“You’ve gone through some things, Will. A lot of things. You’re still the same William that wanted to be more than a bandit. I didn’t force you into that, lest you forget. You wanted to do that.”
William’s tone doesn’t improve, even if his expression seems less miserable.

“And you’ve seen fit to forget I wanted it for the glory. The ability to do what I want when I want it. I did it for power” He adds. You can respond to that one, too.
“And here you are, speaking in past tense!” You say, even laughing as you say it. It’s contagious, besides, guessing from how William starts smiling as well.
You keep going from here:
“Ogg’s taken your physical form. But your mind is yours. You’re still William. So, once we’re done with Ogg? We can just go ahead and find another wizard to get you back to being human.”

William seems surprised for a moment.
“You’d… still do that? After all this?”
“Obviously. I still intend to get cured, or at least try to. Makes no sense I’d leave you out.”

…William just slowly gets up, after that. His gait is unsteady, and he takes a moment to stabilise himself after standing up straight.
“...I’m heading out. See if I can’t… See if I can’t get used to this body on a whole. H-hey! You’ll see. I might not even want to change back by the time we find another wizard!”
You can tell he’s making a joke… But then he hops out.

Good. He’ll be fine, at least for a while. Mostly, you’re going to have to keep him distracted, which isn’t that hard. In fact, once he's standing up straight and adjusted his gear...
Well, for a kobolt, he looks downright dapper.

It’s about week’s travel from here to Mother Mountain.
There’s only a singular stop, that being a frontier town close to Mother Mountain itself. You believe they call it Nellis?

This is probably the last time you'll have some real time to yourself and the kobolts.
Is there anything you'd like to do?

>No. Just travel. Nothing really comes to mind as a scene we'd love to see.

>Actually, I'd like to have a scene about...
Something, I'm sure. Just articulate it.

>>5377771
>Actually, I'd like to have a scene about...
Has Anna given any further thought to what she wants to become? (Maybe it'll even be useful for combat, maybe it'll just be an interesting scene)

And how is chad doing? Is he feeling prepared and ready? (Is he still troubled about being a dragon-slayer?)

>>5377771
>Actually, I'd like to have a scene about...
Threesome with Pink and Sarah.

>>5377854
Also good, but unlikely

>>5377854
this, lets make it likely

>>5377771
>>No. Just travel. Nothing really comes to mind as a scene we'd love to see.
but once we get to Nellis I will be fairly interested to see what it is like.

>>5377771
something important that passed over my head. If this is a frontier town close to Mother Mountain, ask the people here -if any are still alive- if Ogg passed by. She and her followers are responsible for killing almost an entire village's population, and plans to turn people into dragons and kobolts. Can any of them lend any aid?

>>5377771
>>Actually, I'd like to have a scene about...
>>this very well could be the last time all our friends...no family is together though you all came together a short time ago these people, well you honestly couldn't imagine going on without them or letting them know how much each of them has come to mean to you.

fuck I am happy for our lad William, this was everything I was hoping for in a reassurance scene.

>>5378106
but is that as important as breeding Pink?

>>5378878
More, by a large margin. I'm >>5377872, but frankly I'd need a pretty compelling build-up for it to even be plausible and to not feel forced considering how awkward Reynauld and Sarah both are.

>>5378878
>>5378921
Pink isn't really my ship, but I could see it going something like this:
Pink decides to intervene directly in the affairs of Celsie and Reynauld because they are deep in the "Jesus Christ, just fuck already" stage of the relationship, but not only are they both awkward dorks, they're awkward dorks who are not in any way used to their bodies or readily able to adapt to the recent changes they've undergone, so Pink takes matters into her own hands. literally.

Alternatively, Pink decides to cheer up William in the most expedient way possible. Actually one of the Kobolts deciding that William is kinda hot now that he's a Kobolt seems almost inevitable, and could probably give him a bit of a spring in his step until he starts getting wracked with doubt over his lingering sense of humanity, until it becomes apparent that he can still change back after he gets stuck in.

>>5380152

The problem with that first one is that Reynald and Celsie have ALREADY boinked. They aren't afraid of getting it on.

>>5380161
Ok then yeah disregard it. still, Pink x William might work.

Alright, you fellas really want a pink/sarah/reynauld threesome it seems and I'm willing to deliver, but keep in mind lewds take a bit for me to make.

The basic "plot" of it is going to be aphrodisiac plants to justify the involvement of Pink with Para and Reyn. The others are probably going to be busy as well, and William will direct himself to the twins rather than Pink. Pink & William are not eachother's types, at all.

It'll be done when it's done, lewds are not my strong suit. I'm rather vanilla, most of the time.
Also, obviously, it's going to be a link to it. Maybe a google doc, maybe a better location for it.
I wish pastebin didn't go stupid.

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>>5380354
>lewds are not my strong suit
>I'm rather vanilla
>the caravan comes across a vanilla based aphrodisiac plants
>instead of lewds everyone is hand holding and saying nice things to each other
lots of hugging and spoons will be involved
>the twins plan out a date with an embarrassed William
>Pink gets to cuddle with her new dragons
>collar and Teensy are still supre best friend despite lycanthropy
>Dismas feels content know that the remains of his family will be safe now
>Anna and Chadeous are kissing
>Petrus is sleeping on top of Tom-8-ooooos cuz he warm and fuzzy
>Esmerelda apologizes to William for punching him in the dick, and they hug it out
>Snikt is sleeping with her totally-not-a-dad-but-also-very-cool-dragon-knight-and-kinda-step-alchemist-mom
Ah yeah, gimme some of that dank ass dopamine

>>5380354
I'm just wondering how Paracelsus didn't manage to prevent someone throwing an aphrodisiac into their stew or whatever... Unless she let it happen...

>>5380398
She's up to something again.

>>5380354
ha akun follows were ever you go looking forward to this and hope it is super wholesome.

>>5380354

Unexpected.

>>5380382
This is cute, though.

>>5380354
I expect there to be many creampies and egg laying

The canon version of events. Because that low impact consensual cuddling post got my almonds activated. The segs stuff is still coming, though.
==============

"You're cuuuute" You say.
"Noooo!" Sarah says back, blushing as lies back in the grass, currently wearing your chestplate to "see if it looks good". She puts her hands over her face, trying to hide her blush, and then says back:
"YOU! Yooooou're cute. And cool."
"I'm hot. I breathe fire." You say back, resisting the urge to giggle, and instead you just guffaw. You stop yourself from laughing too much, lest Snikt wakes up as she lays on your broad chest, using it for warmth as she snoozes. She's curled up into a little ball there, and you're more than happy to serve as a bed for the little kobolt.
"You *are* hot! Wooooooooow." Sarah says back, amazed by that factoid you just added. Pink, in the meantime, snuggles a little close to both her new dragons. She's not sleeping, she just adores the heat coming off both, so she places herself between them... though she made extra sure she doesn't get in the way. Nestled between their hips, she just looks up at the clouds, seeing all the different shapes of dragon in them. She feels... safe. Happy. Useful.

Esmeralda, meanwhile, clung to the back of Reynauld. He barely even realized that, despite the almost constant giggling from her.

====

"But I don't know how to play t-tailball! And we don't even have a ball!" William says, as the twins each grabbed an arm of his. They found his new form very agreeable indeed, and after the meal that Petrus gathered some berries for, they didn't bother hiding that fact.
"It's fiiiine." Ruby says
"We can manage." Sapphire adds
"We just go to the fun part." Ruby exposits
"Where we skip the competition." Sapphire elaborates
"And we get to toss sticks at stick figures." Ruby states.
"Using our tails!" Sapphire explains

William... isn't so sure.
"...Do you guys feel weird? All... fluffy?" He asks, noting that he can't really feel his fingers. The new claws are more dulled, compared to his old fingertips, but it's... different
"We allllways feel fluffy around hunks." Sapphire says, leaning against William, his superior size working to his advantage to keep his balance... Though the counterweight from Ruby makes it easier.
Though now he feels as though he's being crushed, instead, feeling the heat coming off the two of them… though noting they’re still colder than most people. Kobolt skin keeps heat well, but internally, they’re not as warm. Packed together as tightly as this, though…

“Uhh… Hunk?” William repeated, a bit confused, but as the twins slowly come closer, their breath against his neck, he begins to understand what they mean. And completely and utterly fails to understand why his heart feels so fluttery as they do so.
Tails wrapping around his legs, and then… He flops back as they pull, and he lands in the grass, the sun beaming down on them.The twins drop down over him, and William…
“W-what are you guys-”
“We wanna go on a date.” Ruby says, and Sapphire giggles. “A nice one, with food.”
“And kisses~.”

William sank back into the grass, as the two kobolts began to lavish him in kisses… and he was, for the first time in weeks, content.
====
“You’re MY best friend!” Collar yelled at Teensy, who then yelled back:
“NO! You’re MY bestest friend! I love you the mostest!”
“Mostest isn’t a word! It’s most!” Collar yelled back. Her dictionary knowledge serving her well. Teensy isn’t having it, yelling back
“WELL IT’S NOT ENOUGH! I LIKE YOU MORE THAN MOST!”
Collar is getting frustrated as well:
“THAT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND! YOU KNOW MY FAVORITE ANIMALS!”
“IT’S DOGS! AND I WAS A DOG ONCE!” Teensy squeaks back, making Collar agree… though she’s still yelling:
“I KNOW! IT WAS VERY SCARY!”
“DO YOU STILL LIKE ME AFTER THAT!?” Teensy then screams, her voice cracking.

Then Collar draws her into a bear hug, lifting the tiny kobolt into the air, performing a spin before they land into the grass.
“Yeah.” Collar whispers. “You’re the best.”
“You’re the bestest.” Teensy says right back. With no more energy to argue… Collar just capitulates.
“...Okay.”
Teensy isn’t done, though, and quickly asks:
“Am I your bestest?”
“Yeah.” Collar said, with no hesitation.
Even if it’s still not a word.

====

Anna hugged Chad tighter, most of her clothes lying besides her. Chad is in much the same position, as they are both under the blankets… their bodies heating eachother up. Anna places her head on Chad’s shoulder, which seems to be growing broader by the day.
“So… How are you feeling now?” Anna asks, hugging Chad a little tighter, pressing the softer parts of her body against her. Chad… doesn’t know how to respond, and instead says:
“You smell nice.”
Anna smiled. She can recognize a conversational dodge when she hears one.
“Oookay. So, you’re still a bit upset about killing that dragon, right?”
“It’s… wrong. I feel wrong for doing it, even though I did it for a bigger, better dragon. I feel weird, now. Like… Like a fish that’s flying.” he says, putting an arm around Anna’s midriff and pulling her even closer.
“Well, I think it makes you very cool. And maaaaybe…. Kinda hot.”
“I am partially cold-blooded.”
“You’ve been looking up to Reynauld too much. I mean that it’s attractive. It’s attractive that I’m holding a dragonslayer against myself.”

Chad blushes.
Profusely.
“T-thanks.” He stammers back.
“So…. W-would you… like it if I went… kobolt? Because… I gotta admit, if William can pull it off with a curse, I figure I’d be enough of a catch to fit you, hmmmm?”

Chad isn’t so sure. Mostly because this isn’t his choice to make.
“You… Shouldn’t. Make me choose. This is a choice for you to make.” Chad says, enjoying the smooth skin of her body… and the occasional bit of squish.
“But it’s HARD! I’m not… I’m not sure. What if there is a better race for me, you know? This is… this is a really big thing! Not many people get to change their race. And I-I almost feel stupid for wanting to change into something similar. Something equally small.”

There is a pause…
And Chad nods a few times.
“Comfort is best.” He adds. A simple statement, as he adjusts the way they lie together, pulling the blanket over both of them, as he lies on top of her.
…
His head on her belly, and they just lie back.
“...You’re comfortable.” Anna says. And Chad repeats after her:
“You’re comfy too.”
They remained there… eventually falling asleep in eachother's embrace

Rolled 11 (1d100)

=====

Petrus was sitting on top of Tom-8-O’s. The horse always liked the little kobolts, and the fact Petrus was even lighter than the others is a bonus. He just liked being coddled, especially compared to when he was stabled. He wasn’t particularly liked there…
Probably because he was ugly and didn’t sell well, despite his might.
Not that Tom)8-O’s was aware of such things. He had no awareness of money. He just knew that ever since he got to see the world, he got a lot more treats and pets, not to mention a daily session of getting his fur done. The kobolts are always busy doing something, and taking care of Tom-8-O’s counted as “something”.
Tomoooooooo really liked his new life. He mused on this, as he enjoyed some more oats.

“...No. He’s… not like that. You’ll be fine.” Dismas replied. He had avoided the incident by way of eating last. As he had made a habit back when food as more rare. The others needed food more, after all.
“But I put the stuperberries in the crock pot.” Petrus said back, nervously.
Dismas looked at everybody acting… a little bit off. And he sighed.
“I don’t think they’ll mind that much. It’s only an hour of time lost, by the time this wears off enough to keep moving. With the horse resting, I think we’ll make that time back.”
Petrus nodded… and started petting Tomatoes, who nickered in a pleased manner.
“Be glad you didn’t use the Passionberries. If that were the case, I’d have to fasttrack your sex ed.”
“What’s sex?” Petrus asked, and Petrus’ mother, who was in the midst of cleaning Tom-8-O’s hooves, quickly says:
“What gender you are, hun.”
“I’m a boy!”
“Right answer.” Dismas added.

…If the knight does prove to be angry, he’ll just go ahead and take the blame.

The Sierra Madre looms.
It won’t be long now.

Just the final bits.

Snikt's scouting report was clear. It seems there are a whole bunch of those Dragonborn up ahead... Likely left behind to slow down or stop anything that tries to get to Ogg. They seem to have taken over the last town before the Sierra madre, though mercifully, it seems things have gone peacefully. No casualties, no fire, nothing...
But the townspeople are clearly under watch by these followers of Ogg.

...You'll have to think about this

>Enter the town, offer them a chance to surrender.

>Sneak into town, kill as many of these dragonborn as you can manage

>Go around the town, there's no need to deal with this

>Some other option

>>5382700
>Enter the town, offer them a chance to surrender.


That was adorable

Great fluff. Now then...

>>5382700

I WOULD be annoyed at that low roll, but a climatic battle or a major roadblock before the Big Bad's Dungeon makes sense. That said? Let's not fuck with it lol.

>Go around the town, there's no need to deal with this

Honestly, I'm curious to see how life is under the followers of Ogg, though I suspect that it's not great even if there is no burning or whatnot.

I'm not married to this choice and can be swayed.

