>Bertram to the rescue!

>satusle friend

>yes, indeed mr. Captcha

>I think it was an 86 or something
The elf stands back, raising his rifle for another blow on the kneeling man. His head turns at the sound of a quick rattling report of rifle fire, and his chest and face are riddled with shot as you leap from the jungle, reloading as fast as you can after tossing a smokebomb with one hand.
"You three, into the jungle behind me, now!" you shout to the prisoners, who quickly scatter from the four remaining soldiers. They return fire quickly, but you fall back into the bushes, hidden by the underbrush and the smoke. You manage to fell another with a second shot from your blunderbuss before you disappear into the jungle, quickly overtaking the panicked men.

You are Bertram Gillivers, Court Alchemist and gentleman of the highest caliber. You accompanied an Imperial research vessel to this island, hoping to find a paradise and a source of rich wealth. You found both, but paradise quickly turned to a battleground when magically advanced beings landed on the island and began slaughtering your fellows. You have just rescued three soldiers or sailors, and two more await you at the mouth of a cave system running through the island, along with your personal bodyguard, and two of the invaders themselves, who claim to be defective seditionists trying to aid you in repelling the coming invasion.

>What do?

Ask the soldiers/sailers we just saved on what happened to the rest of the crew. Are they all that's left or are they unsure?

>>12282975
We need to know if any others have survived. Have these men regroup with the two others.

If there are more, and one of these three is a soldier, we should take them with us to rescue the remaining men. If possible, capture some more of the enemy's weapons.

>>12283071
>>12283026
"Are you three all that's left? What happened to the others?" you say as the four of you jog through the underbrush. The occasional beam of light lances past you, but you think you've lost your pursuers for the most part.
"They're all dead," one of the men says glumly.
"Shut up," says a second. "We don't know for sure, but odds aren't very promising."
"They were taking us into the jungle," says the third, panting. "If there are other survivors, they'll be inland, but that's also where the majority of the enemy force will be concentrated. We'll be ripped apart in seconds if we try to go in there."
You look down at your hands. They still appear wavering and shadowy, but you can tell the Shadowdust is wearing off. You are distracted momentarily by a realization of a means of simplifying the formula and improving its efficiency. You absentmindedly begin searching your belts and pouches for a blank margin on some of your notes.
"Sir?" one of the men interrupts. "What are we doing?"

>>12283161
"Saving everyone we can here, then warning the Empire, nay, the world."

>>12283161
Ask how large the enemy force seemed to be. If it's too many for us to handle, I saw we head back to the meeting point rather than try to see if anyone else is alive. We may be selfless but we're not superhuman and it's more important that we get back and spread word of this invasion to the rest of the Empire.

"Saving everyone we can here, then warning the Empire, nay, the world."
The three nod slowly at you. Shouting behind you forces you into movement again, moving parallel to the out-of-sight beach, and vaguely towards your rendezvous point.
"How many more of them are there?" you ask breathlessly.
"Several dozen at least, assuming that they sent everyone after us," one of the men says. "We could wait for them to leave, if they ever do, but then anyone they've taken prisoner will be gone with them. But if we charge in there now, I don't see what sort of good we could do."

>What do? Daringest of suicide rescue missions? Or take what you have and get back to the Empire?

>>12283161
"We are getting everyone still alive out, and then getting off of this Abyss-damned island, and warning the Empire of what's here.
"Now, can you tell me about how many of them you saw, and of who might still be alive?"

>>12283347
What do we have on us in terms of alchemical tools? If we're literally armed with only the guns we have on us, we should head back the the empire. If we have a crap load of alchemical things, it might be worth considering sneaking in there and causing as much havoc as we can assuming there are prisoners to rescue.

>>12283356
"Any idea who might still be alive?"
"Well if there's anyone they could fail to kill, it'd be Captain Speer. But if he's still alive, and uncaptured, I'm sure he's gone to ground, and we'll have no better luck finding him then these bastards," the least cowardly of the three says, jerking his thumb back at the distant voices pursuing you.
"Most of the soldiers are dead, killed outright. I think it was only when they got to the relatively unarmed sailors that they bothered to start taking prisoners."

