force of Ukanlos' insane last resorts as it's adrenaline and testosterone overflowed within it's body. You stood back and watched as a massive chunk of it all above broke off and fell onto the White God from above.

The damage was immediate. Ukanlos' head was buffeted by it and the giant had a spasm overcome it's movements as it fell down.

It was done for. There was no way Ukanlos could continue to fight like this standing at death's door.

>Finish Ukanlos off yourself.
>Allow Velkhana to do it.
>>
>>4142100
>Finish Ukanlos off yourself.
Aw, no option for a TEAM FATALITY? Ill vote for that, if possible.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sr2nK06zZkg
>>
>>4142100
Team attack! Let's do a team attack!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zzOJxTJlES8
>>
>>4142100
>Finish Ukanlos off yourself

Glory to the hunter.

That being said teamworm is cool!
>>
>>4142100
She did think we were weak, so I think we should do it to show otherwise.
>>
>>4142100
>Finish Ukanlos off yourself.
Tell them it was Gunlance Vance.
>>
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And you would be the one that shoves it through.

Walking up to the fallen White God, you climbed on it's head and stepped on over it's fins to reach the exposed nape. The colossus moaned in pain as you drew your Gunlance and slowly slid it down into the flesh, guiding it past the rims of it's skull.

"Tell them it Gunlance Vance who dethroned you from godhood."

You pulled the trigger and unleashed a Wyvern's Fire blast out into the skull of the White God. Flames burst from it's eyes and you jumped down as Ukanlos went totally limp. The brain had to be destroyed after that.

With that, this chapter of your story was closed. Ukanlos lay still and dead, slain by your hands.

You glanced over to the Iceborne Wyvern. She picked herself up with unsteady limbs and looked over to you.

"Haaahhh... haahhhh..... Hngg.... I wanted to do that..."

"Forgive me, I just couldn't take the chance. At least you're alive."

"Hah.... barely so... I had never thought to find such a worthy challenger in my life if a brutish primitive one... I had always known Shara to be the strongest before... if he were still around as he was, he would have killed this thing easily to protect me...."

"Is he someone special to you?"

"No... Shara is above such notions as intimacy... his only passion is that of platonism, he only ever valued friends whom he was willing to protect if he should."

Velkhana shifted over, stepping away from the ice crater she was put into.

"I was frustrated... I feared I could never defeat this invader... forgive my degradation from before. I see you Humans are stronger than you look. When you have lived looking down on others like me for so long, you tend to be that way...."

"What will you do now?"

"I must return to my nest, it is the only place I am safe from others at... including you Hunters..."

"Can you make it?"

Her wings didn't seem to be in top condition.

"Of course I can! I am a Dragon.... it would be pathetic if I could not even fly... despite everything!"

You didn't say anything, and only looked over Ukanlos' corpse. Velkhana limped over to it and you saw her begin to eat flesh out of the exposed nape of Ukanlos' body. To regain strength like any Monster did after all.

You figured you should return now. It was still early, maybe about ten now. Your partners would be waiting, no doubt. You had to give them the good news.

You could still talk to Velkhana before you left if you wanted.

What will you do?
>>
>>4142397
Offer some potions to her they are made from natural resources so maybe they will help her recover faste, maybe... offer to rub on her wings just to see if they help. Also talk a bit about Shara like some small talk about who he is, some ways we could get closer to him and ask if she wants we tell him she is alive.
>>
>>4142397
Carve the Ukanlos. I'd ask how she met Shara and for how long they've known each other. Perhaps also extending the offer to escort her back to her nest as her wings seem pretty badly beat up, just so we can tell Shara she made it it back alright, no sense causing needless harm. Off the records of course, just so there is no damage to her pride.
>>
>>4142397
Let's ask if we carve some parts before she eats them and ask if she can leave the other parts for our friends.
>>
>>4142397
Get some carves as well.

Also my. Offering to rub her down with hervs and oils. You guys are quite forward.
>>
>>4142434
We considered healing her multiple times though I didn't expect anyone to suggest rubbing her wings down.
>>
Der ewige drachen fickers...
>>
The body of Ukanlos was massive, easily eclipsing Velkhana. You were only as large as her head in comparison. The body would provide many materials for the Commission to collect here once you told them about it. For now, you stepped up and scaled the body of Ukanlos from the arm to carve out some materials for yourself to store away in your bag.

Velkhana finished eating meat from the body and just stood there breathing heavily, not having even tried to breath properly as she chowed down on the flesh. You held up a Mega Potion from your bag after filling it with many Ukanlos parts and wiggled it at the Elder Dragon. Velkhana only stared at you.

"It's made from the same herbs that heal everything else, it would work on you too."

"I do not need your help any longer. It was humiliating enough having to admit that I couldn't win without you earlier anyway."

You just shrugged. "I can't do anything else at all to help?"

"Positively not!"

"Fine, fine..." You backed off as you hopped down from Ukanlos and walked around in front of her.

"Can you at least tell me a few things? Like... about the Old Everwyrm. How did you meet him anyway?"

"This continent has always been the home of both the Everwyrm and my kind. I do not know how far the line stretches, but I do know that before it was me and my... late sibling... it was my paternal figures who were students of the Everwyrm. As they passed, he took care of us then and we became his new students."

"Students?"

"We were the few civilized Dragons that he took in under his spinal wings. He showed us how to preserve our personality from falling feral like the rest of our kin. He taught us about the past and how we must keep it buried, that is our duty."

"Sounds like it's been a long time."

"A short few centuries."

"Wait, you could turn feral? Like, a rabid Monster?"

"At some point, any of the few civil Dragons that live still today may turn feral and submit to their animal intuitions. The Everwyrm has told me that it is a curse of the past laid on us by Men who died as one last retort. We avoid it narrowly through meditation."

"Huh... Hey, wait a minute, Shara Ishvalda is the name the Commission gave him, how come you just said it?"

"...I may have tried focusing in to see what's on your mind..."

"Don't read my mind without my consent!"
>>
"I won't do it again, don't get so roused! It is very taxing to pull off anyways! If it worries you so much, you can simply block me out by thinking about something else.... harder!"

"Oh? I'll keep that in mind."

"Pfft..." Velkhana dismissively blew at you.

You brushed your shoulders off as she turned to leave.

"Hey, should I tell Shara you're alive? He thinks you might be dead."

Velkhana peeks at you with one eye. "If you must."

"Hey, hey! Wait, can I least help you get back to your ne-"

Velkhana did not respond. She only flaps her wings and you see her wince as she begins to hover off shortly before flying away faster out of sight.

You hoped she would make it back unharmed as you gave Ukanlos' body one last look before turning away and leaving.

Back at the camp, you entered the icy alcove to the sight of all your partners patching themselves up. They look to you silently and expectantly as you stand out in front of them. The Life Insurance Felynes standing by even looked on in surprise.

You pulled out a fin you carved from Ukanlos and waved it around to them.

"I got him."

Silence filled the alcove. And then...

"Yeah!"
"Bangin'!"
"I knew you could do it!"
"This is most excellent!"
"Hooray for Meowster!"

Your partners were overjoyed. With Ukanlos slayed, this long quest finally was over. Each of you could take some well deserved rest.

Back in Seliana, after showing your partners back to have their own personal carves, you enlightened the local head on the matter and he congratulates you, adding that it isn't everyday a member of the Twin God duo is defeated.

He assures you that the body will be safely retrieved by today for processing, workers would be sent out for the deed. You leave it at that and walk out, stopping to a point where you just stood and looked out at Seliana's square, exhaling in relief that it was all finally over.

That was perhaps the longest battle you've ever been in. You wondered in any would ever be longer in the future, that would be interesting to see.

You hear a familiar proud laugh from the canteen then. There was no way to mistake it, that was the Star, he was back.

You felt tired right now.

>Let's meet up with our partners and head back to Astera.
>Let's talk with the Star, see about his success with Amatsu.
>Write in.
>>
>>4142553
>Let's talk with the Star, see about his success with Amatsu.
Let's talk with our aniki then round up everyone and go home.
>>
>>4142553
>Let's talk with the Star, see about his success with Amatsu.
Might as well.
>>
FINALLY

>>4142553
>Let's talk with the Star, see about his success with Amatsu.

If Amatsu is dead, should we try checking the corpse?
>>
Testing.
>>
Heading into the Canteen, you came up to the sight of the Star and his colleagues situated around the only table in the joint exchanging jokes of a rather absurdist kind of humor.

"-and I told him after we saw the thing eating all in sight, 'That's not a Laviente, that's your mother!' Hah hah hah!"

The veterans laughed, Crazy Charon's mask jaw clattering. They had another round of their strong booze until the Star's gaze fell on you.

"Aahhh! Freelancer, welcome, what brings you to the Reach today?"

Being pointed out, you only approached the table and waved before you dropped the fin you had down on the table. The veterans all perked up at it and looked it over, regarding it fondly.

"Oh, ohhh...." The Star picked it up. "Why this... this is very interesting indeed. May I ask from where it was you obtained this?"

"From the dead body of Ukanlos, that's where." You say with pride yourself as you crossed your arms and nodded with a smirk.

"You took Ukanlos out? All by yourself?"

"Not by myself, I had some partners, but they all got knocked out of the fight and I was... alone near the end. I managed to dispatch the big guy before he got me. It was tough, tough and long." You flaunted, leaving Velkhana out of the equation.

"My my, looks like someone has officially graduated to Master Rank, and pretty fast too. The Commission has one less wart to pop now." The Velkhana Hunter says.

"Reminds me of my younger days, I got to G-Rank in just one month back in old Jumbo." The Teostra Hunter remarks.

"Heyyy! Good job man!" Crazy Charon said, clapping. Everyone else clapped briefly along at you as well.

"Impressive. I do hope you hold your companions in high regard for helping, a Hunt alone is worth a momentary recollection, but a Hunt with friends is a memory you fall back on to the end. An immortalized one." The Sapphire Star says as he hands you back the Ukanlos fin.

"Hmm. Yes." You nod.

"Looks like we all had our share today, eh? How about a toast, a toast to the Hunt?" Charon said before whistling.

From behind, a Felyne waiter offers you a mug of the same stuff. You take it.

"Don't worry, it's on his tab." The Velkhana Hunter says, raising his glass.

"To the Hunt!" Charon declared as he stood.

"To the Hunt! Cheers!" They all went, tapping their mugs. You joined them before drinking it down.

"So," You wiped your mouth and began. "How did the Hunt with Amatsu go?"

"Ahh, I would say I will never forget it. Amatsu was like the king of all Kushala Daora." The Star defined it.

"We were surfing through the air!" Charon comes.

"One of the only Monsters I'll ever fear, because it took advantage of my only fear; Heights." Teostra Hunter says.

"It provided much challenge. It made things complicated for a Insect Glaive wielder as I when the ground you rely on for leaps distances from you because of intense uplifting winds..." The Velkhana Hunter said.
>>
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Amatsu sounds like it was quite a fight for them, but they were ultimately successful. Now knowing their fortune, you finish your drink and bid them goodbye, telling them that you must depart.

"Wait, you didn't even hear the best part!" Charon spoke up suddenly.

"Best part?" You ask.

The Star appears confounded by them bringing it up, as though he wanted to keep it a more tight secret.

"Well go on, don't hold out on him Adolf, it can't hurt letting the boy know." The Teostra Hunter said.

"Ah, I suppose it won't cause any harm." The Sapphire Star, whose first name was Adolf it seemed, says.

"Oh? What happened?"

"Well, after we had killed Amatsu, I told the others to return. I wanted to observe the body which had fallen far out of reach down the Direfrost's spire." The Star said.

"After I had a lengthy observation of Amatsu's corpse, I headed back up the spire to go a way I knew. When I got up there.... I witnessed something most peculiar..."

You stayed silent, listening to his every word.

"...The ground beneath me was moving. It confounded me because Amatsu was already slain. What could have caused that?"

"Well... as I searched around for a clue, I swear I might have heard someone talking, but there was nobody around and I couldn't make out a word if it was speech. I went to leave then, but I turned at the noise of the snow ruffling and I saw... something. Then, there was a flash of light.... and it all went blank from there."

"I woke up surrounded by hungry Wulgs trying to nibble at my toes at that very same spire. Nothing strange occurred again, so I slaughtered the small Monsters with my bare hands and left. I only arrived two hours ago again."

"I feel kind of bad for those Wulgs..." Charon chimed in.

"I propose that it may have been an Astalos that rendered him unconscious with a high charge of energy. But then... I can't see how an Astalos would be here...." The Velkhana Hunter gave his theory.

"Why would you think it's an Astalos?" You question, hiding some nervousness.

"Well, the light was apparently green. You did say that, right Adolf?"

"Indeed. It was green..." The Star confirmed.

You had a feeling you knew just what that was.

>Talk with/Ask the Veterans about something else.
>Disembark out into the Reach on a search. You want to see for yourself.
>Let us head back to Astera now.
>Write in.
>>
>>4142659
>Let us head back to Astera now.
>>
>>4142659
>Disembark out into the Reach on a search. You want to see for yourself.
I assume this is going to see Amatsu's body then? We should try and get some more carves ourself from them.
>>
>>4142659
While there is an Astalos, it was probably Z-man.
>>
The Big Z fucked with the star. May or may not be something gruesome, like a sleeper agent magic. Tread carefully.
>>
>>4142659
>Recommend the star ask the first wyverian about whatever it was. He seems to know about a bunch of weird stuff.
>If he finds him anyway, if not its probably no big deal.
>go check out Amatsus death site.
>>
"My personal recommendation? See the First Wyerians about that." You say. "Those guys know a lot."

"I plan on it, but I hadn't been able to find them lately, which strikes me as strange. Before Yama Tsukami's arrival, I could locate them easily."

"I saw them some time ago. If I do again, I'll drop in the word that they should seek you instead."

"That would be much appreciated." The Star nods.

"Well, I should be going." You say, waving them off.

"Good travels." The Star bid you as you left.

You walked out of the canteen, looking over and seeing your teammates gathered around the quest board near the entrance. They were all ready to go by now.

Vivianne was with them, but as she looks around for you, she comes running when she does spot you.

"Meowster! Ready to go?"

You looked back at them. "Not just yet, I still have one more thing to do."

"Huh?"

Vivi was confused.

"Don't worry, it won't take me that long. Tell the others that they can go ahead and leave if they want." You say, reaching down to pat Vivianne on the head before beginning to walk off to the Gathering Hub.

"How long will you be, Meowster?"

"I'll be back in an hour at the least."

Vivianne didn't know why you could be leaving, but she didn't really question it as she turned back to inform the others.

You went through the Gathering Hub and to the Wingdrake post. From there, you hitched a ride with a Mernos and flew out, venturing again into the Hoarfrost Reach...
>>
When back out into the wilderness, you set yourself on the right path to your destination.

It was going back through the trenches and trekking through the snow that you were able to again navigate to Direfrost Strait through the Reach. The place seemed a bit changed. The snow was much thinner and you could see the rock of the underground system here exposed more easily to the eye.

The winds of Amatsu must have been torrential and ravaged this place thoroughly.

Being careful as you tread through the area, you found your way back up the small mountain there, the spire of ice that extended into the sky. The same place where you slew that Khezu once before with the help of Senzo and Brigg.

Upon reaching the top, you do see the damages. The ice all around was shattered and spread out. A white mist rose from the ground around the spire as well...

Coming over to the edge, you looked down, peering into the deep landscapes below that formed more boreal forestation of the Reach. Those were more treacherous bounds to cross into, as the only way down there would be with a functioning Glider Mantle, which you did not possess.

Of course, you could also try to climb down carefully yourself, but it would come with much risk of falling given how steep it was and how little space to step you saw. But if the Star could do it, why not you?

The body of Amatsu was down there somewhere....

>Let's make the climb down, we must see Amatsu's corpse.
>The Star mentioned the green light appearing up here. Let's look around the peak of the spire.
>Call out his name and see what happens.
>This isn't worth our time. We should go back and get home already.
>Write in.
>>
>>4143444
>The Star mentioned the green light appearing up here. Let's look around the peak of the spire.
>>
>>4143444
>Call out his name and see what happens.

Z has been amicable enough. And he probably expected this if we found out. Let's see if he's given up on us as a minion, or he's just keeping the star in the dark.
>>
>>4143479
Support
Let him come to us, we don't have time for a wild goose chase.
>>
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You looked around the spire. There was no wind at all, it was completely quiet. You knew that he had to be listening if he was around here, it couldn't be hard to draw him out.

So you steadied yourself and called out.

"Zuhramon! I know you're still here, show yourself!"

You looked around. Nothing.

The last thing you needed was that nearly fickle Ancient playing hard to get, so you walked about the peak of the spire looking around for any clue. You moved to the center and looked around in circles.

Then, from behind you hear something.

"I answer your summoning."

You turned and saw Zuhramon, but not as you expected. His body was transparent, blinking and sizzling in a most strange way. This time, he was rather... purple.

"Do not be alarmed, it is only a holographic Bioenergy projection. I am far away from you, but by reaching through the Earth, I can speak from any distance."

"You Ancients have a utility for everything, huh?"

"You might say that."

"So what was your deal today? Why'd you appear here earlier?"

"This ice spire is not what it seems. Deeper underneath it, you will find another temple like that of Tilokpia. I came to retrieve my next Core Key from it's storage."

"You ran into the Star here."

"I didn't expect to see the Hero of the Guild's detachment in this continent here today. I had to act quick before he gained a sighting of me. A simple spell for sleep did the trick."

"You waited until after Amatsu was dead to get your block, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did."

"Why didn't you just slay Amatsu if you're so powerful?"

"Because boy, while I could have done just that myself, doing so would have alerted others I cannot fight to my presence, and they might have managed to kill me. Black Dragons made by the Ancestor, to be more specific. Amatsu was drawn to the signal of the Core Key's energy in the temple below. The Black Dragons will not respond to you Hunters slaying these other Elder Dragons."
>>
"Alatreon is the only Black Dragon here, you didn't seem so scared by her."

"Not that pathetic shut-in. The thing you call Fatalis. Like me, it is already here, hiding in wait along with it's siblings... and possibly it's maker. I cannot pose a threat to them alone. When I have my Throne Tower, then I will have no worries."

"...."

You pursed your lip and squinted, bringing your finger to point at the projection.

"The Star told me he hasn't been able to make contact with the First Wyverians. That's your doing, isn't it?"

"My friend, I won't deny it. I have been manipulating him ever since the first Elder showed, confusing his perception of those subhumans. If your Commission knew about me, and what I am after, they may try to stop me by refusing to slay these Elders that act as anchors for detecting me. That wouldn't bode well."

"You're okay just telling me your weakness like that?"

"I don't have anything to fear from you or your Commission. The goals will remain the same and my hex prevents anyone from knowing from you. I can ensure the First Wyverians stay hidden from the sight of anyone that doesn't know already while be halfway across the world. My red carpet is laid out and I just have to reach the end."

"Huh...."

"It won't take long. When I have found my last Core Key... wherever it might be... then I can make my wish come true. You should hope I do, you would get to be apart of the glory when it is revived."

So that's how it was then. He's pulling ropes behind the scenes to make everything go the way he wants it to. Shara needs to grow up faster...

The projection of Zuhramon does a gesture to you with it's hand.

"I do not lie to Men. You trust me, don't you? That I will give hope back to the world, surely?"

You are silent.

What will you do now?
>>
>>4143646
>No? And your not given to trust either. I imagine youve made liberal use of the Hex in the past.
>I did actually ask Shara to share his memories of the wyvern war with me. He did.
>I can see that whatever you do will end the world as it is now. For sure. Which I can't claim appeals to me.
>I have only your word that the world you intend to create will be on that humanity will thrive in. Rather than one you control.
>To say nothing of the fate of other races... Who for all you disparage them have been humanities allies for longer than I have been alive.
>What's in it for humanity? Or me? Or anyone other than yourself?
>>
>>4143646
Man this nigger needs the guild and us to do the dirty work so Fatalis doesn't slap his shit, fuck this guy. We're all taken on killing him, right?
>>
>>4143646
Ask about Fatalis, we need to do something about this walking disaster.
>>
>>4143646
>"I would be lying if I didn't say I was unsure."
We needn't let him in on our intentions like >>4143672, lest he roadblocks us like he is the Star.
>>
>>4143695
Yeah, we need to remain neutral at our worst, we can't simple tell him to fuck else he will fuck off and let us hanging till his rapture time approaches.
>>
>>4143708
>>4143695
cant he read our mind?
>>
>>4143716
I like to think he doesn't, purely out of courtesy; if he can, he hasn't I don't remember him making any indication of such, outside of reading emotions. QM can correct me if I'm wrong.
>>
>>4143695
I agree with this. We as players seem unsure anymore, continued neutrality is the way to go at this time I think.
Plus, note how he says "wherever it might be". We have time till he finds it, and if he actually already knows where it is then he lied right to us. Blowing out his own bullshit in the process.
>>
At work but chipping in to say.
Ahem.
Fuck Z man.

Thank you for listenning.
>>
>>4143646
I am pretty sure hes an asshole I am just not sure what to DO about that.

I want to stop him, but I also want him TOO stop. The world could benefit tremendously from his guidance, but it seems hes on a collision course between the world that was and the world that is.
>>
"No." You start. "And I won't give you any trust either. You've used that hex before munificently I'd think."

"I won't deny it."

"At least you keep to your word." You say, crossing your arms.

"I spoke with Shara. He told me about the Great Dragon War."

"....Hmn?!"

Zuhramon seemed taken off guard by that, the projection clenching it's fist. "In a distorted retelling no doubt..."

"He seemed pretty clear on the parts involving giant moving statues. Why was Ancient Civilization plotting conquest before the war even began, can you tell me that?"

"Conquest? Ridiculous! They... those plans were not for domination, they were contingencies! We had to have protocols to follow in case of the war happening. Dragons are the belligerents that ignited it all! We fought in self defense against a spiteful species that could not stand us being their equals, and then superiors."

"I don't know Zuhramon, if I learned that another race was killing my kin by the dozens to use their bodies for creating war machines, I'd probably want to destroy them all too."

"If they're not Human, they don't matter. They. Are. Not. People."

"Yet Shara has talked and leveled with me like a person."

"...."

"Whatever you're going to do can't truly be that good, can it? You won't even tell me how you'll achieve these covetous wishes of yours. You've only told me you're right, and that I should trust you."

"I cannot reveal it just yet. It would be better for you to see. For all to see."

"If you can't tell me, I can never trust you. I have no way to know that whatever you're going to do will truly be for the best, and not just a world you want to be the head of. I'm becoming rather suspicious you just want to be to Mankind as the Ancestor is for Dragons."

"You want to make slaves of Wyverians and other Non-Humans that we walk alongside today. You want to demonize all of their modern selves because a few may be shadowy and sinister. I could live my whole life out over again for twenty times and I still wouldn't be able to go far back enough to before we Humans and Wyverians were coexisting like we do today."

"I understand, you are becoming disillusioned in me. You think I want to rule the world, but I do not. I want my people back in the way I can get them back."

"Why can you not just move on?"

Zuhramon's projection begins to shake violently for the minute...
>>
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"I am assailed by the desires for vengeance and hope of billions of souls that made up our Civilization. On my back I carry their wishes, their hopes and their dying dreams, which are mine as well! I will destroy all Dragons!"

All around, you begin to see more apparitions appear, ones much like the projection. They were Human, faces of bleak dread and emptiness etched over as their expressions.

"Dare you look upon the truth?!"

You became uneasy at the spectres, the ghostly figures all pointed at you accusingly now, and you heard a howl of pleas from them.

'Do not let our kind die!'
'Zuhramon must succeed, or death we will receive...'
'The Black Dragons will bleed us... bring us extinction!'
'Do not brand yourself a traitor to Humanity!'
'We did not work our fingers to the bone for a world like this.....'
'You'll squander our history and legacy turning away from the Ancient path!'

"As my brethren Foremost died, I took on their duties of salvation. If I do not resurrect our legend, Dragons will take this world back. Is that what you want? A world where our efforts were for nothing? A world we are wiped from? If you do not trust me, you are a traitor. A traitor is a parasite even worst than an enemy. I will destroy any traitor I know."

'You aren't a traitor to your own people, are you?!'
'You aren't a traitor to your own people, are you?!'
'You aren't a traitor to your own people, are you?!'
'You aren't a traitor to your own people, are you?!'