>>5382700
>Go around the town, there's no need to deal with this
If they aren't killing, torturing, raping, or maiming, they're not urgent. We can deal wothbthem, diplomatically or violently, after we have sorted out Ogg.

Also, that was very cute.

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>>5382633
>>5382635
>>5382637
>>5382673
>good feels
my almonds have been fluffy

I leave the voting to bigger brained folks with more wrinkles than me

>>5382700
>>Sneak into town, kill as many of these dragonborn as you can manage

Giving them the chance to surrender only gives away our element of surprise and given our far gone Ogg was her followers are very likely Fanatics who can't be reasoned with. Now as for the other option of sneaking around I am sure we could but once the battle in Oggs cave starts every dragon born in that town will come running and we will have to fight surrounded, no better to take them all out now and then move to Ogg, so we know our backs are clear.

>>5382700
>Sneak into town, kill as many of these dragonborn as you can manage
No mercy for these abominations

>>5382871
>these abominations
You mean abominations like us and our girlfriend?

>>5383034
We are still human where it matters, these things have rejected their humanity.

>>5383115
We don't actually know that about them yet. These Dragonborn didn't rampage, for one thing.

>>5383172
Ogg's Ideology is dragon over human and has set out with the express purpose of wiping out the human race by turning them into her ubermensch dragon race. It is safe to assume anyone following her has drunk the cool aid and needs to be put down. We tried and failed to talk Ogg down and now she is an existential threat, which means her followers are as well.

>>5383190
That's not how people always tend to think, even in cults. Otherwise we'd never have breakaways from them. Not saying you're absolutely going to be proven wrong, but let's look before we leap at least. It's entirely plausible there might be a more moderate sect cropping up, especially considering that she's recruiting as she goes, and it's rather unlikely everyone's gotten fully indoctrinated since they need to get a move on.

>>5383195
I think you're overlooking the fact for her followers Ogg would have no reason to cut out the mental aspect of the curse. But fair enough there could be some people who aren't so far gone that they can't be reasoned with, but I am telling you they are going to be a fraction of the whole. I would much rather go in swords swinging and accept the surrender of those who can be turned than to rock up and ask for the group to surrender where mob mentality will cow the "moderates" into following along with the group and attacking us in mass.

going in and killing as many as we can while sparing those who want to surrender one on one is the way to do this.

>>5382700
>Enter town pretending to be Ogg's followers
We're essentially a pair of Dragonborn with a clan of loyal kobolt "servants". As long as we're not obviously a knight and an alchemist, they should have no reason to think we're their enemies.

>>5382700
>Enter town pretending to be Ogg's followers

>>5383221
>>5383928
Didn't the leader of the savage Dragonborn at the last settlement recognize us on-site as their forebear?

>>5383221
>>5383928
guys, please take a moment to realize that Ogg would know we are coming to stop her, would have informed her followers about us probably even used her magic to show them what ourselves and our companions look like. This doesn't even touch on the fact we would be two randoms showing up at the camp and saying hello fellow cultists isn't becoming a dragon the greatest? To say nothing of the fact that Ogg being aArchmage she probably has wards in place to alert her when unknowns enter her territory.

>>5382866
Support

>>5384051
maybe we should do a little recon in force?

>>5384704
indeed

You decide to sneak in, with the intent to kill as many of the dragonborn as you can, before it turns into an all-out assault... But you need to be smart about this.
They could have hostages.
So, instead, you send in Snikt to have a look around, first, to get some scouting done. She's permitted to kill any dragonborn she figures she can get away with, but she HAS to be careful, obviously. It doesn't take long before she comes back, with some information:
"I found the townspeople! They... they've all been cursed. Almost nobody joined up with Ogg, so they were all cursed to be kobolts, like William! None of them are very changed yet, but they're scared. Mostly they can still walk around the town, do their chores, but, uh, I think that they're just doing their best to not get hurt. Two people got killed when they came, the sheriff and his deputy.... The rest didn't fight." Snikt explains. Her sentence structure has improved a lot, but she still tends to speak in third person, from time to time, but only when she describes herself.
As for the report... grim news,but it could have been much worse.

"So, are the townspeople just in their homes?" You ask.
"Yes! The dragonborns were told they shouldn't hurt anybody, though, and the mayor man said they only killed the sheriff and his deputy when they fired their guns."
Right. You suppose Ogg doesn't intend for people to hate them outright. A failed ambition, to be sure, but at the very least it's good news for the village. The curse that's been inflicted upon them, though...
That's an existential fear.
"How are the townspeople holding up?"
"They say they're not scared, but they're really scared. They don't wanna fight. All the dragonborn are outside, and they're inside. They don't think the kobolt thing is a problem, though... something about how their town is close-knit, and that they'll find a cure for sure."
Hm. Brave lot.

Understandable that they won't fight, of course, especially after losing their sheriff. Not to mention the average dragonborn is a bit stronger than the average human.
With the fact of the hostages in mind, you should adjust your plan of attack, or just head in there to sneakily kill as many as you can manage. Even if you do that second plan, you're going to need to have a plan. Do you sneak in all at once, intending to see how far you get, do you send in the sneakier kobolts and once they're found out, you start a charge... Perhaps you enter the town as a distraction, while the others spring a well-laid trap?
There's options.

How do you intend to liberate this town?

>Charge in. You'll manage

>Have the kobolts do everything they can. Once you hear fighting, rush right in.

>Enter the town, so the others can set up a trap. They can set up a killzone with all the rifles.

>Something else.

>>5385396
>>Enter the town, so the others can set up a trap. They can set up a killzone with all the rifles.
Maybe bring our squires along, or not.

>>5385396
>>Enter the town, so the others can set up a trap. They can set up a killzone with all the rifles.


yikes we are gonna need to find another arch mage later and bring him hear to restore all these people or if that should prove impossible, Spine has given our MC and his little marry band a prime location and population to take leadership/ownership of once the epilogue starts. If reversing the curse proves to not be an option.

>>5385420
>>5385420 >Spine has given our MC and his little marry band a prime location and population to take leadership/ownership of once the epilogue starts. If reversing the curse proves to not be an Yeah that was my thought as well. We could end up with a village of our own from this, but obviously only down the road. Also maybe some sort of special moment for William. If the whole village are kobolts, they might be fine staying that way if we find a decent dragon for them (maybe Anna can step in as the designated Dragon? She has the head for it. Maybe use her spell to become like a Draconic succubut or something silly but suitably prestigious for her new position.) I already voted as >>5385410 on LTE, so I'm abstaining on this code.

>>5385396
>Enter the town, so the others can set up a trap. They can set up a killzone with all the rifles.
We have your surrounded! Surrender, or be destroyed!

>>5385590
our first action should be to restore these people and ourself, but if that really is impossible then yeah we have a place to call our own and people who will need to us lead them so they don't get fucked by being forced to follow a bad dragon.

>>5385396
>>5385396
>Enter the town, so the others can set up a trap. They can set up a killzone with all the rifles.
Challenge the dragonborns to one on one combat. We will face the strongest among them, and he who stands on top will rule all the other kobolts and lesser dragonborns.

>>5386773
No that's actually pretty far down in the list of priorities. First priority is still taking down Ogg and stopping her plot.

>>5387543
anon we are talking about actions after killing Ogg, and tieing up any loose ends. The first thing is assuming we all survive to find another Wizard to reverse the curse. To undo the damage Ogg's "grand design" has caused.

>>5385396
>Enter the town, so the others can set up a trap. They can set up a killzone with all the rifles.
No pain no gain. Maybe if we help the villagers enough, we could convince them to let us use any explosives they might have.
Don't forget to loot the Dragonborn corpses.

>>5385396
Should I question why Pink had tiddies from OP pic?

>>5388668
No.
====
The dragonborn gathered quickly, when you entered the town. You were almost surprised to see they weren't very willing to attack you. They came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some barely looked changed at all. Eyes and scales, yes, but at a distance one wouldn't be able to tell they were now inhuman. Others were as far along as the abomination you've killed before. The fool with his two-handed sword.
And some were far closer to dragon than human. One in particular had unnaturally long arms, and an elongated torso. It forced him to use his hands as he ran, not dissimilar to an animal, though the sledgehammer he was wielding gave credence that he was far from weak.
Their size is universal. Big. Burly.
Even the women among them looked larger than the average man. The stranger part is the fact that all of these dragonborn were wielding simple tools for combat. Sledgehammers, pitchforks, sickles, scythes. Some were adjusted for war, of course. The scythe was turned into a makeshift halbert by turning the blade 90 degrees, and the pitchfork has only a singular point, to reduce the contact area.

"PROGENITOR! Turn back, now! Lady Ogg will not be interrupted by you! Her work is far too important."
"She intends to turn everybody into lizards. It's not important, it's insanity." You say back, not really interested in playing along in their dramatics. Some of the dragonborn actually hiss at that, mostly the ones that are the furthest along. You roll your eyes, though the gesture is lost on them on account of your greathelm.
"She intends to uplift us! Those who will serve will live longer, more meaningful lives! Those who lead will be immortal! It will be the dawn of a new age! A DRAGON AGE!"
"How original." You say, as you unsheathe your blade.
They take a step back at that.

"Don't... don't you dare! We outnumber you, ten to one!"
"Then, I suppose this fight isn't very fair."
You raise your fist into the air... and then your kobolts appear, all along the rooftops, the bushes, even from inside some homes.
All aiming their guns at them.

The dragonborn look around... and seem to realize their mistake fairly fast. Any real fighters would have ensured the surrounding area was clear. These people... they saw you, and assumed you were the most important and only thing to worry about.
"...Bastard. WE WILL DIE WITH HONOR INTACT, YOU FOUL-"
Then, another dragonborn puts his hand over the blowhard's mouth, yelling "shut the hell up" past his sharpened teeth, before turning to you.
"SER! WE SURRENDER! DON'T KILL US!"
All but two people proceed to drop their weaponry, the exception being the blowhard, who is currently being held down by two others... and the particularly mutated one.

He just hisses, glaring at you as he lifts his sledgehammer with just one arm.
"GGRRDEATH! BEFORE SHAME!" He growls out, as he charges forward. You hear two gunshots, and the dragonborn flinches... but keeps running, despite the obvious injuries he sustained. Running on hands and legs, he closes the gap fast, while the other dragonborn yell at him to stop.
He raises the hammer above his head for a moment, and swings it down with an immense amount of force, which you dodge with a quick backstep. Having put all his energy into the blow, you move in to punish his whiff, only for him to surprise you, twisting his longer neck to look at you... and coat in you in a horrifically warm gust of blood-red dragonfire.

Fire had long lost its effect on you. But this creature's fire... You groan in pain as you feel some of your skin flake, and blisters forming on some select spots where the scorching hot metal touches you.
…When the torrent of fire stops, you are a steaming, smoking piece of armor…

You hear the distinct sound of screaming, followed by around ten guns going off all at once. Taking care not to move too much, you see the dragonborn that attacked you flinch and twitch, while the sheer quantity of bullets literally tear him apart.
The first two shots he had taken likely would have killed him. The proceeding ten were overkill.

The heat is stifling, and you quickly move up to remove your helmet. The comparatively cold air is a relief, and you can’t stop yourself from coughing.
Still steaming, you turn to the others.
“They have reloaded at this point. Anybody else?” You ask, slowly.

Even the blowhard from earlier drops his weapon.
Now you have prisoners of your own.

>Kill them

>Have them locked up, somehow.
This town isn’t equipped for that, however.

>something else.

>>5389369
>"Alright, then, let's have a nice chat like cicilized people."
Let's try to gauge how drastic an action will be necessary to deal with a town full of Dragonborn. I want to know what happened here, who they are, why they're doing what they're doing, the usual stuff. Let them plead their case. Also, surely at least one of them realizes that what's happening is fucking stupid, right?

>>5389369
>haver the villagers of the town hold the Dragonborn at gunpoint while taking aside the one who wanted to surrender and talk with him who is likely to accept surrender with him and who needs a swift death for their crimes and fanaticism to Oggs mad cause.

>>5389445
>>5389369
>>"Alright, then, let's have a nice chat like cicilized people."
So of the ten Dragonborn, one is dead and the blowhard is a liability who might have to get put down, but he's compliant. The other eight might be relatively normal.
In any case, we can't imprison them in town because the villagers are all kobolts. If we leave them alive it will have to be by mutual understanding.

>>5389369
What >>5389445 said, but also make it very clear that, while we know we have no means to hold them, we expect the Dragonborn to all be right here when we get back... And will hunt down and kill any who aren't.

I think you anons are being way to trusting about this we should take aside the Dragonborn who wanted to surrender and ask how many of the others will in good faith surrender, and how many need to be put down. rather than talk to them all as a group.

>>5389369
>Kill them
Just kill the beasts and move on

>>5389758
Read the room.

>>5389764
That's fine. I just don't see a reason to spare them.

>>5389798
Well, there's the inherent danger of taking on an entire group of Dragonborn all at once.

>>5389798
Most of them haven't even done anything especially egregious. A couple of them killed a sheriff and deputy in response to being fired upon. One attacked us, and was killed for the trouble. The rest just... Hung out, believing that they're part of a glorious transhumanist future by passively existing here near Ogg and gradually turning into lizard-people.

They're not exactly irredeemable criminals or inhuman monsters.

>>5389838
We don't know what crimes they may or may not have committed. But okay, I think I have a better idea than asking the cultists that have every reason to lie to us whether they and their comrades are worthy of mercy.

>>5389369
>>5389758
I want to change my vote to a write-in
>Ask the townspeople about the dragonborn and what should be done with them
Give their victims the opportunity decide what these cultists deserve.

>>5389854
>We don't know what crimes they may or may not have committed.

We sort of do, actually. We had Snikt sneak in to ask around, remember? >>5385396

>>5389868
Fair enough. Asking the townspeople for their opinions is still better than asking the dragonborn.

>>5389369
>Kill them
only real option, unless we just want to bypass the town. we want to take some of the kobold villagers with us? Have sarah whip up some of that accelerator juice?

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>>5389368
>It will be the dawn of a new age! A DRAGON AGE!
By the power of EA and BioWare I smite thee with copyright!

>something else.
Interrogation. We need intel. How far along Ogg was with her transformation, their total numbers, weapons, so on.
State your name, your title, your deeds. You may not be THE most famous and well known of Wandering Knights, but some of them must know of you lineage, your household. How you joined the crusade, slain your family to the last for abominable worship of what shan't be, the slaying of two dragons (with the tooth to prove it), and your many years as a wandering knight.

You are a Numitor. Reynauld Numitor. Do they know of your venerable house? Once...opulant and imperial? How it turned...into a festering abomination? How you personally delivered them from the clutching shadows, with torch and sword and blood. How you did it to you own family Do these...supposed Dragonborn think you'd hesitate with them, if it came to that?