>>12283362
>You are relatively low on most things. You have a decent amount of remaining shot for your blunderbuss, but that is the only firearm you've got. You have a few flasks of Dragon's Blood, one smokebomb, and two sunspheres. You're all out of Shadowdust. You could do some damage, but probably not enough to cause any permanent disruption, and potentially not enough to get in and out with any prisoners without getting murdered or captured.

>>12283397
Ask the men if he has any idea on how we might find the Captain if he had escaped. They know him better than us so they'll have the best chance of knowing how he thinks/if he might leave any signs or what not. If there's no way we'd find him other than random wandering, let's head back to the meeting point and GTFO. Too risky to look for potential prisoners when we can't even take on our enemy. Plus, I rather not waste what we have in the event we need it in the near future.

>>12283385
Oh look. A douche.

>>12283397
I don't like abandoning our men, but we're low on ammunition and out of alchemical components that could be useful in a rescue.
Should we cut our losses now, and go back to the Empire?

"Any way we would be able to find the Captain?"
"I doubt it. If he's gone into hiding he's not waiting around for someone to find him, he's trying his best not to be found at all. You want my advice, we get out of here however we can. I think there's enough of us to get the ship away from shore, if they don't chase us down and sink us."
"I have...another idea," you say, veering towards the caves and your meeting point.

"Oh, thank the Emperor, you've found more of them," Sebastian says when you arrive, beleaguered and out of breath.
"We are glad that you have found some of your comrades alive," Fierna says.
"Oh ye gods, she can speak our tongue?" one of the men says.

Never leave a man behind!

Plus, with all our not-stealth, Captain could probably find us, so if he wants to be found, he will.

>>12283618
Okay, but we need a plan. I'm drawing blanks right now. You?

>>12283636
This. I'm all for saving more people but only if it's feasible. Either we go in alone and likely die or go in with the people we saved. Which would likely result in their deaths as well, meaning we might save less people if we try to rescue more.

>Awaiting a cohesive plan

We go and escape and hope the Captain finds us if he's out there. Ask Fierna if their people can read our writings and if so, does the empire have any coded language we can use? If so, leave directions in code carved on trees, assuming we go outside again, and hope people can find us.

I still have no idea on how we could feasibly save more people without losing our own lives or the lives of others so we should leave with what we have.

>>12283721
>leave with what we have.
"Don't worry. They're on our side," you say, hoping you speak the truth.
The men seem nervous, but keep close to you jsut the same, for lack of other options.
"Come," Birand says, gesturing to the cave wall and reactivating the entrance to the tunnel system. "We should get underground before anyone sees us."
"Can your people read our language?" you ask.
"Some of them. Why?"
"...never mind," you say, cursing silently. It would be good to give Captain Speer a signal. You don't like the thought of abandoning him, even though it seems like suicide to stay and poke around for him in the jungle.

The softly glowing darkness of the tunnels soon envelops you, and the nine of you move along in relatively cramped quarters. Fierna and Birand seem to know where they're going, and they occasionally converse with one another in their own language. You are captivated by how beautiful it sounds when spoken conversationally, though your brief experience with these people in violence tells you that their anger and curses sound just as foul as any in the Emperor's tongue.

Eventually you enter one of the larger subterranean chambers, and the pair seem slightly at a loss for which way to turn.
"Your Eminence," Sebastian murmurs. "Not to count our cattle in advance, but what is your plan for convincing the Empire of the validity of this threat? Even showing up out of the blue, and even if we can convince one of them to come with us, the story seems a little bit crazy when you say it out loud."

>>12283852
Eyebrow raise at Sebastian, then look at our elf friends.
"Surely their presence here proves the matter, does it not?"

>>12283852
"We have one of their weapons, far in advance of anything that the Empire has. I also took a sample of their armor; alchemic study should reveal that it is unknown to the Empire. I would have liked to have captured one of the soldiers for further questioning and to prove our claims, but that would be suicidal at this point."

>>12283852
See if we can take back some of their technology to show there are things more advanced than us. Of course there will be people who will still doubt it but not everyone will be stupid if we have solid proof of something none of us could ever re-create, that will win us support even if it's not public support.

Also, the fact we'll have a bunch of us saying the same story will lend some weight to what we're saying I hope.