"Think about your village, your family. They would one day be living in a palace than a shoddy shack if my wishes come true. You too. If I fail, Dragons will one day kill them all."

"Despite all this you show me... you still haven't told me what you'll do EXACTLY!"

"When I have revived Ancient Civilization, I will resign back to my old position of being no more than a scientist and advisor. I will leave it in the hands of the people to choose the new primarch of Man."

You breathed with frightened breath as you stared at Zuhramon...

"I am no leader, but I know what must be done. Cast aside doubt and realize the truth yourself before it is too late."

The apparitions begin to move aside, clearing a way for you to leave the place.

What will you do?
>>
>>4143874
He's literally threatening us. This guy is fucking toast. Let's just get out of here for now and go have our celebration in Astera for beating Ukanlos.
>>
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>the majority of players agree to not to overtly take a stance against Zuhramon
>they agree to express neutrality at worst and leave it at that
>Vance still ends up disparaging him
Really nigger?

>>4143874
Just head back to Seliana.
>>
>>4143895
I... didn't see a majority of those posts until after I updated and refreshed.
>>
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>>4143905
Always update before posting. Why you don't have auto-update on is beyond me.

We can still probably work with this.
>>
>>4143913
I've never used it in all the years I've been here. And I am also playing World in between doing this. Guess I can make a start here.
>>
>>4143905
Damn level, you goofed up. But as >>4143913 said we might be able to work something. To me it seems the problem is not Zman but the burden he carries, I think the way for making it work would be to convince him or maybe the "spirits" he carries things aren't like that anymore, violence begets more violence and maybe just maybe he should relax a little, maybe try to live with the humanity of now and see for himself if that is what people really want or need. But seriously ask about that Fatalis those things are nasty.
>>
>>4143874
I can work with this as well.

>>4143895
Hes not threatening us, hes losing to the crazy.

>You have to understand. I DONT know what it was like! Its impossible for ANYONE to have lost like you and your people have lost! The only other creatures to have lost like that WERE THE DRAGONS!
>Start stepping towards Zuhramon.
>KILLING THE DRAGONS WONT CHANGE THE PAST! WE LOST THE WAR! WE ALL LOST!
>Killing the ancestor dragon wont bring back the ancient civilization! Enslaving other races won't make humanity a greater species!
>I won't believe that ALL OF HUMANITY DIED with only a desire for vengeance in their hearts!
>SHOW ME THE TRUTH!

>do you have any idea how much this hurts? To see the pain of my ancestors. My kin. To see YOUR pain.
>You don't have to do this. You CAN do as you did before. You can keep the ancient civilization alive the way you did in the past. By TEACHING and LEARNING!
>Your the last human in the world whos knowledge matches that of the elder dragons. We should be protecting YOU from fatalis. Not the other way around!
>>
>>4143952
Not sure how well this reflects sentiments... but eh? Idk. Im a lil shy.
>>
>>4143952
>>4143967
I feel like we can only say this when we're able to subdue him; we can answer him honestly then.
>>
>>4143992
I agree to a certain degree. He clearly views current humanity as weak. Which maybe we are.

I do not think we will be able to subdue him any time soon though, and I want him to know where we stand now.
>>
So that's 2 for trying to reason with him and 2 for leaving for Seliana. If we end up trying for both, I'd like to add that we should say "I already saw half the hell that the war was, secondhand, and how it scarred both sides; I don't want the modern world to witness any aspect of it firsthand".
>>
>>4144061
Come on~ join the talky side.

Though you seem to be going that way anyway?
>>
>>4143874
Well, the situation isn't exactly good, but it's still salvageable. Like >>4143952 said, it seems like, at a glance, Z-man is suffering some mental strain. We should try and arrange an in-person meeting between us and him where we just sit down and talk. Ideally trying to get him to realize that bringing back old humanity might not be the best idea, like >>4143933 said. Also yeah, Fatalis seems like bad news all around.
>>
"I can't possibly know what it was like first hand, that war your people fought in, I can only imagine. I know both sides lost though, Zuhramon. Let me tell you, exterminating the Dragons isn't going to make up for that loss."

"I refuse to believe for one second that species like ours... with billions of members had everyone of it die with only vengeance in their hearts."

"Hah hah hah hah! You... are wrong!"

"Zuhramon... I-"

"No!" Zuhramon suddenly snapped, the apparitions around vanishing into a puff of smoke. "I'll have had about enough of your words for today, my friend. I would imagine you've had just enough of mine too."

".....I just don't want another one of those wars to happen, again."

"It's impossible now."

Zuhramon's projection begins to edge closer.

"Let me make it crystal clear to you. I do not hate you, nor do I consider you an enemy or... a traitor... only misguided... if slightly.... I will only say that I think you are letting others get too far into your ear. Think for a moment how it really looks when you listen dearly to the Everwyrm. A Dragon instructing a Man! That picture isn't so right, is it?"

"And what if I trust Shara? What if he never steers me wrong? Then how does the picture look?"

"Still bad. Unless..."

"...Unless?"

"Unless the Everwyrm has submitted to you as his Human master. But otherwise, it is no good image."

"We may talk again in the future, you and I. Perhaps we can find more common ground then, right now, you've gotten me all worked up. I need to calm down for now... heh heh heh..."

"...."

"Well, if that's all..."

"Wait."

"Hm?"

"Tell me something else... tell me about Fatalis."

"Well, what do you want to know?"

"Where is it at?"

"I.... I do not know...."

"Can we stop it?"

"Your Commission? Heavens no, not even your Star can defeat it. If it were to make a move against you all, every Human on this continent would be dead within the span of a single day, perhaps less."

"...And I gander you think you can stop it once you have your toy?"

"It won't be any trouble." He boasted.

"So you do... Can you at least tell me when it will show up?"

"When my Throne Tower rises, I should expect all of the four Black Dragons will appear to lay siege to it. I do not fear their wrath. Before it was buried, my Throne Tower featured... many objects of self defense... Hmhm hm hm hehe heh heh heheh....."

"...."

You turned and began to walk off then, going to leave back down the spire as you gave Zuhramon one last glance over the shoulder. The projection outstretches it's arms before blinking out of sight.

You wouldn't be going after Amatsu's body after all, this sufficed for today.

Leaving back down the mountain, you left off, going to return to Seliana.
>>
Upon your return to Seliana, you met up with your teammates. They stuck around to wait for you, thankfully.

That dastardly Ferryman tries to charge double for a 'double trip' as he says, but as soon as you show off the Ukanlos fin and tell him that your team was very tired right now, he gets the idea and backs off with his greed for Zenny.

The trip he gave next came at no cost as you and your friends were sailed back to the mainland.

Upon arriving in Astera, you and your partners got off on the dock and walked up to the tradeyard above. It was slow, but much attention was brought on starting with two random Hunters pointing you out and whispering about how 'those were the guys that went to slay Ukanlos!'

Many other Hunters present all began to shift their attention to your newly arriving team and you looked back and forth between them all, knowing just what they were ready to hear, and see.

"Well Boss, the day is ours, dazzle them!"

You nodded to Balthazar and reached into your pockets, pulling out two of the Ukanlos parts you had and holding them high.

All around, you heard audible gasps and saw expressions of shock and awe. The Hunters all around must have spread the word about your team's decision to hunt Ukanlos. They must have doubted any of you would return successful, or at all. They had their answer.

You see one step up, that Hunting Horner in the Jyuratodes set. He comes over and looks your Ukanlos parts over. His thumb scrapes some dried flakes of blood off of one and he gives you a surprised look before he turned back to the crowd and made a declaration.

"EYY! EYY! THEY DID I-EET! THEY KILLED UKAN-LOOOOOS!"

All around the Hunters broke down into cheers and whistles, throwing up their hands in claps and waving them on, congratulating your team for the successful hunt of one of the most dangerous Monsters.

"EYY! EYY! THIS CALLS FO-A CELEBRA-SHUN! EVERYONE! TO THE CAN-TEEN!"

"Now we're talking!" Balthazar said as he began following the Jyuratodes Hunter off. The rest of the Hunter crowd agreed, marching off that way as well.

You found yourself walking alongside your other teammates as everyone around flocked to the stairs and lifts.

You stopped and looked over the Ukanlos fin.

"Hey."

You look up at Atricia, who was carrying Vivi on her back.

"You coming?"

>Yeah, let's join the celebration, it is for us.
>I'll get there later, I want to drop in with the Commander for a moment, gotta collect the share.
>I'm gonna go check on Shara first, see how he's doing with those Researchers.
>You guys go have fun, I'm going to take a nap....
>Write in.
>>
>>4144177
>I'm gonna go check on Shara first, see how he's doing with those Researchers.
Poor guy must be stressing.
>>
>>4144177
>Yeah, let's join the celebration, it is for us.

Weve kinda had a hard time
. Lets paaarty.
>>
>>4144177
>You guys go have fun, I'm going to take a nap....
We probably need this the most right now.
>>
>>4144180
>>4144188
Can't we go and pick Shara to party? I mean we have some good news to him, Velk is not dead after all.
>>
"Yeah, just give me a minute. Gonna grab Shara." You say as you held up one finger and move away.

The two went ahead while you stepped over to the Research area not too far away. You approached the Chief Ecolosit, the Chief just peeks at you from behind the pages of his book and then nods his head in the direction of the display platform ahead.

You walk over wordlessly and see Smart Biologist standing there, observing Shara who was standing in the closure. As you approached, you noticed something off about Shara.

"Interesting..." The Smart Biologist murmurs to himself. "Oh, hello, here to retrieve him?"

"Yeah. What's.... what's wrong with him?"

Shara was clenching his legs together and shivering with wide eyes and a head hung low, he was covering himself with his tail and wings...

"Oh, we performed a variety of tests on Shara Ishvalda to create a reaction to each. So far, he has given many unique reactions, to everything! It's remarkable, he reacts the same as any Human or Wyverian child might. Truly astounding!"

"....Uhhh... what test could make him like... this?"

"Oh, that was the probing."

"....The what?"

"The probing."

"....."

"He'll get over it, the rod wasn't that big." The Smart Biologist passed it off. His attention was then caught by the ringing of a bell.

"Gadzooks! That's the bell they ring when a new captured Monster has been brought in! You can just get him out of there, I am excited to see what they've brought us this time, I hope it's an Odogaron! I'm going to have so much fun!" The Smart Biologist says, running off in a hurry.

"...."

"Shara? Are you... fine?" You asked him mentally.

"Me... meh.... aeh.... arhhh...."

You walk into the platform and pick him up. He latches onto you in your arms with an iron grip that you'll have trouble prying off. Besides what happened, you do notice something else different about Shara.

He's gotten bigger! And heavier! Much heavier! Why he must be able to nearly reach your head standing up on his hinds now.

You patted his neck as you walked out of the Research area holding him.

"There there pal, there there. It's all going to be alright, you just gotta forgive and forget... just gotta... forget and forget."
>>
Moving on up to the Canteen, you joined the little party going on up there.

The Hunters were already getting everything going with meat on the bone, smaller fireworks, arm wrestling and alcoholic beverages galore. Hunters partied the hardest out of any class in the whole world after all.

You found yourself seated at the usual table with Shara. Atricia and Vivianne were both there, and you think you saw Brigg and Senzo waltz into the celebration and join themselves, but they sit at the bar.

Your other partners, Balthazar, Kentaro and Najiyya were at the table besides you, conversing with some of their friends, Zane and Strong-As-Earth.

You enjoyed a meal with them, the Chef was rolling out platter after platter, and he saved the biggest for your team. He even went the extra mile to have the other kitchen staff bake a cake for you and your friends.

"EYY! EYY! HEAR HEAR! MY FELLOW UNTERS! LET US DEDIDATE THIS TOAST TO THE BAD ARSES THAT SLEW UKAN-LOS!" The Jyuratodes Hunter announced aloud as he held his tankard up.

The Canteen erupted into collective cheers as everyone stood and raised their tankards, clanking them together with one another. You did too, loosing yourself in the festivity of it.

Shara didn't really eat, he just stayed sunken down on his seat. You could probably talk to him about Velkhana, but would now really be a good time? You don't know how he might react.

"Hey! Where's the canteen shanty at?" One of the Hunters called out. The others responded with noises of agreement.

"EYY! EYY! WHICH ONE OF YOUS PEOPLE GONNA SING THAH SHANTY THIS TIME?" The Jyuratodes Hunter questioned the whole place as he stood up on a stool and pointed out the crowd.

>Step up and sing an old Mogan shanty you knew to the crowd.
>Talk to one of your friends.
>Go over and see Brigg and Senzo.
>Play a Hunter's Game.
>Join the arm wrestling competition.
>Enter a drinking contest.
>Leave the celebrations.
>Write in.
>>
>>4144227
>Talk to one of your friends.
BALTHAZAR
>>
>>4144223
... yeah I'm thinking we aren't letting him stay with the researchers anymore

>>4144227
>Step up and sing an old Mogan shanty you knew to the crowd.
Could be fun.
>>
>>4144227
>Surpress your traumatic memories of medical examination.
>Step up and sing an old Mogan shanty you knew to the crowd.
>>
>>4144227

>Step up and sing an old Mogan shanty you knew to the crowd.
>>
"I've got a song." You said as you got up and approached the middle of the Canteen.

If there was one thing you knew about Hunters that remained consistent with them all in any Guild Hall anywhere in the world, it was that Hunters were a band of legalized warrior-brigands that were always easily entertained by even the most basic vulgar and absurd examples of humor imaginable.

You knew one such good example from your days in Moga, and now it was time to put it to use.

"It's not necessarily a shanty, but a song nonetheless."

"EYY! EYY! ANYTHING WILL DO! HIT US WITH IT!"

You flicked your finger at some Hunters with instruments, a small lute and a bongo. They began to play a tune. The Jyuratodes Hunter blew on his Horn to produce a tone and the Hunters around all began to tap their feet.

"Oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" You begin...

"My mother was from Moga, she was quite a Cuga, she went after the young Scubas and got a lot of lucre!"

The Hunters begin clapping in rhythm.

"She took them for a spin and only she did win when she showed them her pretty fins and pocketed all their savings in the end!"

"While they lost all their capital and she got a condo, they didn't know the difference because they only saw her beneficence!"

...Cripes! You've forgotten the rest of the lyrics! But at least you left off at a good point, right?

>Quickly try your best to come up with more lyrics and continue the song.
>That's good enough.
>Write in.
>>
>>4144965
Will the first one will require a roll?
>>
>>4144965
>Quickly try your best to come up with more lyrics and continue the song.
>>
>>4144965
>Quickly try your best to come up with more lyrics and continue the song.
Fuck it, take a shot of alcohol and hope for the best.
>>
>>4144987
No, I was counting on a player maybe coming up with something because I'm shit at making lyrics. If nobody has anything that's also okay.
>>
>>4145007
Just read up on how shanties are structured and work your way from there.
>>
No, the lads want a song, and a song you'll give them!

"Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!"

You went up and jumped to a stool, throwing your arms out over at the crowd. The other Hunters began to sing along at your pace.

"She took them for a spin and only she did win when she showed them her pretty fins and pocketed all their savings in the end!"

"My my it would never end, she bled them dry and left them to cry as she went on her own whims!"

"Some of them started to see through it, the veil over the heads! They cursed her as a witch, a conniving creator of sons of a *@&$%!"

"But they'd never get over it, they continued to fall for the sham, because it was still better than being lonely as a clam!"

"Ooooohhhhh! She took them for a spin and only she did win when she showed them her pretty fins and pocketed all their savings in the end!"

"She took them for a spin and only she did win when she showed them her pretty fins and pocketed all their savings in the end!"

"She was a Cuga, always fooling those Scubas, raking in the Lucre and taking it all to her!"

"SHE WAS A CUGA! ALWAYS FOOLING THOSE SCUBAS! RAKING IN THE LUCRE AND TAKING IT ALL TO HER!"

"Nobody could resist her, she has a certain charm, she always drew them, it was like raising a farm!"

"She got pretty clothes, like that of a baroness, she could even afford a personal professional to hairdress! She had pretty clothes, like that of a baroness, and with that we come to our close! That was the story of my Mogan mother!

"Cheers, lads!" You say, finishing the old Mogan shanty. You weren't sure that was spot on, but you improvised well enough.

The other Hunters around cheered their own hoorays too, sharing laughs and taking notes. This was a song they wouldn't soon forget.

"EYY! EYY! S'PRETTY GOOD A SONG, DHAT WAS! YOU A NATU-RAL!"

"It comes from the Moganer blood." You say, hopping down from the stump to walk back to your table, raising your hand to clap the hands of other Hunters who stretched them out for you as you walked.

You sat back down at your table. A waiter comes to give you a refill.

>Talk to one of your friends.
>Go over and see Brigg and Senzo.
>Play a Hunter's Game.
>Join the arm wrestling competition.
>Enter a drinking contest.
>Leave the celebrations.
>Write in.
>>
>>4145141
Lets go home and talk to Shara now.
>>
>>4145141
>Go over and see Brigg and Senzo.
Don't forget to take Shara along, he is in a very delicate state after all.
>>
Tiebreaker?
>>
>>4145295
Roll a dice Level.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>4145177
>>4145182
>>
"Hey, watch my drink, I'm gonna go over here for a moment." You tell Atricia as you picked Shara up and left your table.

You waded with him in your arms through the crowd of the Hunters, nearly bumping into a few as you navigated around to approach the bar where Brigg and Senzo both sat together.

"Been a while boys." You say, catching their attention from behind.

"Freelancer! We heard of your exploits and came as we could! Spectacular work on that Ukanlos assignment! Bravo!"

"Boy you're really reaching... new heights aren't you?" Senzo says. Though the way he put it made him sound a bit... jealous? He almost hid it well enough.

"Is was rough." You say, cradling Shara.

"Hey, what's up with him?" Senzo asked, crossing his arms.

"I let him stay with the... Researchers today."

"Oh? What could be so bad about that?" Brigg asked.

"....Well, the Biologist was the one who oversaw him."

"OH." Both came at once.

"Yes... that lad does have a... history..."

"He's a total fracking creepjob!" Senzo exclaims.

"Well, let's not dwell on it. So, I heard you guys were going to hunt a Sand Barioth in the Wildspire, was it?"

"Indeed, but our plans seemed to have changed with Atricia instead accompanying you. We've set it back for a while so she could still join tomorrow. Oh, but we did have some plans for today." Brigg tells you.

"Oh-ho-ho yeah, this is gonna be a big one." Senzo brags.

"What quest are you going to tackle?"

Brigg eyes Senzo, who pulls out something from his satchel. An Urgent assignment, 'Behold Thanatos And The River Styx'.

"This is gonna be the big cash out, I'm telling you. We're gonna blow all the last achievements people around here have made right out of the water!" Senzo says with bravado.

It's like he was trying to get something across here. 'Out of the water' in specific connected with you as a Moganer...

"What Monster?"

"It's unknown as of yet, but we aim to find out and possibly slay it. Senzo was the one who convinced me." Brigg says.

"Is it just you two going alone?"

"That was Senzo's idea, but if you wanted to co-"

"NO!" Senzo suddenly said, interrupting Brigg. "...I mean, uhhh... maybe. I just was thinking it could be a comfortable little trip with me and Brigg, see we were the first two to meet out of us four. You and Atricia came later. Don't think I mean anything by it, it's just a little trip.... between friends."

"...Well, if you... say so." Brigg says, unsure of what just happened.

"Okay, I'm cool with that."

Huh, what was the proper way to feel about this? You weren't totally convinced it was just a thing between 'friends' as Senzo put it, so much as it could be him trying to exclude you for some other reason.

What will you do now?
>>
>>4145415
Wish them luck on their hunt but say if they ever need help you're always willing to throw a hand after all not evn the sapphire star can do everything itself, also ask Briggs about what he knows about seething Basel, then go to Balthazar's table.
>>
>>4145425
This is solid. Seconded.
>>
"Well, good luck guys." You say. "If you do need help, I'm only a call away. After all, the Sapphire Star can't be bothered to do everything now, can he?"

"Of course, friend." Brigg left it at that.

"Yeah... I'll keep that in mind." Senzo says.

"Oh, uh, one more thing. Brigg, you're book smart. Know anything about Bazelguese? Seething Bazelguese in specific?"

"Hmm... well, the Bazelguese is already a formidable and rather angry Monster, they can be quite troublesome to deal with, and often times they are known to interrupt Hunts against other Monsters. The Seething Bazelgeuse is recently discovered, so there's not much known on what makes it different as a variant from the standard Bazleguese."

"I hear Bazelguese can put up a good fight against Deviljho. How does the Seething one match up against the Savage Deviljho?"

"That's a bit iffy. On one hand, we have before witnessed Deviljhos being defeated and driven off by a Bazelguese, but on the other hand, it's only because Bazelguese has a few advantages over Deviljho. Namely, it can fly and seems to never exhaust it's explosive scales. Unless it is inexperienced and arrogant enough to try fighting in reach, Bazelguese will normally win through a battle of attrition against Deviljho who cannot reach it in the air or handle an excess amount of the explosive scales to it's face."

"And when Bazelguese does get into reach?"

"Deviljho's superior strength and jaw pressure will normally allow it to crush Bazelguese like nothing unless it bites the wrong spot, such as the explosive scale patches. It's quite gruesome, but there is record in the archives before of a Hunter's eyewitness account on a turf war between a Deviljho and a Bazelguese that got put into a tight spot by it. The account mentions the Deviljho was lucky enough to disable the wings while it was grounded, preventing it from being able to flee just before it bit down on the neck from behind to kill it."

"I've sighted a Bazelguese before in the Old World. Those things have very large scales, they look impenetrable. How could Deviljho kill it like that?"

"Never think there is something barring Elder Dragons that Deviljho cannot crush in it's jaws. Though it doesn't end well for Deviljho, there's accounts of them fighting Nergigante here that exist as well, being able to throw even that hulk around like a rag momentarily"

"Well, the rest of the account mentions the Deviljho took it's time breaking through the scales before it ended up tearing away the Bazelguese's head entirely. The bombs fell down harmlessly aside." Brigg finishes.

"I see..."

"On Seething Bazelguese and Savage Deviljho, we've only witnessed brief clashes between the two, we've never seen one come out on top over the other yet. I suppose a Seething Bazelguese could win the same way it's average counterpart does, but it would take forever, and Seething Bazelguese displays much different patterns in it's behavior, it might just end up getting itself into a bad spot."
>>
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"Guess it would if it had blinding anger. Well, thanks Brigg." You say as you raise a hand to wave him off before turning and leaving.

You made your way back through the crowd and came back over to the tables, setting Shara down next to Vivianne, who was playing cards with Atricia.

You turned and looked over to the table your other companions were at. Kentaro and Najiyya got up and were speaking to each other rather closely as you approached, but they don't seem to notice you and instead walk off together talking to each other, leaving over to the Waterfall Bridge.

You came over and took a seat opposite of the table. "Balthazar!"

"What's poppin', boss?" He greets you, pointing with his finger.

"How are you holding up my man?"

"Never been better chap, it's been a while since a Monster banged me up real good like that! Why Ukanlos hits even harder than any Brachy I've traded blows with, even the Raging one!"

"Good to know. What are you gonna do when you get your share of the booty, huh?"

"Why there's only a few things I care about besides Hunting these days, like plenty of bear, pretty girls and intoxicatives! Hah hah hah!"

"Intoxicatives? You mean... drugs?"

"Correct-a-mungo, chap! I know they always tell you not to do em' as a kid, but damnation! I can't help myself. I can't get enough! They let me have a real banger time!"

"Hmmm... You know, I saw these two junkies on some strong stuff living in a little room they carved out in the waterfall. That Jyuratodes Hunter over there with the Val Habaran accent was one of them."

"Oh yeah, I know em', the dudes that drag their speech out all slurred and what not. Shhhh... don't tell the Commander cause he'd have a fit, but those guys are the suppliers, know what I mean? They usually put up quests to get someone else to collect the goods, and then they turn it into the stuff. They give a lot of it away for dirt cheap."

"Interesting...."

"Ain't no harm in it either! I think intoxicatives being against the Guild Law is wacko! Real bloody senseless! I mean, what's wrong if a Hunter wants to feel a little something out of this planet for a change, eh? What if I want to be Xeno'Jiiva and shoot lasers out of my mouth and nose? I don't do em' all the time, the key is moderation, so I'm A-Okay!"

"Yeah...."