>>5389445
>>5389469
+1 these two

>>5389369
>>5389445
>>5389573

Seriously, by all accounts, these aren't trained warriors. These are rando peasants who got sold a bill of goods and now they have to live with it. It's clear that one or two of them are nutso, but the rest are just probably thinking 'WTF WTF did I get myself into shit fuck I don't want to die.' I think it's not impossible we can come to an agreement. There's a clear divide in those that have drank the Kool-Aid and those that just want better for themselves and saw an easy avenue to do it. Hard to blame them when being serfs/peasants SUCKS.

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>>5391171
I absolutely agree to this idea, but I have some doubts. Would any of them be free from the mindset of a dragon, or are any of them free like Reynauld and Sarah? That's what I want to know. If it's the latter than we can really work with this.

>>5389369
Something I think is neat. Reynauld getting immolated means he's advancing more as a dragon. Bad note, the integrity of his armor is weakened to an unknown degree due to the fire breath. Is the armor still whole, or is the metal warmed and dripping off? Will we need a replacement? Fuck, if the armor is a gonner then Reynauld is gonna either need to transform faster for more natural armor AC, or go sword and board in a loincloth Dark Souls style.

>>5391296
I will concede that that's a concern, but all the same, no reason to freak out right this second. We'll have to wait for upcoming posts to get the measure of things and go from there.

Also if we end up loinclothing it we're gonna have to Dark Souls speedrun this shit. ROLL EVERYWHERE IT KEEPS US INVINCIBLE.

>>5391299
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvYApd_X3aU
Yeah man shit is kinda fucky with these "dragonborn." To kill them, or not to kill them, that is the question. Maybe it's a mix bag of some of them thinking like a normal human, and some thinking like a dragon. A Thorough investigation into them would probably help us understand a bit.

>>5391301
I'd cool it with the thorough investigation. We're still pressed for time, and the longer we spend faffing around with the lizard-brains, the more time Ogg has to run amuck. We primarily need to gauge how much of a threat they will be to us. If we can be reasonably sure they'll obediently stay put at least long enough to get a good head start towards Mother Mountain, that's great. Otherwise we'll need to somehow lock them up or just straight up put them down. Rationally, the best course of action would be to kill them all outright, but a) that's a fight I'd prefer to avoid, and b) it's not the right thing to do. I mean, we even let the bandit leader plead his case before we executed him like the dog he was.

>>5391351
>I mean, we even let the bandit leader plead his case before we executed him like the dog he was.
That's a good point. We've got an established policy of letting them plead their case before we kill them. If the eight survivors (smarmy one is already written off imo) don't give us a good reason to let them live, we'll still kill them, but if they do, great.

>>5391296
The armor withstood the blast. The metal was immensely, immensely hot. Reynauld will get through it with some more scales, and having to adjust some of the cloth, but the leather still survived despite being scorched.
Reynauld's armor is really good.

====

It doesn't take long before you put all the dragonborn together, tied up thanks to the villagers offering both rope and some clever knots. You make sure not to touch anything, as you're still unbearably hot at the moment. The villagers are certainly unsure about your appearance, but your actions spoke louder than your appearance.
The dragonborn just sit down, looking miserable. One of them speaks up, a woman.
"Ser, please. I beg you... don't kill us. I know you have your... crusade against us, but it's for the greater good! We didn't harm anybody that didn't shoot first!"
You sniff.
"You entered their town. I doubt you weren't warned."
Another member of the group objects. He sounds terrified.
"It was... things weren't supposed to go like this! We v-volunteered to keep you back! To explain ourselves! I didn't... I didn't think people would DIE!" He yells. His voice cracks as he says it.

...
"You people are all in over your head, aren't you?" You ask, and they go quiet.
The blowhard tries to talk past the muzzle that was put on him, but fails.
You can interrogate them. They don't look willing to fight, all in all.
The townspeople, however, intend to have them brought to the city to be locked up or executed. Depending on what the headsman there says. They're all remarkably calm and collected about the curse, saying something about it being "natural if a wizard comes through".
They'll be heading to the city as well, considering they will likely need help to make it through the changes. Whether they be lizards or men, though, they don't care. The town is more imporant than their bodies, so they'll return regardless.
Keeping the last stop before Mother Mountain is important to them, to an almost religious level.

At any rate, you can ask questions to the dragonborn, and also the villagers. The villagers can explain you things about the mountain, which you can see looming in the distance already.
The dragonborn can offer you knowledge of Ogg and her party.

What will you ask?

>Nothing, you've got places to be.

>Ask them about...
Put what you want to ask here

>>5391519
>Ask the Dragonborn
Where is Ogg? What exactly is she doing right now? does she have any allies holed up with her? How dragon-y is she, nowadays?

>Ask the townsfolk
Can you keep the Dragonborn here for just a bit? I don't want them getting loose in transit and escaping justice. Also: what's so important about maintaining this place to them?

>>5391534
support

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>>5391519
>Ask them about...
<The "Dragonborns">
-Current numbers
-how far along are their allies into their transformations
-do they have any kobolts among them
-weapons, armor, equipment
-what are their lot capable of
-whom among them were the most skilled
-how far changed is Ogg
-get a feel for if any them are human brained or dragon brained
-what defenses have they in place at on the way to the mountain, and on the montain itself

<The Villagers>
-the sheriff and deputy had guns. does the town have anymore? a blacksmith? we might need additional items to aid in our assault. If the town does not have any guns for sale then they should take the sheriff's weapons to hold the "dragonborns" up in case they try anything.
-anything useful they can tell us about the mountain. what can the tell us about it?
-do they have any rations they can spare us? the fewer stops we need to forage for food, the sooner we can stop Ogg before she can enact her plan
-do they have any healing potions? Oh wait, we don't have the rosarians to afford one. never mind.

>>5391565
>>5391534
Support.

>>5391519
So uh what kinda village is this? Do they farm crops? a pit stop to another big city? Why they here? Why they exist?

Would any of the dragonborn weapons be useable for Reynauld in case his sword breaks?

>>5393274
I suspect they have something to do with the mother mountain which is why they care more about maintaining the village than being kobolts

>>5393280
As poor as it might be, I kinda hope we get to recruit some of the villagers as kobolts. Kobolts are fast learners, and they might be of use for fighting against Ogg and her cultists.
Damn, you know what I realized? If there were any kobolts on the route to Mother Mountain / Sierra Madre, Ogg probably nabbed them before we could.

You start with the prisoners. Fortunately, it's not too hard to shake information out of them, as they're far from trained soldiers. It's honestly to the point that you wonder what Ogg was thinking leaving them here.
The first question is about Ogg, of course.
"Where is Ogg now?" You ask, and the answer comes from the blowhard:
"She's going up Mother Mountain as we speak! She has grown more powerful than any archmage before her! NONE WILL STOP HER GLORIOUS CONQUEST OF THIS WORLD!"
William, to your surprise, aids in the interrogation. He grabs the blowhard by his hair, and asks:
"So she is fighting, hmm? WHAT is she fighting?"
However, one of the villagers, one of the elders as a matter of fact, answers that for you.
"Many things wander the mountain, ser knight. Creatures swaddled in leather and rubber that refuse to die, corpses that walk from those foolish enough not to heed out warnings, great wyrms and even dragons. All creatures gorging on the magic of the mountain, or created by it. It is a terrible location, ser. It is why we remain here, we must serve as a warning, and we must keep the roads clear.

Ah, that explains two things at once. Useful.
"Right, thank you, sir." You say, and the man just gives a slow nod as you return to interrogating the dragonborn.
"How many allies does she have?"
One of the dragonborn talks, one that was rather shaken by watching a fellow dragonborn die. She still looks pretty young, despite her whitening hair. Most likely a result of mana poisoning.
"We took six towns on the way here. She... she promised us immortality. Strength. A purpose. A-anything seemed... seemed better than just doing what my parents figured out for me. The elderly joined as well, even two knights. Any that struggled against us we left... until the last two towns. And this one."

She looks at the ground, looking horrified.
"She... She said not all of humanity was worthy, that... that some should rule, and some should serve. From then on, she... she turned people into kobolts, instead. Any that fought, she pumped full of mana, and then... they agreed. Some she left in their homes, to transform slower. "Longer lives" she called it. I... It all seemed... it all seemed fine. Beneficial. K-kobolts live longer, they need less and... O-oh Light."
You... suspect that, now that she's been given time to think, some things are starting become more clear. You... soften a little bit.
"Sounds... like you have regrets."
"I didn't want to conquer anything!"
"TRAITOR!" The blowhard then yells, which makes the girl flinch away and go quiet, shaking. "THE LADY WILL REND THE FLESH FROM YOUR BONES! TEAR THE SCALES YOU DO NOT DESERVE FROM YOU! SPLINTER YOUR MIND INTO-"
William wraps his tail around the blowhard with surprising ease, and squeezes, preventing him from continuing his tirade.

The woman however, has completely clammed up. She's just shaking, now, and does not respond to your questions.
Mercifully, there are more people willing to talk. Another man, almost as young as the woman that was just talking.
"How many allies does she have, now?"
"...three dozen dragonborn." He says. "And because of a cave she found, and a primitive dragon... five dozen kobolts. Mixed in with those who she deemed unworthy."

Son of a bitch.
That's an army.
Then, there's something worse. The man seems uncertain about even mentioning it.
"And... then there is the Grey Dragon."
You feel as though you were punched in the stomach.
"The what?"
"It's... This woman, on an undead horse. She tried to sneak up on Ogg, kill her. Almost succeeded, too. Poisoned her blade, stabbed her in the back... even shot lady Ogg in the back of the head. Were it not for her transformation, she would never have succeeded in healing herself... and capturing the knight. Even now, she suffers from the attack. She can barely use her legs, now, requiring people to leave her in a cart, and the poison is wreaking havoc on her body. The Knight... She used for experiments. Performed the same curse on. We were sent back just as the experiments were starting, but we were in range of Mother Mountain's mana. She was..."

She looks away when she sees your expression.
One of the others speaks. One of the older people of the dragonborn.
"We could hear her screaming. Do you know what it takes for a Grey Knight to scream like that? Ogg was... pretty clear. She wanted her to show what the end result could be... and then she would control her for an eternity. Until she... learned her lesson."
The man sighed.
"With how much the poison is affecting Ogg, people found it a just punishment. To be granted greatness and no way to enjoy it, I suppose. I... I just thought it was sick."
The blowhard, on account of not being something that should be permitted to die, was allowed to breathe enough to laugh and yell:
"IT WAS MORE THAN SHE DESERVED! THE LADY IS BEYOND MERCIFUL TO-"

It was at this point Anna slammed a sock into the fool's mouth.
"Thank you." Paracelsus says, sighing with relief.

Damn it! That has to be the Grey Knight. Wasn't she going to wait for you!?
...You suppose a poisoned blade in the back, mixed with a pistol shot to the back of the head, would be a reasonable thing to try on a wizard, to be fair. In fact, you're surprised Ogg managed to withstand that, especially with the shotgun blast you've served her before. She must have become hideously strong to still heal from that. Mercifully, she is still crippled, as it stands.

You get back to the questions
"How far along is Ogg in her transformation?"
"She has forced it to move fast, to keep up with her poisoning. She is... Last time we saw her, the transitionary period had begun, as she called it. She looked... horrific. Bones popping out of skin, wings to let her fly, her foot just... stretching out. And her face... The muzzle made her look hideous. But she's growing, too. Quite fast. She was confident she'd regain the use of her legs soon."
Damn. Still on the clock.
"And how far along are the others?" You ask. You need to have an idea of how strong that army is, considering the sheer numerical advantage.
"Most are just... like us. Still mostly human. Some fanatics, like the two knights, asked for more. They are as you are, but with animalistic heads. And bigger."
Those knights are likely your biggest hurdle, then.
That... and the Grey Knight, potentially. It remains to be seen how far gone she is, but knowing her mindset... you're not sure if she'll still be sane even if she is not mind-controlled. You can only hope she'll be fine again, but...

You're not sure what to think. This is beyond horrific.

"What of the equipment, then!? Armor, weapons?"
"Mostly farm tools! Some weaponry, sure, but it's nothing you couldn't find in the average smithy. The knights have a halberd and a maul, respectively. Just... W-we're not a real army, there's no need to kill us!" A rather panicky one says. He looks like he's barely transformed, compared to many. Apart from the muscle mass, and the scales around his neck. "T-there were some guards amongst them, though, uhh... w-with shortbows. M-mostly shortswords, as well, with uhhh.. two- no! Four guys with longswords! A-and two dogs."
"Dogs?" You ask, and the panicky man confirms it.
"Yeah! A-attack hounds!"
Good to know.

"Any defences put in place on the way to the mountain?"
A more morose man speaks, now. His voice is gravelly.
Depressed, almost.
"...We were all that was placed. To keep people away, as long as possible. I... We didn't expect something like you."
Right.

You then turn back to the villagers. The elder seems to be the main person in charge of talking, however.
"The sheriff and the deputy had guns. Do you have any others?" You ask, and the man shakes his head. His voice is smooth, it has a sort of storyteller's cadence.
"No longer. We all had guns, but they took them on the way up the mountain. Including the sheriff's guns, unfortunately. However, we still have some crossbows remaining. From before Serkeskal sent us that shipment."
It'll have to do. They can protect themselves well enough with those.

You don't relish asking this next question.
"Are there any supplies you can spare. As you might be able to guess, I'm on quite the schedule."
"Sadly, no. They took everything we might have been able to spare." The man says. Well, you suppose it's to be expected. Comparing the town to the amount of people in Ogg's group, however, you suspect it was more to prevent anybody following her from resupplying.
You nod.
"Very well. Then... My next question. Would it be possible to keep them imprisoned here? I wouldn't want them escaping in transit."
"We are not equipped to do so. The longer we keep them, the more chances they have at escape. Hence why we wish to transport them to the city. Ideally, somebody would alert the city, so they can send a wagon, but the next guard won't be here for a week."
The man sighs.
"We are not defenceless. But if nothing else, if they escape along the road, they're at least further away from the Sierra Madre."

You understand the idea. Alright...

Time to keep moving, unless there is another thing that you need to do.

>Kill the blowhard.
He's the only one that you think is a lost cause.

>Kill all the dragonborn.
It's too risky to do otherwise.

>Just move.

>>5393308
One more question.
>Do the dragonborn have an inner dragon voice talking to them?
We have no idea if Ogg left the Magial Intelligence part in these guys' curse. If not, then we can probably trust them not to try anything to sabotage them. If she did, however, all bets are off.