>>12283889
>>12283879
>>12283871
You cock an eyebrow, gesturing to the elves.
"Surely their presence here is proof enough? And there's that," you say, tapping on the stolen Daemon rifle in Sebastian's arms.
"I have no doubt that we'll be able to convince them of a hostile force. But...that there is a hostile force from beyond the veil of the sky? That they wield literal sorcery beyond our comprehension? That they're going to meld our worlds together and pour onto us from the sky? Perhaps caution is best here; perhaps we should try to drum up the dedicated support of a few noblemen and other alchemists before we take the heavy truth to the Emperor's throneroom. We should also consider that perhaps other nations would be best warned of this threat. We could certainly use allies wherever we can find them," he says, eyes on your elven guides.

Fierna turns, her eyes furrowed with concern, her long ears twitching slightly.
"What...what is that?"

>Roll dice

rolled 80 = 80

>>12283980
>here we go

>>12284001
>time to switch names again.

rolled 11 = 11

Why not.

>>12284001
>80
Fierna's eyes widen as she steps back several paces.
"Sheyikaf," she breathes. "Monitors..."
Tearing themselves out of the stone of the tunnel walls, tiny rock beetles emblazoned with flecks of glowing blue rock, a swarm of them, are instantly surrounding you. They have no eyes, and tiny stone mandibles grinding together creates a sickening cacophony around you.
"This way," Birand says. "It's this way, quickly!"
"We're all going to die!" one of the men shouts.
"What in the Abyss..." Sebastian says, hefting the Daemon. He fires a shot into one of the tighter-packed clusters of beetles, blowing several of them into small shards. This does nothing to dissuade the growing force closing in on you.

>What do, dice when appropriate.
>Also I'll be back in like fifteen

>>12284098
Flee, out of the tunnels if need be.

>>12284098
What does the Dragon's blood and Sunsphere's do? Regardless, we might want to use one of those on the oncoming horde. I won't roll until I know what they do though so if someone else can enlighten moi.

>>12284133
Dragon's blood was explosives if I remember right, Sunsphere is like a flashbang.

>>12284203
Cancel that, Dragon's Blood was an acid bomb. >>12284098
Standard tactics-run and toss Dragon's Blood behind us.

rolled 97 = 97

>>12284235
I agree with this plan of running and flasking. Here goes nothing.

>>12284263
>97
Your feet carry you faster than you thought they could even as the ground tears itself up around you and tries to crawl up your legs. You shove Thessilis the cabin boy out of the way of a cluster of Monitors dropping from the ceiling, the two of you stumbling and nearly falling onto the roiling cave floor. To make a bad situation worse, the artificial insects tearing themselves up from the floor have left the terrain uneven.
Sebastian conserves his ammunition, putting carefully-placed beams into clusters ahead and to the sides, making sure the path forward is kept as clear as possible. Fierna and Birand occasionally release some sort of magical or psychic outburst, driving off the swarms or opening some side passage that was previously hidden. Yet everywhere you go, the tunnels immediately come alive with the hungry jaws of rocky buzzing insects.
Behind you, you can hear one of the rescued sailors stumble and fall. turning swiftly, you immediately backtrack, dodging around your fleeing comrades and the undulating carpet of danger. The sailor screams as several chunks of his arm and shoulder are torn off, but you sweep the offending insects off with a gloved, robed hand, nearly dragging him back with you towards the group and tossing one of your last flasks of Dragon's Blood. The acid doesn't seem to be particularly effective against the stone constructs, but the hazy cloud it makes confuses and enrages them, causing them to skitter about aimlessly.

>Roll dice one more time

rolled 4 = 4

>>12284326
Don't fail me now dice.

>>12284340
Damnit...

