BERTRAM GILLIVERS:
Age: 6
Alchemical Formulae Known: None
EQUIPMENT:
Tiny little legs
Naivety
Curiosity

You run back out to the door as the massive pair of horses brings the Imperial carriage to a halt along the dirt thoroughfare. You shy away from the mighty beasts, paying close attention as the sharply dressed servant exits the carriage door, holding it open for the local Magister.
His black hair is shocked throughout with streaks of white, and his eyes take in the rural, pastoral surroundings with a steely calculating air that makes him a deft politician and a poor husband. To you he simply looks tall and scary.
He glances at you, cloak billowing in the still-chilly wind. He looks like the stern-faced angels cast in eternal stone outside the Cathedral your father took you to when you were four, when all the villagers said nice things about your mother even though she had gone away only the week before, without even saying a word, and after she had promised you that she would stay in bed until she felt better.

Striding past you with the slightest of nods, the Magister raises his weathered hand to knock on the door you left ajar, only to have your father open it with a smile and a deep bow.
"Your Eminence," he says. "Please, please come in."

>FOLLOW them inside
or
>PLAY outside

Depressing self-bump. Where my niggas at?

>>12305070
Contemplating going to bed.

Well, never mind then. I'll try again tommorow, perhaps more people will be on.

We will follow them inside.

>Assuming direct name/trip outside of GMing
>What the hell, TempDM
>This quest is awesome shut up

Certainly, follow them inside. Sure, he's scary, but if our Dad wants him to come in, our curiosity won't be contained.

>Hmmm, perhaps this can be salvaged

>FOLLOW

Curiosity wins out over fear, and you trot after the Magister, dodging inside the door as the Magister swings it closed. Your exuberance fades somewhat as you scoot into a corner of the dimly-lit room, beams of sun cascading through the low windows. Your father gives you a smile of reassurance.
"This is the boy?" the Magister says, remaining standing even though a simple wooden chair is offered to him.
"It...it is, your Eminence. This is my son. A brilliant young boy, he is wasted on these farms."
"Yes, the cleric told me of the boy's schooling."
You are vaguely aware that they are talking about you. The cleric? Could they mean Father Delbirous, the schoolteacher? You always enjoy going to school. They have actual books there, real leather-bound tomes. You can even understand some of them start to finish. Father Delbirous helps you with the bigger words. You stop paying attention to the conversation for a moment, a habit your father always tells you will get you into trouble sooner or later.

You realize that the room is fairly silent, and that your father and the Magister are staring at you. The Magister looks impatient.
"See, sire, he's dreaming away as we speak. He's got the formula for a better dragon-powder just waiting in there somewhere. I said come here, son, so the Magister can get a look at you."
You inch forward nervously, bowing your head as you've been taught to do. The Magister takes a knee, raising your chin with one hand and staring sternly into your face.
"Bertram, is it?" He says, raising an eyebrow. "My father tells me you're a smart young man, Bertram. Tell me, have you ever seen Hierotoria?"
You shake your head. The Imperial Capital of Hierotoria is a breathless wonder-city relegated to the realm of merchant stories and dreams. The Magister smiles slightly.
"Bertram, what is important to you?"

>Bertram, what is important to you?

"People, sir."

"People, sire. And tomorrow."

Knowledge/learning also seems pretty important to us.

"People, sir," you murmur softly.
The Magister cocks his head. Clearly this is not an answer he was expecting. Your father on the other hand smiles knowingly.
"People, eh?" the Magister scratches his chin. "Farmer, I don't know if your son is quite cut out for the...intricacies...of the Imperial court."
Your father shakes his head. "He is just a boy. Intricacy is something learned with age. But the Empire will be unwise not to use my son's talent. Besides, perhaps the Imperial court could use more like my son, and a bit less...intricacy."
The Magister sniffs.
"You are impudent. But perhaps you are right."
He rises, cloak swirling around him. He towers over you like a giant, turning to your father and producing a small bag. He reaches into it, producing a small handful of coin.
"One hundred and twenty. Should hire you a farmhand." He drops the coins onto the wooden table, each of them plinking dully and heavily.
"Thank you, Eminence. I would have paid you to take my son away from this life. When should he be ready?"
"I'll be taking him now. I won't be back through these parts for some time, and I can't afford to divert myself to pick up one...semi-promising candidate," he looks at you as he talks.
"I...I see..." your father says quietly.