>>5393308
>>Kill the blowhard.
>>To the rest of you I can see genuine remorse for what you have done, and I do not have time to turn toward the city, I will give you a letter marked with my ring and take it to the city to inform them of what is happening here and then return with as many men and weapons as you can, you want to undo some of the damage you have caused? Do you want a chance to make things right? well, here it is.

fuck RIP gray knight just another failure to way on our minds. we should have tried harder to convince her to travel with us, I fear that victory is now closed to us, or will be gained at a terrible cost.

>>5393308
>One more question: Do the dragonborn have an inner dragon voice talking to them?
>Kill them if so
>Spare them if not
>Kill the Blowhard either way

>>5393449
+1 supporting this one as well

>>5393308
>Kill the blowhard.

>>5393449
Yeah, that's pretty much what I had in mind. The blowhard is pretty much a lost cause either way.

...HOWEVER, in case we're letting the others live, I'd prefer not to kill him in front of everybody. It would probably be better to take him with us, mostly for show, and then Ol' Yeller him once we're outside the village.

>>5393462
+1

>>5393307
>>Kill the blowhard
He deserves it, but also he's a liability. The others could probably be released, but they should still face justice. It seems like most of them haven't committed a crime other than being an accessory.

>>5393449
Yes this is a good idea. Supporting. We can be like, "we need you to guide us to Ogg" then sluice him once we go around a bend.

>>5393308
>One more question: Do the dragonborn have an inner dragon voice talking to them?
>Kill them if so
>Spare them if not
>Kill the Blowhard either way

>>5393436
why the write in? do we actually have a ring?

>>5393308
If Reynauld did some practice with his blame breath, could he make some variations? Fireballs? wall of flame?
Can we practice magic on the way up? Could be useful.

>>5393763
someone needs to alert others of the current and dire situation, and what wandering knight doesn't have a signet ring to prove who they are?

>>5393308
As >>5393462 said. We should tell the other dragonborn that we're doing so (so it doesn't seem we're deceiving them) and why (he is clearly an active, violent threat to everyone without scales, and probably a fair number with scales as well. But yes, this won't be a public execution: his mind is gone; he is not an example to be made, but a victim of Ogg toying not only with others' bodies, but also minds.

>>5393308
This gives me some idea. If we find some kobolts or a primative dragon on our way up there, could we recruit them? I'm still all for taking all the weapons the dragonborns had, maybe we could arm some new kobolts with them.

>>5393308
>>5393449
Support
I beg, don't have the dragon voice, i don't want to have to kill basically civilians because they eventually WILL turn into another feral dragon.

>>5393308
Do any of the Dragonborn have tits? Does Sarah still have tits?
How are either of them going to sleep with wings now? On their stomachs?

>>5394290
>>5394290
I'm hoping the same.

"...Final question. Any of you. Do you hear some kind of... voice, in your head. Telling you how to be a dragon?"
"We don't, ser! We don't!" The panicky one yells, and the blowhard starts laughing through a mawful of sock. After a quick nod, Anna removes the band keeping the sock in place, and then the sock.
"HAH! We have no need for the spirit! It is subservient to US, now! It cannot speak, it will only guide our sacred flesh to ever greater heights! But the kobolts! They must learn! Their voices will grant them peace! AND YOU CAN'T STOP THEM!"

...Ahhh.
Of course. However, to your surprise, some of the other dragonborn look shocked at this:
"What!? What do you mean!? T-the instincts are to be expected but..."
"MIND CONTROL!? SHE WAS DOING MIND CONTROL!?"
There was a lot of yelling to follow, most of it in horror. It's... surprising. Seems they take their new independance quite seriously, so...
Ah, would explain their dislike of mind control, apart from the obvious moral reasons, at any rate.

You... don't really feel like these men and women deserve death, at this point. Most of them were just... stupid, really. People that wanted more out of life than what it looked like it was going to be. You were like that once.
It send you out in distant lands in the name of gods and lights you don't follow.
"...Elder?" You say, turning to the leader of the village. "Take them with you to the city. They should know better than to truly resist. If they have even the slightest sense, they'll know that escaping means they'll be hunted down and killed rather than getting trialed."
"WEAK! YOU ARE WEAK, PROGENITOR!" The blowhard yells.

You take a deep breath, while the others yell at him to shut up. And one of the dragonborn sitting next to him kicks him in the side.
"Very well." You say out loud, and you turn to the shouty newt.
"You will guide us to Ogg. The others may go."
"A guide!? I am nobody's slave!"
"We'll see." You say back. You don't want the others to see this, really.

This traitor to humanity will be snuffed out.

It took about an hour before everybody was finally prepared to leave. The village offered you their thanks, and apologized they could not be more helpful. Eventually, you are left alone with the blowhard.
"What is your name, whelp." You say, turning around. The dragonborn seems unphased.
"Before, I was but Carl Miller, but I will call myself Carolus Rex! The immortal!"
A kingly name, you suppose.
You unsheathe your sword.
"What... Thinking threats will make me reveal where Ogg went!? You're as pathetic as I thought!"

You whistle for Chad, while Pink directs the others away. They don't need to see this.
Chad puts his foot on the dragonborn's back, while William places his neck on a stool.
"What is... You can't fool me! You NEED me!"
"I don't. I can see the mountain from here. Did you really think I needed a guide?"
That makes him panic. He starts struggling, but his bindings hold, and Chad can keep him steady without issue. He tries to breathe fire, but apart from scorching some grass in an admittedly beautiful purple shade, it doesn't help.
You raise your sword above your head.

"NO! NO! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN IT!"
You swing.

As you clean your sword, you gather an urn from the town's graveyard. Staying here must really be for keeps if they have a mausuleum. Seems they cremate themselves here, and you give Carl the same treatment.
He is placed in an urn, and left in the home of the graveyard's keeper. He will understand.

Then, it's time to move, once more.

Mercifully the roads are clear from here on out. There are the occasional signs of battle, and people travelling through here. Broken branches, scorched pieces of earth, even the occasional carcass of... something.
One of the Ghost People as they call it was found here. The "creatures of Rubber and Metal.". This one was finally brought to a final death by incinerating it almost wholesale. Its weapon appears to be some kind of... reverse beartrap, attached to the fist. It would clamp on the victim's body, and likely cause vicious tearing as the fist is pulled away.
What a strange weapon.

You have time, from here, to prepare something.
Maybe even your magic. You're likely going to catch up to Ogg soon. Planning might also be of interest.
In less than a day, you'll be at the foot of Mother Mountain.

>Practice magic
But what will you be attempting

>Talk strategy with the others
Ogg is clearly very sturdy, now, so you'll need some way to kill her almost instantly... or exhaust her to the point that she can't escape. Not to mention, you also need to account for the things that will get in the way

>Talk about the future.
Once this is over... do you continue your search for another wizard.

=====

>>5394650
The dragonborn still have tits, and the wings aren't that uncomfortable to sleep on once they start properly growing. Mostly, though, they sleep on their sides.

>>5393763
You can practice magic on the way up, but you'll have to specify what Reynauld should try.

>>5395169
>>Talk strategy with the others

we will talk about the future once we all come out of this alive, and practicing magic only prevents us from strategizing. the kobold cursed having the mind component of the curse is worrying, and the blowhard got what they deserved

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>>5395169
>Ghost People
>worry
.....ohno

>Talk strategy with the others
We have our shotgun, our many dwarven guns, swords, armor, pistols, and explosives.
Reynauld knows the weakness to dragons, and how if you can strike them in the right spot before they breath a gout of fire, they'll self combust and explode. That's one option, but we can do better. Perhaps if we're unfortunately close enough we can shove an explosive into her maw, breath our own fire, and how the high yield explosion in a small enclosed space would be enough to destroy her skull. That is only if we manage to get close enough that is.

Her spells will be an issue though. If we could take away her eyes with a well placed shot, that could buy us some time if she has a mean to self heal, else she will be crippled which would be to our own gain. A well placed volley shot to the head should give us a good chance of that happening. During that, we can use the time to fight off her mini army, and possibly reassert ocular damage with another volley if we see her recovering.

If she attempts to flee or reposition herself by flying with her functional wings, as her legs are fucked, and Reynauld isn't currently preoccupied, he can use the buckshot of his double barrel to shred her wings to pieces. It would be preferable if it was done if she was significantly far up enough in the air where the fail will deal some amounts of damage, yet not too far where the scatter shot becomes inefficient.

Depending on distance, and if there are no surprise ambushes, our kobolds can lay prone with their guns to maximize aim, and reduce body profile to make it less likely for them to be hit. If cover is a major issue and we're found wanting, another kobold can hold up a shield to act as cover for our marksmen. If the shields are too weak to handle bullets, we can simply try to melt and warp two shields together. That would reduce the total number of shields we have at our disposal to half, and even then they might be too heavy to use effectively, but at least we'd have some cover.

The magical related items and equipment we've recovered from Ogg's mansion: In addition to the magic infused bath water Sarah and Reynauld have been drinking, there was the magic absorption stuff. If we manage to smash Ogg in the face with it, it might buy us a little more time where her magic is nullified or at least diminished to some capacity.

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>>5395299
The wagon and our every beautiful son-horse Tom-8-ooooo's. That may or may not be a liability in the coming fight. It was designed for transportation, not war, so it will receives a lot of damage if we don't do anything about it. A very ork solution would be to nail some shields to the sides and front, and maybe on the roof to somewhat protect it from ranged attack specially guns, bows, crossbows, the odd caveman rock, sling bullets, and so on. Not so much from dragon fire, but they would have to reach us first, which we won't allow if our many guns have a say in the matter. So ideally what can be done is we turn the carriage into a mobile ork fort, flip it around so Tom-8-oos is pushing the wagon forward from the back, and the kobolds will stick around inside or on the roof to use the wagon as cover as they take pot shots at anything at everything. So and so "don't put all your eggs in one basket", armoring the wagons has it's ups and downs.

Collar and Teesny. Our girl can hulk out into a matriarch werewolf, the biggest and strongest type of were-creature that we the players are aware of. That would be very, very useful for us right now....if it could be turned on at command, but I don't know if our gal is capable of such a feet. It might come into play depending on how magical the mountain is, but chances are we might not be able to use it, unless we talk with them about it. Perhaps we can help?

>>5395169
>Talk strategy with the others
When we have time to spare, practice magic, specifically something that can make a really loud deafening noise and blind people.....a flash bang spell that doesn't blind the user.
If that's too hard then maybe something that can make an artificial tunnel for our fire breath? Narrow it so it can travel farther, almost like a beam?

>>5395169
You know the meme about the cocaine bear being the most dangerous creature in the world for all of 5 minutes before its heart exploded? Sarah has some cocaine, and we have a were-kobold. Can we combine the two?

>>5395684
But I don't want her heart to explode.

>>5395684
Didn't we cure Teensy?

>>5395687
The thing is that the cocaine bear consumed a fuck ton of kilos worth of cocaine, where as Sarah has left. Theres also the fact that the consumption to body mass would make it safer for Teensy to consume some in her furry form.

>>5395690
We did not. We talked about it, couldn't convince her, so shes considering it.

>>5395684
Give everyone a sip of Ogg Sweat maybe?

>>5395169
>Practice magic
Something to distract and impede a caster -- a harrying projection, loud noises as others suggested, SOMETHING. We need to bridge the gap between our power and Ogg's.

>>5395684
Weaponizing Teensy seems like a good plan. It's safer for her than staying in her present form during a dragon-wizard fight, anyway.

>>5395695
>>5396029
>>5395684
>>5395308
Teensy was, in fact, cured. You convinced her by reminding her Collar might get seriously hurt. The curing process was off-screen, as it really comes down to just downing a nasty-tasting concoction.

Lycantrophy is kind of a solved problem, as far as curing it goes. There was this whole quest about it around a century ago, in-universe, and now every alchemist worth his salt has the recipe available.

>>5396141
>The curing process was off-screen, as it really comes down to just downing a nasty-tasting concoction.
.....well fuck there goes our potential tank then

>>5396143
If you want a tank, become one. Chug Sarah's mana cocktail and see how far it gets you. Don't put that on poor Teensy.

>>5396253
That's already consumed and the QM never said anything about Teensy until now. It seems "awfully convenient" for him which is frustrating, and we need every edge we can get. There are two other wandering knights that are augmented like Reynauld, a primitive dragon, and a "grey dragon." Excuuuuuse me for wanting us to not die while things are stacked against us. I'm not hearing any plans from you, so what's your excuse?

>>5396291
If the chat we had with Teensy about it wasn't clear enough for you, the Part 6 recap clearly states we got her cured. And we should still have most of the water left, Paracelcus only had, and I quote, "a sip" of it. If I'm not suggesting anything, it's because I don't have much to add to what others already proposed.

I'm serious about the water, by the way. If Ogg is speeding up her own transformation, doing the same would help even the odds. Though to be honest, I'm not sure if the pros outweigh the cons.

>>5396291
> It seems "awfully convenient" for him which is frustrating
Does it? If I was a QM and I had an excuse to write a scene with a huge alpha werewolf fighting dragon-people, I'd be pretty excited for it.

>>5396291
>>5396323
I was pretty hyped to write "gigantic werewolf rips and tears through dragon commute" but the vote said cure teensy so I'm not walking it back.

>>5396291
>That's already consumed
It's not, unless opening it spoiled it. She only had a small sip because its so powerful. I think giving out a teaspoon apiece to our followers would be a great and terrible idea

>>5396465
What would that even do? None of our followers are immune to mana, and only William is cursed, anyway. The only ones who would potentially "benefit" from it are Sarah and Reynauld.

>>5396366
Pretty much this we voted to cure her and I stand by it, the right thing to do usually isn't the easiest thing to do.

we will make do with what we have anons, we will make this work. Besides we are a tank in our own right.

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>>5396786
I know we are, I was just really hoping for a Teensy were-bolt since it wasn't directly mentioned that she was cured until Spine mentioned it early. really put a dampener to my brainstorming mood.

>>5396838
If I remember correctly she gained some muscle and got a little larger as a permanent side effect of the super-lycanthropy though. So she's probably a bit bigger and buffer than some of the other kobolts at least.

>>5396838
I get it man, but hey at least she is now a fit muscle smoll girl kobold~

i wonder if the precursor humans will come out to play for the final assault or if they have adopted a hands-off approach when dealing with the new world.

>>5397043
depends on how much the old prof has been able to do on the inside in the time he has been with them but I wouldn't hold my breath those assholes are suppressing the legacy and birth right of the human race because much "We CaN't LeT iT hApPeN aGaIn" and are suppressing technological advancement as well. Fuck just thinking about them pisses me off.