>>12284340
>uh oh

>>12284340
>tee hee
"It's just up ahead!" you can hear Birand shout.
Behind you, you can hear Thessilis cry out. Turning back, you see the young man disappear under a scuttling carpet of Monitors, his screams of agony swiftly drowned out by the clacking of mandibles and tearing of flesh. A beam from the Daemon cuts his muffled ragged screaming short, and you catch Sebastian's stony face out of the corner of your eye before he turns to continue running. As you turn to follow, several of the Monitors drop onto you from the ceiling, pinching and biting rabidly. You slam into the walls to get them off, which only entices more onto you. Your mind swiftly becomes consumed only with the desire to get these things off of you, and it is the three soldiers whom you rescued who quickly brush the beetles off and propel you forward towards the exit of the cave.
You burst out into the waning night, daring to look behind you at the mouth of the cave. It is positively brimming with horrible constructs, but they seem to be unwilling to leave the tunnel systems.
"The Monitors are only a deterrent for the inner systems," Fierna explains, panting. "If they expanded beyond those borders they would wipe out all life on this island. We use them in warfare, without such locational limitations. Come, the ship is this way."

>Damn, that was a shitty roll. What do?

>>12284439
Follow them to the ship.

>>12284439
Ask how the hell those things can be dealt with if they may be used against us in warfare. Beyond that, ensure everyone else is alright/all our crap is fine, take a look around for anything odd and then follow them to their ship if it's clear.

>>12284458
Supporting this. To the ship.

>>12284466
>>12284458
These two.

You follow the pair cautiously, thoughts straying unwillingly to Thessilis, torn away from life so young. What thirst for adventure had drawn him to this killing ground?
The ship lies in a clearing that is barely more than a small break in the canopy. It is a small sleek-looking vessel, almost like a ship on drydock, but for the pair of dark wings, crystalline feathers and all, folded behind it. A spiraling cylinder runs along the bottom edge of the craft; you suspect it begins to move when the device is in motion; perhaps it is the power source or source of thrust.
Fierna opens the hatch of the vessel, swinging the door to the side and admitting the weary crew within. She and Birand exchange words, the elf putting on his helmet and obscuring his face. With that armor on, they all look the same, you think.
"I will pilot the ship and accompany you to the shores of your homeland. Birand will remain here, and try to locate any additional survivors that might be hiding hereabouts. Unfortunately, we have to be away swiftly, for the activation of the Monitors means that they know that someone was utilizing the tunnel system. Hopefully they believe that you happened upon it by chance."

The interior of the ship is far nicer even than your state cabin aboard the Imperator. [I think that's what the ship was called]. Two vertical cylinders pulsing with wisps sit near what must be the pilot's seat. Beyond, two angled panes of transparent glass provide a view to the landscape beyond. Fierna closes the hatch after giving one more look to Birand, then finds her way to the pilot's chair. Her fingers slide in intricate patterns over the glowing cylinders, leaving runic tracings behind. The ship churns to life, humming beneath your feet. You wish you could observe it from the outside. You hear the rustling of the trees as the artificial wings extend themselves, and then, abruptly, the whole craft is carried into the air as though a leaf caught on some unseen breeze. You watch out the window as you stay low to the ground, moving as swiftly as a bird flies. You are quickly offshore, and begin turning gently to make your way out into open waters. You are on your way home, dire warnings and bedraggled survivors in hand.

>What do? Anyone in particular you'd like to talk with/anything in particular you'd like to do?

>>12284751
>Must. Find. Engine Room. And. Look at.

Also, Sebastian.

>>12284751
Talk to Fierna and pump her for information on her culture/technology. Specifically how we could counter it with what we have so we don't get wiped out and how we might improve our own stuff.

>>12284751
Ask how the ship works, have her explain more about technology, prepare for her to die horribly like every potential infodump person in Bloodquest...

>>12284776
You begin poking around the corners of the structure, searching for the mechanical elements to observe. Besides the glowing cylinders which apparently form the steering apparatus, and which Fierna manipulates with a deft and steady hand, there are no obvious machinery components at work. Somewhat disappointed, you find your bodyguard picking over the Daemon.
"Trying to divine its mechanisms?" you ask, seating yourself beside him.
"Hm? Oh, yes, it's nothing like an Imperial musket, or even that crazy blunderbuss you tinkered up," he says wonderingly, hefting the weapon in one hand with some difficulty. "Maybe you should take a look at it sometime, you'd be better suited to figuring it out than I would,"
"I'd be glad to," you say with complete honesty. Sebastian puts the rifle down and heaves a sigh.
"Abyss...they're all dead back there, I still can't believe it. In the thick of things I could just focus on getting out of there alive, but now that we're here, safe...in a flying ship of all things..." he exhales again. "Nothing's ever going to be the same, is it?"