<continued>

Mere moments later, as the Magister sits in his carriage and his servant paces outside smoking a cigarette, your father fastens the broach of your traveling cloak, knit for you by your mother to pass the time while she rested in bed. He pats you on the head.
"Listen to me, my son. The Magister is taking you away from here. You'll be going to Hierotoria, to the Alchemical Academy. There are books there, more books than you've ever seen in your life! You will do great things for the Empire, my lad."
"When will I be back?" you say. This is all very confusing.
Your father looks like he did when you ran his foot over with the plow. He open his mouth to speak, but then stops and closes it again. He looks out the window for a moment. There are stars in his eyes.
"You...you won't be back, my boy. This is the best chance you have of becoming something wonderful. You don't want to be a farmer like your old father, all used up and nothing to show for it. Well," he chuckles. "Nothing but you."

>Say something

"Then, you'll come to visit someday? I'd come back to see you, father, but if you came to the capital there'd be no need!"

"Thank you, father. I love you. I'll make you proud."

(Elaborate/modify as deemed appropriate.)

>>12307028
Yeah. Go with the naive, we expect to see him again someday. YES I'M BEING A JERK TO THE GUY EVEN THOUGH WE'RE JUST A KID RIGHT NOW.

>>12307092
"Then, you'll come to visit someday? Or maybe with that coin on the table, and the what you could get for this farm, you could come too? I love you, father. I don't want to be alone."

>>12307140
Note: Start up the waterworks afterward. Dear old mom left, and now we'll never be back to the farm? It's a lot for a six year old to absorb.

"Then, you'll come to visit someday? I'd come back to see you, father, but if you came to the capital there'd be no need!"
Your father smiles.
"If I'm in the capital, and you're in the capital, then who will watch the farm? Who will feed the cows? No, my boy, this is something you must do alone. You'll be a man before you know it, and then you'll have to make all your own decisions. The Alchemists there will help you, and they are wise. Listen to them, and learn from them, but always remain yourself," he taps you on the chest.
"No..." you say, realizing that this is the last time you will speak to your father, possibly for years. "No, I want to stay here. I want to be a farmer!" Your eyes well up with tears.
"Now now, my son. We both know that isn't really true. Go on now, and make me the proudest father in the Imperium."
You bite your lip, trying to compose yourself.
"I...I will Father. I love you."
"Oh, my boy, my boy," he says, drawing you close and hugging you tight. "I love you, son. Maybe someday you'll know how much." He kisses your forehead, then hands you a small wooden bird. Whittling is a favorite pastime of your fathers, even as arthritis claims his knotted hands.
You shut the door behind you as you leave. Your father sits quietly, staring at the dull golden coins. He waits until he hears the horses pull away before he starts to weep.

Hours later, you clutch the bird tightly to yourself as the Magister's carriage jostles along the roads of the rural Empire.
"Ugh, my kingdom for paved roads," the Magister says as the carriage flies over a large bump. He looks at you, sitting silently.
"Well, boy, I hope you're half the Alchemist your father claims you can be."
You stare back at him, tiny fingers clutching the wooden carving.
"I will be the greatest Alchemist the Empire has ever seen."
The Magister chuckles

Yeah, ask when he'll come to visit, and then silently cry as we leave.

>>12307196
>>"I will be the greatest Alchemist the Empire has ever seen."

Goal acquired. Luckily for us, pure alchemic skill is not the only way to achieve it--circumstances are handing us another means.

At least we're not so dumb as to disregard playtime in the process of pursuing this.

We're a little paladin of science.