"Ahhh... I'm out right now. When I do got some, I go to a little place in the Forest to do them." Balthazar admits. "Heh, one time I gave the Jagras some! Hilarious."

>Ask about his life and decision to become a Hunter.
>Ask what he's going to do next after today.
>Talk about his gear.
>Talk about 'Intoxicatives'.
>Wish him well and leave the table.
>Go to the command post and report the illegal activity to the Commander.
>Write in.
>>
>>4145550
>>Ask what he's going to do next after today.
>>Wish him well and leave the table.

Let's talk with the girls maybe see if they let us play cards with them.
>>
Is it just me or is Senzo going down a dangerous path? I'm asking because he just took a Special Assignment, something that almost got us killed. Twice.

>>4145550
Supporting >>4145554 before I fall asleep again.
>>
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>>4145554
Support

>>4145561
He's a showoff definitely, he was scared about being laughed at over the small Dodo, he just wants some fame to his name. I just wonder what's going to be in that Urgent.

Also
>"What if I want to be Xeno'Jiiva and shoot lasers out of my mouth and nose? I don't do em' all the time, the key is moderation, so I'm A-Okay!"
Pic related
>>
"So, uh, what are your plans after today? I don't get much in the way of knowledge when it comes what other people are out doing. I'm stuck with Urgent assignments for the Colonel. You know, he's yay-high and had a mean moustache."

"Oi, yeah, I saw him. Head looks like a pecker on the horizon so I just call him Pecker." Balthazar says in between drinking. "Anyways, a Fiver like me has many things I am considering doing."

"Like?"

"Well, hmm... There's a quest for a Lagiacrus in that old bay. I could try capturing that Mizutsune in the Coral Highlands... Oh, and I heard there was a Tigrex tramping around that end zone place the Admiral set up, might go see if there's a quest for that."

"Oh yeh, they're also putting together a search party to go out in the Guiding Lands to get back Jun Lu Fen, they think he might've been kidnapped by Ahtal-Ka. Wonder what Ahtal-Ka would do that though, kidnap a Hunter..."

"What does Ahtal-Ka do again that makes it so dangerous?"

"Oh you know, just fracking demolishes fortresses and then uses them to build machines." Balthazar nonchalantly says with a smirk under his helmet.

"That kind of makes me worry... given The Fort is in the Guiding Lands."

"Which is why Ahtal has gotta get rattled."

"Maybe she took him as a reference."

"A reference?"

"Yeah... to use for inspiration on the machine it could build."

"Hooohhh baby... imagine that... a female Monster wanting to make something in your image."

"Uhhh...."

"Oh uh... just forget that part."

"Sure..." You say as you stand up.

"Well don't be a stranger Freelancer, give me the word if you want to work together again soon chap." Balthazar says. "Safe travels."
>>
Slipping back over, you took your seat at the table with Vivi and Atricia and Shara, picking your drink up for another few swigs.

"Say, what are you playing?"

"Oh, just some simple cards, nothing too complex." Atricia answered.

"And I keep winning!" Vivianne says, slamming her deck down to reveal a stronger suit than what Atricia had at hand as she set her cards down next.

"This is the third time, how did you get so good at cards?"

"Hmm! You learn a mew things growing up a kitty in a back alley!" Vivi says proudly.

"Oh," Atricia becomes curious and down hearing that. "You grew up in a back alley...?"

"She did, but she got out when the Palico services came by and recruited her old litter. She was going to be sent off to work at some Castellan's keep, but I convinced her to become a Palico instead and she got out by requesting to join me." You explain.

"Ah, that's good. I'd hate to hear about someone having to live in an alley." Atricia says with a renewed smile.

"Don't worry about it too meowch Atrish, the nice Wyverian man next door kept us fed and gave us a tarp too." Vivi says.

"Mm." Atricia nods before looking back to you and pulling up her case of tabletop games. "Say, Vance, did you want to play? I've got all of my games on hand, like Droughts and such, you name it."

"Hey, you could even paw-lay Dalyence again. The game about balance, remember?" Vivi points out.

The sky was still an infinite blue and the sun was blinding. It must be at least three in the afternoon by now.

What will you do?
>>
>>4145601
>What will you do?
Sure a few games before we call night.
>>
>>4145602
Support, but what should we play with them though?
>>
>>4145608
The choices you have are
-Cards
-Droughts (aka checkers)
-Darts
-Chess
-Peg (throw knife really hard into something, pull it out with teeth)
-Dalyence (balance game)
-Pinfinger
-Knocker (test of strength game)
-Blampot (Nitrotoad game)

If you are voting to play a Hunter's Game please pick one of the above.
>>
>>4145628
Peg
>>
>>4145628
Ehhh, I don't want anyones teeth getting hurt. Lets play Knocker.
>>
>>4145628
-Cards
>>
Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>4145630
>>4145645
>>4145773
>>
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"Would you be willing to play Peg?" You ask then, in the mood for something more rough than simple cards.

"Peg? Oooh, that's an interesting choice. You know what? Sure, I'll play." Atricia says as she stands up.

You get up too and follow her over as she steps near the way out into the Ancient Forest from the canteen, up to one of the massive bones used to mark the entrance and exit. A Hunter in a Girros set is standing there.

"Hey, Gorman, we're playing peg." Atricia tells that Girros Hunter.

"Peg? Heh, alright." The Girros Hunter says, pulling out a little container. "Hey, everyone! These two are playing Peg!"

The attention of the Hunter crowd was caught then and they all huddled up closely.

"We've got the Freelancer and the Scoutress this time! This'll be a match up for the ages! Place your bets now!" The Girros Hunter said, pacing back and forth in front of the crowd.

The Hunter's in the crowd began to start placing bets for who would win, in the hopes of getting a good payoff after their pick won. You see the majority of the Zenny they placed on their bets go into the container the Girros Hunter held up for Atricia.

"Just so you know, I've played Peg more than once, and I've beaten more than one at it too." Atricia says, brushing her hair up with a smug expression over her face.

"So, we just pull the knives out with our teeth, right?"

"A little more than that. See, you and me hand each other our knives, and then we throw them as hard as we can into the bone, then we try to pull our knives out with our teeth. If we both pull out, then we throw again until one can't go on any longer."

"Ah, it's one of those." You say, pulling your knife out and handing it to Atricia, taking hers as well.

"Alright! Throw!" The Girros Hunter said.

At his mark, you and Atricia both slung your knives into the bone with as much force as you could both muster. The carving knifes both embed deep into the bone, halfway in.

"You first." She says.

You step up and place your hands on the large bone, clamping down onto your knife's handle with your teeth.

>1d400 to pull the knife out.
>>
Rolled 370 (1d400)

>>4146274
>Atricia has experience
fug
>>
>>4146274
Tarnation, I fudged my trip there.
>>
>>4146282
Damn we got a strong jaw.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d400)

>>4146274
>>
>>4146303
B r u h
>>
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Clenching down, you pulled with all you had and tore the knife right out of the bone it was embedded deep into.

You rubbed your chin as your teeth stung from that. Man, you hoped you didn't lose any over this.

It was Atricia's turn now. You see her bite savagely down on her knife's handle, tearing it right out of the spot you threw it in faster than you did. She giggled.

"I must have looked like an Ebony Odogaron doing that!"

"Yeah..."

Oh no, this was going to go on, wasn't it?"

You and her hoop your knives back to each other.

"Throw!" The Girros Hunter demands.

You and both throw the knives again, getting them even deeper into the bone. Atricia on the other hand throws your knife into the same spot as before, embedding it even deeper within.

She went first this time, taking noticeably longer before she managed to pull her knife out.

"Your turn." The Girros Hunter says.

"HEY CAM ON! DON'T YOU LOSE I BET ON YOU!" You heard Balthazar call out from the crowd.

Oh man...

>1d500 to pull knife out.
>Forfeit the match, you can't win.
>>
Rolled 171 (1d500)

>>4146307
>>
Rolled 424 (1d500)

>>4146307
>Oh no, this was going to go on, wasn't it?
What was going on?
>>
>>4146316
The match is going to go on until somebody loses, it isn't something you win quickly like Vance might have thought at first.
>>
>>4146316
Also this roll is good enough to be a success, I'll take it.
>>
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Once again, your struggling sufficed to pull the knife out. It was even more straining on your jaw this time, but well worth the effort.

You traded knives with Atricia and prepared to throw again as the Girros Hunter says as much.

This next throw had all the force you and her could get behind it as you both threw each other's carving knives. The impact of the carving knives hitting the bone was so loud it sounded like someone's Light Bowgun going off.

They were embedded all the way to the guard now.

You couldn't feel your jaw, and you imagine Atricia couldn't either. All your teeth were pained, you even think one was loose enough to come out.

She wen first, but this time, she isn't so successful. You see her give it all she had to get the knife out, but she only pulls her knife out halfway before she gives up, out of breath.

The Hunters who placed their bets on her all went silent, you could tell they were shocked to see her fail and were hoping you couldn't succeed where she did, otherwise they would all be in for big losses rather than a payoff.

This match could be yours now.

>1d700 to pull the knife out and win.
>Forfeit before you loose a tooth.
>>
Rolled 594 (1d700)

>>4146354
*nom*
>>
Rolled 625 (1d700)

>>4146354
>>
Somebody else should roll, just in case.
>>
Welp boys, Safi just dropped. I'll be seeing you in a while, not a long one.
>>
Rolled 160 (1d700)

>>4146354
This is one of the weirdest courtship rituals ive seen, and im literally an ecologist
>>
Rolled 207 (1d700)

>>4146354
Might as well give my own shot

>>4146400
>courtship
Whatever makes you think it like that?
>>
Okay I'm back.
>>
>>4146573
How many carts?
>>
>>4146603
Two. I didn't bother doing the recon mission but once so I didn't remember a lot of Safi's moves. Got a kick ass sleeping HH for it in the end though, but no eye Hammers... sad face
>>
You stepped up and took the knife into your teeth.

Everyone held their breath as you began to unwind further back pulling the knife from where it was stuck.

The blade rasped as it slid further and further out continuously. You weren't breathing as you also held your breath, but you imagine if you were by now you'd already be gassed out.

Your teeth were in such unbearable pain from this stunt that you felt it tingling inside the enamel. Your gum were numb and your jaw snapped, sending a ringing funny feeling through your neck just as you reached the halfway point.

You didn't once see Atricia stop to rest while she was pulling, so you didn't either. You kept it up as the blade came out further than her knife's blade did.

The Hunters watching were all amazed and breathless.

Deciding to finish this, you gave it one last harder pull, yanking the knife right out of the slot and dropping it. A tooth falls out of your mouth with a sprinkle of blood, but you pay it no mind as you breath in rapidly for air.

"....It is decided... FREELANCER IS THE WINNER!" The Girros Hunter says, coming up and grabbing your hand to raise it above your head.

The crowd broke down into cheers and whistling like before. The sheer surprise of seeing you manage to pull through has left the ones banking on your defeat without a hint of disappointment. They just accepted their lose as the ones who did bet on you got their payoff from the Girros Hunter.

"Here, a consolation prize." The Girros Hunter said after giving the handouts, slipping you a handful of Zenny. At least five thousand.

You looked to Atricia then, but she doesn't seem mad, she only shrugs and smiles at you, giving you a light brush on the shoulder as she walks back by to return to the table.

"It's been a while since someone's beaten me at Peg. You did good! Oh, you might have to go to the dentist for that." She giggled. You reach down and quickly pocket the tooth that came out. That was one thing you could have gone without.

Today you were a winner at everything, weren't you?

What will you do now?
>>
>>4146617
Celebrate our victory by visiting the dentist. Shara shouldn't be the only one to deal with invasive procedures. Speaking of which, let's take him with us, too.
>>
>>4146617
Let's just cut to the chase, theres only one way we'll save our boy
Ask Atricia out
>>
>>4146628
Yeah that will be one way to end our night.
>>
>>4146791
except for taking him with us, that will just hive him some bad flashbacks, ask Vivi if she can watch him for us.
>>
>>4146809
I suppose that's fair.
>>
>>4146617
Ask Atricia out
>>
Well, you had some ideas about what you wanted to do next, but first it was paramount to do something about this in particular. You mean, you just a fracking tooth! An adult tooth that doesn't grow back! You didn't want to go full old guy here and get dentures, but you needed to do something about it.

Passing by the table and asking Vivianne to watch Shara for you, you went ahead and slipped away from the party, going down to the steps nearby to descend to the housing at the waterfall, soon coming upon the door of the Doctor's office.

You went to knock, but before you did, the door opens and you see that rag-haired Wyverian from the druggie cave stumble out, muttering something about migraines before flopping away on his feet.

You're sure glad you didn't ever buy the fad of 'Intoxicatives'...

Stepping in, you present yourself to the Doctor who looks disappointed, pinching his temple. "That dumb boy is never going to learn."

"Oh, you again. What's wrong this time?"

You wordlessly show him the tooth.

"Played one of those ruffian games, did you? It's no worry, I can get you a filling, but it will take a while."

"You can't do something about it now?"

"I don't have the proper equipment for giving a filling, I'll need to send an order for it across the sea. That could take a while depending on the Argosy's schedule, but it can be done. I'll go ahead and get to that, and when it's here I'll send word."

"Okay, thanks." You say, turning back.

"Oh, wait, one more thing," The Doctor says to stop you. "I've set a new quest on the board that I think you'd be the man to take care of for me. I did hear about your little encounter before. I'm sure you can make something of it."

"Mm. I'll take a look then." You say, leaving the Doctor Office.
>>
Returning to the table and sitting down, you breath a breath of fresh new air, satisfied knowing you can do something about this, so you won't have any crooked smiles like a Tanzian in the future.

You looked across the table as you picked your drink back up, staring at Atricia. She was playing cards with Vivianne again while Shara slumped his head on the table.

You have to admit, you've seen few other girls in your life who could claim to be as purely attractive as her. A lot of people who wear the popular Kirin sets usually have the manes of the small Elder Dragons processed into wigs for them to wear, but hers was all natural. Hair that didn't need changes by some outside methods like that was the staple of a real woman.

Why she liked pretty much all the same things you did, the rush of a fight, getting out there and having a good time doing it all too.

You never really stopped to consider women in any point before in your life back in the Old World, unlike here in the New World you didn't have one place you strictly stuck to like Astera, you were always on the move so anyone you met was a shadow passing and no more. You doubted you could ever get used to staying and not traveling back then, and yet here you are.

What else could further improve your stay here than to have someone close like that with you?

Well, now was your chance.

Atricia's gaze wanders back over to meet you and a look of curiosity comes over her face, wondering what it was for.

"Mm? What is it, Vance?"

Will you really ask her out? Or will you keep it down for now?
>>
>>4146881
Might as well. Hope we don't drop our spaghetti.
>>
>>4146901
Actually, I'm not too sure. How many times have we hung out with her up til this point?
>>
>>4146881
She literally offered to climb in bed with us. Were not THAT dense.

We just werent sure we wanted to be romantically entangled.

Beware though level. All the Tabi shippers will jump down your throat if they dont get a say.

>Thinkong about how beautiful you look
>Ask if shes seeing anyone
>Ask her out
>>
>>4146906
She's one of the ones we've hung out with the most, I'd say we had enough time.

>>4146914
The real threat is the Flora gang and players interested in Velk and Alatreon. I don't think anyone really considers Tabi because Tabi is literally basically an animal.
>>
>>4146917
>interested in Velk
That's me, but we've only just met her. I'm not deluded enough to think Vance can just think that way for anybody in an instant.
>>
Basically everybody but Tabi loses against Atricia before they even leave the starting line.
>>
>>4146937
We haven't even gotten to see what the other Huntresses we've met are like come to think of it.

Should we back out and wait until we really know?
>>
>>4146941
Sure.

>>4146881
>keep it down for now
>>
>>4146881
>keep it down for now
>>
>>4146941
>Like that will ever happen

>Basically everybody but Tabi loses against Atricia before they even leave the starting line.
>>
"Nothing." You say, looking away and passing it off.

"Ah." She goes back to her card game.

Maybe now is not the time in life yet. Though you know your parents back home did want you settle down and raise a family one day, you just weren't ready for something like that yourself. You don't even know if you'll ever do that even when you are older.

The world might have more options to offer you in the future, and you haven't seen them all yet.

You looked around to see if anything else was going on besides the Hunters having their fun. You see some Researchers matching each other perfectly in Dalyence, a black cloaked figure at the far back, Senzo seeming to be relieved by something as he stared your way before averting his gaze, and you see the Admiral walk in from the exit to the celebration upon finally arriving back from wherever he must have been.

"It's been a while." Atricia's voice suddenly catches you as she packed her things away and got up.

"I'm gonna go take a nap. See you later." She says with a yawn before leaving the Canteen.

Now it was just you, Shara and Vivianne.

"I'm with you, Meowster!"

>She has the right idea, let's go home and rest up as well, got to fix our sleep routine.
>Let's take Shara home and talk to him.
>Let's go out on an expedition.
>Let's do another quest.
>Let's get back to those Urgents.
>Write in.
>>
>>4147024
>Let's do another quest.

Mmmm, what urgents do we have left?
>>
>>4147027
https://pastebin.com/8H13PEXs
>>
>>4147024
>She has the right idea, let's go home and rest up as well, got to fix our sleep routine.
We only *just* got done throwing down with Ukanlos, let's not wear ourselves out too badly.

Maybe we should ask the Commander if there's been any news about the Bloodborne invader after we wake up?
>>
>>4147024
>Let's take Shara home and talk to him.
I want to do a quest as well as you guys but Shara still very down in the dumps, Let's give him some good news for once, maybe that break him out his vibe.
>>
You agreed with Atricia on that, you need to catch some rest before you get things going again. You still feel worn out after the tussle with Ukanlos, and it didn't help you playing Peg either.

You got Shara up and Vivi hopped along with as you left the Canteen, passing some goodbyes over to Balthazar, Kentaro and Najiyya as you went.

You let Vivi walk Shara back home the rest of the way as you got tired of carrying his much heavier self now once you were near the walkway up to the housing where you had your own room.

You approached the Commander at his table and saluted.

"Report."

"Sir, I've taken down the Ukanlos threat in Hoarfrost Reach."

"Yes, I know, I got word of it last night in fact from a messenger Mernos that you had assembled a team to face it. I saw the little celebration unfold when you showed up with those fins. I'll leave taking care of it's carcass to the Seliana detachment, the rewards have been sent through so check your inbox."

"Aye, sir. And another thing, I wanted to know, has anything come in from the Elder's Recess about that other threat I told you of?"

"The thing you said came from this 'Yharnam' place? Well... it gets increasingly stranger the more that comes in...." The Commander says with a frown.

"What has happened, sir?"

"My scouts have reported that nothing could be seen anywhere in the Recess, and they've searched every last known inch for a clue. They've began to report finding mangled corpses of many powerful Monsters from the area very frequently as well...."

"That sounds bad..."

"That isn't even the end of it. Usually, Nergigante can be seen prowling the Recess without any hint of fear, but lately the scouts have said Nergigante has been keeping to it's own hideouts to get away from... something making sounds heard across the Recess. And to top it all off, my scouts have begun to report feeling traumatic pains in their heads when a strange vibration is heard in the distance. They go there, but they find nothing."

"They've reportedly found multiple dead Uragaan, Dodogama, Lavasioth and a few Azure Rathalos. They've also reported finding one Brachydios, two Bazelgueses and a Akura Vashimu all deceased for a while as well. What outright disturbs me the most is how their report suggested them spotting a Teostra and Lunastra couple fleeing the area... while severely wounded and crippled." The Commander finishes, tapping a document on the table.

"Whatever is out there... it isn't making things safe. I want you to see what can be done about it ASAP." The Commander says.

"Aye sir, I'll get to it." You salute.

"And don't forget those Urgent quests. It won't be much farther away from now that I'll have to roll out the next phase of Urgents for Hunters to complete. Dismissed."

You turn and leave.

Those reports were awful to hear. Whatever came to your world, it must be terribly powerful... That is something that makes you unsettled, even having faced Ukanlos just this day...
>>
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Upon settling back down into your room, you told Vivi she could go ahead and take a nap. She is overjoyed to hear that and rushes off to jump into her hammock. You see her roll in it for a moment before she rolls with her back facing your way and begins to snore lightly.

If only you could sleep as well and as fast as a Felyne...

You walk behind the changing divider to slip into casual wear before coming over and stretching out, sitting down on the floor in front of Shara near the furnace.

"It seems to me like you were attempting something back at that table, Human, but you did not."

"Let's not talk about that right now. I have something else to tell you, I'm sure you'll be very surprised and relieved to hear it as well."

"What could you ever tell me to lighten my mood after the horrible things those Wyverian scientists did to me?"

"Velkhana is alive."

"Velkhana? Is that not the name for...."

Shara goes silent and his expression is unchanged, iron as he stares at you and processes the information he just received.

Then slowly you see his eyelids peel back as he raises his neck up to full height and looks at you.

"...M... My sisterly companion... is alive...?!"

"Yes. She was fighting a giant Monster called Ukanlos for dominance of the Hinterlands. If I didn't help her, she might have died."

"O... Of course! Oh! Of course! It makes so much sense now! I remember! She was not alone! Oh! How could I be so ignorant!?" Shara said as he stood up on his hinds and looks down at his claws.

Shara comes forward then suddenly, grabbing your shoulders with his long and deformed looking claws, bringing his eyes much too close for comfort.

"I have to see her! You have to help me find her! Please, Human! Please! It's been so long... she must think I'm dead! If we have her, our chances of stopping the Ancient are so much better! Can't we go now?! Please!"

Gog, he was like a child pulling back against his mother's grasp as they passed a candy shop. He really wants to see Velkhana again.

Maybe things needed to be slowed down a bit here.

What will you say or do now?
>>
>>4147096
We do it tomorrow morning, we need to recover after almost dying a couple of times to Ukanlos and make the necessary preparations of course.
>>
>>4147098
Also I don't think the researchears and the commissioner will let us take Shara with us to field, we should try to talk with the swift huntress, she might be a little more comprehensible about we wanting to help Shara, see if she can help us to smuggle Shara safely out of Astera to meet with Velkhana.
>>
>>4147108
>commissioner
Commander damnit.
>>
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>>4147098
Support

>>4147114
>Commissioner
Oh no
>>
>>4147096
Are you guys fucking kidding me?

GO! GO NOW!

This is literally the first thing Shara has seriously asked us for and its time sensitive.
>>
>>4147171
What makes you think we can just waltz out of here with him? The most we've done is take him to the Coral Highlands and that was only allowed so long as we had Atricia and researchers there too. We can't take him to Velkhana with researchers near, they'll know somethings up.
>>
>>4147397
Well almost everyones pretty drunk or exhausted and the moment, and... gee...

Getting them to give shara some time away from the researchers should be pretty easy. Since they JUST traumatized him with invasive probing. Saying "back off ya vultures and let him recover a bit" should work just fine.

Sonce its our job to look after his well being.
>>
>>4147397
Oh, also I expect we should hurry because I THINK Velkhana is gaurding one of Zhoomers magic key mcguffins.

I wanna get there before he kills her.
>>
>>4147472
Oh, and the last reason.

Shara might be a child in body, but mentally they are an adult. With hands.

If he decides ue needs to go NOW, you better pair your refusal with a very good argument because hell probably leave on his own as soon as were asleep.
>>
>>4147472
I'm sure we could do that, but then Commander isn't going to let us go anywhere.

>>4147481
Shara would have told us if that was so. Personally, I think the last one is in the guiding lands.
>>
>>4147556
Moving goalposts yay.

The commander could very well be correct about it being fucking dangerous, BUT I know secrecy matters to you all for reasons you havent seen fit to explain.

When the commander presses you, do the obvious and lie~ tell him the first wyverian said you had to bring Shara to Meet Velkhana for some reason and more people being involved in that wont go well.

On to what shara actually did tell us.
>If we have her, our chances of stopping the Ancient are so much better! Can't we go now?! Please!"

He did tell us it was super important, he didnt get the chance to elaborate so we have no way of knowing anything other than "helps stop the ancient one"

Regardless you avoided my original point that this could very well be time critical.

Zoomers running around killing elder dragons and, going tommorow to see Velkhanas mortal remains is EXACTLY the kind of narrative device that has been used by authors since the invention of the written word.

Nothings as satisfying as giving someone the option NOT to press their face into a hot stove. Even more so when you encourage them not too.
>>
>>4147595
I misconstrued my argument about narrative framing.