>>12284855
"I imagine things will only really change once the invasion starts. Until the threat is evident, the hushblades will continue their missions and the courtiers will continue their politics in the Imperial Court. It's up to us now to ensure that we are prepared for this coming storm Sebastian."

Yeah, I have no clue what to say. Someone come up with something better.

"I imagine things will only really change once the invasion starts. Until the threat is evident, the hushblades will continue their missions and the courtiers will continue their politics in the Imperial Court. It's up to us now to ensure that we are prepared for this coming storm Sebastian."
Your bodyguard nods his head sternly.
"I am your man, Eminence. Er, Gillivers. I'm with you, is what I mean. The court will see reason, or-"
He is cut short by a wild clattering near the rear of the ship. Several wooden crates (it is refreshing to see that the elves do not build everything out of magical stone or metal) are, or were, piled with supplies in the rear. Now they are in disarray as a small torrent of energy bursts out of them, rolling awkwardly into the main cabin area. It is a goblinoid, what the invaders called a Trechlan. Having somersaulted into a drowsy-looking seated position, he gradually becomes aware that he is on a craft filled with people, and that it is in motion. His muscles visibly tense under the garish red hide he is wearing, and he begins purring, threateningly, or in fear, or whatever compels one of these small terrors to purr.

>What do?

>>12284941
Jump him and tie him up! No killing! We want him alive as extra evidence!

>>12284941
"Sebastian. Time to put that rifle to use again. Keep the weapon aimed at our uninvited guest."
Cautiously approach the Trechlan.

>>12284941
Do we have enough reagents on us to do something really simple but flashy? Just to surprise/awe the creature so it'll calm down/not be aggressive to us hopefully?

>Just what we needed, more stowaways.
>Yay, a pet!

"Sebastian. Time to put that rifle to use again. Keep the weapon aimed at our uninvited guest."
Sebastian lifts the Daemon to his shoulder. The goblin bares his teeth, his purr turning into a low growl and a few sharp syllables. You take a few cautious steps towards him; he appears to be unarmed and still groggy; he must have somehow snuck aboard the ship and fallen asleep. Whether that was his original intention or he simply became distracted and took a nap, you will probably never know. You draw his attention to one of your gloved hands. Scratching the chemical plates on the fingertips and palm of the glove together, you produce a blooming flare of sparks. The trechlan begins yammering at you insistently, waddling forward and grabbing at your hand, which you pull away swiftly
"Hey, now! Hey!" Sebastian says, jabbing towards him with the rifle.
You look down at the beast. If it weren't for the yawning mouth of fangs he could almost pass for a particularly ugly homonculous, arcane constructs alchemists use as lab assistants or general servants.
"What's going on back there?" Fierna calls.

>>12285068
"We've got ourselves a stowaway. One of those little goblins you call a Trechlan. Do these things understand commands?"

>night, everybody!

"We've got ourselves a stowaway. One of those little goblins you call a Trechlan. Do these things understand commands?"
Fierna chances a look away from piloting. Her face is a mixture of annoyance and grudging amusement.
"Wonderful. Well, you can show it to your rulers, I suppose, to strengthen your case. From what we understand your people are unwilling to believe inconvenient truths until they are tearing down your doors. With indoctrination the Trechlan can be used as a labor force, but these feral specimens would be hard to break. They have a natural reverence for us bred into them, however; perhaps that would transfer over to you.
You recall the godlike treatment you received at the hands of a population of trechlan. The stowaway has plopped backwards into a sitting position again, the hood of its hide cloak pulled up around its face. It notices you looking back down at it, and hisses, baring its teeth in a wide grin. You make a mental note to learn a bit more about their body language.

>Tie it up or let it wander around? Also talk to Sebastian more, or grill Fierna for information? Or I guess you could try and make friends with this little guy.

>>12285165
Gah. I want to do both grilling Fierna for information and getting friendly with this thing. I'm going to say grill Fierna for information and hope we get the chance to keep the goblin around for teaching and such later.