Maybe we can send for him, if he's still around, once the flashback ends. Or, in the future, sponsor rural schools in our parents' name.

>>12307376
I'm much more interested in the idea of our character just going back home once he returns to the mainland and find out what happened to his father. Then we get to talk to people from where we lived, have one of those "Oh wow, you've changed!" type of reactions, etc etc.

The Alchemical Academy is an imposing cliffside monolith, and to your mind it is bigger than the whole world as you've known. You didn't get to see much of the real city of Hierotoria, but this Academy is far from the gleaming spires of your imagination; it looks more like the massive tomb of some dread god.
"Well, young Bertram, this is where you and I part ways," the Magister says. "I expect to see great things from you in twelve or fifteen years. You cost the Imperium 120 Legions today; you'll pay that back, before the end."
The Magister shuts the carriage door as it pulls away, clattering down the stone roads, and leaving you alone, but for the wraith-like skeleton of a man padding down the steps of the front gate.
"Another of the Magister's 'prospects' I see," he says with a thin reedy voice. "Well, we can use another servant at the very least. Follow." He turns, gliding away from without bothering to look back. You follow, for lack of anything else to do.
The entryway is as cavernous as the outside would suggest. Wrought iron and stone cloister the walls and ceiling with statues of horrible demons and alchemists of the past. Your scuffling footsteps echo, while your impatient guide's make not a whisper. In fact, he quickly outpaces you as your head cranes to take in all of the figures scattered throughout the room. When you realize you are alone, it is already too late.
This is certainly off to a good start. You clutch the wooden bird tightly.

Well, I've got to tap out. I'll be reading up on the archives to get up to speed on this quest, time permitting, but for now I've got to hit the sack for work in the morning.

I like the prose, StonerDM. I felt for good ol' dad, some seriously melancholy stuff there. Thanks for running this.

You are rounding a corner, growing increasingly desperate for some sense of direction, when you collide with a young girl. She appears to have been dusting in an alcove graced with the bust of some long-dead prodigy.
"Sorry! I'm sorry!" you stammer, helping her to her feet. She is dressed in plain servant's clothes, and her displaced bonnet reveals raven-colored hair. Retying it, she looks at you quizzically.
"No problem, it was my..." she pauses. "I haven't seen you around here before."
"I only just arrived," you say meekly. "I don't...really know where I'm supposed to be."
"Oh, I can show you the Chief Alchemist's offices, they're back this way," she says, pointing with one hand and taking several steps in that direction. "What your name anyway?" she says, turning to you.
"B-Bertram," you say. "Bertram Gillivers."
"I'm Elegy," she responds with a smile.

>Reputation: Adorable?
>BUT FOR REALS, BACK IN THE FUTURE...PRESENT...

>>12307496
So that makes
-Selfless+
-Somewhat unreliable (untrustworthy? checking)
-Adorable?

Out the window of the great birdlike ship you can finally see the Imperial shore, a distant smudge against the blue of the sea. Fierna's eyes appear bleary; she has not slept, while the others grabbed at least a small nap. Even Dask'tchk seems to have resumed hibernating in the supply boxes. Nevertheless her hands betray no sign of anything but practiced skill.
You sigh, looking down at your finished product. You took to a bit of tinkering to pass the time, and made some interesting progress despite your limited materials.
But what have you done?

>Have you sought to improve a specific formula/equipment you already know? Or have you made some new advancement in:
>OFFENSE
>DEFENSE
>UTILITY

>>12307561
I'd say offense, specifically something involving grenades. We've had a lot of time to think and we know those Guardian swarm-beetle things come in packs, so...

>>12307561
Hmmm. I think either something new for offense based on what we've just come across or improving the stealth item we had... Forgot what it was called. If I had to pick - I would say improving the stealth alchemical item we had. Forgot what it was called.

>>12307561
Hmmm... let's think this through before responding. May we have the current list posted for everyone to consider?