>>5397043
I think that guy basically said they don't give a shit about the modern world and it's problems only about making sure the past stays in the past. I think he did imply they'd intervene if things started going to shit over in the Darkest Estate though, so only world-ending shit gets their attention I guess.

>>5397026
She's teensy. Being a bit bigger would still make her smaller than the other bolts

You end up doing some work on something you never in your life thought you'd be doing.
Practicing magic.
Being a dragon-ish abomination has plenty of perks, as much as you are loathe to admit it, and magic is one of them. Paracelsus is doing much the same thing, and with a lot more success than you. Seems that, once she decided to focus on it, and especially with the proximity to Mother Mountain, she's a natural. Of course, according to her, it's all about how you try to parse it. To her, spells are like a little body she can create. The power is the blood, the function, the organs... or something like that.
You, meanwhile, just play it by ear. You want something to happen, so you try to imagine how it would happen, or something that could try to do it for you.
Mostly it's kobolt ghosts. Mostly the same little head that guided you out of the underground, back with those wolf monsters.
It took quite a bit of work, but you think you can, at the very least, summon the kobolt head over somebody else's head. It's completely intangible, but it will block people's vision a bit.
Paracelsus, meanwhile, figured out how to heal wounds with great efficiency, and she's already moving on to alternative ways to apply her medical knowledge to magic.

She's able to make wood rot on command, now.
Even she realized just how scary that is, as an ability. But when she tries to do fireballs, she just can't get there. Hell, anything that isn't essentially a more "magical" version of her bombs or other tricks seems impossible.
Neither of you could even hope to approach Ogg when it comes to control. You're limited to basic things, in one field, and you both have trouble truly understanding it. Paracelsus is better than you, of course, but... still far from a mage.

The kobolts also got to work on reinforcing the cart. You don't intend to use it as a battlewagon, however, mostly you hope to keep Tomatoes out of the fight entire. It may be a big and strong horse, but he'll be torn to shreds by the creatures you're about to face.
Still, good to have something to fall back to.

But then.
There is one final option.
Though you really, REALLY don't relish the idea, you bring it up to Paracelsus.
"What if we both partake of this... magic run-off. A lot of it." You propose.

Paracelsus looks very, very uncertain. Even scared.
".I... I could... I suppose I could, at most, reach a level akin to the dragonborn, similar to you. Any more, I wouldn't dare, and I'm a risk-taker, Reynauld."
And now. The dreaded question.
"How far do you think I could get with this?" You say. You can't stop yourself from letting fear seep into your voice.
She looks you over... And shakes her head.
"...If you take enough, you'd probably... turn your decades into hours. You might approach a half-way point, turning into... well, a much bigger, more animalistic version of a dragonborn. Digitigrade, running faster on four limbs than two, likely capable of limited flight, claws... Immense strength, too, of course, and some more magical ability."
You stops at that last one, and turns to you:
"Though not a lick more talent or experience."
She frowns, however... and her expression turns unusually sad.
"As your medical professional, I have to admit this would be relatively safe. I've run some simulations on the subject. As your girlfriend, I know this is not what you want to do."
"...We might need any edge we can get." You say.

Sarah just sighs again...
And looks to the mountain, looming ever, ever closer. The carnage Ogg's warband left behind is clear, though it's nothing you couldn't have handled, it still paints a bleak picture.
She looks back to you.
"I'll trust your judgement on this. We've got enough of the magical runoff to do both me and you. But please. Think carefully before you do this.

>Do it. Speed along your own transformation and that of Paracelsus.
This will NOT be pleasant.

>Speed along Paracelsus' transformation.
She doesn't mind, and it'll give her an edge. And there's not a single doubt in your mind she'll still be gorgeous.

>Speed along only your own transformation.
This will hurt so bad.

>Don't do either of those things!
This is a stupid idea!

=======

Just a quick note: Reynauld and Paracelsus are the only ones that might get some advantage out of magic runoff. The others are likely to go crazy or mutate into slugs.

>Don't do either of those things!
This is a stupid idea!

Reynaud knows how to fight as a knight, leave him as a knight, is an expert knight, magical now he may be. Plus no turning everyone into weird slug critters

>>5398414
>Speed along only your own transformation.
The right thing would be to completely forget about this stupid idea and figure out some other way to go about fighting Ogg. Doing the right thing has, unfortunately, cost us precious advantage multiple times.

Sometimes, no cost is too great.

>>5398414
>>Do it. Speed along your own transformation and that of Paracelsus.
I was thinking more like at most a teaspoon apiece, not slamming back the entire bottle. Like enough to make us into a stronger, faster version of our current selves instead of something radically different.

>>5398470
Also a valid option, I should add. Paracelsus is describing the maximums, here.

>>5398414
>>Don't do either of those things!

We will have little to no time to get familiar with our new body, and sacrificing our experience and knowledge of fighting in our current form for a raw power boost is not worth it.

In our new form, we will be unskilled, clumsy, and slower in our reaction time. how will our swordsmanship suffer because of the claws, how will our footwork suffer because of the digitigrade legs? These are all unknowns but I can tell you it won't be good.

This is not the moment for rash and half-cocked ideas, we are going to have a better chance if we are fully confident and capable in our body, rather than still learning it and with a raw power boost.

>>5398414
>Speed along only your own transformation
But don't max it out; just take enough that Sarah figures it will give us a norabke boost and an edge in combat

>Let Paracelsus make her own decision
This isn't a decision we can make for her, nor should we.

>>5398414
>Don’t do either.

Don't get me wrong, I want us to become a dragon, but not like this. As stated, we wouldn't have the experience to make use of it. It would be trying to get used to a new body while trying to fight off a very serious thread at the same time. it's just not practical.

>>5398470
>>5398414
This,
>let's speed them up but not to the animalistic point

>>5398558
supporting this, we haven't the time to get used to the new body so it would probably be better to play this by ear as we are now.

>>5398414
>Do it. Speed along your own transformation and that of Paracelsus.

>>5398470
+1

>>5398422
>>5398469
>>5398496
>>5398558
see here >>5398482 >>5398470
We can min-max the transformation where we're a little stronger, but our bodies aren't foreign enough where we would have to relearn how to fight. Plus we need all the edge we can get. We're up against many a dozens of kobolds, a dozen or so civilian tier dragonborn, two (wandering) knight tier dragonborns, a privative dragon, Grey, and Ogg herself. There's a very good chance we could all die, or any of our friends dying if we don't pull out some stops.

>>5398595
>>5398558
>I was thinking more like at most a teaspoon apiece, not slamming back the entire bottle. Like enough to make us into a stronger, faster version of our current selves instead of something radically different.

>>5398414
>Don't do either of those things!
So much madness

>>5398414
>>Don't do either of those things!

>>5398414
Are we going to fight them all one at a time, or all at once?

>>5398414
>Do it. Speed along your own transformation and that of Paracelsus.

>>5398414
>>Don't do either of those things!

This is not a good idea as others have pointed out we know how to right as a knight not a dragon. The power up is not worth the skills lost

Also shout out from Akun I didn't know you ran on. Here.

>>5399302
You're not reading the posts anon. We can take a few more sips for a bit more strength, without getting weird things like digigrade legs or weird necks.

Bunch of pussies too afraid to drink the forbidden wizard girl bath water.

^You guys have reached an equal 6/6 vote split, so I'll have Reynauld refuse to drink it, as it's the option he'd prefer most.
However, Paracelsus will drink the forbidden soup.
====

"...No. No, I really don't want to do this. It's... There's pros and cons, you understand, but I think I'd rather trust in my sword arm than any new talons."
"Understandable." Paracelsus says... but she's still staring at the small barrel of liquid. After a moment longer, she takes a deep breath, and nods a few more times.
"I would have preferred taking it slow. Being able to document the changes more thoroughly, though I'm happy to note that you've been quite accurate, so far. I'm... Hmm. I won't go all the way. But I will move forward. I want to see more, and tablespoon by tablespoon, I figure I'll be able to document my personal experience."

You were the one to bring it up. So it doesn't seem right to balk now. All the same, you can't say that you're very excited about this. You just nod a few times.
"Alright... do I need to be here?"
"I'd... prefer that. Now. I'm not taking literal tablespoon, it's going to be sips. I wouldn't trust a metal spoon to handle the magic for long before it starts getting... funny." She says. You get the feeling she's realizing what it might mean to ingest it.
All the same.
She fills up a glass, and looks at the seemingly normal water. Then, after a bit more trepidation, she brings it to her lips and drains it in one go.

The first thing that happens is a very loud gurgle from her stomach, her guts clearly not agreeing with whatever it is she just put into her gullet. She clutches her belly, as well, and then looks at you...
"Right. Need to keep track of things. One moment."
And then, with a few smooth moments, her robes have been removed, revealing her immensely toned body. Scales have spread themselves at seemingly random patches, places where you know she did some experimental damaging. Skin samples, she calls them.
You swear you can see her whole body throbbing. Her veins being more pronounced as clutches her stomach again, shaking.
"Ohhh... kay.... This kind of... stings. It's like a cramp. W-write that down."

Oh good. You're a research assistant.
"I c-can feel... my core cramping up, and w-while I suspect you can't hear it, I can hear myself... crackling. Likely, a very rapid growth of muscle tissue!"
She's right. Her already notable musculature turns even bigger. It starts at her belly, her sides, and especially her back, all of it throbbing ever larger, to the point that he bra needs to be removed as her chest engorges along side her.
"E-even... fatty tissue, is....getting larger? Are you serious!?" She says, cupping her chest as it swells almost in tandem with the rest of her.

Seems that her muscles, even while they are turning to those of a true amazon, won't be able to hide her feminine beauty, still.
....Actually, on closer inspection, you think they're also bigger on a proportional scale?
Hm.
Bonus, but you won't say that right now.

Anyway, you keep looking, and her growth spurt subsides... Everything is larger, and she decides to stand up... shakily.
You do the same.
"Oh. Look at that..."
She's eye to eye with you, now, though you suppose you still have a few inches on her. Not many, though.
Then, she sits back down, and leans back.
"The feelings have mostly subsided, and I note that all my scale patches have just about double in size. Addendum, my fingers have gone numb."
She puts them in front of herself, and you see them twitch and shake. You flinch when you see her fingernails pop out from left to right, though Paracelsus herself just pulls a face... Especially when claws burst through. Not just out from where the nails disappeared, but straight through the flesh, besides. It doesn’t look gruesome for long, though, as the flesh seems to pull together towards the new, bony black growths, turning her fingers into talons.
You see Paracelsus wheezing without breath. It’s a silent shudder of agony… and then it stops. She takes in a breath, and looks at her new talons.

They’re much sharper than your own, you note.
“...Huh. That was… excruciating for a few seconds. But It’s over all at once. Interesting.”
She takes in another breath… and waits.
“...Alright. Mostly according to my expectations. The only exception being… well.”
She clutches her chest again, and you quickly look away, to allow her some modicum of privacy.
“Oh shush, you’ve placed your mouth on these enough to have a good long look.” Paracelsus says, placing her fingers under your chin and pulling your head back towards her.

…You don’t really want to admit it, but she looks good. Really good. Above all, the transformation just left you with… more of her. More Sarah.
And you’ve admitted it before: you like your ladies big.
“...hmmm! Interesting point to stop. I expected more scales. And a tail, besides. Well, we’re not exactly done, here. I’m taking another sip, microdosing, mostly.”

You hold your tongue, and keep writing down what she instructs as she carefully fills up her drinking glass with just the right amounts. From here, she just dribbles it into her.
It’s slower, now. Bit by bit. The first thing that changed was the tail. It was a stumpy little thing, at first, but soon it gained two spikes on its end, and scales to match. The spines on her back also continued onto her tail, though they are much smaller, and clearly more decorative compared to the more defensive ones on her back. The next change was her tongue, which merely turned long and sharp. She notes that she has a lot more tongue inside her throat now, and that her biology is notably different from yours.

Again, you keep taking notes. The next sip caused her teeth to fall out. Rather brutally.
The sharper teeth below it came out all at once, and her own teeth clattered all over the caravan floor. She also squealed in agony as her nerves severed themselves faster than they could be numbed by the curse, but like before, it was a short pain.

Another sip.
Scales. Mostly scales.
The only parts of her that weren’t covered in scales were her belly, the sternum, and her inner thighs. She noted that this was a weakness shared by fledgling dragons, so most likely, it’s as far as she’ll get the scales from here.
Her face is also mostly untouched, though her chin and throat are scaled up.

It’s also where she’ll stop. She looks… well, like a dragonborn, you suppose.
“...Finished writing things down? I’ll continue from here, don’t worry.” She says, giving you a quick smile… which rapidly turns into a smirk.
“Actually…”
She grabs you by the leg, and pulls you closer, looming over you.
“Perhaps… We could try something else, first?”

It pulls against your very nature as a man, but you stop her.
“Not right now. We’re on a schedule… Better you get acquainted with your body, first, and then we need to focus on Ogg. Sarah looks at you for a moment… and then sighs.
“You’re right… But consider this a promise for later, alright?”

Oh boy.

“...Noted. Anyway!”

From here, the journey continues. Following Ogg’s path isn’t too hard, and it doesn’t take long before Snikt finally finds it.
Their camp.
They seem to have found some kind of ancient city, though the architecture isn’t like anything you’ve ever seen before. Blood-red clouds can be seen in the distance, and your breathing becomes difficult as you approach, but Snikt noticed that Ogg had set up some kind of magical machines that purify the air.

The city is horrifying. Tall, once-white buildings with terracotta roofing, impressive shapes, lending itself to interesting combinations of… cubes, you suppose? You’re not much of an architect, but you can tell that when this place was build, it was with the intent of looking like the lap of luxury. Indeed, even now, it looks hauntingly beautiful, if one was able to look away from the red cloud of death hanging over everything.
Not to mention the unkillable monstrosities, setting up beartraps everywhere, along with explosives. According to legend, they don’t kill you. Instead, they wear you down, leave you bleeding out, and then they drag you into the cloud, never to be seen again.

…Nobody ever explained why there are always more Ghost People. But people have their suspicions.

This… cloud that hangs over everything will make things difficult, but thanks to Sarah’s superior magical control, which has only improved thanks to her recent changes, it won’t affect the party at all. She can simply heal everybody much faster than the cloud can eat at your insides. Pink, meanwhile, has also found out that you can gather cloud residue off the walls, here, which can be turned into an immensely lethal poison, according to Sarah, once she adds some of her own products into the mix. Apparently, it’s mostly cleaning products.

Her transformation is already paying off!