If we go there tommorow and zhoomer killed Velkhana were gonna look like a fucking dope, and Shara will be right. Because we will have been a fucking dope for not listening to the multi eon old elder dragon telling us something is important.
>>
>>4147096
Finally got up. I say let's go for it, even though we're dog tired.
>>
"Okay! Okay, Shara! I'll take you... but can't I just get a semblance of rest before we go?"

"It is still daytime Human, you can rest at night. Time is of the essence, there is none to be lost!"

You groaned mentally as you stood up and looked around. Vivianne was still fast asleep and you were worn out. But, if Shara was insisting you go, you didn't see any reason not to oblige his wishes.

You pulled some paper over at the desk and wrote a note down for Vivi whenever she awoke. You just left it at you going off to do something and you took Shara too, but not to tell anyone. She'd be fine all on her own, she'd most likely go next door to Atricia when she woke up.

You thought over a few ways you could get Shara to Hoarfrost Reach, because you knew that you wouldn't be able to go there alone with him without requiring some Researchers to tag along as well. Shara only trusted you enough to be able to use the connection with him, so you would have to keep this under the radar one way or another.

Well, let's see...

>That Ferryman is only in it for the Zenny. Perhaps we could bribe him into helping us disguise and transport Shara as resupply cargo over to the Reach for a camp out in the wilderness. Once that's said and done, we can continue along the way from there.

>We should really just ask the permission of The Commander and tell him we want to take Shara around the Hoarfrost Reach with us. It doesn't hurt to ask without being sneaky.

>Hmm... The Grim Biologist had that flying contraption that he used to carry Shara away with once. Maybe by now it's been fixed. We should ask the researcher who created it if we could use it in return for stopping Grim, and then slip away in the night with it to the Reach.

>Shara is good at digging, isn't he? Maybe we could dig all the way there using his power.

>We could try looking around Lambent Bay for an old Poacher boat and use that to get to the Hinterlands.

>Write in.
>>
>>4147799
>>4147171

>>4147098
>>4147116

Since we're still in a draw till now I will change my vote to go now but I still think we should do as I said in >>4147108, this a job too big for one man and a baby dragon we need more hands on it so try asking for swift huntress, I imagine since she herself is helping a Inagami she might be inclined to help us while keeping her mouth shut.
>>
>>4148041
nevermind... anyway my vote goes for either:

>Shara is good at digging, isn't he? Maybe we could dig all the way there using his power.

or

>We should really just ask the permission of The Commander and tell him we want to take Shara around the Hoarfrost Reach with us. It doesn't hurt to ask without being sneaky.
>>
>>4148041
>We should really just ask the permission of The Commander and tell him we want to take Shara around the Hoarfrost Reach with us. It doesn't hurt to ask without being sneaky.
>>
>>4148041
>That Ferryman is only in it for the Zenny. Perhaps we could bribe him into helping us disguise and transport Shara as resupply cargo over to the Reach for a camp out in the wilderness. Once that's said and done, we can continue along the way from there.
The most practical option at hand.
>>
>>4148041
>>4148074
Gonna switch to
>That Ferryman is only in it for the Zenny. Perhaps we could bribe him into helping us disguise and transport Shara as resupply cargo over to the Reach for a camp out in the wilderness. Once that's said and done, we can continue along the way from there.
>>
On second thought, we should consult the Commander.
>>
Well, it wouldn't hurt to inquire about it. Putting in a word and asking permission can't hurt.

You let Shara stay behind. You stroll down and step up to the Commader's table and look the chief in the eye and ask him for his permission to let you take Shara down to Hoarfrost Reach.

Surely you can work something out with the Researchers that will inevitably follow you afterwards as you make your way down ther

"Absolutely not."

Oh.

"Sir?"

"I don't want the Everwyrm to be taken anywhere off of this continent, not even to the nearby isles until it's an adult and we know it won't try running off. The most I will okay is it being taken as far away as the Coral Highlands. The Researchers have already told me it is less likely to escape there than anywhere else."

"I... I see, sir."

"I'll allow it being taken for a walk out to the Ancient Forest, the Wastes or the Highlands, but that's the limit." The Commander tells you.

"If that's all you had to ask, then you are dismissed for now."

"Yes sir." You say, turning back and walking away.

Shite. Arse. Damn it.

Well, at least you tried, but it seems you'll have to find another way after all.

What other way could you get him to the Reach?

Hmmm.... what if you didn't even need to get him to the Reach. What if... somehow, you could find a way to call Velkhana here instead? But who would know anything about that?

What will you do?
>>
>>4148212
Well shit. Ok going for:

>That Ferryman is only in it for the Zenny. Perhaps we could bribe him into helping us disguise and transport Shara as resupply cargo over to the Reach for a camp out in the wilderness. Once that's said and done, we can continue along the way from there.

we should try to brainstorm a few ways with Shara to bring Velkhana to us if everything else fails.
>>
>>4148212
Go make the first wyverian solve your problems again.
>>
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Maybe the First Wyverians could have the answer, but first, you had to check another available option.

You went straight down to the docks and approached the disgruntled Ferryman. The older Ferryman was sitting in his tub afloat over the water drinking down a bottle of rum.

"Hey, sailor." You say, approaching.

"You mocking me or something boy? I ain't a sailor, couldn't qualify."

"I can see that. You know you charge an awful big price for these ferry trips, and I wonder why."

"Ain't it obvious? I'm in the trash heap, boy! My money goes fast and I can't get it back fast enough. Those Hunters are ungrateful for my service, they'd rather spend three hours flying on a Monster across to Seliana than take my comfy, faster ferry."

"So you need money bad, do you?"

"Of course. What? You offering charity or something?"

"I was thinking more like paying you for a special service."

The Ferryman picks the lid of his hat up and looks at you. You beckon him to stand and when he does you lean in closer and quickly whisper over what you wished for into his ear.

The old man seems surprised.

"So... you want me to help you sneak your little dragon over to Seliana with my ferry?"

"As cargo yeah. You don't need to know why, you just need to take your payment and let me through. I'll give you twenty thousand Zenny."

"How much you got? All of it I mean." The Ferryman asks.

"....Forty thousand or so..." You say after a pause.

"Gimme all your Zenny or I won't help."

"You're out of your aged mind if you think I'll actually pay you that much."

"Oh, that's fine. Guess I'll just go pass the word along of your plans to the Commander. I was already instructed before not to take anything like that dragon on my Ferry without his word." The Ferryman shrugs, cracking a crooked smile across his face.

"I don't think so." You say, blocking his path.

"All I've got to do is yelp for help, boy. They'll come running and look at you bullying the old poor man running the tub. Hoo boy, the Commander sure wouldn't like that, would he?"

"You try anything, I tell. You walk off, I still tell. Gimme all your Zenny or you're going nowhere." The Ferryman told you.

Damn it, this was a bad idea. You thought this guy wouldn't care, but he's just a greedy crook after all.

What will you do?
>>
>>4148393
"Fine."

It'd be a shame if anything happened to him on either trip.
>>
>>4148393
We should rough him up and steal the boat.
>>
>>4148393
Okay I take it back. For now, we'll just have to play along, but we'll definitely get our money back one way or another when we get to Hoarfrost.

>>4148432
This is the worst thing we could possibly do right now.
>>
>>4148443
Wait I got an idea, lets do as he says then bring velkha to threaten him, who gonna believe we're her friend with Velkhana and We set she on him?
>>
Just as a heads-up, we had exactly 44,917 Zenny.
>>
Right so I haven't checked in on this quest for a while so keep that in mind while I ask this: Why don't we just ask the Sapphire star to take us? Pretty sure the commander would agree if we said we're bringing along the guy that killed Shara, yeah? I'm also pretty sure the guy would understand if we asked him to just stay at the base there while we go on our walkabout.
>>
>>4148567
The problem there is that the Star is in Seliana already, where we need to be.
>>
You growled in a low tone to yourself.

"Fine," You say. "I'll pay."

"Heh heh heh! That's what I thought!" The Ferryman says, tossing his rum down into the water.

The Ferryman grabs a crate from his boat and throws it into your arms. It is a large crate, and empty from the seems.

"Go load the dragon up in it and put him near the end of the housing down there. I'll come around and pick you up. You can pay along the way."

You say nothing and just walk off with the crate, going around the tradeyard and taking care not to step into the line of sight of the Commander while you did. You make it past his sight well enough and go up the walkway to your housing.

At this point now, you were facing difficulty from Shara that surpassed the difficulty behind having to make that decision back there. He refused to get into the box.

"No! I don't want to!" He whined.

"It's too cramped!" He moaned.

"I don't like wood!" He complained.

"This building around you is made out of wood!"

"Yes, but... it's not cramped!"

"Get in the box Shara! It's the only way!"

"Never!"

"GET IN THE BOX!"

"You will have to make me!"

"That can be arranged!"

"No! Don't touch me! NO!"

"HGN! GET... IN!"

"GAH! HNNG! NOOO!"

Though it took much great effort, you are eventually able to wrestle Shara into the box. The little Elder Dragon put up much resistance, but in the end you were able to overpower him at the cost of his wingtips and claws giving you a few scratches over the chest.

Thankfully, the crate was able to resist his pounding from the inside. The top part you could snap back onto notches meant to hold it in place. And best of all, Vivianne was luckily undisturbed by the rough housing you just performed with Shara. You slip your Khezu set and Usurper's Roar Gunlance back on.

You pick up the crate, finding it to be much heavier than Shara was normally already, and manage to get out of your house with it, locking up before heading down to the end of the line where the Ferryman awaited, far out of the Commander's sight.

The way down to the Ferryman's boat is a small drop, so you are forced to slide down with the crate in your arms over the railing to fall down to the Ferry. It helps to suppress a lot of the sound, but it hurts your foot for the moment and makes you have to hold in some swears over it.

Now with everything in order, the Ferryman makes you put on an extra hat he had to help mask yourself somewhat before he took off, leaving Astera to transport you off to Seliana...
>>
>>4148665
I loled.
>>
Halfway through the trip, the Ferryman asks for the money. You had all your Zenny on you. You wanted to find some way to get the last laugh and deprive him of it in the end, but for now, you oblige and hand over the master purse holding every last coin of yours.

'Heh heh heh! Your money will be well spent, rest assured."

You said nothing back as you sat and waited. Shara stopped thumping along the way, and before long you find yourself nearing the dock that sat not far from Seliana in the Hinterlands.

The Ferryman docks his boat there and and casts a rope around the hitches, standing up to pop another bottle of rum from his supply, which looked like it would never end.

"Alright! You got what you wanted! Now get and go do your scutapooting! Your money will stay with me. I swear by my mum's grave that I'll sit and wait until you want to go back. AND, I won't say a thing! So long as you don't rat me out for extorting you, I won't rat you out for disobeying the Commander's rules. It's a help me help you sorta thing, capiche?"

"And another thing, keep the crate, it's just wood. Don't pop it around anyone else unless you want people to get suspicious."

>Clobber him to a pulp.
>Open the crate and sic Shara on him.
>Knock him out with your shield.
>Ask Shara mentally what can be done about this extortion.
>Go on your way peacefully to Seliana and head out.
>Write in.
>>
>>4148676
>Halfway through the trip, the Ferryman asks for the money. You had all your Zenny on you. You wanted to find some way to get the last laugh and deprive him of it in the end, but for now, you oblige and hand over the master purse holding every last coin of yours.

Noice*
>>
>>4148676
>Ask Shara mentally what can be done about this extortion.
Not yet...
>>
>>4148676
>Go on your way peacefully to Seliana and head out.
We'll unleash the big based attack on him later.
>>
>>4148676
>Ask Shara mentally what can be done about this extortion.
>>
"Shara, do you hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you. Can I come out of this wretched compartment now?"

"No, not yet. I need to ask you something. That guy just extorted me. Can you help me somehow with this?"

"Yes actually, but you must let me out of the crate for now."

You didn't know whether or not you should do that given that Shara didn't tell you just how he was going to help.

"Well? What are you standing around here for? Get lost!" The Ferryman says, annoyed with your presence.

But you didn't truly care now.

You reach down and pop the lid off of the crate.

"Huh?! H-Hey! What are you doing taking it out here?!"

Before the Ferryman could get another word out, you backed off as Shara suddenly came out of the crate like a bolt of lightning, leaping up and tackling the Ferryman down, pinning him to the deck of his small boat with his claw at the neck of the man.

"G-Guh! G-Get him off me!" The Ferryman called, reaching out to you.

You just stood there staring down at him blankly, doing nothing to stop Shara.

"I-I was gonna tell on you anyway! Help me! I won't do it if you just help me!"

Shara moved his wingtips down, pressing them into the eyelids of the feeble man and pulling them open. The Ferryman was silenced by Shara's other claw grasping his mouth. He could do nothing except stare back into the golden orbs that were Shara's own eyes.

And that was exactly what the Everwyrm wanted. You see the Ferryman spasm, his eyes roll into the back of his head and he goes motionless as Shara gets off of him. A small trail of blood comes out from his nose.

"What.... what did you do to him...?"

"He lowered all the resistance he could put up mentally staring back into my eyes. By focusing all I could on his weak and wizened mind, I was able to lobotomize him."

"LOBOTOMIZE HIM?!"

"Do not worry, I haven't totally made him amnesia-ridden. I've only erased his memories of everything just up to the start of today."

"I.... I have no words."

"You don't need to have any. Let us just continue."

"Get in the box."

Shara's gaze bounces between you and the crate and he sighs, listening this time and climbing back into the crate.

You placed the top over it and picked him up in it, preparing to take him out to Seliana, and then the Hinterlands. You made sure to collect your money back from the Ferryman before setting out.

It would be a treacherous journey carrying him that far, but you could do it, it was just until the nearest camp you could find before you could set him down to walk on his own after all....
>>
Along your way, you would encounter yet another problem just as you managed to slip through Seliana without any questions easy enough...

Shara himself didn't know where Velkhana lived at personally. Questioned him brings it to your attention that in their early days, as he explains it, they were the ones who came to him. He tells you that he values privacy as a quality everyone should possess, thus he refused to learn about their own personal homes himself.

You liked privacy when you wanted it as much as the next guy, but that was seriously senseless to you. But, he is a Dragon... and Elder Dragons are different....

You decide to stop at the seventh Central Camp, the same one you spent time at during your previous mission here to slay Ukanlos. Shara is mostly unaffected by the cold temperature, but he tells you any would-be hostile Monsters out there who wield Ice as an element could be dangerous to him.

You reassure him you'll both lay low. There was still plenty of Hot Drinks left behind at this camp, so you restock and allow Shara to drink one from your hand just to be on the safe side.

Now, as for where you would be headed, there were a few plausible spots.

There was that Direfrost Strait, the same place teeming with Khezu. More than just the spire there seemed like a good place to look for Velkhana.

There was the Avalanche Mountain standing near the field where Ukanlos remained at. There could be plenty of spots for Velkhana to stay there.

There was of course places marked on the map of Hoarfrost Reach that also were referred to as 'lairs'. Definitely sounded like a place an Elder Dragon would live in.

And there was an arctic ocean side landscape farther out north where plenty of icebergs and shelves were, a place treacherous even for the other life of Hoarfrost Reach to remain in. Sounds perfect for Velkhana.

>Search the Strait.
>Search the Mountain.
>Search various Lairs.
>Travel through the iceberg coasts in search.
>>
>>4148858
>>Search the Mountain
>>
>>4148859
Jeeze, you get back really fast don't you?
>>
>>4148858
>Search the Mountain.
>>
>>4148858
Mountain
>>
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You decide to check what was closest first, the Avalanche Mountain.

You take Shara through the heavy snow of the area and out to the ice field where Ukanlos was slain at before. To your surprise, the body of the giant was nowhere to be found. You guessed it must have been claimed by the Commission's detachment here in Seliana already.

Damn, they were fast.

Unfortunately, the giant ice platforms left behind from Ukanlos quaking the area still stand tall. You take extra careful procedure scaling them with your Slinger hook and Shara in your arms, letting him climb up ahead of you as you passed the platforms and got off back onto snow so heavy and packed, you could walk right across it like solid ground rather than sink through.

The trip up the mountain was barely made. The wind pressure increased far too much for your liking the father up you went with Shara sticking right behind you.

Somewhere along the way, you come out to a spot where you are able to see a massive cave mouth here, one big enough that even Ukanlos might have been able to fit inside.

You call out with your voice inside the cave, taking care not to shout loud enough to cause an avalanche. You get no response...

Investigate the cave further?

>Yes.
>No.

If not, then where will you search at next?
>>
>>4148899
Investigate, but get your flashpods out.

And shout using telepathy you silly.

Maybe warn Shara though.
>>
>>4148904
Support
>>
>>4148904
A... Anon.... we don't have any flash pods check the sheet

Also, I can't help but feel now that coming here might be a bad idea. Z man came when we called for him, he might see us conversing with Velkhana and Shara and then there goes any semblance of non-hostility we had with him.
>>
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Best girl confirmed in the New World.
>>
>>4149145
This news brings me joy as a tribab.
Alatreon worst girl though
>>
>Shara just casually lobotomized a man
Is...is Shara really the good guy in all of this?
>>
>>4149874
That guy tried robbing us and admitted he was going to tattle anyway so fuck him. Shara being able to mindrape for us is useful.
>>
>>4149874
He's just a pragmatist.
>>
>>4149874
Yes hes the good guy.
>>
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My internet got fucked last night but I'm back now that my chores are done. Also Alatreon, cool deal.

Slowly, you stepped within the boundary of the cave alongside Shara, looking around as you went deeper within.

"Could Velkhana be in here?"

"I do not know. We must discover that ourselves."

The cave grew darker as you went further inside, but the Scoutflies helped to lighten things up a bit for you to see as you tread lightly.

From what you could tell, this cave might go deeper within the mountain, and who knows where it will follow out to either. There was two ways to go up ahead from what you could see. A way on the ground level here leading forward into darkness, and a way up a stone ramp naturally formed here that lead to more darkness past stalactites.

Halfway through your exploration inside, you stopped at the rasping of a rock being moved from behind and turned to face whatever it was with Shara.

There, you saw the real inhabitants of the cave, it wasn't Velkhana. The two beings you saw were Gigginox, these Flying Wyverns were much like Khezu, but far nimbler, and with incredibly potent poison.

The two things were blind and deaf just like Khezu, but their attraction to heat signatures were luring them closer as they began to pick up what they detected from you and Shara. The Hot Drinks you were forced to consume didn't help much with that either.

You thought about using Flash Pods, but you didn't have any, not that they'd work. Screamers won't either.

"Animals.... We need to get away from them." Shara tells you.

Out of curiosity, you try listening in at the Gigginox twins with your connection...

"FOOD.."
"FOOD!"
"FOOD?"
"....FOOD!"

You didn't know what you expected.

>Let's chance it and try running past the Gigginoxes.
>Let's trace the bottom way through the cave and see where it takes us.
>Let's trace the top way through and see where we'll end up at.
>I'll distract them both and give Shara time to run out, and then follow.
>Write in.
>>
>>4150517
>QM remembered Gigginox before Capcom did
This makes me happy and sad at the same time.

>Let's trace the top way through and see where we'll end up at.
Bottom way risks us getting snatched up, if I recall how they operate.
>>
>>4150517
>Let's trace the top way through and see where we'll end up at.
>>
>>4150517
>Trace up
>not food
>>
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"Come on!" You said to Shara as you turned back and ran.

The little Everwyrm was kicked into gear as he went with you side by side. The two Gigginoxes detected the heat signature becoming fainter, and so they both moved to pursue and not lose you.

You heard the creatures screech from behind as they chased you, now recognizing you and Shara as the food they so desired.

You heard them mount the ceiling and walls, running across them to catch up. You see one come from the side, it outstretched it's neck at you, but you ducked to get out of way.

The first Gigginox on the wall still continued to give chase, but it's pursuit is cut short by it crashing into a collection of stalactites as it went. They were blind after all.

The second one on the ceiling pulls a stranger trick, outpacing you and speeding forward up ahead on the ceiling, vanishing into the darkness. You thought it was mistaken, but you were quite wrong.

After a period of slower running through the cave with Shara, you eventually see the opening appear up ahead, but just before you are able to reach it, the Gigginox on the ceiling suddenly shot it's head down and lobbed an orb of poison at you which exploded around all over as a mist.

You cough and drew your Gunlance, blowing some shells into the mouth and neck of the Gigginox to repel it before you ran out with Shara.

You thought there would be more solid ground ahead, but as you sheathed your Gunlance, you were startled to instead find that an immediate slide downwards through the snow awaited after you stepped out of the mouth of the exit.

You and Shara were sent down sliding through the snow to invisible depths below shrouded by the harsh snowy wind. A rock hidden under the snow hits your leg on the fast slide down, making you clench your teeth in pain as you lost your momentum and went rolling down instead...
>>
>>4150746
wat
>>
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You spiraled down through the snow on the side of the mountain like a ball of it thrown by a Lagombi, hitting many other stones and branches hidden underneath on the way down.

It was like being a Felyne caught inside one of those industrial machines meant for washing masses of clothes at a time load by load back in some cities you've seen in the Old World. Truly a grimacing experience.

And as you finally rolled down to flatter ground where you lost traction and stopped, thinking it couldn't get any worse, you leaned up and saw Shara slide onto a rock which sent him flying through the air. At you.

You just close your eyes as he falls into you hard, banging the back of your skull to the densely packed snow. You were battered like a bunch of Kecha Wacha just assaulted you with sticks, but hey, at least you broke his fall being in the way.

"I am... terribly sorry..." Shara says, giving your bruised face an apologetic lick.

"ITS..... fine...." You get out as you push yourself up and wince at the pain.

And if things couldn't get any worse, you were so heavily covered in snow, and it was so cold, you couldn't pop the top off of your antidotes, they were frozen solid and would require thawing. You were forced to use a valuable Herbal Medicine for the poison which had worked you down to a critical state.

"Human." Shara addressed you, tugging on your sleeve with his wingtips. "Look."

You looked over at what he was trying to direct you to, and you saw that you were near the lip of where the coastal area began. Besides that, you saw a slender dark figure through the icy wind far up ahead.

And then you and Shara both hear something from that way.

"Come cMoseR. I ᴀm oveR HeRe."

That sort of sounds like.... Velkhana!

>Alright, we found her! Lets go on over.
>Wait, something doesn't seem right here...
>>
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>>4150800
>Wait, something doesn't seem right here...
CMOSER ISN'T A WORD
>>
>>4150800
>Wait, something doesn't seem right here...
No way wyverigger.
>>
>>4150807
I have no clue why it came out like that, I tried copypasting from one of those 'small text generators'.
>>
>>4150800
Is that Alatreon?

>"I am... terribly sorry..." Shara says, giving your bruised face an apologetic lick.
GAAAAAAAY!
>>
>>4150833
Two horns instead of three.
>>
>>4150800
>Wait, something doesn't seem right here...
Velkhana was much more fluent than this beast, while it is still capable of some higher thought and not mindless as previous monsters, we must still treat it is a potential foe.
>>
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>>4150869
Maybe more
>>
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"Something is off here..." You say, beginning to back up.

"...That is not Velkhana..." Shara says.

"No shite." You say in annoyance as you looked back and realized the only way to go was forward.

There wasn't any feasible way you could escape back up the mountain now in time if that thing decided to chase you. And especially not in this condition.

Unfortunately, that was it's plan.

You see the dark figure spread it's wings, and they looked nothing like Velkhana's. It flies forward fast through the sky like an arrow, shooting off towards you and Shara.

You ducked down and tackled Shara to safety despite the pain as the figure swooped down, attempting to grab you.

The thing stood above you and Shara as you struggled to your feet.

"Why are you afraid? I'm a friend!" It says in Velkhana's voice again.

"You are no friend... I know what you are... spinner of lies!" Shara shouted at the thing.

"Hrhmmm...." It growled in Velkhana's voice before there was a change.

"How rude a greeting! And to think I just wanted to talk!" It says then in a new voice, one that clicked with each word. It was the very kind of voice you'd expect to hear from a typical schemer, snakelike...

"You want to deliver untruth to my Human."

"That's untruthful if anything. Why I would never lie! I'll tell you the truth, I planned on doing a little more than talking depending on how the talk goes."

"Oh yeah? And what is that?" You piped up.