We seem to be doing alright offensively; the Pepperpot Blunderbuss does acceptable work against elf armor at close range, and we have a nice range of utility tools at our disposal.

I'm inclined to think Defense (especially as we nabbed that elf's gauntlet for later study), but I'd like the updated list first.

>>12307597
Agreed, could we get the list first?

>>12307597
>>12307606
Alchemical Formulae Known:
-Sunsphere, defensive weapon
-Dragon's Blood, offensive weapon
-Smokebomb, defensive/utility
-Shadowdust, utiliy
-Arms and Ammunition, Apprentice-level
-Medicine, Novitiate-level
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
-Pepperpot Blunderbuss
-Eagle Eyes, binocular/magnifying lenses
-Phosphorescent Glove/Firestarter
-Armor-plated Robe, Light

I think we're fairly set Utility-wise. Having Batman's belt is awesome, but Batman can also take a punch and hand them out in spades.

With a Hushblade still likely to make their move, much less any new assassination attempts once this comes to light, I think we should hedge our bets against bad die rolls. My vote is for Defense, or upgrade of our Armor-plated Robe, Light.

Then later we can try turning the elf rifle into a concealable pistol, perhaps.

>>12307713
How concealable is the armour? If it's obvious we have armour, I say make something defensive then since a hushblade would be able to get around the armour anyways. At least with some new defensive tool, we can also use it against the invaders and their crap.

>>12307713
Agreed, we need better armor. Let's examine that elf's glove and see what we can Macgyver from it.

>>12307727
Like an escape bubble? SPROING we're safe for a few seconds while we either haul ass or use the invisibility stuff? Or maybe Lickity-Split-Sprint boots for rapid short burst mobility (or even wall climbing/water walking with upgrade/s).

>>12307727
I think it's out of our reach with our current skill, but something that rewound time for a few seconds or slowed our perceived passage of time might do to give us a chance to fix a screwup.

Essentially, a reroll or several.

>>12307780
>time alchemy
>whatthefuckamireading.jpg

>I'm hearing an armor upgrade. Is this true?

>>12307780
The /tg/ dice have been remarkably kind to us in this thread. Why would we ever need a thing like that?

Well if we're not improving something that exists, I think we just pick the category and StonerDM tells us what we made. I am unsure on that though so I could be wrong. I maintain something new in defense at the moment, unless our armour is concealable.

>>12307802
One vote here.

>>12307802
Depends on how concealable the armor is. We need that question answered!

>>12307815
Reinforced sections underneath our standard alchemist's coat that won't be noticed but cover important areas against stabbiness? I like the sound of that.

>>12307815
>Right now the light armor plating in your robes is not easily discernable. The armor would need to be severely heavy to be really noticeable, as it is mostly designed to be hidden.

>>12307844
Isn't that what we have already? More or less?

>>12307860
Well, if the robes are armored already... how much are they going to stop? I'm just trying to make sure we're not making a mistake by not pushing for a general Defense item that could keep our face safe too.

>>12307860
So it'd be concealable either way... Good to know. Part of me still wants to make a new defense item though simply because that'd be more useful in the long-term. While the improved armour would help against sneak attacks from someone like a hushblade, I doubt it'd help against the weapons that the invaders have.

>>12307802
Reaffirming my armor or Defense. Surprise me.

>>12307802
Seconding armour upgrades and examining gauntlet.

>Armor
Your study of the invaders' armor plating has been most productive. You slip your robes back on, feeling the shifting weight of the modified plates inside the fabric. The ablative coating isn't fully tested, but anyone trying to hit you with anything less than a real hand-cannon should be surprised by the result. You worry that it won't do much to stop the searing Daemon rifles, though.
>Armor upgrade: Medium Armor/Bullet-Proofing

"Oh...Oh no..." Fierna says from the pilot's seat. "Gillivers, check out the back porthole, quickly!"
You move to the small rectangle of thick glass, peering back at the horizon of the ocean, unmarred by landmark or...oh no. What's this?
Cruising low on the water, as you are, a pair of small birdlike ships is fast approaching. They seem slightly smaller than this craft, and more aerodynamic, not that this transport is not sleek. Sprouting from the noses of these crafts are spires of black stone or metal, like great jousting lances.