Regardless, I think I'm going to have to hit the sack in like 10 mins OP. I cannot afford sleeping too late past 2 am and it looks like there aren't many others following this atm.

>>12285209
Also, let him wander around for now, telling Sebastian to tie it up if it starts to cause a ruckus or starts poking around at anything important looking.

You step away from the confusing little beast.
"Sebastian, keep an eye on him. If he starts getting too antsy, tie him up, or...knock him out or something."
Sebastian nods.
"Aye, sire. He's...almost adorable, though, I must admit."
The goblin begins absently gnawing on his own hand as he wanders about the cabin, poking his face into the laps of the various passengers.
"How long will it take us to reach the mainland?" you ask, approaching Fierna. She answers without taking her eyes off the delicate manipulations of the cylinders.
"Just over a day, I would say. It is remarkable how accustomed your people are to the slow speeds of your watercraft. Is is true you have barely achieved flight?"
"I...yes, we are...mostly capable of flight," you say. The Confederacy of Coin and Steel were the ones to develop the first airship, and the Imperium, for all its military ingenuity, has been unable to effectively reproduce the gas formula they use to provide the proper lift without blowing themselves up. Oh, the explosive mishaps, you think with a shudder. Another one or two of those and the Imperium is likely to swear off research altogether.

>What ask?

>>12285226
Seconding this, tell Sebastian to keep an eye on it.

Aside from that lets talk to Fierna.

Ask her when this whole "worlds accidentally joined together" thing started.

We need to have a threesome with this elf chick and the girl we grew up with.

TIME TO RIDE THE BONERCOASTER

>>12285318
As well, we should ask her how we should prepare to defend against the upcoming invasion. Like against those monitors in the cave.

Okay, now I really am going to sleep. Is this being run tomorrow night as well or not this weekend?

>>12285355
Shut up, you. We have bigger concerns.

>>12285318
If our two worlds combine, how do you know any of your magic-powered technology will still work? What if you suddenly lose power for everything?

>>12285318
Ask her about the craft we're in now.

She might find us more endearing if act in an inquisitive manner, since she's under the impression that all humans are ignorant louts.

>>12285367
Nothing's more important than that.

But seriously. Ask her what we (humans) could possibly do to prepare for this.

Also inform her that it will be likely that once we arrive in our homeland, she'll be killed, or imprisoned and tortured.

>>12285396
I doubt it, she's supposed to look mostly human.

If anyone is endanger of being killed the second they get back, it's us. We still have someone looking to have us killed.

>>12285396
What? Why would any of that happen? We haven't even convinced her to do anything more than drop us off yet. Who's going to be killing her exactly?

>>12285428
Are you stupid?

"Hey, these aliens are coming to invade and kill us. This here is one of them, she saved us tho-" Oh no, she's already been seized and is being examined like a toad by a scientist working for the king.

>Make the elf chick condescendingly racist in a sort of "white man's burden" fashion
>WE MUST BANG HER
>vladmirputin.jpg

"So how exactly does this craft fly?"
"I'm not a scientist, just a pilot, and once a soldier," Fierna says. "I can tell you that wisps are collected and refined in these cylinders, which act both as the power source and the interface for control. The turbine beneath the ship directs the latent energy of the wisp, and the crystalline wings redirect the bursts of energy into forward momentum."
You nod eagerly, trying to soak up as much information as possible.

>>12285440
Alright, that might be a concern, except first we'd have to convince her to stay with us to explain things instead of just flying off. Shall we do so?

>>12285449
>putin.jpg
Pic related?

Let's get some info about the portal if we can. What exactly does she know about how they'll combine our worlds? Any way to stop it?

"When did our worlds first begin leaking into one another?"
She smiles. She seems amused by your thirst for knowledge, and answers your questions without impatience.
"It was centuries ago, by the reckoning of time that you use. Our years are no longer than yours, though we are far more long-lived. I am always amazed that you are able to accomplish so much with the short time you have."
"Whatever disaster tore our worlds together, it doesn't appear to be actively getting worse. It made what you call the Second Sun, the rift between the worlds, but the rift is not changing in size. The desperate plan of my people, however, is to cause a complete planar overlay, to pre-emptively conquer your people. Our bloated population has been tasked with containing whatever magical energy we can to fuel the war effort. We are all prepared to accept the unsustainability of our technology. Some of us, however, believe that we can exist alongside you without murdering all of you preemptively. There are even those of us who believe that if we attempted to make peace, you would be the ones to bring preemptive war upon our heads. It is...one of the more popular theories behind the necessity of invasion."