At any rate, it seems the dragonborn did not want to enter any of the buildings, and they mostly gathered themselves around a fountain. On occasion, a blue sort of ghost would appear in the middle of that same fountain, showing off a stunningly beautiful woman, who seemed to be talking… but no sound would come out.
It freaked Snikt right the hell out, and she didn’t come much closer. There are many, many tents all around the big fountain. However, there was one building that seems to be seeing some traffic. Something that might have been a warehouse, or perhaps it’s simply buildings that Ogg had reconstructed into a much, much larger building.

On occasion, one could see Ogg being wheeled around. She’s still in her wheelchair from the injuries the Grey Knight gave her. There are two men in plate armor flanking her at all time, one with a flail and the other with a two-handed axe.

Guessing from the occasional roaring that you can hear from here, the Grey Dragon must be around as well, likely inside the larger building.
…

You wonder why they stopped here. It might have something to do with the giant building in the distance, but it's well-known to be completely unreachable. The cloud is a constant problem as one would head up, and the way it's been placed is an utter impossibility. No matter how you walk, it never seems to get closer, those tantalizing lights taunting those who wish to see what splendor, what wonders might await deep inside that cursed building. It seems to exist to lure in greedy adventurers to their doom. Though, perhaps, deep within that blasted building, one might just be able to find a cause for all of the nightmares here.
Or at least a reason.
Finding this place was never the hard part. But you don't even want to look at the place too long. It's... eerie.

The town being such an inhospitable hellhole has one minor perk. You can approach from several directions. Heading from the front gate is suicide, you’d get the entire warband on you. You can head to the sides, and it’s a bit of a crapshoot on which way is the best. Either way, you’ll have to deal with those things wearing leather and rubber. The things that don’t die unless you turn them into carbon, essentially, or leave them so injured they can’t pull themselves together again. Ghost People.
Also of note is that the sun can never reach this place. It simply doesn't get past the cloud. There's always some darkness present.

There’s a horde of them on the east side, but perhaps you can sneak by them. It’ll get you closer to the middle of their camp, or even higher if you find a way to brave the rooftops. The west, meanwhile, has a larger cloud pocket. It will cut visibility down to nothing, and the cloud will rapidly eat at your insides, regardless of whether or not you’re wearing a gas mask. It seeps into the skin.
The Ghost People are in there, as well, but there are pockets free of the cloud. Places where one can recover.
You’re not sure your kobolts could make that trip.

…Well.
Here you are then.
The precipice before a battle against a very powerful wizard, and her army. Here in a cursed city, on the way to the peak of the most magical mountain known to man.
You need to be careful.

>Head West
Risk the cloud, but you'll want to leave the kobolts behind, unless you can think of some way to keep them safe. The cloud will kill them before you get too far.

>Head East.
Risk the Ghost People. You can take them down for a short while, even cripple them, but if you're too loud as you fight you may alert Ogg and her companions

>Head in through the front.
With the right strategy... perhaps you can take on Ogg's army.
Perhaps.

>Find a way to sneak in
You're too big and heavy to do much sneaking... But perhaps some of your kobolts could manage. If something goes wrong, however...
You don't want to think of what might happen to them.

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>>5401905
....oh shit you were serious about the Sierra Madre.
Oh god this is the Fallout Universe. That bunker must have been a West Tek Subsidiary fucking around with FEV. Jesus dude. Well good news, we might be able to acquire more shells for our shotgun, or print out a .308 machinegun from one of the vending machines if we find enough chips.

>Write-in
Instead of finding a way to fight Ogg, we have someone due it for us? We can lure the horde of Ghost People to Ogg's camp and let the two groups duke it out. In the mean time we can loot the Easter section as the ghost people filter out for their explosives, weapons, items that might be around, and more cloud residue we can use to make more poisons for Ogg.

Additionally, if there is any magic water left, Reynauld should help himself to some. It seems to do Sarah just fine, and I feel kinda bad that she had to drink it by herself instead of sharing the burden.

>>5401912
Fallout was one of the cycles. It's actually considerably older than even the bunker. Everything from that time has long gone to dust, but when magic appeared in the world, the Sierra Madre came back. It was a physical manifestation of how greed could destroy people. The inability to let go.
The Sierra Madre has turned from a nightmarish hellhole that crumbled into dust to a Concept with a capital C, hence why it's also at Mother Mountain, and part of why, exactly, this mountain has this name.

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>>5401928
>Fallout was one of the cycles
>one of the cycles
>one of
>considerably older than even the bunker
>there were several cycles of ass fuckery human retardation
>world died and revived multiple times over

>>5401930
To be fair to the underrail cycle, that was just a gigantic serpent eating the fucking sun. Like that wasn't even their fault, that time.

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>>5401939
>a gigantic serpent eating the fucking sun
WHY ARE YOU CASUALLY TELL US THIS
I feel like this isn't the worst thing to have happened. panic!

>>5401907
>write in
>Instead of finding a way to fight Ogg, why don't we have someone do it for us? We can lure the horde of Ghost People to Ogg's camp and let the two groups duke it out. In the meantime, we move to the location of the gray knight if she has enough of her mind left and is in any condition to fight she will be a valuable ally to have, and should the worst be true then we can give her final respects and rest. From there we can loot and kill our way to Ogg in the distraction.

>Additionally, if there is any magic water left, Reynauld should help himself to some. It seems to do Sarah just fine, and I feel kinda bad that she had to drink it by herself instead of sharing the burden.

dude, we have zero time to get used to the changes that would cause, I can respect you want Reynold to go full dragon physically despite the massive issues that would cause for him literally doing anything or going anywhere. As well as the fact it showed that it would fuck up his fingers I don't see him doing well with a sword or claw fighting with zero time to practice, just let it go, man. On top of the fact you could have shifted your vote to against my contious is clean.

>>5401939
>>5401928
Jesus fucking christ, ok I can now understand the perspective of those not!SCP foundation assholes a little more.

>>5401930
>>5401941
indeed

>>5401946
TO BE CLEAR

my post is not supporting the second line of greentext I was talking to black ID anon. and explaining why it's bad.

>>5401946
+1

>>5401946
>we have zero time to get used to the changes that would cause
We have plenty to spare, and it wouldn't take more than a minute.

>I can respect you want Reynold to go full dragon physically
Not really. I just want him to be stronger for when shit hits the fan, and it will. With a force of an isekai truck.

> it would fuck up his fingers I don't see him doing well with a sword or claw fighting with zero time to practice
Pretty sure one arm is already 100% dragoned, remember that time Teensy used his arm as a chew toy? Not sure about the other arm though, but he did get imoplated which pretty much removed whatever skin he had left.

>>5401928
When this quest ends I would love to look at the world Bible you have for this

>>5401958
>“Not right now. We’re on a schedule… Better you get acquainted with your body, first, and then we need to focus on Ogg. Sarah looks at you for a moment… and then sighs.

yes it will take more than a few minutes

>From here, the journey continues. Following Ogg’s path isn’t too hard, and it doesn’t take long before Snikt finally finds it.

it took the rest of the journey.

>Not really. I just want him to be stronger for when shit hits the fan, and it will. With a force of an isekai truck.

sorry for assuming a loud minority of anons want him to go full dragon and I just assumed which is on me. I can get behind wanting an Ace up our sleeve for when things go sideways, but that ace isn't going to be raw untrained power, our Skill and wit will serve us far better than a power-up that we will not have time to master will.

>Pretty sure one arm is already 100% dragoned, remember that time Teensy used his arm as a chew toy? Not sure about the other arm though, but he did get imoplated which pretty much removed whatever skin he had left.
That was his shield arm, not his sword arm and with that being the care the off-balanced progress might fuck up our fighting ability as our shield arm gets closer to being a feral dragon. not saying that that is what will happen just pointing out that it is possible.

I don't see chugging the magic girl bath water being the catch-all solution you think it is. And we just had that vote we should move on and focus on this vote and situation rather than drag up that option again which divides the anons s deeply.

>>5401930
>we're operating on a scale where the Darkest Estate affair barely even registers
Jesus, imagine being in the room when Oldfield gets the rundown of all the cycles.

>>5401946
+1. Time to nuts.wad this shit.

>>5401985
If the Darkest Estate was not stopped, it would have been an ending alright. The earth would have cracked open like an egg.
Mind you, that place is still going through a timeloop. Every few decades, the heart must be stopped once more, but the advancing technology makes it less and less of an issue.By this point, they just wheel in an artillery barrage to deal with the darkest dungeon.
If an angry king with a broken executioner's sword can do it, a cannon will work just bloody fine.
Anyway, in the event of the darkest estate not being stopped, earth would need a hard reset. The last few times the apocalypse happened, there was, at least, an earth left. Fortunately, the watchers would have been able to move humanity to a different place, where things can start over once more.
Humanity is tenacious, to say the least.
(minor note, "humanity" in this sense refers to all sapient races, from goblins to giants to man to dwarves.)

Oh, here's another DEEP LORE fact. There is no real sun, no flaming ball of gas. You can't un-eat a sun. Essentially, humanity's collective belief in the sun makes a big hot orb appear in the sky, and that's the same thing that makes magic possible, it's a gestalt field achieved by letting humanity evolve psionics.
Psionics aren't really a thing anymore, outside of the passive gestalt field.

>>5401991
Holy fucking shit this time line is so fucked that I can't even begin to express properly just how fucked it is I absolutely love it and have terrified by it. Also no shot that the magical races aren't just dimi-humans that have evolved out of the original humanity

>>5401991
>it's a gestalt field achieved by letting humanity evolve psionics.
>Psionics aren't really a thing anymore, outside of the passive gestalt field.

Hold on are you saying that the powers that watch over the world force evolved humans to have psionics made the gestalt field Then neutered humanity backed down to a Non psionic race. holy shit dude these people really are evil

>>5402027
They didn't neuter them, that just sort of happened. Takes a lot of energy to make a sun, and they rather liked it when people make lightning with their minds.
Then again, they don't miss Thought Control.

>>5402031
ahh so humanity collectively traded mind powers for the sun, since something of that level requires the combined might of the species. wild, also what did the shadow group grow out of was it originally the SCP Foundation, the US Government, the UN? I desire to know!

>>5402044
It was a collective of humans that found immortality without going insane, with one particular figure being an alien that was "beyond humanity's understanding" according to himself. In reality, he was essentially a janitor with a god complex.
Once they started putting their heads together, and after the creature in the bunker was killed, they used their think tank and the ever-mutating flesh of the creature to figure out how to turn unstable and uncertain psionic mutations into a singular function. The caves that humanity was living in could not sustain it forever, and making the surface habitable was a priority. So, they started putting it together, and through what is probably a very unethical practice, essentially mind-controlled all psions to create a sun.
As far as the world knew, psionics were disappearing. Factually, everybody was a psion, and only a few select people were gifted enough to still use the abilities, until they died out. It was, unfortunately, a recessive gene.

Add a few eons, and the surface became habitable once more. The underground, unfortunately, tore itself apart in a resource war, and it was only in a timely rescue from the powers that be that even managed to save a decent population.
Then, they started once more. Magic was in the air, and soon enough, they had this world.
All in all, as far as cycles go, Reynauld is living in one of the best ones by far.
It's a happy world. I just focus on the bad/sad parts. It's why the average city is set up to be so reasonable (mostly). I wanted society to be functional.

>>5402053
So in other words, everything is a-okay as long as you don't peek behind the cosmic horror curtains. Am I reading that right?

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>>5401991
>>5402031
>>5402053
>Darkest Dungeon to Deepest Lore
my brain is melting

>>5402053
Wild fucking wild and I love it, also god damn if this is one of the more pleasant cycles I would hate to see what the bad ones look like. Also props to Bunker United States of America for holding it together for eons damn shame they couldn't hold it together just a little longer still props to them.

>pours out a shot of whiskey for what could have been.

>>5402076
this setting makes the zone, fallout, and DD look fucking pleasant by comparison

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>>5402080
At least this cycle has sexy dragons, kobolds, short stacks, and big tittied monsters.

>>5401912
>Instead of finding a way to fight Ogg, we have someone due it for us? We can lure the horde of Ghost People to Ogg's camp and let the two groups duke it out. In the mean time we can loot the Easter section as the ghost people filter out for their explosives, weapons, items that might be around, and more cloud residue we can use to make more poisons for Ogg.
supporting, we should use the ghost people as chaff to soften up ogg's defenses. So,
>>5401907
>>Head East.
>Risk the Ghost People. You can take them down for a short while, even cripple them, but if you're too loud as you fight you may alert Ogg and her companions

If we do sneak in, releasing Gray would be a good idea. Even if she doesn't recognize us she'll be more upset with the Dragonborn than she is with us.

>>5402053
>It's a happy world. I just focus on the bad/sad parts. It's why the average city is set up to be so reasonable (mostly). I wanted society to be functional.
our job is to keep it that way.

>>5401912
supporting

>>5402053
can we loot the Sierra Madre after this? are the bear traps, bear trap fist, ghost people gas bomb, and other effect in the villa valuable enough to keep and sell?

Please don't drink the magic run off we have no time to adjust and we already voted on it.

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>>5402369
>anon: I was thinking more like at most a teaspoon apiece, not slamming back the entire bottle. Like enough to make us into a stronger, faster version of our current selves instead of something radically different.

>Spine: Also a valid option, I should add. Paracelsus is describing the maximums, here.
it's fine anon. op said it's fine, but if there's a chance Reynauld getting stronger will prevent further harm from coming to our friends, then it's worth taking. Especially for little Petrus's sake. Good news. I checked the first thread. I forgot if leg hugger > humper > Esmerelda was the one with a high fire tolerance, so I'm going to assume that she is which means she stands a good chance fighting in melee combat with dragonborns. She currently has: Gamberson, dagger, these hands, sling, Brigandine, Arm braces, guns. I think she might want a spare shield just in case, although I thought we got everyone a shield already.

>>5402053
Are there other things we should be worried about? Old World Blues? The Divide? Aliens? Fallout 76?
Will we have to worry about Todd Howard cultists? That's a serious question btw I'm worried about having to deal with psionics and wizards no clipping through walls.

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HEY FELLAS
Remember that time I promised to make some lewds?
I finished them

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pIw1wK9LTVz2CHdXqShJNOrHBSH5QZH8sbdYNBS-Usg/edit?usp=sharing

I don't usually write lewds this long.

>>5404122
Oh, neat. I'll give it a read soon.