>oh, right, what dp?

"Motherfucker. Your people have found us." Does the ship open at all? Can we pop out a porthole and shoot at them?

>>12308059
Any weapons mounted/onboard? Grab that daemon-rifle and fire out the back porthole at the incoming ships (after opening it, of course).

"How will they be attacking us?"

"Will a Daemon rifle have any affect on them? Perhaps at close range? Might it at least slow their pursuit?"

>Info time before our intel source inevitably dies.

in b4 aerial battle over the imperial city

>>12308096
I called it last thread, too! Infodump NPCs always die!

We should see about faking a crash so they think we're dead and report as such to whoever's sent them, in case we can't drive them off.

>glad people actually showed up for the quest tonight

"Your peole have found us."
Fierna spits out a few syllables you suspect are very unladylike, as beautiful as they sound.
"Does this ship have any weapons? Can we even open these hatches?"
"This is a transport vessel, it isn't as well-armed as the military ships. Still, we have a Daemon rifle. That should count for something, at least until we can get onto solid ground."
Her hands trace intricate webs across the controls, and you feel the hull hum underneath you. The wide doors on either side of the ship burst open, sliding back to reveal the rushing wind of the sea air. You can hear Dask'tchk squabbling in a panic. Sebastian moves quickly to the hatches, taking in the situation and handling the Daemon nervously.
"Well this could be better..." he murmurs.

>Roll dice

rolled 59 = 59

>>12308195
Is one fine?

rolled 53 = 53

>>12308195
Calling a 1 before this thread is done.

rolled 74 = 74

>>12308201
One is never fine. Roll like you got a pair!

>>12308195
Happy to be here. Better than last time, it was pretty much just me for the whole second half of the infodump. Now I'll always blame myself if we didn't ask something important and it comes back to screw us later.

>>12308201
>59
"Well, let's try to keep some distance," Sebastian says, shouldering the Daemon.
The beams of light are easier to aim than standard shot, but the ships are both moving very fast. Nevertheless several blasts connect with one of the ships. They don't seem to penetrate through whatever armor they posses, but the ships seem less keen on tailing you closely. You hope your ship has the same armor.
You look back towards the front of the ship. The shoreline draws inexorably closer.
"You're sure this thing has no weapons?"
"I wish I was wrong, mister Gillivers."
>53
One of the pursuers swerves to the side, the tip of his lancelike protrusion glowing. The beam is a jagged, blinding streak ringed with a carona of softer energy, sailing wide of the ship and dissipating over the ocean. Fierna jerks the ship to the side to try to evade further fire, and you are catapulted off your feet by the sudden acceleration.
>74
Sebastian reaches out, catching hold of your wrist with an arm as you catch one foot on the floor, half your body hanging out the doorway. Dask'tchk also flies past you, screaming, and clings to the bottom of your robes, flapping like a flag in the extreme wind.

>Keep rollin, plans when appropriate

rolled 58 = 58

>>12308316
Hit the brakes! Both so that we can get back in and so they overshoot us.

rolled 1 = 1

>>12308316
I assume a sunsphere is basically a flashbang. Would it work in messing up the ships pilots vision behind us or are they way too far?

Rolling in the event it would work.

>>12308343
Now I hope this plan wouldn't work... Curse you for jinxing me with the 1 by calling it.

rolled 80 = 80

>>12308333
No, that will let them catch up, not overshoot.

Get inside and use our Eagle Eyes to search for a weak point for Sebastion to shoot. Also, ask our pilot if there's one. It's not much, but we're really reliant on his shooting and her piloting right now.

Also if we made ourselves a tether of sorts to NOT GET SUCKED OUT again, that would be swell.

rolled 46 = 46

>>12308343
Good idea, bad execution. Nice call TempDM.