"Well, I was also going to hurt you. But THAT much, I swear!" The unidentified Dragon says, raising it's claw and barring them. "...Or do I?

Shara gives you a look of emergency!

>RUN!
>Talk with the Dragon, see what this mysterious Elder wants.
>Write in.
>>
>>4150931
>Write in.
Whisper to Shara to use his power to move the earth under us and dig a tunnel to somewher safe, while we keep whatever it is busy by listening what it got to say. Whisper as talking not uaing the connection.
>>
>>4150931
>Nefu Garumudo
Uh oh.
>>
>>4150931
>Talk with the Dragon, see what this mysterious Elder wants.
To stall for time, if anything.
>>
>>4150931
>Is there anybody besides shara who wasnt driven mad by the wyvern war?
>Hit me with your best shot mind whammy dragon.
>>
>>4150961
The Nefu were the first casualties after the Foremost learned how to manipulate Biorenergy.
>>
"Shara..." You whispered from your mouth, looking down at him in the eyes with your head turned away from the figure.

"You have to use your power, make a tunnel or something while I keep it busy...."

Shara nods at you silently. and leans down, pressing his wingtips into the dirt below as to not appear using his powers.

You stepped forward towards the figure.

"Alright you, we'll talk." You say.

"Splendid, that's the welcoming I prefer."

"You don't usually get it when you try taking someone's head off you know."

"I'm old and I don't fly that much, give me a break."

"....Just cut to the chase then, what do you want to talk about?"

"It's come to my attention that recently my Master suffered yet another of his rather severe mental episodes, as a result of his most recent talk with you in fact. I think he is being much too lenient with you."

"So, I've come to give you a few words, and convince you to do something I desire."

"If you want to try coercing me, then you'll be wasting your breath."

"Nah ah ah! You see, I have more... direct methods than Master."

"Threatening me won't cut it either."

"Trust me, I go beyond mere threats. I do, not say. I get results! If I really feel it is what I should do, then know that I will kill you here and now without a second thought about it."

"...?!"

"Let's begin simply." The figure says, coughing and waving his wings. "First, allow me to introduce myself."

You covered your face as the figure generated air pressure waving his wings. The icy air around disperses and you see his full form, bright and gleaming with golden parts.
>>
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"I am... Advisor, to my Master whom you already know. I am one of the last Nefu Garumudo, the Pharaoh Dragons. I serve him with much loyalty."

"What do you want me to do for you...?"

"I have a small list." The Advisor says.

"First, you shall return to the oversized dumping site you call home, alone. You will leave the Everwyrm with me. Whatever happens to him after is none of your concern."

"Second, you shall cease every attempt to speak with Dragons and the First Wyverians totally, and resign yourself back to your normal life. Forget about all you know."

"Third..... Well... I don't have a third. Those two are good enough."

"You really think I'm just going to-"

"Yes, actually. If you do not, then like I said, I will kill you right here, RIGHT NOW, by goring you and then sloppily devouring your carcass so nobody ever knows what happened to you." The Nefu Garumudo Advisor interrupts. "And don't think I'm dull enough that I don't know what you're planning. Think you can get into whatever hole the Everwyrm can make there before I get'cha?"

You said nothing.

It almost seems like this Nefu Garumudo is smirking at you.

"Don't take it personal. I am only doing my part to ensure the future my Master desires comes true. You can either align with my wants or you can die. Either way, you won't be interfering anymore by consorting with the Everwyrm and it's cabal. I really... REALLY need the good old days back."

>Ask the Nefu Garumudo something.
>Accept his terms and hand Shara over.
>Bolt for Shara and try to get out of here.
>Hold out and lock eyes with Nefu.
>Write in.
>>
>>4151063
>Hold out and lock eyes with Nefu.
He is trying to intimidate us, even if this guy is is more than just bark it's clearly underestimating us, We faced Unkalos, Leishen, cleric beast and many other more what is one more big ego, Also grab Shara and ring the bell let's get out of here and go for bloodborne world.
>>
>>4151063
>>Hold out and lock eyes with Nefu.
Bluff him, buy as my time for Shara as possible, ask him about what he means the good old days. Does he mean the wars or the era of progress?
>>
>>4151084
This, lets hope he spills the beans on why he wants to cuck himself out to Zuhramon too.
>>
"Hmpf."

The Nefu glares at you, you don't think he's smirking anymore.

"Good old days?"

"Yeah.... the good old days..." The Advisor says with a lust for it in his eyes.

"What kind of good old days?"

"What other good old days could I be taLKING ABOUT?!" He says, raising his voice suddenly.

You shrug, daring to test his patience.

"Oh! I'm of course talking about the days when my kind were mass slaughtered after the war kicked off! Those good old days!"

"You don't even need to wait to get that back, I could help you right now."

"OH.... Ohhhhohoho... You're much better for banter than I thought you would be." The Advisor says.

"I'm talking about some swell times when we were still kings under kings."

"The Ancients turned the tables on you, I know they subjugated your kind."

"Yes... indeed... they took every last one of us Pharaohs as more servants... and it was bliss..."

"Sounds more like some naturally submissive fantasy to me."

"What would you know?! Back in those times we weren't so much servants to the Ancients than we were just more denizens of their civilization... ones who even reaped more benefits than the average Ancient bystander."

"Life was so much easier back then. We would all be advisors, and we served other menial capacities that didn't require much else effort. Most of our time was spent laying around on comfy big pillows in high class keeps and tall palaces, being fed platters of grapes and fruits by automatic caretakers and fanned, washed and given everything we wanted at a mere tap of our claws...."

"We thought to manipulate Man into becoming our servants from the beginning... we wanted to use them to carve out an Empire. They ended up carving out an Empire anyway and they let us stay for the ride. We got what we wanted regardless. We were kings, just without crowns."

"So you just want.... to be taken care of? That's why you want Zuhramon to succeed? So you can be... lazy again?!"

"Yes! YES! Look at me! I'm mostly gold! My kind were born to be served and catered to by thralls! We were born to be handed everything! So long as we kept feeding those Ancient the delicious advice they wanted so, they'd also keep our bellies full and our place secure in their civilization! It was great! FANTASTIC!"
>>
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"There's so few of us anymore. We're forced to have to dirty ourselves, to hunt and draw blood from mangy animals personally. We have to live in bogs and our old deserts barely scraping by. Of course I want Ancient Civilization back, I want my old easy life back!"

This megalomaniac... had quite... a motivation.

"And just because we're lethargic doesn't mean we aren't fit. We can still fight well, just not as well as other Dragons. I can still kill you easily."

"I've been waiting so... so.... so... SO very long for Zuhramon to return. I'm not going to let ANYTHING get in his way. You're just an average Human, you dying won't mean anything in the long run."

"I don't know, Zuhramon seems to want me to trust him quite a lot. Are you sure he'd really be alright knowing you killed me over this petty trite you're giving me?"

"I might receive a beating for it... since he trusts you.... but... aaahhhh.... he'll get over it, and I'll still be alive. I'd still get what I want. Look at my eyes.... look at how RAVENOUS I am for what I once had! I'M HUNGRY FOR IT! STARVED! I WANT IT BACK! I WANT MY KINGLY PLACE BACK! I'D CHASE YOU TO THE END OF THE EARTH TO GET IT IF I HAD TO!"

Shara mouths a noise to you. It seems he's ready.

Will you try making a run for it now?
>>
>>4151140
So everyone WAS driven crazy by the ancient civ. Cool.
>>
>>4151140
Man, this guy is just a big house cat. Smoke bomb his face and bolt.
>>
>>4151140
Now hear me out, what if we offered him something closer to what he remembers? As I recall from previous threads there's a group of monster worshiping gajalaka back on the mainland that would probably love a new monster to worship seeing as their poor old lagiacrus won't be around forever. At the very least a quicker route to worship and care might get his attention long enough for us to bolt.
>>
>>4151173
I get the idea, but somehow I don't think he'll settle for anything less than the real deal.
>>
>>4151140
Lets yeet.
>>
Guys. We have a dung pod.
>>
>>4151219

USE THE DUNG POD

IT'S TOO PERFECT
>>
"I'D DO ANYTHING!" The Advisor Nefu Garumudo said.

Just then, the Dark Crystal Dragon began to step closer towards you, and you stepped back to meet it's pace.

"I'd... rip you limb from limb... I'd kill my own kind... you've no idea the boundaries I'm willing to go! Hah hah hah!"

Nefu Garumudo's body begins to light up brighter with blue energy.

"Why do I even grant you a choice? You... someone who hasn't seen the light despite staring into it's blinding horizon... I shouldn't take any chances... shouldn't be merciful... I keep to my word."

You slowly loaded something from your bag into your slinger as Shara raised his wings.

"Ohhhh.... Human... Everwyrrrrm.... you both had your chances... You both play a good game... but now... you... DI-"

You raised your hand quickly and launched the Dung Pod you had on hand right into the Nefu Garumudo's face. The Elder Dragon was taken by surprise.

"CKYAAAAAGH! WHAT IS THIS?! THIS HORRIBLE SMELL AND TASTE... IS... IS THIS...?! OH! YOU LITTLE BASTARD! YOU'RE MINE!"

You turned and made a run for it, coming over and getting behind Shara. As Nefu Garumudo bounded forward towards you and Shara, the Everwyrm jabbed his wingtips into the snow, to the ground below.

There was a rumbling, and you heard Shara's song as his vibrations worked their way through the earth. You see what he did, as a massive segment of the ground below suddenly explodes out right underneath the feet of the Advisor, knocking the murderous Pharaoh to his back.

Shara spun around quickly and jumped onto you, taking you to the ground as he latched onto you with his claws and 'hugged' your body with his wings.

"Hold your breath." He tells you.

You listen, inhaling enough air to last before you wormed your hand up over your face and let your Mogan lungs do the trick.

You closed your eyes as you heard Shara's song all around, and you felt much colder as you sank into the ground below with him.

The feeling of being carried by him and his wings through the earth was like flying through the air, or sinking down fast into a body of water. But instead of air or water, all you felt was cold dirt, gravel, rocks here and there, and then snow...
>>
When you felt the actual air again, you opened your eyes to find yourself laying down in snow. The ground underneath you must have looked like a grave that had just been covered up after being dug out.

Shara stood over you, blinking down curiously.

From what you could tell now looking around, you were now in that coastal area with the icebergs. It must have been quite a long ways off from where Nefu Garumudo should be at now.

"He may try to find us again. We should get a move on."

You stood up as Shara got off, brushing yourself and drinking down another Hot Drink.

>Let's search this area, it seems to be barren of life well enough, that's usually a sign of Elder Dragons like Velkhana being around.
>Get Shara to tunnel you back to the Mountain.
>Get Shara to tunnel you back to the Strait.
>Tell Shara that you and him should turn back and try to get home before anyone gets suspicious again.
>Get him to try and call out to the air for Velkhana with his song.
>Write in.
>>
>>4151270
>Let's search this area, it seems to be barren of life well enough, that's usually a sign of Elder Dragons like Velkhana being around.
>>
>>4151270
>Let's search this area, it seems to be barren of life well enough, that's usually a sign of Elder Dragons like Velkhana being around.
>>
Best to start here before anything else you think. This coastal area was large and open and the abundance of icebergs would allow you to simply skip across them if you needed to head further out into the arctic waters.

Right now from where you stood, you drew your binoculars and looked out all around to see what could you spot in the area. Many things come into view as you scan around the landscape.

To your right, you see a massive iceberg out in the waters surrounded by many more others. The thing that made this particularly large one stand out was the fact it may have been hollow. There was a wide mouth on the iceberg like the entrance to yet another cave or similar dwelling. It might be well worth checking out.

To your left, you see something moving about in the snowy fields. The body of this thing you saw moving on along out there looked very... much like a Tzitzi-Ya-Ku. But that didn't make any sense, why would a creature like that be out here? Maybe you should investigate, it could be a new subspecies.

Behind, you see a plethora of paths lined by rocks and crystalline ice walls standing up tall behind some boreal trees in the place. Compared to anywhere else you've seen as of yet in the Hoarfrost Reach here, that looked like the most out of place sight yet. It might have been a lair...

>Investigate the Iceberg.
>Investigate the creature you saw.
>Investigate the lair.
>Write in.
>>
>>4151987
We shouldn't, but...
>Investigate the creature you saw.
>>
>>4151987
>Investigate the lair.
>>
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Hmm....

You put your binoculars up and trailed off that way to the left, coming up on the snowy fields where the land met with the sea, and froze over into ice on the water.

Shara came along too, curious as well, but doubtful this was the way you should go wit him. You just had to get a look, you were immensely interested in seeing what it was.

You come closer and look over. The figure there was using it's claws to scratch marks into the ice over the shallow ends of the frozen water. Then, you see it peck it and split the ice. It's hands go down and pull up fish which it swallowed down before it heaved up the block of ice it broke out.

This thing had feathers. Ah, it must have been a Kulu-Ya-Ku, the relative of Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, you read about them once.

Though this one had much paler scales in comparison to it's desert brethren, and the plumage stretched from it's head all the way down it's back, it was like a jungle of feathers with unique greenish patterns standing up on it's back.

The thing raises it's head and looks over at you with it's pink eyes curiously, chirping as you observed it.

Why... you've discovered a new subspecies! This was incredible! You could get to name it even as the discoverer of it.

Why this information would dazzle those researchers quite a lot if you were to-NEARGH!

Damn it! The Kulu-Ya-Ku variant chucks it's ice cube at you, hitting you square in the forehead and knocking you down to your feet, inflicting Iceblight!

The thing gives out it's screech of a roar and begins to scratch the ice again, ready to pick up more cubes.

>That's it! IT'S ON NOW!
>You know what, let's just leave it be.
>>
>>4152227
>You know what, let's just leave it be.
the more time we waste the more time doggy has to find us. Let's go back to tracking Velkhana.
>>
>>4152227
>You know what, let's just leave it be.
>>
You turned as you got up and walked away, leaving the Kulu-Ya-Ku variant alone to itself as Shara came too.

It was just a big bird that threw things, no real threat. Just leave it be, what can it do to you n-GHAARGH!

....

It just... it just threw another cube at you, into the back of your head!

It's... it's following you! Intentionally following you to throw things, it scrapes up snow and packs it into a ball, making it like hail. This thing wants to purposely harm you! What an arse! You didn't do anything to him!

Ah, well, you'll just lose him.

Picking up Shara, you went ahead and ran up ahead despite the Iceblight. The Kulu-Ya-Ku subspecies became so occupied scraping up snow that it can't keep up with you anymore.

You continue back the way you came and instead go out to the lair you saw, disappearing behind the trees and the ice...
>>
If the slog you had to come through before was bad, then the slog through the winding wraparounds that made up the maze leading into the center of this lair was even worse.

You and Shara go through over and over again, misleading yourselves into ways you thought were new, only to end up facing walls you've already seen again. It was troublesome.

Though, you knew these couldn't have formed naturally here in the heart of the woods, they were too unusual and fine. They weren't old from what you could tell. These had to have been made by something that lives here, and you were determined to find what exactly. This place did provide good cover to hide from the Nefu with, so you had plenty of time.

You turn left, seeing three possible ways to go through the ice walls formed around the trees and stumps of these arctic woods. You go through the second, climb a ramp and slide down with Shara into more ways. You almost run into spikes of ice standing off the walls, but maneuver around... you've gotten very closer.

Deeper and deeper you, now getting the hang of it, until you at last reach what stands in the core of these woods. It is a large space where everything around was frozen, and there is something sleeping against the ice walls.

Shara perks up at it's snoring form.

"Iceborne Dragon!" He calls out.

The figure stops snoring and snaps back to consciousness in a hurry. You see by their face as it leans up that it is Velkhana, the one you've sought.

"...T.... T-Teacher?!"

"Student!" Shara exclaims, wiggling out of your arms and coming over so fast he nearly slips on the ice.

Velkhana got to her feet quickly and lowered her head to Shara, bringing it down to nuzzle against his tinier form.

"I've missed you dearly old friend!" They both said simultaneously.

You smiled to yourself and crossed your arms, glad to have been able to help Shara find his old friend.

But now you thought things were a bit awkward. Shara and Velkhana were just sitting there now with locked eyes. They barely made even a breath. They were probably talking to each other in their special draconic way, mayhaps masking their speech from your mind to hear.

What will you do now?
>>
>>4152318
Idunno, make a snow dragon?
>>
>>4152318
Give them some space and be on lookout in case the yandere lapdog shows up.
>>
>>4152318
>Well yall have fun with that.
>Go appreciate the beauty of nature. The Commander is going to roast your ass when you get back.
>>
>>4152338
This. Pick the highest point, grab our Ghillie Mantle and bring out our binoculars.
>>
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Backing away, you decided to let Shara and Velkhana have some space. It has been so very long since they've seen each other last, and you can't imagine just how long either.

You slowly stepped away as they continued to stare into each other's eyes deeply.

You looked around outside the little frozen maze Velkhana erected as a home and spotted quite a large tree up high, right next to a cliff risen in the terrain. You donned your Ghillie Mantle and scooped up hand fulls of snow which you clapped to spread all over your mantle like powder. It effectively blended you in with the snow perfectly.

You grabbed hold of the branches you could reach and climbed up the tree slowly, watching your step along the way. You climbed all the way to the top as you could and then let yourself off on the cliff. You were indistinguishable from the snow, so you lay down a bit lower, crouching as you pull your binoculars out and look to the coast.

You could see everything well from here, looking out at anything you could spot.

You wanted to see if you could spot Nefu Garumudo trying to find your trail again, so you went back and forth across the wide area until your eyes fell on that Kulu-Ya-Ku subspecies from earlier minding it's own business.

You thought that was nothing important, until you see what you're looking for. Nefu Garumudo comes into view, landing near the Kulu-Ya-Ku and startling it. Surprisingly enough, that ballsy bird throws a cube of ice at the Elder Dragon, unafraid of it.

That bird has some real King Armor Spheres on it to do something that bold, even if it didn't harm the Dragon in the slightest, even if the Advisor swipes it across the region immediately after.

You observed Nefu's actions here. The Elder was sniffing around, trying it's best to locate your scent.

But then, something seems to put the Dark Crystal Dragon on alert... on the defense.

But what...?
>>
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You get your answer then.

Something large and dark like Nefu from what you could see suddenly descends upon the Dark Crystal Dragon from the sky! Taking him down to the ground in one powerful slam from up high!

It was another Elder Dragon! And those horns... Nergigante?

Nergigante was overpowering Nefu physically easily, holding the Dark Crystal Dragon down and rubbing his face into the snow. You see Nergigante raise it's claw, and then there is a burst when it brings it down onto the face of the Advisor, slinging snow and cold dirt about!

Nergigante was said to devour Elders. If it was after Nefu, it was here for a meal.

Nefu Garumudo evens the odds then, you see him jam his tail into the ground, and there is multiple implosions from below that blow Nergigante back, freeing the Dark Crystal Dragon from it's grasp.

Nefu Garumudo powers up with it's blue aura as Nergigante stands and roars, ready to face off to the death with the Advisor.

You didn't know who would win... but this would be a perfect opportunity to seal the Advisor's fate...

Will you sit and watch for amusement? Or will you go down there yourself and see about helping Nergigante out?
>>
>>4152471
Decisions, decisions... what to do, Let's see how it goes, Kang-Dragon might have a few tricks on his paws, let Nergigante take him on so we can learn what to expect from him.
>>
>>4152471
>see about helping Nergigante out
Only if the battle looks to shift against him.
>>
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>>4152471
Help negro
Nefu bouta fucking DIE
>>
Remember that el Negro Gigante is listed under Arch Enemies.
>>
>>4152471
>Help out Nergigante.
I wonder if this is the same Nergigante from the Siege? We should really apologize for that cannon barrage after it got cratered by Yama.
>>
>>4152471
>>Help out Nergigante.
Enemy of my enemy
>>
For the moment, you stood up and watched the battle Nefu Garumudo and Nergigante had with one another.

Nergigante charges to shoulder block the Pharaoh, but Nefu Garumudo spins, leaving behind a trail of blue energy in the air that explodes into an electrical burst upon Nergigante making contact with it.

You watched it manipulate the Earth below much like Shara Ishvalda did. Using it's tail, Nefu brings out pillars of limestone from below that shoot out and converge on the Extinction Dragon. Nefu flew around, touching each with the tip of it's tail, which opened to reveal a bright crystal hidden inside.

The stones tinged with vibrations that intensified until finally they exploded, shrouding Nergigante in a cloud of dust as the Pharaoh flies over and looks down.

Nergigante wasn't down for the count yet, it jumps out of the smoke and you see it's claw get a hold on Nefu's throat before it takes the Pharaoh down to the ground and slams him, throwing him to roll across the snow into some trees after.

Nefu tries to get up, but Nergigante doesn't let him have the chance as it charges forward again and bashes him with it's horns.

The Dark Crystal Dragon presses it's hands against the chest of Nergigante, and you see it manipulate Bioenergy, blowing the brute off with an invisible force. Nergigante looks up, only to be met with the Crystal in Nefu's tail striking it in the face as it flies out suddenly before retracting back and locking in place within the gold. The blue energy left behind explodes, keeping Nergigante down.

From what you've observed, Nefu Garumudo's strength lies solely within it's control over Bioenergy, and the power it inherently possessed from the Crystal. It was otherwise weak, being far outmatched by Nergigante's own physique. However, with the way things were going now, it seemed that Nefu Garumudo would eventually drive Nergigante off.

The Advisor had advantages over Nergigante in it's ability to think tactically here with it's heightened intelligence, and it's other strange abilities.

You couldn't let it live past this point. You had to help.

Jumping down back to the tree and making your way to the ground, you rush through the snow, getting on your way to assist Nerigante....
>>
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You watched Nefu carefully as you made a silent approach in your Ghillie Mantle.

The Advisor was standing on top of Nergigante, whom he had pinned by trapping it's wing under a giant rock he summoned from below, one much too heavy to remove with Nefu's weight added onto it.

"What's the matter, bungler? Can't win against a real Dragon? Pathetic scavenger!"

You heard Nefu Garumudo taunting the Nergigante from where it was. You acted then.

You got a running start and made towards the rock Nefu had summoned. You ran up it's length and then jumped over Nefu's head, still undetected.

Pulling your Gunlance out, you swung down and hit Nefu Garumudo in it's neck, lodging the bayonet inside and allowing you to swing around as the Dark Crystal Dragon was taken by surprise. Landing your feet back onto the rock, you held your Gunlance in place and then pulled it's trigger, firing a Wyvern's Fire blast into the face of the Pharaoh. Your Khezu set's bonus made it a critical stealth strike.

"AAAARGH! YOU AGAIN! YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE!"

You ignored him as you jumped off of the rock.

"YOU FOOL! NOW THAT I HAVE YOU, I WILL KILL YO-"

Nergigante freed it's wing then, and you watched it push Nefu's head down into the snow, silencing him before the Dark Crystal Dragon was grabbed by both of it's claws! Nerigante focused it's strength and you saw it pull the Pharaoh over it's head before flinging him down to the ground!

"HUUUUEEERGH! HRAAAAGH!"

Nefu rose up as he flapped his gilded wings and charged himself with even more energy, drawing from his tail's crystal.

"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" He swore.

He began to charge up Bioenergy in his hands and the Crystal in his tail.

Nergigante roared and then galloped across the ground to reach him.

>Hitch a ride on Nergigante with your clutch claw and use the force of it to throw yourself up to Nefu Garumudo.
>Use Nergigante as cover for the inevitable blast back Nefu will unleash so you get an opening to reach him.
>Run the ways around and avoid Nefu's line of sight so you can jump off a tree to his back.
>Write in.
>>
>>4152627
>Hitch a ride on Nergigante with your clutch claw and use the force of it to throw yourself up to Nefu Garumudo.
>>
>>4152627
>>Run the ways around and avoid Nefu's line of sight so you can jump off a tree to his back.
Nerg's got the front and will take the brunt of the hit, if we take the roundabout path fast enough we should be mount the back and open him up for some damage.
>>
>>4152627
>Run the ways around and avoid Nefu's line of sight so you can jump off a tree to his back.
>>
You bolted to the side, aiming to get around in time.

Nergigante continued it's charge at Nefu Garumudo, careless about it's attack being charged up, something it would be punished for ignoring as it closed the distance and came only inches away from being able to strike Nefu Garumudo.