"When...if...you invade, what can we possibly do to stop you? Those beasts, those...Monitors back there, were terrifying and destructive."
"Monitors are generally not an efficient use of energy, though I expect several swarms would be employed early in the invasion to destroy your morale. The best thing you can do is to be prepared. If they believe they have the advantage of surprise, and you are fully prepared for the invasion, then in reality you will have the advantage. Beyond that, our organization, though small, can eventually give your societies access to technology comparable to ours. If you put up a strong initial defense after the planar overlay, you could destroy the public support of the war and force a peace. The magical and tactical advantage would be gone, and I believe neither side would be willing to engage in an extremely drawn-out slaughter."

>>12285505
What attempts at espionage do you know of? Would any of our nobles be untrustworthy, or have your people only suborned commoners and servants?

"Is there anything that we can do to stop the planar overlay from occurring?"
Fierna shakes her head.
"It is unlikely. It is the lynchpin to the invasion strategy, one of the Primarchate's most closely guarded secrets. Our agents have been attempting to discover the means of the overlay, either to stop it from occurring or, if desperate enough, trigger it too early to allow proper preparation of the Primarchial military."
"But that would also leave us completely undefended," you say.
"As I said, it would be a desperate gambit. Make no mistake, mister Gillivers, you and your people are in a bad situation." her accent is easy to listen to, even when she makes disparagingly condescending remarks about humanity. You don't think she means ill, but is merely naive or unaware of the insulting nature of some of the things she says.
"Dask'tchk!" the trechlan says, tugging on your robes. "Dask'tchk!"

>>12285587
Don't suppose you know what this little guy's saying?

Flirt with the elf lady.

>>12285557
>all conversations take place in a fluid timeline; if action continues, I will also continue any loose-end questions, and we will assume they took place in the past at an appropriate or sensible moment.

"What attempts at espionage within our society are you aware of? Are any of the nobles or officials compromised, or is it all peasantry and artisans?"
"As far as we know, the military has plants only in the lower areas of society. However, our secret advantage is that we have a plant in the nobility of your Imperial Court. I would recommend seeing him soon after your return, he can help you with resources and information, though i would be careful about how you make your case before the Imperial court. It is also not out of the question that some of the military plants may be in the guise of some of your political fifth columnists. I believe you call them Hushblades?"
You swallow with difficulty. Peasants who are actually trained killers, who are actually ruthless genocidal invaders. Fantastic.

>>12285609
"I don't suppose you know what he's saying?" you ask.
"It doesn't sound like any of the phrases I know," Fierna says. "Maybe he's introducing himself? Or maybe that's a name he's chosen for you?"

>Name the goblin Dask'tchk? Or try to give him another name?

>>12285631
Well great. I'm willing to bet our whole damn inventory the hushblade that was supposed to kill us is an enemy spy meant to stop us from learning anything about the island. Blargh, now we'll have to watch our backs even more.
>>12285649
Dash'tchk's a good name, point to him and repeat to see if he'll respond to it. Also let's have her explain what phrases she does know, I'd like to be able to give the little guy basic orders at least.

>>12285674
Yeah, test him to see how he responds when we point to him and call him it. See the reaction.

>>12285680
>>12285674
"Erm...Dask'tchk," you say, stumbling over the string of clicks and ejectives and touching the little goblin on the forehead.
The trechlan breaks into a toothy grin, screeching out a warbling giggle and stamping his feet on the cabin floor.
"Can we settle for Dask?" Sebastian says from further back in the ship. "I can't even understand half of what you just said."
"You know, it is an accepted legend among our people that we created the trechlan. Forged them, like you would a weapon or a tool. I believe the truth is that they are an even older people than we, and that they have survived everything, including our indoctrination and subjugation, because of their interminable adaptability, their sensational survivability."
Dask'tchk resumes gnawing on his own hand, a sort of comforting tic or nervous habit. You wonder if he killed the animal whose skin he wears. You remember that in larger groups the trechlan are capable of extreme, sudden, and sometimes seemingly purposeless violence. You make a mental note not to underestimate the potential for danger in this little creature.