>>12308343
>>12308355

I will never use my powers for good, either. You will never see me call a 100.

>58
"Hit the brakes, let them overshoot us!" You shout. Fierna complies, and the ship shudders as it decelerates. Dask'tchk clambers over your body to get back into the ship, scampering into a corner to hide. You produce a sunsphere, twisting the two halves to activate the components.
"I hope this works," you say before cocking an arm back and flinging it.
>1
The sphere collides with the edge of the doorway, bouncing back into the cabin with an almost comical *PLINK*. You have just enough time to slip the Eagle Eyes down onto your face and shut your eyes before it goes off. The noise is thunderous, and you feel a sharp pain in your ears. You dare to open your eyes after a few seconds.
The survivors and Fierna are all writhing about, obviously heavily disoriented. You are still decelerating, to the extent that you are losing altitude that you have precious little of. Out the hatch you can see one of your pursuers lining up a shot.
>80
You dash to the pilot's chair, shaking Fierna.
"Get us the Abyss out of here!" They're going to tear us apart!"
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" she screams, fingers sliding awkwardly on the controls. The ship lurches to life, the bottom skimming the very surface of the water. The attacker's beam pierces the sea where you were seconds before, creating a geyser of steam and spray.
"Is there some weak point on these things we should be shooting at?"
She nods towards the front of the ship.
"If you can get a shot through the front windshield and kill the pilot...but that's an insane shot."
"Good; this is driving me crazy," Sebastian says, eyes screwed shut. You realize that you've all been screaming at one another to make yourselves heard.

>What do?

rolled 85 = 85

>>12308582
We're the only ones un-stunned, let's go for the shot. We've slowed and they'll be closer so it should be easier to hit. DICE DON'T FAIL ME NOW!

rolled 38 = 38

>>12308582
Take the shot and take out a pilot.

>>12308614
Hmm. I think I should stop rolling for the night and stick to suggesting ideas.

rolled 60 = 60

>>12308582
It's all up to Sebastion now to make sure we don't end up Under the Sea.

After the shot, perhaps pulling straight up would not be amiss?

...after you tell everyone to grab onto something. AFTER.

rolled 29 = 29

>>12308639
Great, now I have Under The Sea stuck in my head. CURSE YOU!

>>12308681
And rolling to try what you suggest...

>>12308612
"Give me the Daemon," you shout to Sebastian, tugging slightly on the rifle. He lets go obligingly.
You shoulder the longarm as the craft skims the surface violently. Fierna makes some small adjustment, and you rise enough that water stops splashing in through the open hatches. You move carefully to one of the openings, scanning the sky for your pursuers. You duck back in as another shot vaporizes the water by the doorway, nearly scalding your skin. At least you know where they are, you think, fiddling with the knobs on the Eagle Eyes. It's difficult to aim a rifle through binoculars, but you think you've got a shot lined up,as long as everything stays steady.
>85
The beam from the Daemon pierces cleanly through the windshield of the smaller craft. You watch with grim satisfaction as it begins to waver unsteadily, finally swerving to one side. In a double stroke of luck, it swerves into your other pursuer, taking off one of the craft's crystalline wings before finally smashing into the ocean with a terrific gout of water. With only one wing the ship begins to slow noticeably, wobbling in the air as you put more distance between you. With a sigh, you notice that the water below you gives way to beach. Oh dear.
"Fierna, slow down! We're coming over land!"
Fierna responds quickly, jerking the craft into a slow descent. You crunch through a few trees, wincing each time, before finally settling down just inland, beach still visible.

>What do?

>>12308716
Check on the others to make sure they're alright and don't need aid. Otherwise, take a look outside and see if the last ship is still heading towards us. If so, we might want to set up an ambush/start moving.

rolled 82 = 82

>>12308716
Check if we took any damage. Ask Fierna if it's still flyable, and how the hell they could have found us.