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>>5404122
>Pink creampie when
pretty hot though

"We should head east, and try to get those ghost people to attack them. They hate everything, and while the dragonborn are able to take them down with their fire breath, it'll slow them down. They might even suffer some casualties." You propose, and the others seem to agree... apart from Pink, to your surprise.
"But what about the ghost on the fountain!? I talked to some of the nice people in the village, they told me that the ghost people are scared of those ghosts. The, uh... the blue ghosts."
Well that's not confusing at all.
"Really? So-"
Paracelsus nods, and adds this:
"It'll explain why they're so close to the fountain. Look there. There's so much more space available on the courtyard than what they're using, but they keep the line of sight clear between the entrances and the... let's call it spirit, to differentiate."

You look closer... and see what she's talking about. Huh.
"Well, it's a good thing Pink asked around. So we'd have to make that spirit leave, yes?"
Then, Dismas surprises you:
"That is no spirit. Look there, just behind the fountain. There's something that's giving off light! It's a magical device making a fake spirit."
You don't see it at first, mostly because of the light... but yes. From a slightly different angle, you can see it.
So...

"The only thing keeping the ghost people from attacking is, most likely, that machine, then." You say, and the others seem to agree.
So if you want to attract the ghost people to them, you'd have to move into the center of their camp and smash it, without getting instantly destroyed. Mercifully, there are no guards for it, apart from the people naturally just wandering around. You and Paracelsus stand out far, far too much, of course. But one of the kobolts...
They have kobolts of their own, don't they? So they might be able to walk in as long as nobody asks too many questions. Kobolts are hard to tell apart if you're not used to them, after all. Humans are made to recognize other humans. Kobolts... not so much.
"But how would we destroy that?" You ask out loud, but Paracelsus is, as always, prepared.
"If it's made of metal? We can corrode it with this. Whatever is in there won't take kindly to what's in this little beaker." She says, revealing a beaker that's been wrapped up in a safety foam.
But... it's an intensely dangerous mission, all the same.

...Hm.

>Send out Snikt
She's the sneakiest among the kobolts, though there aren't many shadows to hide in

>Send Alice or Esmeralda
Out of everybody in the party, they're likely the most "generic" looking kobolt. The others have their own accessories or quirks

>Send a different kobolt
All of them have their own merits, of course. Maybe one of them is better.

>Forget this plan, it's too dangerous.
Don't forget to offer an alternative

>>5404859
what about sending out Billy Boy? since all their 'bolts are probably ex-humans as well, so he'd actually stand out the least.

>>5404859
>Send Alice or Esmeralda

>>5404867
William? Do we know that some humans were converted into kobolts? I think they mostly re ruited natural kobolts, and despite his progress I'm not sure of his capacity for subterfuge.

>>5404859
>Send Alice or Esmeralda
not sure which between them, though

>>5404859
>William
If >>5404867 is right

Otherwise...
>Snikt

>>5404859
>Send out Snikt
>Try to make her fit in more with the kobolts in camp, whether its more rags to wear, or walking as they do.
>Have Reynauld try casting something on snikt to increase her speed, make her stand out less, or something. Risky, but may help

>>5405052
I was thinking of sending William. Then i realized.
Ogg is the one who cursed him, i fear she may notice his aura or whatever magicky fuck.

>>5404859
>Send Alice or Esmeralda
Probably Esmeralda? Out of everyone she's partially fire proof, and can kick ass in a pinch, where as Alice has the powers of a MILF.

>>5404859
>>Send out Snikt
>She's the sneakiest among the kobolts, though there aren't many shadows to hide in

she has the best chance of doing this quite and clean

>>5405169
>I was thinking of sending William. Then i realized.
>Ogg is the one who cursed him, i fear she may notice his aura or whatever magicky fuck.
Good point

Rolled 25, 68 + 20 = 113 (2d100 + 20)

"...Snikt. Do you think you can manage the sabotage?"
She looks at the bustle of the camp with a certain level of uncertainty... but then she nods.
"I can try. Snikt is the sneakiest among us all, and that is no mere boast."
"It's why I'm sending you." You say, patting her on the back... and it makes your heart sink.
You're really, really not too hyped up about sending Snikt out on a mission like this. If things go wrong, things will go... exceptionally bad. Snikt is a decent fighter, but there are so many enemies there that she wouldn't stand a chance. She could try running, of course, but that would lead to a bigger problem if she runs back to you.
All in all, you'll just have to see how this goes.

She takes a deep breath, and regrets it in the almost toxic air of the Sierra Madre. She wheezes the foul air back out, and then just elects to roll her shoulders. Paracelsus, dressed up in her full war gear, makes sure to give Snikt some protective gloves, as well, and warns her not to breathe any of the vapors that come off of the product.
Then, Snikt goes in. She goes as fast as she can to get into the camp, where she can try to take cover amongst the tents, but mostly she has to pretend like she's supposed to be here. In her hunter's gear, she stands out a little... but she's harder to see in the darker parts. The sun is still completely blocked by the toxic cloud, so as long as she avoids the light, and ducks inside some of the tents, things will go just fine. You hope.
But, in the end...
It comes down to a bit of luck. You hope her skills save her, here.

Snikt rolls 88! She just barely makes it (DC was 85, due to having trouble blending in)

It was utterly nervewracking when Snikt goes out of sight. Once you can't follow her, it's nothing but quietly wait... hopefully for good news, but any second now, you expect to hear screaming, yelling...
The idea of Snikt being captured by the enemy, or worse, is not something you relish. It takes a long time, too. It couldn't be more than 50 yards she has to cross to get to the steel ghost emitter... but it ends up taking what feels like hours. When you're about to hop up and go get her, however, Paracelsus stops you.
She's holding an hourglass, marked by the hours... Seems it's not even been ten minutes. You're just...
Snikt is the second youngest kobolt. She's suffered so much already. You can trust her, sure, but things feel so much different here.
You genuinely feel like, if something goes wrong now...
There will be genuine casualties.

However, then you see her again. She's much, much faster than before, and you've never seen somebody crouch-run so fast in your life. She's practically sprinting on all fours, and once she's out of sight... she breaks into a dead sprint, right towards you, after which you hear some yelling in the camp.
"THE EMITTER! THE EMITTER! GET THE LADY!"
"THE GREEN EYES! THEY'RE HERE!"
Sure enough... As soon as the ghost in the fountain begins to flicker and die, you hear raspy, horrid wheezing, from both sides of the camp!
...They were waiting for this. You wonder if you would have even gotten very far if you went into either side, though if you look at the main route the spears are coming from, however, your flank route would not have gone through there.
Then, the fight begins. The first few spears obviously found victims, and before long, you see the two knights come out from inside the warehouse, meeting the ghost people as they begin to stumble out of the toxic clouds and shadows.

The chaos begins, and you consider something. While you could wait for the fight to be over, and you don't doubt that Ogg's group would be the victor considering their advantage in firepower, you could also use the chaos of the fight to head in now. While people are distracted with the Ghost People, perhaps you can break through to the central building, where you might be able to find Ogg. You can blind her, after all, and you are magic-resistant to an extent. With your shotgun, you might stand a chance against her, even in the straight fight.
Or you're trying to convince yourself that heading into an impossible fight is a good idea.

Okay.

>Let the ghost people weaken then, and then you move on from there.

>Attack during the confusion.

>Other

>>5406995
>Attack during the confusion
If we wait, even the best outcome means giving Ogg advanced notice of what we're doing - and that's without taking many if any losses fighting through the weakened town.
Plus, there's the chance the townsfolk won't have the time to look too hard and recognize us - who wants to double-check the identity of a couple dragonborn and some kobolds when there's ghosts trying to kill you, after all?

>>5406995
>Attack during the confusion.
Send a volley of plague grenades, any cloud bombs we confiscated, regular grenades or dynamite mainly aimed at the dragonborns and the knights.
Those of our people who are more proficient with ranged weapons (like Anna) will go prone on the roof tops and lay down supporting fire, Dismas too since he has that prosthetic leg, and the twins. Probably little Peter too but I don't know if he's old enough to use a gun, and his mom too.
Everyone else will probably be with us in the thick of things. If we have enough of the super poison to spare, we should have all our spare daggers coated in the stuff for when we're close enough to stab Ogg. Oh and keep there magic absorption fluids ready in case we need to splash Ogg to disrupt any spell she tries to cast.

>>5407022
>>5406995
edit: give everyone a chance to fill the knights and the toughest looking dragonborns with lead first, then we all go ape shit.

>>5407023
>>5407022
>>5407004
I agree. Focus fire on the knights, then try to get to Ogg while the fight is going on. Maybe we can free Gray, if she isn't crazy(-er than the last time we saw her)

>>5406995
>Use the confusion to sneak deeper into the place to locate the gray knight depending on her condition she could still be a valuable ally and if not we can give her peace.

>>5406995
>Attack during the confusion.

Specifically, to try and cut the head off the snake quick-like and underhandedly. Use the chaos to stealth in one of the ways we were considering, perhaps, and then move on Ogg while she's distracted; assassinate her and then handle the rest. We DON'T want to be here when the dust settles, is the thing.

>>5406995
>Attack during the confusion.
I favour modifying >>5407022 to incorporate >>5407098 's assassination gambit. Have everyone attack at range and wreck house while Reynauld and Parabosarah go for Ogg. Tell them to GTFO and regroup at the first sign of shit going sideways.

>>5407098
yes I agree

"...We're heading in! Twins, Dismas, Alice, Anna! I want on the rooftop, laying down suppressive fire. The rest of you, follow me, and take the explosives."
The others are all looking at you with uncertainty, but they all loyally take what you ask them to take. Paracelsus is also not wasting any time giving people their own improvements, including offering everybody a dip in poison for their respective weaponry. Chad and William stand together, right behind you, and you make sure to point out the primary goal.
The center of the town is the most empty, right now, as the edges are taken up by the people fighting the abominations of the Sierra Madre.
"Remember! Only attack those who try to stop you. If they try, don't hesitate."
Paracelsus then adds: "If there are wounded after the battle, I will heal them. So, you know, don't be afraid to just take them out of the fight."
That's all the prep that's needed. The Ghost People are still coming, many of them simply crawling back to life after being taken out with one mighty swing from the knights. They're not being thorough, which suits you just fine.

You lead the charge, with your squires right besides you. Most of the people charging are still holding their muskets, likely to fire once and keep going. Best not to waste time swinging if a single shot is enough. As get into range, the first dynamite is thrown, blasting the tents apart, and the remnants of the fountain are ruined entirely. There are shouts from the Dragonborn, screaming about your attack, but in the confusion of the explosives and the Ghost People, the response is lethargic.
There are only one or two dragonborn that get in the way, and one is taken down with a precise crossbow shot from Anna. Impressive shot, at this range. The other is blasted on his back by a shot from Pink, and finished off when Chad stops in his stride to slice the dragonborn's throat open.
The tents don't stop you, and you end up inside the larger warehouse...

And you see what is left of the Gray Knight.

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Her transformation appears complete, but hurried. Her skin appears split in places, and thick, heavy-duty chains are wrapped all around her, preventing her from moving easily. She is forced to the ground by them, and her pale gray scales look monstrously unhealthy. You still see the vague remnants of her arms in her new wings, which look more as though they have been pulled and twisted into shape, before the membrane was forcefully cultivated. Thick boils can be seen where the membrane connects to what were once finger bones. Her maw is bloodied, and you can tell her teeth have not finished forming, giving her a misshapen maw.
The spines along her back look more as if they were forcefully jammed into her back, compared to anything natural, and her tail... despite the size, and the seemingly finished shape, it carries no scales.
Her hind legs, worst of all, are still almost entirely human, only her heels having stretched to the point of splitting skin.

For all the horrors you've seen in your life, this still made you pause.
Then, she looks towards you, her gray eyes still unchanged, and you see a moment of recognition before she looks to the side... and you see Ogg.
She already has a bright blue shield around her, buzzing with magical energies, and she looks...
Scared, oddly. Even sad.
It's hard to tell past her misshapen head, a mix between the maw of a dragon and the face of a human. Mighty wings on her back, but her form is limited to the wheelchair.

"You followed me, then. My followers are dying outside, I assume?"
Guessing from the repeating gunshots, they're being kept out. You don't have much time.
"Why do you do this? I wish to create a new world, where the worthy may finally rule! The meek will be smaller, easier to please, HAPPIER! I need only to reach the top of the Sierra to change the curse!"
Before you can answer, Paracelsus demands something of her:
"Do you seek to turn it into a disease!? A virus, more like? There isn't enough magic in the world to turn everybody, but making it contagious is your next best thing, isn't it? That's why you needed your retinue!"

Ogg blinks... And wheels herself forward, with some difficulty. Her injuries prevent her from doing much.
"You've learned much, in a short amount of time. You enjoy this. Why do you want to stop this?" She asks, almost desperate for an answer.
The Grey Dragon moves to bite her, but just a gesture from Ogg was enough to turn the Grey Dragon's eyes a bright blue, and she stops moving entirely.
Paracelsus' answer is quick and to the point:
"I appreciate bodily autonomy. Now STAND! DOWN!"
Ogg just looks at her for a short, meaningful two seconds, and then to you.

"Reynauld... Progenitor. Are you so greedy that you would refuse to share? Perhaps you truly are a dragon."
This is likely the last chance to talk to her. The shield is likely to stop your attacks, but...
"Dragon... She prevented the Grey Knight from even trying." Pink says, as she feverishly reloads her gun.
The dragonborn are approaching, slowly. The fear of the guns is keeping them back more than the damage they deal.
Right.

>Shoot the chains holding back the dragon

>Speak to Ogg
But what will you say?

>Shoot Ogg

>>5407830
>"For everyone whose choice you ignored or didn't ask."
>bang
The most charitable interpretation is that she's simply beyond stupid and doesn't know what happened to that burned city, or that the town of kobolds is ruled by fear and kobold-nature alone. More likely, her talking is just stalling for time, so let's not give her any.
As useful as the Grey Dragon might be to split her attention, we can't tell if Ogg can command her (very bad) or merely easily stop her (still not great).

>>5407830
>"I'm sorry, Archmage. I wish you didn't have to pay for my mistakes."
>open fire
As tragic as the situation is, we need to focus on making sure the insanely powerful magic user with a regenerative curse is deader than dead. Everything else can wait.

>>5407830
>Speak to Ogg
Die monster! You dont belong in this world! Other anon made a pount about her possibly stalling, let's make this quick.

Reynauld start off with your breath attack. As far as I'm aware its capable of eating magic. Perhaps that's why she's scared? Failing that throw the magic water her way.
Once the shields drop, open up with all your guns (you with your double barrel shotgun). If the shield dropped the first time with the dragons breath, then smash the anti-magic water on her- then try to stab her with the super poison.