As it came close, Nefu Garumudo roared and threw it's limbs forward, unleashing a blinding shockwave from it's body that cast Nergigante aside as it got caught within the current. The crystal in Nefu Garumudo's tail hummed to life as it unleashed a stream of blue energy that struck Nergigante, carrying it away into the side of a rise in the terrain.

You had used your hook well enough on a tree that stood up behind Nefu Garumudo, grabbing onto a Wedge Beetle which you used to swing back on before you kicked forward and let go, falling down to the back of Nefu Garumudo.

The Pharaoh thrashed as you grabbed the hair standing up on the back of his neck and pulled your carving knife out to stab him with.

"GET OFF ME YOU INSECT! I DID NOT NOT PERMIT YOU TO TOUCH MY UNBLEMISHED FORM WITH YOUR SOILED HANDS!"

"YOU TALK TOO MUCH!" You shout back.

>Roll a 1d600 to complete a mounted attack on Nefu Garumudo!
>Reversed roll!
>>
Rolled 502 (1d600)

>>4152702
>>
Rolled 510 (1d600)

>>4152702
>reversed
Oh boy.
>>
Rolled 347 (1d600)

>>4152702
>>
Rolled 558 (1d600)

>>4152702
Uh oh
>>
>all over half
Why does this always happen?
>>
Best of two. I'll allow one more round of rolls from anyone willing.
>>
Rolled 513 (1d600)

>>4152702
>>
Rolled 66 (1d600)

>>4152702
>>4152728
>>
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>>4152735
>>
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>>4152735
Nice.
>>
>>4152735
bless
>>
Raising your knife, you plunged the blade down deep inside the scales of Nefu Garumudo, prompting the Dark Crystal Dragon to cry out as he twisted around and about, trying his best to throw you off.

You wouldn't be thrown off, his tufts of black fur provided quite enough to hold onto for leverage as you wrenched the blade around inside his neck, twirling it to hit all the right spots that made him hurt and squeal like a Poogie.

Having had enough of receiving wounds in his neck by you, Nefu Garumudo dove forward, spinning like a wheel through the air as he plummeted downwards to the ground dangerously. You took a grave chance here, a leap of faith as you let go and fall down to land in the snow harmlessly while the Advisor crashes and ends up on his back.

You saw the Crystal embedded within his tail in clear view and sprung up, sprinting through the snow towards it, unwilling to let the opening slide by!

Placing both hands onto Nefu's Crystal, you pulled back with a firm grip on it and heaved!

"Nnnnnnnngeeeehhhhh!"

"Wh-What are you...?!"

"HRAAAH!"

With much effort concentrated onto the task, the Crystal slides free as you fall backwards with it in your arms.

Nefu Garumudo still glowed with power after the fact, but as he attempts to lunge at you and gain it back, Nergigante suddenly comes overhead, taking him back into the trees and locking into a struggle with him!
>>
You dragged the Crystal away as you could while the two Elders fought like Wulgs, collapsing the trees around.

Without his Crystal, it seemed Nefu Garumudo only had what energy was left over charged up within him. He was unable to generate anymore as he spent what was left behind to expel Nergigante off of him once more into a pile of trees.

Losing his glow, Nefu Garumudo became far more deprived of stamina and held himself up only halfway off of the ground. He steps towards you, radiating hate, but Negigante's claw comes out of the many trees over him and takes a grip on Nefu Garumudo's tail, preventing him from getting any closer.

"Nnngh!"

The Advisor's expression changed then from one of hatred to one of desperation as he looked at you with his red eyes.

"Give me back my power source! This brute will kill me without it!"

"Sounds like a plan to me." You say with a smirk as you drag the Crystal farther out of his reach.

Nefu Garumudo falls to his chest, trying to crawl closer with no success.

"Did I earlier state intentions to render you deceased? I think I might have... NGH! I think I might have overstepped my boundary!"

You raised an eyebrow at him.

"Listen! T-The last thing I want is to die too, much like you! HGNH! S-So give me back my Crystal so I can get out of here!"

"No."

"P-Please! I beg you! L-Look! If you give me back my Crystal... I'll.... I'll tell you what Throne Tower does! Not even the Everwyrm knows that! But! But I do! So please! I beseech you! Be civil!"

"I... I'm not so bad!" Nefu says, trying his best to resist being drug backwards by Nergigante. "I'm just... desperate! I've been waiting tens of thousands of years for my only hope to come back! YOU'D ALSO BE WILLING TO GO ANY DISTANCE IF YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU'VE WAITED THAT LONG TO RECEIVE! DON'T TELL ME YOU WOULDN'T!"

"I... I've never done anything wrong! Give my Crystal back! And I'll tell you! I promise!"

>"Fine, have it back."
>"You'll tell me now, and then I'll give your Crystal back."
>"After what you've said? I don't think so."
>Use your pickaxe on the Crystal.
>Write in.
>>
>>4152843
>"You'll tell me now, and then I'll give your Crystal back."
>>
>>4152843
P I C K A X E
>>
>>4152843
>>"You'll tell me now, and then I'll give your Crystal back."
A part of me wants to let him face the music, I fear this might for some time be the best chance we will have to remove him as an obstacle later on. On one hand Z loses his adviser, which hr probably won't be too overjoyed at but it can't currently be linked back to us, but on the other we remove a threat and also gain key information.

I'd say let him tell us what he has to say and let Nerg finish the job. He is too dangerous to be left alive.
>>
QM, how does Zuhramon's name work again? Speak of him and he shall appear?
>>
>>4152843
Switching to
>Use your pickaxe on the Crystal.
Dude's a dick and I'd rather not make a false promise... unless we've done that before.
>>
>>4152872
We haven't made a fake promise our boy is a good boy.
>>
>>4152843
>"Fine, have it back."

Because murder by nergigante is pretty explicitly against all of what were about?

You want to prove your dedication to peace to Zoomer man Or alatreon?

Its time to put up or shut up.
>>
>>4152843
Mmm.

>>"You'll tell me now, and then I'll give your Crystal back."

in the interest of "this is a sentient being and murdering him in cold blood would be mega fucked up."
>>
You pull your pickaxe out and place a foot over the Crystal.

WERCHINK!

You strike the Crystal.

"N-NO! STOP! STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP! YOU'LL DETONATE IT!"

"Hmmpf."

You look Nefu Garumudo dead in the eyes.

"I'll give you your Crystal back, but first you're going to tell me what Throne Tower does, then I'll give it to you."

Nefu Garumudo considered his options silently here, until he gets drug another two feet back, spurning him into a flurry of words.

"Alright! Alright! Fine! I'll tell you!"

You leaned in to listen.

"T-The Throne Tower is, like many other Towers of the Ancient Civilization, a Personality Matrix!"

"A 'Personality Matrix'?"

"Personality Matrix, it is the name of a device we the Nefu Garumudo instructed the Foremost to build at the beginning of Ancient Civilization! Using it, they were able to influence all of Mankind. Mankind changed without knowing over time, slowly, each of them became more like the Foremost, inheriting hatred of Dragons and undying ideals of Human supremacy! It is a phantasmal force and a great power to control! The power to steer all Men the same!"

"That's.... brainwashing..."

"No! Not brainwashing... influencing! It is influencing! Humanity today has lost it's old self... they are unlike their Ancient selves, unlike the Foremost Humans... by activating Throne Tower, Master Zuhramon will... Engh! He will be able to influence Mankind to return to it's older self again... they will remember their old ideals and... and their eternal hatred for their eternal enemies...."

".....So that's his plan..."
>>
>>4152880
Best solution, we get Intel and we show Zoomerman even if a lityle we're serious about our resolve.
>>
"Tha-That's not all! Throne Tower is a complex beyond your understanding! Possibly even the greatest invention of the Ancients! One that might even be able to kill the Ancestor! To kill a GOD!"

"Tell me what it else it does!"

"It...."

Nefu Garumudo is dragged even further back by Nergigante.

"It... is a node... it has parts that stretch throughout ALL the tectonic plates, extending it's reach all throughout the world! Throne Tower focuses Bioenergy... and with it fully restored to working order... Master Zuhramon will be able to use it... to control all the Bioenergy... in the entire world...."

"All of it... in the whole world?!"

"Yes! All of it! And with his hand being able to touch it all... he'll be able to influence all life! He will even control the Bioenergy of living entities! Yes! With it, he can even control all the animals... all the rabid Monsters and beasts roaming the Earth! T-To ensure they give Mankind no trouble rebuilding back it's prime! I-In fact... they might even be used... these Wyverns and beasts... the same way the Dragons were! To help with the effort!"

"...."

"Think of the... ramifications of it! The.. the masterful work and thought the Ancients put into it all! It's marvelous! Simply... simply marvelous!"

"Being able to let Man find it's true self again... and to puppeteer the mindless masses of animals.... even the feral Elder Dragons.... it's incredible, isn't it?"

"Why... when Master has it ready.. he'll destroy the Black Dragons... and then bring about an age of prosperity!"

"Isn't that what you'd want for your kind? An endless era... of peace... tranquility... thriving... and glory! Doesn't it sound... wonderful....?!"

"...."

"I... I told you... now... my Crystal.... give it back.... p... please.... please...?"

>Do nothing and let Nefu Garumudo perish.
>Slide the Crystal back to Nefu Garumudo.
>Write in.
>>
>>4152886
>Slide the Crystal back to Nefu Garumudo.
Don't talk to me or my Elder Dragon ever again.
>>
>>4152886
>Slide the Crystal back to Nefu Garumudo.
Don't talk to me or my Elder Dragon ever again.
>>
>>4152886
>>Do nothing and let Nefu Garumudo perish.
>>
>>4152886
>Do nothing and let Nefu Garumudo perish.
This guy is obviously going to attack us as soon as we free him

FUCK NEFU GARUMUDO
FUCK ANCIENT CIVILIZATION
AND FUCK ZUHRAMON
>>
I hate ties -_-
>>
>>4152904
A difficult choice to be sure.
>>
>>4152886
>Do nothing and let Nefu Garumudo perish.
*AHEM*

Oh, it was already done for me
>>4152899
>>
>>4152908
He strikes me as more bafoonish than too dangerous to let live honestly.

The grim biologist got my blood up much higher for example, and there wasn't much call for his head.

I'm just filling time trying to distract myself atm.
>>
>>4152913
>The grim biologist got my blood up much higher for example, and there wasn't much call for his head.
You have a point, which makes me hate what I'm about to do.

>>4152886
>Slide the Crystal back to Nefu Garumudo.
>>
>>4152912
>>4152899
Your reasoning is incredibly ironic. And likely exactly what Zuhramon is banking on.
>>
Wouldn't it be funny if our meta deadlock made us think for too long, condemning Nefu to die via our inaction?
>>
>>4152915
It's a ruthless house cat that wants its furniture back. It personally helped lead a genocidal war against humanity, and it has literally no qualms about doing it again.
>>
>>4152917
>against humanity,
Typo.
You know what I mean, though.
>>
>>4152913
He seems to come off as insane with brief moments of sanity, keep in mind he has been around for eons. If he is still advising Z towards his goals his death might slow that progress.

He is also partially responsible for the deaths of untold millions, and is willing to do it again for "peace".

I still stand by my earlier assertion, he is far to dangerous to be left alive.
>>
>>4152917
>It's a ruthless house cat that wants its furniture back. It personally helped lead a genocidal war against humanity, and it has literally no qualms about doing it again.

True, but its mostly annoyed us.

You wanna ask Shara what he did during the war?

I am sure he can tell you about cities full of humans sinking and drowning beneath shifting sands.

Hes cool NOW because he had the chance to be. Taking it away from this guy... because of his crazy talk? Especially after he gave us a huge leg up?
>>
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>>4152915
Zuhramon is basically Yaldabaoth from Persona, which would mean he's REALLY bad and has to be stopped. Nefu is his butt buddy and has been supporting him for this long. Just like the others already pointed out, he and his kind helped lead humans to war against dragons and Shara already showed us what a shitshow that was.

Nefu needs to bite the dust, we need to let Negro Gigante seal the deal.
>>
>>4152919

>I still stand by my earlier assertion, he is far to dangerous to be left alive.

I hope you've slated the rest of the elder dragons for execution then. And the Wyverians. Cause they're pretty gnarly too.

Also hes full of shit (its his thing), there is no way Z is listening to anything he says.
>>
>>4152921
The key phrase was 'has no qualms doing it again.' Shah is explicitly anti-war (though also pro for wyverian shadow control, but eh, still better than war).
>Taking it away from this guy... because of his crazy talk? Especially after he gave us a huge leg up?
Nope. My argument is simply 'it is ready and willing to plunge the world into genocidal chaos.... again' . That's not 'crazy talk'.

>>4152919
This.
>>
>>4152919
Let's give a chance to this guy, we got what we wanted also I don't think we can preach peace for man and Dragon if we're killing one after it's joy useful to us.
>>
>>4152929
>joy
meant not, dann auto correct.
>>
>>4152886
>"Why should a Man listen to a serpent?"
>"Poisonous liar! We went on our own beyond where the Nefu Garomudo took us! Your kind was on the brink of being wiped out by us until your Ancestor stepped in, and even he is now too weak to save you again!"
>"People think analogies of the strong and the weak are worn. I think those people are halfwits. Ancient Mankind used these such dragons as no more than fuel for furnaces, steps to walk up on. They were weak, and we were strong. The weak exist to be cast aside and used by the strong. Do you not agree?"
>...
>>
>>4152929
I see where you're coming from, but I lack your abundance of faith in the unrepentant strategist of genocide.
In my mind, Nefu is as bad as a Black Dragon (minus alatreon, who is just sick of this shit all round)
>>
>>4152932
Hm, you do have a point that this does, technically, fall under the umbrella of Z-lord's philosophy. That's a shame.
If it were prudent, I'd take Nefu 'captive' until this whole 'total war' thing blows over, but that's not viable.
>>
>>4152934
>Zhuramon will kill you for revealing this too me, your only choice is to beg for Shara Ishvaldas protection.
>>
>>4152936
Would he, though?
>>
>>4152932
So sparing him would be the "right" choice, for what we're going for?
>>
>>4152938
Who can say?

I know what people like Zman do to leaks.

>"As my brethren Foremost died, I took on their duties of salvation. If I do not resurrect our legend, Dragons will take this world back. Is that what you want? A world where our efforts were for nothing? A world we are wiped from? If you do not trust me, you are a traitor. A traitor is a parasite even worst than an enemy. I will destroy any traitor I know."
>>
>>4152886
>Do nothing and let Nefu Garumudo perish.
It's time to stop trying to bring the past back, we must reach for a better future.
>>
>>4152933
Someone needs to give the first step, this will also show Zman how much we are on our position, there is chance it might bite us back yes but I believe let it die can do so and it might become leverage as well we can ask Zman how those two got together for start with and try to say stuff like man and Dragon goes together, there is chance for peace, yada yadda, etc.
>>
>>4152943
I gotta say your guys reasoning for killing and lying is fucking GREAT.

You talk a big game about being better or different from Zman, but when it comes down to it your just like him!
>>
>>4152943
... by agreeing with a ghost of the past's philosophy. Bravo.
>>
>>4152943
I could have worded this better, but oh well. Nefu is a crazy maniac, but this is still a VERY difficult moral choice.
>>
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Nefu is at his weakest right now; letting him die will only prove Zuhramon right and brand us a hypocrite in our ideals and our honesty.
>>
>>4152886
>Slide the Crystal back to Nefu Garumudo.

Disregard wars, acquire waifus.
>>
See, if we refused his offer from the outset we'd still be an honest man with our ideals preserved. Refusing to save him now dispenses with both of those things, compromising our integrity.
>>
>>4152950
Yep, pretty hard.

>>4152951
I agree, really, but I'm going to have to remain with kill unless we get a 3rd option that has a reasonable chance of nonlethally containing it.
>>
>>4152945
>>4152946
>>4152951
Dammit you guys, playing at my morality. All right. Switching to
>Slide the Crystal back to Nefu Garumudo.
I hope we don't regret this.
>>
>>4152955
How about Velk and Shara? They're not deaf, you know.
>>
>>4152955
Ill make a vote for that on the condition the QM still counts it for sparing.

>Slide the Crystal back to Nefu Garumudo.
>"Zman told me"
>"As my brethren Foremost died, I took on their duties of salvation. If I do not resurrect our legend, Dragons will take this world back. Is that what you want? A world where our efforts were for nothing? A world we are wiped from? If you do not trust me, you are a traitor. A traitor is a parasite even worst than an enemy. I will destroy any traitor I know."
>"I think its time for you to reconsider which side of this war your on."
>>
Letting this Nefu live does not guarantee it will join our side, it is fanatically loyal to Z and his goals. If we let it live it will simply interfere more and more in far more dangerous and lethal ways.

He is literally a sociopath and is only begging for help in his most dire moment of weakness, once he gets back up he will continue his and Z's agenda.
>>
>>4152955
We could always team up with Velkhana and Shara to go after Nefu later and beat the shit out of him and bring it back to Astera, we might be the first hunter who bring back an adult elder dragon alive plus the commander might not chew our ass too hard.
>>
>>4152960
It's pretty fucking strong with the crystal slotted in. Very little stopping it from pulling something awful.
I see two desirable outcomes in regards to us NOT killing it:
i) Nerg wounds it enough that it flies away while laughing at us and calling us a bitch (not that great)
ii) We can convince it that it's a traitor now and therefore effectively already dead (お前はもう死んでいる), PERHAPS convincing it to lay low (we get an extremely shitty and annoying pet, but technically still more desirable)
Otherwise, it goes darth vader on us and rapes us with force power.
>>
>>4152953
Speaking of waifus, I can't help but wonder, would Vance rather Velkhana or Alatreon?
>>
>>4152970
The biggest brain take on this situation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3q1UTRKow0
>>
>>4152970
Ive gotta go with Alatreon.

Something about a lady with a pompadour just...

Mmm. Tasty.

Also, is this thing a guy? Every other elder we met seeked to be female.
>>
>>4152970
Neither because he has Tabitabi, unless you'ryou're thinking of going for a harem ending.
>>
>>4152973
No it's a girl. A crazy, suicidal, nihilist girl but yeah a chick.
>>
It appears as though everyone has forgotten the /true/ end game.
Flora.
This is objectively the highest insight take in this thread, so you can all just admit defeat now.
>>
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>>4152973
My man.
>>
I hate to keep changing my response, but I think I've been playing too much DOOM Eternal and got stuck in the demon genocide mindset. My vote is for sparing Nefu and trying to convince him to join our side. Or at least leave Z-man's side.
>>
>>4152975
>harem
NO NO NO NO GOD NOT AGAIN ANYTHING BUT THAT
>>
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>>4152981
>>
>>4152986
Thank god. This quest is safe.
>>
>>4152986
See, this sort of discussion would probably have been dropped without incident after your update.
>>
>>4152986
What gives Level? That was just an totally innocent awnser, this is your first quest right?? You haven't done other quests under other pseudonyms riiiiiight???
>>
>>4152986
I still think Jazeel was >>>> Kilkree
>>
>>4152998
Some would claim your scalp for having an opinion like that.
>>
>>4152998
???
>>
>>4153006
Best not bring it back up.
>>
This is a pro skub thread.
>>
>>4153010
I rather talk about monsters, which you guys are looking forward to? I am still waiting for some Magalas and Seltas.
>>
>>4153014
S H E N
G
A
O
R
E
N
>>
>>4153006
Just... don't look into it.

>>4153014
You mean in quest or in a future MH game? I'd like to see my boy Gogmazios either way.
>>
Speaking of game, how about them new Brachy weapons?
>>
>>4153013
You tell em, anti-skubbers >>>/out/
>>
>>4153020
More of her to love.

Maybe a bit too young though.
>>
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"You've told me quite enough. Take your Crystal, and get out of here." You reply to Nefu Garumudo then.

With your foot, you kick the Crystal to slide over on the ice to the Advisor. His eyes light up as bright as the Crystal as it comes to him.

"You... are so... very kind and merciful... to spare me even after what I've done..."

Nefu Garumudo places his claws onto the Crystal and his body lights up again with blue streaks as he siphoned Bioenergy from it.

You see a flash of light from behind as he fires some sort of Bioenergy projectile out of his empty tail socket, freeing him from Nergigante, who howls in pain because of it.

Scrambling to his feet, Nefu Garumudo brings his tail around and you see the gold plates of the almost flat tail stretch out around the Crystal, locking it back into place inside as Nefu Garumudo growls with the Bioenergy flowing through his veins again.

"Aahhhh...."

He looks down at you.

"I won't forget your deed here... I will go peacefully and spare you... but... just so the beast there doesn't get any ideas...."

You are struck then by Nefu Garumudo's claws, not hard or lethally, but just enough so that you fall back into the snow.

"I hope that by your mercy on me... it means you've finally seen the light.... Oh... Master will be so pleased to know...."

"Me may meet again one day soon."

The Dark Crystal Dragon showed off his full wing span before he uplifts himself, taking off into the sky and soaring away.

And that is the last you see for today of Nefu Garumudo...
>>
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You rubbed the back of your head as you leaned. But then, your heart sank as you remembered Nergigante was still here.

Angrily, the Extinction Dragon punches it's way out of the rubble of trees that covered it, sending thousands of splinters to the air as it cracked several in half with one strike.

Nergigante jumped out, looking about and sniffing for any trace of Nefu Garumudo before it looked to the sky above and realized he had escpaed.

Nergigante scowls, and then, it's sight falls down to you.

You trembled and crawled away slowly. Nergigante seemed to calm down seeing you however, making no sudden move to come over and tear your entrails out.

Instead, the muscular Dragon just studies you. You felt that it was trying to comprehend the fact you helped it out, or maybe it was just trying to decide on whether or not it thought you helped Nefu out or you really were an ally for the moment.

Nergigante steps to the side, moving along with it's gaze still fixed on you as it went off the way of the coastal waters.

Then, with a snort, Nergigante ignores you and takes off to the sky as well. Possibly in pursuit of Nefu Garumudo, or to fly elsewhere in the New World.

To say Nergigante is a peculiar Elder downplays it.
>>
>>4153041
Nergles appears to serve the planets interests rather than the black dragons. While being animalistic. Neat.
>>
You dragged yourself back through the maze of Velkhana as you made your way back. Upon entering the center again, both Shara and Velkhana looked to you.

"Human, come hither." Velkhana beckons you over with her wing.

You do so, stepping over to be next to Shara in front of Velkhana.

"You've not any idea how long it has been since I have last seen my mentor, and spoke with him. I have enjoyed this moment you provided me with to see him again now thoroughly...." She says with much weight over her words.

Velkhana lowers her head, craning her neck down so that her eyes met with yours as she pressed her snout against you, as if giving some sort of draconic 'hug'.

"Thank you... thank you..."

You put your head on her head.

"I'm just doing what I think is right. You're welcome, Velkhana."

Velkhana raises her head after a moment of feeling your touch.

"I must also thank you, Human... I've longed for this such reunion, and now that we are together again, we can combine our efforts." Shara Ishvalda says, standing up on his two hind legs, meeting you in height with his head.

"Yes... indeed... we stand so much a better chance stopping the darkness oncoming together with the Human." Velkhana concurred.

You sat down on the ice, relaxing after all that which happened back there.

You knew what the purpose of... Throne Tower was now, and what Zuhramon's endgame here really is. This is something Shara definitely needs to know, him and Velkhana both.

But, maybe before you drop such tonnage of sensitive information down on top of their heads, you could talk with them normally for just a change. Maybe ask a few things, like... about that Brother of Velkhana's.

What will you do now?
>>
>>4153051
Take it easy for now, maybe try to brainstorm with them a way to convince the commander to not kill you or worse revoking your hunter license.
>>
>>4153051
Tell them you were glad to bring them together.

Drink some hot drink.

Ask them if they have anything cool/off topic to talk about. Things have been really... intense lately.

And finally.

>Ask Velkhana for a lift back to Astera, if were gonna get in trouble lets do something worth getting in trouble for!
>>
>>4153051
Along with the above, should probably ask Velk how she's holding up after the whole Ukanlos thing.
>>
>>4153061
You intend to get us shot down? I doubt they've forgotten what her brother did.
>>
Guys, I got it. We'll get Velk to simply fly us over to the Wildspire Waste and then we'll go back to Astera on foot there. Nobody will ever suspect a thing.
>>
Also bros, we want to try making peace with Alatreon right? What if we get put on the job by the commander to kill her? Its only a matter of time until they discover she exists.
>>
>>4153095
We're probably not quite renowned enough to be trusted with a B. dragon. That's more Star's thing, really.
It's a good idea if we get more credit.
>>
Man, now that you think about it, the Commander is going to murder when you get back for disobeying his orders if he finds out, or if he already has found out. You got to think of some excuse to use to get the heat off your back...