>>12285548
Just had another thought. You were a soldier and you say a pilot. What would your military's attacks take the form of? You obviously have large flying ships and you mentioned the Monitor swarms, but what other strategies does your military rely on? We can prepare a lot better if we know something about what we'll face.

Also we need to be sure to get that friendly noble's name and location, I'd hate to accidently forget to ask.

Give him a minor alchemical ingredient to play with. Nothing he could do much damage with or that could kill him.

>>12285711
I wouldn't call this survival. If we lose, your people will likely do the same to us. All our history, all our accomplishments that you so admire because of how weak and stupid and short-lived we are, would be wiped out by your species' intolerance and greed. Your people didn't even bother trying to contact ours and make an arrangement, you went straight for war. Is there anything else, anything at all, you could do to help convince my people of the threat? Surely there is some way you could help us further...perhaps by staying to convince our leaders? We can hide you with the friendly noble until we gain enough influence to talk to the Emperor.
(going for a guilt-trip to make her stay with us or possibly earn some other aid)

>>12285777
>ooh, nice angle
>you say this stuff
Fierna listens quietly to your diatribe. Finally she speaks quietly, fingers still tracing patterns on the controls of the ship.
"It was not my intention, mister Gillivers, to wound your pride somehow. I sincerely admire the trechlan, as I sincerely admire you. Your species possesses objective shortcomings, and yet with access to our technology, you would level the playing field and then garner advantage after advantage with your rabid appropriation and innovation of everything around you. If our roles were reversed, would you be piloting this ship? Or would your Imperium be self-congratulating, throwing gala after gala as they ground up the indigenous people or whatever spit of land they desired? Why did you bring so many soldiers with you on an exploratory mission?"
She pauses for a moment.
"You have our weapons, you have a trechlan, and you are appearing on the shores of your nation with no ship and no crew, months before you were even supposed to be heard from. This will be enough to get your people to question, but if I were to go with you, could you guarantee my safety? I did not think the Imperium sent their influential and powerful viziers on missions to remote islands."
Ouch. Kitty has claws.

>>12285919
Alright then, if you don't stay with us, what will you do? Return to the island and observe? Wouldn't our cause be better served if you stay with us? And what about the noble you say is friendly to our cause? He could no doubt hide you while I attempt to gain support.
(to clarify, can any of our survivors hear us or are we far enough to not be overheard?)

>>12285963
"Alright then, if you don't stay with us, what will you do? Return to the island and observe? Wouldn't our cause be better served if you stay with us? And what about the noble you say is friendly to our cause? He could no doubt hide you while I attempt to gain support."
>you are in a fairly small cabin; unless you murmur or whisper you can be overheard by any who care to listen
"I will be returning to collect Birand, and we will be returning through the Rift, to help with the efforts of our organization on that end. How would I reach Lord Blackheed's estate without attracting attention? Walk, with no disguise, through your streets? Fly this vessel through your skies? Hide it in some bush?"
"If all goes well, mister Gillivers, then we will be able to stop the overlay from ever happening. You will be able to convince your government of a dangerous threat, and they will be prepared for any future offensive. Our planes will eventually reach a magical equilibrium, and then perhaps one of us will be able to make peaceful contact with the other."

>Hours of constant exposition have taken their toll. I'm off to bed for the evening, or at least after I wait around for a while for your delicious feedback/to archive the thread. Good times this evening? I'll probably be running again tomorrow.

>>12286048
Awesome times, mostly because this is the first time I've managed to catch one of these in progress. I've actually just finished reading Bloodquest's archives. Now I have to reread them and look for all the damn foreshadowing. And I'm gonna love that conversation with Arkham now that I know his little secret.

Good thread Stonerbro.

Dammit, saw this on sup/tg/, finished reading and saw it wasn't finished. Then I open it on /tg/ and I've JUST MISSED IT.

>>12286048
Anyhow, good thread, and I hope to be able to be present for the next one.