>>5407830
>>Speak to Ogg
We are originally doing this to prevent her from becoming a Wizard, because Wizards do not understand right and wrong, and there is still a real danger that she'll destroy the world. Turning people into a race of Dragonborn and kobolts is bad, but it's not even the main reason we had to act. If she wasn't turning into a wizard we would never have had to do this, and she could have perhaps found common ground with us. Remind her of why we were forced to track her down in the first place.

While we are doing this, make sure we are getting ready for the final assault, make sure her followers don'tr flank us.

If she doesn't seem to be turning into a wizard anymore (since the dragon curse gives her a stronger resistance against mana poisoning), offer her a chance to surrender and tell her the terms will be fair:
>1) change back Gray immediately
>2) change back William immediately
>3) return to her mage's tower and face justice for what she's done.
>4) Agree not to transform people into kobolts/dragonborn any more. She can use what she learned to try to improve humanity, but most people are not suited to that kind of power and kobolts are too easily abused by unsuitable masters.

but without even engaging the "greed" aspect we need to emphasize that so far everything we see says the kobolt/dragonborn dynamic would be disastrous if applied on a larger scale and she needs to cut that shit out immediately. People need to be both autonomous and collaborative to thrive, emphasizing one trait or another doesn't work.

>>5407995
Supporting this one.

>>5407830
>Speak to Ogg

>>5407995
This is a fool's errand, she made her choice at her tower, all we do with this is give her forces more time to arrive we have to put her down here and now. No matter the cost.

From what I can see the gray knight is in no condition to fight, and could even be a hindrance in the fight, I reread the update and I see nothing to suggest Ogg couldn't mind control her into fighting us while she hides behind her shield, no at least for now we just to just open fire.

>>5407839
support

>>5407830
Never let the villain monologue.

>>5407839

>>5408075
We talked down Anna, though, even when SHE was ALSO making an army of monsters for misguided reasons. We also have managed to negotiate with most of the other dragon-cursed folk we've encountered. It's worth a go. This IS sort of our fault, after all.

>>5408075
we don't let Ogg Monologue. We do a quick monologue of our own, then tell her to surrender unconditionally but remind her that we'll treat her fairly.
>>5408070
to be fair she was crazy in the tower because of what dreygaun did to her, and as she became more draconic she probably suffered far less from the effects of magic poisoning on her sanity. there's a fairly good chance she's more lucid now that her transformation has come along than she ever has been before.

>>5408114
No dude. We have to kill her. Shes a wizard now, and wizards dont know right from wrong. We've been over this.
If she was more lucid then she would understand how evil she's being and the consequences of her actions.

>>5407825
>>5407839
Support.
The time for talk is over. Do not free the gray knight, we are unsure if she will attack us or Ogg in her state.

>>5407830
Yo Spine, I'm gonna take a stab in the dark. Is the Grey Knight not a grey knight because she did a crime and is trying to repent, but in reality she's such an autistic NEET that she has enough pocket spaghetti to feed an entire third world country?
>unwashed
>really skinny
>autism
>really likes her horsie
>lives like a Vagabond
>digs through garbage for loot
>autism strength
>chuni powers by necromancing her horse
You cannot dissuade me. This is my headcanon for her.

>>5408355
I'm pretty sure that's how it is based on everything else we've seen with her.
>>5408131
I think you're right. Or at least, we have to operate under the assumption that you're right, even if she is more lucid now and isn't truly a wizard. I wish we could help her but we can't. Gray is out of the picture for now but if Ogg has to brute force her mind control that means she's probably fine after we slap the wizard.

"This is your last chance to surrender. Do so, and you will be treated fairly in the court of law. Likely with leniency, considering the context of your actions." You say to Ogg, and she just looks away, clearly disappointed.
"Then you've made your choice. I... cannot delay any longer."
She raises her hand, but you and Paracelsus move in tandem. You make the kobolt head appear above hers, giving her an innapropriately funny appearance for a moment, while Paracelsus instead causes Ogg to scream in pain, forcing her to adjust her hold as she begins to float into the air.
"Magic!? Both of you!?"

You don't respond with anything but buckshot. The first shot fizzles out entirely against the shield, but you can tell it wasn't easy for her, guessing from how her flight pattern suddenly wavers. You repeat the shot, and the shield fizzles out entirely... for only a split second, before being reshaped.
Then, Ogg points to the Grey Dragon, who is now standing up, despite the myriad number of chains. Every movement seems to be agony for her, twitching and shaking as she seems to be resisting the control at every point.
Paracelsus points up again, and this time... she snaps her fingers.
Ogg suddenly groans, and you can spot a blood vessel in her eye was just... popped. Blood fills the eye, but that's not something that will truly stop her, only distract her.
"I can't do more than this!"

You hear a volley of musket fire, mixed with yells from the Dragonborn. Your double barrel is reloaded, and you look over to the Grey Dragon... sparking and flickering with a bright green light, shining through every little wound and hole in her... Which then comes billowing out in a blistering torrent of fire! The bright green flame is far brighter and hotter than what even you can produce, and for a moment, you flinch... unsure if you'd survive.
It took you about two seconds to realize that she wasn't aiming for you.
Ogg is engulfed in fire, though you can see the bubble shield she's using blocking the heat. Even now, you hear your kobolts groaning from the heat right above them... Which is shortly thereafter followed by more yells as the two knights have entered the frey!
The first one, withe the flail, narrowly misses Pink, who managed to hop back just in time, but the other one, with the axe... Had to be blocked through a combined effort from William and Chad. Collar only barely avoided being bisected by the blow.

...Who do you focus on!?

>Take on the knights, now!
One shotgun blast each will kill them!

>Ogg takes HIGH priority! The Grey Dragon's fire was only a short distraction!
You can specify how you take her on, besides.

>Something smarter

>>5408792
>>Ogg takes HIGH priority! The Grey Dragon's fire was only a short distraction!

We have to have faith in our allies and honestly we cannot spare the time we must kill ogg here and now.

>>5408792
>Take on the knights, now!
Why the did you guys insist on using the shotgun? Did no one remember anything about reynaulds breath attack eating magic? It would had taken care of the shield, and now we have to worry about those two idiots.
Put a cap in each of them then use your dragons breath to melt Ogg, but make sure our allies are out of the way.

>>5408792
Fire breath on Ogg so our fire can eat her magic as fuel

>>5409130
Don't do that we can't control were it goes after it is fired, that is like calling in danger close napalm and hoping our people are not hit

>>5409342
....that's why you dont aim it friends? Everyone seen our fire, they should know better than to be anywhere close. The easiest solution would be to step closer to Ogg and away from our allies. We kill her, then we win.

>>5408792

>>5408951
Supporting this one.

>>5409350
We can try but it sounds like a crowded scene. Can we get a layout of how our forces are arranged?

You don't waste time. You don't even need to yell at them to duck, they're all much shorter than your targets.
Plate armor or no, the shotgun blasts right through them. They stumble back, screaming in pain as their chest is blasted to shreds. The muskets may not be able to pierce their armor and scales, but your shotgun is no mere musket. Not to mention, at this range, they take the full brunt of the blast.

Just like that, the two most dangerous opponents for your kobolts were taken down. Not wasting time, you then inhale and look straight up at your target, preparing to blast her with a huge gust of fire.
But the short amount of time you spent taking down the knights was enough for her. She points forward, and flicks her wrist.
Paracelsus screams in agony as her leg bends inwards, completely and utterly shattering the bones as she falls to the ground, gasping and staring at her ruined leg. Then, Ogg rears her arm back, but you blast her with your own dragonfire before she can continue. Her shield flickers, once more... and she then suddenly just... disappears.
With a bright flash, she goes from in your flames to outside of them, right to the side, before she tosses what she was cooking up before.

The bright orange ball of fire was headed right for the centre of the group, and you moved faster than you could think. A mighty leap, assisted with your wings, permits you to catch the fireball in mid-air.

You are sent flying, freefalling through the air for a moment, and striking against the wall. Your armor was blasted apart, and were it not for your transformation, you don't doubt the rest of you would have been shattered as well.
Even now, you can tell that you just broke a rib.
"DRAGON!" You hear almost the entire group scream out in horror, followed there-after by the most vicious, emotional hiss you've ever heard from anybody.
As you try to pull yourself upright, you see Snikt flying through the air... Having used William as a boost to fly higher, while Ogg was floating toward you.
That bubble shield around Ogg was able to stop dragonfire, certainly.
But it did not stop Snikt.

Her kris was stabbed deep into Ogg's belly, making her scream, but... somehow, she doesn't die. You see clockwork gears appearing all around Ogg as her shield disappears, and you see Snikt getting ripped off of Ogg by a magical force.
"WRETCHED SLAVE!" Ogg screams, the knife still buried deep inside her, while Snikt is still trying to bite or stab her.
Ogg snarls right back, and then you hear something akin to a clock being smashed, before Snikt is dropped to the ground... and begins to grow, slighty. She can't get up, stumbling around, and you rush back into the fight at long last.
Ogg, however, is suddenly distracted, on account of a longsword suddenly piercing her lung.

Chad decided to THROW his sword. The bubble shield was still gone, thanks to Snikt's distraction, and Ogg teleports again as she screams. Appearing on top of the Grey Dragon, this time.
You change your course, still charging towards her, dragon be damned, as she rips the sword from her chest, and places a glowing hand to the gushing wound. Her lung too ravaged to even permit Ogg to speak, but the other hand is placed against the Grey Dragon's head, turning her eyes a bright orange.
Rather than attacking, however, she instead just twitches violently, even slamming her head against the floor, to the confusion of Ogg.
Then, you reach her. You have to leap up, stomping your feet against the Grey Dragon's snout to close the distance.

She raises her arms in a reflex, hoping to keep herself safe against your blade... And you cleanly slice off her right hand.
You're surprised to see her quietly stare at the gushing stump...
And then she disappears, with another flash.

The Grey Dragon instantly changes her demeanor, and even talks!
"Rrrr..Rreynauld! Free... Me! Chains!"
You see the dragonborn still approaching, though their morale is clearly shattered from seeing their leader disappear... But they're still approaching. You can catch on to what the Grey Knight wants, though, and you hop towards the chains, finding the lock, and smashing it to bits with just a singular kick to the lock.
It's a simple lock, but the Grey Knight would not be able to reach it, due to her new size. The chains quickly unravel themselves, revealing yet more wounds on her. The chains were cutting through her scales.

With just a quick roar and enraged stomps forward, you see the remaining Dragonborn give up entirely, running to the exit of the Sierra Madre. They'll be an issue for later, but... Ogg is still alive.
Somehow. She took wounds that'd kill just about anything you know of, but... wizards can be particularly annoying

More importantly, Snikt is still on the floor, wheezing and struggling.
You see Paracelsus next to her, having dragged her shattered body over to her, despite her leg being a bent mess. She looks to you:
"...It's a time spell, one of her specialities... Blitz is aging rapidly, and..."
You look over to Snikt, who is a little larger, now... but you can tell her scales are losing some of their shine. She's already over 50, if you had to guess.

Kobolts can live long, yes, but... at this rate, she'll be gone in just a minute.
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
"D-dragon... am I... D-did I do good?" She asks. She's trembling.
She's scared.


>...Say your goodbyes.
Don't let her die afraid.

>Find a way to stop this, ANYTHING!
Think! There has to be something you can do!

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566 KB PNG

>>5409736
>you, did amazingly, I, your dragon is proud of you snikt. It's ok, you can rest now, you've done everything I've asked of you, now rest.

It breaks my heart but there is nothing we can do, we can't take the spell on to ourself, we don't have the magic skill to stop it, and Ogg is still alive and could be healing at this very moment. The best we can do is make her final moments happy and make her feel safe, secure, and loved.

>>5409736
>Blitz is aging rapidly, and..."
lel wrong quest.

>you did amazingly Snikt. As you're dragon I must say that was quite reckless of you, but all the same I'm proud of you. You displayed much valor and honor this day. Embarrassingly enough I always thought of you as like a daughter.

>Find a way to stop this, ANYTHING!
Can't think of anything chief. I dont think Paracelsus knows any spell to counter an aging spell, and Reynauld knows even less when it comes to magic. Theres the transformation scroll that Anna has, but I'm unsure if that would help.
I'm also unsure if Paracelsus can mimic that stasis spell Ogg used over her mansion to slow down the aging process. We can't feed her the magic brew as that might kill her, and we cant infect her with lycanthrope in the Hope's that the curse would grant her greater vitality.

I kind of want to risk using a smaller weaker version of Reynauld's fire to break the spell, but might as well cure Snikt as it would kill her. I kind of wish we knew how to turn Snikt into a dragon. If we did than that might give her....I dont know maybe years instead of a minute? At least that would be enough time to seek out another Archmage.

Ogg dies today, and it will be a painful death.

>>5408114
You still think it's worth letting Ogg surrender?

>>5409736
Dammit, I can't write good emotional lines, but she should know she was a good kobold. We need to tell her.
I hope Ogg was trying to force the grey dragon to attack you, rather than somehow transferring herself into the dragon's body.

>>5409781
>Ogg dies today, and it will be a painful death.

she dies screaming, in as horrifying a fashion as we can manage

>>5409755
To hell with that! This is Snikt we're talking about, I refuse to just give up on her like this.

>>5409736
>Find a way to stop this, ANYTHING!
What was it that Paracelcus said? "Spells are like a little body you can create." Hang onto that thought, find that body, that spell, and yank it out. Squash it, if you can - Light knows you're good at killing "bodies" - or, if need be, redirect it onto another target. There are more than enough options for that choice. After all, dragons are very long-lived.

>>5409786
>To hell with that! This is Snikt we're talking about, I refuse to just give up on her like this.

anon, brother, we all knew the risks, in our hearts, if we are honest with ourselves we knew that we would not come out of this fight without losses. Now it kills me that Snikt will be one of those loses, but if we spend the precious few seconds of advantage we have gained against Ogg on what could very well be a futile attempt, then we condemn her sacrifice to have been for nothing. We still have the rest of our companions to think of and protect. This is the price we pay for leadership, we have to make the hard choices even when we wish to throw away our responsibilities. Killing Ogg comes first, it must come first, before our life, paras life, and yes even snikts life.

>>5409736
>...Say your goodbyes.
A very long hug.

:(

I think this is the choice that has gotten to me the most throughout this whole quest, this one right here is killing me inside. Because god fucking damn it, snikt didn't deserve this. But as much as I want to save her, to do everything thing in our power to make sure she survives, killing Ogg has to come first. and as much as I want to rally to the side of saving her I know that we can't waste the time. But it still feels so god damned wrong. but a choice has to be made, and I've made mine. God help me, I've made mine.