Hm. You could always claim 'First Wyverians', but that might be a stretch given how much he doubted the things you told him the first time you relayed First Wyverian information to him. Of course, you could try asking the Ferryman to take you back silently when you get back, given that he won't remember what happened.

Or, there was of course hitching a ride on Velkhana. You could get her to drop you off somewhere like the Wastes, and then you can slip back to Astera. Nobody could suspect a thing.

Ah, but you'll deal with that later. For now, you pop a Hot Drink and down it.

"Hey, Velk. Have you been doing well since that fight with Ukanlos?"

"My wings and tail are not in the best of conditions. I have had to consume many creatures for nourishment. I will recover soon enough. I can fly."

"Hmm."

You looked between her and Shara. "Has it really been that long since you've last seen each other?"

"Perhaps my student might be exaggerating just how long it has been, but when you've had a friendship like ours for this long, seconds might seem like minutes when you're apart from them. Days weeks... months years..." Shara says.

"What last I recall was you leaving to search all of the continent when the First Wyverians warned you that the Ancient was coming. You were not meditating as you should have, you were losing yourself to feralhood." Velkhana says at Shara.

"Indeed, though I find it distasteful that I was killed, my death and rebirth helped shake me away from that drift." Shara explains to her.

"Velkhana, you had a brother, didn't you? What can you tell me about him?"

"My brother... he was always stronger than me. I looked up to him. He studied the same as I did under Shara... but overtime, his vanity as an Iceborne drake like I began to have it's way over him. He doubted Shara."

"He had thought that I was teaching him lies for all those years, and he believed the Ancient was a myth, a boogeyman I had invented to control him and his sister with. He turned to believe that Humans were enemies, and so he left to prepare to wipe them out from this continent, the ones that moved here decades ago." Shara says.

"I had gave it my best to try and and convince him otherwise.. but he would not listen, not to me, nor Shara. It didn't help that Shara left as he received word from the First Wyverians. It lead my brother to think he was simply abandoning us. I stood by my faith unlike him...."

"Do you miss him?"

"Of course I miss my brother... but I believe he fell to foolishness and his pride. I wish there could have been some other way... but alas, it was not meant to be." Velkhana says sorrowfully.

You looked down, feeling sorry for her and her loss.
>>
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Maybe now was a good time to change the subject.

"You mentioned vanity, what's that about?"

"Vanity, Pride... They are racial traits I possess as an Iceborne drake. We've always been like this."

"You don't seem so vain right now."

"Because I am instead joyous. Do not think the attitude I showed you in the fight with the giant is gone.... for good..."

"They say you Velkhana look down on others."

Velkhana seems to be a bit flustered hearing that. "Oh! Well... it may seem that way... but I don't truly think that..."

"So you don't look down on me?"

"No." Velkhana says. She shows her teeth off as if trying to smile.

"Hmmm...."

"I swear! I don't!"

"Heh heh, simmer down, I get it. It's just a stereotype." You say, raising your hand.

"So uh... Shara, anything weird happen lately?"

"Weird? As in occurrences?"

"Sure."

"I have heard trembling from the Earth as I listen down to it in my sleep." Shara says.

"Trembling?"

"Rupturing... from both the ocean and the sea floor. I would expect it is from something truly massive lurking in those places. What's more, I have detected that seismic action at the same time... there are two great things moving about."

"Two massive things moving down there?"

"Something is stirring the currents... I feel it in the bays... and something else is moving along the sea floor... I feel it breaking through the pressure and exerting itself throughout the continent."

"Hmm..."

What will you do now?
>>
>>4154013
Caduceus. Our own villages personal demon god. Lovely.

My ancestors threw human sacrifices into the sea to feed the elder dragon and stave off its wrath.

Of course that backfired in the end...
>>
>>4154013
Two big things stiring up shit, I think it could be 2 Caedaues or maybe 1 one Ceadaeus and a Nakarkos maybe, both preety bad especially for us since we're from Moga. Let's see if those two got any info on those 2 don't forget to describe them.
>>
"You know, I'm quite familiar with huge things surfing about in the water, I came from a fishing village in fact." You say, leaning up to rest on your knee.

"A long time ago, my old village was shaken by earthquakes. Those quakes took most of the place out until almost nothing was left, and it was only going to continue in the future until my village was wiped out. So the Elder then made a call to the Guild asking for a Hunter who could help them with their problems. It was much before I was born, but eventually that Hunter found the source. It was an Elder Dragon we call Ceadeus."

"Ceadeus? I have never heard such a name."

"The Guild designated it that. It had giant horns that would blind it, they said it caused the quakes by rutting them against the sea floor, taking down islands and shaking the land above. They're great, they're huge and white, and they've got quite the beard. Teostra would be jealous." You say, fixing your hood. "That sound anything like what you're talking about?"

"Hmmm.... Possibly. The thing is, of these two giant forces I've sensed, one is bound to the sea floor, while the other is in the waves. I believe the one rupturing the sea floor is waking upon it... with legs..."

"Well, I guess I'll have to find out what in the future."

"I know about this 'Ceadeus' you describe Human. They are Ocean Dragons, monarch whales that rule the waters." Velkhana piped up.

"How long have they been around?"

"The Ocean Dragons appeared far after the end of Ancient times, and the war. They appeared when the World was fertile again. Before that, they came from a common ancestor, them and their distant relative Mountain Dragons." Velkhana explains.

"Mountain Dragons?"

"Aye. Mountain Dragons that ride the land as if it were water. Their heads are topped with the greatest horns of any Dragon. We call them the Land Whales."

You snorted.

"Hm? What is it, Human?"

"Nothing. 'Land Whale' just means something muuuuch different in Human terms."

>Ask Shara/Velkhana something else.
>Tell them about your encounter with Nefu Garumudo now.
>We should get going now.
>Ask Velkhana for a ride back home.
>Write in.
>>
>>4154124
>Tell then what land whale means~

Well... legs. Is it the giant enemy crab? Good lord.

I also wanna ask, is the world just... making new elder dragons? Cause if so thats cool. I think the world would be worse of without yall.
>>
>>4154124
>>Ask Shara/Velkhana something else.
Ask them about what they know about the Nefu Garumudo, don't mention our most recent bout just yet.
>>
>>4154142
I don't think Shen Gaoren can do what Shara has described. It'd had to be big like Ceadeus, and it's smaller than Lao, who shouldn't be much bigger than Ceadeus.
>>
Dire Miralis. Tectonic, volcanic.
>>
>>4154173
This is more likely to be the real perpetrator.
>>
Add nakarkos, Level
U wont
>>
>>4154124
Mention our thing with nefu at the end.
>>
"What does the title mean to you Humans?"

"Uhh.... Well... let's just say it's what we call ladies, ladies who eat too, too much."

"Humans can become obese?"

"Yeah...? It's just really rare?"

"You learn new things about Humans all the time." Shara remarks.

"Yeah." You say, laying back a bit. "So, I've been thinking... since you said Ceadeus only appeared after Ancient Times..."

"Yes?"

"Could the world be spawning new species of Dragons?"

"Hmm, a good question, but one I'm afraid we'll never truly understand." Shara says, sitting down.

"Why's that?"

"The First Wyverians have spoke with me many times before. I recall a time when they told me about Nature, as they have come to understand it to a greater extent than even the Ancients did. They told me that it was simply thus; Nature is alive, and Nature decides."

You tilted your head, scratching your chin.

"I believe they meant to imply the ecosystem and our planet is as alive as we are. They always enjoyed the ideas of fate being predetermined for all things, and they seemed to think Nature is what spins that wheel of samsara eternally. Personally, I do not believe Nature is what they think of it. Life evolves, the Ocean and Mountain Dragons all came from a common ancestor, who came from yet another common ancestor. Ultimately, all lifeforms with ancestry rooted in Dragonkind are traced back to the Ancestor. We will never know what came before the Pale God, what created the Ancestor, or if he simply always... was..."

"What made Humans and non-Dragons?"

"Neither of us know now, and even then before Ancient Civilization, we still did not know the origins of Humanity. Only the Ancestor knows where Humans came from." Velkhana chimed in.

"The things you call Monsters evolved differently. You could say the same about them as you can Mankind. In Ancient Times, we knew of many Wyverns that existed, and various other animalistic lifeforms that roamed the Earth. All you know today came from all that was then." Shara Ishvalda tells you.

"Interesting. Learning about all these origins is draining, but I don't want the knowledge to stop rolling in now." You say, letting yourself fall down to lay on the ice. "What do you think personally though, Shara? About the Ancestor guy, and those three possibilities you mentioned?"

"....I have always thought there could be something before him. The Ancestor has never claimed to be the creator of the world... so I have always pondered the question... Who is the creator of the world, if there is one?"
>>
"Myself, I settle on never knowing the unknowable. I would rest easier being ignorant to how the world formed. Knowing that a creator exists would deprive me of my peaceful sleep." Velkhana says.

"Why? Why would knowing a maker exists do that to you?"

"I just think, if a maker of the world exists, shouldn't they have shown up by now? Shouldn't we have some idea? If they did exist, did they simply make the world and move on? What kind of creator would do that? It bugs me to think about it."

"Hmm... I feel you. Maybe if there is one, and they're still here, maybe we'll find them one day."

"I would hope not." Velkhana says, resting her own head now.

You turn over and prop your head up on your hand.

"What can you guys tell me about the Nefu Garumudo?"

"The Pharaoh Dragons? They are all of them pure scum..." Velkhana hisses.

"Indeed. The Nefu Garumudo are liars and charlatans by nature. Their drives for anything are all because of their instincts, a base desire for being served and handed everything. They do not wish to put effort forth to gain anything, only receive it, for free." Shara tells you.

"The Nefu Garumudo formed an aristocracy. The Ancient Humans kept them around only because they were valuable for their ability to weave words."

"Do you think they should be... 'taken care of'?"

"Honestly? Brutally honestly? Yes. The Nefu Garumudo by nature can never serve any positive purpose. They will only ever be able to bring negativity in their wakes." Shara says.

You nod silently.

What will you do now?
>>
>>4154267
tell em about our encounter. lead with skepticism about EVERYTHING it told you.
>>
>>4154267
>>4154273 but avoid certain cues that would have "him" appear.
>>
"I'm skeptic about something."

"Feel free to speak your mind." Velkhana encouraged you.

"Well... I went and did something after I reunited you both. Shara, you know that Nefu Garumudo that was chasing us?"

"Yes? What of the Advisor?"

"I saw him again outside."

"Come to think of it, I did hear sounds of a struggle, but I ignored them. That must have been you." Velkhana says.

"Yeah. I fought him for a bit."

"Why didn't you call for help? Me and student would have came running to your aid."

"I had it, no worries. Besides, I know you guys wanted to have your moment." You say.

You sit up and get back onto your feet to face the two Elder Dragons.

"He told me something back there that I think you need to know, Shara."

"What is it?"

"He told me what the Throne Tower can do once it's active."

Shara and Velkhana fall silent.

"It's what he called a 'Personality Matrix'."

Shara and Velkhana both seem shocked to hear that, you see it in their eyes.

"You must know what that is, don't you? I found out. I can't say I like the idea so much."

"That is an understatement... I had my suspicions that might be the case, but I could never truly confirm it. If you're telling me this, never having heard it from me before, then I believe you." Shara says, standing back up.

"I know what this device you mention is as well, from Shara. It holds the power to control the thought patterns of Humans..." Velkhana says.

"It is top priority... we must destroy it before it can have a lasting effect." Shara proclaimed.

"That's not all it will do." You cut back in.

"Well, do not leave me in the dark. What else did that snake tell you?"

"I don't know just how much truth is hidden behind his words, since he's a natural liar, but the Nefu Garumudo also told me it stretches throughout the world. He says that Zuhramon is going to use it, to control all the Bioenergy, in the whole world."

"No... there is no way! That's preposterous!" Velkhana says in distress.

"Anyone who could wield that much Bioenergy would far outclass even the Ancestor... dwarfing him in power totally..."

"Like I said, I'm skeptic on it, just like you. But if that really is Zuhramon's plan...."

"Then there is no other option than to kill him... at any cost..." Shara coldly says

You nod.

>"I agree."
>Ask Shara/Velkhana one last question.
>It's getting late, we should head home now.
>Ask Velkhana for that ride home.
>Write in.
>>
>>4154378
So grouchy you two.
>Ask for that ride.

Have her air drop us!
>>
>>4154378
>Ask Velkhana for that ride home.
Fuck, man.
>>
>>4154378
>Ask Velkhana for that ride home.
'shellshock' is going to be Vance's default state for a while, I imagine.
>>
You waited a few moments longer, what must have felt like thirty minutes go by as you stand off to the side, watching the two Dragons communicate silently. You decide it is about time you and Shara should head home, and so step up to the two Elder Dragons, who look to you.

"Well Shara, it's getting pretty late. We should head in now."

"Very well, I shouldn't keep my student." Shara says as he stands up and comes over to your side.

"I do hope you will both visit me again, it would be nice to have someone I can speak to outside of this isolation of mine." Velkhana says as she stretches and stands up.

"Say, Velkhana, you wouldn't mind helping us get home, would you?"

"Oh? You wish me to fly you and Shara back to the mainland?"

"Yeah, that would really be helpful right about now, unless your wing can't handle it, which is also fine."

"No, it is no problem. My wings will endure the trip, it is the least I can do for you and Shara after today." Velkhana says, lowering herself down.

You look to Shara for confirmation to do this. He nods at you and that's all you need.

Coming over, you climbed up Velkhana's arm and lowered your hand to grab Shara's wingtips, hoisting him up to sit in front of you on Velkhana's back as she stood up.

"Have you got a good hold? I will warn you, this ride may be bumpy, but I will try my best not to let you fall."

You held onto her back's spikes like handlebars. "Yeah, I should be good."

"Very well, then let us depart." Velkhana says.

Flapping her wings and waving them, Velkhana began to rise into the air, uplifting herself higher and higher away from her home on the ground.

You were excited, you were actually riding and Elder Dragon that wasn't trying to throw you off to the dirt! Why this would be the best ride of your life!

Steady, she rose until the ground was a fleeting thing and you held on tight as Velkhana moved forward, tilting herself to gain speed as she went full throttle and sped off through the sky. It was faster than any air or sea ship or sand barge you've ever been on. The wing came so hard into your face that you were partially blinded as she flew....
>>
It wasn't long until she had left the Hinterlands entirely, crossing the gulf between it and the mainland easily. You enjoyed the ride, even if it was over far sooner than you expected. Velkhana flew over the Ancient Forest and took you and Shara off to where you directed her to, the Wildspire Wastes.

You and Shara both let yourself down off of her to the sandy rocks below.

"Human, I must thank you again for making our reunion come true. I wish to keep in touch with my teacher. I will come back to the mainland, to the lands of crystal and rock. When I am there, my Master shall know." Velkhana says as she rose to the air again above you and Shara.

"I'll see what I can do to make sure you and him see each other again, you have my promise." You say, waving up to her.

"I appreciate the notion." Velkhana replied, drifting further away into the air. "Farewell."

And with that, the Iceborne Dragon takes back to the skies, departing to return to her home. You were left there with Shara, and it didn't take long until both you and him were well on your way to Astera on foot again...

The trip on foot isn't so harsh or sweltering once you both got out of the Wastes. You followed a special little route you knew would exist as you closed into Astera. It takes you around the boundary of it's exterior, and you are able to slip with Shara under the earth below as you request he use his powers again.

The two of you popped up onto the small beach below the Officer lounge, and you felt relief being back now.

Until you hear something from above.

"There you are!"

It is the Commander's voice! You look up and see your senior looking down at you and Shara from the deck above.

"Where have you been? Have... have you been on this beach the whole time?!"

"Ugh.... uhh.... yeah?"

The Commander sighs in frustration.

"Well, at least I've got you now. Freelancer, come up. You'll want to see this..." The Commander says.

His tone was different, much different. He didn't seem angry, only frustrated and set off by something. To a minor extent, unsettled...

You didn't know what was up now, but you went for the stairs immediately to find out as you walked up deck...
>>
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Above, you come out to the sight of a crowd near the lifts and you give the Commander a look. He only nods towards the crowd and glances at you.

You approached the crowd and heard their whispering, their concerns. They were all gathered around somebody you could see through them all. This person was being held up on a stretcher by two others, a Hunter who was badly injured it appeared.

"No! ....Don't go.... don't go.... death... awaits... death... death.... oh... death...."

That voice.... that was....

No.... Brigg?!

You shove yourself through the onlookers and see it is Brigg after all. He was gravely wounded, his armor suit was stained with dried blood and his face featured a large blackened mark significant of a burn that reached almost all the way to the bone. You came over in a rush, panicked at the sight.

"Brigg! W... What happened?!"

Brigg is slower to breath now, he's losing breath in fact. He finds the strength to raise his arm at you despite his weakness and agony. His hand grabs your collar.

"Friend... please... you cannot... you cannot do anything... don't go... don't go to the Vale... death..." He coughs. "DEATH.... AWAITS..."

His body sparked with Dragon Element. Something hit him in ways he wasn't prepared for...

"Buddy, you'll be okay! Where... Where is Senzo at?"

"He... he wouldn't leave... I tried to warn him... and then... IT.... IT attacked... I fear... he may... already be dead...." Brigg choked out as he let go.

The Doctor let himself onto the scene then, coming through the crowd and over to the now unconscious Brigg.

"Well what are you waiting for?! Get this man to my office! He needs treatment immediately, or he may pass! Get a move on!" The Doctor shouted to the two holding Brigg's stretcher.

You stood there and simply looked on as they all went away, taking Brigg with them. The crowd around remained, whispering and shuddering at the thought of what he may have faced to decommission him like that. Brigg might be lucky to even still be alive...

But Senzo... he didn't come back?! You felt... discomfort...

....

What will you do now?
>>
>>4154463
What we do? We gonna rescue him, let's call some hunters and organize an rescue party.
>>
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Grab the Cainhurst Set, the sword and anybody who is at least HR with Dragon-resistant armor; we've got an idiot to save.

Also get potions.
>>
>>4154476
Agreed
>>
>>4154463
Well, at least we away with smuggling Shara out of Astera. For now at least.

Anyone else worried about Velkhana moving to the Recess while the Bloodborne invader is still stomping around that area?

And holy shit, Brigg got utterly destroyed.

Okay, okay max out our Lifepowders and Mega Potions, get Flash Pods and if possible, Dung Pods.

>>4154471
>>4154476
Supporting getting a rescue party together and swapping gear.
>>
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I don't know what could have done this to Brigg, but I do know that whatever it is, its going to fucking PAY

>>4154476
THIS

I hope Senzo isn't dead...
>>
>>4154490
Don't worry, I'm sure Amygdala will have mercy on her.
>>
>>4154490
Get Screamer Pods, too.
>>
Guys. I think we should grab Master Rank hunters instead.
>>
I'm saying that because I have an idea what's in the Vale.
>>
>>4154508
Savage Jho?
>>
>>4154528
We can probably solo Savage Jho with prep. It's probably the squid.
>>
Hello fellow hunters! What's going on today...

>>4154463
FUCK!
>>
>>4154463
If it's a Savage Jho then we know what we are up against, at least it's not a Disufiroa or something.
>>
>>4155035
I doubt that it's Savage Jho. Remember the name of the Urgent was "Behold Thanatos and the River Styx". This implies the target is related to death or the dead. There are only two death-related monsters off the top of my head, and one has been put on edge.
>>
You looked back around at the crowd of other Hunters all watching and faced them.

"Well? Why are you all just standing around staring?"

You step up.

"That was my friend back there, and now look what happened to him, he's almost dead! Something did that to him, something terrible. Don't any of you know what this means?"

The Hunters glance back between themselves.

"It means it's up to Hunters like us to take it down before it can do that to more of us! Before someone does die!" You decreed to them.

"He's right! We can't just let an unknown Monster shamble around the Vale like it owns the place! We have to slay it!" A Hunter in a Banbaro set agreed, stepping forward and raising his fist.

One by one, the Hunters all started to talk again, throwing around 'yeah' and raising their hands as they all found themselves in agreement. A few walked away however, not wishing to be apart of this or having other things to do.

"I'm going there now to find whatever it is, and I'm going to try to kill it. But, most importantly, there's still another Hunter there who might still be alive! If you're on board with me on killing whatever it is, and saving a stranded member of our Commission, then step up and come with me." You say.

The Hunter's all came some paces closer and drew their weapons, posing with them as they stood in full view to you.

"You're the leader then, you decide which of us will go with you." The Banbaro Hunter says.

You nodded and looked them all over. A few you even recognized.

At maximum, you could take five of the group with you for this journey. In order in the group before you, there was....

Banbaro Hunter. [Grinding Fulgur II (HA)]
Tigrex Hunter. [Striped Dragonga (HH)]
Diablos Nero Hunter. [Thanatos Force (CB)]
Nargacuga Huntress. [Hidden Saber (LS)]
Zorah Hunter. [Magda Manus Reforged (CB)]
Glavenus Hunter. [Flaming Teuza (IG)]
Girros Hunter. [Mighty Gear I (SA)]
Swift Huntress. [Crime (DB)]
Damascus Hunter. [Chrome Knight Sword II (SNS)]
Namielle Huntress. [Hydra Ephyra (GL)]
Rathalos Hunter. [Blue Prominence (LA)]

But you could also reach out to one of your friends, like Atricia or Balthazar or Kentaro too if you'd much prefer closer company than randoms ready to join you.

Who will you take along?
>>
>>4155114
I thinking of picking those:
Zorah Hunter. [Magda Manus Reforged (CB)]
Glavenus Hunter. [Flaming Teuza (IG)]
Rathalos Hunter. [Blue Prominence (LA)]
I thinking it might be a nakarkos so I picked those, maybe vivi as well. Also Level, what is the limit of hunters this time.
>>
>>4155114
>only one is slightly resistant to Dragon damage
Fug

>>4155134
We would at least need one to extract Senzo.
>>
By the way, the Swift Huntress has Odogaron Beta +.
>>
>>4155153
I think we could have Vivi do that, she could call the cart cats while we keep whatever done this to Senzo busy.
>>
>>4155134
It says we can take five so I say take Damascus Hunter and Swift Huntress as well as these
>>
>>4155215
Well then let's call the swift huntress with those 4 and Vivi if she ia not busy with Shara and we're ready to go.
>>
>>4155215
I'd prefer taking the Tigrex Hunter over the Damascus Hunter because of his melody's effect on the Effluvia.
>>
>>4155238
You know what? Sure, that'd be better.
>>
Don't forget that we need to get 2 Nulberries and more restoratives.
>>
You gave it a moment to decide which of them you would have join you on this rescue mission. It takes some minutes, but one by one, you pointed the Hunters you wanted out and called them.

"You... you, and you."

You select from the wide group the Zorah Magdaros Hunter wielding a Charge Blade, the Glavenus Hunter you saw with an Insect Glaive, and the old Rathalos Hunter from El Dorado who had upgraded his Lance since then.

You also pick to come with you the Swift Odogaron Huntress you met in battle with the Leshen before, she didn't seem to be busy with Inagami. And for support, you choose the Tigrex Hunter you saw wielding a Hunting Horn.

With this group behind you to back you up, rescuing Senzo would be easy enough to do.

You went around as you told them to prepare. You checked in with the provisions and spent nearly five thousand Zenny refilling up on restoratives and other useful items you would need. You restocked all of your potions and slinger pods, also grabbing some Lifepowder, Energy Drinks and Nulberries as well.

You had every item you needed, and so with yourself now prepared, you settled Shara into your home for the moment, leaving Vivianne to watch over him as you changed into your Cainhurst Set and grabbed your Holy Moonlight Sword.

You set out, joining the other Hunters you chose at the Gathering Hub. With everyone now prepared, you could safely lead them to the Rotten Vale.

Calling for the Wingdrakes, you got on your flight to the Vale, the other Hunters not much farther behind...
>>
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The delve into the Rotten Vale was ghastly like always. You took point, personally leading down the team of Hunters into the hellhole in search of any trace that could be found of your friend Senzo.