Tend to the others.
Have Fierna ready at the wheel (just in case) while Dask'tchk checks for ship damages. Scout with Sebastian to see about the other ship/salvage.
Also, AlchemyQuest FY!

>>12308765
Woops, forgot to take the dice off.

>>12308765
Not to mention, this is likely to end up pushing the invasion schedule up since they'll realize we're getting assistance. Fierna's friend back on the island isn't going to be helped by this, either.

Then again, those of you who wanted her to stay, well, convincing her just got easier if you do it right.

We got archived, fyi. Mayhap we should grace our GM with some well-deserved votes?

>>12308773
How would Dask even know what damages are? Although I do remember asking for Fierna to teach us some basic commands in his language last time. We did that right?

>>12308807
I assume is something looks missing, ripped up, sparking or leaking, it's damaged. But I will concede, if it's not possible for him to do so.
Switch with Sebastian, then?

>>12308807
>How does a Dask know what apples is?
>>12308804
>Yay! I'm popular!

You check the crew over. Everyone seems to be no worse for wear, albeit shaken and terrified. It takes a while to locate Dask, but eventually you find him, having gnawed halfway into a wooden crate. He gives you a splintery grin as you brush him off.
"Fierna, how is the ship? Still air-capable?"
"I believe so," she says, still squinting and rubbing her eyes. "We are extremely fortunate that we were able to fend off both of those attackers. They must have followed us from the island. Either they saw us leave, or..." she trails off, no doubt thinking of Birand left behind.
"Great shot, sire!" Sebastian exclaims, perhaps too cheerfully. "That pretty much makes up for the part where you almost killed us all!"

>Going to wrap up for this evening. I'll do a bit of dialogue/out-of-game feedback and/or chitchat, but we'll save plot advancement for next time. Next time may very well be tomorrow. Again, glad people took note and participated, if this had MageQuested I might have just killed myself.

>>12308859
Good questan. Glad my roll was the awesome shot and not the almost-got-killed shot.

>>12308859
Oooooo the possibility for more Alchemy Quest tomorrow? I am most pleased with this idea.

>>12308884
I'll do better next time, I swear. That roll of 1 was just a random occurrence due to cursing.

>>12308859
"All part of the plan, my friend. I wouldn't have been able to make that shot if they thought we weren't at a disadvantage."
>And I just got here, too. Loving it so far!

>That pretty much makes up for the part where you almost killed us all!
I loled heartily.
"I am neither completely suicidal or inept, Sebastion. Only mostly."

>>12308900
Nice timing.

>>12308891
>>cursing

Tune in next time, for TempDM's Revenge! Might as well warm up the /tg/ dice picture, you're gonna need it.

rolled 53 = 53

>>12308934
I don't fear you anymore. My dice rolling skills will overcome your feeble attempts to make me fail.

"All part of the plan, my friend. I wouldn't have been able to make that shot if they thought we weren't at a disadvantage."
Sebastian chuckles.
"A joke from his Eminence. Maybe the world is coming to an end. Gillivers, you are quite unlike any man, lord, or alchemist I've ever met."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Dask'tchk sits in the middle of the cabin, surrounded by bloody splinters. He babbles something at you, miming explosions with his hands before cackling wildly.

>>12308934
And I'll be there to hopefully make us not die horribly again!

>>12308953
Oh dear. We should definitely be careful to not let the little guy get a hold of our alchemical tools. Unless we train him to do that. And bloody splinters? Did he chew through the crate to the point his mouth is a bloody mess?

>Niggas, tell your friends about AlchemyQuest, we need more readers. I don't want to be posting threads and then waiting four hours for people to notice.

>>12308950
I can always resort to peppering your mind with Disney songs. I'm a multifaceted threat.

We should try to ascertain our location. Even if it's A Whole New World for Fierna, we ought to have /some/ clue where we are.

>>12308962
Come now, it was only two hours! And I had laundry!

>>12308961
He does not get to touch our tools. EVER.

>>12308968
I approve of Disney songs, depending on which one it is.