As foolish as he was, he didn't deserve to die here. Though, after all of this was over, you were sure you'd like to have quite a talk with him about this.

The Scoutflies helped along the way to pick up footprints, from Senzo in fact. Following them took your group deeper down inside the pit, but following them was slightly difficult due to the various small Monsters such as Girros and Effluvium drenched Raphinos along the way attacking, scaring the Scoutlfies back into their holders until all around was dealt with.

You had not been here in a while to this place, but already you could notice differences in the landscape as you moved through the Effluvium clouded depths. The average sights here were now marked by scorches as though fire was used, and bones were scarcer, what bones left being strung about in unusual spots.

Normally, a Legiana corpse might be found around here, and to be fair you did find one, but what struck your group as strange was the fact that within the proximity of the Legiana Corpse that was came upon also lay the half eaten carcass of the Vale's apex predator, Odogaron. Whatever was here was the dominant being now.

It became ever more obvious where the Scoutflies were taking you and your fellow Hunters as you followed them down deeper into the pits. They were taking you off to the lair of Vaal Hazak.

The lair this time around had been remodeled much like most of the place above were.

The lair was much wider, the walls around had been collapsed and burned away, and you saw the ground was no longer littered with mounds of rotten meat, because all of it had been melted and fused with the ground, draped off to dissolving in the nearby pockets of acidic blue liquid as well.

All around, you swear... you heard a voice repeating 'Death' into your ears.

And up ahead, you saw him. Senzo. He was backed up against a pile of melted flesh that had long been solid. His longsword was at his feet, broken in two. He was damaged, much like Brigg. You heard him weeping in terror from where he sat.

You were about to step forward again and walk over to reach him, but the ground underneath shifts and you see a stray bone sink under the melted flesh you stood on...

"No!" Senzo called out. "It's not safe... it's not safe! Just leave me! Save yourselves! You can't win! YOU CAN'T WIN!"

>Walk over to Senzo alone yourself.
>Have everyone tread forward at once.
>Send someone over to run to him.
>Shout for Senzo to come to his senses and come to you.
>Write in.
>>
>>4155523
>Write in.
Fire a Screamer Pod a little ways ahead of yourself, but not too close to Senzo.
>>
Nevermind. We don't know exactly where it is.
>>
>>4155523
>Walk over to Senzo alone yourself.
Tell the others to get ready to bail us out.
>>
>>4155584
support.
>>
>>4155584
Lets a go.

Draw the moonlight sword while were at it.

Quell those voices
>>
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"Stay back." You say, raising your hand at your partners.

You began to walk forward out onto the flesh field.

"Wait, we don't know what to expect!" The Rathalos Hunter, whose name you remembered being Nash, says, trying to get you to stop.

"I can take it, if something bad happens, you guys can bail me out." You say back as you continue to walk forward.

They did nothing but stare, keeping watch on you as you moved out further into the playing field that lied before you.

Senzo looks up slowly at you.

"No... no! Don't!"

But you ignored his words and pressed on.

From below, the ground begins to vibrate from the movement of something large underneath it. You stopped and looked around as the melted flesh below shifting, pulsing until whatever was moving came to a halt, directly underneath your feet as well.

You paused, uneasy as it all stopped.

And then you heard something, something like a distant howling.... or.... or energy charging?

...

Oh no.

GREEEIIIIIIGHOOOOOOUUUUUMMMM!

From below, you felt a soul wrenching shriek, and the ground in front of you exploded outwards with a force potent enough to send you flying back!

A massive pillar of Dragon Element shot forth, nearly enveloping you within it, turning everything it touched to dust!

Sparks of red and black trickled forth, stinging you in various spots across your body, even bypassing the protection offered by your Cainhurst Set!

You fell back hard, the beam before you slowly shrinking down until it was no more, but the rumbling below resumed...
>>
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From the hole just formed by the Dragon Element spilling out from the ground below, something new emerged.

An incredibly tall neck of some kind, belonging to some sort of Elder Dragon you've never seen before. This creature was... downright hideous! It's form was covered in bones, spinal and jagged and rough to the touch. It's dark skin underneath sported spots that blinked with a blue glow.

It waved back and forth, it's jaw unhinged and swinging, barely held on as it snapped at you with some sort of beak underneath the skull of the head. If that even was the thing's real head...

"Corpse Dragon!" The Glavenus Hunter shouted. "Everyone, get away! That thing is Nakarkos!"

"A Nakarkos? Here?!" Came the Swift Huntress as she ran forward with the others.

The 'head' of this Nakarkos went up with the aim to come down and smash you, but your companions reached you in time, hauling you away from danger as the thing crushed the bones and flesh in the spot you were just in.

If the danger wasn't already apparent, you see another similar head emerge only feet away from the first one, and then a massive shell of bones behind them both. That must have been Nakarkos' true body, but you could not make it's features out, it was shrouded with an aura of black and blue swirling over it, like water flowing down the way of a stream.

"We can't fight it! It's body is invulnerable to us! We can only hurt it's tentacles!" The Glavenus Hunter warned everyone as Nakarkos slammed the false heads about, scattering your group.

>We need to try and wound this thing, running will just get us all killed!
>We need to grab Senzo and get out of here immediately!
>We need somebody to keep it distracted long enough for everyone else to get out!
>Write in.
>>
>>4155718
Our mission is to extract Senzo. Have somebody grab while everyone else harasses the tentacles.
>>
>>4155718
>We need somebody to keep it distracted long enough for everyone else to get out!

We distract it tell everyone to rescue Senzo we retreat later.
>>
>>4155718
>>We need to try and wound this thing, running will just get us all killed!
If memory serves, these things have a deadly charge and long reach. Staying and fighting until we drive it off might be the best choice in the long run.
>>
>>4155737
We can't risk with Senzo here, he might get caught in battle, the priority is getting him out of here, now we know see Nakarkos makes his den we can come back later.
>>
>>4155742
Of course, saving Senzo is the priority. I simply see driving it away to be the best way to prevent things from getting out of hand. As a middle ground option however, I would suggest, and agree to, >>4155732's choice.
>>
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"Keep it busy for me!" You shout to the others as you attempt to run again over to Senzo.

The Rathalos, Zorah, Tigrex and Glavenus Hunters all sprang into action, drawing their weapons and delivering attacks as they could against the bone armored tentacles of Nakarkos. The gigantic Elder hummed with anger and the whispers of 'Death' in yours and everyone else's ears increased tenfold.

This Monster among Monsters has tricks up it's sleeve. The bones around it's body transformed even at it's discretion, and it had spare parts for new attacks it would pull up as it dipped it's false heads back down into the ground and pulled them up again.

Now it possessed an Uragaan's chin in place of it's left false head, and a Brachydios' pounders in place of the right which it used to fight back with, quaking the floor and sending tremors about using the chin and slinging Brachydios slime about that collected in splotches which exploded as they normally did.

Your companions were put on the ropes avoiding the various Blights it attempted to deal to them, and their situation wasn't that much better as blowholes present about the body of Nakarkos ejected balls of mucus goo at them. As they became covered in the mucus and forced to roll to evade attacks from the false heads, bones littered all over became attached, encumbering them down with the weight.

You double timed it over to Senzo and reached down to pick him up by the shoulder, the Swift Odogaron Huntress came too and helped, despite his protesting over it and the pain he experienced being touched in his wounds.

As you helped him halfway out of the molded lair, you stopped dead in your tracks as you looked ahead in horror at a new presence entering the fray.

It was Vaal Hazak, but... it was different... somehow. It was covered in mold and moss. It brought with it the most noxious and thick cloud of Effluvium. Was it here to retake it's old lair? Or try to?

As the fiend stepped down onto the scene, Nakarkos turns it's attention away from your companions who were doing little to inconvenience it. Nakarkos' glowing spots turn red, and the tentacles of the Elder begin to spark with the red Dragon Element, preparing to unleash far more devastating attacks as it transformed it's false heads back to their original shapes.

Now you and your companions were provided with a perfect opportunity to escape! But... through which way? All that you could see were dangerous!

>We must turn back and climb our way out of here, going off towards the red glow of the fiery caverns neighboring the Vale.
>We have no choice now, we'll have to hold our breathes and do our best to run through the walls of Effluvium out of here!
>The Effluvium is too dangerous to risk wading through, and we don't know where the fiery caverns lead. We'll have to slog through the acidic waters to escape!
>>
>>4155865
>>We must turn back and climb our way out of here, going off towards the red glow of the fiery caverns neighboring the Vale.
Seems we're between a rock and a hard place, might as well try the unorthodox.
>>
>>4155865
>We must turn back and climb our way out of here, going off towards the red glow of the fiery caverns neighboring the Vale.
>>
>>4155865
>We must turn back and climb our way out of here, going off towards the red glow of the fiery caverns neighboring the Vale.

screw it, lets give er a go.

Definitely slap everybody some healing potions though.
>>
"That way!" You say to the Swift Huntress, turning around with her to go back towards the place Senzo was collapsed at.

"Guys! Over here!" You shouted to the others.

They stopped in their tracks from trying to attack Nakarkos' tentacles and gave you a quizzical look. Having no quarter with Vaal Hazak closing in, they simply have to follow you.

It brings Senzo even more pain being moved around like this, but you couldn't see a better alternative right now than to drag him up over the short ledge to get off towards the volcanic spaces you saw, at least it was over quickly for him with everyone helping transport him now.

You took lead again as you lowered yourself down columns of rock and large bones that lined the ways ahead. It was uneven to walk on, but manageable up until you got off at where the volcanic area began. You took a look back while your partners continued ahead of you and saw the lair being filled completely with Effluvium, Dragon Element lasers flying through the air out of it, and you heard a cacophony of shrieks and roars exchanged alongside blows by both Vaal Hazak and Nakarkos.

Now was no time to wonder who would emerge victorious. You ran up ahead of your partners again, the main objective of today was secured, there was no reason to stay behind and attempt to slay either of the angry Elders. Nakarkos would have to wait for another time.

You led your companions along the first rows of black rock you could see away from the reach of magma up until you see three diverging paths up ahead, past thinner walks of rock with magma seeping around.

The first pathway was the easiest to go through. It was off to the right and had plenty of ground, it would be as simple as marching through there to go that way. The only problem was that you didn't know where it might take you since it's elevation was leaning downwards, deeper into the Earth. Not to mention, you saw the glitter of gold in the walls around it's opening. Could it be a way to reach El Dorado?

Hmm...

The second path you saw leads upwards, presumably back out of the Vale and maybe even upwards to the Coral Highlands again. It would be the fastest way to getting back to Astera, but the way up was by climbing. The rocks had flattened sections all up that way, like platforms, they could be climbed and the stalactites were beefy enough that they wouldn't break being used as support.

The third path... was almost entirely dark. There wasn't really any telling where that lead or what you had to go through to get up that way. Though... given the proximity between locales you knew of on the map... could that potentially lead to the Twilight Acreage?

What path will you take?

>Golden pathway.
>Upper pathway.
>Dark pathway.
>>
>>4155900
>Upper pathway.
Getting Senzo out is our priority; we can double back to fight Narkakos after he's safe.
>>
If the lower pathway led to El Dorado, there wouldn't be much of a chance of getting back so easily given how far underground El Dorado is. Not to mention Akantor lives there...

The Twilight Acreage wasn't a good idea either, that place was unspeakably dangerous due to it's native Monsters being mostly Deviants. You also remember the warning Alatreon gave you to stay out and away. You weren't about to cross that line and endanger your partners again.

You told them all to climb, and so they did.

First getting across the narrower walks and avoiding the touch of lava, you let them all go first as you stayed further back to help with getting Senzo up using Slinger hooks and Clutch Claws to grapple him with. He moaned in pain and cried harder, but there wasn't anything to be done about it other than let him suffer through it all.

Only now looking over him with a better view did you truly see the extent of his damages. Senzo's armor was useless in protecting him, most of it having been melted away by Dragon Element. His skin underneath over his arms, stomach and legs were... pitch black... pitch black and covered with crimson spots of flesh that had been almost incinerated. You saw he was missing some toes... and his right hand.

If he didn't get treated, he might catch diseases and his flesh could end up rotting to worse conditions.

The climb up takes a while, but up above, the Tigrex and Glavenus Hunters are able to find the top platforms and everyone gathers there. Some searching around the darkened interiors your group stumbled upon reveals weaker walls, which upon being mined confirm the expectation. The Coral Highlands awaited outside, at a very low point, one no far from the grazing grounds of the Shamos. There were Kelbi about, so that meant your group had ended up very close to the first Camp in the Highlands, and so that is where you tell them all to head.
>>
They all grimaced at his injuries, surprised he had survived taking an attack from Nakarkos in such weak low-rank armor.

Then there is some discussion.

"That thing is too dangerous to leave down there, we should head back and give it our all to kill that nightmare!" The Tigrex Hunter suggested.

"No, we can't do that." The Glavenus Hunter argued.

"What? Why not?" The Rathalos Hunter questioned.

"When I saw Dragon Element I thought there might be a Savage Deviljho here, there is one out there the Commission's tracking anyway. But this... Nakarkos... this is much worse than I thought! I've fought one before in a party back in the Old World, and it was the hardest fight of my life! I've got experience and even I'm not prepared. If we go back, that thing will render us the same way as this one." The Glavenus Hunter gave his case.

"We've already seen most of what it can do, if you've had a hand in killing one before in the Old World, then that means our chances are only that much better!" The Tigrex Hunter shot back.

"No! You don't understand how powerful that thing is! It might just be the most dangerous thing on the continent right now! Despite all it did, you've only had a taste of what it can do!" The Glavenus Hunter reasoned.

"I don't buy it! We can't leave something like that free to do as it wants! You said it yourself, it's too dangerous! Our job as Hunters are to stop these things!" The Tigrex Hunter pouted, looking to you. "You're the leader, so you decide who you want to believe in here."

The Swift Huntress and Rathalos and Zorah Hunters stayed quiet, they would wait for you to decide as well.

>We should all retreat back to Astera and report what we've found. Getting Senzo treatment is more important than running at a wall right now. Nakarkos is too formidable for us to handle, it will have to wait for another time, a much longer time from now.
>Tigrex Hunter is right, Nakarkos is too important to leave be right now like this. Senzo lasted this long already, he'll be fine to stay here while we return back down below to slay the thing. It needs to be dealt with post haste with unrelenting force!
>Write in.
>>
>>4155943
>You saw he was missing some toes... and his right hand.
Damnit Senzo, you buffoon...

>>4155944
>We should all retreat back to Astera and report what we've found. Getting Senzo treatment is more important than running at a wall right now. Nakarkos is too formidable for us to handle, it will have to wait for another time, a much longer time from now.
His extremities have already necrotized, we have to get him back to Astera. We can't let that Nakarkos run amok for too long, though, lest it gets new toys from his stay in the Veil.
>>
>>4155944
>We should all retreat back to Astera and report what we've found. Getting Senzo treatment is more important than running at a wall right now. Nakarkos is too formidable for us to handle, it will have to wait for another time, a much longer time from now.
Come back ASAP before, as the anon above said, the Nakarkos finds 'interesting' weaponry amid the dalamadur skeleton.

>>4154198
I do not regret my at-work shitposts.
>>
>>4155944
>We should all retreat back to Astera and report what we've found. Getting Senzo treatment is more important than running at a wall right now. Nakarkos is too formidable for us to handle, it will have to wait for another time, a much longer time from now.
>>
Motherfuck I just realized that Rajang is a Furious one now.

Will we ever try doing anything with that Zinogre we captured as well?
>>
"Senzo's injuries are already getting too close to the point where treating them won't be easy, we're going back to Astera." You say.

The Tigrex Hunter only shook his head in disappointment, but he wouldn't object further.

You directed your companions on what to do now, pointing them to some rope nearby which would be used to help carry Senzo on the Wingdrakes as you and the Rathalos Hunter both called for the Mernos.

As the things arrived, you had everyone mount up and depart the Coral Highlands. You and the Swift Huntress both handled carrying Senzo, propping him up with the rope tied around his arms and back which reached over yours and her shoulder, your slinger hooks fastened around his legs.

When Astera was close and everyone got off, the first thing you did was help pick Senzo up with the Swift Huntress. The Glavenus Hunter looked to you and gave a flat gesture with his hand.

"I'll inform command about the Nakarkos, you take him to medical care."

The Tigrex Hunter also began striding off the way of the tradeyard.

"And I'll telling the Veterans! That thing needs to be killed!"

You let the two go off on their own ways and hurried over to the stairs with the Swift Huntress, taking Senzo up to the Doctor's office. You barged in and the Doctor took notice quickly, turning away from treating Brigg to helping you set Senzo down on the cot next to him. At this point, Brigg was patched up with many wrappings, he looked better than before.

The Doctor examined Senzo's injuries with much distress however, saying that they were even worse than Brigg's, adding that Senzo might not even be able to recover from this. Nonetheless, the Doctor swears he'll do his best to try and treat him while also finishing up with Brigg.

The Swift Huntress leaves out with the others, going back about their day. You trusted the Doctor and left it in his hands as you left, you were sure he could work something out. At the very bare minimum least you could expect, Senzo would likely survive, but he may never hunt again after this...
>>
The first place you went after this was over to the Commander's table, the other Hunters who joined you were there as well. You walked up just as the Glavenus Hunter finished reporting everything that had transpired.

The Commander gives a slow nod hearing that.

"Sir, what will be done about this?" The Zorah Hunter asks.

"For now, I'm going to have to ask that you all avoid the Rotten Vale and instead focus your efforts towards completing other quests and assignments available." The Commander answered.

"But sir, the Nakarkos..." You nearly start.

"While it is true that Nakarkos is an extreme threat to us here in the New World, I can't risk any other Hunters being gravely injured by it like just today. I'm going to have to temporarily place a restriction over trying to Hunt it." The Commander states.

"Will we still be permitted access to the Rotten Vale?" The Rathalos Hunter asks.

"No, for now the Vale will have to be off-limits. I'm going to have the memo sent out that traveling there is forbidden for the time being." The Commander responded.

"I'll have the word put out." The Field Team Leader at the side says before walking away from the deck.

"I trust you all know this is only for the safety of Hunters here. Nakarkos is a Monster placed among target lists in the Old World that only the most dangerous Monsters can make it on, we're dealing with something that even hunts other Elder Dragons here." The Commander says, placing his finger down onto the map on his table, over the Rotten Vale.

"The Rotten Vale is the perfect place for a Nakarkos. We can't count on it leaving, ever, the conditions are too suitable. So long as we know it will remain in one place, we can safely leave this for another time. Am I understood?"

"Yes sir." The others all said at once. You did too, unwilling to disrespect an officer, even if you thought this was something that needed immediate reaction.

"Very good. Now, seeing as this Urgent was an investigation and the target has been identified, I'll consider everyone who took part of it as the successor. Each of you can expect a reward for it. Now, dismissed."

You and your fellow Hunters saluted before excusing yourselves from the Commander's deck.

The others left with nods, going back to find something else to do.

What will you do now?
>>
>>4157271
What's the time?
>>
>>4157282
Late
Think around like 9PM
>>
>>4157291
Let's go home and speak to Shara. before going to bed. I want to talk about some things that we haven't before: how we pushed the Zinogre off of us and how it acted before we fought Rajang. If we found a way to reliably replicate that feat of strength then we might've been able to at least drive Nakarkos off.
>>
>>4157271
Lets go to sleep and then take 'Hiding In Plain Sight' in the morning
>>
>>4157271
Naw, weve been putting the blood borne cross off too long. Its time to end it.
>>
You sighed as you looked up at the sky darkening and returned back to your room. Vivianne and Shara were there as you expected, so you went ahead and slipped into casual wear as they settled down too. Outside, you see awnings and umbrellas unfurl as a light rain drizzles into Astera.

You'd have to get back to doing those Urgents tomorrow, the Commander's words did make some sense now that you thought about it. Nakarkos is most likely sedentary, so it won't move away from the Vale. When the time comes to confront it, everything is sure to go as planned.

You came over and jumped into your bed, coiling down as you looked up at the ceiling blankly.

Shara seemed to notice as he wolfed down another of the fruit he had.

"Something on your mind, Human named Vance?"

"You remember that time I told you about the Zinogre and Rajang? I'm thinking about that... You called them 'Thunderous Wolves'."

"What about it makes you ponder it so fondly?"

"I did something unthinkable then... that Zinogre was trying to crush me, but I was able to overpower it. I didn't tell you that part, did I?"

"I do not recall hearing of that, no."

"I'm just very confused... It seems like the kind of thing that should be possible."

"Don't underestimate your strength Human. Your kind perform miracles when they need to most. Humans are the ones who slay beasts today, you know."

"So... you're saying that I did that because I was under desperation?"

"Transparently. You felt you were close to being silenced forever, and so your survival instincts came to life."

"Hmm."

"I wonder if I'll ever do that again..."

"Perhaps, you might one day." Shara says with a yawn.

Having no more to say, you wish Shara and Vivianne a good night's rest and toss and turn until you find a comfortable position under your sheets, falling off to sleep...
>>
Come morning, you jump into action, literally leaping out of your bed with renewed energy from resting, spooking Shara and Vivianne as you only grinned at them and winked.

You had work to do, and you were going to get it done too no matter what.

Grooming yourself, drinking down coffee quickly and suiting up, you get your morning routine out of the way as you open the blinds to let sunshine from the sunrise pour in. The wood outside in Astera was mostly dry now and the rainstorm had moved on.

Now, it was time to get down to business.

You thought over quests you could take, and plenty come to mind. You still had jobs to do at the Colonel's Fort, but there were many other things available on the mainland to do as well.

One prominent thing that you noted was the fact that 'Intruder' was still prowling around the Recess, and the sanctuary of Inagami was still always under threat of being attacked by the Leshen.

Akantor was also still out there in El Dorado...

You needed to pick one to start the day off with.

>Let's tackle an Urgent.
>We can't neglect the Intruder any longer. It's time.
>Let's take on a normal quest instead.
>We still haven't written a letter to our family, have we?
>Let's visit somebody else.
>Write in.
>>
>>4157540
>We can't neglect the Intruder any longer. It's time.
Time to invite the Good Hunter.
>>
>>4157540
>We can't neglect the Intruder any longer. It's time.
Think it is time we hunt in co-operation with our fellows, our fellow confederates from across time and space.
>>
>>4157540
Intruder~
>>
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The choice is locked in now, we will be tackling the intruder next thread. For now, I'm going to take a break from running since I picked up REmake 2 recently and haven't touched it yet. I'll probably make a new thread tomorrow.

For now, why don't you tell me a few things?

Who's your favorite character?
What was your favorite fight?
Which image do you like the most?
>>
>>4157667
>favorite character
Shara.

>What was your favorite fight?
Definitely the Rajang 3v1.

>Which image do you like the most?
I gotta sift through the archives to be sure, but I'm leaning on sweater Shara.
>>
>>4157667
Mmmm. Zoomerman. Hes an ass, but... well hes fun, and intense, and makes us ask complicated questions.

Vs AT Tree man.

Moonlight gs explosion.
>>
>>4157667
I'm torn between Shara and Zman, both have good motivations for wanting to fo what they do.

That Cleric Beast fight was probably my favorite.

I like the White Fatty OP the most.
>>
>>4157667
Shara.

Ukanlos, from the change if perspective to the team up, the entire thing got me on the edge, I though Velkhana was going to die for sure, glad to see I was wrong.

The one were Ukanlos and Velkhana are fighting.
>>
>>4157667
>Who's your favorite character?
Shara, probably. Z-mensch is a fine villain.

>What was your favorite fight
Tie up between Zenith Cleric Beast and Ukanlos. The former had the 'abomination factor, though it felt a bit fragile despite its high HP. The latter really did feel like fighting a *colossus* - its strength, endurance, and sheer fucking tenacity have dwarfed everything else so far.
That said, I really loved the Bloodborne crossover. Most fun I've had so far.

>Which image do you like the most
The wartimes image set!
>>
>>4157667
I'm liking Vance a whole lot, a good main character and the guys have been taking this quest fairly serious which is nice.
But if you mean pc? I like the way you handled the sapphire star and I've grown fond of shara.

The entire bloodborne colab was an absolute delite to read thru. Spectacular job on that.

You've been making some good art, but if I had to pick a favorite? Probably the first time we had grannies cooking and saw Gog. With gore zinogre a close second.
>>
New thread
>>4158832
>>4158832
>>4158832



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