>>12308953
Taking a quick look outside, is the other craft still headed out way or are we home free? Or is that something you will save for next time?

>>12308968
Nice try, but I can't remember the lyrics for that one! Mwahahaha!

>>12308968
Even if you have to forage for food, you should be able to drum up The Bare Necessities.
You better just Wish Upon a Star that Fierna will be able to be Part of Your World if she sticks around.

>>12308999
If she does... will Gillivers ever get to... Kiss The Girl?

>>12308999
Fuck.

>>12308934
I made a couple of my own...

>>12308999
My inner child is pleased with reminders of these songs.

On that note, do we even still have the wooden bird we were given? Or is that going to be answered in a flashback that will make shit get real?

...for future generations...

...last one. Yay, OC!
>Baus Brofist's MS Paint skills improve +0.3%!

>>12309052
Yeah, well at least your name isn't Michael Bolton.
>>12309028
>Shit will get the realest, sir

>Check suptg
>All my threads are in the green
>yay!
For real, get that shit purpified so people will start reading this crap.

>>12309016
This too, is part of The Circle of Life.

>>12308999
She's all alone and vulnerable. We'll let her Be Our Guest, staying classy when lesser men shout out "Heigh Ho!", and soon enough, we can Go The Distance.

Romances really aren't driving me right now though. I Just Can't Wait To Be King Of The Alchemists.

>>12309099
>I Just Can't Wait to Be King of the Alchemists!

I'm sorry, I couldn't stop myself

>>12309083
Well that's a wonderful sign. I'm sure nothing will go wrong!

>>12309097
Setting question - how far is alchemy in this world? What's some of the biggest things that have been accomplished? I assume nothing we have is exceptionally unique or hard to do is it?

>>12309097
Oh God that is my favorite reaction image ever, I literally almost pissed myself the first time I saw it.

>>12309141
Makes me giggle like a total retard. Every. Time.
>>12309130
Technologically, alchemy is limited by the scarcity of wisp energy (expect that to change, LAWL). Dragon powder and other explosives are fairly prevalent. Dragon's Blood and Shadowdust are, however, your own unique formulae. This doesn't mean no one else has concealing powder or acid bombs, just that they're not very widespread.
To the south of the Imperium, the Confederacy of Coin and Steel has been advancing steam power. The Imperium's alchemists have somewhat resisted this technological advancement, at least until they can find a way to do it better with alchemy so that they are still vital to the Empire. Far to the east stories of the Dyrdyr claim that they possess a sorcery that is neither industrially based, nor the alchemical pseudomagic of the Imperium.

>>12309276
Hmmmmmmm. How are relations between the nations? Trying to get an idea on how hard it'll be to throw out the idea of getting allies to work with us. Might also be easier to make an alchemical steam engine type thing if we have them directly working with us.

>>12309302
The Confederacy has extremely chilly relations with the Imperium. Neither nation has anything in particular to gain from war at this point in time, but if either began to show signs of distinct weakness it would be tempting. The Dyrdyr are relatively unconnected, living on a separate continent, and in a fairly isolated and mountainous area within that.

>>12309354
Well that's problematic. Guess we're going to have to be a miracle worker to get the Confederacy and our Empire to work together... We're definitely going to have to deal with them before the invasion occurs though, otherwise they're going to be another thorn in our side.

Have attempts to improve relations with the Confederacy been performed and if so, how did they turn out?

Approximately how many alchemists does the Empire have?

>>12309384
There are conversations between the Imperium and the Confederacy that are not entirely antagonistic.
>>12309433
The Empire is vast. However, talented Alchemists are scarce. You probably number less than a thousand all told.

>>12309506
Well, that would explain why we're able to come up with legitimately new creations. That and secrets being secretable. That's supported by the overlap we've seen; you mentioned other people coming up with their own forms of concealing powder or acid bombs, and our mentor managed to be working on almost the same project independently of his rival.

>>12309506
Do we have any rivals or is that something you're also saving for flashbacks/future threads when we're back in the empire?